Every society at their own should create an atmosphere to establish a charity which should purely aim to help the poor and needy of their
society, writes Qysar ul Islam Shah .
Qysar ul Islam Shah
Prophet Mohammad (SAW) stated,” A man is not a believer who fills his stomach while his neighbor is hungry. The upper hand is better than the lower hand i.e he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it.”
Notwithstanding,the charitable societies at the contemporary times acted as prime need aiming to provide the sustenance to the unpriviledged and marginalised sections of society. Human welfare in all forms and sizes is the objective of charity. Its objective is social well-being. So establishment of such organisation is truly the need of an hour. The organization helps and supports the people who are ill, very poor and have disability as well. Charity is the third pillar of Islam and it is quite evident with reference to Quran and Hadith that your smile for your brother is Charity. Your removal of unpleasant things like stones, thorns, mortal remains from the path of the people is a charity. Your guidance to the poor, destitute etc is highest form of charity. Doing good deeds and virtues and become helping hand to the needy also acts as a sign of charity. Affluent people either from rural or urban areas are accountable before Almighty if they don’t pay heed towards the people living distress, deprived and solitary. If a person performs deed that continues to benefit others in a good way the performer of the deed will continue to collect the rewards of his single act for as long as it benefit others even after the person passes away and rewards continues. This is known as Sadqa-zariyah. We have witnessed during the COVID-19 that these charitable societies were tirelessly working day and night to provide the essentialities to the people of poor and needy. In rural and urban areas people were got stuck in their homes for several months due to Covid scenario. Here I mention the progress of Shah Charitable Society Sonanar and its volunteers especially Bashir Ahmad Shah & Umar Mukhtar Shah during Covid time who left no stone unturned to provide the essentialities to its area as well as it’s adjacent areas. This particular charity is running by just the meager amount of the people of its area, who voluntarily interlinked their bank accounts with the account of charitable society by auto deduction on monthly basis. People of the particular areas as well as adjacent praised their work and attitude while assisting them during the occasions of Eid ul Fitre and Eid ul Azha,.
Charity serves as a way to bring justice, balance and kindness to every society and community. It is our hope that the Muslim community fulfils their charitable duty correctly and does their part to eliminating poverty in communities every where. Charities play an essential role in society. A charity helps people to realize that it is possible to bless others in a world full of uncertainties and choas. Giving is one of the essential meanings behind the charity. Giving does not decrease but it increases wealth.It also triggers compassion and inspires the beneficiary to do same in the future when he or she has the opportunity and means to do so. Charities help us to realize that that helping is never wrong and always reaps good things in your life. Charity is defined as generosity and helpfulness of people, especially towards the needy or suffering. Charity can be administered by people by all walks of life. It brings about immediate relief to the suffering the objective being human welfare. Charity is also defined as giving resources like time and money without expecting anything in return.
People say that charity begins at home. The importance of charity is unquestionable in the country like India as it induces myriad of benefits in modern societal structure. We must be enough vigilant in our surroundings every time especially in the month of Ramadan that none should face any hardships like starvation, negligence etc. Charity brings people together and brings relief and light into the lives of people that have suffered a loss due natural calamaties, political agendas, economic meltdown etc. The charity encourage people to look beyond the barriers and boundaries based on discrimination. Poverty is one of the world’s leading problems and has yet to be withered. The charity helps reach us many people lacking basic human resources and addresses their issues. The charity is an act of extending love and kindness to others unconditionally. In the month of Ramadan giving charity to those are in need act as highest virtue. Those who are in position to contribute and knows it well the importance of it must come forward to contribute to the marginalized people of the society. When charity is carried out selflessly, it is one way act where a person gives but asks for nothing in return. There are people who believe charity should begin at home but others believe it should orginate from the heart. However charity orginates from the heart as you fell the urge of giving, begins from home ultimately extending to others in the society. It begins with inward recognition of a need to show compassion to others whether consciously or unconsciously. Every one has problems, troubles and griefs of sort in life but charity starts with those who learn to downplay their own problems in order to extend compassion, kindness and love to help others. Charity is essential and therefore meant to be done for public benefit. Every society at their own should create an atmosphere to establish a charity which should purely aim to help the poor and needy of their society, if we failed to do so and any apprehension like stealing, starvation,depression etc then the respectable citzens of that society are accountable before Almighty Allah. Charity in real sense can help the marginalized people of the society. It is essential for the public benefit, relief to provide assistance to people at times of need in any part of the world especially those who are the victims of war, natural disaster, catastrophe, , disease, poverty, orphans by supplying them with food, shelter, medical aid, and other fundamental needs. Such charitable purpose can gain momentum for advancing the education of young people for the public benefit by making awards to students. The another example of the charitable organization is Chinar Charity that is running in Lolab valley from several years, It is running with contribution of people of the valley its citizens, employees etc on monthly basis, thus the organisation helps the poor needy, cancer patients, kidney failures,etc by supplying them either treatment or medicines as well. The greatest gift to our community would be when we contribute to making lives better when we touch lives by dint of donations or charity spreading light to the neediest and enlighten our souls in the process. The charitable organization should help without any discrimination. We cannot shut our eyes and breathe a sign of relief pretending we are progressing we should look into those who are waiting for some sort of help. We should not deny at any cost. Often the people in society who are in need are the most overlooked. Society and government are not set up to protect everyone who needs it. That is why charities are here to fill the gaps and provide dedicated resources to help the most venerable. Charitable organizations are very effective at reducing poverty. Helping others creates feeling of peace, pride and purpose. Charity is connected to generosity, a virtue that, not sprisingly is the central in Islam. It is considered the quality of the soul which Allah gives to those He loves those who are not attached to material wealth instead use what they are to please God and thereby, make the world a better place. Prophet Mohammed (SAW) who is the beloved of God is a perfect example of generosity. He was sent to this world to elevate mortality and perfect human values and ethics. He was known to have an excellent character and to be an extremely generous man, even towards his enemies. Generosity is defined as giving freely, without expecting anything in return. The Shah Charitable Society Sonanar, The Chinar Charity,are doing superb job to help the deserving poor and destitute people of the valley. Both these charitable organization underwent the great transformation in terms of assisting people for couple of years that they are doing tremendous job in reaching out to the people of poor and needy. They focus and prepare the list of the poor and orphans during the auspicious occasions like Eid ul Fitre and Eidul Azha. We should appreciate them for doing such virtuous deeds. Fingers crossed!!
Qysar ul Islam Shah teacher by profession, teaches at BHS Diver Lolab.
