SOCIAL WELFARE IN ISLAM

works as helping someone to recover from some disease by monetary assistance; looking after orphans and the destitute, and giving scholarships to students. This being an institution is the reason for so many centres of social welfare having continued to exist among the Muslim community. However, there are no statistical records of the work of individuals in this field. The chief motive in charity should be God’s pleasure and our own spiritual good. Inspired by the verses of the Quran and the traditions and practices of the Prophet and his companions, the giving of Sadaqa to individuals or institutions remains a widespread practice among Muslims. The Prophet, the most generous of men, used to give with his own hand. When asked for anything, he never refused. If he had nothing to give, he would borrow from one of his companions and repay him later. The Prophet’s wives were also renowned for their almsgiving. Of them, Zaynab-bin-Jahsh was the most generous. The Prophet used to call her “the longest in arm”. She was also known, on account of her almsgiving, as the “mother of the poor.” Whenever anyone uttered any words of blessing for her, she would return the blessing along with some alms. Then we have the shining examples of generosity set by the pious Caliphs. Once when the Prophet urged them to give Sadaqa, Umar bin al Khattab brought the half of what he owned, only to discover that he had once again been outdone by Abu Bakr who had given away all that he possessed. There is a very interesting example of the generosity of Usman, the third Caliph. During the Caliphate of Abu Bakr, people were in great distress due to a drought. The Caliph told them to remain patient, for God would soon relieve them. Before long, Usman’s caravan arrived with its merchandise from Syria. There were one-thousand camels, all of them loaded with wheat and foodstuffs from Syria. When the news got around, all the great traders of Medina rapidly converged on Usman’s house. When he emerged to meet them, they expressed their urgent desire to purchase the foodstuffs, so that they could pass them to those who needed them in Medina. Ushering them inside, he asked them how much profit they were prepared to give him on this merchandise. “Twelve dirhams on every