The Charitable Crescent : Politics of Aid in the Muslim World

Islamic Charity Under Suspicion': such headlines have become familiar since the attacks on the United States on 9.11. The Charitable Crescent is a unique and original account of a hitherto little-known field of pivotal significance to our understanding of the Muslim world today: the relationship between politics and philanthropy in the workings of Islamic charities. Based on years of research, Jonathan Benthall and Jerome Bellion-Jourdan explain the long tradition of philanthropy in Muslim history and how it is constantly adapted to differing political contexts. The pervasive connections between charity and politics in the Middle East demonstrate how naive it is to think of humanitarianism as a sphere distinct from politics. The Charitable Crescent covers all aspects of this topic that has become so relevant in today's world: who is entitled to benefit from Muslim alms? Can material relief aid be de-linked from political, or sometimes even violent, action? How can public trust (both Western and Islamic) in welfare delivery systems be won? Who is entitled to interpret Islamic doctrine? Is there one universal tradition of humanitarianism, or many traditions defined by cultural history? This book offers rich practical insights highly relevant to today's highly tense international climate, and also encourages the reader to challenge the common Western assumption that 'we' are the exclusive providers of aid to rescue a passive Third World. Islamic Charity Under Suspicion': such headlines have become familiar since the attacks on the United States on 9.11. The Charitable Crescent is a unique and original account of a hitherto little-known field of pivotal significance to our understanding of the Muslim world today: the relationship between politics and philanthropy in the workings of Islamic charities. Based on years of research, Jonathan Benthall and Jerome Bellion-Jourdan explain the long tradition of philanthropy in Muslim history and how it is constantly adapted to differing political contexts. The pervasive connections between charity and politics in the Middle East demonstrate how naïve it is to think of humanitarianism as a sphere distinct from politics. The Charitable Crescent covers all aspects of this topic that has become so relevant in today's world: who is entitled to benefit from Muslim alms? Can material relief aid be de-linked from political, or sometimes even violent, action? How can public trust (both Western and Islamic) in welfare delivery systems be won? Who is entitled to interpret Islamic doctrine? Is there one universal tradition of humanitarianism, or many traditions defined by cultural history? This book offers rich practical insights highly relevant to today's highly tense international climate, and also encourages the reader to challenge the common Western assumption that'we'are the exclusive providers of aid to rescue a passive Third World.'Interesting, rewarding and timely - this is an important book'-'Caroline Moorhead.' Since 9/11, Islamic charities have been in the firing line. Some portray the entire sector as a conduit for terrorist financing. In this new updated edition of their groundbreaking work, Jerome Bellion-Jourdan and Jonathan Benthall provide a radical new perspective on the whole issue of aid and Islamic finance. They explore the social and political history of zakat and waqf, and in so doing challenge Western assumptions about the nature of humanitarianism. The authors outline the impact of the 'War on Terror', and argue that obstacles set up against financial transfers in conflict zones can have the unintended result of driving terrorist financing further underground, as well as depriving victims of much needed assistance. Islamic charities will continue to play a pivotal role in world politics as they respond to crises in the Middle East, Pakistan, Indonesia and elsewhere. This thoughtful and meticulously researched book is the one indispensable guide to the issues surrounding this complicated and misunderstood phenomenon.-- Provided by publisher Annotation Since 9/11, Islamic charities have been in the firing line. Some portray the entire sector as a conduit for terrorist financing. In this new updated edition of their groundbreaking work, Jerôme Bellion-Jourdan and Jonathan Benthall provide a radical new perspective on the whole issue of aid and Islamic finance. They explore the social and political history of zakat and waqf, and in so doing challenge Western assumptions about the nature of humanitarianism. The authors outline the impact of the "War on Terror," and argue that obstacles set up against financial transfers in conflict zones can have the unintended result of driving terrorist financing further underground, as well as depriving victims of much needed assistance. Islamic charities will continue to play a pivotal role in world politics as they respond to crises in the Middle East, Pakistan, Indonesia and elsewhere. This thoughtful and meticulously researched book is the one indispensable guide to the issues surrounding this complicated and misunderstood phenomenon Historical-Jesus research continues to captivate the interests of scholars, and recently, there has been renewed discussion of the criteria for authenticity. The first half of this volume reviews the state of play in historical-Jesus research and examines the criteria in particular. One chapter is devoted to the so-called 'Quests', and a second critically charts the development of the criteria in the light of form criticism. One of the conclusions of this part of the volume is that several criteria, especially those based on linguistics, need re-evaluation. The second half of the volume proposes three new criteria, based upon use of the Greek language. These criteria Greek language and its context; textual variance; and discourse features. The criteria are proposed as a way forward in historical-Jesus research. Part I. Previous Discussion. Chap. 1. The 'third Quest' For The Historical Jesus And The Criteria For Authenticity -- Chap. 2. Historical Development Of The Criteria For Authenticity And The Rise Of Form (and Redaction) Criticism -- Chap. 3. Recent Developments In The Criteria For Authenticity. Part Ii. New Proposals. .chap. 4. The Criterion Of Greek Language And Its Context Excursus : A Response To Maurice Casey On The Language Of Jesus -- Chap. 5. The Criterion Of Greek Textual Variance : Excursus: Corrections To Two Recent Papers -- Chap. 6. The Criterion Of Discourse Features. Conclusion. Stanley E. Porter. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Acknowledgments -- Notes on transliteration and translation Preface -- Introduction Financial Worship Waqf and Islamic finance: two resources for charity Red Crescent politics Helping the 'brothers': the medic, the militant and the fighter NGOs in the contemporary Muslim world Western versus Islamic aid? International Muslim charities and humanitarian aid in Sudan The Balkans case: transnational Islamic networks in Bosnia-Herzegovina -- Conclusion Abbreviations Glossary of Islamic and Arabic terms -- Notes Postscript -- Bibliography -- Index "In this new updated edition of their groundbreaking work, Jonathan Benthall and Jerome Bellion-Jourdan provide a radical new perspective on the whole issue of aid and Islamic finance. This thoughtful and meticulously researched book is the one indispensable guide to the issues surrounding this complicated and misunderstood phenomenon."--Jacket Since 9/11, Islamic charities have been in the firing line. Some portray the entire sector as a conduit for terrorist financing. This book offers a radical perspective on the issue of aid and Islamic finance. It explores the social and political history of zakat and waqf, and challenges Western assumptions about the nature of humanitarianism.