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The influence of the Muslim religion in humanitarian aid

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 April 2010

Jamal Krafess
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Abstract

Acts of humanitarianism are an essential element of religious practice for the Muslim. The Quranic and prophetic texts calling for humanitarian action, defining and ordering it are numerous. They are either of an obligatory or an inciting nature and do not exclude the non-Muslims from humanitarian aid. For the Muslim to undertake a humanitarian act is a way of receiving help from heaven, of erasing sins, and of meriting Paradise. The mechanisms established by the religion (e.g. zakat, waqf, kaffara) had an unprecedented impact on the lives of the population: the freeing of slaves, a significant support for the most vulnerable, and the expansion of the educational and health-care system. Nowadays faith based Muslim NGOs follow these texts to launch varied humanitarian programmes in different domains.

Type
Religion
Information
International Review of the Red Cross , Volume 87 , Issue 858: Religion , June 2005 , pp. 327 - 342
Copyright
Copyright © International Committee of the Red Cross 2005

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References

1 The author does not limit humanitarian action to humanitarian assistance, but presents a very broad view of it as social welfare, emergency aid and sustainable development. The quotations are taken from Arabic books; other than those from the Quran, their translation into French and English is by the author.

2 A hadith is the words of the prophet reported by his companions. The Quranic verses and the hadiths constitute the principal source of Islamic legislation.

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50 Nissab is property equivalent to 85g of gold, currently at 900 euros.

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53 Quran, Sura 73, Verse 20.

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55 Quran, Sura 51, Verse 19.

56 Quran, Sura 70, Verse 24.

57 At the beginning of the Muslim Era five schools of jurisprudence, which were inspired by the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet Mohammed, developed to legislate on all questions concerning religion and the economic, political and social life of Muslims. They are the Maliki, Chafi, Hanafi, Hanbali and Jafari schools.

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