The economy and business activities have been given a secular role and major stakeholders in the fight against poverty have also taken on a secular approach. Without exaggeration or false logic, billions have been spent in the fight against poverty and those billions could have been saved by applying the Qurʾān and in this case, particularly the Islāmic Spiritual and Material Approaches which have been deduced from it. The ISA is often neglected due to the dichotomy that exists between religion and economics. The IMA on the other hand has been applied especially in the area of zakāt, voluntary charity and waṣiyyah. However an integrated application of both approaches is needed and the case study of ʿUmar supports this notion.
Poverty is part of the decree of Allāh and He knows best why He made it that way. His help has to be sought by applying the
Qurʾān and Sunnah. The Prophet said (ṣal-Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam): “O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice]: Be Mindful of Allāh and Allāh will protect you. Be mindful of Allāh and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, then ask Allāh [alone]; and if you seek help, then seek help from Allāh [alone]. And know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allāh had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allāh had already prescribed against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried” (Al-Tirmidhī, n.d.). In another narration he said: “Be mindful of Allāh, and you will find Him in front of you.
Recognize and acknowledge Allāh in times of ease and prosperity, and He will remember you in times of adversity. And know that what has passed you by [and you have failed to attain] was not going to befall you, and what has befallen you was not going to pass you by.
And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and hardship with ease” (Al-Tirmidhī, n.d.).
Based on this the focus should be on how people protect their Dīn and Īmān by accepting the decree of Allāh while remaining steadfast in efforts to alleviate their poverty. They should not despair of the Mercy of Allāh and should be contented and not look at those above them. This is taken from the ḥadīth “Do not look at those above you” (Muslim, 2000). This paper has meticulously shown how the Qurʾān addresses the issue of poverty by offering the Islāmic Spiritual and Material Approaches. It has discussed in detail their components and their benefits. A valuable aspect of the paper is the Case Study of ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd Al-ʿAzīz as an example of the application of the ISA and IMA. The case also serves to re-affirm the correct belief that Qurʾān is sufficient even in modern times without a need to re-vamp it, its interpretation or Islām to suit current economic trends.
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