Ethical Teachings on Helping the Less Fortunate in [Religion Name]

Describe the teachings of the religion which you are studying about the way in which believers should treat people who are less fortunate than themselves.

Islam is a religion that was revealed to Muslims by their creator, Allah Almighty. Islam has the answer to all problems including the most common problem that this world has had throughout its lifetime, poverty. It is typical that we live in our thousands and millions of pounds while people starve and die of hunger. This wide spread population of the world today lives in dire poverty.

Since 1400 years Islam has had the perfect solution to getting rid of poverty within a year of being openly charitable. This can be accomplished in many ways.

In Islam it is compulsory to pay certain so called 'tax' to the poor known as Zakat out of their collected wealth. The money gathered from the given 'tax' is shared out the poverty stricken and deprived.

Zakat is a Arabic word which means 'purification' and 'growth.

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' One very significant belief in Islam is that we all are creations of Allah, and so in result we all belong to him and money has been given to us in the form of trust and responsibility. Is it like a test really of what we will spend our wealth on a good cause or a bad cause. If you have had wealth in your ownership for one entire year at least, you must give Zakat. There have been principles that have been in existence since the birth of Islam, on have to give Zakat.

A certain type of each of the following listed must be paid in a pacific percentage:

* Gold

* Animals

* Shares

* And a few others

People who are not able to save any of their income expenses after they have earned it, are not needed to pay any Zakat, but they may receive Zakat from others who do have to pay Zakat.

Zakat in Islam is given to the following people:

* People who do not have any materialistic possessions and no earnings to live off.

* The generally poor people who don't have the basic living needs such as toilets and water etc.

* The people who are in debt and are having difficulty in repaying it back.

* The money is used to buy slaves and then give them a free life.

* Zakat can also be given in the cause of Allah.

If people are generous they will usually give more than the usual amount. There is a saying which the last prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, "The person who sleeps full while his neighbour sleeps hungry is not a true believer." Islam encourages in giving our more charity, in whatever situation you may be in. It is also a fact that every day you miss a fast in the Holy month of Ramadan; you must feed the poor people for those missed days.

In the Quran it also states: "Be steadfast in your prayer and pay charity, whatever good you send forth for your future, you shall find it with Allah, for Allah is well aware of what you do" (2:110). Charity is the number one thing after worshipping god and parents in the Muslims daily life.

Feeding a hungry person is is one of the best charity in Islam. We know this because the last prophet said, (pbuh) this and he also said, " No wealth (of a servant of servant) is decreased because of charity. ( Al-Tirmidhi Hadith No. 2247)

(b) Explain how followers of this religion may put these ideas in practice.

Followers of Islam must give 2.5% of their wealth at the least each other. Allah says, "O you who must believe, spend out of what we have given you" (2:254). All Muslims must keep in mind that by giving charity each year, they will be led too good stuff in this world and the next.

Muslims tend to give charity because they are generous-hearted and because they want to draw nearer to Allah. If the Muslim who gives charity expects fame in return, then their charitable giving's become worthless instantly.

Allah says: "If you give alms openly, it is well, and if you hide it and give it to the poor, it is better for you." (Quran 2:271)

Donating without others knowing is in some situations better for the charitable person, because it may shield their affection to give, and in some cases it may also benefit the receiver of the charity because it let's them hold onto their dignity and honour.

Although sometimes it is beneficial to donate in front off everyone, so that they may follow your good example and do the same. You should not give openly just to get fame and praise from others in return. This will make your charity worthless.

If you give, but then hurt the feelings and harass the receiver of your charity, your good deed instantly will be destroyed. Zakat is only 2.5% of your savings, meaning it is only a small amount, so by giving more you will be looking at your withheld wealth savings and giving out of generosity.

You should give the greatest sector of your savings to the needy. There is a saying that, "Giving in charity is like giving to Allah the most high, and so only give him what is good."

Allah himself also says: "Spend (in charity) of the good things that you earn." (Quran 2:267)

This in other words means that if you have got your money from doing bad or wrong things then your charity will not be accepted, as a righteous deed.

There is a giving of charity called, "Sadaqa Jariya." This is when we or you give and keep on giving to make people lives better or more beneficial for themselves by assisting to build schools, clinics, hospitals, water supply systems and food supply systems. Even helping a needy person start their own business or organisation can be ongoing charity.

The last prophet's companions were also known as being righteous and generous. According to a part of the Quran, Ali Ibn Abi Talib and his wife Fatima-Al Zahra fasted for three whole days and each fasting day they gave all the food they owned in the form of charity.

A verse of the Quran says: "And they feed, for the love of Allah, the poor, the orphan, and the captive." (Quran 76:8)

So all Muslims should be generous and righteous. They have done this by setting up charity funds such as the well known exemplar charity Islamic Relief.

Islamic Relief allows donors to do many things to be charitable. They allow you to donate online or over the phone, sponsor an orphan or even become a volunteer working for the charity in many disaster struck areas such as the Gaza Strip. They make regular appeals to the public to donate open heartedly to help their fellow Muslims suffering in the Muslim world. One of their many recent appeals is the Gaza strip appeal. There are 1.5 million Muslims trying to stay alive in the Gaza strip which is constantly terrorized by the Israeli armed forces. They have no food, no clean water supply and so many of them are being killed by Israeli soldiers on a daily basis. Islamic Relief are there and need to �5 million more to continue helping the Palestinians in need. Islamic Relief also appealed the Bangladesh Cyclone appeal a short time ago.

There is also another great Muslim charity out there known as Muslim hands. Muslim hands started out in 1993 in Nottingham by a small group of Muslims who sent aids to Bosnia. From this Muslims Hands grew into a big and fundable organisation. They have covered 40 countries in their many years of being a charity and have offices set up in 20 of these countries. Muslim Hands also allows you to donate online and over the phone. They also like Islamic Relief offer you the chance to sponsor an orphan and appeal to the public to donate generously for poverty crisis's. They don't just be charitable they also have a bonus feature to their charity to draw you in make you feel charitable.

Even the rich and wealthy have to make commitments to the poverty stricken and helpless people in the world. Yusuf Islam Islamic nasheed singer and well known head teacher of Muslim girls high school of London has done just this by starting his own charity called Small Hands. Small Hands allows you to do all the things the previous two allow to do and more. The charity is running some "major programs" which people can invest in if they desire to, such as:

* Living needs for the poor given financially

* Specialized for the female community such as information technology, management and many more

* Providing homes for the poor by rebuilding demolished houses

* Opening recreation centres for the poor to have a bit of fun with various activities and leisure

* Also giving out tapes in different foreign languages to promote moral messages through cartoons to the youngsters

There are so many charities worldwide trying to help toward the poverty cause but all it needs is more of the richer folk to donate instead off keeping all there money in the bank.

(c) 'We should help people who are the same as we are but we need not bother about other people.'

Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to the religion which you are studying in your answer.

I do not agree because the last prophet Muhammad (pbuh) encouraged us all to help others, no matter of their race, colour or religion. He helped everybody because he was strong in his faith. A person who is strong in faith has excellent relationships and conduct with others as well including non-believers in Islam. Allah has also commanded us to help others, including the entire mankind on earth. By doing this we are bringing ourselves virtue, not just others.

This rule has lived since the last prophet's time. During his time in Medina, there were Muslims and other races of various religions including the Jewish people. The last prophet (pbuh) made a treaty to maintain the peace and harmony between each religion. This treaty was called the treaty of Medina.

Some people may disagree because they believe that they are closer to the people who are the same as them. Other believers may say only there own kind are appreciative of their donations and help and that non-believers are ungrateful.

Islam and Allah says this in relation to the treaty of Medina.

Allah stated peace and harmony of religions is good relationships with each other in Surah Al- Mumtahannah (60:8).

"Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity."