WITH the advent of Ramazan many welfare organisations start advertising to persuade philanthropists to donate charity and give their zakat to them.

Islam lays special emphasis on charity. Allah says in the Holy Quran that if you give charity publically, it is good, but if you conceal it and give to the needy it is better. Thus charitable work should be done sans fanfare.

It is unfortunate that of late in Pakistan charity has become more of a show business. I refer to the advertisements on electronic and print media of organisations asking for zakat, fitra and sadqa. God alone knows how much these outfits spend on such publicity.

One can learn from philanthropists in the West. They choose to remain anonymous and never run costly advertisements on media.

Every Muslim should follow the saying Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) that charity should be done in such a manner that if given by one’s right hand the left hand does not come to know. The daily advertisements go against this Hadith.

AAMIR AQIL
Lahore

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.