My grandmother told me a few years ago that there were three great people that we lost in 2016. She named Junaid Jamshed, Amjad Sabri and Abdul Sattar Edhi, a singer of naat and nasheed, a singer of the genre of qawwali, and an ascetic humanitarian worker, respectively.
Here, I'd like to share a bit about the third, Abdul Sattar Edhi, a man that founded the Edhi Foundation in 1951 and devoted his life to serving humanity. He was one of the few people that come to the world not for themselves but for others, and lived an ascetic life with no more than two pairs of clothing and a bedroom. Most of all, he did not sit around and talk, but went for doing things and creating change, reaching the highest potential that he could. Even during his last few days at 88 with kidney failure, he wished to donate his organs to the needy. Only his corneas turned out to be fit for donation due to his weak health, and he gave them to the blind.
He was born in 1928 in India to a Muslim family. When he was 11 years old, his mother suffered from a stroke leaving her physically and mentally disabled. He dropped out of school to care for her in every way, until she passed. At the partition, he fled with family to Karachi in Pakistan and began humanitarian work from that point on.
He said “Be a human, bring out each other’s humanity. Get rid of hunger, get rid of poverty. Fix the thousands of divisions between us. Don’t be materialistic, and you will have money, even to give to America.”
His message was simple and constant, be a human being before you are anything else. Look at the humanity in others before anything else. Care for all forms of life, the animals and the planet as a whole.
He said “Do whatever work you do with honesty. A nation like Pakistan exists nowhere in this world. It’s just that our political, religious and tribal systems must be done away with. We should become humans and work for humanity.”
He was a critic of the fanatical elements coming from various sides that cause emotions to run high, and do not contribute in any meaningful or positive way. Some religious clergy, political leaders, and silent observers are all complicit in suffering when they benefit from what comes to them at the expense of others.
He received over 250 national and international awards from across the world of great repute, and has had multiple documentaries and films produced on his life's work. Although he did not write any books himself, he narrated his life story to Tehmina Durrani, a Pakistani author and activist. It was published as his autobiography, Abdul Sattar Edhi, An Autobiography: A Mirror to the Blind.
The Edhi Foundation is the largest welfare foundation in Pakistan, and is funding entirely by private donations. It is known for the voluntary ambulance services but it does much more, involved in nearly every sector to bring assistance and a better future.
Their website says that it is "A worldwide charity that helps people with healthcare, education, and social welfare, following the example of Abdul Sattar Edhi, aiming to ease the suffering of those in need."
It provides for all with no consideration to "color, class or creed."
"He saved newborns by placing cradles outside Edhi centers and provided care for abandoned babies. His impact included supporting disabled individuals, women, and the elderly, offering free medical help through mobile dispensaries, hospitals, and a diabetic center."
"Edhi also facilitated swift transportation for accident victims with ambulance services. He has provided national and international relief aid to those affected by natural disasters, assistance to refugees in different countries, and emergency services for drought, fire, and flood victims."
Edhi Foundation has held the Guinness World Record for being the world's largest volunteer ambulance organization since 1997.
"In addition to the mentioned contributions, he served humanity by providing free technical education to empower people with essential skills, offering religious education to children, and giving guidance on family planning and maternity services."
"The humanitarian efforts of Abdul Sattar Edhi and his spouse, Bilquis Edhi, go beyond these areas."
"Our vision at the Edhi Foundation is simple yet powerful: we want to make life better for everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from. We dream of a world where every child has a loving home and every sick person can get the help they need. We believe in a society where people are kind to each other and help their neighbors when they need it."
Their appeals include Sadaqa, Zakat, Fidya, Food Bank, Emergency Services, Lillah (in the name of Allah), Aqeeqa, Flood Relief 2025, Qurbani 2026, Bilquis Edhi Hospital, etc.
Their services include ambulance, hospital, children, educational, graveyard, workshop, missing person, rooti plant, kitchen, in house bakery, langet service (free kitchen), online Qurbani service, refugees assistance, covid 19 assistance, honorary and voilantary, marriage bureau, Edhi mourge, welfare centers, rehabilitation center, Edhi rikshaw rozgar scheme, Edhi animal hostel, charitable shop.
Their activities include destitute homes, high ways project, international community centers, collaboration with other organizations, international activities.
His wife Bilquis Edhi (d. 2022) was the other half of Abdul Sattar Edhi, referred to as the Mother of Pakistan. He took responsibility for running the maternity home where she raised he own children and the abandoned babies, organized adoption, delivery for women, etc. The foundation has a cradle outside of each center where infants can be left with no questions asked, by mothers that are unable to support them, or those at risk after being born out of wedlock, etc. They will then be taken, protected and nurtured, and adopted by families.
"Bilquis Bano Edhi's journey began as a nurse at Edhi Nurses Training Centre. After marrying Abdul Sattar Edhi, they founded the Edhi Foundation, dedicating themselves to aiding Pakistan's impoverished despite financial constraints."
I was personally moved by what one couple accomplished together. They have restored hope in humanity for us all, and are an inspiration for all to follow. His message of working for humanity is not detached from the very essence of the Quran, the responsibility and great honor of being God's representatives on earth (khulafa), to have deep concern and care for all of creation.
In the chapter of al Duha (The Morning Hours), God speaks to the Prophet who was himself an orphan, reminding us all of the great care that God has for us, bringing us out of difficulty. For the orphan, the wanderer, the destitute, the poor, the divine message is one of compassion and strength through it all.
وَٱلضُّحَىٰ
By the morning hours
وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَىٰ
And by the night when it is stillest,
مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ
Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee nor doth He hate thee,
وَلَلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ
And verily the latter portion will be better for thee than the former,
وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰٓ
And verily thy Lord will give unto thee so that thou wilt be content.
أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًۭا فَـَٔاوَىٰ
Did He not find thee an orphan and protect (thee)?
وَوَجَدَكَ ضَآلًّۭا فَهَدَىٰ
Did He not find thee wandering and direct (thee)?
وَوَجَدَكَ عَآئِلًۭا فَأَغْنَىٰ
Did He not find thee destitute and enrich (thee)?
فَأَمَّا ٱلْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ
Therefor the orphan oppress not,
وَأَمَّا ٱلسَّآئِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ
Therefor the beggar drive not away,
وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ
Therefor of the bounty of thy Lord be thy discourse.
The Morning Hours (93:1-11)
References
Abdul Sattar Edhi - Life
Bilquis Edhi - Life
Edhi Foundation - Description
Edhi Foundation - Website
Pakistan's Real Life Superhero with Suroosh Alvi - VICE News
Abdul Sattar Edhi "Serving Humanity Without any Discrimination" - Black Box Sounds
