A Revolutionary Form of Charity

11 Lakh Muslims Benefited From Hyderabad Zakat and Charitable Trust

While the month of fasting Ramadan has become synonymous with feasting for many, a larger chunk of underprivileged Muslims struggle for decent food. It is prerogative for oneself to partake in charitable and philanthropic activities and attain a spiritual decorum that remains unprecedented for the rest of the year. Striking a chord with the poor, oft-neglected and weaker sections of the society, Hyderabad Zakat and Charitable Trust – one of the oldest NGOs based in Hyderabad, has distributed over Rs. 107 crore to the deserving through its various education and schemes including Ramadan relief.

Founded by the millionaire family of Hyderabadi Philanthropist Mr. Ghiasuddin Babukhan, the Hyderabad Zakat and Charitable Trust, as its name suggest has pioneered the concept of collective Zakat system in Hyderabad with the total Zakat amount grossing in crores and increasing with each Ramadan.

Zakat and charities donated by the wealthy families, affluent businessmen and non-resident Indians are pushed deep into the rural habitats of various districts where poor Muslims, underprivileged citizens – many even spiritually incognizant and tried by their daily ordeals reside. From 12,070 food packs including rice, pulses and prerequisites for Iftar to 3500 Eid Clothes packs comprising bare essentials like bed sheets,  a pair of sarees, and clothes for orphan children and their mothers, have been distributed, and the number continues to rise.

Chairman Hyderabad Zakat and Charitable Trust (HZCT) and Foundation for Economic and Educational Development (FEED) Mr. Ghiasuddin Babukhan releases the HZCT and FEED Annual Report 2016-17 during the trust’s Annual Meet function held at Lake View Banjara Function hall in Hyderabad on Sunday evening. Telangana Civil Services topper Muzammil Khan IAS joined by proud father Mr. A.K.Khan IPS (Retd.), HZCT trustee Abdul Aleem Khan, Mr. Ahmed Sayeed, Dr. Amir Ullah Khan, Director CSE Academy, Young civil service achievers Minhaj Nizami (UP) and Asif (Kerala) are also seen.

With the trust having spent Rs. 11.85 crore rupees in just 2016-17, a total of 1,29,775 people have benefitted through all its welfare, education and relief schemes. According to Chairman Mr. Ghiasuddin Babukhan “organized charity can make a stronger and constructive impact on the socio-economic status of Muslims.”

Experts believe that a whopping 1000 crores worth of charity in the form of Zakat is distributed by Hyderabadi Muslims.

“If this worth of Zakat could be properly channelled, there will be no poor people in Hyderabad”, he adds.

But what is remarkable achievement for this philanthropic organization is that its charity is bearing sweeter fruits. Minority Affairs Advisor to Telagnana Government Mr. A.K. Khan IPS (Retd.) in his address at the HZCT’s 2017 Annual Meet profusely appreciated the ‘grass-root charity’ mechanism of the trust.

He said “when the government planned to set up the Minority Residential Education schools across the state, the Zakat Trust was instrumental in magnifying government’s efforts, so much to the extent that the now-thriving State’s Minority Residential Educational Schools would not have achieved its success if it had not worked with the HZCT.”

A major portion of their charity funds education through its sister concern FEED and welfare of underprivileged while organizing remarriage of young widows, and orphan education are also on its agenda. Over 24000 students, of which 70% are girls, study in 99 Urdu medium schools and 3 English Medium schools supported by this trust. The Hyderabad Zakat and Charitable Trust trust has spent amount to the tune of Rs. 4.31 crores in Telangana, AP, and Maharashtra states benefitting over 1995 students, through its scholarships programs.

Advocating to leverage Muslim percentage in Civil Services, the trust regularly invites Muslim Civil Servants at its annual meet. This year, Telangana Civil Services topper Muzammil Khan IAS joined by proud father Mr. A.K.Khan IPS (Retd.) and young civil service achievers Minhaj Nizami (from UP) and Ashif (from Kerala) served motivation to the participating youth with their presence.

Interestingly, one of the first beneficiaries of the HZCT Mr. Amir Ullah Khan is a senior Economist today and serves as the principal Policy Advisor at the prestigious Bill and Melinda Gates foundation and spearheads the CSE Academy. Many students from utterly poor families have successfully completed engineering, medicine and other professional courses with the assistance of the trust. And many more success stories are waiting to be told.

As HZCT trustee Abdul Aleem Khan rightly said “we have ensured that we fulfil our responsibility of empowering people financially and socially through our organization, and it’s already bearing fruits of success”.

Mr. Ahmed Sayeed, Maulana Mufti Mohammed Azam, Javed Hood and others were also presented on this occasion.