Giving Your Lilah and Zakah- How Charitable Organizations Can Help

People are so busy today that life seems to be on fast forward most of the time. We seem to have become so busy and absorbed in the cares of every day that we have forgotten our obligation to take care of our neighbours.

As a faithful Muslim, it is important to find time to help the needy. This is one of the teachings of Islam. We are required to take care of the brother or sister who has less than we do. 

While many of us would like to do the right thing and serve the poor and needy, we simply don’t have the time to do so. We may also not be in a position to physically assist the poor or needy. This however, does not mean that we should give the idea up completely. There are many ways that we can still give a helping hand.

One of the best ways to give to the needy is through a charitable organisation. There are many Muslim run charitable organisations that will help you fulfil the requirements of Shariah law and help the needy in the process. 

These organisations work in various countries offering assistance to those in need. These charitable organisations provide health care, food, clothing and shelter for those in need. Many of these organisations work with whole populations and without discrimination. 

These organisations are non-profit organisations. This means that they are totally dependent on donations from well-wishers. You can, therefore, give Lilah to support these organisations. 

However, if you want to support these organisations for the long run, you can choose to channel your Zakah to the organisations. Many of these organisations will calculate what you are required to give and help to facilitate the distribution of the money you give to the poor. 

If you choose to give Sadaqah to these organisations, you can sign up to their accounts and organise for the transfer of funds on a regular basis depending on what is comfortable to you. 

It is important to ensure that you are giving your Zakah to a Muslim run organisation. Ensure that the organisation does what it says it does by researching about it online or asking around. There are various registries for non-profits, which you can look through to find out if the organisation is really registered. 

Your Sadaqa will go a long way in assisting others who are living without basic needs. You will make someone’s life much better.

Edhi Foundation: The Sadaqa and Zakat Foundation

Edhi is a philanthropist based in Pakistan. He was born in Gujarat in India but later migrated with his family to Pakistan in 1947.He is the brain behind the Edhi foundation that caters for the welfare of the less fortunate in the society. The foundation achieves its mandate by feeding the destitute and also providing homes for the homeless.   Based in the predominantly Muslim state, it benefits widely from Zakat which is mandatory for the wealthy in society.  The Edhi foundation is nonprofit making and depends on donations to run its operations.  The foundation has been in existence for over fifty years and boasts of having helped millions of people in Pakistan. 

About the Edhi foundation

 

Edhi foundation is the largest charity organization in Pakistan working around the clock to save humanity. It has over three hundred centers spread out throughout Pakistan and is now going international having been chartered. 

 The foundation helps in medical emergency cases and boasts of about one thousand eight hundred ambulances which respond to emergency cases. Secondly, the Edhi foundation helps in burying of bodies which go unclaimed. Through the Zakat donated to the foundation, it offers free maternity services, counseling, and wheelchairs to the handicapped and free rehabilitation services to drug and substances addicts.

Of much importance to note is the role the foundation plays in providing relief food and support during calamities. Their work of charity has won the hearts of many people who give out Sadaqa making the foundation the biggest charity organization in Pakistan today.

What makes the Edhi foundation stand out? 

Unlike most non-governmental organization which solicits funds from the government, the Edhi foundation depends merely on Sadaqa. The alms donated help in feeding millions and also providing medical care to the homeless and poor.  It is the biggest charity organization in Pakistan which operates on voluntary basis.

The foundation has beaten the test of time having been in existence for over fifty years.  The foundation depending on alms has been in operation for over five decades without collapse. This is perhaps the biggest challenge for most charity organizations. 

The network of centers under the Edhi foundation does not discriminate on bases of colour, creed, and nationality. It has positively influenced the attitude of people towards humanity with its slogan “live and let live’. Humanity is all about living and helping the next person live as well. In addition it is a home to more than six thousand homeless people and mentally ill people.

With so many people suffering from drug and substance addiction in the world today, rehabilitation centers are a good investment project. Investors are taking advantage of the situation to exploit desperate people. However, at the Edhi foundation, rehabilitation services are free. I guess this is reason enough for you to donate that blanket or extra coin you have for a worthy cause.

Sharing Blessings: The Islamic Way of Life

Allah has created people differently, He has made some well to do while others Under-privileged. Because the mission of Islam is to be of service and of comfort, it is the duty of the privileged to relieve the sufferings of those who are unable. We have the responsibility to serve the later and provide them with what they need to survive. 

While some perceive Islam as faith synonymous with violence, the Quran and especially the hadith highlight how helping another human being as an important aspect of Islam. In fact one of the five pillars of Islam is the Zakah, offering intended to help others. Muslims know that all blessings are given by Allah (SWT) and it is because of this we should be thankful and the best way to do so it to share those blessings with others. We give a third of Qurbani to neighbour as well as zakah and help the less privileged. In so doing we are not only being thankful but also worshiping Allah.

One hadith that emphases the importance of zakah is al- Nawawi. In his Hadith we are shown that the highest form of devotion and the best way to serve Allah is to provide service others. Prayers and other acts of worship are useless unless we engage in service of others. Allah forgives those who devote themselves to help the misfortune. He not only grants forgives but also gives them His Infinite mercy and takes their service into account on the Day Of Judgment. It now becomes clear that helping people is not an option but a religious duty as each person will be held accountable for each and every deed they committed.

Today the world is in search of peace and there many programs and efforts that have been carried out. One of the ways of promoting peace is through the service to humanity. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) arrived in Maddinah. It is there that he fostered bonds between the local inhabitants and emigrants from Mecca and by encouraging them to help each other he was able to promote harmony. 
These two different people came together in peace. Through this we learn that solving other people’s problems and giving zakah has a way of softening their hearts and establishing peace. There are many other examples like this during the life of Prophet Muhammad. Furthermore Prophets like Jesus, Moses and other lived their lives righteously while serving others. In conclusion we learn serving others for Allah Lilah like us is a means of righteousness, a way to promote peace and allows us to earn Allah’s eternal reward in the Heartafter.