Ramadan is coming to an end and many of our Muslim fellows in the UK and Morocco have fasted this month. Before the end of Ramadan, every self-supporting Muslim adult decides on the Zakat al-Fitr and generously gives money to support the most needy.

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Every day, Muslims all over the world abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, as well as participating in anything that is ill-natured or excessive from dawn until sunset. Ramadan was the month in which the initial verses of the Qur’an were said to be shown to Muhammad, the Islamic Prophet.

The Zakat al-Fitr is charity given to the poor at the end of the fasting in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The word Fitr means the same as Iftar, “breaking a fast,” and it comes from the same root word as Futoor which means breakfast.

Sadaqat al-Fitr is a duty, which is wajib (required) of every Muslim, whether male or female, minor or adult as long as s/he has the means to do so.

The significant role played by Zakat in the circulation of wealth within the society is also played by the Sadaqat al-Fitr. However, in the case of Sadaqat al-Fitr, each individual is required to calculate how much charity is due from himself and his dependents and go into the community in order to find those who deserve such charity.

Thus, both Sadaqat al-Fitr and Zakat al-Fitr play very important roles in the development of the bonds of community. The rich are obliged to come in direct contact with the poor, and the poor are put in contact with the extremely poor. This contact between the various levels of society helps to build real bonds of brotherhood and love within the community and trains those who have, to be generous to those who do not have.

During the period of Ramadan, the main purpose of Zakat al-Fitr is to provide the poor with a means with which they can celebrate the festival of breaking the fast (`Eid al-Fitr) along with the rest of the Muslims.

Every Muslim is required to pay it at the conclusion of the month of Ramadan as a token of thankfulness to God for having enabled him or her to observe the fast.

This is the most generous time for our fellows Muslims. To all our generous friends, if you are still looking for where to give your Zakat al-fitr, do remember that you can make a considerable difference to a street child’s life in Morocco. With your help, MCT can continue to make the enduring difference that will make their futures brighter.

How you can give your Zakat:

5£ could provide ID papers to a child and, as a result, access to education.
10£ could enable our Moroccan social workers to do night rounds in the streets to accompany kids home.
20£ could offer a session to the women from our Women’s Project (such as a cooking session, a civil rights information meeting, or Arabic literacy classes)
25£ could cover educational resources for the classroom (i.e. books, paper and pens)

Every bit really does help. Make a donation now and make a real difference to the life of these cute little ones!