SOCIAL SECURITY IN ISLAM

Sister Sidrah

An efficient system of social security is one of the main features of a welfare state in this modern world. Social security signifies the financial assistance provided by the state to people who are in need; providing them those basic necessities without which survival is difficult, if not impossible. Today, this is adopted with a view to:

(1) Cut down misery and deprivation, effectively 
(2) Decrease crime rate substantially as it is thought that the destitute need resort to unfair means.

Whereas, a true Islamic government serves in a manner where every subject is cared for and supported. Islamic approach to social security aims at the fulfilment of every possible need of the individual - be it very basic (i.e., food, clothing, shelter, matrimony,) or those secondary in nature (such as education, health, etc).

First of all, Islam emphasises circulation of wealth. According to Islamic injunctions, those who are wealthy must give a small portion of their wealth to those who are in need:

“... But righteous is he who believes in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Scripture and the Prophets; and gives his wealth, for love of Him, to kinfolk and to orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask and to set slaves free and keeps up Salaah and pays Zakaah...” (2: 177)

“... Say: whatever wealth you spend, it is for the parents and the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. And whatever good you do, Allah surely is Knower of it.” (2: 215)

“Those who spend their wealth by night and day, privately and publicly, their reward is with their Lord; and they have no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (2: 274)

“You cannot attain to righteousness unless you spend out of what you love. And what you spend, Allah surely knows it.” (3: 91)

Similarly, there are various sayings of the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) describing the significance of benevolence and compassion:

“You shall not enter Paradise until you have faith; and you cannot attain faith until you love one another. Have compassion on those who are on earth, and He who is in heaven will have compassion on you. Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) will show no compassion to him who has no compassion toward all human beings.”

“If a Muslim clothes another Muslim in his nudity, Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) will clothe him with the green freshness of Paradise; and if a Muslim feeds a Muslim who is hungry, Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) will give him to eat of the fruits of Paradise; and if a Muslim gives a drink to a thirsty Muslim, Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) will let him drink from the fountain of Paradise.”

“Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and free the captive if he be unjustly bound.”

According to Islamic injunctions, philanthropy may be of two kinds: (1) Obligatory (2) Voluntary

Obligatory philanthropy consists of Zakaah and Sadaqatul Fitr or Fitrana.

Voluntary philanthropy includes Sadaqah and Waqf.

Zakaah is the principal component of Islamic approach to social security.

In simple words, Zakaah is the share or portion of wealth that is obligatory upon a Muslim to give to fixed categories of beneficiaries, if the value of his assets is more than a specified limit. The Quraan says:

“Those who believe, and do good deeds, and keep up Salaah, and pay Zakaah - their reward is with their Lord...” (2: 277)

“And keep up Salaah, and pay Zakaah, and obey the Messenger, so that mercy may be shown to you.” (24: 56)

It is the responsibility of the Islamic government to collect Zakaah and distribute the same among the needy. The significance of Zakaah can also be seen from the fact that non payment of the same amounts to waging war against the Islamic government. Thus, a nonpayer of Zakaah not only incurs the displeasure of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), but is also prosecuted by the Islamic government.

Islam has specified the persons to whom Zakaah is payable:

“(Zakaah) charity is only for the poor, and the needy, and those employed to administer it, and those whose hearts are made to incline (to truth), and (to free) the captives, and those in debt, and in the way of Allah and for the wayfarer - an ordinance from Allah. And Allah is Knowing, Wise.”(9: 60)

An Islamic government is responsible for the well-being of its subjects who are rendered incapable of looking after themselves, be it by old age, natural disasters, or unfortunate sequence or turn of events. It is bound to help all those who are in genuine need of sustenance. Here it must be mentioned that the non-Muslim subjects too have the right to get support from the state treasury or Bait-ul-Maal if they are in need.

The concept of social secur-ity was further developed by the Pious Caliphs. The first Caliph, Hadhrat Abu Bakr, used force as a measure to subjugate those who would not pay up Zakaah, as they were paying in the days of Prophet Mohammad (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam).

During the Caliphate of Hadhrat Omar, a department of social security was established, which was the first ever department to be formed for this purpose. The Caliph through social security provided provisions to people in times of famine and drought. He would pay allowance to the poor, aged and disabled; destitute women, be they unmarried or widow; pay off debts of those who were unable to do so themselves; and even paid an allowance to meet the needs of a new born child.

Islam lays great emphasis on supporting the destitute. The Quraan and the Traditions reported from Prophet Mohammed (SallAllaho Alaihe wa Sallam) declare in clear words that it is the responsibility of the wealthy to look after the deprived sections of society. An Islamic government is responsible for more than what a modern day welfare state does, wherein social security has been incorporated in order to cater to the needs of its less fortunate and dependent citizens. History shows that in most of the Muslim territories and realms, the government or administration always made sure that the needy were properly looked after and no distinction was ever made on the basis of faith. It was considered a duty of the government to provide free health care, old age stipends and food, clothing, and shelter for the poor.

It must be mentioned that the first instance of social security in Europe is the scheme of compulsory state insurance which was introduced in Germany in 1883. Germany was followed by Austria and some other countries. Thus the countries in Europe initiated the promulgation of laws in this direction.

In America, except the Workman’s Compensation Act passed in 1908, no significant legislation was enacted until 1935 when the Social Security Act was passed by the Congress. This clearly establishes that Islam’s attitude is much considerate than that of the West as it, centuries ago, conceived the fulfilment of the basic needs of the subjects to be the concern of the state.