The role of zakat in the provision of social protection: a comparison between Jordan, Palestine and Sudan (One Pager 381)
Organization(s): International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth
Author: Anna Carolina Machado, Charlotte Bilo
Regions: Middle East and North Africa
Country: Jordan, Palestine, Sudan
Year: 2018
Language: Arabic, English, Portuguese
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Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam and considered a religious duty for wealthy people to support those in need. In Muslim-majority countries, zakat has a long tradition of providing income, goods for consumption and other basic services such as health care and education to poor and marginalised populations. A growing body of research has investigated the role of zakat in the provision of social
protection and its importance as a poverty reduction mechanism. Although based on the same principles, countries vary significantly in the institutionalisation of zakat, ranging from obligatory to voluntary contributions. The institutional arrangements and benefit provision also differ greatly.
الزكاةھي واحدة من أركان الإسلام الخمسة وتعتبر واجباً دینیاً على الأثریاء لدعم المحتاجین. وللزكاة في البلدان ذات الأغلبیة المسلمة باع طویل في توفیر الدخلوالسلع الاستھلاكیة والخدمات الأساسیة الأخرى مثل الصحة والتعلیم للفقراءوالمھمشین. وقد قامت مجموعة متنامیة من الأبحاث بالتحقیقفي دور الزكاة فيتوفیر الحمایة الاجتماعیة وأھمیتھا كآلیة للحد من الفقر. وعلى الرغم من أن المبدأواحد، تختلف الدول اختلافا كبیرا في مأسسة الزكاةالتي تتراوح بین الإلزامیة إلىالتطوعیة. وكذلك تختلف الترتیبات المؤسسیة والمنافع بشكل كبیر.
Zakat é um dos cinco pilares do Islã e é considerado um compromisso religioso para que os mais abastados financeiramente possam prestar auxílio aos que carecem de suporte material. As contribuições podem ser realizadas de diferentes formas, por meio de repasses em dinheiro ou de outras doações. Em países de maioria muçulmana, as contribuições zakat são meios tradicionais de prestação de auxílio financeiro (por transferência de renda), além de bens de consumo e serviços básicos de saúde e de educação para os mais pobres e marginalizados. Pesquisas recentes analisaram o papel do zakat para a proteção social, bem como sua importância como ferramenta para programas de redução de pobreza. Embora os Fundos Zakat tenham sua base nos mesmos princípios, países podem adotar diferentes condutas quanto à sua organização e institucionalização, e em alguns casos a arrecadação de zakat pode ser centralizada pelo governo para a prestação de políticas de proteção social. Enquanto em alguns sistemas as contribuições são obrigatórias, em outros, o auxílio é voluntário, além de a forma de organização dos Fundos Zakat e os tipos de benefícios variarem consideravelmente.
Related Principles
The interdependence, indivisibility and mutually reinforcing nature of human rights necessitates a holistic approach to social protection. As such, under international human rights law, social protection programmes should be one element within a broader strategy aimed at overcoming poverty and realizing all human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights such as the rights to […]