IT was 5.35am when I woke up for ablution to say Fajr prayers. Physical contact with water in winter is like an ice bucket challenge. Many times Satan tries to convince me to stay in bed but I ignore him anyway. He tries to stop me every morning, but these days I have a different motivation — the miserable condition of Syrian refugees in this appalling winter.

The people of Syria are shelterless as their country is facing a horrific war crisis. From the civil war to the IS occupation, Syrians are going through a human disaster. Now winter is worsening the situation for them because aid and funds from different world organisations are unable to keep up with their needs. It’s a tough time for them, but even under these circumstances, they are still going strong.

If they can have a strong faith in God despite facing such dreadful destruction , then why a person like me, a girl in a perfectly warm home, should, with hot water from the tap, feel lazy in praying. I’m living in Pakistan and I pray to thank God that I do not live in Syria.

Rubab Zahra Malik

Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2017