(In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful)
AlSadaqa
Muslim community services in the metropolitan Seattle/Puget Sound region
(In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful)
AlSadaqa
Muslim community services in the metropolitan Seattle/Puget Sound region
AlSadaqa was formerly known as Baitulmal. The name Baitulmal was chosen because of its significance as a financial institution in Islam. Although we had to change our name (for reasons described in detail elsewhere), the basis of our work is rooted in the concept of 'bait ul mal' in Islam as explained below.
Prophet Muhammad, (pbuh), established the common brotherhood of Muslims soon after the Hijrah (migration) to Medina from Mecca. Each resident of Medina became a helper (ansar) to each individual who migrated with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The rich muslims took charge of the poor ones and soon the economic disparity was removed with the interdependency.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) started the Bait ul Mal (a central financial treasury) after the battle of Badr and the first Mosque, Masjid-e-Nabi (Mosque of Prophet Muhammad), which served as the center of collection and distribution for zakat (charitable tax) and sadaqa (additional contributions).
During the time of Khalif Umar, the Bait ul Mal became larger and it played the role of the Public Exchequer for the entire Islamic State. Umar then invented the new system of salary and welfare, etc. For example, the poor or unemployed, could get an amount of money from the Bait ul Mal. Even women, who were either pregnant or nursing and had no one else to take care of them, received a monthly stipend from the Bait ul Mal.
Wallahu álam (Allah Knows best)
Imam Mohammad Joban
