Everywhere I turn these days it seems to be all about charity and I say that with great pleasure. It's lovely to see people getting involved and more surrounded by charity alhamdulillah. With this month being the month of forgiveness and all, it also comes with fulfilling a few of pillars of Islam. I say a few but actually it's 4 out of the 5! A great month right!? Throughout this month we confirm 1) faith and belief of one God, Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger. 2) We establish the daily prayers and for many of us that should be a natural duty of ours that fits in nicely within our day to day life. 3) Giving Zakat and giving to the needy. 4) Of course fasting in this month of ramadan.
Today I will be talking about the third pillar of Islam which is Zakat and charity. As muslims, every sane adult, men and women whose net yearly savings meet or exceed the nisaab values which is currently £218 must must must give in the name of charity every year without a miss and so what is compulsory is 2.5% of one years total growing wealth so that includes bank savings, cash, bonds etc. It also includes Jewellary and gold. The amount is then distributed across the poor. As muslims we shouldn't think "oh it's that time of the year, I need to give money"! No that's wrong. It's that time of the year where you think deeply about those who are unfortunate and need help. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) has said “Whoever pays the zakat on his wealth will have its evil removed from him” (Ibn Khuzaimah and at-Tabaraani).
I understand if some find it hard to get into the whole whirl wind of charity because you don't know how much is right to give or which organisation to give it to because it can all get overwhelming and we all want our money to go to the right charity and not into peoples pockets don't we hence why the hesitation. I would like to tell you how I have gotten into charity and now I love giving it because I understand the concept and the pleasure I get out of it is amazing.
First of all I'de like to talk about people around me. I have been blessed with an amazing friend who lives for charity and helping the needy. Seriously when I think of her I think charity and mountains. She does a lot of fund raising by going mountain climbing and all that sort. Whats great about her is her passion and the way she talks about it to our group of friends. It's inspirational to see how she has made this a big part of her life subhanallah. That's how my charity journey began. I started giving my charity money to my friend when she was raising money for different reasons. Soon enough I got married and I pay zakat now because I have savings every year. I have also started paying a trusted organisation Islamic Relief UK monthly on a direct debit of £10. I had never before this signed up to anything like that but then I thought why not! I mean thats £2.50 a week and I spend many £2.50's on a daily basis so £10 a month would most certainly not burden me. Remember charity is not to burden you but to be given out of pleasure for the sake of Allah. I definitely recommend you to do something like that because it's such a good way of giving without a miss. At home I have this mini cooper ceramic change saver that my best friend bought me and I love this thing so much. I decided to involve my whole family into charity so I leave this out now and I told everyone to just drop in their change they don't need and over a couple of months it builds up so much. It is pleasing to see the change and what I do is then give that to a trusted charity organisation. All these little steps is just a way to step closer to Allah and that should be our end goal inshaAllah.
Charity is not all about money. You may not be in a position to pay charity which is totally fine but give charity for free. Help people. Do everyday charity by helping people who you know and who you don't know. Give a gesture if an issue has arisen, a gesture that will provide peace between people. Smile at someone. I remember how I once was just walking and looked like a misery. A man was walking by and he smiled at me. I carried on with a miserable face and walked into a chicken and chip shop and placed my order. I turn around and I see the man walking back and I see him outside the shop and he says smile and shows it with his hand. I kind of thought this is weird but he didn't leave till I cracked a smile and I did. That smile stayed with me and I never forget now that smiling is free and believe it or not by smiling at someone you could make their day, it's just that you won't know it. It will always remain between them and Allah. If you don't have money it's ok. You can still give plenty, if not more but just set your mind set that it's for the sake of Allah and trust me everything will be a pleasure indeed inshAllah.
I hope the rest of ramadan goes well for everyone and pretty please keep me and my family in your duas I'A.
Today I will be talking about the third pillar of Islam which is Zakat and charity. As muslims, every sane adult, men and women whose net yearly savings meet or exceed the nisaab values which is currently £218 must must must give in the name of charity every year without a miss and so what is compulsory is 2.5% of one years total growing wealth so that includes bank savings, cash, bonds etc. It also includes Jewellary and gold. The amount is then distributed across the poor. As muslims we shouldn't think "oh it's that time of the year, I need to give money"! No that's wrong. It's that time of the year where you think deeply about those who are unfortunate and need help. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) has said “Whoever pays the zakat on his wealth will have its evil removed from him” (Ibn Khuzaimah and at-Tabaraani).
I understand if some find it hard to get into the whole whirl wind of charity because you don't know how much is right to give or which organisation to give it to because it can all get overwhelming and we all want our money to go to the right charity and not into peoples pockets don't we hence why the hesitation. I would like to tell you how I have gotten into charity and now I love giving it because I understand the concept and the pleasure I get out of it is amazing.
First of all I'de like to talk about people around me. I have been blessed with an amazing friend who lives for charity and helping the needy. Seriously when I think of her I think charity and mountains. She does a lot of fund raising by going mountain climbing and all that sort. Whats great about her is her passion and the way she talks about it to our group of friends. It's inspirational to see how she has made this a big part of her life subhanallah. That's how my charity journey began. I started giving my charity money to my friend when she was raising money for different reasons. Soon enough I got married and I pay zakat now because I have savings every year. I have also started paying a trusted organisation Islamic Relief UK monthly on a direct debit of £10. I had never before this signed up to anything like that but then I thought why not! I mean thats £2.50 a week and I spend many £2.50's on a daily basis so £10 a month would most certainly not burden me. Remember charity is not to burden you but to be given out of pleasure for the sake of Allah. I definitely recommend you to do something like that because it's such a good way of giving without a miss. At home I have this mini cooper ceramic change saver that my best friend bought me and I love this thing so much. I decided to involve my whole family into charity so I leave this out now and I told everyone to just drop in their change they don't need and over a couple of months it builds up so much. It is pleasing to see the change and what I do is then give that to a trusted charity organisation. All these little steps is just a way to step closer to Allah and that should be our end goal inshaAllah.
Charity is not all about money. You may not be in a position to pay charity which is totally fine but give charity for free. Help people. Do everyday charity by helping people who you know and who you don't know. Give a gesture if an issue has arisen, a gesture that will provide peace between people. Smile at someone. I remember how I once was just walking and looked like a misery. A man was walking by and he smiled at me. I carried on with a miserable face and walked into a chicken and chip shop and placed my order. I turn around and I see the man walking back and I see him outside the shop and he says smile and shows it with his hand. I kind of thought this is weird but he didn't leave till I cracked a smile and I did. That smile stayed with me and I never forget now that smiling is free and believe it or not by smiling at someone you could make their day, it's just that you won't know it. It will always remain between them and Allah. If you don't have money it's ok. You can still give plenty, if not more but just set your mind set that it's for the sake of Allah and trust me everything will be a pleasure indeed inshAllah.
I hope the rest of ramadan goes well for everyone and pretty please keep me and my family in your duas I'A.
A S S A L A M U – A L A I K U M
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