Investing in Social Security Systems
Adil Salahi, Arab News
Question
A company in the Philippines operates a social security system in which a person pays a monthly contribution, until he retires at the age of 60 or over. He will then receive a monthly income, which is unknown at present, but will be above his monthly contributions. Is this permissible?
Answer
This is not different from the pension schemes operated by governments, employers or private companies. What you need to do is to make sure that the company is worth investing with, so that you do not run into trouble with your investment. It is an important aspect of social security to provide people with means of income when they have reached an age when they can no longer work for their living, or to provide for their families when they die. Governments operate pension schemes for their employees. But not all people are employed by the government or by big companies that operate such schemes. Such people need to find a means to help them in similar circumstances. Hence the need for private pension schemes.
To reassure you about the validity of these schemes I add that practically all Islamic universities in the Muslim world operate them, including Al-Azhar, the Islamic universities in Makkah, Madinah and Riyadh, the Saudi government, etc.
It is only natural that people should get more than what they pay in such a scheme, because by nature the scheme is cooperative, and the contributions people make over many years are invested and yield profits. Some people may not get their money back, because they die early, and leave no dependents, while others get much more because they live long. But this is acceptable.
Friday Prayer in English
Question
I have recently moved to the UK to pursue my studies. Friday prayer is offered in the university, but I wonder whether the practice of giving the khutbah in English is acceptable. I find this strange. May I also ask whether it is permissible to offer Maghrib prayer only a short while before Isha, if one has missed it at the appropriate time because of a lecture or some urgent business.
Answer
Islam requires the Muslim community to hold the midday prayer on Friday in congregation, and that it should be preceded by a speech in which the imam discusses some issues that are important to the community, the general situation of the Muslims, and reminds his audience of their duties to God, and the Day of Judgment. For the congregation to benefit by the khutbah, or the sermon, it must be delivered in a language they understand. If the congregation, or a clear majority, is composed of people who do not speak Arabic, what benefit would they have if the imam gives his sermon in Arabic? The very purpose of the sermon will be defeated.
In universities and colleges, the sermon is given in English because it is the common language understood by those who attend. This is the proper way. Unfortunately, in most mosques in the UK, and other places as well, the sermon is given in Arabic when only a small percentage of the audience understands it. It is often the case that the imam himself does not understand Arabic. He reads the sermon from a book, and makes it very short. In most cases, it is given in less than four minutes.
I myself attended in some of these mosques, and in one of them the sermon took less than two minutes for both parts together. Ninety percent of the audience could not understand a word. Even Arabic- speaking people might not understand because of the speed with which it is delivered. This is a poor reflection on the status of the Muslims today. Wherever the community does not speak Arabic, the sermon should be in its own language. Thus, it should be delivered in Turkish or Urdu or Malay, according to what is spoken locally.
Some schools of thought severely limit the time range of Maghrib prayer, allowing it only within a brief time range after it becomes due. Other schools of thought extend its time range to the moment when Isha becomes due. Each view has its evidence. It is always better to offer one’s prayer at the beginning of its time, but when one has some difficulty, it is better to resort to the easier view. God always wants what is easier for people, as He has stated in the Qur’an.
AB Withheld62@yahoo. com "For to us will be their return; then it will be for us to call them to account." (Holy Quran 88:25-26)
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