Throughout history European countries have colonised African countries and people. Colonisation lead to many battles including civil wars. Civil wars lead to destruction of farms leaving people hungry and maybe impossible to recover.
Countries that suffer absolute poverty may also be affected by natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, volcanoes etc. After these, country may not have money to recover which is often the case, so they to borrow money from MEDC’s which ask for interest. The money they have borrowed could be used in the development of the country.
Also, poor countries use their fertile land to grow cash crops. These are tobacco, cotton, coffee and other crops that are sold to MEDC’s. Instead this land could be used for their own needs to grow crops for food.
I think that MEDC’s should be and are, responsible to help LEDC’s to get them out of the absolute poverty no matter what religion, where they are or their past history (which are often excuses of MEDC’s not to help.) it is in their interest to help sot hey could benefit from that country and also take millions of people out of the absolute poverty. Once the country starts to develop, country will repay the country that helped and they could work together to help other countries as well.
1b- “ Christian teachings on wealth and poverty”
Christian teachings on wealth and poverty state that the wealthy should help the poor. The wealth they have is a gift from the God and not their own and therefore it should it be used wisely.
Luke’s teachings and Acts tells us a biblical story in Luke 10:19-31
“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich mans table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by the angles to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man died and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, “ Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames”. Abraham replied, “My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, where as you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours”. He said, “Than I beg you father send someone to warn my brothers as they do not have to go through the torment I am”. But Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them. If they will not listen to them neither will they to someone who rises from the dead”.
Jesus always talked and disagreed with selfishness and greed. Jesus always talked about the generosity and the virtues of how the wealthy should help the poor. “It is harder for a rich man to enter heaven than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle” is a quote about Jesus’ teachings about generosity and helping the poor. He also said that the God creates us all so therefore we are Gods family and we should treat each other as equal and as one whoever it is our “neighbours” or “friends”.
What the story simple teaches us and tells us is that the rich have responsibility to help the poor in order to receive and got to heaven where they will still have their treasure and good life as where they helped those in need during their first life. The poor will go to heaven as they had a bad life and will be treated better in the kingdom of God, as they deserve it.
Wealthy people have a need to help the poor, as it is in their own interest to do so. If they do not they will got o hell, but if they do they will be rewarded and sent to heaven. In the Bible Luke says that the Bible is a guide to receive this and enter the kingdom of God. “People have Moses and prophets. Let them listen to them. If they do not they shall receive what they deserve”.
Christians believe that wealth is something that can be used for good or evil, and so, in itself, is not a bad thing. Christians can only gain money in lawful and moral ways and when they have wealth, it is a gift from God not theirs alone. Many Biblical teachings show that if you have the wrong attitude to money, wealth can lead you away from the God, “True happiness is not found in riches or well being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement”.
1b)- Islamic teachings on wealth and poverty
Islamic teachings on wealth and poverty are similar in many ways to Christian teachings. Muslims also believe that everything people have has been given by the God. And that includes money and possessions, so strictly speaking everything we have is God’s.
Muslims are expected to act on their beliefs. It is not enough just to believe. A Muslim action’s are based on the five pillars. Five pillars mean a lot to Muslim as that’s what they believe in. They are:
- Faith- there is no God worthy worship except God and Muhammad is His
messenger.
- Prayer- Salat is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five
times a day, and are direct link between the worshippers and God.
Prayers are said at dawn, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall.
- The Zakat- one of the most important principles of Islam is that all things
belong to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human
beings in trust.
- The Fast- every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from light
until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations.
- Pilgrimage- the annual pilgrimage to Makkah – the Hajj- is an obligation
only for those who are physically able to perform it.
The Zakat is one of five pillars of Islam (giving to the poor). Every Muslim has a duty to pay Zakat. Each year, well off Muslims must give some of their wealth away. It will be used for good causes or to help the poor. Muslims believe it is a sin to let people suffer from hunger or disease. A Muslim can give Zakat direct to another person if he or she wishes. But Muslims believe it is better to give it secretly. That way the giver will not feel proud and the poorer will not be embarrassed. Muhammad himself said: “The best charity is that which the right hand gives and the left does not know of it”.
According to the teachings of Islam the giving of Sadaqah (Muslims can also contribute above and beyond what they give as Zakat, in which case the contribution is a strictly voluntary charity (Sadaqah). It is preferable to give Sadaqah in secret) serves a number of functions. Sadaqah first and foremost acts as expiation for sins. The believers are asked to give Sadaqah immediately following any transgression ( Ihya-e-Ulumuddin, Al-ghazzali,1/298). Voluntary alms giving can also compensate for any shortcoming in the past payment of Zakat. Sadaqah also gives protection against all kinds of evil. Sadaqah wards off affliction in this world, questioning in the grave and punishment on Judgment Day.(Ismail Hakki, Tafsir Ruh-albayan,1/418). It is therefore recommended to give Sadaqah by night and by day, in secret and in public to seek God’s pleasure (Quran, 2:274). The constant giving of a little is said to please God more than the occasional giving of much. Sadaqais also means of moral edification. It purifies the soul from the evil of avaric. Sadaqah is a reflection of generosity of God/the All giving.
Belief in life after death has also great influential importance about giving and helping the poor, because no human being wants his life to end with death. In this verse he is informed that just as death is certain in this life, it is equally true that death is not the end, but beginning of a new and higher existence. In the life Hereafter one has to account for his actions in this earthly abode. If man conducts his life in accordance with the Quranic teachings (such as helping and giving to the poor), than the life Hereafter would be blessed with joy and contentment of paradise. Remedial purification will otherwise be brought about through the chastisement of hell-fire, which is an unhappy and fearful closure.
So, Islamic teachings aim to help the poor and one of ways helping the poor is a Zakat. Zakat is an act of worship. It is not a charity but a duty. It gives to others the wealth that should be theirs. Nor should people who pay it feel proud. If they were proud of giving money, they would feel superior to those who receive it. But Muslims believe that everyone is equal. Zakat helps to make a fairer society.
Sadaqah is the constant giving of little which is said to please the God. Sadaqah is a teaching of Quran and needs to be followed. Sadaqah is a reflection of generosity of God/ the All-giving.
