This volume argues for the pressing need to understand the role of religious beliefs, religious scholars, and religious centres in promoting welfare and social protection services for the strengthening of global social welfare systems.
The book contributes to research around the integration of faith-based financing into global and local welfare strategies by looking at the Twelver Shia Muslims as a distinct group, presenting ethnographical analysis and interviews gathered from Twelver Shia community members and religious scholars. Chapters explore social welfare lessons learnt by the global Shia community, the level of awareness and commitment to mandatory and voluntary religious finances, (including Zakat, Khums, Waqf, and Sadaqat), and the fears and barriers to advancing faith-led social welfare efforts. The book ultimately presents contemporary realities from the Twelver Shia community, identifies gaps between teachings and practices for religious financing, and highlights internal community challenges around collective efforts for welfare development.
The book will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and postgraduate students in the fields of sociology of religion, religion and economics, public policy, religious studies, and Islamic studies more broadly.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Chapter 1: Introduction: Collecting Evidence about Social Welfare and Religious Financing from the Global Shia Community
Part I Lessons of Social Welfare
Chapter 2: The Imams' (as) and Social Welfare: Lessons that resonate with Shias Globally
Chapter 3: Women Religious Leaders in Islam- More Social Protection lessons held close by Shias
Chapter 4: Shia Religious Scholars' Knowledge of Social Welfare and Transmission to the Shia Community
Part II Commitment and Practices for Social Welfare
Chapter 5: Shias of the World and their Commitment to Faith and Religious Taxes
Chapter 6: Awareness and Practices for Zakat and Khums Taxes in Shias
Chapter 7: Knowledge and Commitment for Waqf Endowments and Sadaqat Donations to Shia Charities
Part III Threats and Opportunities to contribute to Welfare
Chapter 8: Challenges facing Shia Communities and Religious Scholars in Advancing Social Welfare Initiatives
Chapter 9: Strong beliefs, Weak Practices: Proposing a Shia Eschatological Reserve Capital Theory
