The psychology of giving behavior in islam

The psychology of giving behavior in islam

Shadiya Mohamed S Baqutayan,1 Magda Ismail A Mohsin,2Akbariah Mohd Mahdzir,1 Aini Suzana Ariffin1

1Abstract

Waqf is a financial charitable endowment established by withholding immovable and movable properties to perpetually spend its revenue on fulfilling public needs, once the property is created asWaqf, it could never be given as gift, inherited, or sold. Traditionally, Waqfwas inculcated in Muslims’ culture, and has included in all walks of life. When it was the main source for various public services that been provided to communities. Therefore, Muslims in all over the world are exposed to participate in Waqf, the value of giving is one that spans all cultures and religious faiths and is an important means of establishing a social safety net for the poor. Oftentimes, charitable giving is motivated by people’s attitude and behavior, religious beliefs, cultures and religious educations. This is a literature review paper that focuses on the strong connection between motives for giving and outcomes of giving. The purpose is to shed light on some of the key expressions of giving in Islam, and the psychology of giving that is quite difficult to determine in most of the studies. Some motives and effects of giving are easy to explain and the wisdom behind them is clear. On the other hand some of these phenomena's are hard to explain. However Islam stresses that giving charity increases our wealth, and makes the mercy of Allah befall on us. The findings of this study signified that the major motives for giving are behavior, attitude, faith (belief), and education. And the outcomes of giving are God blessing, more rewards, and psychological comfort that can be perceived from happiness and joy of giving as well as self-satisfaction. Hence, it is highly advisable to look comprehensively at this topic and introduce an effective framework that can help people to have better understanding

Keywords: Waqf, Motives for Giving, Outcomes of Giving
An overview of the study

For centuries humans have taught that enormous benefits associated with giving, donating, and charitable behavior. In fact, religious teachings have long argued that giving behavior associates with personal satisfaction and leads to prosperity. In fact, creating Waqf is kind of charity which leads to draw a close relationship to God, if followed with good intention and sincere desire. Ibn al-Qayyim9 stated in Zādul Ma’ād regarding our Messenger Muhammad (PBH) that he was the most generous of people in giving charity, and that he did not think anything too valuable or anything too insignificant to give in charity. Rather if anyone was to ask for something then he (PBH) would give it to them. Whether it was little or whether it was great. His happiness and his joy in giving were greater than the joy of the one who was receiving that charity. This shows the tremendous Eemān (faith) that Allāh’s Messenger (PBH) had. This is because he hoped for the reward from Allāh (SWT), and he took the enjoyment in helping others as a mean to self-satisfaction. According to Anik et al.10 helping others takes countless forms and ensures countless motivations; from deep-rooted empathy to a more calculated desire for public recognition. Additionally, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al-Qahtani10,11stated that when a person does voluntary work for no reasons, there must be something in return, the return is not necessarily to be something material, but it may be something incorporeal; in the sense that he/she feels satisfied with oneself, feel that they are offering something to the community, and as a result he/she feels a psychological comfort.