charity

Every year, as the income tax deadline looms near, you may have noticed "tax clinics" popping up here and there in North America. These are quick solutions offered by accountants to help people fill out the reams of income tax paperwork or to assist those who, after filling out their forms, just want to get a second opinion from a "tax doctor".

Sound Vision consulted Dr. Ahmad Sakr to find out about some of the frequently asked questions about Zakah definition and their answers. Dr. Sakr is a scholar of  Quran, Hadith, Fiqh, Seerah and Dawa.

This article is not about the glory of Islamic Medicine made under the light if Quran and Sunnah, of past 1000 years which produced great physicians like al Razi and Ibn Sina. This article is also not about virtues of honey, the center point of discussion in most of the articles written these days on Islamic Medicine.

There is excellent advice available about how to handle job loss financially, psychologically and emotionally. However, coping at this stage also requires a spiritual perspective that is not as easily accessible. Here is how to handle it Islamically.

Less than a year ago, it was the Tsunami. Last month it was Katrina & Rits. And now we have this earthquake in Kashmir. More than forty thousand people have perished and at least three million are homeless.

The focus on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina must remain on its survivors as well as the ongoing marathon of hurricanes, which have doubled in 35 years. However, we cannot but wonder why Muslims have not given enough attention to bring in the limelight the tremendous outpouring of sympathy and financial resources for Katrina's victims.

Zakat committees are a necessary structure to ensure the good collection and proper distribution of Zakat in Muslim communities. Here are a few guidelines and an etiquette that Zakat committee members need to keep in mind when giving out Zakat.