Rabat, Morocco (TMT)- Dr. Mustapha Benhamza, president of the Ulema Council of Oujda and member of the Muslim Council of Elders, called on all Muslims around the world to preemptively give Zakat (Almsgiving) to needy people, given the current dire situation amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“Some people argue that one of the legal preconditions of paying Zakat is the passing of the year.
“But there is no problem in paying it in advance,” Benhamza stressed.
“For example, in the Maliki rite, it can be paid (before the passing of the year) by two months, while in the Hanbali rite, it can be advanced by up to two years.”
“The Prophet (PBUH) has preemptively paid Zakat to his Uncle Ibn Abbas by two years,’ Benhamza said.
His call was featured on Moroccan national state TV 2M (featured video above).
It is worth reminding that Zakat is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. It is a mandatory process for Muslims to donate 2.5% of their savings and wealth to the needy ones.
It is estimated that between $200 billion and $1 trillion are spent each year in Zakat across the Muslim world, according to Islamic financial analysts.
The Moroccan Times.
