Buddhism Coursework, Muslim charity (Zakat)

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Introduction

Muslim Aid organizations help millions of helpless children, adults, and the elderly all over the world.  Daily they change and save many lives, I chose to look in depth at the work they do, and the way they do it and how their ethics affect the way they work.  I feel that I do not fully grasp the feeling of a Muslim what he or she feels when they give their Zakat, Zakat is the money that they have to pay towards a charity, or people less fortunate then themselves.  By the end of my study in to the Muslim Aid Organizations I hope to understand more about their work, their religious views towards charity, and what makes Muslims feel so strongly about giving their Zakat.  

AO1- Name and Describe the work of a Muslim Aid Organization.

There are many different organizations all around the world which work towards improving the lives of thousands people around the world who are affected by poverty, war, and disasters.  Muslim Aid is the organization that I studied, mainly because I thought that it did a lot of work in a wide variety of areas, ranging from Education, Security and Health, to Orphan Care.

‘…And whoever saves a life of one, it shall be as if he has saved the life of all mankind’ (Qu’ran 5:32).  This is the ethos that Muslim Aid operates by; it means that they value each and every individual person.

Muslim Aid gives ‘individuals the resources and skills necessary to help them out of the poverty cycle, and give them back the dignity that is rightfully theirs’ (1).  They have a vision of world peace, ‘compassion and justice where all people achieve fulfilment in all aspects of their lives.’  (2) They provide many programs to help with emergencies and disasters.  They provide emergency aid, healthcare and teaching medical skills, clean water and sanitation, shelter and housing, giving everyone a good education, food and nourishment, specialist programs with orphan care and child blindness projects.  All of these programs happen in around the globe in 70 countries, the life changing situations that Muslim Aid create for all of those people in dire need, must be astronomical!  All they want is to give everybody in the world respect and dignity to make everyone feel like they are valued.

Muslim Aid was created in November 1985, by 23 leading Muslim Organizations.  Just in their first year they managed to distribute relief to thousands of people who were affected by the devastating famine in Ethiopia, and the raging wars in Afghanistan and Palestine, they also helped support the victims of the flooding that spread all though out Bangladesh.  Without Muslim Aid thousands of lives would have been lost in those disastrous events.  In the Lebanon war crisis, over 1000 people were killed and at least 500,000 people displaced.  In response Muslim Aid raised a massive fund of £700,000 to use with the local organizations that they partner with.  With that vast sum of money they were able to cook 2100 hot meals a day, and provided mattresses, bedding, sanitary unit’s, transportation including ambulances; they offered medical aid and toys to children.  Muslim Aid today is still helping in the devastating aftermath of the Tsunami, and the earthquakes in Pakistan.  To help with these disasters Muslim Aid used their emergency relief program to enter the places struck by these disasters and help the people quicker and save as many lives as they can.  Muslim Aid’s devoted teams respond immediately to the emergencies everywhere, whether it means handing out blankets, providing food and water, or health care with their emergency relief scheme.  Once the emergency crisis has passed they try to provide the people with a long-term program to follow, which would help them re-build their lives and improve their situation.  Muslim Aid gives their help to everyone, regardless of their gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, or traditions.  Nothing stops them from helping the 3 billion people who live in poverty in the world.

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The education is delivered to everyone and anyone who wants it, they teach it in newly built schools and provide people with educational equipment.  The educational programs they provide range from adults and pre-school teaching, to scholarship opportunities.  ‘Through education we aim to give people the skills they need to create a sustainable, brighter future for themselves and their communities.’  (1)  Before Muslim Aid can provide any education they as a priority must take care of everyone who is ill, or hurt.  By using their healthcare programs, the free high quality healthcare that they provide saves many lives, and ...

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