A Comparative Study of the Poverty Extent of Shariah (Religious Jurisprudence)

Although the phenomenon of poverty is an economic fact in many countries, at the same time it indicates the existence of irregularities and non-standard social and economic environments. Policy makers and economics utilize different approaches both to justify and battle against poverty. Islamic jurisprudence as well has notable remarks on the subject. Welfarism, capabilities and desert approaches are regarded as three dominant approaches in economic literature and welfare economics. After explaining determining remarks of poverty extent in Shariah, the above mentioned approaches are compared with sufficiency approach which is claimed to express religious stance. In addition to description, analysis and bibliographic references, the method of enquiry in this paper is based on the theories of welfare economics and jurisprudential rules. The description of fixed aspects of religious poverty extent and the rivalry potency of some of its elements with main conventional approaches to poverty constitute what this paper claims and triesto prove.