THE
QUR’ANIC
CONCEPT
AND MODUS OPERANDI
OF
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
A VENTURE IN TO UNDERSTANDING
THE
QUR’AN
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Poverty is a sin as it has the potential of sucking the individuals and the nations to inappropriate behaviour with self and the fellow humans. This results in disturbed peace and harmony amongst the humans. More and more world population is getting poorer day by day and year by year. Poverty mostly results either from inaction on the part of individuals thus making them live as parasites in the society or from the oppression on the part of some nations against others.
Allah [SWT] delivers from distresses those who obey Him in the matters of other humans and pray with complete devotion and commitment to Him. Avoiding unseemly conduct (FAWAHISH) will make you earn blessings and bounties from Allah [SWT]. Rejecting His Signs, killing His prophets (and in today’s context the ones committed to good only), rebelling against the order (of Allah SWT) and transgressing the bounds prescribed by Him lead to ultimate poverty. A person living in Peace from Allah [SWT] and in peace with fellow humans will certainly have prosperity of all shades and types.
Dedicated efforts coupled with the use of even the scanty capital are a surer way to fight against and get rid of poverty. Caring, knowing and wise leadership can lead people out of poverty because wisdom on the part of leadership, caring for all and knowing all is a means of poverty alleviation. Charity also is a means to help control and eventually eradicate poverty. Attitude of kindness full of mercy on the part of the have ones and the leadership is a key of controlling poverty. Marrying poor ones who are virtuous also is another way that can help eradicating poverty. Knowledge is a key factor in poverty alleviation. Knowledgeable individuals and ultimately a society will find its way through the jungle of poverty and get out of its shackles.
Following a democratic order will help eradicating poverty because a true democratic order must go for assisting all without any discrimination of every kind. Helping and assisting each other in times of distress through all available means does help in eradication of poverty.
Now let us go through some of the Qura’nic verses guiding the humans on the topic under discussion:-
1
The Evil One threatens you with poverty and bids you to conduct unseemly. Allah promiseth you His forgiveness and bounties. And Allah careth for all and He knoweth all things.
Al-Baqarah; 2:268
Points for Contemplation (2:268)
v Resorting to FAWAHASH fearing poverty is the way and the teaching of Satan.
v To shun FAWAHASH will make you eligible for forgiveness and reward from Allah [SWT].
v Caring for all and knowing all – a means of poverty alleviation.
- - - - -
2
Shame is pitched over them (like a tent) wherever they are found, except when under a covenant (of protection) from Allah and from men; they draw on themselves wrath from Allah, and pitched over them is (the tent of) destitution. This because they rejected the Signs of Allah, and slew the Prophets in defiance of right; this because they rebelled and transgressed beyond bounds.
Al-I-Imran; 3:112
Points for Contemplation (3:112)
v A person living in Peace from Allah [SWT] and with other humans earns prosperity.
v Rejecting the Signs of Allah [SWT], killing His prophets, rebelling against His order and transgressing the laid down bounds will earn you poverty.
v Obeying Allah [SWT in the matters of humans helps in poverty alleviation.
v Following a democratic order will help eradicating poverty.
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3-6
Whenever We sent a prophet to a town, We took up its people in suffering and adversity, in order that they might learn humility. Then We changed their suffering into prosperity, until they grew and multiplied, and began to say: "Our fathers (too) were touched by suffering and affluence"... Behold! We called them to account of a sudden, while they realised not (their peril). If the people of the towns had but believed and feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them (all kinds of) blessings from heaven and earth; but they rejected (the truth), and We brought them to book for their misdeeds. Did the people of the towns feel secure against the coming of Our wrath by night while they were asleep?
Al-A’raf; 7:94-97
Points for Contemplation (7:94-97)
v Positive aspect of poverty is humility.
v Humbleness is a step to earn prosperity.
v Belief in Allah [SWT] and fearing Him take humans out of the clutches of poverty.
- - - - -
7
O ye who believe! Truly the Pagans are unclean; so let them not, after this year of theirs, approach the Sacred Mosque. And if ye fear poverty, soon will Allah enrich you, if He wills, out of His bounty, for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Tauba; 9:28
Points for Contemplation (9:28)
v Letting unclean things near your life because of the fear of poverty must be resisted.
v Caring, knowing and wise leadership will take people out of poverty.
v Knowledge by all - key to poverty alleviation.
v Wisdom on part of leadership (especially) is the key to poverty alleviation.
- - - - -
8
Allah turned with favour to the Prophet, the Muhajirs, and the Ansar, who followed Him in a time of distress, after that the hearts of a part of them had nearly swerved (from duty); but He turned to them (also): for He is unto them Most Kind, Most Merciful.
Tauba; 9:117
Points for Contemplation (9:117)
v Attitude of kindness full of mercy on the part of have ones and the leadership can eradicate poverty from the society.
v Helping each other in times of distress is a sure way leading to poverty alleviation.
v Turning to Allah [SWT] at all times and in all matters of life and living is the sure recipe of prosperity.
- - - - -
9
Then, when they came (back) into (Joseph's) presence they said: "O exalted one! distress has seized us and our family: we have (now) brought but scanty capital: so pay us full measure, (we pray thee), and treat it as charity to us: for Allah doth reward the charitable."
Yousuf; 12:88
Points for Contemplation (12:88)
v Charity is the surest way of encountering poverty.
v Effort by all is prelude to all aspects dealing with poverty reduction.
v Use of even scanty capital can help getting out of the woods of poverty.
- - - - -
10
Marry those among you who are single, or the virtuous ones among your slaves, male or female: if they are in poverty, Allah will give them means out of His grace: for Allah encompasseth all, and He knoweth all things.
AL-NOOR; 24:32
Points for Contemplation (24:32)
v Allah [SWT] is the ultimate authority to take people out of poverty. Hence dedicated obedience to Him is the surest way leading to prosperity of all shades.
v Marrying virtuous poor ones is the formula that can eradicate poverty from the globe.
- - - - -
11
(Remember) Noah, when he cried (to Us) aforetime: We listened to his (prayer) and delivered him and his family from great distress.
Al-Anbiya; 21:76
Points for Contemplation (21:76)
v Allah [SWT] delivers from distresses those who turn to Him praying with complete devotion and commitment.
SUMMARY
- Allah [SWT] delivers from distresses those who turn to Him praying with complete devotion and commitment and obeying Him in the matters of other humans. Rejecting the Signs of Allah [SWT], killing His prophets (and in today’s context the ones committed to nothing but good), rebelling against the His order and transgressing the bounds prescribed by Him will earn you poverty.
- A person living in Peace from Allah [SWT] and in peace with men will certainly have prosperity.
- Marrying poor ones who are virtuous is a formula that can help eradicating poverty.
- Charity is a means to help control and eventually eradicate poverty.
- Effort combined with the use of even scanty capital is a sure way to get rid of poverty.
- Attitude of kindness full of mercy on the part of have ones and the leadership is a means of poverty eradication.
- Caring, knowing and wise leadership can lead people out of poverty because wisdom on part of leadership, caring for all and knowing all is a means of poverty alleviation.
- Knowledge by all is a key factor in poverty alleviation.
- Helping each other in times of distress helps in eradication of poverty.
- Following a democratic order will help eradicating poverty.
- Letting unclean things near your life because of the fear of poverty must be resisted. Resorting to FAWAHASH will add fuel to fire. Poor must shun FAWAHASH in order to get rid of poverty. An affluent society indulging in FAWAHASH is soon going to suffer poverty.
- Turning to Allah [SWT] at all times and in all matters of life and living is the sure recipe of prosperity.
BY
LT COL SARFRAZ HUSSAIN (RETIRED) Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military)
FORMER DEPUTY SECRETARY
TO THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD
0334-5148200
0333-5225009
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