He had to choose between a homeless mother and his deen...

Wali didn’t mince words when he called us this April.

“To be honest, akhi, I feel like I’m choosing between the deen and my mother,” he told Tabari, a Tayba counsellor, “I’m ready to get back to selling drugs so that she doesn’t have to go homeless.”

Wali got out of prison just 3 months prior, and his life was already unraveling.

He was incarcerated at 19 and had little experience living as an adult in free society. While he became Muslim in prison, he did not have the opportunity to study the deen that could’ve helped him navigate his life on the outside.

His girlfriend accepted Islam while he was in prison and they got married. After his release, he moved in with her, but neither of them had experience living together as a married couple. As a result, tension and conflict arose frequently.

And as many formerly incarcerated, Wali struggled to find a job.

The straw that broke the camel’s back

When Wali’s mother was kicked out of her home onto the streets and his landlord refused to let her stay with them, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

With no job and no money to get her a place to live, Wali had a choice: get back to his criminal life on the streets to earn some cash, or let his mom go homeless.

It was his Muslim barber that referred him to Tayba’s re-entry services. In desperation, he gave us a call. And alhamdulillah, this is exactly the kind of situation that our team deals with on a regular basis.

Help is here

Within a few days, we connected Wali’s mother to a Muslim organization in his locality that offered her affordable housing. Wali and his wife were able to receive food assistance from them as well.

We also connected him with resources that enabled him to finally find work.

When he first met the local Muslims and saw the help they were offering, Wali broke down in tears.

You see, the Muslim community in prison is often a tight, supportive circle of fellow believers. But until he reached out to Tayba, Wali struggled to find the same community on the outside.

And now, all of a sudden, the Muslim community was there to support him through every difficulty he was facing.

Going strong

Alhamdulillah, Wali’s mom is still staying in the same place Tayba found her. Wali is still working. And while his marriage continues to be rocky, his sessions with Tayba counsellors are helping him learn how to nurture a loving relationship based on mutual trust and respect - something he never experienced growing up.

Back in April, Wali was one step away from going back to drugs and becoming another failed re-entry statistic. Alhamdulillah, Wali’s barber happened to know about Tayba and was able to refer him to us.

But far too many Muslims struggle like Wali and don’t find help. Many end up losing their freedom (and sometimes their deen) in the process.

Your zakat and sadaqa can help us reach more and more struggling Muslims and help them make their re-entry successful.