(7) The Way of Allah- This applies to Jihad in the way of Allah, which includes all those efforts which the Muslim may make for the purpose of establishing the Islamic order in place of an Unislamic system, whether this is done by means of the pen, or word of mouth, or the sword, or other means.
(8)Hospitality to wayfarers- The wayfarer or traveller, whether he is well off and rich at home, can be helped with Zakat money if he stands in need of such help while on a journey
Whoever gives Zakah there are many virtues for them. It is stated in the Hadith that by giving Zakat the following benefits are derived:
1. Gain the pleasure of Allah
2. Increase in wealth and protection from losses
3. Allah's forgiveness and blessings
4. Protection from the wrath of Allah and from a bad death
5. A shelter on the Day of Judgment;
6. Security from seventy misfortunes
Whoever evades Zakat has been sternly warned in the Qur'an and Hadith of the consequences.
Allah says in the Qur'an:
"And there are those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it in the way of Allah, announce to them a most grievous penalty (when) on the Day of Judgment heat will be produced out of that wealth in the fire of Hell. Then with it they will be branded on their forehead and their flanks and backs. (It will be said to them) This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves, taste then the treasure that you have been hoarding." (Qur'an 9:34-35)
Another way we can help is by giving Sadaqah – The Quran emphasises for the believers to care for the needy, orphans and the unfortunate members. There is no limit in Sadaqah. Our prophet (S.A.W) has said,
‘Your smile for your brother is Sadaqah. Your removal of stones, thorns or bones from the paths of people is Sadaqah. Your guidance of a person who is lost is Sadaqah.’ (Related by Bukhari Sharif from Ibn Hibban’s Sahih.)
The strength of the Sadaqah can be shown by the following hadith of Mishkaat Shareef, to the nearest meaning,
‘Once Angels asked Allah Ta’ala that is there anything more powerful than the mountains? Allah replied iron because through iron we can shatter the mountains. The Angels further asked that is there anything more powerful than iron? Once again Allah replied fire because iron can be melted through fire. Again angels asked that is there anything more powerful than fire so Allah answered water as fire can be extinguished by water. Again Angels asked is there anything more powerful than water so Allah responded wind as wind can give motion to the water. Angels enquired if there was anything more powerful than wind and Allah answered sadaqah given with the right intentions (Pleasing Allah).
Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is a Wajib act and it is another way of helping the unfortunate ones. It is proven by the following Hadith:
In a narration of Tirmidhi, it is reported that Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wasallam sent a proclaimer through the lanes of Makkah to proclaim. “Beware charity of Fitr is wâjib on every Muslim, male or female, free or slave, young or old two muuds [measures] of wheat, or its equivalent, or one Sa’a from food crops”. It is apparent from this Hadith that SadaqatulFitr is wâjib on every Muslim. A person should pay Sadaqatul-Fitr on behalf of his family if they own no wealth. It is wajib to pay SadaqatulFitr whether one fasts or not.
On the completion of Ramadhan and on the day of Eid, this Sadaqah is given by every Muslim so that they show appreciation to Allah that Allah gave them this blessed month and also those people who cannot celebrate the day of Eid then they can benefit by this money.
One more way to help is by giving Sadaqah-e-Jariyah. That is an everlasting Sadaqah. For example, if you build a well in a country where there is lack of water then you will get the thawab (reward) continuously until someone is benefiting from that well, even though you will be in grave. The following is a Hadith regarding the reward of Sadaqah Jariyah,
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased).''
[Muslim].
"His deeds come to an end'' means that he does not any longer receive the return and reward on his actions. But there are three categories of actions on which he receives reward even after his death. First: Sadaqah Jariyah such as building a mosque or a hospital or digging a well. As long as people will benefit from these, he will receive a reward for them. Second, "knowledge which is beneficial'' means to impart knowledge to others or to propagate knowledge by means of one's books. As long as this medium of teaching will continue and his books will be studied and people will benefit from them, he will receive a reward for it. Third: virtuous descendants. Training of children on the right lines is essential so that after a person's death they continue to pray for him.
Sadaqah-e-Naafilah is same as Lillah and that is spending money in the path of Allah just to please Allah. For example: to give money to build a Mosque.
Aqiqah is also a way of helping the poor as Aqiqah is a sacrifice made on the seventh day of the birth of a Muslim child. On that day, the child's hair is shaved and he/she is given a name. The sacrifice is enjoined by Islamic law and is observed in the Muslim world as a sunnat. If aqiqah is not done on the seventh day, it can also be done afterwards, even by the child itself when it comes of age. One third of the sacrificial meat is distributed to the poor and indigent, one-third to the relatives, and the rest to the child's parents and near relations. The holy Prophet (S.A.W.) instructed his followers to sacrifice two rams or two goats for a boy and one for a girl. So by giving it to poor at least they are getting some food to eat.
Qurbani is another way of helping the needy and poor. On the occasion of Eid ul Adhaa, wealthy Muslims all over the world perform the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim (PBU), by sacrificing a goat or sheep. The meat is then divided into three equal parts. One part is retained by the person who performs the Qurbani. The other is given to his/her relatives. The third part is distributed to the poor. Basically those who have Zakaat fardh upon them then Sadaqat-e-Fitr and Qurbani is waajib upon them.
So I come to the conclusion that if the rich people fulfil their duties to pay charities they can then be able to get rid of poverty or try to bring balance in poverty and richness.
A2-WHY IS THERE NEED FOR WORLD DEVELOPMENT
The countries of the world are divided into three major key groups:
- More economically developed countries, (MEDC) for example; USA.
- Economically developing countries, (EDC) for example; Mexico.
- Less economically developed countries, (LEDC) for example; Bangladesh.
The North-South Gap is the division that exists between the wealthy developed countries, known collectively as "the North", and the poorer developing countries (least developed countries), or "the South." The expression "North-South divide" is still in common use, but the terms "North" and "South" are already somewhat outdated. As nations become economically developed, they may become part of the "North", regardless of geographical location, while any other nations which do not qualify for "developed" status are in effect deemed to be part of the "South."
There is a need for world development because the gap between the rich and poor is getting wider. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, stopping developing countries. This is trying to say that the wealth and the resources are not spreading evenly. Only the developed countries (MEDC) are getting it properly; for example America, Australia etc. but the less developed countries (LEDC) are getting left out; for example Africa, Bangladesh etc.
Allah has made us Khalifahs and we should be looking after the world as well as the people. As Allah says in the Quran, to the nearest meaning,
“You shall not attain righteousness until you spend of what you love.”
There is also a hadith which is to the nearest meaning,
“None of you are true believers until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.”
The above clearly shows that if we do not help what happens and we need to help and there are many reasons which I will be discussing later.
The reason for this division depends on the conditions of the countries. The less developed countries are not being helped out by the more developed countries.
Firstly, the developed countries are the result of their wealth and the majority of their population. The less developed countries do not get basic necessities. They are food, shelter, education, clothing and health care.
Second reason for lack of development and global inequality is due to the moral evil like many wars that have taken place in places. The countries have wars because the dominant tribe in a country would oppress the weaker tribes in the country. Also many countries have fought wars because of political differences, and corruption within the country.
Natural evil is another reason that can also stop development in these countries, like natural disasters. After having had an earthquake, a drought, or a flood these countries are unable to restore back to their original state. Thousands of houses are destroyed along with farmlands which are a necessity for the people who live there. A very recent example of a natural disaster is the Asian Tsunami. This has affected 14 less developed countries such as India and Bangladesh, and has killed 295,608 people. The crops of many farmers were also destroyed along with businesses, homes, and families.
Many less developed countries began borrowing money from richer countries to speed up their development; however there was an interest which had to be paid on these sums of money.
Cash crops are another way that these Less Developed Countries are developing. Cash crops are crops which are grown for selling rather than consuming. Cash crops are one of the ways that developed countries help Less Developed Countries, for example “Fair Trade”. “Fair Trade is a company which allows fair trade to take place between Africa and the Western World; cocoa beans are grown in Africa and are used to make chocolate bars for the West, the workers in Africa are also given a fair pay.
Malnutrition is another cause for many infant deaths. Some people argue that there are too many people in the world but they only give birth to so many children because they need people to work for them and keep them alive.
There are many causes for the wars, debts, not going back to the real state after disasters. One of them is greediness. MEDC countries are really greedy and do not give as they are supposed to and just expect peace throughout the world. Pride is also another cause.
Developed countries have power as they have money because money means everything.
There is a need for world development because we all need each other’s support. We have to do fair trade and buy the products for fair price. We cannot exploit perishable crops after a certain amount of time. We have to work with the LEDC countries fairly and if they get the basic necessities by the MEDC countries and the correct money for products than there would be less need for world development and it would really help because this way both LEDC and MEDC countries will be benefitting. MEDC will be getting products and LEDC will be receiving income for it. Both will be benefitting because the rich will get the products and sell and earn whilst poor on the other hand will also receive their income and in turn at least get the 5 basic necessities.
One way of solving the division and all the problems is G8 Summit. The Group of Eight (G8) is an international forum for the governments of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Together, these countries represent about 65% of the world economy. The group's activities include year-round conferences and policy research, concluding with an annual summit meeting attended by the heads of government of the member states. They discuss many topics such as health, law enforcement, labour, economic and social development, energy, environment, foreign affairs, justice and interior, terrorism and trade etc.
They try to overcome all the major problems and come to a conclusion. One major example is in June 2005, the national science academies of the G8 countries signed a statement on the global response to climate change, joined by Brazil, the People's Republic of China and India, three outreach countries among the largest producers of greenhouse gases in the developing world, behind the United States which produces 20% of all emissions. The statement stressed that scientific understanding of climate change is sufficiently clear to justify nations taking quick action and clearly authorize the consensus of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Another example of their awareness and caring is in 2005 when the G8 pledged more money to help fight the AIDS. The $50 billion represents a doubling of the amount already fixed by the G8 to fighting the disease.
A3: ANALYSE AND EXPLAIN THE WORK OF ONE MUSLIM AGENCY WORKING FOR WORLD DEVELOPMENT
Muslim Aid is a Muslim agency helping the people that are suffering around the world. There are many different agencies, but the work of 'Muslim aid' will be looked at and explained.
'Muslim Aid' is a Muslim agency working for world development. Muslim Aid was founded in London in November 1985 by 23 leading British Muslim organisations, in response to continuing conflicts and disasters around the world. Their Mission Statement is:
“To tackle poverty by developing innovative and unsustainable solutions enabling people and their communities to live in dignity and independence.”
Muslim aids aims and objectives are:
- To show favourable consideration to the most disadvantaged people.
- To present a more community-friendly alternative of poverty reduction strategy through a group- based approach.
- To build the capacity of the people through providing skill training.
- To provide employment opportunities to the poor.
- To promote awareness of other development issues e.g.: healthcare.
- To improve lives of all people, those who are affected by any type of difficulties.
They get this money by donations from generous people and by organising various events and activities. They make these events very well known to the world by advertising and making millions of leaflets. When there's enough money collected, it goes to the countries that are in need the most.
"Whoever saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole of humanity." (5:32). This ayah shows how much reward people will be getting who are donating to a Muslim Agency like Muslim Aid for poor people and also Muslim Aid because they take our charities and give it to those in need.
Muslim Aid carries out many short term relief projects as well as long term relief projects so that they can benefit all those who are facing hardships. All the projects which have been undertaken by them have proven to be successful or will be successful because of many organisations and people’s support. The following are examples of short-term relief projects:
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They provide tents, quick packets of food, water and medicine as their emergency relief.
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Water & Sanitation
Muslim Aid’s water projects are striving to help poor people to secure access to a clean safe water supply. By doing this we can reduce healths risks and help people affected by drought or unreliable water supplies to support their families better and grow food more effectively. They do it quickly so that not many people are affected by it before or after any disasters.
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Muslim aid quickly provides good medicines and health provision so less people die and more people recover after the disaster.
The long-term relief projects are:
The total number of beneficiaries of this unique micro-credit model is now over 100,000 people. Muslim Aid is committed to reduce extreme poverty through interest-free credit support and creating employment opportunities for the ultra poor people. Micro credit project aims to provide the poorer parts of the community with income generating skills and to financially assist them in starting up their own business. Muslim Aid’s micro-credit product is modelled on the Quranic principle of Qard-e-hasanah which means ‘Beautiful Loan’.
One of the long term projects which Muslim Aid undertook was absolutely successful. The World Bank has awarded a reconstruction project worth more than £2.5million (US$4.5million) to Muslim Aid, to deliver the flood improvement project in Banda Aceh after the tsunami destroyed the flood control network communications more than a year ago.
The World Bank has been encouraged by the success Muslim Aid has had in the housing programme in Banda Aceh. As a result, Muslim Aid has been asked to implement a project that will re-establish functioning storm water and marine flood protection systems in Banda Aceh.
Muslim Aid is very conscious of where its donors' money goes. 83% of all donations are spent directly on helping the poor overcome poverty. Only 7% is spent on raising further funds for Muslim Aid's work, and only 10% on administration in order to assist Muslim Aid to function effectively.
Below are four examples of countries where help is given to by Muslim Aid
Muslim Aid staff and partners are working hard to supply emergency relief items such as dry food packs, medicines and water to the thousands that have fled the fighting. Muslim Aid emergency response teams in Lebanon have distributed approximately 300 food parcels. Muslim Aid working in partnership with local Lebanese agencies is desperately trying to fill the gaps by providing hospitals with medicines and medical equipment as well as helping to equip two mobile hospitals in the area.
Muslim Aid is appealing for support from those in all walks of life to help us bring much needed aid to those caught up in the fighting.
Muslim Aid is launching an appeal for US$500,000 (£250,000), to aid those suffering from the civil war that is ravaging Darfur. At least 200,000 people have died, and more than two million have been made homeless in the four-year conflict. Muslim Aid has been on the ground in Darfur since the beginning of the crisis, providing emergency relief to the hundreds of thousands of displaced people. But Muslim Aid does more than just provide aid here and now. We are also involved in creating longer-terms solutions to the problems that these refugees are experiencing. Muslim Aid has also started up a kindergarten in the Sikali camp in Darfur. This kindergarten is primarily for the children of displaced people who are living in the camp.
Muslim Aid has come to the assistance of the flood survivors in Indonesia by providing them with much-needed provisions of food, water and medicines. The floods occurred in the country’s capital, Jakarta, and killed more than 20 people, making about 350,000 homeless. Muslim Aid has responded to the tune of £28,500, assisting a total of 25,000 people to date. “Muslim Aid will organize teams consisting of local people to distribute the supplies, such as staple food, instant noodles, mineral water, and urgent medicines needed by the victims in the evacuation centres,” said Hamid Azad, head of overseas programmes at Muslim Aid. The worst-hit areas in the capital are the districts of Jakarta Timur and Jakarta Selatan. Presently, Muslim Aid has 400 volunteers on the ground.
Muslim Aid has initiated a major reconstruction project to build earthquake-resistant housing in areas of Pakistan still suffering from the massive quake that rocked the country more than a year ago. The earthquake of October 8, 2005, killed more than 73,000 people, and made hundreds of thousands homeless. In Kashmir and the NWFP regions in Pakistan, thousands of people are vulnerable to the regular earthquakes and subsequent damage to their houses. Muslim Aid and the UK based architect and design firm Architects for Aid (A4A) signed an agreement for a reconstruction project in the area. This will not only provide the designs of earthquake and seismic resistant structures, but will also include workshops for the communities of these areas.
EVALUATION QUESTION
“There should be no rich people as long as there is poverty in the world.” Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion showing that you have considered other point of view. The answer should refer to Muslim Teaching.
Some people would agree to the statement because they say that rich means ‘possessing wealth’. If the rich people who have wealth hold onto their wealth and do not give it to the poor then these rich people do not deserve to be in the world.
If the rich people become selfish and just think about themselves then they have no right to live in the world as they are creating imbalance in the world.
In a Hadith, to the nearest meaning, Prophet (S.A.W.) has narrated,
‘You are not a complete Muslim until you do not love for your brother what you love for yourself.’ So this Hadith is one of the proof for them that rich people love their wealth so much that they do not give it to others who are in need, who are poor, so what is the point of them existing in the world.
Surah 3, Verse 92 is also a proof for them that, “You cannot attain righteousness until you give to charity from the possessions you love. Whatever you give to charity, GOD is fully aware thereof.” This means that rich people are not achieving righteousness until they do not give in charity. So this means that if rich people do not give charity and give to poor then there is no point of rich people.
They also that poverty means, ‘the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor; indigence.’ They say that they have no basic necessities and rich people have so much that they cannot be bothered or are stingy to give these poor people basic necessities, like; food, water, clothing, shelter etc. If they cannot be bothered then they should not exist as they are not God-fearing.
On the other hand, some would disagree to the statement because they say that what is wrong in being rich. It is not a sin to become rich. Everything is written in our Taqdeer since we were born. Taqdeer/Fate is Allah's knowledge of what good or bad one would do even before one is created. All favours are by Allah's will alone and no misfortune can happen expect by the will of Allah. Therefore we should not cry over something that you have lost or not got, meaning poverty and you should not boast about something you have, meaning wealth as they both (wealth and poverty) was written in a person’s fate even before they came out their mother’s womb.
Those who are poor was in their Taqdeer and nobody can complain or not believe in Taqdeer as they are not a Muslim as this is one of the seven basic beliefs to become a Muslim that all good and bad is from Allah. Rich and poor people were made by Allah and we cannot question our Lord that why did you make such a person rich and such a person poor because He is our Master and He can do whatever He wants with us.
Also if you are poor or rich that is a test from Allah Ta’ala because Allah mentions in the Holy Quran, to the nearest meaning,
‘Indeed we shall test you through your wealth and children’. Rich and poor are being tested by the wealth as Allah wants to see whether rich people do shukr of Him and poor people do sabr and ask Allah for help and not do Haraam things.
They also say that when Prophet (S.A.W) got gifts or money, he would not keep it for himself, but instead give it to other Sahabas who were in need, so this means that Prophet(S.A.W) was not rich but even when he did get wealth, he would help the needy. That gives no right to say that our Prophet should not exist because until he gave wealth, then why is it wrong?
Another reason they give is that the Sahabas. Sahabas like Abdurrahman bin Auf (R.A) and Hazrat Usman Gani (R.A) had so much wealth but our Prophet (S.A.W) never stopped them. On various occasions these spent a great portion of their wealth for the welfare of the Muslims, for charity and for equipping the Muslim armies. That is why Hazrat Usman (R.A) came to be known as 'Gani' meaning 'Generous.' This means that keeping wealth and spending in the path of Allah, there is nothing wrong.
My opinion is balanced about this statement as I say that if rich here refers to the “selfish and stingy rich” then I agree with the statement, then definitely they do not have a right to live because Allah has gave you wealth so that you spend in the right way and give it to those who are needy, so why keep the wealth which is temporary, which is not even yours because we, ourselves are Amanah and we have to return to our Lord for our final destination, Jannat or Jahannam.
I also say that even though the rich people are not stingy, they still should not exist because on the Day of Judgement, we will be asked about everything, including how we spent our wealth.
“Then, on that Day, you shall be asked about the delight (You indulged in, in this world).”(Surat Al-Takathir, Verse 8)
This then means that the less wealth we have fewer questions which we will be asked about, so isn’t it better to be asked less questions and get yourself in less trouble. Therefore rich people should not live as more and more questions will be asked.
I also disagree because if rich people are those type which give to the needy then there is nothing wrong and they have a full right to live like anybody else. If they really do give their Zakah, 2.5% on their wealth and other nafil Sadaqah, Lillah etc regularly then I see there is no sin at all for them because they are doing the right thing and the rest is up to Allah whether He wants to keep poverty or not.
Another reason for me disagreeing to the statement is because Allah has created different ranks and we must accept it. In the Quran, Allah mentions to the nearest meaning,
“We have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of the world, and raised some of them above others in rank that some of them may take labour from others.” (Az-Zukhruf: 32)
In Conclusion I say that the above Quranic Ayah clearly shows what I am talking about, meaning that Allah has shared out some people’s wealth and given some people more than the rest so that the one’s wealth who has been shared out can get wealth from the rich people. This clearly tells me that if people (rich) give to poor and do shukr and poor get it from rich only when they are needy and do sabr, then both rich and poor have the right to exist as they both are Allah’s creation.
