BASIC FOOD AID: A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE BETWEEN MALAYSIAS FOOD BANK AND IMARET DURING THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

The Covid-19 pandemic that first emerged at the end of 2019 has had a huge impact on the world economy and social life. In Malaysia, innumerable people faced unemployment problems and this led to an increase in the number of poverty-stricken individuals, especially in urban areas. Hence, through the initiative of several individuals and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), food banks were established in numerous locations to help communities in need of food aid and basic necessities. According to Islamic history, such forms of food aid had existed throughout the Ottoman era in efforts to deal with the problem of food shortage caused by poverty, natural disasters or war. Therefore, this study aimed to examine and discuss the comparison of food banks created based on the concept and implementation of waqf institutions, which is akin to imaret (or darüzziyafe) initiated during the Ottoman empire in times of pandemics, natural disasters or any kind of dire situation affecting the population. This qualitative study analysed literature from previous studies. Findings indicated that there are several similarities in the general concept between contemporary food banks established in Malaysia and the imaret that existed during the Ottoman empire. Both these initiatives involve an allocation of funds for purchasing food which is then given away free to the need in the community. The financial assistance is provided by individual funds intended solely for the purpose of charity. However, there are differences in terms of implementation by these two institutions, such as the period of existence, method of assistance, distribution of aid, method of distribution and different allocation of funds. In conclusion, the establishment of food banks and imaret have an important role in times of an urgency, such as during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as in other catastrophic situations. The role of this current institution should be expanded so that the affordable sections of the community can implement the food bank concept to help those in need.