Mr Tara Seedat Sanzaf , Moleleki Mokheti Igugulethu School Principal and
Mohamed Faried Nakwa Manager of the “Golden Smile”
The Right to Choose
SANZAF initiated a new approach to their annual Operation
Winter Warm campaign. Warm winter knitwear and other
winter clothing are distributed among intended
bene?ciaries, but instead of just being handed items
randomly, recipients get to choose what they want and need.
About 500 families are given a choice between a variety of
items. "We wanted to move away from a system where
people in need have to take what is offered to them. The idea
is that our bene?ciaries will identify what they need - the
size, the colour - from a variety of items; the ability to choose
equals respect and dignity," says Yusuf 'Tara' Seedat, PA for
SANZAF Gauteng. We often think of those in need as
people who must be grateful for the donations and handouts
they receive, but SANZAF dispels the notion that 'beggars
can't be choosers!' idea from the minds of donors. The belief
that the value of a deed is directly related to the quality of the
intention alludes to the Islamic principle of wanting for your
neighbour what you want for yourself. Every person is
entitled to express their preferences, even the poor.
Muslim Youth Movement
The hallmark of the Muslim Youth Movement has always
been to challenge anti-Islamic forces prevalent in the country,
in particular ideologies of some Muslim political activists. In
their struggle for freedom from oppression under the previous
apartheid government, their interpretation and philosophy of
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Islam differed drastically from the Qur'an and Sunnah of the
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him),
particularly in the ?eld of Economics, Sociology, Gender
Equality and a number of Islamic principles. Consequently,
most Muslim political activists alienated themselves from
Islamic institutions and did not give their support to the
propagation of Islam and the application of the socioeconomic policies. The Muslim Youth Movement drafted a
model of the socio-economic system in Islam in order to
improve the conditions of the poor and needy, which has
been successfully implemented over the past four decades.
The Muslim Youth Movement is a springboard to the
realization of SANZAF as well as other recognized Muslim
non-Governmental Organizations in South Africa.
“SANZAF has developed into a premier Social Welfare and
Educational Organization with 32 full-time of?ces in the ?ve
Provinces of South Africa, holding the Muslim Youth
Movement as an esteemed organization,” says Seedat.
Objectives include encouraging poverty-stricken people in
South Africa to explore opportunities that will enhance their
ability to be active self-motivated individuals to build a
sturdy society conducive to peace and prosperity. However,
important lessons that should be conveyed to humanity is
that power corrupts, that it is essential to sacri?ce selfinterest for the interest of the community, and that illiteracy,
poverty and disease must be defeated by any means. It is in
this spirit that the South African National Zakat Fund is
organized.
CORPORATE SOCIAL REVIEW