A solution for poverty alleviation: Example of zakat fund

Poverty is one of Turkey's most important problem as in the world. Countries struggle with poverty and use various tools in their struggle. In this study, the definition of poverty was made and the issue of poverty in economic schools and Islam was examined. Poverty types, poverty and causes of poverty in the world, in Turkey and in Islamic countries are discussed. It was stated that poverty is an important problem in the Islamic countries and that one of the biggest deficiencies of Islamic countries in struggle against poverty is not to run the institution of zakat. Although Islam is the most basic instrument in struggle against poverty, Islamic countries cannot benefit from it as much as they can. The same is true for Turkey. In our study named "A Solution for Poverty Alleviation: Example of Zakat Fund", this deficiency is tried to be eliminated. There is the problem of poverty in Turkey and the state is struggling with this problem. The state is doing some work to reduce poverty. A variety of assistance is provided to the poor through GDSAS(General Directorate of Social Assistance and Solidarity) and some other public and private organizations to struggle poverty. But the most effective means of fighting against poverty in Islam is the use of intelligence. In our study, the establishment of an official charity fund in the state's surveillance and control in Turkey and the zakats collected through this fund, charity, the importance of using the revenues for poverty reduction were discussed. The importance of zakat in Islamic religion, zakat applications in history and today, especially the principles of collection and distribution of zakat in period the Hz. Ömer and of the Caliph of the Umayyad Ömer b. Abdülaziz were examined and thus if the application is made the same applies today in Turkey and in Islamic countries emphasized how to reduce poverty. To measure people's awareness of zakat in Turkey, to take respondents' opinions of about the zakat fund established by the state was conducted a survey in Sakarya. Easy sampling method was used in the survey, face to face meeting with the participants and and the survey results were interpreted.