Productive Aspects of Zakat to be realized: Zakat Conference
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Kochi: International Zakat Conference which came to a close on Sunday here held that economic disparity and unemployment can be solved through Islam's scheme of Zakat. Zakat can uplift the marginalised and bring them to the mainstream of economic activity.
The papers presented in the conference pointed out that Zakat is a system meant to turn its beneficiary into a factor of economic system. The seminars at the conference showed how zakat will pull funds kept idle by the relatively rich into the economic activity, thus generating both productive processes and employment opportunities. Zakat is not a system of giving doles, but a mechanism to turn its recipients to givers of Zakat. For that to be achieved, most speakers highlighted, it should rather not give fish, but a fishing net and enable them earn their own income.
The three-day conference was held here at Le Meridian Conference Centre under the aegis of Baithuzzakath Kerala.
Inaugurating the session titled "The Scope of Formaton of Common Platform for Efffective Zakat Management in India" Malabar Group Vice Chairman PA Ibrahim Haji opined that collective efforts are the effective model to derive the benefits of Zakat. He also emphasized that in order to meet the ends of Zakat, it should be ensured that those at the helm are absolutely trustworthy, and there are pre- and post-audit for all their performance and processes.
Indian Centre for Islamic Finance General Secretary H. Abdurraqib said that it is high time to devise Zakat for progress of the country. He urged economic experts to take an unbiased view of Zakat and review its merits. He also stressed the need of impartiality in identifying the beneficiaries of Zakat beyond religion and caste.
Mohammed Hussain Khatkhatay, Hamid Mohammed Khan, Ameen Easa Usmani, CP Haris, SM Hidayathullah, Mohammed Ameen, Dr. Taha Matheen, Ameer Babu, Dr. M. Kabir, Jose Sebastian, Hafis Rashiduddin, Maqbool Ahmed Siraj, K.K. Suhail, Dr. CP Shaheed Ramadan, NK Mazeen and others talked.
In all, over 60 papers were presented at the various sessions, including some parallel sessions, and the meet was attended by over 400 delegates.
Baithuzzakath Kerala Chairman VK Ali, General Secretary NM Abdurahman, General Convenor PC Basheer, People's Foundation Chairman P. Mujeeb Rahman, Abdulla Ahmed Manham, Dr. A.A. Haleem, CP Habeeb Rahman and others spoke at the closing session.