The Waswahili Community Trust UK (Wadhamini wa Jumuiya ya Waswahili)

Meaning and significance of trust and trusteeship in Islam

"Indeed Allah commands you that you restore deposits to their owners and if you judge between mankind, you should judge justly. Indeed, Allah gives you very good advice. Allah is ever hearing and seeing."

Surah An-Nisa ( verse 58. )

The circumstances in which this verse was revealed are very interesting. We know that before the conquest of Mecca, the keys for the house of Allah were kept by Uthman bin-Talha.

At the time of the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet Mohammad asked Uthman bin-Talha to hand him over the keys. Uthman bin-Talha gave them reluctantly saying that it is (trust) with you.

The Prophet Mohammad opened the House of Allah and removed all the idols from it. At that time his uncle Abbas and Ali requested that these keys be kept in the fmily.

The prophet Mohammad did not give them the keys. As narrated by Umar, the Prophet came out of the house of Allah reciting verse 58 of Sura An-Nissa.

He handed the keys back to to Uthman bin-Talha. This surprised Uthman, since the Holy Prophet as a conqueror, could keep these keys for good. Uthaman bi-Talha was highly moved by the character of the Prophet Mohammad and immediately accepted Islam.

Ana narrated that the Prophet Mohammad always insisted on fulfilling the convenants. Anas said that the prophet Mohammad rarely gave a speech (khutbah) in which he did not mention the following:

• "He who betrays his trust, does not have an iota of faith in him."
• "He who breaks a promise, has no sense of Ilamic life."

Source: Speeches for an Inquiring Mind - Imtiaz Ahmad M. Sc., M. Phil. (London.)

What are the qualities needed to be a trustee?

"We recommend that trustees be selected for what they can contribute to the charity. They ought not be appointed for their staus or position in the community alone: this is the function of patrons. Trustees need to be able and willing - to give time to the efficient administration of the charity and the fulfilment of the its trusts. We recommended that they be selected on the basis of their relevant experience and skills and need to be prepared to take an active part in the running of the charity."

Charity Commission - Responsibilities of the Charity Trustees - Booklet CC3, p.4-p.5 September 1999.

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Copyright© March 2003: The Waswahili Community Trust (UK)
Registered Charity:1083065

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