The New World Order of Islam — Page 101
New World Order 101 purpose. The responsibilities of a civilized State have increased manifold in recent years. In the past, the main functions of the State were to provide for the defence of the country, maintain internal security, establish educational institution, hospitals and means of communication etc. , and to embark upon beneficent activities the necessity of which may become manifest from time to time. The relief of poverty and distress was not looked upon as one of the functions of the State. This was left to private charity and enterprise. But private charity and enterprise have failed to make adequate provision for the purpose, so poverty and distress continue to multiply. It is now urged and is beginning to be recognised that it is the duty of the State to make adequate provision in respect of these matters. Islam has from the very beginning laid down this duty for the State. That being so, it must either be shown that the institution of Zakat can adequately meet these demands, or it must be explained what other provision Islam has made in this behalf. This is an important problem and we must address ourselves seriously to its solution. Had it not been claimed that Islam makes the State responsible for adequate provision in this behalf, it would not have been obligatory upon us to discover the solution of this problem in the Islamic teaching itself. The problem would have been dealt with as a new social