charity & inspirational people

I tripped today while coming down the escalator trying to save my train ticket. I was so embarrassed I just smiled at myself and walked away real fast. Note to self next time keep the darn ticket in your pocket or bad. I was fiddling with my ticket when it slipped out of my hand just as I was a few steps down – I panicked so I quickly kicked it so it wont get stuck on the escalator much to my dismay as I attempted to retrieve and looked back to make sure no one was there I tripped woo hoo iffa way too go goof ball .. Well anyways I am happy to say I walked away unscathed maybe just a tad embarrassed ;)) luckily there were not many people there.

Today I wondered and wondered obviously I was gave myself to wonder about this morning and then I thought of the what if’s, and then I weighed down the choices then I started to have all sorts of thoughts in my head – hah you who reads this know who I am talking about:P but hey you know me all to well ;)) anyways ..

It’s the 13^th day of Ramadan – mom and I had a nice quiet iftar. My mom is so cute when she breaks her fast; she places 3 pieces of dates on her plate, a glass of water, her cup of coffee and waits for the call to prayer – just like a fasting child waiting to break their fast. My uncle brought this up when we were in Johore cause she did the exact same thing except with her favorite dish on the plate too – it was just really adorable. She is all so innocent ;)).. We had a simple meal today actually leftovers from yesterday. We had another bowl of shabshukah so we had that again with some additional sides like kuih keriah, epok epok and samosa which are all traditional Malay dishes except maybe for the samosa which is also a dish eaten by the Indian community. I will write about the food in another blog which is devoted just to food ;))

Today’s sermon on the radio just before iftar is something very close to earth – about family ties and how it can be strengthened. This includes ties between husband and wife, parents and children and the community on the whole. He encouraged families to take advantage of the month by breaking fast together then doing congregational prayers. According to him Allah bestows more of His blessings when a family is at peace with each other and doing things like praying and breaking fast together. With berkat or blessing, the family will more harmonious and there is more love and mutual respect for each other. this is a time where too he said where we have to be extra patient with our spouses, with our parents who when we were young have been very patient with us again this was mentioned because in this month our patience is tested a lot of the time when it comes to communication with the elderly.

On the Malay local channel here called Suria, there is a special program that airs only in Ramadan. It’s called ‘Kau Istimewa’ in the concept of the show it means You’re Extraordinary. It’s a about the inspiring lives of the a poor and desolate in Singapore who in spite of their poverty strive to live independent lives and find ways in making their lives and their family lives better . The show also shows how the Islamic Religious Council or (MUIS) here allocates the zakat money to the 8 asnafs or zakat recipients.

Zakat is one of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word Zakat means both 'purification' and 'growth'. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.

Zakat is the amount of money that every adult, mentally stable, free, and financially able Muslim, male and female, has to pay to support specific categories people.

The 8 groups of recipients or asnafs eligible for this are..

Fuqaraa and al-masaakin The main purpose that these groups are being the recipients is to eradicate poverty and scantiness within the ummah. According to a wellknown mufassir (a person who understands the meaning of Quran) Tabari, fuqaraa means needy people but can help themselves not to beg, whereas al-masaakin means people who are needy and beg.

'Amil zakah The third target group is 'amil zakat, which are those who perform all the zakah administration. This includes collecting zakah, account them, and distribute them.

Muallaf Muallaf are people whose hearts are expected to inclined to Islam or whose believe to Islam is expected to increase, or people whose bad intension to Muslims is to be prevented, or people who are expected to be of benefit to or help Muslims from their enemies. There are several groups of people that are qualified as muallaf:

• People who or whose groups or family are wished to be Muslims
• People who are worried to do crime if not helped
• People who just become Muslims
• Muslim leaders or public figures whose friends are kufur
• Muslim leaders or public figures whose believe is not yet firmed
• Muslims who live in fortresses or in the front of enemy line
• Muslims who need help in enforcing the collection of zakah from reluctant people

Riqab (slaves) There are two ways to free slaves. Firstly, is to help mukatab. Mukatab is slaves who have agreements with the master to be released once they can present certain amount of fortune. The second way is to buy slaves and then free them from their own zakah or from the collected zakah by a government.

Gharimun (debtor) According to ibnu Humam in al-Fath, gharim are debtor who are trapped with their liabilities to fulfill basic need. Mazhab Imam Syafi'i argued that this asnafs deserve to be given zakat to pay their liabilities with some preconditions, which are: they have no wealth to pay their liabilities; they do not perform sin or illegal activities; the payment of liabilities has reached its due date. They deserve to get the amount of zakat which is as much as their liabilities. But if the creditors release them from their obligation to pay the liabilities, they have to give the share of zakat back to Islam.

There are two groups of debtors. One is those who are in debt for their own wellbeing, such as for living cost, clothing, or treating sick people.Another group is those who are in debt in the effort to solve conflicts or to perform social obligations, such as care for orphans, provide health services for fuqaraa and orphans, etc.

Fi sabilillah Fi sabilillah means in the path that conveys Allah's ridha in terms of aqidah or deeds. Syeh Rashid Ridha in Tafsir Al Manar explained that zakah for this asnaf can be used for the public benefit (maslahah of ummah) with regard to the establishment of aqidah of ummah.

Ibnu Sabil According to jumhur ulama, ibnu sabil is an expression for musafir. Musafir are people who are travelling. Although an ibnu sabil has living means, he can receive zakah if he has trouble in accessing his means during travelling.

Giving in Islam is an encouraged act. A pious person may also give as much as he or she pleases as sadaqa, and does so preferably in secret. Although this word can be translated as 'voluntary charity' it has a wider meaning. The Prophet said 'even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is charity.' A smile is also charity. The Prophet said: 'Charity is a necessity for every Muslim.

' He was asked: 'What if a person has nothing?' The Prophet replied: 'He should work with his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such earnings in charity.' The Companions asked: 'What if he is not able to work?' The Prophet said: 'He should help poor and needy persons.' The Companions further asked 'What if he cannot do even that?' The Prophet said 'He should urge others to do good.' The Companions said 'What if he lacks that also?' The Prophet said 'He should check himself from doing evil. That is also charity.'

With that explained, the show today featured three very special people with heart warming & inspirational tales to tell. During the interview and the snap shots of how they lived their lives, it can’t help but make you shed a tear or two and makes you thankful for what little you have and to keep the festival shopping to a minimal buying only what you need because you know there are others who are not so lucky.

The first story was about a couple – Jamaliah & Sulaiman who in spite of having eight children chose to live on their own so that they will not burden their kids. Though one of their children offered to take them in, they declined seeing that she had her own 7 kids and her in laws was staying with them. They said because her father was in a wheel chair all he would be was a burden. The husband Sulaiman is diabetic and had his leg amputated where as his wife Jamaliah is not very strong herself yet they help each in making life bearable. He offered to help her with the cooking seeing because she has cooked for him and the family their whole lives and this was his way to repay her. She on the other hand, does most of the house work and laundry though sometimes she has to do sitting down. It really touches your heart seeing how they take care of each other, she talks him for a stroll and worries that what would happen to him should she pass way first. She often asks him that and wonders if he chooses to live with their children or welfare homes. Seriously you watch this you make sure you have a tissue handy.

This couple faced one test after another – first with Sulaimans leg being amputated and the next big test when a wire shot caused a fire in their home destroying most of their belongings including sulaimans medication. In spite of that they preserved and with help from neighbors and friends they carried on with their lives with what little they had. Their strength, their courage truly inspirational. Where they get it is way beyond me. Jamaliah says that every time Eid (the Muslim festival after Ramadan) comes she would cry thinking of her children and wondering if they would come and visit them or call. She would be so happy and thankful even if it was phone call. She always hopes and prays that their children get in touch with them – if it’s not for her sake at least for her husbands sake. Talk about selflessness..

The other story is about Mak Teh who like Sulaiman and Jamaliah lives on her own in spite of having a family of her own. The situation of how she came to live alone I missed but I know she strived to self sustain herself by making local Malay cakes and sells them at the store near where she lives. She would wake up very early in the morning and starts making about 4 or 5 types of cake and sending them to the store. In a day she should make $10 profit and on some days she makes none and on a real good day she makes $20, To her she doesn’t need to make profit every time but the one time she does make some profits, its for her to get more ingredients for the days ahead. To her no matter how small she makes as long as she know she is making her own money – that to her satisfies her.

In spite of her life she seems to be happy grateful happy contended and her only one wish is that when she is at her death bed, she wants her children and grandchildren to be with her.

A Malay saying ‘ berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu memikul’ which translates too, its hard to watch its ever harder to bear clearly describe how we the viewers feel when we watch their stories. Makes one want to work harder, stop complaining. On a brighter note though, they are being helped by the Islamic Religious Council on a monthly basis – that in itself helps to lessen their burden.

Stories like these of real people in real tough situations makes you stop and think and look at your own life. These people never complain instead they are accepting of how their lives are. They don’t burden anyone and if anything they strive on their on a daily basis. Truly inspirational and its through stories like these that we are encourage to be giving knowing that every cent we fork out are for the benefit and the betterment of another human being. Though giving should be done every time, giving in Ramadan has a more special and deeper meaning. Aside from giving, it teaches us humility, teaches us to be thankful for what we have it gives the word personal struggle a whole new meaning.

Sources: http://www.wikipedia.com

http://www.islamicity.com/

http://www.portalinfaq.org.uk/node/22