Bridging Borders: UK Woman Uplifts Pakistan’s Slums
Syed Zahid Majeed/APP
Islamabad: In the heart of Pakistan’s slums, where hardship and despair often overshadow hope, a remarkable woman is lighting the way for the forgotten. Ustadha Rummana Shaheen, a UK national of Pakistani origin, has dedicated her life to uplifting underprivileged communities, providing them with essential support and a sense of dignity.
Born into a modest family in the suburbs of Islamabad, Rummana began her journey of service at just 16. Today, at 29, she stands as a beacon of hope, seamlessly bridging her life in the United Kingdom with her humanitarian efforts in Pakistan.
A Mission Rooted in Compassion
In 2015, she founded Rahman Academy in Bradford, UK, offering Islamic education with a focus on empowering women through knowledge. However, her mission extends far beyond academia.
Alongside her parents and siblings, she travels to Pakistan multiple times a year to support marginalized communities—providing medical aid, arranging marriages for families with limited means, distributing food, and addressing basic necessities, all while preserving the self-respect of those she helps.
“We ensure that assistance is provided in a way that upholds the dignity of the recipients,” she says.
Her family’s commitment extends to facilitating free medical treatments at some of Islamabad’s best hospitals, ensuring that even the most vulnerable have access to quality healthcare.
Breaking Barriers Through Education
With over a decade of teaching experience, Rummana’s Rahman Academy is now expanding online, making traditional Islamic sciences accessible to women worldwide.
The academy boasts over 500 students, fostering an inclusive environment where knowledge transcends borders.
Her educational journey is as inspiring as her philanthropic mission. She studied in Yemen, Syria, and Saudi Arabia, gaining knowledge from renowned scholars.
She pursued her Aalimiyya studies under the guidance of esteemed mentors like Shaykh Riyadh and Shaykh Naveed Jameel ash-Shaami and later continued advanced studies in the UK and at the prestigious Dar al-Zahra in Tarim, Yemen.
Ramadan: A Time for Giving
This Ramadan, Ustadha Rummana and her family have intensified their humanitarian efforts, distributing over 200 food packets filled with essentials such as flour, ghee, lentils, sugar, dates, and Rooh Afza sharbat. They wake before dawn, load their vehicles, and travel across cities, personally delivering food and financial assistance to the needy.
“We often share our first meal of the day with slum residents,” Rummana shares. “Our daily Iftar gatherings ensure that overlooked communities have a wholesome meal during Ramadan.”
Her mother, Rukhsana Shaheen, echoes this sentiment. “She is always generous. For us, it’s not about the money; it’s about serving for the sake of Allah.”
Providing Clean Water
During her first visit to Pakistan in 2019, Rummana was profoundly impacted by the dire conditions she witnessed—children sleeping on streets, families without clean water, and an overwhelming sense of despair. A defining moment came when she saw a young boy drinking from a polluted water source.
She handed him her bottled water and urged him to drink instead, a simple act that solidified her determination to bring change.
Since then, under her leadership, Rahman Academy has installed over 700 water filtration plants and thousands of tube wells across Pakistan, ensuring access to clean drinking water for countless families.
A Commitment Beyond Crisis
Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the academy remained steadfast in its mission, providing financial assistance and ensuring that no one was left behind during the global crisis.
One of their most significant contributions is hosting daily Iftar gatherings during Ramadan, a tradition that brings nourishment and happiness to slum residents in Islamabad and beyond.
A Vision for a Better Future
Ustadha Rummana’s approach to charity is deeply rooted in respect and empathy. “Even changing one life can create a ripple effect of positivity,” she believes.
“Our mission is not just to provide material support but to restore hope and dignity to those who have been forgotten.”
With unwavering dedication, Rummana Shaheen continues her mission, proving that compassion knows no boundaries and that one person’s efforts can illuminate the lives of many.
