Poverty and charity

• Helping the poor and needy


  Believed by Christians to gain favour with God
• Christian belief on looking after God's creation


  • Includes taking care of people
  • Honouring God
• Zakah


  The third pillar of Islam, where Muslims give 2.5% of their annual earnings to charity to help those living in poverty
• Jesus: 'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.'
• Ummah


  The Muslim community
• Christian teaching on charity

  Teaches compassion to all
• Sadagah


  Any good deed done for others, including giving a donation to charity
• Jesus' teachings


  • The Good Samaritan
• Those who help


  Will have favour with Allah
• The Bible says that everything belongs to God, so should be shared
• Muslim teachings on poverty


  • The majority of Muslims feel that working to help others is the best way of putting Muslim teachings into action
  • Charity is important in Islam, but should not be expected nor relied on for survival
• How the poor can help themselves (according to Christians)


  • Seek opportunities to work
  • Accept help offered but not rely on it as a permanent solution
  • Become self-sufficient
• How the poor can help themselves


  1. Become more self-sufficient

  2. Actively search for work

  3. Utilise their current talents
• Christians may try to help people become self-sufficient, for example by providing training or tools rather than giving them money
• Parable of the Talents


  People are given the opportunity to use what God has given to them (which include their skills) to increase what they have
• Muslim charities


  • Muslim Aid
  • Islamic Relief
• Christian charities


  • CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development)
  • Christian Aid
• Muslim Aid


  • Works in deprived areas of the world to help relieve poverty
  • Responds in emergency situations to provide emergency relief and aid through medical care, clean water, food and shelter
  • Offers sustainable solutions, so people can support themselves in future
• CAFOD


  • Works in over 40 countries with poverty through tackling the causes of people of all faiths to end poverty
  • Focuses on sustainable development rather than aid, especially at times of disaster
• Islamic Relief


  • Provides emergency relief in natural disasters
  • Supports those considered weakest in society, such as women and orphans
  • Focuses on education and health, to ensure the poor have equal rights
• Christian Aid


  • Charity supported by Protestant denominations in the UK
  • Aims to end poverty through tackling the causes of poverty
  • Helps in emergency situations such as natural disasters