By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: The Qazi of Bhopal Maulana Abdul Lateef Khan Qasmi has made a fervent appeal to well-to-do Muslims to come forward and donate generously to improve the lot of their unfortunate co-regionalists who are wading in illiteracy and poverty.
Maulana Abdul Lateef, who was presiding over an introductory function of Bhopal Bait-ul-Maal, (BBM), here on Sunday, in his presidential address quoted extensively from the Holy Quran to emphasise the importance of paying Zakaat, which is just 2.5 per cent of their yearly savings, honestly so that this amount could be used for the overall betterment of the have-nots in the Muslim community.
While lauding BBM for its role in trying to extricate poor Muslims from squalor, he quoted a Hadees (saying of Prophet Muhammad (PUBH)) to point out that those who involve themselves in helping the poor and community service enjoy the fruits of a healthy and longer life by the grace of Allah Almighty.
Earlier, Syed Fareeduddin, general secretary, Bhopal Bait-ul-Maal, (BBM), presented a report outlining the activities of the organization in last three years since its inception. He said BBM was established in 2006 to take the challenges of bringing about a change to the image of Muslim Ummah. Then about 10-12 persons from different fields including doctors, engineers, educationists, journalists, and management professionals, accounts, banking industry got together with one single cause and task to uplift Muslims from the quagmire of illiteracy, poverty and ill health. The main areas of focus being mass education, health and social development, he added.
Fareeduddin informed that in 2006 financial help to the tune of Rs. 56,000/- was provided to 56 flood-affected families before Eid. In 2007 educational awareness campaign was conducted wherein in Rajeev Nagar slum 65 children between the ages of 6 to 18 years came forward saying they do not have any clue as to which class they should be studying in but they wanted to study. An amount of Rs. 52,319/- was spent on this endeavor. Apart from this from 2006—08 medical camps were organized n Rajeev Nagar and Qaziq Camp slum areas where free medical check-ups were done and medicines were distributed. This entailed an expenditure of Rs. 20,000/-.
He revealed that in 2008-09 school fees of 195 students of poor families were paid. This incurred an expenditure of Rs. 1,27,300/-. Now, for 2009-10 465 application forms have been received for scholarships from poor students, he stated.
In the end Fareeduddin appealed the assemblage to help Bait-ul-Maal in its endevour by giving Zakaat and donations or by sponsoring one student by paying monthly school fee up to Rs. 200/- He also appealed to physically volunteer to work for the cause undertaken by Bait-ul-Maal.
At the outset Maulana Naimatullah Nadwi recited verses from the Holy Quran. Syed Masood Ali, president of BBM, welcomed the guests. Mohammad Afaq conducted the proceedings while Dr. Mohammad Zakaria proposed vote of thanks. Sagheer Baidaar, secretary Muslim Education & Career Promotion Society, (MECAPS), graced the dais amongst others. ([email protected])