STARTING WITH THE ABC OF PARENTING – EHSAS KA SAFAR 2.0

Updated on November 14, 2022
by Fawad Rashid
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The Cochlear Implant Program at Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN) heavily depends upon parents of the program’s patients working with their children at home so that their development is on-going. While working with patients from various socio-economic backgrounds, the program discovered a need for a Parental Training workshop Series. Newly revived, Ehsas ka Safar 2.0, is a series of parental training sessions meant to teach parents effective techniques to manage their children’s problematic behaviors.

Suported by Cochlear & Oriental Sales Co-operation, Ehsas Ka Safar 2.0 consists of a 5-day workshop series, conducted once a month. The pilot session, “Starting with the ABC of parenting” was conducted on September 23, 2022. During the session, Ms. Humaira Kaleem, Psychologist at IHHN, discussed the definition of parenting, different styles of parenting (authoritarian, permissive and authoritative), and broke down myths surrounding the correct way to parent a child.

Furthermore, along with practical examples, three principles of effective parenting were discussed: Child see Child do, Parenting is managing about self not a child, do not teach the child what not to do instead teach what to do.

Short engagement segments were also held to allow participants to reflect upon their parenting styles, ask for suggestions, and interact with other sets of parents.

The series is based upon a couple of sessions held in 2020 wherein mothers of cochlear implant patients were provided a support group to cater to their individuality as a person, and teach them effective stress management techniques.

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1. What is Zakat?

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is the specific amount of wealth that a mature Muslim, who is Sahib-e-Nisaab, gives to the poor with the intention of Zakat, upon the completion of the Zakat year.
“And those in whose riches there is a specified right. For the one who asks and the one who is deprived.” (Qur’an 70:24-25)

2. What is Nisab?

The meaning of Nisab is a specific amount of four types of wealth, which if owned by a mature Muslim, Zakat will be compulsory upon. The four types of wealth are:

Gold (7.5 Tolas, 87.48 Grams)
Silver (52.5 Tolas, 312.36 Grams)
Business wealth (value of which equals 52.5 Tolas Silver)
Currency/Cash (value of which equals 52.5 Tolas Silver)

3. Zakat: A sacred pillar

Zakat is not just a fundamental pillar of Islam. It is also a revolutionary concept with the potential to ease the suffering of millions around the world.
As Allah (SWT) tells us in the Holy Qur’an:
“And be steadfast in Salah (prayer), and give Zakah. Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will find it with Allah. Certainly, Allah is watchful of what you do.” (Qur’an 2:110)
It is also a right that the poor have over us.
“And those in whose riches there is a specified right. For the one who asks and the one who is deprived.” (Qur’an 70:24-25)

4. How much is Zakat?

Zakat is 2.5% of the wealth one possesses above the Nisab.

5. Who is eligible to receive Zakat?

If someone is a Muslim, non-Sayyid, and they do not possess 52.5 Tolas silver, or its value in gold, currency, business wealth, or wealth surplus to their needs, they are eligible to receive Zakat.

6. Does a non-Muslim has to pay Zakat?

No, Zakat is only obligatory upon Muslims.

7. What are the categories of people eligible to receive Zakat?

There are eight categories of people who are eligible to receive Zakat:

The poor
Needy
Administrators of Zakat
Those whose hearts have been recently reconciled
Those who have been enslaved
Those in debt
In the cause of God
Travellers (including refugees)

As Allah (SWT) tells us in the Holy Qur’an: The Sadaqat (prescribed alms) are (meant) only to be given to the poor, the needy, to those employed to collect them, to those whose hearts are to be won, ¹⁹in the cause of the slaves and those encumbered with debt, in the way of Allah and to a wayfarer. This is an obligation prescribed by Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, Wise.

8. What is 'Hawl'?

‘Hawl’ refers to a lunar year. E.g. When a person achieves the Nisab for the first time, then from this date till the same date in the next lunar year his ‘Hawl’ is complete.

9. If one has not yet owned his/her wealth for one lunar year, can s/he still pay Zakat?

For Zakat to be due, it is a condition for one lunar year to have passed. If one lunar year hasn’t passed on someone’s wealth, then Zakat is not due.

10. I received a large amount of money just before my Zakat was due for this year. Do I include it in this year’s Zakat?

Yes, Zakat will be due at the time of Zakat due date for this amount. Even though a year hasn’t passed on having the amount. This is known as ‘Maal-e-Mustafaad’ in Shariah terms, as in wealth received midway through a year.

11. My wealth dipped below the Nisab during the course of the year, do I still have to pay Zakat?

The midway of a year is not taken into consideration, but the zakat due date is considered. For example, you Zakat due date is the first of Ramazan , and before the first of Ramazan, your wealth decreased to below the Nisab, but on the coming of the first of Ramazan, your wealth met the Nisab criteria, then Zakat will be due. The drop earlier in the year beneath the Nisab criteria will not be considered

12. I normally give a lot of money in charity throughout the year, do I still have to pay Zakat?

Yes, you will still be required to pay Zakat of 2.5%. For the payment of Zakat, ‘intention’ or ‘Niyyat’ is mandatory and common charity/donation cannot be considered as Zakat. Therefore, you are required to calculate your Zakat on your Zakat calculation date and then the calculated amount may be given to the identified Mustahiq-e-Zakat either in full or in tranches throughout the year, with the intention of that amount being considered as Zakat only.

13. I owe several years of Zakat, how do I pay?

For every year that you owe Zakat, take 2.5% from the total wealth you had at the end of that year and pay that in Zakat. If you are not sure how much wealth you had, you must estimate it to the best of your ability. For example, it is now Ramazan 2022. You have not paid Zakat for the last 5 years. You need to work out how much wealth you owned every Ramadan for the last five years and pay 2.5% of that.

14. If a child’s wealth has satisfied all the conditions of Zakat (i.e. it is above the Nisab and has been in his ownership for one year), should Zakat be paid on it?

There is no Zakat on the wealth of a minor.

15. I have mixed jewellery consisting of gold, silver and precious stones. How do I calculate the value on which Zakat must be paid?

The best way for you to do this would be to take the jewellery to a jeweller and ask them to value just the gold and silver parts of the jewellery. The valuations they give will be the total on which you have to pay Zakat. Precious stones are not liable for Zakat.

16. I have savings which I shall use to go for Hajj, is this to be included in my wealth when calculating Zakat?

If money for Hajj has been paid and the place has also been confirmed, then there is no Zakat on this amount. But if the Zakat date falls before payment, then there will be Zakat due on this amount.

17. I lent some money to a friend who informed that s/he is able to return the money; do I have to include this in my wealth while calculating Zakat?

Yes, Zakat is due on this amount. But it is up to you – you can either pay Zakat on the amount each year, or when the money is received, you can pay for the previous years.

18. 10 years ago, I lent some money to a friend who is poor and I did not expect to get the money back. S/he has now paid me back, is this money liable for Zakat?

If your friend accepted that he had the debt and did not deny it, then Zakat is due on this amount. Calculate your zakat here

19. My Zakat is due in Zil-Qadah, but I would like to pay in advance (in Ramazan ). I have a debt which must be paid in Shawal (after Ramazan). . Can this be deducted from my wealth when calculating Zakat?

Yes, you can exclude this loan, but if your wealth increased by Zil-Qadah, then Zakat will be due on the extra amount as well.

20. I bought a house for the purpose of renting 5 years ago. Last year I decided that I would sell the house. How do I pay Zakat on this?

In this scenario, there is no Zakat due on the house value. However, whatever rent was received, add this to your other wealth on which Zakat is due and pay the total due Zakat amount for the Zakat year. Also, there is no Zakat on the house until you sell it. Once you have sold the house and received the money, then there will be Zakat payable on that amount, if it remains in your possession till your Zakat due date.

21. I have a shop where I sell clothes. How do I pay Zakat?

Every year at the time of paying Zakat, you would need to calculate the total selling price for all the goods for sale in your shop. For example, all the clothes for sale in your shop add up to a total selling value of a particular sum of money. You would add this to your other wealth when calculating your total payment.

22. I have a pension fund, do I pay Zakat on the savings in this fund?

If you haven’t received the funds, then Zakat isn’t due. But if you have received the funds, Zakat is due.

23. A group of us has set up a fund to pay for any emergency needs that we may have. Is this liable for Zakat?

This amount is the group’s collective ownership. Thus, each participant will pay Zakat on his/her share, or permission can be given to one person who will pay Zakat from the fund on behalf of everyone.

24. What is the definition of the needy and poor?

In Shariah terms, poor and needy is classified as someone who does not have the Nisab amount in their ownership. The meaning of Nisab here is 52.5 tolas silver or the equivalent of that in cash/gold, or extra to what is needed.

25. Can I give Zakat to my family members?

Zakat cannot be given to ‘Usool’ and ‘Furuu’. ‘Usool’ is parents, grandparents and so on. ‘Furuu’ is children, grandchildren and so on. Similarly, Zakat cannot be given to husband or wife. Besides this, Zakat can be given to other relatives.

26. Can I use my Zakat to sponsor an orphan?

If the orphan doesn’t possess the ‘Nisab’, and he isn’t a ‘Sayyid’, then he can be given Zakat. If he possesses something of the value of nisab, he cannot be given Zakat.

27. What kind of projects do Zakat funds support?

Zakat can only be given in those projects wherein possession is achieved of the Zakat amount. This means the person who can claim Zakat and is eligible for Zakat payment becomes the owner of the amount. Thus, to give food, clothing, medicine etc. to a poor person from the Zakat money is permissible. And those projects wherein ownership of the Zakat money is not achieved, Zakat cannot be given for example, spending in Masajid, digging wells etc.