Personal Reflections of Eid in the United Arab Emirates
by By Imad Alassaad
Zakat
By Marco Bianchi
The Distribution of Wealth in Islam
By Kyla Brierley
The Role of Philanthropy in the Islamic Tradition
By Emily Hoffpaiur
Philanthropy in Islam
by Melissa Pimenta
Zakat in Afghanistan
by Roma Rashidi
Personal Reflections of Eid in the United Arab Emirates
By Imad Alassaad
The instance of giving that I have chosen to discuss involves the Islamic religious holiday of Eid. Eid can be described as being the combination of Christmas and New Years, in the sense that, it celebrates the end of the lunar calendar and a month’s long fast (Ramadan). On this day, Muslims worldwide practice the art of philanthropy by offering monetary and nutritional gifts (trays of rice and meat) to related family members, friends and fellow community strangers that undergo the act of pan handling. The term Eiddiya is used to describe the generous donations and gifts received from another individual on Eid day. During my stay in the United Arab Emirates (1997-2001), I have seen large gatherings of local citizens lining up on royalty estates (prince’s, kings and wealthy elite members of society) in order to wish the head of that estate a happy belated Eid. As a token of appreciation, the head of that estate would generously hand out an envelope of money. Further, during the month of Ramadan, those royal and elite estates open their kitchens to the public and individuals unable to cook or earn their nutritional needs can get enough food to fulfill their entire families need. They do not enforce limitations nor are they stingy. Simply lining up and having a tupperware are all the requirements needed to receive this act of philanthropy.
In light of these acts of philanthropy, I was impressed with Middle Eastern culture, particularly that of the U.A.E. History has shown us that the Arabian people were once contentious Bedouins and that the Islamic religion has been the common element used to unite all the Arab nations under one umbrella. In essence, it was this element that has helped civilize them into a caring, generous and passionate people. The Islamic religion has the common theme of philanthropy strongly rooted in its core values and beliefs; it clearly recognizes the difference between a guanine philanthropic act and one performed for some form of reward or expectation.
Zakat, or Zakaah, is the one of the Five Pillars of Islam called “alms giving.” “Alms giving” refers to the donating of a percentage of one’s wealth to other poor Muslims. Zakat is not given to the government, but to the individual communities, which then dispense the money and goods collected fairly. It is generally collected from Muslim individuals who have become adults, based on a template of wealth calculation which will be described below. The basis of zakat appears to have begun in the Muslim religious text, the Qur’an, which states that it is a religious obligation to give. This obligation to give is fulfilled when a percentage of income is donated. The punishment for Muslim people who do not pay zakat is considered harsh. The Encyclopaedia of Islam states that the prayers of those people that do not pay zakat will not be accepted (Houtsma et al, 1913-1938).
There are two categories of zakat in Islam, that which is obligatory and that which is voluntary and each comes with their own minimums and percentages. The obligatory forms of zakat include: gold, silver, jewellery and currency; cash or bonds, and shares of companies; rented buildings, such as factories and houses; commercial assets; livestock; agriculture; honey and animal products; mining and fishing; and almsgiving on self, also called Zakat al-fitr. Zakat al-Fitr is the charity given to the poor at the end of Ramadan. It is not on a schedule like the other forms of zakat and consists of one sa’, or eight handfuls of food for each member of the family. Voluntary forms of zakat include: donations to the construction of mosques and schools, and the helping of those that are non-Muslim.
There is no specific amount of zakat that must be paid, but traditionally, it is believed that Muslim people must pay 2.5% of their income. In summary, Muslim people pay 2.5% of the wealth they accumulated over a full lunar year, 2.5% of the goods used for trading, and up to 10% on certain types of harvests and irrigation. The only two personal items exempt from zakat is one’s household and mode of transportation.
Zakat may only be received by those who are a living and practicing Muslim, who are not considered wealthy by Muslim standards. This usually includes the needy, extremely poor, zakat collectors, wayfarer, people in debt, love interests, and those who are held captive. As another general rule, descendants of the family Muhammad are not eligible to receive zakat. Neither are: those looking to cover costs for their deceased’s funeral, and in places where Muslims are financially capable of constructing mosques, such as in developed countries.
Works Cited
M. Th. Houtsma et al., eds. (1913-1938). The Encyclopædia of Islam: A Dictionary of the Geography, Ethnography and Biography of the Muhammadan Peoples. London: Brill Publishers.
Zikr. (n.d.). Zakah: The Obligation of Purity. Retrieved January 28, 2010, from Zakaat Online Book: http://www.zikr.co.uk/books/Zakaat.html
The Distribution of Wealth in Islam
by Kyla Brierley
“Compassion, social justice, sharing and strengthening – these are all encompassed in the Quranic articulation of the ethical concept of charitable giving.” As giving and moral values became fundamental elements in the growth of Muslim practice, charitable giving and the process for collecting and distributing these monies soon became institutionalized, and giving in the form of zakat was created. Zakat is a method of obligatory giving, in which one must give a minimum 2.5% per lunar year of their total wealth. While Zakat is frequently compared to the Christian tradition of tithing, it primarily contributes welfare only to the poor and deprived. It is not considered a burden, but rather an integral part of Islamic faith. Through this form of charitable giving in the Islamic culture, zakat helps to achieve economic equality and improve the well being of all members of society through religion, economics, and social consciousness.
Firstly, zakat is a representation of the Islamic belief that acknowledges God as the sole owner of everything in the universe. God has put his faith in the wealthy, trusting that they will properly distribute their money to those in need. As stated in the Book of Zakat, “zakat in Islam is not a voluntary act of charity in which a rich man gives to the poor out of his own sweet will, rather it is in his belief in God and the Hereafter.” Similar to that of prayer and devotion, zakat is an act which is thought to lead God’s believers closer to Him. Zakat is deemed so important in the Islamic faith that it is mentioned at least one hundred times in the Qur’an. Consequently, it is noted that “the prayers of those who do not pay zakat will not be accepted.”
Secondly, “the institution of zakat is the cornerstone of the Islamic economic system. [It] works to ensure an equitable distribution of wealth and establishes a safety net for needy members of society.” Zakat encourages people to invest and distribute their wealth for the greater good of society, rather than letting it accumulate over time. It is often argued that “zakat is the most effective measure to improve the economic condition of the “have-nots.” By providing debt relief and enhancing price stability, the poor are given a fair chance to amend their way of life with the hope of being able to support themselves one day. Funds collected during prosperous times can also relieve the economic burden of society during periods of depression.
Lastly, “zakat is a means of compulsory redistribution of wealth in a way that reduces differences between classes and groups, thus preventing the many social disorders from which Communist and Western societies alike suffer.” Zakat is not used merely to meet the present needs of the poor and needy, but serves other functions that deeply affect social life.” The Quran outlines eight categories of disbursement, each of which contributes to the benefit of society. For example, by distributing wealth to the poor and those owing money, it solves the problem of indebtedness, which ultimately leads to peace and stability in the community.
Therefore it can be concluded that through religion, economics and social consciousness, zakat contributes extensively to economic justice and the enhanced well being of members in Islamic society. With poverty statistics growing considerably each and every day around the world, there is much to learn from the practices of the Islamic faith in charitable giving. Not only could Western society benefit economically with such practices put in place, it could help to shed even more light on issues such as poverty and homelessness and change the perception of those less fortunate around us, thus solving many societal issues.
Works Cited
Nanji, A. (March 1, 2000). Charitable Giving in Islam. Alliance Magazine. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from http://www.alliancemagazine.org/en/content/charitable-giving-islam.
Zakat. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zakat.
Sareshwala, Z. (n.d.). The Institution of Zakat and its Economic Impact on Society. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from http://islamicequity.co.in/admin/adminfiles/articals/zakat_economic_systemfinal.pdf.
El-Khouly, Dr. E. (October 25, 2004). Zakah: Connecting Humanity. IslamiCity. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0410-2496.
University of Southern California. (2007). The Book of Zakat: Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 5. Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/muslim/005.smt.html
The Role of Philanthropy in the Islamic Tradition
By Emily Hoffpaiur
Giving is an important part of religious practice in the Islamic tradition. The fact that there are two different forms of giving, one that is obligatory (zakat) and one that is voluntary (sadaqa), shows that philanthropy is highly valued in Islam. Both forms of charity are a way of balancing out social inequalities, or in other words “part of an effective social apparatus to ensure distributive equity and social justice” (Ansari, 1992).
In Islam, almsgiving should be done out of religious commitment rather than compulsion. Muslims are always striving for communities based on submission and service, “working for a more just world, not just a personal path to salvation” (Ellwood & McGraw, 1999). In the Islamic tradition giving is said to bring you closer to god and is proof of one’s faith. “Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity: for He loves not creatures ungrateful and sinner.” (Qur‘an, 2: 276, as cited in Dindang, n.d.)
In the Islamic tradition there are five pillars, or duties that are essential for all Muslims to practice, and one of these pillars (the third pillar) is almsgiving or zakat. Zakat is the obligation to give a percentage of your income (roughly 2.5 percent of your wealth or more if you have a higher income) to those in need. Donations were made primarily to the mosque but in some instances the collection of zakat is the responsibility of the state. Either the mosque or the state would manage and distribute the funds to the communities that needed it the most.
Zakat also plays an important role in development in Islamic society. Zakat is not only distributed to the poor but is also used for various projects that create opportunities to help the poor become more self-sufficient. For example, zakat can be used to help generate employment opportunities and create other sources of income for the poor. Muslims are actually discouraged from giving to those who are able work because this facilitates dependency and thwarts individual development. If the poor work hard, Muslim societies believe that creating job opportunities for them will help fight poverty.
Sadaqah is a voluntary form of giving and can be in the form of money, time, or efforts and given at any time by the poor or the wealthy. “The more we give sadaqah the more we increase our eeman (faith) and thus, expect Allah’s rewards both in this world and in the life hereafter” (Dindang, n.d.). According to Islamic teachings there are seven principles one must observe in the giving of sadaqah:
Sadaqah must be done sincerely for the pleasure of Allah and not to gain praise or recognition.
It is best not to reveal what we give or do as sadaqah.
Sadaqah must be from a lawful source.
Begin charity with your dependents.
Don’t delay in the giving of sadaqah or show lethargy or negligence in the giving.
Do not count the sadaqah you give.
Do not expect favor or reward from any person for the sadaqah you give. (Dindang, n.d.)
The holy month of Ramadan is also a time of giving among many Muslims. It is a time of fasting and prayer in the Islamic tradition and often many Muslims have a surplus of money, food, or time during Ramadan and therefore will give more sadaqah. One form of giving sadaqah is waqf, which is a donation usually in the form of property or land and is used to support the poor or needy or it is used to “support charitable activities through the return from its investment” (Abuarqub & Phillips, 2009).
Islamic giving traditions not only show the ethical dimension of Islam but also Muslims’ commitment to god and their willingness to help those in need. Muslim society deeply values hard work, education, and giving back to the community, all of which are crucial in the fight against poverty.
Works Cited
Abuarqub, M., & Phillips, I. (2009, July). A Brief History of Humanitarianism in the Muslim
World. Retrieved from Islamic Relief Worldwide website: http://www.islamicrelief.com
Ansari, M. (1992). The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences. Islamic Perspectives on
Sustainable Development. Retrieved from http://i-epistemology.net
Center for Development Services (CDS): Philanthropy for Development. (n.d.). Development in
Islam. Retrieved from http://www.neareast.org/phil/en/page.asp?pn=40#full
Dindang, N. (n.d.). Ways and Virtues of Giving Sadaqah. Retrieved from
http://www.wefound.org/sadaqah-byNorlain.htm
Ellwood, R., & McGraw, B. (1999). Submitting to the Will of God: The Building of the House
of Islam. In Many Peoples, Many Faiths (p. 377-430). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice HallPhilanthropy in Islam
By Melissa Pimenta
Islam is the second largest religion in the world and still growing. There are five pillars which are obligatory acts of worship: The Testimony of Faith, Prayer, Giving Zakat, Fasting the Month of Ramadan, and The Pilgrimage to Makkah. (Leslie, 2010)
The third pillar is Zakat which means “purification” and “growth”. Giving zakat means “giving a specified percentage on certain properties to certain classes of needy people”. It is required that every year 2.5% of one’s wealth is given away to the poor and needy. (Pennington, 2009) This may be in form of gold, silver, cash, stocks, bonds, live stock etc. (Leslie, 2010) In regard to gold, silver, and currencies Prophet Mohammad stated that the Nisaab amount, which is the minimum wealth that one must hold for one year is equivalent to 85 grams of pure gold. (Pennington, 2009) Zakat is to eliminate greed and selfishness and to help those in their community in need. Many poor communities and people rely on Zakat received, if Zakat is paid regularly their will be no distinction between the wealthy and poor. (El-Khouly, 2004) Zakat makes Islam the first welfare system in history that redistributes part of the wealth of the rich among the poor as a way to achieve social justice. (Pennington, 2009)
Sadaqah on the other hand is voluntary charity, it is for those who would like to give more than their obligatory Zakat. It is used sometimes as a way of bringing blessings to special occasions such as weddings, anniversaries or times of sadness. (Ghazaali, 2009) An example of when Muslims are most likely to give sasaqah is during Ramadan which is the holiest month to give to those in need. It is also emphasized to give sadaqah in secrecy as this makes sure that those receiving their feelings are respected as well as there identity is kept secret. (Ghazaali, 2009) Also the other difference from Zakat is there is no specific amount that needs to be given.
Works Cited
Dindang, N. Ways and Virtues of Sadaqah. Retrieved from http://www.wefound.org/sadaqah-byNorlain.htm
El-Khouly, E. (2004). Zakah: Connecting Humanity. Retrieved from http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0410-2496
Ghazaali, I (2009). What is Sadaqah? Retrieved from http://www.uwt.org/site/article.asp?id=170
Leslie, L (2010). Ramadan and charity: What is Zakat?. Retrieved from http://muslimvoices.org/ramadan-charity-zakat/
Pennington, R (2009) Charitable Giving: The practice of Zakat. Retrieved from http://muslimvoices.org/zakat/
Zakat in Afghanistan
By Roma Rashidi
Afghan Muslims are responsible for carrying out the duties and rituals commonly referred to as the five pillars of Islam. These include the recitation of the creed (shahdah), daily prayers (namaz), almsgiving (zakat), fasting (ruzah) and pilgrimage (hajj), (Sitar, 1969).
In this paper I will be focusing on the zakat system as practiced in Afghanistan. Zakat, or almsgiving, means donating a percentage of one’s wealth to the needy or poor. Currently, many institutions and organization are surviving solely on zakat money within Afghanistan. Schools and orphanages actively collect zakat donations yearly, especially within the month of Ramadan. In fact, many of these orphanages rely heavily on their zakat funds for their annual budget. The poor and impoverished also receive much of their medical needs, schooling and basic daily living from this money. Thus, Islam has emphasized the importance of zakat and has used the Muslim religious text of the Quran to highlight its need within Muslim societies. According to the Encyclopedia of Islam, any Muslim who does not believe in the five pillars of Islam is not categorized as a Muslim. Also, the prayers of those who do not pay their zakat will not be accepted within Islam (Houtsma et al, 1913-1938). There is no specific amount of zakat that must be paid, but traditionally, in Afghanistan and other Islamic states, 2.5 % of one’s accumulated wealth over a year is given (Ahmad, 2009).
Every year my family and I send our zakat money to an orphanage in Afghanistan. I personally believe that orphans deserve most of our zakat funds since they experienced many traumas as result of the war and many of them lost their parents and other love ones. At the orphanage, they are in a safe and clean environment with people that cares about them and the children are able to study to build their future.
Works Cited
Ahmad, M.A. (2009). Zakat fund -concept and perspective. 2, 197-205. M.th.Houstsma et al., eds. (1913-1938) The Encyclopedia of Islam: A Dictionary of the Geography, Ethnography and Biography of the Mohammedan peoples. London: Brill Publishers.
Mohammad, F.Z. (1991). Prospects of poverty Eradication through the existing zakat system in Pakistan. The Pakistan Development Review, 1119-1129.
Sirat, A.S. (1969). Islamic study review: sharia and Islamic education in modern Afghanistan. Middle East Journal, 23(2), 217-219.