Faith and charity: Place of humanitarian work in Islam

The Quran repeatedly asks Muslims to do good and to work for human welfare. The sayings and example of the Holy Prophet [pbuh] further elaborate and detail how this should be done. From feeding the hungry and rearing of the orphans to attending the sick and forgiving those at fault, detailed traditions are found on each. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Opinion
Source & Credit:Jersey City Islam Examiner
By Kashif Chaudhry | Englewood, NJ | July 22, 2010


Acts of goodness to humankind are an essential element of religious practice in Islam. The Quran says:

“Those who believe and do good works - happiness is decreed for them, and an excellent place of return.” [013:029]

The Quran is full of injunctions calling for humanitarian action. Islam makes it obligatory for all Muslims to pay a part of their income towards the welfare of the poor and needy.
 God makes it clear that Paradise in the after-life is reserved for those who do good to fellow men. He says:

“And hasten towards forgiveness from your Lord, and the Paradise whose value is the heavens and the earth. It is prepared for the God-fearing. Those, who spend in prosperity and adversity, and those who suppress anger, and pardon men; and ALLAH loves those who do good” [003:133-134]

The Quran repeatedly asks Muslims to do good and to work for human welfare. The sayings and example of the Holy Prophet [pbuh] further elaborate and detail how this should be done. From feeding the hungry and rearing of the orphans to attending the sick and forgiving those at fault, detailed traditions are found on each. Even mere smiling at others is described as an act of charity by Islam.

The Holy Prophet [pbuh] is reported to have said: “God loves the one who comes to the aid of the afflicted”

Islam not only encourages believers to do good to all, but explicitly mentions those who refrain from partaking in charity as non believers in the practical sense. The Prophet [pbuh] for instance says, “He who sleeps with a full stomach knowing his neighbor is hungry is not a believer.” This explains how core and vital charity and humanitarian work is to the Islamic faith.

In Islam, sins can be erased by performing humanitarian acts. In this regard the Prophet said: “Alms extinguish sins exactly as water extinguishes fire” [Bukhar]

In short all forms of charity is obligatory in Islam and does not exclude 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.

Nowadays, many Muslim organizations operate various humanitarian programs in different domains. Notable amongst these is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The community's founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad [as] writes:

"My ultimate aim, the object of my desire and my wish is to help people."

"Sympathy for all mankind is a moral obligation and a duty (Arbaeen)...that religion is no religion which does no inculcate sympathy, nor does that man deserve to be called a man who does no have sympathy in him (message of peace)."

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community has schools and hospitals operating all over Africa that attend to the needs of the poor population. Humanity First, the dedicated charity organization of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community provides highly-skilled first responders to disaster zones. It has ongoing programs in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world that ensure provision of power and safe drinking water, quality health and education to those in need. It has had a considerable impact on regions like Bosnia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Katrina [USA] and most recently on Haiti. A large part of its work force comprises volunteers.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA has been active in all kinds of humanitarian work in this country. Not to mention the dedicated efforts during Hurricane Katrina, the community has organized numerous Blood drives, Food charity programs and Adopt-a-family and Adopt-a-highway programs across the US.

As part of this ongoing humanitarian work, the North Jersey Chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community regularly organizes Blood Drives and other programs of the like. The community invites everyone from all faiths and sections of society to join its efforts towards human welfare.

“You are the best people raised for the good of mankind; you enjoin what is good and forbid evil and believe in God” [Quran]

Islam’s emphasis on humanitarian and charitable causes is clear beyond doubt. The practical example of the likes of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community should be enough proof of the determination of practical Muslims towards this end.



Read original post here: Place of Humanitarian Work in Islam

Kashif N. Chaudhry is a medical resident at Englewood Hospital & Medical Center, NJ. His interests other than medicine include study of world religions and engaging in interfaith dialogue. He believes in "love for all, hatred for none," and that understanding different faiths helps bridge differences. He has a special interest in studying the link between science and religion. Leave your thoughts and comments, or email Kashif at kashifnadeem@live.com