As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah

S O L A C E
For revert sisters in difficulty

“… And Allah is forever aiding a slave so long as he is in the aid of his brother.” [Sahih Muslim]

Many times in our lives, there comes a point when we fall into extreme difficulties. Life gets tough and helpers become a few. A way out seems so distant and unattainable. Our blessed Deen and indeed, humanity in general recognises this crucial time and hence we’ve all heard of the magnitude of reward which lies in helping others, helping their circumstance and being there for them as supporters.

SOLACE is a new organisation which was launched in 2010 in the UK, aimed at relieving the multifold problems and difficulties faced by Muslim revert sisters. I couldn’t tell you the amount of tests these sisters face on a daily, monthly and yearly basis. Sometimes it’s a battle for them to get through each day as a Muslimah, other times they find themselves in great need despite being Muslim for a number of years.

This organisation was set up by a group of sisters who I know personally and have worked with. They have my 100% support and du’a for their tireless efforts and hard work. From the main site:

“SOLACE was set up by a group of sisters who were concerned about the difficulties that revert sisters often face. Whilst there are many organisations within the United Kingdom who cater for the educational and Islamic needs of new revert sisters, we felt there lacked an organisation whose aim was relieving the difficulties of revert sisters regardless of whether they have been a Muslim for a few weeks or many years.”

I really do feel that it’s one in a million organisation as it caters for the emotional needs of Muslim women who’ve got no-one to turn to in this time of need; it’s the case that some of them have been disowned by family due to them becoming Muslim, their communities are unaware of them, they have few Muslim friends or none at all, they’ve suffered in relationships, lost jobs, lost homes, lost loved ones, and are in a financial crisis, etc etc and the list goes on.

In their own words:

“I felt like dying. I really didn’t want to live anymore. The tests were too much. A sister persuaded me to get in touch with SOLACE for revert sisters in difficulty. At first, I didn’t think I was worthy of receiving such help. But since my first meeting with the SOLACE volunteer, I’ve felt hope – which I haven’t felt in years.”

– Sister A

“My mother died last year. She was the only one who supported me in my choice to become Muslim. Everyone else in my family abandoned me. So far, I’ve had three meetings with my volunteer. She was so understanding and non-judgmental. When I received the Revert In Difficulty pack, I burst out crying knowing that there were sisters who cared.”

– Sister T

“My family live abroad and giving birth the third time without them near me was really difficulty. My husband had to go back to work straight away and I was really struggling with cooking, cleaning and healing from the birth. The household help I received from SOLACE came at the right time. Just knowing that help was coming a few times a week helped me rest and bond with my new baby without stress.”

– Sister N

These are real accounts of revert sisters that SOLACE has helped.

Aims:

SOLACE was established in 2010. Like its name, our aims are to:

  • Comfort revert sisters during their times of need
  • Support revert sisters by providing the means to make them feel stable and positive about their lives again; setting them firmly back onto the path to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala).
  • Empower revert sisters to resolve their physical and emotional tests which often prevents them from enjoying their lives in their newly embraced faith.

Objectives

SOLACE intends to support revert sisters who may find themselves in any of the following situations:

  • feeling lonely and isolated
  • experiencing marital problems
  • struggling as single, widowed and divorced revert sisters
  • needing someone to talk to about how they feel
  • needing an intermediary between themselves and non Muslim family members
  • thinking of leaving Islam or having doubts about Islam
  • suffering from depression
  • wanting to start afresh in order to feel positive about self, life and Islam again
  • facing other problems that are difficult to cope with alone

Please visit this site, and support this much needed organisation. Spread the word and help your sisters!