Towards a historical sociology of almsgiving in "South African Islam"
Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pieter de Waal Neetlhling Trust
Abstract
In human history it is not uncommon for religious ideas to shape the behavioural attitude of actors within it. This paper finds its influences in Max Weber’s seminal essay The Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. The quest of this paper is to investigate the formations of different forms of Islam in South Africa and how the ideas of early historical Islam at the Cape influences attitudes toward charity (sadaqa) and obligatory almsgiving (zakah). The Cape Islamic tradition is contrasted against the more doctrinal form of the religion in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. The methodology employed is historical-sociology which, in this case study, allows further comparison with the Dutch Reformed Church in the region and its attitude toward the “poor whites”. Conclusionary remarks are offered after three prominent Islamic organisations involved in Islamic forms of charity are investigated.
Description
CITATION: Begg, R. 2012. Towards a historical sociology of almsgiving in "South African Islam". Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif, 53:217-230, doi:10.5952/53-0-208.
The original publication is available at http://ngtt.journals.ac.za
The original publication is available at http://ngtt.journals.ac.za
Keywords
Calvinism, Islam, Islam -- South Africa, Poverty, Weber, Max, 1864-1920
Citation
Begg, R. 2012. Towards a historical sociology of almsgiving in "South African Islam". Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif, 53:217-230, doi:10.5952/53-0-208.