Muslim Perspectives on Welfare

Abstract

This article is concerned in part to inform the quest for an understanding of the perceptions which Muslim minorities have of Western welfare state provision, but its wider purpose is to explore the essence and the potential of the Islamic welfare state. Heuristic models constructed by social policy academics have provided insights into the influences of religion upon different kinds of welfare state, but no model exists by which specifically to understand Islamic welfare traditions. The article explains the Islamic tradition of Zakat; its significance as one of the central pillars of Muslim faith, and the principles through which it addresses the relief of poverty and the redistribution of wealth. Islamic conceptions of state and community are then explored and the ways in which Muslim faith and culture are adapting at both the global and community level. The article concludes with some speculative remarks about the scope for rapprochement between Western debates about the moral basis for welfare and Muslim perspectives on social justice.

Educational Equity for Malaysian Urban Poor Muslim Students

“…This is because it is independent from the government budget. Although the concept of zakat is from Islam as a religion and is mostly implemented in Muslim populated countries, the zakat concept can be adapted from Islam as an ideology that can also be implemented in a non-Muslim community in the quest for a welfare state (Dean & Khan, 1997).…”

“…It is one of the five Islamic pillars, which means it is of utmost importance to a Muslim (Dean & Khan, 1997). Zakat can be sourced from personal income, business profits, savings and much more.…”

Human Security and Philanthropy

“…Since zakat prevents accumulation and exploitation of wealth and helps avoid social confl icts (Dean & Khan, 1997 ), its effective collection and proper distribution both are very important. From the early days of Islam there had been a position for zakat collector (Bukhari, 1971 : 2:24:530-35).…”

Socioeconomic Rights: A Dialogue With Islam

“…However, Muslim scholars directly counter such an understanding by pointing out that “ Zakat is not only the duty of those with disposable wealth, it is the right of those in need. The Qur' an itself (51:19) says ‘And in their wealth is the right of him who asks, and him who is needy.’ and “It is argued that Zakat is the right of the community on the wealth of individuals, just as prayer is the right of God on all Muslims” (Dean & Khan, , p. 198).…”