Abstract
This book is to document and analyze philanthropic behavior, functioning of the third sector, and performance of the third sector organizations (including the Muslim endowments—awqaf) in ensuring human security in all 47 Muslim Majority Countries (MMCs) in Africa and Asia. This introductory chapter, before introducing the chapters in this book, deals with the theoretical premises in general and in Islamic jurisprudence, in particular. The discussion begins with “social justice and human security in the Western and Islamic contexts.” The major focus of the discussion is the maslaha (public benefit) approach of human actions that is likely to offer human security in MMCs. The second major part of the chapter identifies major historical antecedents of the third sector in MMCs that also may have been catalysts of ensuring human security in many occasions. This chapter at the end introduces the themes and other chapters of the book.
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Notes
- 1.
There are also two MMCs in Europe – Albania (70% Muslim) and Kosovo (90% Muslim). The OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference), however, has 57 members including the Palestine Authority, and eight countries with around 1–40 % Muslim population: Benin (24 %), Cameron (21 %), Cote d’Ivory (40 %), Gabon (1 %), Guyana (15 %), Mozambique (24 %), Suriname (29 %), and Togo (20 %). Percentage of Muslim population is within the parentheses; source: CIA, 2014; also see Hasan, 2012a.
- 2.
Since Qatar and the UAE, respectively have 80 % and 91 % expatriate population, per capita income for the citizens in each country is likely to be significantly higher.
- 3.
The first figure in this reference refers to Chapter number in the Qur’an; the next one to the verse number. In subsequent references in this chapter only the digits are mentioned. Please note all verses of the Qur’an in this Chapter are taken from the English translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali (1938).
- 4.
Abu Nasor al-Farabi (870–950 CE), a Turkoman, regarded as “the first system-builder in the history of Arab-Islamic thought,” is the author of, among others, of “Virtuous City” and “Civil Polity,” see Fakhry, 2002.
- 5.
- 6.
Like everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being for the self and the family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control (Article 25); Right to education (free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages, and compulsory) (UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26).
- 7.
God’s blessings and peace be upon him (PBUH). Muslim readers are supposed to (and reminded of the obligation to) utter the blessings to the Prophet every time they come across his name.
- 8.
For a good discussion see the section on “Ownership” in Zaman, 2002: 81–85.
- 9.
- 10.
The Qur’an authorizes traffic and trade “amongst you” by mutual good-will, but warns not to kill or destroy “yourselves” (4:29).
- 11.
No injury should be imposed nor an injury be inflicted as a penalty for another injury, see “masalih” in The Encyclopedia of Islam, New Edition, E.J. Brill, Leiden; NY, 1993.
- 12.
Islam even does not allow the spouse and/or the children exclusive right to any deceased estate, and requires (after the payment of legacies and debts) it to be divided among the children, spouse, parents, siblings, and other relatives based on a very specific formula determined by the Qur’an (4: 11–12; 4: 33; for more see Hasan, 2007, Chap. 5).
- 13.
One hundred and forty-six countries (including only eight rich countries—Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Norway) supported the resolution at the United Nations General Assembly. Eight OECD countries abstained (including Japan, Germany, UK), while the US voted against, see Nyamu-Musembi & Cornwall, 2004.
- 14.
The Declaration was favored by 133 countries and opposed by 11 OECD countries (including Canada, France, Italy, UK, US with one abstention—Australia) (Nyamu-Musembi & Cornwall, 2004).
- 15.
Actually, the UN Commission on International Development advised the high income countries to increase their annual foreign aid (also known as ODA or Overseas Development Assistance) level to 0.7 % of their GNP (Gross National Product) by 1975. The donors renewed the pledge at the 1992 Earth Summit, only to cut their aid budget in the next 5 years that dropped the lowest rate ever to 0.22 % of GNI (Gross National Income) in 1997 (UNDP, 2005: 84). So far only five OECD countries, Norway, Luxemburg, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands have provided the pledged 0.7 % of GNI as ODA.
- 16.
See The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition, E.J. Brill, Leiden; NY, 1993.
- 17.
The most prominent scholar of medieval period, Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali (c. 1058–1111 CE), a Persian descent, who brought orthodox Islamic concepts and Sufism (Islamic mysticism) closer.
- 18.
According to modern scholars, these five “essential” objectives of Islamic law were established by Imam al-Ghazali of the Sunni Shafi’i School, and were adopted later by classical scholars of the Maliki and Hanafi Schools of Islamic madhhab or schools (Abdelhady, 2012).
- 19.
For more see Ali, 1938, note 5001 (explanation of the verse 51:19); also notes 179, 322, and 323.
- 20.
People with power (economic or political) should not ignore other human beings’ interests; if they do, coercion may be used (Baali, 1988).
- 21.
Though there was emphasis on professional specialization, most guilds fell into one of the three areas of production and trade: food, textiles, and construction. The silk spinners who worked in one large workshop made up one guild, while their colleagues in shops throughout Aleppo formed another (Marcus, 1989: 157–159).
- 22.
- 23.
This movement, as well as other religious orders and movements, functioned as a strong channel for popular opposition to the power of the central state while also providing ideology and personnel to work on the state’s behalf when the government and civil society were in accord (Discussed in Aktay, & Topcuoglu, 2007 from Marshall Hodgson, The Venture of Islam).
- 24.
Bahrain, Brunei, Djibouti, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the UAE.
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Hasan, S. (2015). Muslim Majority Countries, Philanthropy, and Human Security: Concepts and Contexts. In: Hasan, S. (eds) Human Security and Philanthropy. Nonprofit and Civil Society Studies. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2525-4_1
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