Mumbai: Muslim Community Supports Imams' Livelihood During Ramadan Through Increased Hadiya Contributions

In the holy month of Ramadan, as Muslims strive to maximise their time by offering additional prayers, including taraweeh, and giving charity alongside fasting, members of the community have initiated an effort to provide better Hadiya to imams. Through this initiative, many people are contributing to the imams in their mosques, providing them with a generous amount that can sustain them for the entire year.

In Islam, a gift is called a Hadiya, where an offering is given to another as an expression of love and admiration, seeking the pleasure of Allah through it.

Ramadan Influx And The Role Of Imams In Mosques

The month witnesses a significant influx of Muslims offering their prayers. An imam is the person who serves at the mosque by leading the prayers for the worshippers. Although the position of imam is respectable, imams are not employees of the mosque; they carry out their services voluntarily and receive payment in the form of Hadiya.

Zakaat Obligation And Hadiya Contributions

Ramadan also signifies the time to give out zakaat, which mandates believers to donate 2.5% of their annual wealth to charity for the needy and poor. However, zakaat is obligatory for every Muslim, while Hadiya is an encouraged, voluntary deed.

The unique initiative urges mosques to increase the amount of Hadiya and encourages people to contribute to the imams.

Impact Of Yusuf Abrahani's Initiative On Supporting Imams

Yusuf Abrahani, president of Islam Gymkhana, who initiated this effort, stated, “Most mosques are run by religious trusts and may not have sufficient funds to provide for the imams. Therefore, I have been urging people to contribute. People who attend prayers, especially five times a day, should also consider the imam who recites the prayers for them and make small contributions so that their Ramadan gift can sustain their family throughout the year.”

Following this initiative, several mosques in the city are motivating people to contribute to the imams. The impact of the initiative extends beyond Maharashtra, as community members living elsewhere have also begun contributing to their respective mosques’ imams. In Mumbai, imams have been raising awareness about this initiative during Friday prayers in mosques, inspiring more people to contribute to this noble cause.

“When I started this initiative eight years ago, I posted a video on my Facebook page expressing my views, and it was an instant hit. Thousands of people supported the cause. In Mumbai, imams in most mosques are receiving a generous amount as Hadiya during this month, but some mosques in slum areas have yet to benefit,” said Abrahani.