Zakat- Islamic form of charity

Chhatrapati Sambhajinaga: Muslim brethren started distributing Zakat and Fitra to needy and poor people of the city with the commencement of the third Ashra of the Holy month Ramaz.

Ramzan month splits into three Ashras (ten days). Many members of the community prefer to pay a whole year's Zakat in the last Ashra of Ramzan.

Regarding Zakat and Fitra, Maulana Rashid Madani (a local scholar) said that paying Zakat is obligatory for every wealthy person in Islam. “There are orders that whoever has seven and a half tolas of gold or money (assets) equal to its value should distribute two and a half per cent of it as Zakat among the poor. Preference should be given to pay zakat to someone needy in blood relations and then others,” he said.

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What is Zakat?

One of Islam’s major pillars is Zakat or alms, through which Muslims show support for poor and needy people. It obligatory charity alms to cleanse one’s wealth after the fasting month while giving directly to the poor and needy.

The concept of Zakat is implemented to prevent the gap between rich and poor from widening in society. Zakat is calculated on the amount that is in a person’s possession after one lunar year has passed. It is calculated at the rate of 2.5 per cent of the total wealth or money. Zakat is based on specific things like gold, silver, crops, fruits, livestock, and money over the given threshold. Not only that, the community members also need to distribute Fitra (which is mandatory for all poor and reach) compulsorily this month.

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What is Fitra?

Explaining what Fitra is, Maulana Rashid Madani said that Fitra should be distributed before Eid prayer in the month of Ramzan. “ Fitra should be distributed in the name of an even one-day-old baby in the house. There are orders to distribute the grains that we eat every day. About two kilos of grains should be given to the poor for each person in the house. If a poor person does not want grains, then if he asks for money, he should give money. The concept of Zakat and Fitra is to maintain social balance,” he added. The work of distributing Zakat and Fitra is underway in the city and surrounding areas.