sadaqa

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.

Certain inward attitudes and duties are incumbent on those who seek, through the payment of Zakat, that which leads to good in the Hereafter. Here is an excerpt on Zakat from Imam Al-Ghazali's "Innner Dimensions of Islamic Worship".

Have you seen him who belies the rewards and punishments of the Hereafter? He it is who drives away the orphan and does not urge giving away the food of the poor. (Quran, 107:1 - 3)

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.

Poverty in America? One of the richest countries in the world? Yes, poverty is a reality in America, just as it is for millions of other human beings on the planet. According to the US Census Bureau, 35.9 million people live below the poverty line in America, including 12.9 million children.

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.