Zulfan Nabrisah, Ahmad Fajar Shodik, Imamuddin Imamuddin

Poverty in The Qur'an: A Thematic Study of Verses on Poverty Through a Cultural-Structural Approach

Introduction

Poverty in the qur'an: a thematic study of verses on poverty through a cultural-structural approach. A thematic study of poverty in the Qur'an, using a cultural-structural approach. Examines causes like laziness & neoliberalism, offering Qur'anic solutions for a just society.

Abstract

Poverty has been a persistent problem since ancient times. In Indonesia, poverty rates continue to fluctuate. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of impoverished individuals as of March 2023 was 25.90 million out of a total population of 278.8 million. It is essential to continue examining why poverty persists globally today, especially since Islam has provided extensive guidance on this issue within the Qur’an. Motivated by these facts, the author has explored poverty from the Qur’anic perspective using Abd al Hayy al Farmawi's thematic interpretation method, analyzed with sociology through cultural and structural approaches. Culturally, several causes of poverty have been identified: first, laziness and lack of perseverance; second, consumptive, inefficient, and stingy behaviors; third, individual destruction; and fourth, a lack of knowledge and education. Structurally, the causes include neoliberalism, capitalism, monopolies, social discrimination, and the arrogance of power. Qur’anically prescribed countermeasures culturally include genuine endeavor, a lifestyle of frugality, efficiency, wisdom, individual reconstruction, and education. Structurally, government intervention is required. The proposed solutions include the prohibition of monopolies, the establishment of justice, and pro-poor policies.

Review

This paper tackles the enduring and critical issue of poverty, placing it within both a global context and the specific challenges faced by Indonesia. The chosen methodology, which combines Abd al Hayy al Farmawi's thematic interpretation of the Qur'an with a sociological cultural-structural analysis, is particularly promising. This interdisciplinary approach offers a potentially rich framework for understanding the complex origins of poverty and for deriving actionable solutions, grounding contemporary social issues in the extensive guidance provided by Islamic scriptures. The motivation to explore why poverty persists despite such guidance sets a compelling and highly relevant research agenda. The abstract effectively outlines a comprehensive set of findings, categorizing both the causes and countermeasures of poverty into distinct cultural and structural dimensions. On the cultural front, the identification of factors such as laziness, consumptive behavior, and lack of education is insightful. Simultaneously, the structural analysis points to systemic issues like neoliberalism, capitalism, monopolies, and the arrogance of power. Correspondingly, the proposed solutions range from individual virtues like genuine endeavor and frugality to broader structural interventions, including government action, the establishment of justice, and pro-poor policies. This dual perspective is a significant strength, demonstrating how a Qur'anic lens can inform both personal ethical conduct and wider socio-economic policy. While the abstract provides a strong overview, a full paper would benefit from a more detailed elaboration on several key areas. Specifically, a deeper dive into the exact Qur'anic verses examined and the intricacies of al Farmawi's interpretative method would enhance the methodological rigor. Further clarification on how the sociological cultural and structural approaches are operationalized and integrated with the Qur'anic text would also be valuable. Finally, exploring the practical implications of these findings for specific policy formulation in Indonesia, perhaps through case studies or more concrete examples of government intervention and pro-poor policies, would significantly strengthen the paper's real-world impact and its contribution to the ongoing fight against poverty.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.