Religious scholars denounce public display of Zakat during Ramzan in Hyderabad

Emphasise that publicising 'zakat' goes against the true spirt of the holy practice; urge sincere charity

Hyderabad: The public display and show off that is intruding the distribution of ‘zakat’ during Ramzan, is attracting the ire of religious scholars and community leaders who argue that it disobeys the idea of executing the holy deed.

Muslims calculate the zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, on one’s annual savings with at least 2.5 per cent of it to be distributed. It is mainly distributed during Ramzan.

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Dr Syed Rizwan Pasha Quadri, founder and president, The Quran Academy said that the donor should not do publicity and gather people on pretext of giving zakat. “The recipient should not feel embarrassed while accepting the donation. One should hunt for the most deserving family or person to make their good deed acceptable,” said Rizwan Pasha.

All India Majlis – e – Ittehadul Muslimeen, president and Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi while addressing a gathering during Youmul Quran at Jamia Masjid Mahboob Chowk, asked the community to avoid commercialising the Islamic obligation. “It has become a way for donors to make a video and play an emotional music in background to publicise their work. Please don’t do it. Ask the religious scholars to know more about procedure for distribution of zakat, if you don’t know,” he said.

Zakat is obligatory for every Muslim who is ‘sahib–e-nisaab’, meaning one whose annual saving equals not less than the value of 77 grams gold or 520 grams silver. “There is great awareness about the zakat in community and many are coming forward and donating it,” said Hafez Mohd Rizwan Qureshi, Khateeb, Mecca Masjid.

The institutions imparting religious education are prioritised while donating the zakat. It is followed by reputed organisations taking care of the educational and healthcare needs of the under privileged families, dignified survival of widows, divorcees, unemployed youth and people who have debts to clear.

“The primary motive of the giver should be to ensure the recipients stand on his feet and transform his life to become a donor and help others,” said Mujtaba Askari, president of Helping Hand Foundation.

 

What is Zakat?

• Zakat means “to purify, to grow, and to increase” and is the third foundational pillar of Islam

 

Conditions to be satisfied to make a person liable for Zakat:

• He/she should be Muslim

• Wealth should reach the minimum Nisab level

• One lunar year should pass from the date when the Nisab level was achieved

• Wealth is under the possession and control of the owner and he has the authority to dispose of the wealth

• Wealth has the potential for growth or grows physically due to its utilisation in business or due to biological factors

• Wealth is generated after basic needs are satisfied i.e. food, home, clothing, transportation

 

What is Nisab?

• Nisab is the minimum limit of wealth below which Zakat is not payable. However, if the wealth exceeds this minimum level, Zakat is payable. The Nisab limit for Gold is 7 ½ tolas while for Silver it is 52 ½ tolas or its equivalent

 

Zakat is applicable on six categories of wealth:

• Gold, Silver, financial products – cash, bank deposits, shares etc.

• Stock of merchandise or goods for trade

• Agricultural produce

• Livestock – herds of cattle – camels, cows, buffaloes, sheep and goats

• Rikaz (treasure troves): Buried precious metals or minerals

• Mutual Funds, insurance policies, bitcoins, ETFs, LLP share, financial products, etc