Ramazan promotes spirit of charity

Besides distribution of compulsory Zakat, people are seen busy in feeding and clothing the needy

ISLAMABAD: The holy month of Ramazan with all its blessings and fruits is promoting the culture of charity among the people, impelling them to think of the needy and orphans and give them some assistance in term of finance or food.

According to the Stanford Social Innovation Review report, Pakistan is a generous country as it contributes more than one per cent of its GDP to charity. Giving charity in term of cash, food or kind words is one of the main characteristics of this holy month and majority of philanthropists, civil society organisations and those who have the resources come forward to help the needy by giving alms and charity.



"It is the month of Ramazan when we can earn a lot of blessings through giving charity to the less fortunate people and doing charitable deeds", Zahid Ahmad, a lecturer said.

"We can purify our souls by offering prayers during fasting and also can purify our wealth by sharing it with the deserving ones", he said.

Giving charity and alms to the poor, orphans and needy widows have become part of traditions for the Muslims as they keep on rendering such deeds on the events of happiness, sadness as well as on normal occasions.

However, the month of Ramazan specifically strengthen this culture further and invoke the spirit of helping others among the people in different ways to acquire the blessings of Allah Almighty.

Philanthropists, representatives of civil society organisations and common people, during the Ramazan, are observed busy in arranging Iftars outside the hospitals and other places on daily basis.

"The good deeds like feeding hungry, financing education of under-privileged people and helping the orphan children pay great reward especially during this month so we must inculcate such values of sacrifice and charity among children from the very beginning", Abdul Basit, a philanthropist said.



"Charity is deep-rooted in our religious teachings and compulsory charity is (Zakat) is the third pillar of Islam so every Muslim should follow this obligation", he said.

Amina Farrukh, a house wife said "Ramazan is the time for us to seek forgiveness of our wrong deeds from Allah Almighty. We must take care of poor and needy people in our families and neighbours by sharing eatables during Iftars and giving them alms".

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2018.