Muslims Encouraged To Give 'Sadaqah' During Ramadan

By Wan Shahara Ahmad Ghazali KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- Ramadan is a special month when Muslims perform their fasting, which is a religious obligation, and it is also the month when Muslims are encouraged to perform good deeds, such as giving 'sedekah' (or sadaqah in Arabic). Sadaqah is a voluntary act of giving alms (for the cause of Allah). Sadaqah may be given to mark or bring blessings as a gratitude to Allah the Al-Mighty. Hence Muslims are encouraged to give sadaqah during Ramadan, not only in monetary form but also in other ways, such as contributing to the breaking of fast meals for the poor and needy. TRADITION In Malaysia, it has been a tradition where organisations and corporate bodies hold breaking of fast events for the underprivileged as part of their corporate responsibility. Generally, among those who are invited for these functions are residents of orphanages and welfare homes. Among these corporate bodies is Petronas (the nation's petroleum-production company) where the company encourages its personnel to adopt underprivileged children during Ramadan. For the past five years about 200 Petronas employees have spent their own money to take underprivileged children on 'Hari Raya' (Eid ul-Fitr) shopping for clothes as part of the ‘Sentuhan Kasih Aidilfitri' programme (a charitable programme in conjunction with the festive season). This year, 25 orphans from the Rumah Sentuhan Budi at Jalan Ipoh (Kuala Lumpur) here benefitted from a similar programme. Also, members of the association of women employees of Bernama (Benita), contributed their own money to buy a pair of new Hari Raya shoes for each needy child. RAYA PACKETS The management of Suria KLCC held a breaking of fast event for 28 children of Pusat Jagaan Suci Rohani in Petaling Jaya (Selangor, Malaysia) recently where, apart from being treated to a sumptuous meal, each child also received a Hari Raya packet that contained RM100 (US$32). One of the children's supervisors, Zetty Mazlinda Zakaria, told Bernama that the residents of this welfare home are aged from seven to 12 years old and come from hardcore poor families. "This welfare home was operational three years ago and provides accommodation for 30 primary school students who attend Sekolah Rendah Tahfiz al-Mahabbah, in Sungai Penchala (Kuala Lumpur)", said Zetty Mazlinda. Meanwhile, the management of Suria KLCC's neighbour, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), also held a breaking of fast event for 80 children, regardless of their race and religion. Additionally, the children from Living Hope and Yellow House welfare organisatons were treated to lavish spreads that included favourite Malaysian dishes such as laksa, sate, murtabak, rendang and nasi kandar. KLCC general manager Peter Brokenshire said the management invited children from different welfare homes every Ramadan for the past five years. "The event is to encourage our staff to have close interaction with the children, apart from returning something to the society that has supported us," he said. Each of the children also received RM100 Hari Raya money. -- BERNAMA