On the morning of Eid Al Fitr one of the first acts is to make the donation of zakat, the charitable giving for the breaking of the fast. Even before Eid prayers, the head of the household gives on behalf of each person living under their roof. It can be given directly, as food or money to those who need it, or paid to a charity, which then distributes it as part of their work.
In recent years, the contribution has been made any time from the beginning of Ramadan onwards so it can reach those who need it for Eid, but the symbolism and tradition of giving on Eid itself is strong.
Ramadan has already set a precedent of increased charitable giving. In the UK for example, the country’s Muslim population of around 4 million donate £100 million pounds during Ramadan alone. According to the “Great British Ramadan” study by Ogilvy Islamic Marketing, not only do Muslims give more money during Ramadan, 36 per cent do more charity and community work; men aged 18-24 contribute more, at 42 per cent.
So when Eid arrives, the scene is set, and the giving of zakat doesn’t mark just the completion of Ramadan, but also the first act of a new habit of charity.
A parallel can be drawn of this habit. Think of it like having a pot of money to invest in stocks and shares. If you had $1000 dollars, where would you invest it for it to be best used? Or, perhaps it is worth thinking about it like a fantasy football league where you create the portfolio of a dream team of charities that can create unimaginable breakthroughs to help mankind.
Worshippers attend Eid prayers at Al Azhar mosque in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. AFP
We must remember that the value of Eid is also in taking a moment to enjoy our blessings, with family and food and the spirit of well-being – and also to imagine a better world.
And to create a better world, we must consider the issue of how charitable giving is sustained throughout the year, to whom we give and how. Ramadan is the main month of donations for Muslims. For charities, this poses a dilemma – maximising donations when people are most primed to give, without commodifying Ramadan.
The habit of giving is most important and we must all indeed make it a habit
In this context of sustained giving, zakat can be seen as the start of a new habit that doesn't have to be limited to the holy month but is relevant for the rest of the year too.
There is also the dilemma of whether to give locally or globally. Giving globally, especially when donating to the world’s poorest is a powerful draw. Money can save people from death or illnesses. But that can often mean local needs are overlooked. Under investing in local communities on the premise that they don’t need it quite as much can mean long-term deprivation that is difficult to reverse.
Muslims also have a prescription to ensure that their near ones receive charity first, as a matter of fulfilling their duties. And there is no doubt that donors experience something meaningful when delivering food and money directly to those in need. It is a humbling experience and can bring together people from very different lives and circumstances.
Father and son buy balloons after special prayers on Eid, in Karachi, Pakistan. AFP
Large charities can often deliver help more effectively and more sustainably than what people are able to do on their own. A well-run charity will know who is in need, what the right thing is to give, how to give at scale and with efficiency, and how to ensure the long term well-being of recipients. Especially where the nature and extent of need is often hidden, charities are the best option, whether it is poverty, escape from domestic abuse or refugee assistance.
In the context of the pandemic and other difficult global events, giving takes on a more sombre and desperate note. Covid deaths are rising in India, Nepal and elsewhere; the crises in Afghanistan and Syria continue, and now the violence in Palestine, to mention just a few pressing causes. If one wants to contribute to these causes and help the people in other parts of the world, online donation and giving to third parties is often the only way.
Some people wonder whether online donation is the same as giving in person. But this sort of peripheral concern misses the point. People don't have to be physically present to still make a difference and be attentive to the true meaning and intention in donating.
Pontificating about what technology to use, and whether to give locally or globally are important but only in a limited context. These concerns do not compare to the all-important act of giving. Every other concern – how to give, to which cause – comes after that.
The teaching that lies in giving zakat as the first thing you do after Ramadan is this: the habit of giving is most important and we must all indeed make it a habit. Then on we can start thinking strategically, as you might with that $1000 investment pot, or building the right portfolio for your fantasy charity league. But it is in the act of giving that we find meaning and joy. Eid Mubarak!
Shelina Janmohamed is an author and a culture columnist for The National
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.
The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
