Zakat in India
Assalamualaikum.
I am Ashraf Mohamedy and I am a Stock Broker.
I have keen interest in The Islamic Economic
System. I am also associated with the Islamic
Research Foundation, Bombay.
With respect to the questions posed by you,
I am glad to send some answers to the best
of my knowledge. I hope and pray to Allah
Subhanu Ta'aala to accept this from me and
that this may be of help for better understanding
of the Muslim Ummah.
>1. Do most Muslims give Zakat as prescribed?
Generally, Muslims do give Zakat in India
as prescribed @ 2.5 %. Of course there are
exceptions to the rule. But a majority here
do pay their Zakat.
>2. Is it usually given directly or through
an organization?
Most of the Zakat goes as handout to the
Fuqara (Poor) & Masakeen (Needy) directly.
The handouts in form of Rupee Equivalent
of $ 1.00 to $ 20.00 does not make any difference
to their lives.
Another way of distributing Zakat is giving
the Zakat to Madrasa's (Traditional Islamic
Schools Teaching Quran / Hadith / Islamic
Jurispudence). Most of the Madrasa's have
Boarding & Lodging facilities for the
students, and Muslims in the countryside,
who cannot afford to send their children
to Secular Schools, have them admitted to
such Institutions. These Madrasa's run on
Zakat Money, thereby taking care of the childrens
food, clothing, shelter as well as educational
needs.
More than 75 % of Zakat to such Madrasa's
all over the Western & Northern Parts
of India are sourced from Bombay alone. Although
this system takes care of one section of
the Indian Muslim, it depreives the Muslims
in other categories like Poor Widows, Scholarships
for Modern Scientific Education, Good Schools,
Hospitals & Healthcare systems, Da'wah,
etc.
>3. For those who give to an organization,
are there choices in
>which organization to give to?
Besides the Madrasa's mentioned above, there
are quite a few organisations to whom Zakat
can be given. All the organisations have
their own area of operations. Like IRF is
in the field of Da'wah. Rehmani Foundation,
Rahat Welfare Trust, Modern Educational,
Social & Cultural Organisation etc. are
in the field of Education & Empowerment
of Women.
>4. Are there differing interpretations
of Zakat?
Yes. Some school of thought totally disagree
with the fact that Zakat money can be utilised
to construct Schools & Hospitals, etc.
Their position is that Zkat has to be handed
over to Individuals only, alternatively it
can be channelised through an organisation
which may handover the amount to Individuals.
Besides this, there is a difference of Opinion
amonst scholars on the issue of paying @
2.5 % on the entire amount or only the amount
in excess of the Nisab Level.
>5. What is the best source for more information
about Zakat?
>Websites, books, etc.
In India there is no dearth of literature
for Zakat as well as other Issues, Alhamdulillah.
Islamic Research Founadation itself has more
than 20,000 books.
IRF details are as follows :
Islamic Research Foundation
56/58, Tandel Street (North),
Dongri, Bombay - 400009.
Tel : 022 - 3736875 (6 Lines)
Fax : 022 - 3730689
Email : islam@irf.net
Website : www.irf.net
Besides IRF there are various other organisations
imparting information about Islam. Most of
this is in the regional languages like Hindi,
Urdu, Marathi, etc.
I hope this gives you an idea of the system
of Zakat in India. A lot of efforts have
to be put in none the less to institutionalise
the Collection & Distribution of Zakat
here. I look forward to interact more often
with you so that this exchange of ideas can
help me implement some successful strategies
from around the world.
Wassalam.
Ashraf Mohamedy
From Email message
From: Ashraf Mohamedy <ashraf@vsnl.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 1999 7:03 AM
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