Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
10. The Concept of Social Welfare in Islam
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importance is underscored by the fact that the Quran treats it on a
par with
salah
(prayer).
There are such traditions as stress the importance of giving
sadaqah
in the holy month of
Ramadan
. Therefore, in this month of
fasting, almost all those who can afford it, help poor people in one
way or another.
The Qur’an frequently enjoins believers ‘to perform the
worship and pay the
zakat
’ and even goes to the extent of saying
that one cannot attain righteousness unless one spends out of
one’s wealth for the love of God. It also says:
“By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you
give of that which you love.” (3:92)
Since charity is purely for the sake of God, it has value only if
something good and valuable is given. It should be lawfully earned
or acquired by the giver. It should include such things as are of use
and value to others. So the test of charity lies in giving away not
just things that we have discarded, but things that we greatly value.
What God demands is unselfishness. It may be in any form—
personal efforts, talents, skills, learning, property or possessions.
Charity is, in the words of the Prophet, to place a thing in the palm
of God. It is therefore, obvious that placing worthless things in the
hand of God is a dishonour to Him.
But the demand of Islam that all its followers should spend
their wealth freely on the common good of society cannot be met
solely by the payment of the obligatory levy of
zakah
. There must
