In a time of global progress in various fields such as science
and technology: communicating across the seven seas is now instantaneous, the
whole period of transcontinental journeys has decreased from months and years
to a matter of hours and the planet was reduced into a global village. However,
a matter of great significance that faces humanity at large is that of global
poverty; a dark blot on the civilized world of the 21st century and its people.
A New Global Monitoring Report published jointly by the
World Bank and the IMF predicts that an approximate 900 million people were
living on less than $1.90 per day in 2012. The report also highlights the
increasing concentration of poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa in which the breadth
and depth of poverty remains an overriding challenge if in regard to
income-poverty or non-income deprivations resulting in a lack of access to
quality education, basic health services and access to clean water. It's
suggested that in the last few years, increasing land degradation,
deforestation, extreme weather events and pollution have jeopardized progress
of removing poverty. No matter the contributory factors, the figures for those
living below the poverty line are shocking and highlight the growing need to
have a practical approach to reduce poverty with a vision to finally eliminate
poverty altogether.
Basically, Islam is comprehensive, balanced and complete In
character and practice and thus isn't restricted to theological scripture but
extends to socio-political and financial principles to mention but a couple of
disciplines. These principles are designed to form the foundation of frameworks
through the ages whilst considering the demands of the respective period and
location. Since Islam is comprehensive, the Qur'an and the ahadith of the
Prophet (sall Allahu alaihe wa sallam) emphasize on the voluntary supply of
wealth that's surplus to individual need. (Source: www.happymuslimfamily.org ) This is the cornerstone of offering a
solution to global poverty.
Without pondering much upon the Conditions of the Revelation
behind the verse or the exegetical technicalities, some points are nonetheless
crucial to be elaborated upon in further detail. Primarily, even though it's
incumbent upon every Muslim to give 2.5 percent of his riches annually for
distribution among the destitute as a tenant of Islam, no limitation was put on
how much one can give as a max. That's to assert that spending 2.5 percent is a
necessity yet more could and indeed should be spent from what remains as
surplus. If stuck to the Qur'an, the world goes a long way to witness the
eradication of global poverty.
Additionally, by elucidating the significance of spending
that which Is in surplus to ones desires, the verse doesn't condemn the
accumulation of wealth to the degree of fulfilling ones needs whilst
simultaneously advocating a small lifestyle whereby the demands relevant to the
lifetime of a person are reduced. The verse also indicates the separation of
'needs' and 'needs', thus accumulation to fulfill needs are allowed but so much
as 'needs' are concerned, these are considered surplus to 'needs' and in this
case the supply of wealth is favored than chasing such surplus 'needs'.
In touching upon the religious element of wealth distribution
in Islam, importantly, virtue isn't attached with the number of wealth that's
owned by an individual instead piety is credited to an individual that
distributes wealth amongst the production of Allah - wealth that's been granted
to man as a trial which one is ultimately accountable for in the court of the
Almighty.
Moreover, the act of distributing wealth has been closely connected
with belief in the context of both commanding the believers to disperse extra
wealth as a sensible act along with the religious effect of the act that's
shown on earth in the kind of God-wariness (Taqwa) and also in the hereafter.
The distribution of wealth is therefore not seen only as an act of charity in
Islam but incorporates a wider twofold dimension. The first is that the aim of
practically eradicating poverty throughout the action of distributing and
circulating wealth and the second is the spiritual benefit of the person who
gives thus preventing the accumulation of riches.
In assessing the distribution of wealth, the social perspective
on the matter is one which can't be neglected. Basically, the existence of
classes in society isn't a new phenomenon. Categories have been around since
the dawn of civilization and have even been the cause of various historical
events like the French Revolution that had a large element of social class
movement and change. Basically, whilst advocating wealth distribution, Islam
provides due heed to society at large. Islam hasn't considered prosperity in
negative light so much as the way of acquiring wealth isn't unlawful. Likewise,
Islam hasn't announced prosperity in itself as a legal or ethical wrong but
instead has announced the love and pursuit of riches in negative light as this
forms the basis of various social ills prevalent in society.
In regard to the coordinated nature of the flow of Wealth,
Islam is a clear proponent of a three-tier arrangement of priority:
a) The Household
B) The Kinfolk
c) Additional Members of Society (orphans, the widows, the
needy and the wayfarers)
Therefore, the primary beneficiaries of the supply of Wealth
are those nearest to an individual compared- the family. By spending on people
who are closest in relation, Islam promotes the eradication of poverty from
those closest to an individual by putting upon him a duty to keep and develop
their well-being via monetary help. This is the demonstration of individual
duty to eradicate poverty which could potentially remove many in the depths of
debate if employed upon in a thorough and sincere manner by each person.
Adhering to the members of the family are people who are the
Kinfolk- other relatives which aren't immediate family. This measure extends
the practical nature of actively eradicating poverty through the promotion of
moving beyond the four walls of the house to extent the web of those upon whom
each person has a duty towards.
In addition to the family and kinfolk, Islam promote Wealth
distribution among the orphans, widows, the needy and the wayfarers in the
third and highest degree in a general sense to help people in society at large
who are most in need irrespective of any family ties on a humanistic level. So,
what is clearly evident is that Islam emphasizes on poverty eradication through
wealth distribution if it's to those that are closely related or at the local
community or whether it's in society at large on a national and global level.
However, in maintaining the balance between promoting the
Flow of wealth, the Qur'an deters one from withholding in the distribution of
wealth and so increasing global poverty as the natural effect of wealth
accumulation.
To summarize, as Islam is a comprehensive religion, yet balanced
totality that extends beyond a theological and spiritual guideline for
humanity, Islam provides the world with thorough and comprehensive principles
which are formulated into frameworks from the Men of the time and era which are
compatible with the demands and necessities of the day. Because of this, Islam
offers complete guidance into the socio-political and economic dimensions of
life to name but a few.
Consequently, Islam recognizes the issue of global poverty and
its incidence in many regions of the world. But, Islam goes beyond the
recognition of the matter and further to diagnose the origin of the development
of the symptoms as well as providing practical solutions. These solutions are
of benefit to people distributing wealth and so preventing the accumulation of
riches whilst at the same time seeing to decrease the amount of global poverty
in a sustainable way.
Firstly, although Islam requires every Muslim to give 2.5
percent of the wealth yearly so that it could be distributed among the
destitute, Islam promotes the distribution of wealth beyond the 2.5% necessity
to invest whatever is in surplus to ones desires. One is invited to further
practical actions that are feasible on a person whilst also keeping under
consideration the requirements of the giver.
Second, Islam correlates the reception of religious
Blessings as a direct consequential effect of the practical act of wealth
distribution thus promoting the flow of wealth among more than a billion
Muslims around the planet. Moreover, a thorough system is expounded by Islam
whereby neither the family, the kinfolk nor society at large are failed
consequently putting responsibility on every person to stop financial
impoverishment and play an active role in poverty eradication.
If advice is taken from Islam on the principles pertaining to
wealth distribution, the world would really move a step closer to eradicating
poverty.
