Social Welfare in Islamic and Western Thought

An Examination of Its Introduction, Relevance, and Significance

Abstract

This article analyses the meaning of the term “social welfare” both from a linguistic and terminological perspective in order to demonstrate that it aims at improving human wellbeing or promoting social harmony. Islam is considered a complete system of life and focus on providing social welfare as an essential part of faith through the concepts of human dignity, mercy, kindness, and humanity with a global emphasis on social justice and the responsibilities to meet all basic human rights through people-centered tools such as Zakat and Sadaqah alongside providing public welfare activities. Western conception of social welfare, substantially the same, is also considered a duty or one of the basic functions and obligations of society that public policy must depend on protecting those people who are inhibited or disadvantaged to help ensure the promise of equality and justice to everyone. The studies further establish the extent to which social welfare plays a prominent role in improving poverty, inequality and unemployment, as well as civil disturbance. Islam stresses the importance of reaching out to the less fortunate, assisting those who are in need and setting up a welfare society. The research, which summarizes the similarities and differences between Islamic and Western ethical foundations, concludes that with clear aim for human well-being, social cohesion and common good that pursues social welfare is a necessity for an ideal society develop in all aspects of live where peaceful interaction among mankind becomes predictable.