“A Family’s Journey of Dawah Through Ramadan Library Displays: Spreading Knowledge Across New Zealand”
Since my son Ammaar turned 4, visiting the library became a weekly tradition for our family. We were always fascinated by the various cultural shows and displays featured in the libraries. Inspired by this, I decided to approach our local library to create a small Ramadan corner for a week to share with others. Alhamdulillah, they were very welcoming and allowed us to display our decorations.
Along with my children, Ammaar and Sawdah, we decorated a small corner at the Avondale Library. To our joy, this simple display became a source of dawah, and, Alhamdulillah, a father and his son embraced Islam after learning about it. This success motivated me to expand our efforts the following year.
In the next Ramadan, I managed to save money from my household expenses to buy decorations, and we expanded our efforts to nine libraries in the western suburbs of Auckland. Every time, my children accompanied me, and they enjoyed helping set up the displays. It quickly became a Ramadan tradition for us, and we looked forward to it each year.
In 2024, I took our efforts to the next level by emailing libraries outside of Auckland a month ahead of Ramadan to request permission for a Ramadan display. Several libraries were excited to participate, and I sent them decoration and information packs. With the help of local trusts, Alhamdulillah, we managed to set up Ramadan displays in 18 libraries across New Zealand.
A remarkable moment came when children’s book author Scott McGregor reached out after seeing our displays. He was interested in writing a book about my son, Ammaar. He visited us during the last days of Ramadan and Eid, where he enjoyed our hospitality. His book, which focuses on dawah and Islamic teachings, has now become a lasting legacy for us, covering the five pillars of Islam, akhlaq (ethics), community rights, Ramadan, and Eid.
This year, we continued our journey by emailing 29 libraries, and I received positive responses from 25 libraries, including 14 local libraries in Auckland and 10 libraries in cities across New Zealand. Alhamdulillah, my children and I were ready and well-prepared, completing the local library displays and sending materials to the national libraries. By the fourth day of Ramadan, we had achieved our goal, with displays set up in major cities such as Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch, Tauranga, Invercargill, and many others.
Thanks to funding this year as well, the journey of our library displays has grown from a humble beginning of one library to 25. My goal is to make Ramadan a recognized month in libraries’ calendars and leave behind a legacy and dawah framework for my children to continue after I am gone, Insha’Allah.
