The
Social Needs of North American Muslims
By Abubakr G. Shaikh
Westerville, OH
During the time of our prophet
(SAW) Zakat funds were distributed among non-Muslims
for softening their hearts towards Muslims and
to avert hostilities against Islam. Hazrat Omar
(RAT) stopped this practice as he felt Zakat distribution
was no longer required since Islam had substantially
gained strength during his reign. In my humble
opinion the Caliph should not have reversed the
Prophet's (SAW) wise decision because the opposition
to Islam had not fully declined in parts of the
world during his rule.
Apart from this reason, all religions have instituted
charities for missionary purposes and Islam too
should have followed this course. Suppose we concur
with the Caliph’s decision that the practice
of distribution of Zakat was not needed during
his tenure, the practice could certainly be resumed
today in view of the mounting hostility against
Islam in different parts of the world. The unwholesome
trend, though totally unwarranted, seems to gain
momentum by the day.
Resultantly, Dawa activities have suffered a great
setback with almost negligible progress in the
Western hemisphere mostly owing to the despicable
acts of terrorism carried out in the name of Islam
on Sept.11. All kind of atrocities, including
kidnappings, savage killings by cutting throats
and suicide bombings in the name of a peaceful
religion, continue relentlessly, bringing shame
to the majority of peace-loving Muslims. They
are aghast and overwhelmed by the unceasing attack
of the Islamophobics who wantonly and willfully
denigrate Muslims and Islam on popular TV channels.
Repeatedly, the talk show presenters have attacked
the Holy Qur’an by quoting the word -meanings
of some of the holy verses, on which the misguided
terrorists also base their arguments. I have also
shared the pains and anguish of my fellow Muslims
while watching the prime time TV chat shows and
listening to the heart-rending, anti-Islam criticism
supported by the quotes from the Holy Qur’an.
Regretfully, none of the Islamic clerics, who
volunteer to appear on the TV shows, offered convincing
comments to redress the attack on those verses;
they clearly seemed to avoid explaining those
verses though repeated to them over and over.
Instead, they talked about the general and overall
message of Islam. Obviously enough it was out
of context since the presenter purposefully wanted
comments on the particular verse. One recent example
of such deplorable failure by a Muslim cleric
was witnessed on the "News Night" presented
by Greeta Zahn on July 28.
The interpretation of the Holy Qur’an cannot
be "effectively" presented without recounting
the events of the particular time period when
a specific holy verse was revealed. The Holy Qur’an
descended in portions over a period of many years
to provide guidance to the newly converted Muslims,
little by little, as their needs arose since Allah
(SWT) did not intend to burden the Ummah. Many
commandments were replaced with new ones according
to the needs of the Ummah. Some of the Commandments
reflected on the particular situation to furnish
timely guidance. Our traditional scholars (may
Allah be pleased with them) while translating
the word-meanings of the holy verses, generally
did not offer vivid interpretation by relating
the verses to the events of the periods and specifying
the purpose of the commandment .This has resulted
in the misinterpretation of the holy verses, both
by the miscreants and the critics alike. The contemporary
learned Islamic scholars and enlightened leaders
must realize the present time’s need to
re-write clear and transparent interpretation
and explanation to the word-meanings of the Holy
Qur’an, tracing back the history and the
purpose of commandments, providing CLEAR GUIDANCE
to the readers, and leaving no ambiguities. This
is the most urgent need for the entire Muslim
Ummah for convincingly negating the rhetoric of
misguided terrorists and Islamophobics alike and
thus presenting the true and peaceful face of
Islam.
Zakat is legitimated in the Qur’an both
for softening the opposition to Islam and all
acts of 'FI SABILLIAH ' and therefore during this
troublesome time spending Zakat funds on projects
which may ease pressures on Muslims, reduce the
hostility, and salvage the image of Islam, must
be considered FI SABILLIAH and be permitted unquestionably
.
"FI SABILLLAH" must be broadly interpreted
through Ijtehd as "any act for the sake of
Ummah and Islam should be considered for the sake
of Allah". I have read stories on CAIR website
about Muslim children being fostered and raised
by non-Muslim families and also the case of a
Muslim woman with her young children seeking shelter
in a home run by another faith. She was asked
to attend a prayer session with other people staying
in the home. She declined the request as it conflicted
with her faith. She was asked to leave soon after
taking the meals. She left and struggled to find
a secure place for herself and her young children.
There are scores of such tragic stories that do
not surface to reach the media and our attention.
We leave our young children from broken homes
and women from domestic violence vulnerable because
we lack the basic infrastructures to provide security
and stability to our community. Through the virtuous
Ijtehad the substantial fund of Zakat could be
opened to all social needs of the community such
as building Islamic schools, Muslim shelters,
orphanages, Dawa activities, civil rights organizations,
catering for the need of the newly arrived refugees
from impoverished countries and those helping
defend the image of Islam. The Muslim community
of North America needs its own institutions so
that Muslim Americans do not have to rely on others’
charitable acts, or stand vulnerable and obligated.
If this is not FISABILLILAH, what else is?
The majority of the Zakat funds collected in North
America are sent away to foreign lands for the
urgent needs of other Muslims. I have no dispute
with that arrangement but what about our own desperate
orphans, unfortunate children from broken homes,
and women suffering from domestic violence, the
homeless and widows, our elderly and disabled
seniors? Where should we direct them to seek help
and assistance? Has any one questioned the thousands
of Islamic charities established within North
America as to how many orphanages, shelters, home
for seniors, medical clinics and Islamic schools
have they built for the immediate and permanent
social needs of North American Muslims? At this
point it would be quite relevant to correlate
an authentic Hadith for spending the Zakat fund
at the place of collection. We urgently need these
institutions now. We will need them more in the
future with the rise in Muslim population in North
America. This will require an outstanding and
courageous leadership to reform Islamic philosophy
and practices within permissible bounds by widening
the scope of Ijtehad and Fiqh.
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