Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Assalamu aleikum
Ramadan is now coming to an end. It is better if we pay our Zakat in this blessed month although it is not compulsary to pay out in this month, it can be paid anytime during a year. Huzur-e-karim (s:) was found more generous in giving charity among all people in this month. During the month of Ramadan his offering charity would have been increased manifold. In the "Koran" Allah has ordained 82 times for offering salat and zahat. Allah reveals in sura Bakara, Ayat:43.
واقيموالصلوة واتوالزكوة واركعو مع الراكعين
And be steadfast in prayer: give zakat, and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worships).
However if we have a "nesab" amount of money after meeting expenditure of the family for the whole year then we would have to pay zakat at the rate of one dollar for every fourty dollars. However if any person pays zakat then that person’s assets would never decrease, rather it would increase. Allah reveals in the Koran.
وماء اتيتم من زكوة تريدون وجه الله فاوليك هم المضعفون
But that which you give for charity, seeking the countenance of Allah, (will increase): it is these who will get a recompense multiplied.
However we would have to pay zakat for every year including the years in the past for which zakat had not been paid out. Paying zakat for those past years is a must. There is no escape for it. Likewise we would have to make up for the missed out faraz salat by performing as kaza.
Every year one or two persons are reported dead in the crowd while receiving the zakat item (saree, lungi) in Bangeadesh.According to sharia law zakat owner should enquire about the needy and instead of the needy people coming to them zakat owner should arrange to go personally to the needy for offering them zakat.
Some people among us are sending zakat amount for distribution amonng the destitutes in Bangladesh. But according to the Islamic law first preference is for those recipient in the locality in which we live. However a portion of zakat amount can be sent to Bangladesh but the first preference is for the needy people in the locality we live. There remains some charity organisations, one in Thornlie, they actually know who are really needy and their whereabouts.
However if we pay zakat we would be benefitted in many ways but if someone being illegibe but refuse to pay zakat what could happen then. In that respect Allah mentions in the Koran,
والذين يكنزون الذهب والغضة و لا ينفقونها في سبيل الله فبشرهم بعذا ب اليم-يوم يعمي عليها في نار جهنم فتكوي بها جبا ههم و جنوبهم و ظهورهم هذاما كنزتم لانفسكم فذوقوا ما كنتم تكمزون
And those who accumulate gold, silver but do not spend in the way of Allah will face severe punishment. In that day those gold and silver would be heated in the fire of zahannam and an impression will be made on their face. Both sides of the shoulder and back. Angels would continue to say these are those things that you collected for your use, now you feel the consequences.
The rate of fitre per person is prescribed as $10/person. -Fitre is for each member of the family even if a baby is born before Idul Fitre salat then fitra for that baby is wazeb to pay. No fitra to be paid for any person who died before Idul fitre salat.
Howver Allah give us tawfik to pay zakat and fitre in due time.
With Regards,
Nazmul Ahsan
