History MADE by RMC Batch '83-'87: Zakat Payment USING SILVER Dirham in 2011(1432Hijrah)

The 16th Annual Iftar for the Royal Military College, Batch 1983-87 (4th Thoroughbred) took place on a wet Saturday, 13 August 2011 ( 13 Ramadhan 1432 Hijrah ) at the residence of OP Alvin Tham and Wife Amy in Mutiara Damansara-Petaling Jaya. Event was jointly hosted by OP Alvin & OP AHM.


( Gracious host OP Alvin handing over Zakat & Gifts to students of Pusat Tahfiz Az-Zahra, Paya Jaras )

For this year the joint hosts decided to introduce a new element to the Annual Iftar event i.e. the Payment of Zakat to Identified Person(s) and or, Organisation(s)/ Cause(s) under the respective asnaf.


[ Time to bring out the Silver Dirham(ayn' rather than dayn) for Zakat Payment to the rep. from Pusat Tahfiz ]

For an added HISTORICAL measure, payment of zakat using the SILVER DIRHAM(ayn') rather than fiat or paper money(dayn) as per what was done during the Prophet Muhammad PBUH time more than 1,400 years ago were introduced. Moreover, not many Muslims had paid zakat using the Silver Dirham and/or Gold Dinar ever since the fall of the last caliphate almost 100 years ago.
All in 3 OPs took part in the zakat payment. Zakat was given to the students of the Pusat Tahfiz Az Zahrah (asnaf Fisabilillah) and an orphan from Rawang (asnaf Fakir & Miskin).


( Handing Over of a few Silver Dirham as Zakat to the Ustaz representing Pusat Tahfiz Az Zahrah, Paya Jaras )

At the same time, when the SONGKOK made its customary round to all present, all OPs & Guests in attendance donated generously to the identified cause i.e. Pusat Tahfiz Az-Zahrah(asnaf Fisabillilah) and an Indonesian Children Sponsorship/Adoption project(asnaf Anak Fakir/Miskin).

( As per the Intake's uruf, the songkok was passed around to raise funds. Part of the collection raised was Intake's 1983-'87 Donation/Sadaqah to Pusat Tahfiz)

The joint hosts i.e. OP Alvin & OP AHM fervently believes that this is the FIRST time ever that a RMC Intake performed the Zakat Payment using the Silver Dirhams. Kudos to the 4th Thoroughbred.


( 1983-87 OPs Still in Attendance at around 2330hrs for Final Roll Call )

Steps Taken by Hosts for Zakat Payment
1) Identifying Recipients
2) Approaching Recipients
3) Educating Recipients on Dinar & Dirham and Logistics Co-ordination for 13 August 2011.
4) Promotion of Event to Batchmates for them to come onboard.
5) Exchanging Fiat Money to a few Silver Dirhams.
6) Welcoming Recipients as VVIPs & NOT asking them to do anything.
7) Introduction & Handover Ceremony
8) Reading of the Doa for Zakat Payment
9) Finale Performance.
.......and that's ONLY half the story(Yang Tersurat)!!!