The New Nation - Internet Edition

Of lately, a quarter has been advising the well off Muslims to transfer the amount they will spend to give korbani on Friday to the CA or the CAS relief funds. They have suggested us to show kindness to the 11/15 hurricane shattered people in the Southern Bangladesh. In this regard we have something to say.

Korbani is the Will of Allah. It is compulsory on the part of every Muslim having the wealth to the extent of taka 15,000 or more to give korbani. Allah commands us to eat and to feed the poor from the meat to be available from the slaughtered domestic animals- (Ref: 22/27, 36), meaning that the objective behind korbani is to bring smile on the lips of the poor who are obviously numerous in number. Prophet Muhammad (SM) decreed that the korbani meat could be preserved maximum for three days. A large number of Islamic scholars have taken this hadith in general term saying that the food items can't be hoarded for more than three days. If this lesson of the Prophet is followed, there is hardly any chance of famine and artificial crisis.

Mufti Muhammad Shafi writes in his explanatory book 'Ma Areful Quran' with reference to verse no.2/177 that it implies upon every Muslim, whether he pays zakat (poor tax), give korbani (slaughtering animal on the 10th of Zilhaj) and performs hajj (pilgrimage)or not, to stand by the poor in all times. There is no excuse at all. This is Islam. If anybody thinks that there is no need for him to help a poverty stricken or the destitute because he pays zakat, give korbani and has already performed hajj, then he is in thes abyss of ignorance. This is Islam. Islam fights for a society where no man shall exploit another, and justice and equality will prevail.

Ammer Hamzah

Dhaka