Daily Times

Sir: It is estimated that at present there are about 1.5 billion of those who call themselves Muslims. Of these, some are Zakat-payers but the multitude needs food and clothing, medicine, rudimentary education and a roof over their heads.

A rough estimate will show that the Zakat due every year is much more than we need. But every year many children die of hunger for want of medicine and due to harsh weather.

This only shows a lack of coordinated centralised effort by Muslim countries. A proposed scheme is explained below:

A central office should be established by the OIC at a central place like Makkah, with a few branches at suitable places.

Its functions will be as follows:

To collect Zakat from all over the world, including non-Muslim countries with large Muslim populations; to establish a central bank; to construct silos and sheds for storing; to buy required items; to register all beneficiaries in each branch office and to form a committee to oversee the operations.

Ulema should start a campaign to explain to the Muslims that in the face of children dying of hunger and disease, Umrahs and Nafil Haj will not be accepted by Allah. Is it not a fact that 50 percent of the money goes to airlines?

Once a man came to Bashar Hani (who was the mentor of Imam Hambal) and said: “I have saved 1,000 dinars and want to go for Nafil Haj.” Bashar said: “Shall I show you a better way? Give all this money to the hungry and the poor; you will get reward many times.”

The man did not agree with this. Bashar said: “When money is impure, a man’s inner self prevails upon him to do such things.”

The Holy Quran has mentioned more than 40 times about feeding the hungry, the destitute and orphans, while Haj is mentioned only once and that too under certain conditions.

S. Muslehuddin Ahmed

Fountain Valley,

California,

USA