السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
Today is Wednesday 29th April 2020. My chosen subject today is ‘Ramaḍān and Charity‘.
The majority of our brothers and sisters work out their annual Zakāt out in Ramaḍān. As soon as Ramaḍān commences, people start giving their donations.
Zakāt is one of the 5 pillars of Islām. It is obligatory on each mature Muslim to find out the laws regarding Zakāt and give accordingly. Consult your local Imām and work out if Zakāt is compulsory on you, and if so, then how much? Our sisters should consult their local ꜤĀlimāts and familiarise themselves with the laws pertaining to Zakāt
Besides Zakāt, there are also other categories of donations you should get clued up on. Ṣadaqah is of 2 types: Wājibāh and Nāfilāh. Then there is Ṣadaqat ul-Fiṭr, Fidyāh, Kaffārāh, and last but not least, Lillāh.
Lillāh is the best kind of donation. Giving in the path of The Almighty without any obligation at all. This is the charity Almighty Allāh likes the best.
The Almighty has blessed me so much that I have been in the field of charity for nearly 30 years now. On a number of occasions, I have been on the ground in countries like Albania, Bangladesh, India and Macedonia and heard first hand the DuꜤās that come from the beneficiaries for the donors. They bring tears to the eyes.
Recalling the day I was in a hospital in Aḥmedabad (India) where cataract operations were taking place, financed by our charity organisation, ‘Muslim Welfare Institute’, when an elderly lady came out of the operating theatre. We asked her how old she was and if her eyesight had improved. Her words are inscribed in gold on my heart forever.
She said she was about 70 years old and now that she could see much better, she will be able to serve her mother and look after her properly. سُبْحَانَ الله! Naturally my next question was: ‘How old is your mother?‘ ‘About 90‘ was her reply!
So, come on brothers and sisters, I don’t think there has been a Ramaḍān in our history where the call for assisting the needy has been greater. We in the UK are so blessed, with countless bounties and favours of Almighty Allāh’s upon us. Let’s spend as much as possible in the path of Almighty Allāh. Remember, charity does not decrease wealth.
One final point. When it comes to charity, please give priority to where the need is greatest. There is no need for us to start distributing food, etc., here in the UK. Yes, of course there are poor people here as well. Let them know who to contact if they are in need. They will contact you. But please, do not start going house to house giving out food items. مَا شَآءَ الله, most if not all of us have enough food on our tables.
Use your money for those who are out on the streets in developing countries begging and crying out for a few morsels of food to start and end their fast. Use your money for those whose Īmān is being tested by people of other faiths, who offer assistance to the poor on the condition that they accept that faith.
The UK has plenty of money. When it comes to flattening Islamic countries, our defence budget has no shortages. Let the government look after the NHS and its citizens instead of saving their billions to kill thousands of your innocent brothers and sisters as and when they want.
Almighty Allāh give each and every Muslim, and organisation, the true understanding of charity, Āmeen.
Please share widely for all to benefit.
جزاك الله خيرا
Request for DuꜤās
والسلام Hanif Dudhwala