Hyderabad: Apart from self discipline, Ramzan is also a month where stress is laid on helping the needy in the community through charity.
The most important tool to help the needy and uplift the poor in the community, Zakat, is the mandatory charity done by all Muslims during Ramzan.
In a week or two the entire community gets busy in calculations and distribution of the amount. A way of purifying one’s wealth, it is one of the five pillars of Islam.
“Zakat is a tax calculated at the rate of 2.5 per cent of one’s annual savings or property or valuables and is mandatory on all Muslims who have attained puberty and are sane and free (not bonded). One who owns at least 612 gm of silver or 87.5 gm of gold or equivalent cash is liable to pay Zakat,” explained Maulana Umar Aabideen.
There are other forms of charity like Fidaya and Fitrah. Fidaya is a donation done by those who can’t fast due to sickness and Fitrah is mandatory on all Muslims who have the means to donate.
Fitrah is calculated as 2 kg of rice or wheat or dates or barley, depending on what one can afford and is to be given prior to Eid prayers, the scholar explains. However, one can make up for it and pay if missed it.
Though there are several opinions about utilisation of Zakat and whether one should give a lump sum to one family or break it up and distribute it among people, scholars, zakat trusts and social workers are in consensus on the issue that streamlining of Zakat money should be done.
“Islamic Sharia leaves scope for both. There is no rigid rule against donating small amounts to many or a huge amount to one,” Maulana Aabideen clarified.
While many donate alms at an individual level and as and when someone approaches them, a small number of people do approach various Zakat trusts established in the state or country.
Noted philanthropist and chairman of Hyderabad Zakat and Charitable Trust (HZCT), Mr Ghiasuddin Babukhan, said, “If properly channelized, an amount to the tune of over Rs 1500 crore can be generated in TS and AP in the form of Zakat. From Hyderabad alone, around Rs 200 crore is said to be donated.”
