Poverty: The Story of Silent Screams

Poverty is not just a word; it is a sigh—a silent scream that rises every day from thousands of homes, yet finds no one to hear it. It is the pain hidden in the cold ashes of an unlit stove, the tears a mother wipes away while her children sleep, and the longing reflected in a father’s eyes when he cannot fulfill even the smallest wish of his children. At times, helplessness turns into deep despair.
In our society, countless people, despite working hard all day, are forced to sleep hungry at night. When an innocent child labors instead of going to school, it is not merely his compulsion—it is a question mark on our entire system. Poverty snatches away dreams, erases smiles, and leaves people helpless in the face of circumstances.
How tragic it is that, on one side, there is the glitter of palaces, while on the other, life struggles in fragile mud huts. On one side, there is extreme extravagance and display, while on the other, eyes yearn for a single piece of bread. This contrast is not only economic but also moral—it holds a mirror to us as a society. We often try to present ourselves as devout and religious, yet the helplessness of the poor rarely shakes our conscience.
Poverty does not only exhaust the body; it also wears down the soul. It erodes a person’s self-confidence and traps them in a sense of inferiority. When a mother cannot afford medicine for her sick child, the pain she endures is beyond words. These are the moments when a person can do nothing but weep over their helplessness.
But the question is: will we remain mere spectators? Will we allow these tears to continue to flow? No—this is the time to awaken, to feel, and to act. If every well-off individual supports even one person in need, many lives could change. If we share our small joys with others, perhaps someone’s stove could be lit.
The eradication of poverty cannot be achieved through slogans alone—it requires empathy and action. We must revive humanity and compassion within our hearts, because until we feel the pain of others as our own, these silent screams will continue to echo around us.
At times, my heart aches to think: is being poor such a grave crime that one is denied even a dignified livelihood? Moreover, the poor are often seen as a burden on society. Those in power exploit this poverty for political gain, openly trading in the emotions of the poor.
In reality, it is a tragedy of our society that keeping the poor in poverty has become a calculated strategy of the wealthy and the powerful.
Now the question arises: will we be able to face our Creator on the Day of Judgment? Can we truly say that we fulfilled our purpose in this world? These questions may be bitter, but they are worth reflecting upon.
Columnist:
Muhammad Hafeez Mir
Contact No: 7006756956