From this Hadith we understand that by helping the poor person to help himself you are forevermore stopping him from humiliating both himself and his surrounding community.
Allah (SWT) says that he made night for rest and day for hard work. This means that night follows day to give rest for those who work for their livelihood during the day .Earning livelihood to feed oneself and family is considered a kind of worship in Islam. This shows the importance of productive work in Islam. The prophet (SAW) said:
“If Allah provides one of you with an opportunity for earning a livelihood, let him not leave it unexploited until it is exhausted or becomes disagreeable to him”
This Hadith shows us that one has to have a job to support himself and his family and so comes the prophets advice above to not leave a job opportunity unexploited.
Although there are many ways of accumulating wealth some are unlawful in Islam for example:
Trading with haram (e.g. wine), because it is haram (unlawful) to drink wine or deal with it, it is also not accepted if a person prays while having traces of wine on his body or clothes.
Stealing is haram so if a person steels and then sells this stolen product he is doing two wrongs: Firstly he is stealing, and secondly he is selling something that doesn’t belong to him.
Interest is specifically mentioned in the Quran:
“Allah detests Riba (interest) and encourages Sadaqa (voluntary charity)”
“Allah has made Riba Haram and trading Halal (lawful)”
This shows that usury is unlawful while trading is lawful so money made from interest is a haram means of accumulating wealth.
Cheating in trade is also Haram, Allah said:
“Woe to those who cheat the scale (in trade)”
This shows that Allah warns those who cheat in business from his Wrath and justice. Therefore cheating is also counted as a haram means of accumulating wealth.
Nowadays World Development is desperately needed to eradicate poverty and to ensure that every individual in every community has the basic needs to carry on with a good life above the poverty line.
Because of underdevelopment in third world countries natural disasters cause much more effect because buildings are not properly built and there for weak earthquakes cause a bigger disaster.
Illnesses are spread more quickly because those who have them cannot get rid of them
Many people do not find enough to keep them alive and have to resort to stealing and other such crimes.
To eradicate poverty and bring about world development there are a few points which Islam suggests. They are:
Encouragement of productive effort, instead of lazing about one should acquire for a job, this will support him and his family, and prevent him fro humiliating himself by begging.
Giving equality in opportunity, for if everyone has equal job opportunities then there is no reason why some one can’t earn a livelihood, but there are many who cant find jobs while many sit back with 2 or possible 3 jobs. It is the responsibility of the state to give equal job opportunities.
Encouragement of voluntary spending for the poor, because if many people give charity to the poor, we could possibly eradicate poverty in the world. Most Millionaires and Billionaires don’t even need the money they have, they just like seeing a lively bank account.
If some people of the community are very rich and others very poor, the poor people will either get tempted to steal from other people or they will steal out of great need. This creates enmity between the two people and may cause killing in the future. Therefore if in one community there are very poor people there will be a great chance of insecurity for the rich. This is why Islam obligates rich people to give from their money and urges them to give as much money and help as possible to the poor and needy. This develops the community not only in security but there will be other effects as well such as beggars who will not need to be out humiliating themselves and community.
It is known that in the time of ‘Umar bin Abdel-Aziz’ one of the Umayyad caliphs there was not one person in the whole of Damascus who would accept a charity. This shows the justice of Islam and the fact that no one would accept charity meant that no one would steal.
There is a great need for communities like this in our time since millions of pounds and dollars are used up on short-term security can be spent on the poor for long-term security. That will be killing two birds with one stone: Poverty and Security.
Equality in basic rights is one of the fundamental principles of Islam. One of these basic rights is the right to education in which a person can make use of his/her talents to get a good Hallal job. Islam urges people to acquire knowledge for this purpose and others. The prophet (SAW) said:
“Acquire knowledge, even if you had to go to china to receive it”
This Hadith stresses the value of knowledge in Islam because in those times it took over a year to get to china from the Arab peninsula.
Another right is the right to use natural resources for every one without discrimination.
It is said that the Prophet (S.A.W.) was in his Masjid and his companions gathered around him to hear the words of wisdom and guidance. Suddenly a poor man in rags appeared and finding an unoccupied place comfortably sat down. It so happened that seated next to this poor man was a very rich man who felt very disturbed at the seating pattern and his actions put this to show, in response to this the prophet (SAW) told the man off and explained that in Gods eyes all Muslims were equal.
This clearly shows that there is no distinction between people in Islam and that money is not always good to have, just enough to fulfil the persons important and basic needs.
There is an obligatory charity in Islam called Zaka that has to be annually paid it is a very little amount but it does a great deal of help to the poor and needy. It helps to develop the community and eradicate poverty.
The literal meaning of Zakah is to purify and clean something.
The technical meaning is the annual obligatory purification of ones self and money by giving away 2.5% of what exceeds £700 of ones money to the poor and needy.
Other than the obligation of Zaka Muslims are encouraged to give ‘Sadaqa’ out of morality
The literal meaning of Sadaqa is morality and giving without obligation.
The technical meaning of Sadaqa is the money given to the poor out of morality and with no obligation. This can be any amount as long as the intention is to please Allah.
With both Zakah and Sadaqa running there should be no poor person who can’t cover their basic needs in the area these Islamic laws are practiced. But unfortunately there is no country running on this law and that takes Zakah from every able person (not even the current Islamic States).
Human Appeal International (HAI) is an organisation that takes Zaka and Sadaqa and distributes them in the chosen country of the donator. It operates in Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Kashmir, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo and Chechnya. In its financial report it states that approximately £1.38 million was collected through charity dinners, donators, rental income and tax relief. This has been spent on many projects including: Disabled project, Orphan project, Family sponsorship project, Water project, Health project, Educational project etc.
“As hundreds and thousands continue to suffer, not only in the countries we support, HAI is striving to offer relief and practical support to impoverished and venerable communities through long-term projects”
Moin Shubib executive director to HAI
I found this on their website:
Human Appeal International has over a decade of experience in reaching out to the poorest and most vulnerable communities. Human Appeal International is working in over 17 countries in providing them with fresh and canned Qurbani meat on the days of Eid Ul-Adha.
Human Appeal International has for the 8th consecutive year canned most of the Qurbani meat and distributed it to those in great need. Your Qurbani for just £42 or 60/euros will make 24 cans, which will benefit approximately 48 people not only on the time of Eid, but at later date as the shelf life of each can is 4 years.
This shows the work of only one Muslim organisation and shows the dedication of Islam and Muslims to improving and developing the world around them.
Some people say “There should be no rich people as long as there is poverty in the world”
This statement means that the hard working rich man has to give his money to the poor until all poverty is eradicated. There is more than one view on this topic:
On one hand one may say that it is a right for every person to earn money and the rich people are only rich because they are hard working and use their talents to their maximum and that Poverty comes to a person only out of laziness. This means that the poor are poor because they are lazy so they don’t deserve a thing out of the rich people’s wealth.
Every one has resources including the poor so if the use these resources they can cover their needs. For example no one is stopping them from going to the forest and cutting trees to sell wood.
On the other hand one may say that the community is the spine its member so this spine either helps and supports this member or deserts him and looses. The beggar not only humiliates himself but humiliates the whole community. The prophet (SAW) said:
“If there is a people of a community who sleep and one of them is hungry then Allah and his messenger have dispensation of them”
This clearly shows that Allah and his messenger want people to give money to the poor and needy to satisfy at least their basic needs.
Also opportunities are limited and these limited opportunities are taken by the rich who only think of increasing their money.
I think that it is true that a person is rich because of his hard work but he has to also help the poor from what Allah has bestowed upon him to help the poor. And he has to remember that Allah is able to take away what he has whenever he wants. And it is true that a person has to give but he cannot eradicate all poverty. So a person can be rich as long as he helps the poor as much as he can.
By Obada Sawalha
The resources I used where: Islam, poverty and income distribution By Ziauddin Ahmed
The principles of the Islamic Economic System By Yusuf Kamal
Islam in focus By Hammudah ‘Abd al ‘Ati