From struggle to service: A life devoted to uplifting others

On 11 December 2005, as the Cronulla riots erupted in Sydney, igniting widespread anti-Muslim sentiment, a young Bilal Fazli was quietly experiencing the ripple effects in the classroom and on the streets of Blacktown. 

Then not even a teenager, Bilal had only recently arrived in Australia from Afghanistan with his mother and two brothers, seeking safety and opportunity. 

Instead, like many other refugee kids, they were greeted with suspicion, hostility and bullying.

“The riots weren’t just something we saw on TV,” Bilal recalls. “They gave people a licence to treat us like outsiders.”

“At school, things were pretty bad – especially for visibly Muslim kids like us.”

The pressure came to a head when Bilal was expelled from high school at the age of 15 for defending his younger brother after he was attacked by older students. 

“My brother was being picked on constantly, and I stepped in,” Bilal says sadly. “It was the result of the toxic atmosphere we were all living in.”

Now 32, Bilal has transformed those painful beginnings into a life marked by compassion, advocacy and quiet leadership. 

He completed Year 10 through TAFE, eventually earning qualifications in Youth Work, Community Services and Clinical Pastoral Care. 

He also studied Qur’an and Islamic sciences at ISRA Academy, where he obtained Ijaazat in Tajweed.

These achievements opened the doors to a traineeship in Youth Work where Bilal worked on the streets of Bankstown supporting young people who were at risk of criminalisation and radicalisation, a role which subsequently led to a chaplaincy role in prisons.

“Our brothers ‘inside’ are often forgotten by society,” Bilal says.

“Being there for them, in many cases just listening to them more so than guiding them, that’s where I found I could be most effective in supporting them. ”

Today, Bilal devotes most of his time to House of Sadaqa, a Sydney-based charity founded by the inspirational Rob (Bilal) Laidlaw in 2010. 

Originally run out of Mr Laidlaw’s garage in Castle Hill, the organisation has grown into a vital support hub for people in need across New South Wales.

“House of Sadaqa is about dignity just as much as it is about aid,” Bilal Fazli explains.

“It’s about reminding people that they matter…. and giving them a fresh start.”

“And this wouldn’t  be possible without the leadership of Rob Laidlaw and the sacrifice of our wonderful volunteers.”

“Rob is a visionary who over the past 15 years has built something incredible with sincerity and heart, giving countless hours of his valuable time and accepting little or nothing in return.”

Among the charity’s many initiatives is a powerful international outreach effort: monthly shipping containers packed with up to 19 tonnes of clothing and shoes are sent to communities in crisis in countries like Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Pakistan. 

Since 2013, well over a million people have received assistance through this program.

“When we’re loading those containers, I think about what it would’ve meant to my family when we were living in Afghanistan to receive something as simple as warm clothes – that’s the kind of impact we’re making,” he says with a smile.

 Bilal is also one of a number of people who are a driving force behind Panda Paper, a social enterprise created by House of Sadaqa. 

Panda Paper sells eco-friendly bamboo toilet paper and donates 100 percent of its profits to supporting the homeless, along with low-income families who are impacted by financial crisis.

“It’s a simple product that meets a basic need, but it’s also a vehicle for change,” Bilal points out. 

“It proves that even the simple choice and purchase of basic necessities can uplift people and be a charity.”

The proud father of a three-year-old daughter, Bilal draws daily strength from his family and faith. 

His love for the Muslim community and his religion are what ground him.

“They remind me what really matters and why we do this work,” he reflects.

Bilal also credits a number of mentors and role models – both personal and spiritual – for guiding his path. 

“My mother’s strength, the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (s) and the advice of various mentors throughout my life have been my compass,” he says.

His earliest inspirations were the teachers he was exposed to as a student of ISRA. 

“My first and greatest mentor was Sadiq Ansari, the son of an Afghan migrant with immense passion for the community; he serves his Deen quietly and without any fuss.”

“He’s a man who helped me come out of a cycle where I could’ve ended up in prison myself or maybe even worst – dead.” 

Other inspirational people in Bilal’s life include Imam Salih Yucel,  Professor Mehmet Ozalp and Danny Mikati.

Bilal is a passionate advocate for volunteering, always encouraging others to get involved. 

“Volunteering teaches you humility, patience and sincerity,” he says.

“It strengthens your heart and earns you the pleasure and rewards of Allah the Almighty….and a lot of self-satisfaction.”

A committed community voice, Bilal is also outspoken when it comes to matters of justice, particularly in relation to Palestine. 

“What’s happening in Gaza is heartbreaking and as Muslims, we have a duty to speak out….silence in the face of injustice is not an option.”

From Blacktown’s tough schoolyards to working on the streets of Bankstown, echoing prison halls and community warehouses, Bilal Fazli’s life is a powerful reminder of how adversity, when met with faith and resolve, can become a vehicle for lasting change. 

His work and volunteering with House of Sadaqa continues to inspire those who need it most – and I am very proud to know him.

 “If there’s anything I’d want to come out from this article, it’s to inspire people to serve the Deen of Allah and to volunteer in any capacity,” Bilal said,

“I truly believe any and all of my achievements are primarily due to the Mercy of Allah, who inspires me to volunteer to serve our community.”

“And that is something we can never have enough of.”