Islam-Informed Causes and Effect of Cyber-Begging: A Field Study on Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region

Abstract

      This paper highlights cyber-begging as an online easy-to-take newly-emerged mean to collect money. To realize this topic, a descriptive research method was followed and three questionnaires were designed. The first questionnaire (22 items) raises the reasons of cyber-begging. The second questionnaire (12 items) addresses the negative effects of cyber-begging. The third questionnaire (9 items) suggests remedies and treatment to prevent cyber-begging. The three questionnaire were publicly circulated to the Duhok residents of all ages and levels in order to respond to the items included. In the first questionnaire, respondents choose unemployment as a top cause of cyber-begging. In the second questionnaire, respondents underlined immorality (prostitution) as a top effect of cyber-begging. The study finds that pure Islamic norms prevent such undesirable practices as begging. The study recommends that public and private parties should raise awareness on this negative practices as money-collecting means, and that public and state authorities should provide care for the homeless. .  

One of the advantages of this study is that the current research is unique in that it is a field study in Dohuk governorate and its suburbs in its content. According to the researcher’s knowledge of previous studies, there is no corresponding study in terms of form and content.