taawun

Taawun, written cooperatively as ta'awun (Arabic تعاون), means mutual cooperation or mutual assistance. It denotes a collective ethic of helping one another to achieve good and prevent harm. The term comes from the Arabic root ع-و-ن (a-wn), related to aid and support, with ta'awun meaning acting together in support of others.

In Islamic thought, ta'awun is a central moral principle found in the Qur'an and Hadith. The Qur'an commands believers to "cooperate in righteousness and piety" (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:2). It is commonly understood as a social duty to assist neighbors, the poor, the vulnerable, and the wider community, while avoiding cooperation in wrongdoing. The Prophet Muhammad also urged mutual support among Muslims and described the believers as a single body: when one part suffers, the whole body feels pain.

This concept encompasses various forms of mutual aid, including charitable giving, volunteer work, lending, shared resources, community funds, disaster relief, and collaborative development. It is often framed as ta'awun bil-ma'ruf (cooperation in what is recognized as righteousness) rather than ta'awun 'ala al-ithm (cooperation in wrongdoing).

In modern contexts, taawun informs charitable organizations, social safety programs, and non-governmental efforts that mobilize collective action for welfare. It supports both voluntary communal initiatives and formal institutions designed to reduce poverty, support education and health, and respond to emergencies, provided they comply with ethical and legal norms.

See also: mutual aid, social welfare, ummah, justice.