To the Solace Community:

Assalamu alaikum dear Brothers and Sisters,

I start this letter with a request for all to make dua for a dear Solace colleague, sister and friend who left this world and returned to our Creator 10 years ago in June 2012 after battling cancer. Sister Hikmah Adetunji was one of the few sisters who attended the very first meeting in my living room when Solace was simply an idea. I cannot believe an entire decade has passed since her death. Hikmah was so very passionate about Solace, and her passion, dedication, beautiful smile and energy is very much missed to this day. We ask Allah to envelop Hikmah in His Mercy and reward her in abundance for everything she did within Solace and outside of Solace. Ameen

It is quite befitting to move onto the next point in this letter and mention Solace’s upcoming participation in the Charity Dragon Boat Race in less than 10 days time, inshaAllah. Alhamdulillah, for two years running, Solace’s Men’s Team have taken home Gold and Solace’s Women’s Team have taken away Silver. We naturally would like to win again this year and we ask Allah to grant us the means to do so. You’re welcome to make dua for our teams! If you’re attending this year, do pop over to our stall at the event inshaAllah.

Having just written the above, I cannot help but notice the parallels of Hikmah’s death and the dragon boat race. This life is one big race against an unknown personal clock that will certainly one day stop ticking. As with any race, one strives for the first place, the best place. The question I ask myself and all of you is this: Are our actions in this life proof that we really do want to win ‘Gold’ with Allah? In reflecting over this question, I wonder if we can actually ever truly answer ‘Yes!’ I don’t believe we can. But perhaps, what is better is to say, ‘I’m doing the best I can. There’s room for improvement and I’m going to change XYZ and do better with Allah’s permission.

On that note, and in preparation for the 10 best days of Dhul Hijjah that will begin next month, I invite you to make a few changes this month of June to prove to your Lord that you want to win ‘Gold’ with Him:

1. Dedicate one tahajjud prayer to make dua for revert sisters in difficulty
2. Give your ‘monetary gold’ to Solace as you strive to win Gold with Allah
3. Think about a unique way you can practically help a revert sister in difficulty in this month of June

At Solace we’re working very hard, using the donations you have entrusted us with to bring about a lot of change in the ways revert sisters are supported. I look forward to telling you more inshaAllah.

Until my next writing, inshaAllah.

Your sister,

Aliyah Quadri (Umm Raiyaan)
Founder and CEO
Solace UK

Written on Thursday, 9th June 2022