Cyber-Anarchists aren't the only ones who can use the Net.
--- Forwarded message follows --- From: zakat@dircon.co.uk (Sohail Mohammed) Subject: Online Zakat Payment Date: 1 Feb 1996 11:15:34 GMT
Welcome to the Zakat homepage at http://www.ummah.org.uk/zakat/ which has been setup by the Bait al-Mal al-Islami (BMI).
Bait al-Mal is the public treasury of the Islamic political system (state or nonstate). BMI acts as the finance department function of an Islamic political authority (IPA). This BMI in the UK operates under the authority of the Muslim Parliament (the IPA in this case).
An IPA may or may not be directly responsible for the management of Mosque(s). The IPA may or may not be directly responsible for relief work. These activities may be carried out indirectly by other agencies operating under the authority of the IPA or supported by it. BMI does welfare work in UK and externally.
Zakat collection and distribution is the responsibility of the IPA (which may be a Khalifate or in its absence a regional entity in your part of the world).
Zakat collection and distribution is not a free-enterprise do-it-yourself project. Khalifa AbuBakr (RA) went to war against those people who did not want to pay Zakat to the central authority and who instead wanted to do it 'their-way'.
Any one can setup a registered charitable organization; anyone can't setup a religion or Deen and do it 'their-way'.
The Zakat page is at http://www.ummah.org.uk/zakat/
The online Zakat payment facility is at: http://www.ummah.org.uk/zakat/pay.htm
The long term strategy is that we Muslims need a major presence in cyberspace. This would include intelligent agents (robots, sheriffs,) roaming cyberspace collecting Zakat funds and Jihad funds and doing other things we can't yet imagaine. Islamic Gateway http://www.ummah.org.uk (and affiliated net entities) is only a primitive foundation for future workers to take further. If you want to help realise the dream or want free webspace for public service projects contact info@zakat.org.uk
If you are running a BMI function in your part of the world and you wish to co-operate or obtain further information on the UK BMI then contact:
Dr Muhammad Ghayasuddin MMP (*), Secretary/Trustee, Bait al-Mal al-Islami, 109 Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8JA, UK Tel +44 181 563 1995 or 1994 (fax 1993)
WHY is BMI/MP doing this: policy questions to Mohtashim Shaikh MMP, BMI trustee responsible for the online Zakat service at: mohtash@ummah.org.uk
Technical questions to the IG chief designer, Brother Ibrahim at: query@eurolink.co.uk
(*) MMP = Member of Muslim Parliament
Flames to Mohtashim before Feb 9, afterwards to info@zakat.org.uk
MP as an IPA raises both Zakat funds (using BMI's charitable status in the UK) and also Jihad Funds (NOT using BMI - Jihad is NOT covered as a charitable activity in western law!). Only an IPA can do BOTH Zakat and Jihad fund raising. Let any 'Charity' org try and do that.
Just as a personal aside: a major UK Muslim charity is a part of the Saudi lobby (accountability to Mr Fahd?) whilst another Islamic charity is about to get U.N. affiliation (accountability to Boutrous Boutrous Ghali?). BMI on the other hand is accountable to the Muslim Community and its leadership.
***************************************************************************** Steven C. Perkins sperkins@andromeda.rutgers.edu User Services Coordinator, Rutgers School of Law at Newark 15 Washington Street Newark, NJ 07102 VOX: 201-648-5965 FAX: 201-648-1356 http://www.rutgers.edu/RUSLN/rulnindx.html http://www.rutgers.edu/lawschool.html "Raise your voices to the Sky. It is a Good Day to die." Chief Crazy Horse *****************************************************************************