Regaining Trust


Salik Bilal
Wednesday 4th of May 2022 06:04:41 AM
               

Regaining Trust

It is very unfortunate that the people who run the Islamic  institutions like Bait-al-Maal, orphanage houses ,madaris and welfare  foundations have lost their trust in the society. There can be many reasons behind this Trust deficit scenario but the big and the most genuine reason is that the people who are running these institutions do not let the people or donors know about the income and expenditures of the institutions they are running. Without making them doubtful it is worthy to note that the institutions they are running belong to Ummah, so every individual of ummah has right to ask them whether they are utilizing it properly or not .We have historical evidences from the Sirah of caliphs (Khulafha) that they were being questioned by a layman about the things which belong to public property .Hazrat Umar was interrupted during khutbah by a common companion RA .The story is like this:

"It was noon of a Friday. The faithful at Madina had gathered in the Prophet's mosque to offer the Friday prayers. Umar, the Caliph arrived to lead the prayers. He said his preliminary prayer and then proceeded to deliver his address to the congregation. He began by reciting some verses from the Holy Quran. Then addressing the congregation he said "Now listen".A young man from the congregation stood up to say, "We will not listen to you, until you give us the explanation that you owe to us."The people were startled at this audacious interference. Umar paused for a moment, and then turning to the young man said, "Explanation for what?"
The young man said "The other day each one of us obtained a piece of cloth from the Baitul Mal. Today I find two pieces of cloth on the person of the Caliph. I want to know what right had the Caliph to get a share twice the share of an ordinary Muslim."
Before Umar could explain, Abdullah the son of Umar rose up and said, "Friends, the truth of the matter is that like every other person my father and myself obtained a piece of cloth each from the Baitul Mal. My father is so tall that the piece of cloth that he got from the Baitul Mal did not suffice him. So I gave him my piece of the cloth".

This explanation satisfied every one. The young man who had interrupted the Caliph said, "We are satisfied. You can now proceed with your address. We will listen to you and, obey your commandments. (Ibn qutaybah,‘Uyun-al-Akhbaar,Ibn al-jawzi al-Hanbali,Sifat-as-safwah(1/203)
 

This story provides us a lesson that these people can regain trust by maintaining records and considering themselves accountable before one and all because they are managers not owners of these funds.I think every organisation should make it compulsory to audit their accounts by an independent body so that transparency can be maintained in this regard. If audit is done by the persons who belong to the same institution (dependent body) then this audit will in no case be considered a just one.

 


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