-Needy Families Office in Zakat Fund

Islam urged Muslims to seek Needy families in the community and provide them with necessary support to fulfil their living security and stability. In spite of their dire need, they vehemently avoid seeking help and prefer not to disclose their forbearing.

Restraint (self-control) is a high Islamic moral that is born out of the feel-in the sight of Allah and self-honor. Allah the Almighty mentioned this group by saying: (Those needy ones who are wholly wrapped up in the cause of Allah, and who are hindered from moving about the earth in search of their livelihood, especially deserve help. He who is unaware of their circumstances supposes them to be wealthy because of their dignified bearing, but you will know them by their countenance, although they do not go about begging of people with importunity. Whatever wealth you spend on helping them, Allah will know of it). Allah has described this honorable group with qualities that make us rush to meet their needs. These qualities include:

First: They are "poor", that is, they need help because of their poverty.

Second: (who are wholly wrapped up in the cause of Allah) "Ihsar" (being wrapped up) in Arabic is for one to face what prevents them from what they want such as illness, old age, enemy, or loss of maintenance.

Third: (who are hindered from moving about the earth) that is, they cannot travel for work and trade in order to obtain a livelihood due to weakness or jihad in the cause of Allah.

Fourth: (He who is unaware of their circumstances supposes them to be wealthy because of their dignified bearing) because they refrain from asking for something they need, therefore, one with little observance would think they are rich.

Fifthly: (you will know them by their countenance) by what you see from their appearance of humility and serenity.

Sixth: (they do not go about begging of people with importunity), that is, they do not insist on asking others for help.

Zakat Fund has been paying attention to this segment of society as they have urgent needs to be fulfilled. Since 2004, it has established a special office to handle their issues confidentially and preserve their modesty and chastity. Zakat Fund has laid out procedures that facilitate process of application, social research and delivering aid. Regulations of social research and disbursement to formulate guidelines for those who study such cases. Documents and methods of communication have also been identified to handle issues of such segment to relieve their psychological suffering.

These families are identified by trusted volunteers who are known for their righteousness and piety. They have full knowledge of such families and their living conditions. They communicate with the Office of Longanimous Families by filling out special forms for recommending a family and elaborating on their conditions so Zakat Fund can study their conditions according to specific procedures.

Number of longanimous families served by Office of Longanimous Families at Zakat Fund is as shown in the tables below:

Prepared by

Mariam Mohammad Almansoori

Manager of Office of Needy Families/Zakat Fund