Video #12 (Charity)
Zakah is one of the five pillars of Islam, a mandatory annual tax in Islamic law. It is paid from various types of income and property by all independent, free, capable, and adult Muslims in favor of those in need. By Islamic beliefs, Zakah purifies the wealth of benefactors. This does not mean that the funds obtained by illegal or dishonest means can be legalized or recognized by God if some of them are donated to the poor. Instead, only money obtained through fair and diligent work can be charitable.
Zakah is an annual 2.5 percent tax on total income, but the personal house, jewelry, and family expenses are exempted from this amount. According to Khan (2012a), the most repeated verses in the Quran are related to worshipping God and giving Zakah. Through praying, people are connected to God, and through charity, they are united with society. Moreover, Zakah is a way of worshiping God and thanking Him for all the wealth. Such charity is related not only to the spiritual aspect but also creates links between rich and poor, addressing one of the main problems of humanity. Islamic rules state that the poor are entitled to a share of the wealth that must be donated by God’s commandment.
Charity should be sincere, voluntary, and confidential in order not to reveal either the identity of the giver or the identity of the poor. Muslims calculate Zakah’s share on their own, without any regulatory agency, because honesty is essential in this process. Only impoverished people are authorized to these benefits, for example, people can help their relatives or neighbors in need. However, Zakah is not intended for parents, children, and wives because their well-being is the ordinary responsibility of a Muslim. Special care is given to orphans and widows, even if they are non-Muslims. One curious feature is that rich wives can give Zakah to poor husbands, but husbands cannot claim their wives’ property due to Muslim rules on financial protection for women. The wife is entitled to her husband’s property, but not vice versa.
Sadaqa is voluntary alms that a Muslim pays to those in need at their discretion and desire, intending to deserve the blessing of God. According to Islamic ideas, charity is beneficial under both favorable and adverse living conditions, as it is an expression of gratitude and thankfulness to God. Khan (2012a) states that voluntary charity brings divine blessing and protects from evil if it is done sincerely and regularly, regardless of the size and type of aid. Waqf is another form of charity in Islam when a Muslim donates property, including real estate, for religious or charitable purposes. Many schools and hospitals have appeared in this way, and another prominent example of Waqf is the construction of a public bathhouse at the initiative of the Ottoman Empire Queen Roxolana.
Video #13 (Pilgrimage)
Hajj is a pilgrimage related to visiting Mecca and its surroundings, including Mount Arafat and the valleys of Muzdalifah and Mina at a particular time, and is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is also prescribed by the commandment of God and is obligatory for Muslims. Hajj must be done once in a lifetime by every Muslim who is able to do it.
At the same time, all Muslim rituals are obligatory only if they are actually possible. There is no religious authority to monitor their performance, every Muslim decides independently whether or not he or she is capable of performing a particular ritual. Khan (2012b) notes The Hajj’s eligibility includes physical ability and financial capability. Those who are too young and too old should abstain from pilgrimage because of the 3 million crowds and congestions. Interest in Islam and the global population are growing, which has led to an increasing number of people wanting to participate in the Hajj, which forced the Saudi authorities to introduce national participation quotas. Besides, one should not borrow money for the Hajj and should leave additional funds and necessary care for the family and parents during the Hajj.
The Hajj period begins two months and ten days after the end of Ramadan and is usually performed on the 8th, 9th and 10th days of Dhul Hajj, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. According to Khan (2012b), as a rule, people arrive 10 or 40 days earlier. Almost all Muslims perform the Hajj in groups, while women are accompanied by parents, brothers, husbands, sons, or nephews. Men wear Ihram, special religious white clothing, while women wear regular clothes of their choice. The pilgrimage route lies from Mecca through the valleys of Mina and Muzdalifah to Mount Arafat and back. Throughout the Hajj, Muslims perform a number of religious rituals.
One of the main rituals is Tawaf, a seven-time circling around the Kaaba, which is wrapped in a black cloth called Kiswah every year. Muslims also perform Sa’i, a ritual running between Mounts Safa and Marwa. Pilgrims travel to the holy well of Zamzam and take water from it twice, which is believed to be sacred. Muslims also kiss and touch the black stone, but not everyone can do it because of the vast number of people. Muslims also perform the rite of stoning Satan and pray to God in front of Mount Arafat. The Hajj ends with Eidul Adha, the feast of sacrifice, the history of which dates back to the legend of the prophet Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his son at the command of God. At the last moment, the sacrifice was replaced by a ram. Since then, at the end of the Hajj, an animal has been sacrificed, and its meat has been given to the poor.
Personal Thoughts
The practice of charity in Islam, including Zakah, Sadaqa, and Waqf, cultivates in people a sense of solidarity with the community and gratitude. It is especially significant that Muslims are given the opportunity to fulfill this responsibility independently and sincerely, which motivates them to high morality. Moreover, Zakah prescription addresses one of the most acute problems of society. If each individual donates approximately 2.5 percent of his or her annual income, the amount that supports poor people turns out to be substantial. In addition, charity and gratitude become the life habits of Muslims.
The Hajj is a magnificent and grand event that brings together several million Muslims from around the world every year. Besides its cultural significance, it also carries a profound philosophy. According to Islamic beliefs, God created the first man and woman and then divided all their descendants into different tribes and nations. People were supposed to know, not to hate each other, and Hajj is a symbol of uniting people of different races, professions, nations, and classes into one community in Kaaba, the House of God. Thus, the pillars of Islam are the ritualistic and attitudinal foundations of cultivating feelings of gratitude, generosity, and unity in Muslims.
References
- Khan, A. K. (2012a). Islamic Civilization-Part12-Islamic Practices [Video file]. Web.
- Khan, A. K. (2012b). Islamic Civilization-Part13-Islamic Practices [Video file]. Web.