Re: A few questions about almsgiving in Islam
Assalamu Aleikum!
I am currently writing a research paper in anthropology about almsgiving in Islam, and I wouldappreciate very much if some of you would take the time to answer a fewrather personal questions about this. I would be very thankful, if you are willing to help me before Wednesday! Youare of course welcome to write it to me as a pm.
1. How do you personally practice zakat (obligatory almsgiving) and sadaqa(voluntary almsgiving)?
2. To whom do you normally pay zakat? Why?
3. Why do you think almsgiving is so important in Islam?
4. Do you think it is an aspect of Islam that Muslims are generally more awareof then other? Why/Why not?
5. Do you look at it as something you own, an act of generosity or something else? Explain!
6. How are you interested in, and related to, the purpose; you are giving the alms to?
Asalaamualaykum Brother Yasin.
1. I certainly hope you learn to press the spacebar before typing up your report.
2. I also hope you learn the difference between "then" and "than" before your report. The word "than" is used in comparison of two aspects. The word "then" is used to show chronological order between two aspects.
3. As far as your questions go - I am confused about how a report in Anthropology will entail survey data from a website of this nature. Whenever a survey is done, it's aim is to collect data in an way that eradicates any form of biasness. That means the survey cannot target only a particular group (Examples- age, gender, location etc). When you collect your answers here without knowing the details of the people whom you are collecting the data from, it will logically lead to inadvertent biasness in that survey.
So, could you please explain how your lecturer/faculty & University accepts your data from a website like this ?
4. From an Islamic angle - The dispensing of both Zakaath, Lillah & Sadaqa is a private matter. It is a such a private matter that when the right hand gives, the left hand shouldn't even know. This is obviously a metaphor leading to the understanding that it is a deed that should not be divulged to others.
To put it another way - it is similar to coming on this website and asking "Who prays Thahajud Salaah". You obviously will recognise the conundrum here because it is the one Salaah that is done in privacy and not to be discussed or boasted about.
5. Certain questions of yours (leading on from point number 4) is actually encouraging muslims to divulge this information which in reality will mean going against the ethos and spirit of the faith regarding this subject.
I still bamboozled that a survey this unprofessional will serve as data in an Anthropology report.
Wishing all the best in your report.
Waslaam.