As the Muslim world experiences another Ramadan amid pandemic conditions, the need for the relief that zakat can provide persists.
While the UAE has tackled Covid-19 with mass vaccination drives, the crisis has delivered hardship for people enduring job losses or wage cuts.
Zakat – one of the five pillars of Islam – requires Muslims above a certain financial threshold to donate 2.5 per cent of their wealth. And this can be channelled at home or abroad, including helping people struggling to cover rent or medical, education and food bills.
Zakat creates accountabilities for all of us to care for one another and help eradicate poverty
In Arabic, zakat means to purify or to cleanse, explains Nasif Kayed, Emirati founder of The Arab Culturalist, a consultancy fostering better understanding of Arabic and Muslim culture for improved societal integration and conducting business in the region.
“Zakat’s purpose is to create financial balance in society by giving from our wealth and blessings to those who are less fortunate and in need of basic support,” Mr Kayed says.
“It creates accountabilities for all of us to care for one another and help eradicate poverty, no matter where it exists.”
Zakat is paid to eight specific categories of “needy in our society”, according to Mr Kayed, starting with the destitute and including those in “severe debt”.
“It does not include close relations like parents, grandparents, immediate family, spouse and kids … this is already an obligation to you personally.”
UAE-based Muslims have several potential destinations for contributions, and while the process can be as simple as paying at a booth inside a mall, you can donate remotely to official charities.
Among the most familiar zakat recipients, Emirates Red Crescent supports several causes, from orphans and Yemen relief to providing iftar meals and building mosques.
Its website hosts a list of bank accounts, so contributors can channel where their money goes.
The Emirates Charity portal allows general donations or to choose from a catalogue where payments can be made to its registered causes; projects range from wells and clinics overseas to providing schools and orphanages.
Dubai Cares is one of the city’s largest registered charities and, as such, enables donations through several routes, including online, banks, shops and by phone.
Funds fuel its work providing children and young people in developing countries access to quality education, including Vietnam school libraries and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Dubai Cares’ website details easy-to-follow donation methods.
Dar Al Ber Society is a leading UAE charity. Its Ramadan campaign includes serving thousands of free meals daily and supplying needy people with food and clothing.
Payments can be made via its official website, as well as SMS, money transfer, smart app, a donation hotline and at customer service centres in Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai and Ajman. Its development, humanitarian and charitable projects include endowments, fruit trees and mosquito nets.
Contributions to Beit Al Khair Society aid UAE people who need it most with everything from foodstuff to assisting 13,000 low-income students with education. The organisation website lists donation methods, also possible by SMS, bank transfer or calling 800 22554.
Those seeking to boost Noor Dubai Foundation's work combating preventable blindness globally can choose from various payment types on the group's online donation page, such as bank transfer, cheque, telephone or SMS. People can also simply give Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting "Noor" to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
The Zakat Fund – also focused on those in need within the Emirates – is again collaborating with Abu Dhabi University for the Our Youth – Our Responsibility – Our Zakat – Our Immunity initiative.
In its 11th year, the initiative supports local and expatriate students by reducing the financial burden of education, has raised more than Dh68 million and extended aid to 3,130 students. This year, it hopes to assist 500 deserving students who are eligible Zakat recipients.
Donors can give directly to The Zakat Fund’s Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank account or ADU, using the initiative name, or send an SMS.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments, which offers religious guidance in the UAE, has an e-donation service on its website accepting debit/credit card or e-dirham. Projects include furnishing mosques and printing the Holy Quran.
One of the highest-profile holy month campaigns is the 100 Million Meals drive, launched by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives at the start of Ramadan.
Citizens and residents can donate from Dh10 to fund food parcels through Etisalat and du designated numbers – or larger donations via the campaign's call centre on 800 4999.
Several companies and organisations have already given huge sums – 78 per cent of the target amount was collected in the first week, enabling 78 million meals to be distributed to refugees, widows, orphans and poor families in 20 African, Asian and Middle East countries.
Muslims around the world are estimated to give almost $76 billion in zakat a year, and those living in the Emirates are reportedly among the most generous.
The United Nation’s Refugee Zakat Fund, which assists displaced people, recently confirmed that UAE individuals sent the fund more online contributions than any other country last year – 3,406 donations amounting to almost $3 million out of a total of $61.5m, ranking the UAE above Saudi Arabia, the US, Kuwait and Qatar in terms of donor numbers.
All Muslims who meet the “nisab” – a minimum amount of wealth held for a year, including savings and gold – are required to pay zakat.
Mr Kayed confirms the process follows specific guidelines.
“The criteria are evaluated by every individual once a year and include first reviewing basic needs are met for yourself and anyone you are financially responsible for,” he says.
If savings and gold are assessed to be over a certain amount, “this would fall into the category of ‘excess wealth’ and would require payment of 2.5 per cent to the less fortunate”.
A Muslim since she was 18, Mathilde Loujayne, now 37, enjoys giving.
She was born in France and grew up in Oman where she embraced Islam before attending university.
A UAE resident since 2002, she's the author of Big Little Steps, inspired by her journey, and says charity should be "done discreetly".
“When no one knows that you’ve donated your hard-earned money to a relief fund, you can be sure that your intention is pure,” says the mother of two.
“I like to give zakat all year around, including Ramadan when the rewards are higher, as we are encouraged to do more good deeds during the holy month.”
When no one knows that you've donated your hard-earned money to a relief fund, you can be sure that your intention is pure
Who Ms Loujayne gives to depends on “many factors”.
“I could be donating to poor people I know personally, or through friends and relatives – or if I travel to a poor country, I like to donate in person,” she says.
“I was a student when I became Muslim, so didn’t hand over money until I was in my early 20s.
“I felt an immense sense of pride and accomplishment to be able to help those in need … there’s no better feeling than the gift of giving.”
Mr Nasif says zakat destination choice depends upon whether the person or organisation being helped is among the specific categories, as zakat is given “in a very structured way to meet the obligation as one of the five acts of worship”.
“On the other hand, Muslims are free to give to charity as they wish, to whom they wish,” he adds.
Although not an official zakat charity, as executive director of Operation Smile UAE, Morag Cromey-Hawke knows the good that Ramadan’s spirit of generosity can do for young lives.
The organisation is currently celebrating 10 years of helping children suffering with a cleft palate or lip. Just Dh880 provides them with corrective surgery and transforms their lives.
“We do not directly benefit from zakat funding … although some people have donated directly to Operation Smile as their zakat contribution,” says Ms Cromey-Hawke.
“Financial donations occur throughout the year, but Ramadan is a special time for people to reflect and consider how they can help others in need.
“This year, we have a backlog of patients due to the pandemic. We hope people will be generous during Ramadan so we can do as many surgeries as possible once it is safe to resume medical missions.”
We hope people will be generous during Ramadan so we can do as many surgeries as possible
These include UAE procedures planned for June, alongside territories such as Malawi, Ethiopia and Egypt.
Depending on where donors choose to direct zakat, they are advised to check the official UAE government portal list of registered charitable organisations to ensure their money supports a licensed charity with a permit number.
While zakat can be paid any time, most Muslims understandably donate during the holy month, including Zakat Al Fitr, typically collected in the final days of Ramadan and distributed during Eid Al Fitr.
“Many Muslims tend to pay zakat in Ramadan, as it is a month in which the Almighty promised to multiply good deeds many folds,” Mr Kayed adds. “Although you can still choose to pay at any time of the year, as you see fit.”
He adds: "Most importantly, it's a yearly obligation calculated in a precise matter, without delays or deviation."
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
GAC GS8 Specs
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Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
FIGHT%20CARD
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Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Glossary of a stock market revolution
Reddit
A discussion website
Redditor
The users of Reddit
Robinhood
A smartphone app for buying and selling shares
Short seller
Selling a stock today in the belief its price will fall in the future
Short squeeze
Traders forced to buy a stock they are shorting
Naked short
An illegal practice
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Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
Jetour T1 specs
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
The%20specs
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Step by step
2070km to run
38 days
273,600 calories consumed
28kg of fruit
40kg of vegetables
45 pairs of running shoes
1 yoga matt
1 oxygen chamber
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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High profile Al Shabab attacks
- 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
- 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
- 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
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T20 World Cup Qualifier A, Muscat
Friday, February 18: 10am - Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm - Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am - Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm - UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am - Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm - Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm – semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm – final
UAE squad: Ahmed Raza (captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv
THE DETAILS
Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3ECompany%20name%3A%20CarbonSifr%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202022%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Onur%20Elgun%2C%20Mustafa%20Bosca%20and%20Muhammed%20Yildirim%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Climate%20tech%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%241%20million%20raised%20in%20seed%20funding%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Rating: Two out of five stars
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Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 849Nm
Range: 456km
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
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Euro 2020 qualifier
Russia v Scotland, Thursday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
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Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
RESULT
Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)
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