Assalaamu alaikum brothers and sisters,

I don't really know where to begin...

I am Umm Abdullah. I am in a situation at the moment that has spiralled out of control - due to unforseen circumstances.

I am in debt of in excess of £8000 due to my housing situation. My husband works alhumdulillah but what he makes is not sufficient to pay the debt we owe and survive. The debt is not a result of our spending at all. In fact we will be made homeless soon and hope the council will house us.

We are not proud people but I have never been in such an awful predicament.

Last month I sold my last pieces of jewellery that was given to me by my husband as a gift on the birth of our son. I sold it because we needed to buy food and electric. I am currently selling things on eBay just to help us get by each month.

I have had fallen so low that my mind has thought of ending my life but then I cannot do that because Allah guided me and Islam is the ONLY thing that gives me strength to carry on and keep me sane.

It is for this reason I am appealing to you to believe me when I say I would not ask if I could get rid of the problem myself. I know that there is a hadeeth that states that a person who relieves a burden of another muslim will have the same reward from Allah. I find it very difficult to understand why we need to hear or see such bad things about people in order to help them. Right now I hope it suffices to say what I have and know that the situation is much worse than I have stated. I cannot write without crying and I cannot give up on people. Allah will make a way for me whether it's through your charity or somewhere else. Make dua I have the strength to be patient.

I spoke to a sheikh recently for advice and he said that he could not give me permission to take an interest baring loan but informed me that I am entitled to zakat and people can give me this in advance.

I am not begging...I'm just asking for your help.