ABSTRACT
This chapter explores Islam, poverty, and philanthropy in the Global South, first looking at how Islam maps onto the global population. While there is a significant focus on the Arab world, most Muslims live in Asia, with Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India being the largest population centers. This discussion is followed by an examination of how religious institutions and the Islamic faith shape the lives of the poor. The chapter showcases examples of how different religious institutions have drawn on theology to help the poor. Muslim institutions play an important role in helping the poor. Finally, we examine how zakat is collected and distributed in different parts of the world. Although the vast majority of Muslims rely on informal means of alleviating poverty through zakat, a growing number of governments are seeking to leverage zakat to alleviate poverty. Islam is not a monolithic religion, and the practice of zakat greatly varies depending on public policy, local tradition, and culture.
