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Peace be upon you
My name is Aferdita Zenelaj and I was born on the 1st
of April, 1970, in Gjakova, Kosova. Before the war I
was married to Driton Zenelaj who was from Gjakova.
We lived a good life and God blessed us with two children:
a boy named Qendrimi and a girl named Qendresa, both
of whom brought much joy into our lives. My husband
worked as a math teacher whilst I worked as a tailor.
The situation turned bad however with Serbian hostility
towards the Albanians. My husband began military service
but some months later he fell in battle in his native
village of Jabllanice (or Eagle, as it is called today).
Hearing the news of his death is now hard for me to
describe. During arial bombardments our people where
expelled from Kosova and sent by force into neighbouring
countries. My family went to Albania.
In the beginning, we stayed for two months in Mjede,
near Shkodra, and then three weeks in Tirana. For Albania
and its people I have only good words because they offered
us all they had.
After the Serbs left Kosova, we returned to our homes.
But what was left? Only horror and destruction. Gjakova
was razed to the ground, many had been killed and more
were missing. My children and I found refuge in an abandoned
apartment as we had no other place to go to. Up to this
day we have nightmares about being thrown out.
After the war many organizations came to help, one of
them was Small Kindness which was devoted to helping
orphans. Regarding the Small Kindness Kosova Orphan
& Family Fund I have only words of gratitude. There
was a time when we did not have anything, but KOFF came
to our rescue. (I want to thank you, all the employees
of KOFF for the good work you’ve done.) Apart
from distributing money, they gave us books about Islam.
It’s the third year that I now pray regularly
and believe in Allah (God) the Almighty. I take care
to educate my children about Islam. Qendrimi is now
nine years old and is an excellent pupil and knows the
Shehada (testimony of faith) and three chapters from
the Holy Quran. Qendresa is an excellent pupil as well.
When I pray, my children pray with me. Allah took away
my husband, but gave me Islam in return. Since the first
time I prayed Salat, I felt calmness in my heart and
soul and whatever happens, I know that it is with His
Decree.
Now years have passed since the war finished. Even though
I do not have a home and live with 62 Euros of social
help, I am not scared of poverty because it is Allah
alone who provides. I pray to Him to strengthen my Iman
(faith) so one day I will put on the hijab and go to
the sacred mosque in Makkah.
In the end, I ask Allah to forgive all the believers
and to have mercy on them. May Allah grant them Paradise.
Peace be with you.
Aferdita Zenelaj
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