مين تكمل تعبيري

العمل الخيري في الاسلام
Volunteerism in Islam
By Dr Ahmad Hussein Sakr
Allah (swt) selects the best to assume the responsibility of delivering the message of Islam. The prophets and Messengers were the best people, selected by Allah (swt) to assume such a responsibility. It should be stated here that the Ulamaa (scholars) are the inheritors of prophets.
To assume such a duty is an honour and a responsibility. It is not an easy job as it requires from that person commitment, hard work, continuance, sacrifice and he is at least to be appreciated. However the returns from Allah (swt) are plenty in this world and in the hereafter.
Many Muslims think that volunteerism is to be offered if and when they have no other activities. So it becomes a secondary thing to be done, and not a priority. They also think that volunteers do not need to be professionals. This assumption is wrong.
It should be stated here that volunteerism has to be done by qualified people, using the up-to-date scientific developments in every aspect of life. Allah (swt) demands from us to ask the highly qualified individuals to assume the responsibility or to be asked for their professional advice. In Surah An-Nahl (The Bee), Allah (swt) says,
"And before you We sent none but men, to whom We granted inspiration: if you realise this not, ask of those who possess the Message."
No da’wah can be successful on volunteerism only, or on employment only. A successful da’wah programme has to have both of these systems complementing one another. It is understood that an employee has a limited number of hours during the job, otherwise he/she would be doing overtime. The latter group of people are to be paid 1 ½ to 2 times their normal wage for the extra time they work. This approach does not work within the da’wah of Islam. At the same time, no da’wah group can afford to employ all the needy people for all its activities.
Similarly, a da’wah that depends mainly on volunteerism will never be successful. A da’iyah is a human being: he has his obligation to his family, job and society. The da’iyah may not be able to continue to assume the da’wah work by volunteering for one reason or another. Hence, the da’wah programme will suffer tremendously. Substitute volunteers are then needed for the volunteer work too.
Therefore, there should be a combination of both types of individuals sharing the responsibility at different times and places.
Anytime when there is a need to employ a da’iyah, he/she should be a professional in the first place. Otherwise, problems will arise in a short time period. He should submit his resume and should be interviewed. A job description should be provided and a competitive salary with benefits and promotion should be offered. If and when termination of the job is to take place, it has to be done professionally and not emotionally.
The most sensitive positions in da’wah are those related to zakat collection, administration and distribution. These individuals are under the category of ‘aamieena ‘alayha (employees of zakat). Islam teaches Muslims to employ people to collect and disseminate the zakat.
The relationship of volunteers to employees should be at its best.
# No volunteer is to brag about giving his time, effort, energy, knowledge and memory when he is doing it fee sabeelillah (in the way of Allah).
# No volunteer should accuse the employees that they are receiving money from the general budget of the community, while he is doing it for free.
# No volunteer should accept a job or a title for the sake of show, or else it will become hypocrisy.
# No volunteer should accept a title or a job when he knows that he is not qualified for the job.
# No volunteer should accept a title, while knowing that he has no time to volunteer for such a job.
Here are further considerations for volunteers:
Where to volunteer
One should be selective, because of the shortage of time and because of one’s field of specialisation.
How often to volunteer
To render one’s services, one has to realise that such activities are to be conducted on a regular basis. There is no rest for a Muslim until he meets with Allah (swt). One may increase or decrease his services, but he will never stop them all. To render your talents, your time, your money, and your knowledge is a continuous service to mankind, irrespective of colour, nationality, ethnic background, or religion. The volunteer is to continue to render his service even if he does not agree with the leadership of the society.
Limitations
It should be understood that there is a limit for every person. The person volunteering may lose his ties with his family and with his job. Volunteers should make a balanced life for everything they do.

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