The Shari’i Silver Dirham: The Shield of Zakat-ul-Fitr

The Shari’i Silver Dirham: The Shield of Zakat-ul-Fitr
By Hisham Kassim (5 Ramadan 1430 Hijri)

“The Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) enjoined Zakat-ul-Fitr on the one who fasts to shield one’s self from any indecent act or speech, and for the purpose of providing food for the needy.” (Hadith related by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and ad-Daraqutni)

Muslims worldwide are obliged to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr as alms at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. It is unanimously recognized by all schools of Islamic Law as a pious duty of every Muslim man and woman, and a blessed way of following in the footsteps of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

The origin of this obligation can be dated to the month of Shaaban in 2 Hijri, and this mandatory giving of alms was personally carried out 9 times by the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) before he passed on in the month of Rabiulawwal in 11 Hijri.

The Shari’i Gold Dinar: The Forgotten Sunnah Within Zakat

The Shari’i Gold Dinar: The Forgotten Sunnah Within Zakat

By Hisham Kassim (16 Zulhijjah 1429 Hijri)

The second year of Hijrah (623/624 AD) bore witness to many key and historic events during the formative years of Islam. The Muslim community in Madinah was growing and it was the year when the change of the direction of prayer or Qiblah from Masjidil Aqsa in Baitul Maqdis to Masjidil Haram in Makkah was enforced during the month of Rajab. The introduction of the mandatory Ramadhan fast was decreed in the month of Sha’aban, and the first Tarawih prayer was held on the first night of the month of Ramadhan. Soon after, the number “313” was forever immortalized in Islamic history, signifying the number of heroic Muslims who were fighting to keep their religion alive in the decisive battle of Badr on 17 Ramadhan against a much larger and better equipped Kuffar army.