Stories Etched in Dust and Glory:
A Tribute To Our Martyred Volunteers
Behind every effort at Shab e Abi Talib Foundation is a story of sacrifice. Today, we honour Alaa, a mother from Gaza and widow of the Martyr whose final sajdah (prostration) moved hearts worldwide. Her journey reflects the courage that lives on long after the battlefield falls silent.
Alaa — The Widow Who Followed Her Martyr in Faith and Fire
Alaa was one of earliest Volunteers of Shab e Abi Talib from Gaza. She lost her husband, three children, home, and all means of survival during the war. Yet she chose service over sorrow: feeding hungry children, teaching Qur'an in a tent, and holding firm to her faith. Her last message was: “Pray for us. Dr Muhammad” Shortly after, Alaa was martyred—joining her family in Jannah, leaving behind a legacy of strength greater than any army.
I didn't weep that my children were martyred— I wept because they died hungry.
-Alaa, a widow & mother of martyrs, after her own children's martyrdom in Gaza
A Hero's Widow
Months after the world saw a Palestinian Man martyred in sajdah, a message reached us. His widow, Alaa, living in extreme poverty in Khan Yunis, had no food, no home, and three children to feed. Our local volunteers verified her identity and story—she was indeed the wife of the hero the world had mourned.
Children Lost to Hunger
One day, while Alaa, her daughter, and her mother-in-law went to the market, an airstrike hit their shelter — a UN school where they were taking refuge. Her two little sons, left behind waiting for food, were martyred. Her voice cracked with grief as she shared: “I didn’t weep that my children were martyred — I wept because they died hungry.”
Feeding with Love
Our other volunteers, Yasmeen and Ahmed, rushed to support Alaa. A tent was set up, and with donations from our supporters, she was helped to start a small market stall. Alaa's heart wouldn’t let a hungry child go empty-handed—often giving food away until it was gone. She even made pizzas for the displaced children.
Teaching in the Rubble
Despite her losses, Alaa remained a beacon of strength. Once an English and Qur'an teacher, she began teaching again—inside a tent, under open skies. With your support, Qur'an lessons resumed for displaced children, bringing hope where there was none.
Enduring Displacement
Forced from Khan Yunis to Deir al-Balah and back again, Alaa endured relentless displacement. Her young daughter became critically ill, but medicine was impossible to find. The little angel became martyred. Despite these intense trials, Alaa kept serving and teaching wherever she could set up shelter.
Her Final Message
As the bombardment on Khan Yunis intensified, Alaa sent her last message: "I will pray for all of you, Dr Muhammad. You people helped us when none other did." Since then, there has been no contact. Later, we learned she had embraced martyrdom. Her story lives on, even if her voice has gone silent.
She Is One of Many
Alaa's story is not alone. It is one of many. Dozens of our volunteers and their families in Gaza continue to live, serve, and often die under fire—silent heroes whose sacrifices deserve to be remembered and honoured. May Allah accept their martyrdom and grant them the highest ranks in Jannatul-Firdaws. Ameen.
Help us carry forward their legacy. Support their families. Let no child go hungry. Let no martyr's story go untold. Join Us Now.