The charity given to the poor is not only meant
to make the poor happy but to also make feel less concerned about their
havelessness while other people rejoice.
One major event that marks the end of Ramadan is Eid-ul-Fitr, (The
festival of breaking fast). Muslims are already preparing for the festival as
fasting nears completion.
The very last part of Ramadan is observed with
activities towards Eid (festival) which is celebrated on the first of Shawwal.
(The tenth month after Ramadan)
Allah has chosen this day for the celebration of
Eid-ul-Fitr to serve as a gratitude for the completion of Ramadan fast and to
rewards His servants who spent the whole month fasting, obeying his
commandments and engaging in other forms of Ibadan.
Part of the preparation for the celebration of the end
of Ramadan is Zakatul Fitr. (Charity that is given to mark the end of
Ramadan)
This charity is only
payable at the end of Ramadan, unlike the annual zakat (charity) that is
incumbent on all wealthy Muslims to be paid to the poor and the needy after the
person's wealth has attained the value of Nissab (Minimum amount)
Zakatul-Fitr can be given with money and its purpose
is to make sure nobody is hungry or sad on Eid day.
The person paying must pay on behalf of his
dependants, such as wife, children, house help, etc while the dependants are
exempted.
In countries like Nigeria, Zakatul Fitr is done with
staple foods that are common and consumable in a particular location. Rice,
beans, garri, millets etc can be used for Zakatul Fitr.
This form of charity
is a modest and graceful way to celebrate the end of Ramadan as Allah
makes it mandatory on all Muslims to begin the celebration with charity by
paying Zakatul Fitr to the poor in the neighborhood.
This is to ensure that everyone both rich and the poor
are happy on the festival day. The Zakat or charity given to the poor on this
day is not only meant to make the poor happy but to also put food on their
table and make them feel less concerned about their havelessnes while other
people in the community are happily celebrating the end of Ramadan.
This is the reason the charity has to be paid before
the commencement of the celebration. He who wants to pay Zakatul Fitr is
expected to start giving from Fajr (dawn) before he leaves home for Eid prayer.
However, after the
prayer, we are enjoined to celebrate responsibly without violating or
transcending the boundaries of Allah. It is haram to indulge in acts prohibited
by Allah all in the name of celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr.
Zakatul-Fitr if done rightly will not only mark the
end of Ramadan but also alleviate the poverty of the poor in our community. Let
us give as much as we have to make others happy. Allah never disappoints those
who give.
No comments:
Post a Comment