By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Guwahati: The North East India Emarat-e-Sharia and Nadwatut Tameer are the two front ranking organisations of the Muslims of this region that collects zakat from individual donors and channelize it for the benefit of the poor and the needy in the society. At an event organised in Guwahati on Sunday, Alhaj Sadiqul Alam Hazarika, President of the Guwahati city unit of the twin organization, announced that a total of Rs 58,76,592 was collected by them as zakat during the last year and this fund was being distributed to the deserving beneficiaries in a phased manner across the region.
Sunday’s event in Guwahati was the fifth in the series during the current year in which 30 students were handed over one time scholarship amounts thereof ranging from Rs 12,000 to Rs 3,000 each. 13 persons, belonging to the below poverty line category including widows and handicapped persons, received cash support ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 each to start petty shops for livelihood support. One handicapped person, Abdul Mottalib of Morigaon District was handed over a wheel chair and Mohibur Rahman of Guwahati, a cycle rickshaw for supporting his family.
Rekibuddin Ahmed, MLA & Parliamentary Secretary, Govt of Assam, addressing the Emarat and Nadwa function in Guwahati.
Zakat (charitable alms giving) is one of the five pillars of Islam, and is expected to be paid by all practising Muslims who have the financial means. In addition to their zakat obligations, Muslims are encouraged to make voluntary contributions (sadaqat). The zakat is considered by Muslims to be an act of piety through which one expresses concern for the well-being of fellow brethren as well as preserving social harmony between the wealthy and the poor. Zakat promotes a more equitable redistribution of wealth and fosters a sense of solidarity amongst members of the community.
Speaking on the occasion, Rekibuddin Ahmed, MLA & Parliamentary Secretary, Government of Assam, exhorted the people to share a portion of their bounties with the less fortunate ones in the society and thereby earn the blessings of the Almighty. He said, “In death we are all equal. The grave makes no difference between the ministers and the common man, neither between this political party or that. All that matters is what good work we did while we lived on this world.”
Imtiaz Khan (R), of Manipur pursuing B Tech course at RIST, receiving a onetime scholarship of Rs 12,000 from the hands of Rekibuddin Ahmed, MLA & Parliamentary Secretary, Govt of Assam, during the Emarat and Nadwa function.
Among others, Alhaj Sirajul Hoque, Hazrat Maulana Anwarul Hoque, Maulana Mashuk Ahmed and Md Hussain Ahmed Laskar also addressed the gathering at the event that was organised at Masjid-e-Omar in Sijubari Idgah Road, Guwahati. A special supplication was offered for the eternal rest of Alhaj Baha Uddin Laskar, incumbent President of Nadwa, who passed away recently.