The Islamic Welfare State: Muslim Charity, Human Security, and Government Legitimacy in Pakistan

Description

The Islamic Welfare State explains the relationship between government legitimacy, everyday security, and lived Islam in Pakistan—a major Muslimmajority country. Its humanitarian spirit makes Islam a compelling, communitystrengthening faith, which motivates people to provide essential services to the needy and to foster moral sentiments that build social solidarity. This challenges the legitimacy of government that focuses on ‘protecting Islam’ and ‘national security’ rather than enhancing the lives of ordinary people. The book surveys the four kinds of Islamic charities—traditional, professional, partisan, and state. The focus is on ground realities, on the activities of welfare workers and beneficiaries, mostly patients and students from low-income families. The attention to the different political sentiments, which different kinds of charity foster, allows us to better understand politics and political change in Pakistan and across the Muslim world.

Candland takes us on a transformative journey, weaving together heartfelt stories, deep research, and political understanding.

Noryn Ali
Former Secretary, Baithak Schools Network

Candland’s goodwill and sincerity gave him access to charitable activities across Pakistan, allowing him to see humanitarianism in practice.

Qibla Ayaz
Chairman, Council of Islamic Ideology,
Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Author Biography

Christopher Candlandis a professor of political science and the founding director of the South Asia Studies Program at Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA. He has been a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. To research The Islamic Welfare State, Candland traveled across Pakistan over sixty weeks, visiting more than 100 Muslim charities.