Islam and Basic Necessities

            Islam is extremely keen to establish an ideally good society. Islam does this by providing the essential items and necessities that ensure and guarantee for individuals in the society their full rights. If the society members enjoy peace, tranquility, freedom and availability of basic requirements, they will become better citizens. Members of the society must feel that way in order to practice a peaceful, happy, prosperous, productive and meaningful life. Individuals of such a society will be able to enjoy their legal rights.

            Listen to the statement of Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):� Whosoever wakes up (in the morning) feeling that he is secure in his community, free from ailments and diseases in his body and has enough provision (food stuff and supply) for a single day, (such an individual) would be as if he owns the entire world�[5].

            Islam, therefore, seeks to formulate and establish a society that provides the following.

Peace and security

            Islam offers self security, family security and protection. Members of the Muslim society at large must not be frightened, or threatened by words, threats or weapons of all types. This is based on the Hadith of Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):� Whosoever frightens a Believer (in this life) it will become incumbent on the Almighty Allah to make such a person insecure (and frightened) on the Day of Judgement�[6].

            Self security enables individuals of a society to have freedom of mobility and movement in order to work and earn an honest income. Corpal and capital punishment have been laid down and sentenced in order to impose strict penalty on individuals who attempt to cause disruption to the peace, security and stability of a Muslim society. One of these strict penalties for criminals according to Islamic law is the penalty for peace, security disruption and frightening innocent people in a society. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stated in his farewell speech:� Truly, your blood, your protected items in life, and your wealth are unlawful to one another. They are unlawful to tamper with like it is unlawful to tamper with this (honorable and sacred) Day (the Day of Arafah during Hajj), in this Sacred Month (the month of pilgrimage "Thul-Hejjah"), and in this Sacred Town (the city of Makkah)�[7].

Decent food and sustenance for all

            Food and decent sustenance are secured for people in an Islamic society by availing decent and suitable work opportunities for the work force in the society. Availability of job opportunities are rather crucial for people in order to satisfy their basic needs. As for the individuals who can no longer work due to old age, inability to work, chronic disease or the lack of bread-earner in the family, such individuals become entitled for public aid from the Islamic government. Zakah, poor due, will become eligible to such types of people who cannot earn a decent income because of legitimate reasons. Zakah, poor due, represent a full mechanism of social integration among the various individuals of the Islamic society. Zakah, poor due, is an obligatory charity that is taken from the rich and given properly to the poor members of the Islamic society. This is based on the Hadith of Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in an advice to his Companion Muaath bin Jabal while sending him in a Dawah, call to Islam mission to Yemen saying:� Tell the people of Yemen that the Almighty Allah has prescribed a certain percentage of their wealth as Zakah, poor due. Such Zakah will be taken from the rich members of the Islamic society and given to the poor and needy ones�[8].

            Additionally, other voluntary donations, gifts, financial commitments and the like are given in a good cause to please the Almighty Allah, and extended willingly to the poor and needy members of the Islamic society. This is also based on the Hadith of Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):� Any group of people who reside in a specific Islamic community who do not care for a hungry person among them shall not be considered by Allah and His Prophet r as committed Muslims�[9].

            Such poor and needy people are also entitled to a fair right and share of the Islamic Treasury. This is also based on the Hadith of Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):� Whosoever leaves behind a legacy (wealth and estates) will become entitled to his heirs. As for the person who leaves behind poor and needy members of his family, Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) will take care of them�[10].

Basic education for all

            The Almighty Allah states in the Glorious Qur'�n Sura Zumar [The Groups] 39:9 the meaning of which is translated as:� Say: Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition�.

            In addition, Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) says in another verse of Sura Mojadelah [The Arguing One] 59:11 the meaning of which is translated as:� Allah provide for you. And when you are told to rise up, (then) rise: Allah will raise up, to (suitable) ranks (and degrees), those of you who believe and who have been granted Knowledge. And Allah is well acquainted with all you do�.

            Education in the Islamic society is not a mere right for its individuals. It is rather a required duty from every capable person. All capable, intelligent and skilled individuals in the Islamic society are required to educate themselves religiously and in worldly affairs. In fact, an Islamic government is required and demanded to prepare and provide, when possible, all means that help individuals in the Islamic society to earn a better education. This concept is based on the Hadith of Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):� Seeking knowledge (better education) is a obligatory on every Muslim (male and female)�[11].

            Furthermore, Islam considers seeking a better education as a type of Islamic strife, or Jihad that the Almighty Allah rewards. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stated:� He who travels to seek any (beneficial) knowledge is considered as a person who is struggling in Jihad for the cause of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) until he returns (home)�[12].

            Also, Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said:� Whosoever takes a path seeking knowledge (or better beneficial education) Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) will pave a path for such individual to Jannah, Paradise�[13].

            In fact, Islam considers it unlawful to withhold any useful knowledge that one possesses but does not share with others to benefit them. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) says:� Whosoever withholds the dissemination of (a beneficial) knowledge (to others who may need or benefit from it) will be tortured with a harness of fire on the Day of Judgement�[14].

            Furthermore, Islam imposes a penalty, or rather a warning of a penalty, to those who ban, do not seek or do not take part in the educational process in the Islamic society. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) says:� (unlearned) people should seek education from their neighbors. Knowledgeable (educated) people must teach their neighbors, or else, a (severe) penalty shall be imposed onto them�[15].

Proper and adequate health facilities

            On the one hand, Islam bans all such reasons that may cause detrimental effect to public health. Islam bans all types of harmful drugs and intoxicants. Islam bans eating expired animals meats, swan, pig and all their byproducts. Islam bans all immoral acts such as fornication, adultery, lesbian and homosexual activities. Islam imposes quarantine for both, incoming and outgoing traffic, in order to make sure that no epidemic or harmful diseases are spread in a community causing health hazards. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) says,� If you hear about an epidemic in a certain country, then do not enter it (travel to it). If you also hear of a spread of an epidemic disease in town that you live in, then do not leave such towns either�[16].

            Furthermore, Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) says,� A sick person must not be brought to visit a recovering person�[17].

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[5] Tirmithee, Hadith No. 2346.
[6] Tabaranee, Targheeb abd Tarheeb.
[7] Sahih Bukahri, Hadith No. 6043.
[8] See: Muslim, Hadith No. 29.
[9] Mosnad Ahmad.
[10] Sahih Bukahri Hadith No.2268 & 2269.
[11] Ibn Majah, Hadith No.337.
[12] See Tirmithee, Hadith No. 2785.
[13] Abu Dawoud, Hadith 3:317 and Tirmithee, Hadith No.2785.
[14] Darimee, Hadith No.3658.
[15] See: Tabarani, al-Mu'jam al-kabeer [Grand Collection of Hadith].
[16] Mosnad Ahmad Hadith No.15435.
[17] Bukahri Hadith No.5437 and Muslim Hadith No.104.