Don’t forget the less fortunate this Ramadan (Aug. 5) was a spiritually edifying column on the occasion of this blessed month of Ramadan.
Indeed, this month comes as a reminder for the Ummah of around 1.4 billion across the globe of their duty toward fulfillment of other fellow Muslim rights over him. In addition, it encourages one to exercise the righteous deeds taught by Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). But, how this blessed month leaves its good effects on the body and soul is something every wise Muslim needs to introspect? They also need to seek answers from themselves that what portion of Qur’an is understood and is demonstrated through actions?
Certainly answer to all this will help chalk out a conscious plan that will bring a true change in Ummah and can be a new era of glory and dignity to all humanity as had happened in Madinah, the first welfare state on the globe.
The upcoming emergency Islamic summit in Makkah has to discuss astutely and provide Ummah the way out strategy apart from quick action plan to stop ongoing Muslim genocide in Syria, Myanmar, Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, Assam (India). Unfortunately list continues where colonial powers engage in Muslim massacre. (Saif ul Islam , Riyadh)
Zakat system
This refers to the report “Zakat system ‘can eradicate poverty” (Aug. 2). It is nice to read that Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal launched “Khair Makkah” project of the Disabled Children’s Association (DCA) in the presence of DCA Chairman Prince Sultan bin Salman and Social Affairs Minister Yousuf Al-Othaimeen.
Prince Khaled has rightly said that through zakat system eradication of poverty can be achieved. Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a great pity that many affluent Muslims do not pay zakat as per Islamic teachings, owing to this many poor Muslims do not get their due rights. Muslim Ummah is passing through tough time, and in this time if proper zakat money is paid to them it will boost their morale and they can utilize this money for their immediate needs. It has been observed that many Muslims do not take care of their neighbors if they are poor. As a matter of fact, Islam attaches great importance to having good rapport with the neighbors. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: A Muslim is not a Muslim if he has his stomach filled and his neighbor is hungry.
Therefore, zakat money should be given to first needy relatives and second, if neighbors are poor, they should be helped through this system. Children studying in orphanage and Islamic seminaries deserve zakat money so that they may get education with the peace of mind. (Anees Lokhande, Alkhobar)
Mumbai attack
This refers to the report published in Arab News on Thursday (Aug. 2) “Pakistan tells India Mumbai evidence inadmissible”. The courts in Pakistan, according to the reports, have rejected the evidence because the Indian authorities did not allow the Pakistani judicial commission to question the prime suspect Ajmal Kasab, who is the sole survivor of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The Pakistani judicial commission visited India on a fact-finding mission in March. Indian authorities insist that they have handed over enough evidence to convict the seven alleged conspirators presently undergoing trial in Pakistan. Pakistan charged seven men over the Mumbai attacks in 2009 and insists it needs to gather more conclusive evidence to convict the accused.
It is very strange why the Indian authorities should not allow the prime suspect Ajmal Kasab to be interviewed, instead the Pakistani commission according to the story published in Arab News was allowed only to record the statements of Indian investigators, doctors who performed autopsies and the magistrate who took Kasab’s confession.
This is a very serious case and every effort must be made by India and Pakistan to get to the bottom of this. As India has nothing to hide, it must allow direct excess to Ajmal Kasab at the earliest. This will help tremendously to bring the real culprits to justice. Denying excess to the prime suspect of any crime let alone the prime suspect of Mumbai attacks is not a wise decision. (Babar Mumtaz, By e-mail)
