I posted it here rather than religion because I wanted to hear personal stories and perspectives. To whom do you give and how?
Re: To whom and how do you give Zakat?
We usually give it to people we know in Pakistan or the U.K who need it, not family, but someone in the community, different people everytime. You know, people who have lost their husbands, or fathers or cant pay for medical bills and stuff.
Re: To whom and how do you give Zakat?
So not organizations as much.
I never know how to give people money face to face.
So not organizations as much.
I never know how to give people money face to face.
Well I dont have to do that part. I give it to my dad, or grandad and they do they whole giving it to people. We all sort of pool our money together as a family. Like everyone will give their money to that one person or their family.
I give sadqa to organisations as its easier for me to do that online.
Re: To whom and how do you give Zakat?
We usually give it at the local masjid and they distribute to poor families.
Re: To whom and how do you give Zakat?
zakat is meant to first and foremost be given to those less fortunate in your own family (extended or immediate), then in your neighbourhood and then elsewhere.im sure there is a txt relating to this in either hadees or quran.... but since this hasnt been posted in the religion forum.. forget it :D
i remember my dad always had 5 families within our own family taht we have been giving zakat to ever since i can remember.... widows or husbands dont earn anything.
this yr was the first zakat we paid as a couple my husband and i, and it went to a poor family again, within our own family, who were trying to put things together for one of their many daughters, for her upcoming wedding.
we transfered money to a family member's account and they gave it in cash to the needy family..
i remember my dad never ever gave zakat face to face to the needy person.. he found it disrespectful (if it was someone in the family).. just thought the other person may feel embrassed... so he would always give it to my mamu and he would distribute the zakat to the diff families.
Re: To whom and how do you give Zakat?
^yep as close as can be. i usually gave it away to thsoe in family who needed it, or the maid that was working for us since our childhood.or now there is humanappeal organisation that i think could be valuable in reaching those who need. they sponsor orphans and other supplies to the needy.
just a reminder make sure you weigh your jewellery, i had an estimate gone wrong once, its always good to weigh it
Re: To whom and how do you give Zakat?
we have some people in our home town back in pakistan and my parents prefer to give them zakat. we always give zakat and other money to one widow who has 4 daughters to look after.
dad's brother (volunterly) works for Zakat department in pakistan and he has responsibility of distributing funds in several towns including our own town. he first finds out who need zakat than their financial conditon (depending on their family size and other factors), makes a list of all those who are eligible for it and pays cash.
we usually send him money but we tell him to pay to the specific person we want as my parents feel so much few people.
Re: To whom and how do you give Zakat?
^do you have to tell them that it's a zakat money? Can't you give it to them as eidi or something like that?
Re: To whom and how do you give Zakat?
janu gtg.. zakat has to be paid before the end of ramadan.
sehar: cant u give it to someone that is a mutual friend.. and they can pass it on... zakat is always meant to be anonymous.. i dont think any of the families we have given to zakat over the past yrs know where the money came from...we have a mutual person who we transfer money to, and they distribute it in cash to the needy family.
Re: To whom and how do you give Zakat?
I just sent my zakat through Western Union to my 4 cousins in Quetta.
My khala (their mother) was killed by an astray bullet earlier his year in Quetta. She was recently seperated from her (abusive) husband and was living at her parental house with her kids and 3 of her siblings (+families).
The father of the kids has not taken responsibility of the kids after my khala's unfortunate death. They're now living with my maamu's famiily (who himself has 4 kids).
There was no doubt in my mind where I would want to send my zakat this year. My friends have voluntarily contributed their zakats aswell and I've managed to send a very generous amount to the kids. Alhamdulillah, feel blessed to be in the position to do this. I think zakat is such a beuatiful part of our religion :)
janu gtg.. zakat has to be paid before the end of ramadan.
According to what I had read, it can be given throughout the year. There is specific charity that is given during Ramadan/Eid...right?
Re: To whom and how do you give Zakat?
the Zakat money does not have to be given before end of Ramzan. However it is said to have 1 set hijri date so all the calculations are done on that day each year, the money from that can be donated throughout the year. People tend to give more during Ramzan because of more sawab and some other reasons.
Same as most people, most of our zakat goes to a couple of families in relatives who are needy. We also give to charities such as Eidhi, Shaukat khanam hospital, Islamic relief, Muslim Aid, United Islamic aid, Peace TV etc which we have grown to trust and are inshAllah genuine. There are a couple more, mum has a list made. all of us put together the money and then spread it.
Re: To whom and how do you give Zakat?
if I'm not mistaken the charity given before eid-ul-fitr is called zakat-ul-fitr or fitrana among pakistanis.
^ Oh yup, and gifts I always give a little more to them... but is that cheating? Or can it given as a gift for another occasion?
Sahar, you dont have to tell them that its zakat .. calling it gift/eidi is just fine. But please make sure that they are not Sahib-e-Nisaab (that means owns less than 71/2 tolaa gold or equal cash) otherwise your zakat would be nullified
True. The key is that your niyyat is that “I am giving zakat”. You can’t give them Eidi with the intention of a gift and then later go “oh you know what, I will apply that towards my zakat”.
Maheen you are also correct, it doesn’t have to be given in Ramadan but people do that for 2 reasons:
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Since zakat is based on the lunar year calculations, it’s easier for people to go with Ramadan.
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Why Ramadan and why not with Muharram or any other month? Because you get more reward for every good deed in Ramadan, that’s why a lot of people choose to give zakat during Ramadan
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I know I said 2 reasons, but I just thought of it while writing the above 2 reasons. If we give zakat money during Ramadan, it can be used to help poor families and it can really make their Eid a very joyful day.
Sahar I handed part (1/4th) of my zakat to my parents who were going to send their zakat to a relative and to a friend. The relative is not only a relative but also the wife of dad’s friend. Dad’s friend married another widow because he wanted a son. The worse part is that the time he got married to this other lady, their daughter from the first marriage was married and had kids of her own. In other words, dad’s friend and his first wife were pretty old. Once he got married to this other lady and got a son, he kind of ignored his first wife. So that’s why dad likes to help her out.
The other person was dad’s friend who got cheated in a business. He started a new business with his friend and invested his life-savings in it. The business didn’t work out and his friend took off with all of the money. So he’s almost on the street now.
The remaining 3/4th of my zakat money was given online at Zakat Foundation - Welcome to the Zakat Foundation.
Re: To whom and how do you give Zakat?
I pay it to the Jamaat:
Just to name a few sections:
Maryam Shaadi Fund
Taalimi Fund
Tahir Heart Institute
Waqf-e-Jadid
Therik-e-Jadid
Humanity First
Chanda Khudaam
Qadian Guesthouse
these are just a few, there are many more, you can decide where you want to spend money. I find this one great. The great things is, it is up to you where you spend the money :)
Re: To whom and how do you give Zakat?
^ That would be for Ahmedis though right? Sunni Muslims wouldn't give Zakaat or Fitrana to Ahmedi sections.
Re: To whom and how do you give Zakat?
We send some of it to some poor families we know in Pakistan and the rest through either local or international Islamic charity organizations
^ That would be for Ahmedis though right? Sunni Muslims wouldn't give Zakaat or Fitrana to Ahmedi sections.
You're right brother/sister. I never expected Sunni or Shia Muslims to pay Zakat or whatever do Ahmadi Sections. I think Zakat should be given to the whole world. Zakat should even help to treat poor people freely by doctores when needed by paying into hospitals etc.
Zakat should be paid when poor people can't afford to marry while other ones are having a blast and big boom boom. It should also help the education of these people. Not only food and something warm to wear!