WELFARE STATE AND AN ISLAMIC WELFARE STATE

 

A state that cares for the basic needs of its citizens and enables them to live a peaceful life is called a welfare state. According to Encyclopedia - Britannica, a welfare state is a concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life.



The concept of Welfare state is not new. Islam presented the concept of welfare state some fourteen hundred years ago which was fully practiced during the period of Righteous Caliphs (Khilafat-e-Rashida 632-661 A.D). The concept of Islamic Welfare state includes:

• Sovereignty in Islam, belongs to Almighty Allah. The state protects the life, property and honour of its individuals. Justice is for all without any discrimination. All are equal before law. The superiority among the individuals is based on Taqwa (fear of Allah).
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   It is necessary for the one who has the affairs of the Islamic Welfare State in his hands to adhere to the basic tenets of Islam. He should be a God-fearing Muslim and act as a trustee only.

• The head of an Islamic Welfare state is the SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE. He always think s about the welfare of its people. He lives a simple life like an ordinary man. 

• The Islamic Welfare state is always accountable to its people. The ruler is not beyond question or criticism. Such a state develops a prosperous society, free of exploitation. It provides equal opportunities of progress to all the individuals. It provides all basic facilities to the individuals including the non-Muslims.

In a nutshell, the concept of an Islamic Welfare state is that it maintains "Musaawaat" i.e., Equality, at all levels.

Consider now the present form of governments not only in Pakistan but elsewhere too. We see rebellions in some Arab countries today. We have started seeing demonstrations against Western governemtns by their own people as well. What could be the cause of that? The only reason I can think of, the governments today have stopped providing for their people and have started thinking about the well being of a very few elite.

The powers that be handpick a puppet that presents "democratic" face to the world, but in fact, is working for the benefit of just a few, instead of working FOR THE PEOPLE.

The voting process has in itself become a farce everywhere. At some places, gun rules the vote, at others, some other form of bogus votes, or fraud. People get manipulated at election time. And its not just the illiterate or people with less education, like in Pakistani villages, but also in the urban areas where literacy rate is much higher than the rural.

If we want to move towards peace and prosperity, as mankind, a single people, we need to look to ways that make our countries a Welfare state, and not just any Welfare state, but right on the footsteps of an Islamic Welfare state, especially in the countries that take pride (or not) in being a Muslim state. If we do this, then perhaps, PERHAPS, we see the world peaceful once again, and prosper, as many of us sitting at homes dream of.


Some excertps were taken from the course book of 9th class Pakistan Studies.  Rest was written by Faisal Malik.