Home : Poverty Alleviation : Muslim action against Poverty

 email this page :  printer friendly page

Muslim action against Poverty

Global Vision for Social Change

As human beings, we have a divine duty to support all those who are disadvantaged and in need. The poor people around the world are not in a position to fight for their own rights and freedoms as they are immersed in extreme poverty, and are too busy struggling to acquire basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, education, health) to keep themselves and their families alive.

Assessment of the Human Development Index (HDI) produced by the UN annually - shows the majority of African and Asian countries to be occupying the lower half of the table. Basic Needs Fulfillment is an urgent priority in many of these nations with hunger and malnutrition on the rise. In a world of plenty with increased profits, production and technological advances it is a sad indictment of mankind that nearly half of the world population (~3 billion) lives on less than $2 per day.

Poverty has existed throughout human history and understanding the multi-dimensional nature is significant since it determines strategies and approaches towards poverty alleviation. We must work to re-address the global imbalance between the haves and have-nots, the rich and the poor and create a more equitable, fairer global society. We all have a role and duty to play in this process which cannot be absolved.

The desire for every human being is to live a balanced lifestyle which will fulfill their sociological, economic and spiritual needs leading to individual contentment and happiness. The comprehensive welfare of the people, can be summarised as that which lies in safe guarding their faith, life, intellect, prosperity and wealth. A socio-economic system should be created which guarantees these necessities. Islam, being a comprehensive viewpoint on life, endeavours to provide a holistic, principled socio-economic system for all of mankind irrespective of faith, creed, gender or race – the challenge is to develop a contemporary model.

There are three main collective mechanisms which are utilised to resolve global poverty and basic needs fulfillment concerns, these are :-

1.      Charitable Organizations

These raise funds to provide food, shelter, clothing, education, health and basic sanitation, in specific geographical areas for short-medium benefit of needy communities.

Examples include, Islamic Relief, MGR, MWF, Isaar Trust.

2.      Campaigning and Pressure Groups

These campaign all stakeholders within society through public pressure to adopt poverty alleviation policies and solutions.

Examples include Thinkers Forum International (TFI), World Development Movement (WDM), Make Poverty History Campaign, One World

3.      Politics

People establish or join existing political parties so that they may be able to attain positions of authority within government to implement poverty alleviation solutions.

Examples of political parties include

Labour/Conservative/Respect Parties (UK), MMA/Muslim League/PPP/Tehreeke Insaaf (Pakistan), Muslim Brotherhood (Egypt), PAS (Malaysia)

Some organizations perform a combination of the above whilst others are specialists in one area only. It must be remembered that the primary duty of managing the affairs of the people to provide social welfare and basic needs is the political governments, it is only in their absence, shortcomings or failures does the responsibility broaden to the rest of society, thus the importance of the organisations becomes more enhanced and necessary.

TFI, functions as a campaigning and policy development group, which raises awareness amongst the public and intelligentsia, and influencing stakeholders and governmental bodies to develop, adopt and implement poverty alleviation policies. TFI feels this is the most optimum method by which to engage the majority of the global community for a maximum output. Although theoretically politicians carry the greatest power to make a difference when exercising their policies, however, partisanship, personal interests and personality clashes between members of political parties means too often it leads to polarization and non-cooperation thereby the opportunities for implementing poverty alleviation policies is reduced, slowed down. However, the TFI method of cross party engagement means we can sell our policies and ideas in a non-partisan manner without being seen to be benefiting personally but for the collective good of society. Through persuasion and dialogue across all stakeholders and politicians we hope for the maximum number of policies to be adopted, thereby irrespective of who attains the reins of power tomorrow the poor and citizens at large will benefit.

Furthermore, although TFI is engaged in charity work through its subsidiary, Isaar Trust, and in partnership with other well known charities, it feels this alone will not solve the total poverty problem for all of the worlds poor in the long term. This requires a broader engagement of the issues and solution formulation at the intellectual, societal and governmental level (national and international).

TFI works with people from different backgrounds and faiths who agree in solving global poverty through ethical, principled means. TFI forms alliances with like-minded individuals and organisations in common areas, whilst endeavouring to recruit able people from all sections of society to carry out its work. The global community, together, can make a huge impact on resolving poverty problems and we hope they will join with us to make a difference.

The comprehensive reform of society, needs to ensure that all member of society, male and female, rich and poor, faith and no faith, can coexist and live in peaceful harmony together. It is our duty to create a vision of an egalitarian society that balances the material, physiological and spiritual needs of individuals through establishment of mechanisms, institutions and infrastructures which will allow this to happen on a continuous basis. A global social welfare system, tailored to individual needs and realities of countries, must be established for the benefit of all their citizens, promoting technological advances, productivity and income generation policies whilst ensuring there is a fair re-distribution of wealth within an interest-free economy. This has to be our long term vision of an inclusive contemporary modern Islamic society.

The vast majority of developing nations do not have any form of a social welfare system which can provide basic needs to the poor and needy, or an infrastructure which will allow hardworking professionals and entrepreneurs to progress by utilizing their efforts or skills. Examples of such countries include many in Asia (e.g. Pakistan, Bangladesh, India), Africa (Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt), South America (Chile, Brazil, Venezuela) and others.

Detailed studies and analysis of individual nations will be produced continuously, through the TFI Policy Development Institute, as to how this change can manifest itself practically, highlighting complex issues, dilemmas, concerns and a positive way forward.

For further information on how you can get involved with TFI and make a difference please do not hesitate to contact us. 

^ top of page

< back