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Reducing Poverty and Income Inequalities: Current Approaches and Islamic Perspective الحد من الفقر وعدم المساواة في الدخل: المناهج الحالية والمنظور الإسلامي

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  • Abdel-Hameed Bashir

    (Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

The Islamic approach to reducing (income) inequalities and alleviating poverty focuses on the mechanisms historically used and succeeded in reducing inequalities. Both obligatory (zakah) and voluntary (sadaqat) mechanisms are used to motivate the rich to spend generously on poverty reduction programs. It is an obligation on the rich to pay the compulsory (zakah) on their wealth but they are also encouraged to spend more above the obligatory sum by way of charity (sadaqah). In return, they are promised eternal bliss and everlasting happiness in the life to come. On the other hand, zakah evasion is considered a punishable crime (in this life and the hereafter) and denying the zakah altogether is equivalent to rejecting Islam. This belief in reward and punishment plays as a strong incentive and motivation for charitable behavior. Hence, effective collection and utilization of the proceeds from zakah and sadaqat are the mechanisms advocated by Islam to redistribute wealth and reduce income inequalities. المقاربة الإسلامية للحد من أوجه عدم المساواة (الدخل) وتخفيف وطأة الفقر يركز على الآليات الناجحة المستخدمة تاريخيا في ذلك. ولتحفيز الأغنياء على إنفاقهم بسخاء على برامج الحد من الفقر تستخدم آلتي الزكاة الواجبة والصدقات المستحبة. يجب على الأغنياء أن يدفعوا الزكاة على ثرواتهم ولكن الإسلام يشجعهم أيضا على إنفاق أكثر فوق مبلغ الزكاة عن طريق الصدقة. وفي المقابل، فإنهم وعدوا بالنعيم الأبدي والسعادة الأبدية في الحياة الأخروية. ومن ناحية أخرى، يعتبر التهرب من الزكاة جريمة يعاقب عليها في هذه الحياة وفي الآخرة وإن إنكار الزكاة يعتبر رفضا للإسلام وخروجا منه. هذا الاعتقاد في الجزاء والعقاب هو حافز ودافع قوي للسلوك الخيري. ومن ثم فإن الجمع والصرف الفعّالين للزكاة والصدقات هي الآليات التي دعا إليها الإسلام لإعادة توزيع الثروة والحد من أوجه التفاوت في الدخل.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdel-Hameed Bashir, 2018. "Reducing Poverty and Income Inequalities: Current Approaches and Islamic Perspective الحد من الفقر وعدم المساواة في الدخل: المناهج الحالية والمنظور الإسلامي," Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Islamic Economics, King Abdulaziz University, Islamic Economics Institute., vol. 31(1), pages 93-104, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:abd:kauiea:v:31:y:2018:i:1:no:5:p:93-104
    DOI: 10.4197/Islec.31-1.5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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