The Introduction of the Welfare System by the Companion & Caliph Umar al-Faruq

Islam is a complete way of life. It takes care of one’s personal matters and the matters which affect both our local and wider communities and even goes as far as encompassing the matters of the world.

The Qur’an mentions this in Surah al-Baqarah (2:177):

“Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah , the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveller, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfil their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.”

It is our duty as Muslims to look after those who are in need, whoever they may be. The verse clearly indicates for us to give charity and facilitate a system to cater for those who need this charity. Those who fulfil such duties are of the pious and it is piety preceded by faith which allows Muslims to be the best in their conduct.

It is narrated by Anas bin Malik that the noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "If a young man honours an elderly on account of his age, Allah appoints someone to honour him in his old age." He said, “By Him in Whose hand my soul is, Allah does not bestow His mercy except on a merciful one.” They said, "All of us are merciful.” The noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, “Not only that each of you has mercy upon the other, but to have mercy also upon all people.”

The narrations above refer to an individual’s personal duty but Islam also highlights the importance of ones duty to the state, the noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "I am the guardian of a person who has no guardian." And he also said "The State is the guardian of a person who has no guardian."

We need to look no further than the commander of the faithful, Sayyiduna ‘Umar al-Faruq to understand what it really means to put the needs of our fellow Muslims first. It was during his time as Caliph that the state welfare system was introduced.

During Sayyiduna ‘Umar’s rule, he ruled the a region which extended from Libya to Afghanistan, and from Armenia to Sindh, with a host of countries in-between. His strict administrative policies ensured that the Islamic forms of charity - such as zakah, ‘ushr (tax on agricultural land), sadaqah (charity), jizyah (tax on the non-Muslims for providing security) and others - were collected, gathered and distributed in the fairest way possible. Every citizen of the state, who had a need and was a dependent, received their fair share from the welfare system.

Sayyiduna ‘Umar meticulously set up the welfare system and had in place prudent policies that ensured the state played a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. Each citizen of the state was graded so that they were allocated the correct level of state funding. Within years, there came a time where people wanted to give charity but could not find anyone who was in need of it.

Sayyiduna ‘Umar’s welfare policies provided:

• l Aid to the poor and disabled;

• l Education to children;

• l Benefits for the elderly;

• l Investments for the elderly;

• l Shari’ah based loans to aid economic growth;

• l Debt clearance payments (for people under obligation);

• l Social insurance to pay blood money for unintentional homicide;

• l Allowance to widows, married and unmarried women, young men and immigrants (who were in need);

• l Food aid during serious drought or famines;

• l Pension to soldiers of the state;

• l Medical aid.

Sayyiduna ‘Umar states:

“I am very anxious that whenever I come to know of someone’s need, I should fulfil it quickly. When we can individually meet the needs of one another, we should do so, but when we cannot do so, then we shall do it collectively until the standard of living of all is equal. You don’t know my sincere feelings about you. But I want to explain them only through practice. By Allah! I am not a ruler that I enslave you. Caliphate is the trust of Allah. It is my duty to follow you until you sleep in your homes with your stomachs full. Only then shall I be successful, but if I force you to follow me till you knock at my door for our needs, then I shall be condemned. I may be pleasant here for a few days, but here after, I shall have to worry for a long period. Then none will listen to me and none will respond, if I beg his pardon.”

Post Courtesy of Essential Islam