maritime activities economy and social customs of the muslims of ...

On the termination of the fasting on thirtyth day, before going to the Ramzan
prayer ( Id-dhul- fitr) fithra, the fast offering, is to be given to the poor and needy
from their earnings which consists of
two and half measures of wheat or money
equivalent to it, per head in the family. Prophet Mohamed has said those who fast
during Ramzan shall be the privileged persons who at the Last Day will have the
honour of entering the celestial city,The Heaven.
Zakath or alms giving is obligatory on Muslims possessing any property and
to give away 1/40th part of it every year to the State for the welfare schemes to
the poor.
Zakath is not an income tax but it is a property tax at the rate of 2 l/z %. It is
intended to alleviate the destitution of the poor. This will create love and gratitude
on the part of the poor to the rich and the rich will look up on the poor as the
comrades,thus making a socialistic pattern of society. In olden days, in the Islamic
States, the Zakath was compulsorily collected and deposited in the Baithulmal (the
State treasury). But in the later political administrative settings , the individuals
themselves began to distribute the Zakath amount to poor people of their choice.
Most of the Musllms calculate the Zakath share faithfully in tune, to their propertlea
and distribute
it to the poor and destitutos, during the month of Ramran.
Ha] or pilgrimage to Mecca, is the divine command to undertake pilgrimage once In
their lives to those who have sufficient means to meet the expensks and exegencies. The
poor are not obligated to perform it but fortunately for the poor, the charitable minded
opulant natives in the coastal towns had operated ships named "fyz-e-billah" (God's grace
of bounty ship) for pilgrimage to Mecca and transported the poor people bearing all
expennor themselveag2. Labbai Naina Marakkayar of Kilakkarai, a descendant of
Seethakkathi( in the third quarter of the eighteenth century) took a large number of pllgrlms
to Mecca in his ship Hydroos at his own expense93. Nawab of Arcot. Mohamed Ali,
despatched every year two ships Safinat~dlah and Safinathul Rasool with pilgrlms to Mecca
at the expense of the He also sent presents to the exalted pious nobles In Mecca