Dear Brother/ Sister in Islam
 
Assalamu Alaikum
 
We offer our deep gratitude and thanks to Allah (swt) and to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) for the guidance, to lead a successful life here and in the hereafter.
 
We also thank Allah (swt) for the bounties, comfort, and luxuries He has showered on us and also given us hidayah to share them with fellow human beings.
 
Zakat is a blessing to both the giver and the receiver.
 
Today, major portion of zakat is contributed to youth for secular education.
 
Your noble contribution is appreciated. But do you think that such help alone would bring colour to their lives? Would this really change the dismal state of our community? How do you assure that this would be a substantial answer to their problems? 
 
Real SERVICE through zakat demands SOUL SERVICE first.  Basically, giver and receiver, both should connect with God. Only then help extended through zakat can work wonders for both giver and receiver.
 
Let's first talk about the necessity of connection with God on the receiving end. It is essential that the person in need is able to fully avail your services. Because, if he is lacking the basic Iman and the spirit to change his fate, then your help would not make any difference.
 
“Verily Allah does not change a condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” (13:11)
 
What should precede social help of any kind is the basic spirit to change oneself... to stand on one's feet! You're right, but how does one do this? There's only one-way: the receiver should turn his inner Self to God.
 
Here is where a small portion of your contribution of zakat to ‘ISLAMIC VOICE’ an English monthly since January 1987, serving to impart the religious education to the youth who lack the basics in Islam, will fill the gap. This way the youths will benefit in totality- secular education as well as religious education.
 
Your small contribution of zakat fund towards subscription to the deserving students for their religious education as well, will enhance their secular education making our youth a better Muslim.
 
Basically, today the youth under the peer pressure of competition for materialism and the rat race to come up through short cuts, have lost the basic moral principles and values of life. 
 
The behavior of youths with their parents, teachers, relatives and neighbors is alarming. The selfishness, pride, arrogance, I, Me, and Myself is today’s culture of the youth.  This has led to high expectations, and demands for dowry is on the rise. High rate of divorce among the youth is alarming.
 
Love, kindness, compassion, sharing, justice, patience, truth, forgiveness and all such virtues are discarded as orthodox.
 
No doubt the present youth, through the zakat fund, can be helped to educate them in the Islamic Values and principles which will guide them to their success in this life and in their Hereafter.
 
We shall be indebted and grateful for your support, as this cause will help us double fold. One, your contribution will impart religious education to entire family, and the second benefit will strengthen the Muslim Media.
 
You and we can join hands to transform today’s youth who are the leaders of the next generation. Let us give them complete education, secular and religious.
 
Wassalam

A.W. Sadathullah Khan
Editor, Islamic Voice
Bangalore

Your small portion of Zakat contribution for Religious Education