The Use and Misuse of <i>Zakāh</i> Funds by Religious Institutions in North America
Despite being a foundational practice in Islam, deeply rooted in law and reflected in the theological and spiritual concepts of wealth and sustenance (<i>rizq</i>), discussions of applying obligatory alms (<i>zakāh</i>) rulings to majority non-Muslim countries are limited. Th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/2/164 |
| _version_ | 1797618463343116288 |
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| author | Yousef Aly Wahb |
| author_facet | Yousef Aly Wahb |
| author_sort | Yousef Aly Wahb |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite being a foundational practice in Islam, deeply rooted in law and reflected in the theological and spiritual concepts of wealth and sustenance (<i>rizq</i>), discussions of applying obligatory alms (<i>zakāh</i>) rulings to majority non-Muslim countries are limited. The Muslim’s spiritual attitude toward finances is informed by a theological view that all forms of wealth ultimately belong to God. Sunni Muslim theologians define <i>rizq</i> to be what one actually (not potentially) consumes and benefits from (not possesses), which, alongside plentiful verses and Prophetic traditions, continuously motivate philanthropic giving without fearing scarcity. This article aims to investigate some major issues resulting from the unregulated procedures of <i>zakāh</i> collection and disbursement as practiced by North American Muslim organizations and religious leaders. The article (1) doctrinally analyzes how North American practices diverge from the rules of Islamic law (<i>fiqh</i>) regarding <i>zakāh</i> distribution, (2) examines the ramifications of contemporary Eastern–Western legal opinions (<i>fatāwā</i>) expanding the eligibility of charitable institutions to receive <i>zakāh</i>, and (3) investigates the practices of administering <i>zakāh</i> resources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:14:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d1d6cf1c17dd4bf9ae33fa78a0e767b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:14:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-d1d6cf1c17dd4bf9ae33fa78a0e767b62023-11-16T22:59:00ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442023-01-0114216410.3390/rel14020164The Use and Misuse of <i>Zakāh</i> Funds by Religious Institutions in North AmericaYousef Aly Wahb0Divinity School, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USADespite being a foundational practice in Islam, deeply rooted in law and reflected in the theological and spiritual concepts of wealth and sustenance (<i>rizq</i>), discussions of applying obligatory alms (<i>zakāh</i>) rulings to majority non-Muslim countries are limited. The Muslim’s spiritual attitude toward finances is informed by a theological view that all forms of wealth ultimately belong to God. Sunni Muslim theologians define <i>rizq</i> to be what one actually (not potentially) consumes and benefits from (not possesses), which, alongside plentiful verses and Prophetic traditions, continuously motivate philanthropic giving without fearing scarcity. This article aims to investigate some major issues resulting from the unregulated procedures of <i>zakāh</i> collection and disbursement as practiced by North American Muslim organizations and religious leaders. The article (1) doctrinally analyzes how North American practices diverge from the rules of Islamic law (<i>fiqh</i>) regarding <i>zakāh</i> distribution, (2) examines the ramifications of contemporary Eastern–Western legal opinions (<i>fatāwā</i>) expanding the eligibility of charitable institutions to receive <i>zakāh</i>, and (3) investigates the practices of administering <i>zakāh</i> resources.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/2/164Islamic lawlegal theoryfatāwāzakāh |
| spellingShingle | Yousef Aly Wahb The Use and Misuse of <i>Zakāh</i> Funds by Religious Institutions in North America Religions Islamic law legal theory fatāwā zakāh |
| title | The Use and Misuse of <i>Zakāh</i> Funds by Religious Institutions in North America |
| title_full | The Use and Misuse of <i>Zakāh</i> Funds by Religious Institutions in North America |
| title_fullStr | The Use and Misuse of <i>Zakāh</i> Funds by Religious Institutions in North America |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Use and Misuse of <i>Zakāh</i> Funds by Religious Institutions in North America |
| title_short | The Use and Misuse of <i>Zakāh</i> Funds by Religious Institutions in North America |
| title_sort | use and misuse of i zakah i funds by religious institutions in north america |
| topic | Islamic law legal theory fatāwā zakāh |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/2/164 |
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