by Benson Agoha
Obligatory Contributions In Christianity:
In Christianity, over the years, religious leaders have worked out that an obligatory contribution called `Tithe’ should be pegged at 10% of gross income. And this has stood, even though the Bible, the guide to the Christian religion, did not specifically ask for that value.
How much should Christians give then? The Bible asked the Children of Israel to give the `first fruits’ of their harvests.
In Exodus 23:16, it says “You shall keep the Feast of Harvest, of the `first-fruits’ of your labor, of what you sow in the field. You shall keep the Feast of `in-gathering’ [interpreted as receipts or harvests income] at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field, the fruit of your labour”.
The permission to convert the `first-fruits’ of their harvests was given later when, in recognition of the difficulties the people faced when they obeyed the commandment the first time, the book of Deuteronomy directed that the contribution can be converted into money, if need be.
In the Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 14:24 says “And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, when the Lord your God blesses you, because the place is too far from you, which the Lord your God chooses, to set his name there”
Chapter 14:25 “.. then you shall turn it into money and bind up the money in your hand and go to the place that the Lord your God chooses..”
How interpreters arrived at 10% is still disagreeable, although the Book of Leviticus says in Chapter 27:32 “And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, `the tenth’ shall be holy unto the LORD.”
Does `the tenth’ imply `one tenth?’ Still, as with every socially constructed `universe’, as long as the adherents remain tolerant of its presence, doctrines retain their ‘sanctity’.
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| * "Charity does not begin with those who shout about their problems." (Photo Credit: BA). |
Obligatory Contributions in Islam:
In Islam, among other contributions, is one called ‘Zakat’, an obligatory contribution that every Muslim is expected to make, usually during the month of Ramadan.
But as one Muslim brother told me, unlike the tithe, zakat is not given to the mosque. Muslim faithfuls will decide who should be the beneficiary of their zakat when they ready to give it. Besides, different rules apply with regards to the `quantity’ that a they must give.
“If he is in salaried employment, his zakat will be the value of 1/40th of his salary. Otherwise it will be 1/10th”, another brother said.
There are other contributions that go to the mosque which have no fixed percentage. Again, these charity contributions in Islam are evidently, socially constructed universes.
In his article, ‘Charity in Islam’, Ibrahim B. Syed, President of the Islamic Research Foundation International said, “A society can flourish only when its members do not spend all their wealth to fulfill their own desires, but reserve a portion of it for parents, relatives, neighbours, the poor and the debilitated”.
He said Charity is a way of bringing justice to society and ‘since justice is the essence of religion’, that Islam..” made charity (that is Zakat), obligatory and binding upon all those who embrace the faith”. This, he said, has been made into an “institution in order to give, `in permanence and regularity’.”
But even though it is obligatory, Zakat should only be made when it is lawfully earned or acquired by the giver. And should include such things as are of use and value to others, Dr. Syed wrote.
Ultimately, therefore, the choice to extend benevolence to a particular person in need, or who claim to be so, is personal. And only the giver can make that all important decision.
No doubt, many cheats have found themselves `blacklisted’ from the mind of considerate givers, after they are discovered.
In some places, we were told the Police had even `come around' to warn them not to give, if they are not sure of whom they are giving to or don’t feel like giving.
To be continued....
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See also >>> [ Understanding The Concept of Charity – Part 1 ].
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