General Information
Agreements on Right to education
Universal Islamic Declaration of Human Rights
The United Nations INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
We are fortunate to have sufficient means to live a quality life, but there are thousands of Palestinians who are less fortunate than ourselves. It is our duty to help them - that is why helping the poor and destitute is emphasized again and again in the Qur'an. The rewards for being charitable are also manifold: charity purifies our wealth and Allah, Most High, has promised us a great reward for being charitable towards our fellow human beings.
'And be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity. And whatever good ye send forth for your souls before you, ye shall find it with Allah: for Allah sees Well all that ye do.' (Qur'an 2:110)
'So establish regular prayer and give regular charity; and obey the Apostle; that ye may receive mercy.' (Qur'an 24:56)
'For those who give in charity, men and women, and loan to Allah a beautiful loan, it shall be increased manifold (to their credit) and they shall have (besides) a liberal reward.' (Qur'an 57:18)
So fear Allah as much as ye can; listen and obey and spend in charity for the benefit of your own soul and those saved from the covetousness of their own souls; they are the ones that achieve prosperity.'(Qur'an 64:16)
Zakah & Sadaqah
'Lo those who believe and do good deeds and establish salah and pay zakah, their reward is with the Sustainer; and no fear shall come on them, nor shall they grieve.' (Qur'an 2:227)
What is Zakah?
Zakah (welfare contribution) is the third pillar of Islam. The Arabic word Zakah means "to purify or cleanse”. It is obligatory on every Muslim who is threshold of the nisab, which is 87 grams of gold(approximately £750).Zakah is to be paid once a year on savings,cash,jewellery and shares etc. at the rate of two and a half percent(2.5%).The rate of cattle and agricultural produce is different
What is Sadaqah?
Sadaqah (or voluntary alms): The Qur'an lays stress on the believers to care for the needy, the orphans, the destitute and the unfortunate members of the society.
'The believers ... are steadfast in prayers, and in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged, for the poor and the destitute. (Qur'an 70:22-24).
There is no limit on Sadaqah.
'Your smile for your brother is sadaqah. Your removal of stones, thorns or bones from the paths of people is sadaqah. Your guidance of a person who is lost is sadaqah.' (Prophet of Allah (saw) related by Bukhari from Ibn Hibban's Sahih.)
Zakat-Al-Fitr
Zakaat al-Fitr is a kind of charity (Sadaqah) that is obligatory at the time of breaking the fast of Ramadhaan. The word Zakat is connected by idaafah (genitive structure in Arabic grammar) to Fitr because the occasion of breaking the fast is the reason why this Zakat becomes obligatory.
Reasons for Zakaat al-Fitr and what Islam says about it:
Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) made Zakat al-Fitr obligatory as a means of purifying the fasting person from idle talk and foul language, and to feed the poor. Whoever pays it before the prayer, it is an accepted Zakaat, and whoever pays it after the prayer, it is just a kind of charity (Sadaqah).” (Reported by Abu Dawood, 1371. Al-Nawawee said: Abu Dawood reported it from Ibn ‘Abbaas with a hasan isnaad).
Interest (Riba)
“ Allâh will destroy Ribâ (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqât (deeds of charity, alms, etc.) And Allâh likes not the disbelievers, sinners”. The Noble Qur'an Al-Baqarah , 276.
The literal meaning of interest or Al-RIBA as it is used in the Arabic language means to excess or increase. In the Islamic terminology interest means effortless profit or that profit which comes free from compensation or that extra earning obtained that is free of exchange.
As Muslims, we know interest is Haram (forbidden) and therefore we may often wonder what to do with this money.
Scholars have given great thought to this problem and have issued certain fatwas (Islamic Rulings) regarding interest and have stated the following:
*to take interest money for yourself is Haram (forbidden).
*to throw it away is Haram.
*to leave the interest and allow the bank to benefit from it, is not recommended.
*to give the interest money to charity is permissible and recommended.
The scholar’s fatwa is based on the fact that this money itself is not Haram, but how we earned it and how use it will determine whether it is Halal (Permissible) or Haram.
So you can donate your interest by cheque or over the phone. Or you can donate your interest on a monthly basis by filling a standing order.
We will use your money to support our work helping the poor and needy in Palestine but will not use it on projects where interest should not be spent.
Agreements on Right to education
Arab Charter on Human Rights
Council of the League of Arab States,
September 15, 1994, reprinted in 18 Hum. Rts. L.J. 151 (1997).
Article 34
The eradication of illiteracy is a binding obligation and every citizen has a right to education. Primary education, at the very least, shall be compulsory and free and both secondary and university education shall be made easily accessible to all.
Universal Islamic Declaration of Human Rights
19 September 1981 (21 Dhul Qaidah 1401)
Right to Education
a) Every person is entitled to receive education in accordance with his natural capabilities.
b) Every person is entitled to a free choice of profession and career and to the opportunity for the full development of his natural endowments.
The United Nations INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
Article 13
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The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to education. They agree that education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity, and shall strengthen the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. They further agree that education shall enable all persons to participate effectively in a free society, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and all racial, ethnic or religious groups, and further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
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The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that, with a view to achieving the full realization of this right:
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Primary education shall be compulsory and available free to all;
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Secondary education in its different forms, including technical and vocational secondary education, shall be made generally available and accessible to all by ever appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education;
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Higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education;
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Fundamental education shall be encouraged or intensified as far as possible for those persons who have not received or completed the whole period of their primary education;
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The development of a system of schools at all levels shall be actively pursued, an adequate fellowship system shall be established, and the material conditions of teaching staff shall be continuously improved.
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The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to choose for their children schools, other than those established by the public authorities, which conform to such minimum educational standards as may be laid down or approved by the State and to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.
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No part of this article shall be construed so as to interfere with the liberty of individuals and bodies to establish and direct educational institutions, subject always to the observance of the principles set forth in paragraph 1 of this article and to the requirement that the education given in such institutions shall conform to such minimum standards as may be laid down by the State.
Article 14
Each State Party to the present Covenant which, at the time of becoming a Party, has not been able to secure in its metropolitan territory of other territories under its jurisdiction compulsory primary education, free of charge, undertakes, within two years, to work out and adopt a detailed plan of action for the progressive implementation, within a reasonable number of years, to be fixed in the plan, of the principle of compulsory education free of charge for all.
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Article 26
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Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
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Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
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Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
