It's been a while since I've posted here but there has been some new happenings within our family, Alhumdulillah.
Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone who has contributed information to the family tree. It is slowing getting there but there are still many blank spaces. Inshahallah we will be able to fill in the gaps in the near future.
The heads of the Ahmad Zahab family have got together to form a family fund. I had the pleasure of being the scribe at the meeting. As I listened to the heads of the family speak about the importance of keeping the family together and helping one another, I realized that this was not going to be something small. It needed a lot of attention.
My late grandfather, Hassan Ahmad, had asked his brother, Ismail Ahmad, to do something with the family situation. Our family was drifting apart. It is our duty to uphold family ties in Islam.
"And those who break the Covenant of Allaah, after its ratification, and sever that which Allaah has commanded to be joined (i.e., they sever the bond of kinship and are not good to their relatives), and work mischief in the land, on them is the curse (i.e., they will be far away from Allaah’s Mercy); And for them is the unhappy (evil) home (i.e., Hell)." [al-Ra’d 13:26]
My mother, Siti Zubaidah Hassan, has dreamed of getting the family together for years. The family has tried to do it many times but failed to do it in such a grand scale. Subhanallah, with the grace of Allah and the countless hours of some family members, we were able to create a very memorable event. Alhumdulillah.
These events don't pay for themselves and they are not cheap. By creating a fund, we will be able to help those in need and whatever is left over, we will be able to put towards these yearly gatherings, Inshahallah.
The whole point of this project is to bring the family members together and not push them away. Our intention is to follow the Islamic teachings and bring this knowledge to the younger generation. We want to show them a good example of how we should live our lives as good Muslims, which include being kind to your own family. Charity starts at home, doesn't it?
Below are the meeting minutes for those who are interested. Please email me at suraya.lavalette@gmail.com for the application form. Inshahallah I can email it out to you.
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Ahmad Zahab Family Fund
Committee
Minutes
Meeting No. 01
Sunday, 14 July 2007
Committee
Minutes
Meeting No. 01
Sunday, 14 July 2007
Present: Ismail Ahmad Zahab (Chairman), Muhd. Zakariah Hassan, Suraya Lavalette, Faudziah Hanim Hanaffi, Fadzilah Aini Hanaffi, Safarudin Othman
Apologies: Taufik Idris, Abdul Manan, Siti Suryati Muhd. Salim
Minute Taker: Suraya Lavalette (Secretary)
Meeting
Ahmad Zahab Family Fund Committee met at 3:00PM on Sunday, 15th of July 2007 at Changi General Hospital Food Court.
Confirmation of Minutes
Nil
Correspondence
Nil
Business
The Ahmad Zahab Family has many family members and urgent attention is needed for those who are in need for immediate emergency funds. The committee has decided that a Family Fund should be created to serve those in need. Below are the rules pertaining to the family fund:
- Membership will cost SGD$5 per month, per family and can be paid every 6 months at SGD$30 or yearly at SGD$60.
- Membership entitlements include:
- The ability to draw out emergency funds for hospitalization at a maximum of $300 per year.
- Educational support and help (amount has not been disclosed yet)
- Immediate funeral loan (no interest, cash in hand), to be paid back once everything is settled. - If any members wish to give extra donation, they can do so. They are also entitled to opt to sponsor another family who may not have the funds to pay for the membership. This will in turn cover those who wouldn’t normally be covered.
- All transactions are to be kept transparent on the Ahmad Zahab Blog (http://ahmadzahab.blogspot.com)
- All paying families are subject to their employment status.
- Each membership will require you to list down your family members in the registration form.
- Individuals who are 18 years and over are entitled to have their own membership.
Individuals cannot have dual memberships, they are either under their family’s membership or they have their own membership. - Funds will only be distributed to members and the people they listed on their registration form.
- If a family member has not paid their membership fee, they are not entitled to receive any funds.
- A bank account will be set up to house these funds. It will be an Islamic Bank account that does not incur interest.
- There will be several signatories to this account and money cannot be withdrawn without the permission of the Committee.
- All claims need to have invoices and the Committee will pay by cheque, unless it is extraordinary circumstances.
- A Membership form needs to be created and a Membership database also needs to be created.
We have collected $300 for the fund so far and Hanim is holding onto the money.
Adjournment
The committee adjourned at 4:00PM until the next meeting
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