Faith-Based Welfare Practice: "Reflections" from the Perspective of Islamic Theology
Caring for people who for various reasons have found themselves in crises or are in need of help and support has a central place in the Islamic theological tradition. The task of constructing a social safety net for societys weaker individuals was inspired by these lines of thought in a Muslim cont...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
[2017]
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In: |
Diaconia
Year: 2017, Volume: 8, Issue: 2, Pages: 119-137 |
RelBib Classification: | BJ Islam NCC Social ethics RK Charity work |
Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (doi) |
Summary: | Caring for people who for various reasons have found themselves in crises or are in need of help and support has a central place in the Islamic theological tradition. The task of constructing a social safety net for societys weaker individuals was inspired by these lines of thought in a Muslim context. Themotive for these interventions takes its starting point in a religious conception of taking care of weak members of society. One of the pillars of faith in Islam, zakat , deals with social care and thus relates to the idea of the welfare. Its forms of expression may vary, ranging from involvement in various forms of charitable contributions to faith-based philanthropic volunteer work. Charitable work that is based on a religious foundation, which in its turn is based on a duty-centered perspective, is founded on notions that a believer shall perform his/her duties fittingly. A true believer is expected not to be egocentric, but to consider his/her fellow men. At the same time, we should not forget that the duty-centered religious perspective contains the idea that anyonewho becomes involved in charitable work also receives something in return. Somewhere in the background lies the notion that a person who performs the religious duty of taking care of a neighbor will be rewarded in one way or another, either in this life or a coming life. The faith-based philanthropic motive may also be based on a religious worldview, but here the reward motive is replaced with care of ones fellow beings and respect for mans interior character. |
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ISSN: | 2196-9027 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Diaconia
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.13109/diac.2017.8.2.119 |