By time, verily man is in loss. Except such as have faith, and do good deeds, and (join together) in the mutual enjoining of truth, and of patience and constancy. (Sura Al Asr 103:1-3)

One of the seven pillars of Islam is Zakat, an act of financial charity, which is obligatory for those who have excess wealth.

The literal meaning of Zakat is ‘to cleanse’. In the Islamic faith, Zakat means purifying your wealth for the will of Allah by acknowledging that everything we own belongs to Him and as a means of working towards the betterment of the Muslim Ummah.

The main purpose of Zakat is to provide for the poor so that they can celebrate the festival of breaking the fast along with the rest of the Muslims. Every Muslim is required to pay Zakat as a token of thankfulness to God for having enabled him or her to observe the obligatory fast.

However, giving Zakat is not the only way to bless those around you during the Holy Month, and there are other charitable acts that can be performed in the name of Allah and as a blessing on both the giver and the recipient.

Fasting Health tips

Include pre-meals

Pre-meals during Suhoor include nuts and seeds that are rich in protein as well as fibre. These also keep you full for longer periods. After a break of 30 minutes, consume your main meal.