“Allah will aid a servant of His so long as the servant aids his brother.“
– Prophet Muhammad (SAW) [Muslim]
Ahmed Abbas was a young man of patience, strength and unwavering faith. His signature smile could light up any room; his ability to smile through difficulty made him a hero to many. Although he was diagnosed with leukaemia at the young age of 4, he lived a life of many experiences and adventures in his 13 years. He was a young boy with huge dreams, not limited by his condition. He loved playing hockey with his brothers and dreamed of becoming a doctor one day. Ahmed’s happiness radiated through his connections with friends and family. He didn’t let his condition weaken his hope, no matter how much pain he endured.
Following his passing in 2009, the Ahmed Abbas Foundation (AAF) was established. This includes over 13 years of annual youth camps with over 2000 participants through the years. These camps are hosted at the Tim Hortons children’s ranch and Camp Kindle, located in Kanaskis and Water Valley Alberta. The weekend is packed with exciting physical activities as well as Islamic lessons on leadership and other engaging topics. The weekend is also focused around the five daily prayers in congregation.
“There is a reward on giving food and drink to every living creature.“
– Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
AAF has also started an initiative called Ahmed’s Baskets over the past 2 Ramadans. This includes providing needy families and orphans internationally with food packages for the month of Ramadan. Alhamdulilah, we were able to fund over 1,000 baskets to various countries such as Palestine, Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and many others. Furthermore, the AAF also took part in projects to help the homeless locally.
The Ahmed Abbas foundation, in collaboration with Islamic Relief, strives to continue on Ahmeds legacy. Even at his young age, he wanted to help anyone he could, especially his brothers and sisters in Islam.