Welfare Services of Islamic Banks
Introduction
Welfare is a condition of having good health, comfortable living and pleasant working conditions (Hornby). Hence, it can be said that welfare services are those which ensure conditions of having good health, comfortable living and working conditions, which are generally one's basic needs. Islam views work as the primary means of earning and acquiring income and wealth. As such, a well-known example may be cited here, Recall a beggar who approached the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) for alms, he (the beggar) was asked to bring what he had in his house. Accordingly, the man brought a blanket. The Prophet (Pbuh) asked him to sell it out and buy an ax, which could then be used to cut wood from the jungle to sell at the market for income. Thus, instead of begging, he could be self-reliant which is more dignified life than begging. Therefore, in the Islamic way of life, productive and remunerative work (employment and self-employment) and consequently real income becomes the primary source for buying necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, household goods, transportation, fuel and medicines.
But if real income is not sufficient to purchase necessities of life, then welfare services become essential in a society to maintain the minimum standard of living of the people. In fact, in every society, there are many people who lack the necessary income and, consequently, face inadequate lifestyles due to unemployment and under-employment. Their condition cannot improve if welfare services remain absent and concentration wealth remains in certain segments of society. The Quran states the principle that "wealth should not circulate only among the rich" [59:7]. Irfan Ul Haq (1996, pp.170-71). opined that "this verse, revealed in the context of the utilization of state income, when read completely, asserts that such income besides being