Importance of Voluntary Service

Kamaluddin Ali MuhammadAga Khan University

16-04-2009

Acknowledgment

I sincerely thankMr. Imtiaz R. Umatiya

for his help in preparing this presentation

Unity and diversity of human race

“O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord, Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from the twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women.” (4:1)

“O mankind! Lo we have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Lo! The noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.” (49:13)

Unity and diversity of human race

Human brotherhood

Some Inspiring Messages

When you shift from a compulsion to survive toward a commitment to serve others, your life cannot help but explode into success. (Anonymous)

Happiness comes from devoting your life to helping others…the hand that gives is the hand that gathers, and giving begins the receiving process. (Anonymous)

Finding of a Study

One study shows that “people who were in better physical and mental health were more likely to volunteer, and conversely that volunteer work was good for both mental and physical health. People of all ages who volunteered were happier and experienced better physical health and less depression”

(Volunteer Vacations by Patricia Griffin Kellicker.)

Helping Allah

The concept of helping Allah “O ye who believe! If ye help Allah,

He will help you and will make your foothold firm.” (47:07)

“O ye who believe! Be Allah’s helpers, even as Jesus son of Mary said unto the disciples: Who are my helpers for Allah? They said: we are Allah’s helpers.” (61:14)

Law of giving and receiving

God is Good and source of all goodness Tukhalliqū bi akhlāqillāh “embellish

yourselves with the attributes of Allah” God is the Giver He encourages giving and sharing Giving or sharing brings humankind in

harmony with nature and God What you give will be returned

manifold. Give what you wish to receive

Service in the ethics of Islam

Believers are brothers, so make peace between your brothers. (Quran, 49:10)

A Muslim is a brother to another Muslim (Hadith)

Some fundamental Islamic ethics

Human brotherhood Generosity Kindness Forgiveness Sharing Care for the needy, poor, sick,

aged, weak.

Service is a blessing

How to Encourage & Sustain Volunteers

Practice Meritocracy Encouragement; be kind to the

juniors Be generous in appreciation and

recognition Praise in public, discipline in private Delegate authority Transparency

Consultation, no power stronger than consultation

Input of knowledge for growth Do not suppress or hide credits of

others Avoid personal preferences and biases Solve issues through ethics rather than

through power and authority

Encourage & Sustain Volunteers cont…

Creativity

Welcome ideas Encourage ideas Listen to ideas No blinkers

Family Life Not to Suffer

Family life should not suffer for the sake of service

Sacrifice with understanding and consent.

Accountability

Accountability is a must No responsibility without

answerability Judicious use of resources

Service with a smile

To the people be humble, polite, courteous, smiling

"If you meet a person without a smile, give him one of yours.” (Anonymous)

Service with humility Enjoy the happiness of serving No craving for recognition, let

recognition follow you.

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