Touching kindness from a bedridden 10-year Arafat by Muhammad Elbildad Isah

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BY MUHAMMAD ELBILDAD ISA, MAY 7, 2025, 11:49 PM

When I visited Nigeria, among my biggest objectives was to Aisha Arafat, to see her condition. As God will have it, I was grateful that I did. My chat with her, from her sickbed, however, left me high emotions and mixed feelings.

She told me something that left me to question our general idea of kindness. Is giving what you have actually what kindness is all about? This young girl just changed my opinion towards that.

She was lying down in her sick bed, looking forward to being rescued, but she had what we all don't have, an abundant will and desire to give--from nothing but love.

When I returned to Nigeria from China, I rushed down to Maiduguri despite my very limited time to see her. And from Abuja to Kano from Kano to Maiduguri, my heart was just focused on having a glimpse of her.

In my 24 hours in Maiduguri, my visit and interaction with Arafat touched me more than anything I had done in Nigeria. On her hospital bed, I asked her if she could talk, and she said yes.

She was struggling, almost gasping, skipping breaths, which sometimes took almost forever to come, Arafat was full of hope and belief.

Here is our short conversation: Me - Arafat, how are you feeling?

Arafat - I'm feeling very well, Uncle Muhammad

Me - when did you come to the hospital?

Arafat - I think I was brought today or yesterday by my mom, I don't know.

Me - Do you want to go back home now?

Arafat - Yes, but when my doctors tell me to go home, and when I go home, I don't want to come back here again.

Me - okay Arafat, I will take you home and you will be fine, how is school?

Arafat - School is fine, Uncle Muhammad. I am missing it.

Me - what do you want to become after school?

Arafat - I want to become a medical doctor

Me - Wow. Why do you want to become a medical doctor?

Arafat - Because I want to be treating people every day freely

Me - Wonderful, but why do you want to treat people freely?

Arafat - I don't want to see people coming to the hospital but don't have money for their treatment, like me. I don't want them to die because of that.

Me - 😢 😢 Masha Allah, this is beautiful Arafat, insha Allahu you will achieve that dream and we will all make you do that.

Dear readers, this was my conversation with Arafat that continues to strike me since I returned here.

Me, Muhammad, and all of us here can make Arafat's dreams come true. We can help her recover from the medical condition she is suffering from.

Her family has so far raised N2, 933, and 146.11, and the total amount for the surgery is N12,800,000. Please let's donate to bring Arafat’s dream home. We can do it.

Here is the account number of her brother and the details of her family members for more inquiries.

Account number 2106328792 UBA Bank Acc name Usman Mohammed. Phone numbers Mother 07037354668 Brother 07068501133


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