islamic and social work

1. ISLAM AND SOCIAL WORK

2. CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM AND SOCIAL
WORK
Course Description: This course introduces a
proposed Islamic social work practice model.
Islam informs every aspect of life for Muslims, so
understanding the Islamic worldview on the nature of
problems, preventing problems and solving problems
is essential.
The concepts of helping, problem solving and
transformation used in Islamic social work are fully
explored. The behaviors of the Prophet Mohamed
(PBUH) are used to inform social work practice
including,

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the use of non-verbal behaviors to establish
relationships, assessment, interventions,
implementation and evaluation.
While the similarities in Islam and social work are
used for practice, areas of divergence are also
acknowledged.

4. Course Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Articulate the knowledge, values and skills in Islamic
social work practice;
2. Apply Islamic concepts and values to social work
practice; and,
3. Access Islamic resources to support social work
practice.
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5. Brief definition
“Social work is defined as a professional service
which uses social scientific techniques to
alleviate economic, social and emotional
distresses among individual, group and
communities” Thus from the above defined
approaches it is clear that social work is an
effort to remove conditions creating problems
for an individual, a family or a group of the
society.

6. National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
defines Social Work as a profession of helping
individuals, groups or communities enhance or
restore their capacity for social functioning and
creating social conditions favorable to this goal.
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE consists of the following
ends:
1. Helping people obtain tangible services by
advocating on their behalf.
2. Providing counseling and psychotherapy to
individuals, families and groups.
3. Helping communities or groups provide or
improve social or health issues.
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7. Islam is an Arabic word and connotes submission, surrender
and obedience. As a religion, Islam stands for complete
submission and obedience to Allah. The person who accepts
Islam is called as Muslim (who has submitted his will to Allah).
Islam is mainly determined by three sources;
i) The Holy Qur’an,
ii) Sunnah – the sayings and practices of the Last Messenger
of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (On Whom Be Allah’s Peace
and Blessings), and
iii) Fiqh or Ijtihaad – the interpretation given by the Islamic
Scholar (s) or any knowledgeable person on prevalent or
growing issues. And a Muslim, after accepting Islam, has
to follow Qur’an and Sunnah in true essence.
(FX Trending and Financial management System on point 3) EXAMPLE
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8. Social work according to the Quran
"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces
towards East or West; but it is righteousness to
believe in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and
the Book and the Messengers; to spend of your
substance out of love for Him, for your kin/relative,
for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those
who ask; and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast
in prayers and practice regular charity; to fulfill the
contracts which you made; and to be firm and patient
in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all
periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the
God fearing"(Quran Baqarah 2: 177).

9. The above verse is the concept of social work in Islam.
It is however more than a philosophical concept but a
practical draft that outlines the why, whom, and who
of service delivery.
Why --We believe form of worship incomplete without
helping people. ·
Whom — categories of people and groups and issues
related to be met ·
Who characteristics of workers
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10. Whoever removes a grief from a believer
Abu Hurayrah (radi Allahu anhu) said that the Prophet (sal Allahu
alaihi wa sallam) said: “Whoever removes a grief from a believer
from amongst the sorrows of this life, Allah will remove a grief
from him amongst the sorrows of the Day of Resurrection.
Whoever brings ease to one in difficulty, Allah will make it easy
for him in this life and the Hereafter. Whoever covers a Muslim,
Allah will cover him in this life and the Hereafter. Allah is in aid of
the servant so long as the servant is in aid of his brother.
Whoever traverses a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make a
path to Paradise easy for him. No people gather in one of the
houses of Allah reciting the Book of Allah and studying it
amongst themselves, except that tranquility descends upon
them, mercy envelopes them, the Angels surround them, and
Allah mentions them amongst those who are with Him.
Whosoever is slowed down by his actions will not be sped
forward by his lineage.

11. Prophet’s(PBUH) Hadith and Social Work
The Prophet Muhammad (On Whom Be Allah’s
Peace and Blessings) said:
He who sleeps satiated/Satisfied while his
neighbor goes hungry is not dear to Allah.
A Muslim has been a revered companion of the
Prophet. He cites the Prophet as directing his
people to gladly accept an invitation to lunch
or dinner from the neighbor, as it promotes
understanding and solidarity.

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On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (May Allah Be Pleased With Him), who said
that the Messenger of Allah (On whom Be Peace and Blessings of Allah) said:
Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection: O son of Adam, I fell ill and you
visited Me not. He will say: O Lord, how should I visit You when You are the
Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant so-and-so
had fallen ill and you visited him not? Did you not know that had you visited
him you would have found Me with him? O son of Adam, I asked you for
food and you fed Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I feed You
when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My
servant So-and-so asked you for food and you fed him not? Did you not know
that had you fed him you would surely have found that (the reward for doing
so) with Me? O son of Adam, I asked you to give Me to drink and you gave
Me not to drink. He will say: O Lord, how should I give You to drink when You
are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: My servant So-and-so asked you to
give him to drink and you gave him not to drink. Had you given him to drink
you would have surely found that with me. (It was related by Muslim)

13. • End of Chapter 1
• Questions and Comments.

14. Chapter2 HUMAN RIGHTS AND ISLAM
Introduction:
Islam formulates a unique system of rights and
obligations that provides for and preserves the
following five basic necessities of HUMAN
EXISTENCE:
1. Preservation/safeguarding of the Divine Religion
2. Preservation of the Self
3. Preservation of the Mind
4. Preservation of Honor and Lineage
5. Preservation of Wealth

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 Islam in this connection it lays down some rights
for man as a human being.
In other words it means that every man whether
he belongs to this country or that, whether he is
a believer or unbeliever, whether he lives in some
forest or is found in some desert, whatever be
the case, he has some basic human rights simply
because he is a human being, which should be
recognized by every Muslim. In fact it will be his
duty to fulfill these obligations.

16. 1. The Right to Life
 The first and the foremost basic right is the right to live and
respect human life. The Holy Quran lays down:
 Whosoever kills a human being without (any reason like)
man slaughter, or corruption on earth, it is as though he had
killed all mankind.
 As far as the question of taking life in retaliation for murder
or the question of punishment for spreading corruption on
this earth is concerned, it can be decided only by a proper
and competent court of law.
 These instructions have been repeated in the Holy Quran in
another place saying:
• Do not kill a soul which Allah has made sacred except
through the due process of law.
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17.  The Prophet, may Allah's blessings be on him Said, ‘’ The
greatest sins are to associate something with Allah and to kill
human beings“.
 In all these verses of the Quran and the Traditions of the
Prophet tells us that the persons belonging to one's nation,
the citizens of one's country, the people of a particular race
or religion should not be killed. The injunction applies to all
human beings and the destruction of human life in itself has
been prohibited. The role of Social work is to advocate for
the rights of the individuals seeking Justice.
 The Right to Life has been given to man only by Islam. You
will observe that the people who talk about human rights if
they have ever mentioned them in their Constitutions then it
is clearly implied in them that these rights are applicable only
to their citizens. (Elaborate by mentioning some Countries
like UK and USA and the rest)
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18. 2. The Right to the Safety of Life
 Immediately after the verse of the Holy Quran which has
been mentioned in connection with the right to life, God
has said: "And whoever saves a life it is as though he
had saved the lives of all mankind".
 There can be several forms of saving man from death. A
man may be ill or wounded, irrespective of his
nationality, race or color. If you know that he is in need
of your help, then it is your duty that you should arrange
for his treatment for disease or wound. If he is dying of
starvation, then it is your duty to feed him so that he can
ward off death. If he is drowning or his life is at stake,
then it is your duty to save him.
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19. 3. Respect for the Chastity/virginity of Women
 The third important thing of Human Rights granted by
Islam is that a woman's chastity has to be respected and
protected under all circumstances, whether she belongs
to our own nation or to the nation of an enemy, whether
we find her in the wild forest or in a conquered city;
whether she is our co-religionist or belongs to some
other religion or has no religion at all. A Muslim cannot
outrage/offend her under any circumstances.
 The words of the Holy Quran in this respect are: "Do not
approach (the bounds of) adultery" .
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Heavy punishment has been prescribed for this
crime, and the order has not been qualified by
any conditions. Since the violation of chastity of
a woman is forbidden in Islam, a Muslim who
perpetrates/commits this crime cannot escape
punishment whether he receives it in this world
or in the Hereafter. This concept of sanctity of
chastity and protection of women can be found
nowhere else except in Islam.

21. 4. The Right to a Basic Standard of Life
ِ‫م‬ ۡ
‫و‬ُ‫ر‬ ۡ
‫ح‬َ‫م‬ۡ‫ال‬ َ‫و‬ ِ‫ل‬ِ‫ئ‬ٓ‫ا‬َّ‫س‬‫ل‬ِ‫ل‬ ٌّ‫ق‬َ‫ح‬ ۡ‫م‬ِ‫ه‬ِ‫ل‬‫ا‬ َ‫و‬ ۡ‫م‬َ‫ا‬ ۡۤۡ‫ى‬ِ‫ف‬ َ‫و‬
And in their wealth there is acknowledged right for
the needy and destitute. (In this case the SWK’s role
is to Counsel and encourage to those who have
money to contribute their wealth to the needy
people)
Therefore the clear meaning of this verse is that
anyone who asks for help and anyone who is
suffering from deprivation has a right in the property
and wealth of the Muslims.
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22. Continue
If you are in a position to help and a needy person asks you
for help or if you come to know that he is in need, then it is
your duty to help him.
5. Individual's Right to Freedom
 Islam has clearly and categorically forbidden the practice
of capturing a free man, to make him a slave or to sell
him into slavery. On this point the clear words of the
Prophet (PBUH) are as follows: "There are three
categories of people against whom I shall myself be a
plaintiff on the Day of Judgment.
 Plaintiff: a person who brings a case against another in a
court of law

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 Of these three, one is he who enslaves a free man, then
sells him and eats this money. (al-Bukhari and Ibn Majjah).
The Position of Slavery in Islam
 Islam tried to solve the problem of the slaves that were in
Arabia by encouraging the people in different ways to set
their slaves free.
 Freeing a slave by one's own free will was declared to be
an act of great merit.
 The result of this policy was that by the time the period
of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs was reached, all the old
slaves of Arabia were liberated.

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 The Prophet (PBUH) alone liberated as many as 63 slaves.
The number of slaves freed by Aishah (RC) liberated 67,
Abbas liberated 70, Abd Allah ibn Umar liberated one
thousand, and Abd al-Rahman purchased thirty
thousand and set them free Similarly.
 Other Companions of the Prophet liberated a large
number of slaves, the details of which are given in the
traditions and books of history of that period.
 Thus the problem of the slaves of Arabia was solved in a
short period of thirty or forty years. After this the only
form of slavery which was left in Islamic society was the
prisoners of war, who were captured on the battlefield.

25. 6. The Right to Justice
 This is a very important and valuable right which Islam has
given to man as a human being. The Holy Quran has laid
down: َ‫ه‬ُ‫ش‬ ِ َّ ِ
‫ّلِل‬ َ‫ين‬ِ‫ام‬ َّ‫و‬َ‫ق‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ن‬‫و‬ُ‫ك‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ن‬َ‫م‬‫آ‬ َ‫ِين‬‫ذ‬َّ‫ال‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ه‬ُّ‫ي‬َ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ي‬
ْ‫م‬ُ‫ك‬َّ‫ن‬َ‫م‬ ِ
‫ر‬ْ‫ج‬َ‫ي‬ َ
‫َل‬ َ‫و‬ ِ‫ط‬ْ‫س‬ِ‫ق‬ْ‫ال‬ِ‫ب‬ َ‫ء‬‫ا‬َ‫د‬
ُ‫َآن‬‫ن‬َ‫ش‬
َ‫و‬ْ‫ق‬َّ‫ت‬‫ل‬ِ‫ل‬ ُ‫ب‬ َ‫ر‬ْ‫ق‬َ‫أ‬ َ‫و‬ُ‫ه‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ل‬ِ‫د‬ْ‫ع‬‫ا‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ل‬ِ‫د‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ت‬ َّ
‫َل‬َ‫أ‬ ٰ
‫ى‬َ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬ ٍ‫م‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫ق‬
َ‫م‬ِ‫ب‬ ٌ‫ير‬ِ‫ب‬َ‫خ‬ َ َّ
‫اّلِل‬ َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ َ َّ
‫اّلِل‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ق‬َّ‫ت‬‫ا‬ َ‫و‬ ٰ
‫ى‬
َ‫ون‬ُ‫ل‬َ‫م‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ت‬ ‫ا‬
 O you who believe, stand up as witnesses for God in all
fairness, and do not let the hatred of a people deviate/stray
you from justice. Be just: This is closest to piety; and
beware/cautious of God. Surely God is aware of all you do.
(the role of Social worker in this practice is to interview the
one seeking justice and make sure he advocates for the rights
of that individual, family or groups).
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26.  This makes the point clear that Muslims have to be just
not only with ordinary human beings but even with
their enemies. In other words, the justice to which Islam
invites her followers is not limited only to the citizens of
their own country, or the people of their own tribe,
nation or race, or the Muslim community as a whole,
but it is meant for all the human beings of the world.
Muslims therefore, cannot be unjust to anyone. Their
permanent habit and character should be such that no
man should ever fear injustice at their hands, and they
should treat every human being everywhere with justice
and fairness.
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27. 7. Equality of Human Beings
 Islam not only recognizes absolute equality between men
irrespective of any distinction of color, race or nationality,
but makes it an important and significant principle, a
reality.
 And we set you up as nations and tribes so that you may
be able to recognize each other“.
 Allah Says in his holy book; َ‫ن‬ْ‫ق‬َ‫ل‬َ‫خ‬ ‫ا‬َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ ُ‫اس‬َّ‫ن‬‫ال‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ه‬ُّ‫ي‬َ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ي‬
ٰ
‫ى‬َ‫ث‬‫ن‬ُ‫أ‬ َ‫و‬ ٍ
‫ر‬َ‫ك‬َ‫ذ‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫م‬ُ‫ك‬‫ا‬
َ‫أ‬ َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ف‬َ‫ار‬َ‫ع‬َ‫ت‬ِ‫ل‬ َ‫ل‬ِ‫ئ‬‫ا‬َ‫ب‬َ‫ق‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬ً‫ب‬‫و‬ُ‫ع‬ُ‫ش‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ك‬‫َا‬‫ن‬ْ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬َ‫ج‬ َ‫و‬
َ َّ
‫اّلِل‬ َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ك‬‫ا‬َ‫ق‬ْ‫ت‬َ‫أ‬ ِ َّ
‫اّلِل‬ َ‫د‬‫ن‬ِ‫ع‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫م‬ َ‫ر‬ْ‫ك‬
ٌ‫ير‬ِ‫ب‬َ‫خ‬ ٌ‫م‬‫ي‬ِ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬
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28. This has been exemplified by the Prophet(PBUH)
where he says: "No Arab has any superiority over a
non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority
over an Arab. Nor does a white man have any
superiority over a black man, or the black man any
superiority over the white man. You are all the
children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay"
(al-Bayhaqi and al-Bazzaz).

29. 8. The Right to Co-operate and Not to Co-operate
 Islam has prescribed a general principle of paramount
importance and universal application saying: "Co-operate
with one another for virtue/benefit and
heedfulness/Carefulness and do not co-operate with
one another for the purpose of vice/evil and
aggression/violance" (5:2). This means that the man
who undertakes a noble and righteous work, has the
right to expect support and active co-operation from
the Muslims.
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30. • End of Chapter 2
• Questions and Comments.