An unforgivable tragedy
Twenty-seven men and women were killed and about 50 injured in deadly stampede in Mymensingh town on Friday. In response to a drum-beating, hundreds of destitute rushed through a small gate into a factory compound before dawn to get the Zakat, causing a crush.
Most of the dead are emaciated women.
This kind of tragedy is not new in the country, but repetition of the old. It continues because person(s) responsible for such tragic death have not been punished as yet. The poor people risked their lives to get free garments, which, however, is not Islamic way.
Zakat means poor-tax. There are more than double digit verses on Zakat in the Holy Quran. The very purpose of Zakat is poverty-alleviation. But it is not possible for an individual or a group of individuals to bring relief to the poverty-stricken people, distributing one or two pieces of garments. The responsibility lies with the State.
Hazrat Anas (RA) narrates, one day a man from a distant tribe came to the Prophet Muhammad (SM) in the Mosque, where he was taking rest with some of his companions. The stranger asked the Prophet several questions, including one about the Zakat. The Prophet said: Yes! We (State) collect Zakat from the wealthy men and women, and distribute among the needy according to their measure.
This Hadith clears whose duty it is to collect Zakat.
Ameer Hamzah
Dhaka
