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Tag: Zakat

  • MUIS To Disburse $1.74 Million To Poor And Needy In Ramadan

    MUIS To Disburse $1.74 Million To Poor And Needy In Ramadan

    The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) will disburse about S$1.74 million to the poor and needy this Ramadan. The sum is a 20 per cent increase compared to last year, MUIS announced on Friday (Jun 26).

    A total of S$1.28 million will be disbursed to 12,624 recipients, and S$448,600 for programmes in Ramadan for zakat-receiving families as well as gift hampers for Hari Raya celebrations.

    MUIS said it has been able to offer the Ramadan bonus to more recipients as there is an increase in families and individuals who qualify for financial assistance from the revision of the 2014 Per Capita Income qualification criteria review.

    Chief Executive of MUIS Hj Abdul Razak Maricar said that each recipient will receive between S$100 and S$200, depending on family size.

    “MUIS also extends the Ramadan bonus to Muslim residents of 27 children homes and homes for the aged. This Ramadan disbursement is also used to fund mosque support programmes for the poor and needy throughout this month.”

    This year’s Ramadan bonus will be paid out from Jul 7.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • MUIS Announces Zakat Fitrah Rate For Ramadan

    MUIS Announces Zakat Fitrah Rate For Ramadan

    The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has announced on Friday the “zakat fitrah” rates for this year’s Ramadan.

    The normal rate is $4.90 for one person and the higher rate is $6.90. The rates are decided here by Muis, using the average price of 2.3kg of the grade of rice generally consumed by the Muslim community.

    Zakat fitrah is a compulsory individual tax which Muslims pay during Ramadan. The money is distributed to the poor and needy among others.

    Payment can be done by cash, cheque or Nets at all mosques, authorised Muslim organisations, Muis, AXS stations, through www.zakat.sg, and www.cimbclicks.com.sg.

    Payment can also be made through a telephone service on 1900-112-3490 for $4.90, and 1900-112-3690 for $6.90, or through ATM and internet banking services by DBS or POSB banks.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • Yaacob Ibrahim: Zakat Was Not Used To Fund MUIS’ Operating Expenditure

    Yaacob Ibrahim: Zakat Was Not Used To Fund MUIS’ Operating Expenditure

    Zakat, a tithe contributed by Muslims, is not used to fund the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore’s (MUIS) operating expenditure, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim in Parliament on Thursday (Jan 29).

    MUIS is funded by its General Endowment Fund, which has a number of income sources, including property, inheritance and investment income, and fees for services such as Halal certification, said Dr Yaacob. Zakat funds are not part of the General Endowment Fund and are separately accounted for, added the minister.

    Dr Yaacob said this in response to a question by Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Zainal Sapari, who asked if any zakat was used to fund MUIS’ operating expenditure. Mr Zainal also asked what the total amount of zakat collected by MUIS was, and the breakdown of allocation of zakat to the beneficiaries.

    HOW ZAKAT WAS USED

    Dr Yaacob said the amount of zakat collected in 2013 was S$28.4 million, while the total for 2014 has not yet been confirmed through audit.

    Of the S$28.4 million in 2013, about S$11 million, or 40 per cent, was disbursed to the needy through direct financial assistance and empowerment programmes, said Dr Yaacob, and 5,263 families were helped through direct financial assistance in 2013.

    Another 40 per cent was used to support mosques and madrasahs through grants, programmes, and funds for the training of teachers, mosque religious officers, volunteers and youth development officers, he added.

    The remaining zakat was used for dakwah, or the propagation of Islamic knowledge, and public education, the development of Islamic education, and the funding of expenses incurred in the administration of Zakat, as well as assistance for Muslim converts, said Dr Yaacob.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Why Are MUIS’ Funds Used To Support The Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG)?

    Why Are MUIS’ Funds Used To Support The Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG)?

    It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar (radi Allahu anhu) that the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “If you deal in ‘Aina transactions (those that involve riba’) and hang onto the tails of cows, being satisfied with cultivation and cease to Struggle for Allah, He will inflict a humiliation upon you which will not be removed until you return to your religion.” [Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawud and graded as authentic by Al-Qattan. Al-Hafiz states in Al-Bulugh that the chain of narrators is trustworthy and reliable.]

    Subhanallah. Look at the words of Rasulullah SAW. When we leave the Struggle for the Deen of Allah azzawajal, He will collectively humiliate us. And focus on the words used by Rasulullah SAW. The perfectly-legitimate business venture of raising livestock, when focused on exclusively without struggling for the Deen of Allah azzawajal, is being referred to as hanging on to the ‘tails of cows’.

    Brothers and sisters, ask ourselves are we not being humiliated? We fund MUIS. We pay zakah to them. They use that money to pay salaries of MUIS staff…

    Why Is RRG Using MUIS' Money

    Yet we have next to no say at all on how the organisation is run.

    Isn’t that humiliation? Have we been focusing too much on our careers, etc, and collectively as a community, left the Struggle for Allah azzawajal?

    Wallahualam.

    May Allah azzawajal Grant us the Courage to truly Struggle for His Deen.

     

    Authored by Syed Danial