by Iqbal Siddiqui harakahdaily.net
The holy month of Ramadan, the month of fasting and the most special time of the year for most Muslims, is upon us. It is a time that Muslims everywhere look forward to with anticipation, and the passing of which for another year is widely mourned, despite the celebration of Eid al-Fitr at its end.
For many Muslims, this is also a month not only of fasting, but of withdrawal from the transient distractions of the world, self reflection and spiritual renewal. And for many, it is the time of the year in which they calculate and pay their zakat, in fulfilment of one of the core pillars of the Islamic faith, ordained in both the verses of the Qur’an and the statements and practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him).
It is understandable now that people should be wary of what their zakat is spent on, considering the absence of legitimate and trusted Islamic authorities to administer it, but that should not make us lose sight of the broader objectives and higher ideals of what is a core institution of the Islamic social order as well as a personal Islamic obligation.