know about islam

Zakat or mandatory charity

zakat or mandatory charity is like a tax levied annually upon the Muslim's savings and investments. The money collected thus is distributed to the most deserving, according to the norms given in the Qur’an. The Zakat provides a source of revenue for the Muslim State in the form of a combination of income tax and wealth tax. It is seen as an act of worship where the rich provide for the poor and the needy.

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.
This category of people is defined are only for the poor and the needy, and those who collect them, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives and the debtors, and for the cause of Allah, and (for) the wayfarers; a duty imposed by Allah. Allah is knower, Wise." (The Holy Qur'an)


It is agreed between Muslims in all the centuries the obligatory nature of paying Zakat for gold and silver, and from those the other kinds of currency.



.Zakat is obligatory when a certain amount of money, called the nisab is reached or exceeded. Zakat is not obligatory if the amount owned is less than this certain amount of money. The nisab (or minimum amount) of gold and golden currency is 20 mithqal, this is approximately 85 grams of pure gold. One mithqal is approximately 4.25 grams. The the minimum amount of silver and silver currency is 200 dirhams, which is approximately 595 grams of pure silver. The minimum amount of other kinds of money and currency is to be scaled to that of gold, 85 grams of pure gold. This means that the minimum amount of money is the price of 85 grams of 999-type (pure) gold, on the day in which Zakat is paid.

When is Zakat Due ?

1. Passage of One Lunar Year:

Zakat is obligatory after a time span of one lunar year passes with the money in the control of it's owner. Then the owner needs to pay 2.5% (or 1/40) of the money as Zakat. (A lunar year is approximately 355 days).

2. Deduction of Debts:

The owner should deduct any amount of money he or she borrowed from others; then check if the rest reaches the necessary nisab[minimum amount of money], then pays Zakat for it.

If the owner had enough money to satisfy the minimum amount at the beginning of the year, then the money increased (in profits, salaries, inheritance, grants...etc.), the owner needs to add the increase to the nisab amount owned at the beginning of the year; then pay Zakat, 2.5%, of the total at the end of the lunar year.

Each Muslim calculates his or her own Zakat individually. For most purposes this involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of one's capital.

A pious person may also give as much as he or she pleases as charity [sadaqa], and does so preferably in secret. Although this word can be translated as 'voluntary charity' it has a wider meaning. The Prophet(peace and blessings of Allah upon him) said 'even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is charity.'

The Prophet(peace and blessings of Allah upon him) 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.'





please leave notes what do you think about this...

 

sudha

dear sudha,
we usually give this money to people we know..most of them are in bad condition without having an income or due to some diseases but they couldn't ask any one in public..and also give orphans..
simply, every muslim who saves 40 rupees and one year reached he must give 1 rupee as zakat..
on eid day we must give in form of food(rice).
there are many needy people around us..
thanks sudha,
love safa.

 

ramadan fasting

[font=Verdana,Arial]E[/font][font=Verdana,Arial]very year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day missed. Children begin to fast (and to observe the prayer) from puberty, although many start earlier.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Arial]Although the fast is most beneficial to the health, it is regarded principally as a method of self purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry as well as growth in one's spiritual life.[/font]

.5 billion Muslims of the world celebrate their holiest month of Ramadan every year. Ramadan is the 9th month in the lunar year. During this month, healthy Muslim adults observe Fasting during the daylight hours. Muslim Fasting is a total abstention from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from dawn to dusk for 29 or 30 days of the month of Ramadan. Also, avoiding immoral behavior and anger and showing compassion is part of the requirements of the fasting. The purpose of fasting is manifold. Allah (the God Almighty) mentioned in the Holy Book of the Muslims, Quran, that the fasting is prescribed for the believers as it was prescribed for the people before them, so that they may acquire self control and God-consciousness. Therefore, the purpose of the fasting is to develop God-consciousness, self-control, improvement of health by reducing or eliminating impurities from the body, and to become aware of the plight of the poor, hungry, and the sick. Ramadan is a month of spiritual consciousness and high sense of social responsibility.

It is an obligation on every adult and healthy Muslim to fast during the month of Ramadan. The month of Ramadan is also the month in which the Holy Quran was sent down and it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in piecemeal basis over a period of 23 years. It is a very joyous occasion for the Muslims of the world. Muslims fast during the day and pray and read Quran during the part of the night. There is a special night called the Night of power, which is mentioned in the Quran, as a night of mercy and light and worshiping during this night is better than 1,000 months.

At the completion of month of Fasting, Muslims all over the world celebrate their holiday of Eidul fitr. It is a true thanksgiving for a Muslim believer for having the opportunity to obey Allah (the God Almighty) by observing Fasting.The holiday begins with Muslims putting on their best preferably new clothes and going to the Eid congregation. Eid congregations are very large gathering of Muslim men, women and children across the world. Afterwards, people greet each other with hugs and handshakes. The children receive gifts. After the congregation, Muslims visit each other at their homes and hold lunches or dinners for family and friends.

 

what islam says

dear sunkan,
thanks for the response and your question is very good, certainly it wouldn't offend me. this is what you know among some misunderstanding about islam.please read this.(sunkan, i don't want to make this as a question and answer thread , but i thought if i give u reply, many people could understand what actually islam says about attacking others)
Question

What is the ruling regarding acts of jihaad by means of suicide, such as attaching explosives to a car and storming the enemy, whereby he knows without a doubt that he shall die as a result of this action?

Response

Indeed, my opinion is that he is regarded as one who has killed himself (committed suicide), and as a result he shall be punished in Hell, for that which is authenticated on the authority of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam).

[((Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills himself, then certainly he will be punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein he shall dwell forever)), [Bukhaaree (577and Muslim (109 and 110)]].

However, one who is ignorant and does not know, and assumes his action was good and pleasing to Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala), then we hope Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) forgives him for that which he did out of (ignorant) ijtihaad, even though I do not find any excuse for him in the present day. This is because this type of suicide is well known and widespread amongst the people, so it is upon the person to ask the people of knowledge (scholars) regarding it, until the right guidance for him is differentiated from the error.

And from that which is surprising, is that these people kill themselves despite Allaah having fordbidden this, as He (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:

{And do not kill yourselves. Surely, Allaah is Most Merciful to you}, [Soorah an-Nisaa., Aayah 29].

And many amongst them do not desire anything except revenge of the enemy, by whatever means, be it allowed or not allowed. So they only want to satisfy their thirst for revenge.

We ask Allaah to bless us with foresight in His Deen and action(s) which please Him, indeed He is all Powerful over all things.

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen*
Kayfa Nu'aalij Waaqi'unaa al-Aleem - Page 119

*One of the greatest scholars of this century, from Saudi Arabia

From that which is known to everyone who has the slightest bit of common sense is that hijacking airplanes and kidnapping children and the like are extremely great crimes, the world over. Their evil effects are far and wide, as is the great harm and inconvenience caused to the innocent; the total effect of which none can comprehend except Allaah.​

Likewise, from that which is known is that these crimes are not specific to any particular country over and above another country, nor any specific group over and above another group, rather it encompasses the whole world.

There is no doubt about the effect of these crimes; so it is obligatory upon the governments and those responsible from amongst the scholars and other than them to afford these issues great concern, and to exert themselves as much as possible in ending this evil.

Shaykh Ibn Baz*
Kayfa Nu'aalij Waaqi'unaa al-Aleem - Page 108-109

*One of the greatest scholars of this century, from Saudi Arabia

From that which is known to everyone who has the slightest bit of common sense is that hijacking airplanes and kidnapping children and the like are extremely great crimes, the world over. Their evil effects are far and wide, as is the great harm and inconvenience caused to the innocent; the total effect of which none can comprehend except Allaah.​

Likewise, from that which is known is that these crimes are not specific to any particular country over and above another country, nor any specific group over and above another group, rather it encompasses the whole world.

There is no doubt about the effect of these crimes; so it is obligatory upon the governments and those responsible from amongst the scholars and other than them to afford these issues great concern, and to exert themselves as much as possible in ending this evil.

Shaykh Ibn Baz*
Kayfa Nu'aalij Waaqi'unaa al-Aleem - Page 108-109

*One of the greatest scholars of this century, from Saudi Arabia

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Read About The "Yoga" Of The Islamic Prayer.

http://www.islam-online.net/English/Science/2000/7/article2.shtml

 

A Glimpse on Prophet Muhammed(pbuh)'s Life.

please view the attached presentation.