أحكام العمل الإغاثي بين الإلزام والتطوع

Abstract

The research discusses the rulings of relief work from the Islamic fiqh perspective, considering that relief work is a service to save the life of a human being from being perished. It also highlights the commandment of the Shari‘ah on the performance of the duty and as such allots specific fiqh rules within specific scenarios. There is a need to consider relief work as a recommendatory or obligatory service under the Shari‘ah. The researcher begins with the importance of humanity as a creation honoured in Islam and the cause for the creation. After a thorough research of the religious nusus (texts), the researcher concludes that relief work is an obligation and as such the Muslim jurists do not differ on this view. The analysed texts conform exactly to the higher purpose of the Shari‘ah (maqasid) that positions the preservation of life at the second tier after that of the preservation of the Din (religion). The life that is preserved is not restricted to that of a Muslim but to all as long as the person embraces peace and does not commit any form of transgression on nature. The research also sheds light on some of the instruments through which relief work can be executed e.g. Zakat fund; channeling fund into relief work is actually placing it where it is rightfully due. In addition, the relief service through organ transplantation is compulsory only if that transplantation is permissible. Finally, the research looks at relief work as among the prioritized issues of fiqh, hence being regarded as an obligation that does not have a specific duration at which it is to be done. Therefore, relief work should be given primacy over other philanthropic services as they are likely to have a wider time frame for their performance.