Ramadan A Good Time For Charitable Deeds

By Kurniawati Kamarudin KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- Ramadan is the time when Muslims try to be more charitable as all good deeds are more handsomely rewarded during the holy month than in any other month of the year. Apart from distributing alms to the poor and destitute, as well as orphans and other needy people, the practice of making endowments or "wakaf" to a religious, educational or charitable cause is also common during the fasting month. Not wanting to miss this golden opportunity to reap some extra rewards hereafter, businesswoman Siti Hajar Harun, 45, and some of her friends have embarked on a project to donate "telekung" – the attire worn by Muslim women during prayers – to needy groups. They are hoping to donate more than 100 pieces of telekung to single mothers and poor women in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur and Selangor this Ramadan. "My friends and I are always thinking of what kind of help we can offer in the form of endowments that provide lasting benefits. At the same time, we also want to reap more rewards from which we can benefit hereafter," said Siti Hajar, the owner of online telekung wholesaler and supplier, Arianna Azzyaa Global Network. AVAILABLE AT COST PRICE This is not the first time Siti Hajar and her friends are donating telekung as they have been doing it from time to time over the last two years. So far, they have endowed more than 1,000 pieces of telekung to mosques, suraus, single mothers and poor communities. The main objective of their "telekung project" is to ensure that needy Muslim women get to wear telekung that are not only of good quality but are syariah-compliant as well. Siti Hajar, whose company produces telekung featuring different designs in various fabrics, sells the prayer attire at cost price to those who wish to donate them to needy groups. "For example, the selling price of each telekung from one of my exclusive ranges is RM289 (US$1 = RM3.98) but those wishing to endow it to others only need to pay RM110. I have another range that sells at RM99 each but the donor only has to pay RM75," she explained. Her telekung ranges come complete with her trademarked pockets and they are convenient for women who wish to pray at mosques and suraus as they can keep their valuables like money, watch and smartphone in their pockets while praying. TARGET GROUPS The distribution of all the donated telekung will begin in the third week of Ramadan. In order to ensure that they go to the target groups, Siti Hajar's team will work closely with mosque and surau committees, as well as non-governmental organisations. Besides telekung, they will also be donating household essential items to the needy. "We just want to share whatever we have with those who are less fortunate. (In doing all this) We have no other intention other than seeking the blessings of God," said Siti Hajar. She and her team members also make it a point to take turns to wash the telekung that are donated to mosques and suraus by individuals and companies for the use of the female congregation. "Usually, we send them to the laundry on a monthly basis. We took on this responsibility of keeping the telekung clean and in good condition as we want them to last longer." TELEKUNG WITH POCKETS Relating how she came up with the idea of producing telekung fitted with pockets, Siti Hajar said sometime in 2014 she was praying at a mosque in Gombak, Selangor, when her handbag got stolen. "That was when I first thought about designing a telekung with pockets that can be zipped so that I can keep my valuables safe when I pray. "Initially, I got one sewn for my use but when others saw me wearing it at the mosque or surau, they asked me where they could get one," she said. It occurred to her then that the telekung with pockets was necessary for women who wanted to pray at the mosque or surau without worrying about the safety of their belongings. -- BERNAMA