Review of The Islamic Welfare State

[Justin Christensen]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Islamic Welfare State" by Christopher Candland.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The Islamic Welfare State by Christopher Candland is, at first glance, a scholarly study of Muslim charity, focused on Pakistan. After reading the book, I believe it is much more than that. Candland has put an enormous amount of work into the writing and composition of this book in order, I believe, to make it accessible to the widest possible audience.

The book is broken into five parts, each of which could likely be a standalone book of its own. Part one is the introduction, in which Candland provides the framework necessary to read and understand the other four parts. This section explains the concept of the Islamic welfare state and gives a brief overview of the other four parts broadly and each chapter individually. Parts two and three show off the author’s background, discussing the roles of government and social welfare, and then providing a broad overview of both Pakistan and Islam. All of this information is essential to understanding the case studies and Candland’s conclusions and inferences.

Part four begins with a discussion on faith and the reasons for charitable giving and work and then dives into the research itself. To write this book, Candland personally visited nearly two hundred charities in Pakistan. Those visits were the source material for the case studies in part four, which specifically discuss different subgroups of charitable organizations. Detailed descriptions are given of various traditional, professional, political (non-government-run), and government-owned charitable organizations in Pakistan, along with conclusions about each group. Part five describes the author’s conclusions and inferences drawn from the data presented in the rest of the book.

I love to read books that teach me something new, and this one accomplishes that without feeling like a chore. The amount of information packed into these pages is, frankly, staggering, and the editing is exceptionally well done. I picked it up with very little knowledge about Pakistan or charity work as a whole, and I walked away filled with information and opinions that my wife is now quite tired of hearing about. I wholeheartedly rate The Islamic Welfare State five out of five stars. It is not a light read, by any means, but you will not regret the time or the effort you will spend with this book.

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The Islamic Welfare State
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[Yasmine ZM]

The book is well-researched and informative. I like that the author is aiming at reaching a wider audience. But I wish the book wasn't limited to case studies in Pakistan alone; it would have been interesting to include other countries practicing this Islamic Welfare.

[Louis Donald]

The depth of research and personal experience Candland brought to this study sounds impressive. It’s great that the book not only educates but also makes complex topics accessible, especially for someone like me with little prior knowledge on the subject. I’m sure it offers a fascinating and thorough look at charity work in Pakistan and the Islamic welfare state.

[Pearl Flourish]

It’s impressive how much research went into this, especially with the author personally visiting so many charities. It sounds like a deep and eye-opening look at the intersection of faith, social welfare, and governance.

[George Bastem]

It's impressive how much research went into this, especially with the author's firsthand visits to charities. Sounds like a deep and eye-opening look at welfare, faith, and social structures in Pakistan.

[Mark Lazarus]

This sounds like a well-researched and deeply informative book, especially for anyone interested in social welfare, governance, or the intersection of religion and charity. I appreciate books that dive into complex topics without feeling like a chore to read, and the fact that the author visited nearly 200 charities adds a layer of credibility and depth.

That said, I’d have to be in the right mindset for something so dense and academic. But if I were looking to expand my knowledge on charity work in different cultural and religious contexts, I’d definitely consider picking it up.