Most human efforts have failed to eradicate poverty because they do not address the root cause of the problem. Taking money from the rich and giving it to the poor will not solve the problem. This kind of system will foster dependency among the majority of the poor. Centrally planned economies have not solved the problem, and government regulations to disperse tax revenue like in the European Union have led to the EU economic disaster. In the 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson launched a “War on Poverty” as part of his plan to build a great society, but yet millions of Americans live in poverty. Government, philanthropists, and organizations like the United Nation with its Millennium Development Goal, “to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger,” targeted the elimination of poverty by 2015, but we are now in 2017, and half of the six -billion world population is still living in poverty, and the number of people living in extreme poverty is unacceptably high. Poverty can be defined, as the inability to satisfy basic needs to live in human society. Poverty manifests itself by hunger, lack of shelter, inadequate housing, lack of sanitation, little or no access to clean water, illnesses, lack of access to education and adequate health care, unemployment, and illiteracy. Even the World Bank with its mission “Our Dream Is a World Free of Poverty” carved into its headquarters in Washington, DC, says that in spite of a reduction in poverty worldwide, those remaining in extreme poverty are harder to reach because they live in “fragile contexts and remote areas.”However, religion takes a different approach by focusing on basic attitudes that determine actions. The Bible shows that a careless, irresponsible attitude, which miscarries love by failing to advance forward-looking initiatives, can lead to poverty. Unwise decisions can lead to poverty, but most of poverty results from unjust treatment and oppression of the poor by the rich, by greedy and often heartless officials in government, business, and religion, as well as by others in leadership seeking power and wealth. God cares deeply about those made in His image, and that is why He require his followers to give back some percentage to the needy ones, and why He will bring retribution on those who oppress, exploit, or ignore the needs of the poor. One apostle says, “What use is it if you say to a brother who is without clothing and in need of daily food, “Go in peace, be warmed and be fed,” yet you do not give him what he needs, what good is that?”
Religion is a way of life. According to the dictionary, religion is the relation that human beings have with that which they regard as holy, sacred, spiritual, or divine. In other words, religion is generally regarded as a person’s relation to God, Allah, or gods or spirits. Worship is the key element of religion. Without worship there is no point in believing. For true Christians, relationship is more important than religion itself. For Christians, the Bible is the basic manifestation of the will of God, of His mind, and it describes the religion of God as the way. Jesus told his disciples, “ I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). Taking up your cross to follow Him and giving up all that possesses you is the heart of Christian discipleship-- giving before gaining, losing before winning, sacrificing before accumulating.
Muslims believe that Allah revealed to them a way of life and a religion, Islam, and that way of life gives them peace and happiness in their lives here on earth and in the afterlife. To Muslims, Islam was also revealed as a practical religion that covers all aspects of their lives and should be fully implemented in their daily living. The Quran commands followers to give to the needy but not to stress their benevolence, to give to their near of kin, to orphans, and also to the needy and wayfarers, and to give to the needy who are totally wrapped up in Allah. It teaches Zakat, that which purifies, as a pillar of Islam and an obligatory paying of alms.
As a beginning amount for Christians and an obligatory calculation for Muslims, when implemented honestly and correctly, tithing and paying Zakat can provide solutions to all the global problems of poverty. Some of the most widespread and dangerous problems confronting humanity are those of ignorance, poverty, hunger, starvation, illness, violence, and terrorism. However, considering that we are living lives luxuriously while millions of our fellow human beings live with hunger and under oppression will snatch away comfort and ease. The realization that hundreds of thousands are fleeing violence and are forced to leave their homes and face starvation should awaken us from our apathy concerning the vulnerable.
Poverty hits children the most. More than 30 percent of children in developing countries, about 600 millions, live on less than US $ 1 a day. While a lack of goods and services hurts every human, it is most threatening to the rights of survival, health, nutrition, education, civic participation, and protection from harm and exploitation. Millions of people risk their lives looking for jobs abroad, and millions of Syrians live without houses as displaced people and refugees. Some of them have been forced into prostitution at times.
Thus, poverty can create sin as well. Desperation leads to desperate choices. Furthermore, it is very clear that the world system we have set up today is unjust and inhumane. Less than 20 % of the world population controls over 80% of the wealth and resources on the planet. Yet, we have approximately 1.4 billion Muslims and approximately 1.5 billion Christians. Most people who claim to be Muslims are divided within themselves into different groups, such as Shia and Sunni, each of which has different beliefs and practices defined by a statement known as a creed. The same is true for Christians in that most belong to one or another denomination or confession. Whether in Islam or in Christianity, they both come with the most just and easy solution to the problem of poverty, hunger, and starvation in this world. If Muslims truly implemented giving Zakat in the world today, and if Christians gave their tithe regularly, the problems of poverty, hunger, and starvation would be eliminated very easily.
If Christians and Muslims make it obligatory for every follower to pay a certain “tax” on their accumulated wealth, called tithe for Christians and Zakat for Muslims, the money collected could be distributed among the poor, the needy, and the most destitute ones. Christians and Muslims believe that all things belong to God and to Allah, respectively. Whether the tithe, meaning a tenth, is a set amount, is debated among Christians. Under the old covenant of the law, it ranged from 10 to 20 percent of their total possessions; for those who follow Jesus and live under the new covenant of grace, they are supposed to give generously, cheerfully, and freely. In following Jesus, they are to consider others as more important as themselves, to look out for the interests of others, and to give sacrificially even laying down their lives for others. Some believers use the ten percent as a starting point, then.
For Muslims, Zakat is due on accumulated wealth that has been in the possession of a person for at least one year. Rules govern paying Zakat on each type of possession, such as gold, animals, crops etc. A certain type of these possessions is to be paid as Zakat, taken from excess wealth that a person is accumulating. In other words, followers must pay a specific amount of wealth or savings after living costs, the Nissab or threshold at which Zakat becomes payable after it has been in one’s possession for over a year, and that amount is 2.5% of Nisaab. For example, Zakat due on agricultural ranges around 5% of the produce, and there is also Zakat due on various types of animals such as sheep, cows, and camels, but 2.5% on savings.
If Christians pay 10% on money that they earn from their income, hypothetically we can envision the result. Now let’s say there are 590 billionaires worldwide with a combined net of 2 trillion dollars. If 590 of the richest people in the world paid Zakat or a tithe, we would have had more than 50 billion dollars distributed among the poor and the needy. This calculation may consider just the 590 rich people, but what if every one paid Zakat or a tithe? Although these are just ballpark figures, they give the reader an idea of how much money Zakat and a tithe can generate. This money could also be used to help start self-sustainable businesses for the poor.
In addition, Christians and Islamists are greatly encouraged to give extra charity. For example, the Bible says. “Love your neighbor as yourselves,” and according to Muslims, “The person who sleeps full while his neighbor sleeps hungry is not a true believer.” All Christians are encouraged to give the first part of their resources to God as an expression of honor and gratitude. God requires all Christians to honor him out of what they have been given, beginning with a tithe of 10% of their income, and it should be given to God faithfully. For Christians, tithing honors the scriptural principals of generously providing for religious leaders, giving to those in need, and laying up treasure in heaven. Tithing is one way to worship God as the provider and as a reminder that all of our resources belong to Him and are provided through His grace. Muslims believe that their Prophet obliged them to give charity to the poor, and even one Hadith says that on the Day of Resurrection, a rich man who disregarded the poor will have a bald-headed poisonous snake encircle his neck, bite him, and say that it is his wealth.
If Christians tithe regularly, if Muslims pay Zakat regularly, and if both give to the needy and the destitute, poverty and starvation will be eliminated within a couple of years. However, it is sad to say today, that most Christians and Muslims are casual believers. Casual Christians are those who want to be numbered among the flock, but do not care less about following the way of life of the Shepherd. The same is true for Muslims; there are casual Muslim believers who only care about whether food is Halal or not, but would not care about whether their income is Halal or Haram; they would not care about cheating, taking bribes, or giving Zakat regularly; nor would they care about the source of their income. God‘s principles will become the framework and building blocks of an economic system that will transform the world as these instructions, when followed and truly implemented, and one that will eradicate poverty and starvation. By this inculcated creed, the burden of poverty will be lifted.
Dr. Aland Mizell is President of the MCI and a regular contributor to Mindanao Times. You may email the author at:aland_mizell2@hotmail.com
