gender differential paper IJCRB

ijcrb.webs.com
JUNE 2011
INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH IN BUSINESS VOL 3, NO 2
population, usually through unemployment insurance, old-age pensions, and other social-security
measures”.
In modern era, the term “Welfare” is taken as a form of financial or other aid provided to needy
people and can take several forms as the Welfare systems differ from country to country
(Welfare , 2011).
In the developed states, the welfare services are the sole responsibility of state and mostly
provided by the government authorities. It may also be organized by charities; informal social
groups; religious groups; or inter-governmental organizations. Welfare services are usually
provided to individuals who are unemployed, sick, or those with disability, the aged and elderly
people and other destitute and underprivileged sections of the society (Spicker).
The states where the welfare of its citizen is owned and ensured are known as welfare states. A
welfare state is a concept of government where “State” plays the primary role in the protection
and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles
of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those
unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life. The general term may cover
a variety of forms of economic and social organization” (Welfare State, 2011).
There are some other schools of thoughts which have been criticizing the welfare state, arguing
that such a system will make citizens dependent and less inclined to work. According to
socialists, allowances and concessions are made by the capitalist class in order to keep the
working and middle class away from socialism (Encyclopedia of Marxism, 2011).
Another criticism on the concept is that these welfare states allegedly provide its citizens with a
similar level of income to the minimum wage arguing that scamming, fraud and economic
immobility are apparently quite common now in the United Kingdom and France. It is also
criticized that welfare services provided by the state are more expensive and less efficient than
the same services would be if provided by private businesses (Welfare State, 2011).
However, several studies substantiate that there is no connection between economic performance
and welfare expenditure in developed countries, rejecting that welfare states impede progressive
social development (Goodin, 1999).
The idea of welfare state is substantiated by the historic role of the Islamic community. It
necessarily takes into consideration the will of the people to execute prescribed goals of the
community. This, however, is complemented with the perennial institutions of Zakat, Sadqat,
Bait-ul-mall, Khariat and Fitra. The state is required to assume the functions of preserving,
energizing and expanding the culture of the society and to build the personality of the individual
within the framework of the Islamic values. It is supposed to put in place institutions and
mechanisms that ensure the well being and welfare of the weaker and indigent sections of
society. The socio-economic securities are held not only as sacred duties which must be
accomplished for social justice, equality and equity but also built in within institutional
framework organized and coordinated with due regard to the exigencies of life. Bait-ul-Mall (an
Islamic Treasury) is instituted in which Zakat, Sadaqat and other gifts are deposited and
delivered to the needy and deserving people.
According to Islam, the ruler of a state is made responsible of wellbeing of its citizen. As the
Prophet (SWS) has categorically declared that “Any ruler who is responsible for the affairs of
Muslims but does not strive sincerely for their well-being will not enter Paradise with them”
(Muslim, 875). This guiding principle of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was followed by his
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