Excerpt: In Muslim societies philanthropic giving is an integral part of life. In Indonesia, for example, a study found that most giving is for religious reasons.
The Muslim tradition of zakat is a form of obligatory giving; sadaqa is voluntary giving and, according to the Koran, is about giving discretely “to those in need rather than for the purpose of public acknowledgement”. A third type of giving, waqf, is a form of giving that has value beyond the given object itself, or the life of the person who gave it, for example a piece of land or a school.
Organizations like Aga Khan Foundation which promotes development in the poorest parts of Asia and East Africa, describes itself as a “modern vehicle for traditional philanthropy” and has a presence in 30 countries.
via IRIN Global | Tapping into a tradition of giving | Global | Aid Policy | Economy | Governance.
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