SHAFAQNA – If Islam heavily encourages people to extend a generous hand to those less fortunate, as a mean to elevate their faith and hold true to their social responsibility, the holy month of Ramadan revolves almost exclusively around such principles of generosity and compassion – calling on all Muslims to
Charity it is said holds the key to sustenance.
“Attract sustenance by giving charity” – Prophet Muhammad.
Sheikh Kulaini in his book Al Kaafi relates the following tradition from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.): “Cure your sick by giving Sadaqah or charity, and remove troubles and mishaps by giving charity, and increase sustenance with charity. Charity banishes seventy shaitans from what is within one’s beard, and charity goes unto the hand of Allah before it goes unto the hand of the needy”.
Our Holy Prophet (S) says that: “We should give charity as it increases our property, and it makes the mercy of Allah befall on us”.
Once Abu Abdillah (a.s.) asked his son how much money he had. His son replied that he only had forty dinars. Abu Abdillah (a.s.) asked his son to give it all away in the way of Allah. His son was hesitant and said that it was the only meager amount he possessed.
His father replied that: “Charity was the key to sustenance”.
Shortly after having given the amount in charity the Imam’s son got four thousand dirhams. The Imam (a.s.) said to his son: “O son, we gave Allah forty dirhams and he gave us four thousand.”
Today technology is empowering our collective ability to make a difference in people’s lives in the most practical and direct sense of the word. Beyond that, this clever app, is offering an answer to a growing socio-environmental problem: waste.
Three major WRAP studies published in 2013 and 2016 estimated annual food waste arisings within UK households, hospitality and food service, food manufacture, retail and wholesale sectors at around 10 million tonnes, 60% of which could have been avoided. This has a value of over £17 billion a year, and is associated with around 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Around 85% (by weight) of the avoidable food waste arises in households and food manufacture, although waste arising in one part of the supply chain is certainly influenced by other parts of the chain.
OLIO – Food Sharing Revolution offers a solution to such waste by linking community, companies, and individuals to those most in need through a clever social platform. Most importantly OLIO is reinventing the way society conceptualises charitable donations by making it a part of everyday life … as it very much should be.
One can only hope that this app will inspire others to rethink charity and aid distribution in their own community. Needless to say that peer to peer donation in regions such as the Middle East, Asia, and Africa where poverty is rampant would held free state resources, and power a sense of community.
So maybe, as we all sit to break fast with our loved ones, we could set something aside and impact our respective local community by helping someone in need. Charity needs not be a grand gesture … often it is the kindness being the donation that will leave a lingering mark.
What better way to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan!