The Prophet (saw) warned,
“Poverty can lead to kufr [disbelief and ingratitude]”.
Money plays an important role in the life of a nation – it is the medium of exchange and is essential for the provision of basic needs. Muslims are urged to enjoy wealth and not deny themselves of the good things of this life, since these are enjoyed as part of the bounty of god. Allah (swt) may bless us with wealth – but if we seek wealth out of greed, there is no blessing in it.
For the Prophet (saw) has narrated,
“Riches are sweet and a source of blessing for him who acquires them by the way, but they are not blessed for him who seeks them out of greed. He is like one who eats but is not filled”. [Al-Hadith]
Every person has the right to have an equal share in wealth as everyone originates from the same mother and father, Adam and Eve.
“If you give thanks I will give you more, but if you are thankless, verily my punishment is indeed severe”. [Surah Ibrahim, 14:7]
Wealth can be earned in many different ways; some of these are permitted in Islam and some of which are forbidden earnings, e.g; a labourer, solicitor, judge e.t.c.
More wealth can also be gained if a person is well educated. A person may even only be rich because his parents, husband, or relations left him a great sum of money through inheritance. A person may even seem very rich to you, this may only be because he gambles with his wealth, he may even be dealing in illegal goods such as drugs or he may even be lending his money to people and receiving it with interest and this is exactly what the rich countries are doing to the poor, and so they become even poor and therefore are given no chance to develop.
For it is said in the Deuteronomy:
“Do not charge your brother interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest”. [Deuteronomy 23:18-20]
Interest means of taking someone else’s money without giving him anything in exchange.
The prophet (saw) said in his last sermon,
“All dues of interest shall stand cancelled and you will have only your capital back; Allah has forbidden interest”.
One of the most common forms of exploitation of the poor is ‘riba’. Unfortunately, in this day and age interest is the basis of all non-muslim economic.
However, in Islam Riba is strictly forbidden. A Muslim is forbidden to exploit any person by lending them money at interest. They are requested instead to help people with charity, i.e. Lending without interest.
“…God has permitted trade and forbidden usury…” [2:751]
The lender of interest is very likely to be wealthy and the borrower poor. If interest is allowed then the rich will exploit the poor and this is against the spirit of mercy and charity, which is SOCIALLY DESTRUCTIVE!
In a society in which interest is lawful the rich become richer and the poor poorer. Naturally, this generates envy and hatred among the poor towards the rich, and contempt and callousness among the rich toward the poor - a very unhealthy society.
Allah first laid down the laws of not exploiting the poor through the prophet Musa (as):
“Lend without interest, not hoping for anything back”. [Luke 6:34-5]
And after this the prophet Isa (as) taught the same message:
“If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor, neither shall you require interest from him”. [Exodus 22:25]
The strict prohibition of interest in Islam is a result of its deep concern for the moral, social and economic welfare of mankind. It is a means of taking someone else’s money without giving him anything in exchange. If we consider mortgages and loans the actual repay meant is often two or three times the actual amount borrowed which is UNFAIR!
The lender is earning money without earning for it and without bearing any of the risks, the under will be guaranteed of a profit without any risks or hard work.
Permitting the taking of interest makes people lazy and discards them from working to earn money since through interest they can earn money with every little or no risk and effort. However, this can therefore deprive people and the business world of particular industries and professions, which is ECONOMICALLY DESTRUCTIVE!
Permitting the taking of interest also discourages people from doing well to one another. If it is prohibited in society, people will lend to each other with good will, expecting back no more.
` The lender is very likely to be wealthy and the borrower poor. If interest is allowed then the rich will exploit the poor and this is against the spirit of mercy and charity - SOCIALLY DESTRUCTIVE!
The lender expects no more than what they have loaned, but the paying of interest weakens the feeling of goodwill and friendliness towards the lender - MORALLY DESTRUCTIVE!
An Islamic economy is free of interest. Islam prohibits all transactions involving interest. Interest is neither a trade nor a profit. It is a means of exploitation and concentration of wealth.
The Quran says:
“They say, trade is like interest and Allah has allowed trade and prohibited interest”. [2:275]
“Whatever you pay as interest, so that it may increase in the property of [other] men, it does not increase with Allah”. [30:39]
At times of economic hardship, when every good idea fails, just because “the money can not be found,” when a decline in services is explained with the need “to reduce the deficit,” when businesses can’t afford new investment because of the “high loss of borrowing,” when mortgage rates have gone up so much that it becomes difficult to maintain a decent living standard, many small savers still think that high interest rates mean that they get the most out of their savings. The truth is, they pay more than they get.
According to most governments the only ways to control the deficit are to raise taxes or to cut government spending. However, considering that the deficit continues to grow simply because of the exorbitant amounts of compound interest added to the original debt, one of the most effective ways to reduce the deficit would be to reduce interest rates. LOWER INTEREST = LOWER DEFICIT. In fact, at zero interest, the debt would not grow at all, and the large amounts of money spent in servicing the debt could be used to pay it off.
The Quran says:
“O you who believe, do not take interest, doubling and quadrupling, and keep your duty to Allah, so that you may prosper”. [31:30]
“Allah hath blighted usury and made almsgiving fruitful. Allah loveth not the impious and guilty”. [2:276]
Islam teaches us that it is the right of the rich to feed and give in charity to the poor and needy. This can be done through Sadaqah and Zakat.
Alms, which are given in Allah (swt)’s name, are known as Sadaqah. Sadaqah comes from the word ‘sidq’ which means righteousness, piety and sincerity of the giver. It is also known as the voluntary of alms. Alms can be given to any poor and needy at any time of the year.
The Prophet (saw) stated that every little act done to please Allah (swt) or to make life more pleasant for others was Sadaqah, and brought blessings upon the person who did them.
There are two types of sadaqa, (1) Sadaqatul- fitr, and (2) Waqf.
- Ibn Abbas narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saw) made Sadaqatul-fitr compulsory on every muslim so that it purifies the fasting person from the foul speaking and provides food to the needy. Sadaqatul fitr should be given during the month of Ramadhan, before Eid prayer. Sadaqatul-fitr is paid directly to the poor.
- Waqf is also known as ‘Sadaqa-e-jariyah’ or ‘continuous charity.’ The money is given to Islamic states and then used up in religious matters, such as in building a mosque, digging a well e.t.c.
The reward for Sadaqatul-fitr is only gained when you give it and not after that. In oppose to this when one gives Sadaqatul-jariyah/Waqf the reward is gained as the building, well (whatever you may have paid for) is used.
The Prophet (saw) has said:
“Whoever digs a water well for thirsty creatures [human, jinn or birds] will be rewarded by Allah (swt) on the Day of Judgement”.
Waqf is an example of the Prophet (saw). He was the first person to make Waqf in Islam and the first to instruct those who gave charity to convert their donations into Waqf.
Waqf refers to giving property or items to charity.
Waqf is a form of continuous charity, the Prophet (saw) said Waqf is one of the best forms of charity.
Once Umar ibn Al-Khattab obtained a large amount of land and said to the Prophet (saw):
“O Prophet of Allah, I have gained such a valuable piece of land in Khaibar, and I do not have any other thing more valuable than it; what do you order me to do with it”?
The Prophet (saw) replied:
“If you wish you can give its benefits to charity whilst preserving it such that it can no longer be sold, nor bought, nor may it be possible to give it away or bequeath it”.
Umar then made it a Waqf so that it may never be sold or gifted but in its return be given to the poor. This is the origin of Waqf in Islam.
Aqeeqah is also a form of charity as when a baby is born its hair are shaven, weighed and the weight is converted into the present currency and then the money is given in charity.
Allah (swt) says in the Quran,
“Those who spend their wealth [in Allah’s cause] by night and by day, in secret and in public, they shall have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve”. [2:274]
The word Zakat means ‘sweetening’ and it implies that those funds on which no Zakat has been paid are ‘bitter’. The word Zakat also means purifying.
Welfare tax is a compulsory levy on wealth. It is also paid at fixed rates on animals and crops, if their number/value has reached a certain minimum called the nisaab, this obligation is to be paid by Muslims, through an organised collection by the government or by voluntary organisations, or directly to those who are in need of help.
Zakat is the third obligatory pillar of Islam. It is 2.5% of a Muslim’s wealth when it exceeds the nisaab. Nisaab is, as mentioned before, the minimum amount of wealth that qualifies for Zakat.
“Charity does not diminish wealth”. [Muslim]
Zakat is the regular and obligatory charity in an organised Muslim community, visually2½ %, of merchandise and 10 %, on the fruits of the Earth. As against Zakat the term Sadaqah has a much wider connotation and is inclusive of Zakat aswell as in verse 90 surah 9.
“Alms are for the poor And the needy, and those Employed to administer the [funds]: For those whose hearts Have been [recently] reconciled [To Truth]; for those in bondage And in debt, in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer [Thus is it] ordained by Allah. And Allah is full of Knowledge And wisdom”. [9:60]
Alms or charitable gifts are to be given to the poor and the needy and those who are employed in their service. That is, charitable, funds are not to be diverted to other uses, but the genuine expenses of administering charity are properly changeable to such funds.
Who are the needy? Besides the ordinary indigent, there are certain classes of people whose need are great and should be relieved. Those mentioned in the above verse are: (1) Men who have been weaned from hostility to the Truth, who would probably be persecuted by their former associates, and require assistance until they establish new connections in their new environment; (2) those in bondage, literally and figuratively: captives of war must be redeemed: slaves should be helped to freedom; those in the bondage of ignorance or superstition or unfavourable environment should be helped to freedom to develop their own gifts: (3) those who are held in the grip of debt should be helped to economic freedom: (4) those who are struggling and striving in Allah (swt)’s cause by teaching or fighting or in duties assigned to them by the Islamic State, who are thus unable to earn their ordinary living: and (5) strangers stranded on the way. All those have a claim to charity. They should be relieved by individual or organised effort, but in a responsible way. In the above verse [9:60], the word Sadaqat refers to obligatory charity (Zakat).
“He who is not thankful to men is not thankful to Allah”. [Tirmidhi]
Naturally, one would like to know the purpose of which Zakat has been made compulsory and obligatory and the aims and objects, which are achieved by it. In the light of the Holy Quran and the traditions, there are three objects to Zakat, the first being specific and the other two secondary.
The basic and specific object of Zakat is the purification of the soul. Giving of Zakat purges the best of wealth infuses fear of Allah in ones mind and heart and makes one do good deeds.
The Holy Quran exhorts the holy prophet (saw):
“Take aims of their wealth, where with thou mayst purify them and mayst make them grow”.
Again the holy Quran says:
“Far removed from it [hell] will be the righteous who giveth his wealth that he may grow [in goodness]”.
[91:17-18]
Thus, the chief and specific aim of Zakat is to emancipate the heart from worldly affairs and to purify the soul. Nobody can deny the fact that real love of wealth and material goods is the real enemy of Namaz. It turns one away from Allah and the hereafter. The holy prophet (saw) once said:
“The root of every evil is the love of worldly things”.
In another tradition the holy prophet (saw) has observed:
“The trial of my Ummah is wealth”.
If a Muslim can save himself from the lust of wealth, then he will be in command to save himself from other sins and sinful acts.
A person by offering prayer and giving Zakat strives to seek the pleasure of Allah and the welfare in the Hereafter. Thus it not only purifies the heart but also inspires him to do well.
Literally Zakat means ‘purification and growth.’ To give a portion of ones earned income to the poor and needy for the pleasure of Allah, is called Zakat. However, it should be remembered that by mere giving a portion of income the real aim of Zakat is not achieved, unless a sincere desire and practical effort motivate it.
The secondary objects are that, the giving of Zakat provides basic necessities of the poor and needy Muslims. The holy Prophet (saw) said.
“Verily Allah has ordained the payment of Zakat on the Muslims. It will be realised from the rich and returned [spent for] to their poor”.
The holy prophet (saw) has said:
“On the day of judgement Allah would say, “O sons of Adam! I asked you for food and you did not give it to me.” Men will reply, “O lord! How could we provide food to you when you are yourself the sustainer of the worlds?” To this Allah would say, “Do you not remember that one of your fellow-beings, who was starving begged for food and you refused it to him”?
Thus Islam attaches great importance to the fulfilment of the needs of the poor and it proves beyond doubt that Islam is highly sensitive to the needs of the poor and destitute.
The next among the secondary objects of Zakat is to help and support the cause of Islam.
Practical deeds of charity are of value when they proceed from love, And no other motive. In this respect, also, our duties take various forms, which are shown in reasonable gradation: our kith and kin; orphans (including any persons who are without support or help): people who are in real need but who never ask (it is our duty to find them out, and they come before those who ask); the stranger, who is entitled to laws of hospitality; the people who ask and are entitled to ask, i.e., not merely lazy beggars, but those who seek our assistance in some form or another (it is our duty to respond to them); and the slaves (we must do all we can to give or buy their freedom). Slavery has many insidious forms, and all are included.
For Allah (swt) has said’
“…But it is righteousness-To believe in Allah (swt) And the last Day, And the Angels, And the Book, And the Messengers; To spend of your substance, Out of love for Him, For your kin, For orphans, For the needy, For the wayfarer, For those who ask, And for the ransom of slaves; To be steadfast in prayer, And give Zakat, To fulfil the contracts Which yea have made; And to be firm and patient; In pain [or suffering] And adversity, And throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, The God-fearing”. [2:177]
The practice of charity is also widespread in the Jewish community. This is true not only in terms of specifically Jewish institutions, such as homes for the Jewish elderly and the handicapped, but also in terms of general humanitarian causes as well. Even Jews who are not in any way affiliated to synagogues can be relied upon usually to contribute to charitable endeavours. This is no doubt because of the great emphasis placed by Jewish religious teaching on the obligation of the individual to care for those who are less fortunate.
For it is said in the Psalms:
“Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;” [Psalm 37:15-17]
There is a vast body of literature on this subject but only the main points have been mentioned here.
Charity in Islam is as easy as a smile.
The Prophet (saw) has said,
“When you smile in your brother’s face, or enjoin what is good, or forbid what is evil, or direct someone who has lost his way, or help a man who has a bad eyesight, or remove thorns and bones from the road, or pour water from your bucket into your brother’s, it counts to you as a Sadaqah [charity]”. [Mishkat Al-Masabih]
The World has witnessed many tragedies in the last ten years. Some tragedies occur naturally, such as floods, droughts, earthquakes and many more are man-made - through conflicts. Quite often, these events occur suddenly and without warning.
There are many agencies undertaking projects to help for the world development.
Islamic Relief is an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). It seeks to promote sustainable economic and social development programmes. Their programmes are development, emergency relief, or orphan support in nature. Islamic Relief’s core geographical focus areas are Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bangladesh, Chechnya, Gaza Strip, Mali, India, Pakistan, and Sudan.
To help the victims of various types of disasters Islamic Relief World Wide has undertaken a massive Emergency and Relief programme to provide speedy assistance, comprising of aid such as food, medicine, shelters and blankets. Islamic Relief has been involved in some pioneering work in the field of Emergency and Relief aids.
Islamic Relief has been involved in many health related projects which aim to provide services to the local population as well as offering them advice and education in all related matters. Their present activities include:
Malnutrition, Patient clinics, Rural Poverty, Livestock project, General education, Adult literacy, and lots more.
Islamic Relief has alleviated malnutrition at the local level through various projects. Two feeding centres have been established in the EI Obeid area of Sudan, Which among other services provides supplementary feeding for malnourished children, pregnant and lactating mothers.
Islamic Relief’s clinics provide general services such as vaccinations, diagnosing illness, a pharmacy e.t.c. They also offer specialised services in paediatrics and gynaecology. The clinics provide an indispensable service in areas where the facilities available to people are minimal. Such clinics are operating in Sudan, Bangladesh, and Albania.
17 million people die each year from curable infections and parasite diseases such as diarrhoea, Malaria, and Tuberculosis in the developing world.
Millions of children around the world are suffering as a result of poverty. The most vulnerable of these children are orphans. Without education, healthcare or training they are disadvantaged for the rest of their lives.
Islamic Relief first introduced the sponsorship of orphans in 1986. Since that time over 4000 orphans have been supported. The aim of the project is to help needy orphans worldwide by supplying them with assistance in the form of healthcare, education, nutrition, and income.
The Prophet (saw) has said:
“In paradise there will be a house known as the house of happiness. No one will enter it except those who make orphans happy”.
Today, millions of children are suffering as a result of poverty. The most vulnerable of these children are orphans. Most miss out on the essential part of their life, without an education, health care or any training; they are disadvantaged for the rest of their lives.
With the orphan programmes, Islamic Relief seeks to provide orphans with their most basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, nutrition and health care.
As the Hadith illustrates, a kind gesture, compassion and generosity towards orphans is one of the noblest acts of charity in Islam.
An estimated of 250 million people in developing countries are disabled. The causes of these disabilities are many and varied, resulting from war, trauma, accident, congenital disability from birth or the long-term effects of an illness, hence Islamic Relief decides to set up a workshop that produces walking aids for the disabled of Bosnia as well as supporting cleft lip palate operations in Pakistan.
Water is natural, but often-scarce resource, which is essential for human life. While we take clean and safe water for granted, there are over one billion people in the world who use unsafe water and have poor sanitation facilities.
Nearly 30% of people in the developing world do not have access to clean water, 80% of the world’s sickness is due to contaminated water and poor sanitation, 25’000 babies and children die every day as a result of unsafe water, many diseases, such as Cholera, Typhoid and diarrhoea, arise due to unsafe water and poor sanitation.
This has lead to 250 million people suffering from diseases such as diarrhoea, typhoid, and cholera.
Islamic Relief has set up a ‘Water for Life’ campaign which aims to initiate more projects to provide better access to clean water, improve sanitation facilities and educate people on issues related to hygiene.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that during any two week period, at least a thousand million people - one in five – are malnourished or in poor health. This statistic is amazing if we think about the technology available in today’s time.
In many developing countries, people continue to suffer from health related problems including malnutrition , diseases and illnesses. This is mainly due to the lack of medication, health care facilities and health education.
Islamic Relief has paid a lot of attention to the deteriorating health conditions suffered by communities within their project areas. Hence all of Islamic Relief’s health and nutrition-based projects offer advice and educate the communities on health matters. Islamic Relief Worldwide has sent volunteers to several of their development projects around the world and are constantly informed that although the clinical work done is very good, it is significantly hampered by the lack of equipment and facilities.
One of the main problems facing people in the third world countries is the access to education. It is quite common to see all the members of one family, including the children, to work long hours in order to survive.
This means that the education of those children is greatly affected. This has a severe impact on a country as it means that there are lots of people who are illiterate.
Although some progress has been made on the extension of educational opportunities in developing countries, many poor people still remain illiterate. The situation is especially desperate for women within these countries, their illiteracy levels are often substantially greater than that of men, going on as high as 91%.
Islamic Relief has set up classes in some localities so that the local people can learn to read and write.
“The seeking of Knowledge is a must for every Muslim man and women”. [Mishkat]
The need for poor people to be involved in income generating activities is so that they can be free from the constraints of poverty. Islamic Relief recognises that the poor people need to be involved with income generating activities so that they can become self-sufficient.
It is estimated that more than 1.3 million people (a third of the population in developing countries live in poverty). The poorest 40% of the households in developing countries typically earn only 8-22% of the total income in their countries.
Islamic Relief is already at the forefront of having developed a number of successful Income Generating projects. Their projects are different to the other ones available due to the fact that we base our systems on a ‘Murabaha’ (interest free loans) scheme.
Under Murabaha (from the Arabic word meaning profit) the borrower receives the goods or animals purchased by the loan instead of receiving money. Two or three people make the purchase of the goods plus a service change.
The method insures that the loan funds are spent for the agreed purpose and that the borrower draws upon the expertise of the project team in purchasing the best quality at the lowest price. A number of projects have been initiated and Income Generation continues to be a main feature of their annual programmes.
This becomes easier to understand when you become familiar with the conditions that the poor people in the developing world have to face.
Knowledge of these conditions is important in knowing how to help.
My view to ‘There should be no rich Muslims as long as there is poverty in the world’ is different.
Argumentatively, I say that the rich Muslims waste and enjoy their wealth to such an extent that they forget that poverty exists. If there were no rich Muslims alive, and all were poor, then there would be no rich Muslims to waste their wealth, as they would have no wealth to waste as according to a saying, every penny would count.
“Eat and drink but do not waste, for god does not love those who waste”. [7:31]
If the rich Muslims are going to basically play with their wealth and have fun with wealth as long as wealth exists, then their wealth should rather be given to the poor as they will handle it with much more care and not spend it on unnecessary goods.
There should be no rich Muslims in the world, but the rich should feel responsible for providing the needy with alms. Firstly, it is common sense to know that if inheritance of richness has been passed down through a family tree then it is impossible to have any poor Muslims. As is the same scenario for the poor. This is why to balance it out it is obligatory upon every Muslim (mature) to give welfare tax, using this methodology designed by Islam to every needy person on the face of this earth can receive sufficient Orphan Welfare, support and other general needs.
According to a saying, if every person, upon whom welfare tax is obligatory, pays according to the duty there will be no more poverty on this earth. Therefore, if this act was to be obeyed by every participant the issue will be resolved. There is no reason why a Muslim should hinder in paying welfare tax for there are great rewards, which Allah has promised for the hereafter.
In this way if the obligation of welfare tax was to be observed to its full then the world would be able to balance out allowing development from all corners of the world including for the poor.
I personally say that there should be rich and poor Muslims in the world. I say this because when a rich sees a poor person spreading their hands it will make him feel guilty of the wealth he has and is not giving in charity from it, it will also make him turn to his lord and thank him of the wealth he has and for giving him a life of gratitude.
For the Prophet (saw) has said:
“The believers shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity”. [Al-Hadith]
