Less Fortunate To Collect Alms Today
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - Some impoverished people who came to enquire about their tithe or zakat fitrah, were asked to come today, Saturday, to collect their alms.

A mosque official said that people who applied to get a share of this year's tithe or zakat ftrah had to be thoroughly checked. He explained that the check was to ensure that none of the needy are left out from receiving financial help this year.

The tithes are obtained from able Muslims who pay the zakat fitrah in the month of Ramadhan; an obligation for those who are capable as it is one of the five pillars of Islam.

There are eight categories of people who are entitled to receive the zakat fitrah: "Fakir" - one who has neither material possessions nor means of livelihood and no means to sustain his daily needs; "Miskin" - one with insufficient means of livelihood to meet his basic needs; "Anvil"- one who is appointed to collect "zakat fitrah"; "Muallaf" the newly converted; "Riqab" - one who wants to free himself from the bondage or shackles of slavery; "Gharimin" - one who is in debt but needs assistance to meet his/her basic needs; "Fisabilillah" - those who strive in the cause of Allah and for the betterment of the community; and "lbnissabil" - stranded travellers on a permissible journey.

This year about 16, 534" fakir miskin or impoverished people from 3,856 families are entitled to financial help from tithe payments. The total cash to be handed out to the impoverished people amounts to nearly $10 million.

Last Thursday, the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Pehin Dato Ustaz Hj Awang Badaruddin handed out tithes to 191 heads of less fortunate families in the Brunei-Muara District at a ceremony held at the Jame' 'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque in Kiarong. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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