Islahi Social Capital: A Conceptual Approach Towards Faith-Based Development and Poverty Alleviation

Abstract

Poverty is amongst the pandemic that is synonym with Muslim countries. Many theories and formulations have been developed to overcome the issue of poverty. Though many attempt to eradicate poverty with different type of models, however, not many of them is interested to inculcate the faith-based elements in their theses. Due to the current trend of social capital as one of the means for development as recognized by many international institutions, an ontological-based epistemological approached is needed in determining on how Islamic values could be incorporated into this latest fad du jour to present a whole new set of Islamic political ijtihad (reasoning). This paper will analytically investigate on how the concept of islah (continuous reform) in Islam could be an essential conceptualized tool within the framework of social capital as another approach for development and poverty eradication. This proposed ontological-based conceptual attempt is to be called as ‘Islahi Social Capital’. I. Introduction In the modern day, poverty is treated as a symptom for the causes of which are multiple and complex. Accordingly, in order to understand the causes, one should realize that the origins of the causes of poverty also vary, whether they are internationally or nationally, in all different economic, social, cultural or political structures (Fournier, 2002). Thus, poverty eradication and development also need to be supported by a combination of measures, by economic policies obviously, but equally by social development programs concerning all sectors of human life, such as health, education, literacy, shelter, family planning and population. Consequently, an integrated approach with concrete goals and strategies is a must, together with close cooperation between governments, civil society, and private business. Furthermore, extreme poverty in its broader sense is another face of the violation of human rights. This is due to its implication that could be the main obstacle for implementing all other human rights, as well as the principle that all human beings have equal dignity. Improving the conditions under which poverty-stricken people live is a human right, as recognized by the 1993 Vienna ‘World Conference on Human Rights and the Copenhagen