Sister Maryam Aynalem Hailemariam, was born into an Ethiopian Christian family in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She came to Islam after moving to Yemen during the difficult times of Communist rule in Ethiopia. 

She studied Islam with two great Ethiopian sheikhs, one in Yemen, and one, Sheikh Muhammad Siraj Saleh, RA, who lived here in Virginia. She had memorized large portions of Qur'an and obtained an ijazah from Sheikh Siraj in Tafsir al Qur'an.  For those how don’t know her she was a scholar in her community.

 In 2017 Maryam joined the Islamic Relief’s Orphan team to help serve those most vulnerable.  She loved her time at Islamic Relief USA, and loved her orphans. She worked every moment she had strength to serve them and the families that support them.   Her co-workers admired her energy, helpfulness and loving smile.  

In 2018 Allah has blessed her by inviting her to Mecca where she got to perform Hajj.  Upon her return she got sick and was in and out of the hospital for a year.  In November of 2019 the day after she arrived from Umrah she returned to her lord.   She was a passionate servant wanting to leave this world doing what she loved, worshiping Allah.

Please support a mother, a wife, a scholar, who dedicated her life serving the community she loved so much. May Allah grant her the Jennatul Firdaws.  Please offer a contribution to assist Maryam's family in her honor.