Review of Jonathan Benthall, Islamic Charities and Islamic Humanism in Troubled Times

Excerpt

Do charities flourish more in troubled times than in good times? The story of The Good Samaritan may be the first, and perhaps the best-remembered, illustration for those who agree that this is, in fact, the case. In responding to misery and hardships, human affection grows and humanitarian activities increase to ensure that assistance for the needy is moved through many channels. This phenomenon has been observed throughout history, including in Muslim societies and Islamic charities. However, the so-called ‘War on Terror’ (especially with its unjustified blacklisting of certain charities) has been a major source of problems for the existence of Islamic charities as well as for Muslim religiosity and identity. The current political crises in the Middle East have produced not only floods of migrants who flow out of countries in conflict zones, such as Syria, but also flows of charitable aid that arise in response to appeals and are delivered in response to these troubles. Islamic charities are thus put in a delicate position as a consequence of the suspicions that are directed towards them. In such cases and in such times, how do Muslims, Muslim communities, and Islamic charities respond to troubling events that are taking place in Muslim-majority countries and beyond? Do they respond and develop differently from Western and other faith-based charities? …