LO To understand Islamic beliefs around being generous

LO: To understand Islamic beliefs around being generous and charitable.

Success Criteria I can: • Explain what Muslim people believe about wealth; • Describe what is expected of Muslims with regards to wealth; • Understand some ways that Muslims provide support to others.

Your task As you work your way through the video/presentation, I would like you to create a spider diagram of the facts that you find out. These notes will be important following next week’s session when we look at Christian charities.

What do Muslims believe about wealth? • Muslims believe that everything belongs to Allah • For that reason, wealth also belongs to Allah so should be used responsibly • Muslims believe they must show compassion – this links with the 3 rd Pillar of Islam – Zakat • It is thought that giving to charity and helping others are good deeds and should not be done to expect anything in return.

Quote: • “He is not a believer who east his fill while his neighbour remains hungry. ” • What do you think this means?

Fasting during Ramadan • During the festival of Ramadan, Muslims do not eat during the hours the sun is up. • This is believed to teach them compassion for the poor who are forced into hunger. • Fasting is not to be seen as dieting; it is a religious practice to enable everyone to show compassion and understanding.

Beliefs continued… • Muslims believe that Allah did not intend poverty to happen in the world. • Due to this many Muslims recognise their responsibility to redress the balance and try to create a just distribution of wealth. • This is because the belief is that Allah created wealth and therefore would expect equal distribution of it. • All Muslims have a duty to help the less fortunate and by doing so they will be rewarded by Allah on the day of judgement – the day when Allah decides how you will spend your afterlife.

Teachings of the Qu’ran • If Muslims lend money they should not charge interest on it. • This money should be reinvested in society to support sustainability.

Voluntary Services • There are voluntary organisations which have been set up to support Islamic people to support others. Two of these are explained below: • Islamic Help – Based on Muslim Values. Work in countries suffering extreme poverty and distribute food packs and cooked food. • Muslim Hands – A voluntary organisation based in the UK to raise funds for others around the world. In 2012 they organised ‘Food 4 Kids’ which raised money for malnourished children living in poverty.

Charities • Muslims place a great deal of importance of giving time or money to charity – good deeds are seen as an important part of life for followers of Islam. • Zakat – This is a duty that Muslims must live by as it is the third Pillar of Islam. The expectation is that one fortieth of a persons wealth is to be given to charity – this is seen to help the receiver but also purifies the wealth of the giver. Other money is donated at the end of Ramadan to help those urgently needing help.

Charities cont… • As well as having a duty to give to charity there are various Islamic charities which have been set up. • Muslim Aid – charity set up to support less developed countries to relieve poverty. Majority who benefit are Muslim however the charity will help those most in need regardless of religion. This charity supports sustainable development and helps with education, skills, clean water and health care. • Islamic Relief – A UK based charity which supports people in this country and internationally. Again will support people in need of help regardless of gender, race or religion.

Islamic Relief cont … • Supports with emergency relief of any humanitarian crisis in the world. In 2016 this charity helped over 3 million people in Syria and surrounding countries.

Video link • On the class page of the website you will find a video link. • Please watch this to give you further information about the importance of fasting during Ramadan.