There has been a rapid proliferation or mushrooming of social organizations within our society. This phenomenon often occurs in response to various social or economic needs and trends. While these organizations lead to increased diversity of approaches and solutions to societal challenges, it also poses challenges such as competition for resources, fragmentation of efforts, and duplication of services. Effective coordination and collaboration among these organizations are essential for maximizing their collective impact.
Nevertheless, effective financial control within such social organizations not only ensures prudent use of resources but also enhances organizational credibility, trust, and long-term sustainability. It enables organizations to fulfill their mission effectively while maintaining the confidence of stakeholders and the public.
Financial control within social organizations is crucial for ensuring transparency, accountability, and sustainability. Financial control typically operates within proper Budgeting and Planning, Financial Policies and Procedures, Internal Controls, Accounting and Reporting and Audit and External Oversight.
Many social organizations undergo external audits conducted by independent auditors to assess the accuracy and integrity of their financial statements. Audits provide assurance to stakeholders and donors regarding the organization’s financial management practices and internal controls. Transparency and integrity must be the hallmark of Muslim social and educational Organisations. They can learn from the corporate world, as corporate leaders also demonstrate integrity. The Muslim community has thousands of registered Trusts and social organisations with budget running into millions of rupees. The local and overseas communities are financing them through donations, Zakaat and other funds.
Regrettable, in organisations that receive Financial Aid or free air tickets to its members from overseas are those where are less transparency, accountability, and merely no meritocracy. Unfortunately, many of these get inflicted with low morale, stagnancy and lack of trust. The public image of these trusts and organisation is not better than any political party. Sadly, many such NGOs have fall into oblivion. The community relies on them, heavily for assistance, healthcare and education. However, the performance of these social and educational organisations will decide the future of our community.
To achieve the objective of uplifting the community, these social organisations must have the right spirit and trust where members can express their highest qualities and values at the organisation level as well as at home and in our communities. When people are in touch with their spirit and are encouraged to express it, the organisation becomes a thriving community infused with a commitment to quality, enthusiasm, honesty, respect, creativity, integrity, openness and compassion.
By contrast, very few Muslim social and educational organisations have the culture and spirit as defined by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). The symptoms of repressed spirit show up as apathy, low morale, gossip and back-biting, fear, turf battles and power plays. We are living such trauma with regular press articles in respect of Muslim Trusts and Educational organisations. It is no wonder that more and more Muslim social organisations will finding it difficult to raise finance for their future projects as the financiers no longer have faith in their capability. Transparency must be given importance by these Muslim social and educational organisations.
So, lost trust of the financiers and the community can be gained by promoting integrity through transparency. Another factor which is going against the Muslim social and educational organisations is the culture of back-biting and gossip. It is so rampant that it kills the very spirit of these organisations.
Now, what to do about gossip. Gossip requires a talker and a listener. If no one listens then he or she cannot gossip. It is up to each individual to make the choice to participate, or not, in this past time. In breaking free of the practice of gossiping, we could apply the four-way test regarding the information received and passed on to others:-
- Is it true?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
The creator says: “O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, in deeds some suspicions are sins. And spy not neither back-bite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear God, verily, God is the one who accepts repentance, Most Merciful.” (49: 12).
Prophet Muhammad said: “Do you know what back-biting is?” They said, “God and His Messenger know best.” He then said, “It is to say something about your brother that he would dislike.” Someone asked him, “But what if what I say is true?” The Messenger of God said, “If what you say about him is true, you are backbiting him, but if it is not true then you have slandered him.”
Muslims cannot afford to see these social and educational organisations fail or stagnate. The world scenario is changing at a rapid pace. We have to keep pace with it. The community needs to debate on how to achieve excellence in the functioning and growth of these social and educational organisations.
Bashir Nuckchady
