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Edhi Foundation, founded in the year 1951 is a social welfare program based in Pakistan. This non-profit organization provides emergency assistance round the clock across the nation and extends its support beyond national borders as well. Some of the services provided by this large group include: • Free medical care and hospitals • Shelter for the destitute • Services related to drug rehabilitation • Relief efforts during emergency periods Members of this organization are especially dedicated towards orphans and individuals with handicaps. Education, Emergency services, healthcare and shelters are areas which receive attention from the Edhi Foundation. Besides these, blood and drug banks and international community centers are maintained by this center. Services related to marine and coastal regions and air ambulance services are also provided as and when required. They function out of kindness of their own hearts and their faith in their religion which makes space for such generosity in various forms. Zakat is an Islamic term meaning ‘that which purifies’ and refers to the act of giving alms for the reason of charity. This constitutes one of the pillars on which Islam is based and needs to be carried out by each individual of the faith with the financial means. The funds collected are distributed among asnaf, or the categories of people who are entitled to receive Zakat. They include people who live in extreme poverty or cannot meet their basic necessities for life, the collectors of zakat, Non-Muslims sympathetic towards or willing to convert to Islam, people who need to be freed from bondage or slavery, individuals who have accumulated heavy debt while trying to sustain themselves, travelers and street children and individuals working in the path of God. Zakah is another pillar from among the five which holds up Islam and is a duty which must be compulsorily fulfilled by each member of the religion for the benefit of the needy and the poor. It is different from charity or tax and the amount is calculated on the net balance which remains after spending on basic necessities, donations, taxes, family requirements and debts. The entire amount of money collected in the form of Zakah reaches the poor and is not retained in any fund. It is a way of ensuring fair distribution of wealth in the society. The individuals who are working in social welfare in the many various forms believe that they do so solely for the love of Allah and according to Alhamdulillah, an important term in the religion, all praise belongs to Allah. Sadaqa is an Islamic word which refers to an act of voluntary charity done in the name of Allah and includes acts of compassion, religious duty, fraternity, love and generosity.
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Voluntary Charity, Edhi Foundation, Zakat Calculator, Zakah and Lilah.,
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