Author: Mohammad Esmayil Alizahi
Islamic Economic System (4th part)
In any economic system, the policies that are carried out to achieve the goals of that system are usually based on the principles accepted in that system. In the Islamic economic system, it is not possible to draw and implement financial, monetary and income policies to achieve its desired goals in any way, but it is limited to the principles that have been determined by the Holy Sharia. Some of these principles are:
1) Policymaking based on public interests
2) Economic freedom
3) Balance. Avoid extravagance and stinginess
4) Justice
5) Mixing with spiritual matters
6) Prohibition of interest and usury
7) Preservation of the environment
8) Originality (Tawaman) Originality of the individual and the community
9) Cooperation
10) Prohibition of exploitation
11) Tolerance and ease
Some of the principles of Economic policies have been explained in previous articles in this series under the title of the components of Islamic economic system.
General objectives of the implementation of Islamic economic policies
For political purposes in Islamic economy, we can enumerate some cases, although these cases can be discussed and disputed:
1) Economic independence
2) Establishment or stability of the guardian
3) Providing full employment
4) Economic growth
5) Income redistribution
6) Human freedom
7) infrastructure investments
8) Provision of budget
9) Economic prosperity
10) Economic development
11) Poverty alleviation
12) Ensuring the basic economic rights of citizens
13) Reducing the economic gap between regions
I will briefly explain some of the goals of economic policies in the Islamic economic system:
Economic Independence
Economic independence constitutes the most important goal of Islamic economy, because one of the main goals of the Islamic economic system is to realize economic growth and, as a result, provide the welfare of the Islamic Ummah.
Therefore, the Islamic economic system should not be dependent on other societies, especially non-Islamic societies, in planning and implementing economic plans and goals, and in securing its economic interests, but should be able to do all its economic affairs completely freely and without interference from foreign countries…
The Establishment or stability of the Prices
The stability of Prices means that the stability of prices is one of the important goals of economic policy. Because the rise and fall of prices negatively affects all economic activities and disrupts the basis of estimating the consumption plans of families and production enterprises, as well as the production and consumption plans of the government, and as a result disrupts the flow of economic events as a whole.
Providing full employment
Full employment is one of the most basic economic and social needs. Therefore, it is one of the duties of the Islamic government to fight against unemployment as much as possible and prepare the ground for full employment, without which economic growth and social welfare are not possible. Because the government is considered as the highest bearer of economic policy in a society, therefore, it should not hesitate to make any efforts alongside the private economy and as its supplement and complement in this case.
Economic Growth
Economic growth is another important goal of Islamic economic policies. Because it is this economic growth that creates the conditions for improving the living standards of humans and especially Muslims. As Allah Almighty says in this case: <هُوَ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا> “He created you from the earth and settled in it” (Surah Hud, verse 61). Make him responsible for the development of the earth. Therefore, from this remark, it can be concluded that land development means adopting all the measures or rather adopting economic policies that make the ground for economic growth possible.
Redistribution of income
There is no doubt that people have different talents and abilities. Among them, some are old, disabled, sick and homeless. From the point of view of Islam, different incomes and wealth are acceptable, but the government and the people are obliged to help the disabled and the needy to the extent that their needs are met for one year.
The Qur’an names the needy groups that should be helped by taxes (Khums and Zakat): In verse 60 of Surah At-Tawbah, it is stated: <انّما الصّدقات للفقراء و المساکين… و ابن السّبيل فريضه من الله>”But charity is for the poor and the needy… and Ibn al-Sabeel is a duty of Allah”; Among the groups entitled to zakat are the needy and the poor and those who are on the way, and it is obligatory on the believers to help them.
In verse 41 of Surah Al-Anfal, we read:< واعلموا انّما غنمتم من شيء فان لله خمسه و للرسول و لذي القربي و اليتامي و المساکين و ابن السّبيل> “Know that whatever booty and benefit comes to you, the khums (the fifth part) of that wealth is for Allah and His Messenger and his relatives (the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him), the orphans, the poor and the wayfarers.
Verse 7 of Surah Hashr, which is related to spending, has the same interpretation as verse 41 of Surah Anfal, and it mentions the same six consumption items that are mentioned in the verse of Khums; With the difference that in Surah Hashr, first of all, he explains the reason for implementing fiscal policy and distributing taxes among the needy, orphans, and those who are left behind: “کي لا يکون دوله بين الاغنياء منکم ” (redistribution of income) is because that wealth Should not be divided for the Richs.
Secondly, following the verse (in the next verse), he points to the clear example of Ibn al-Sabil:<للفقراء المهاجرين الّذين اخرجوا من ديارهم و اموالهم> “Among the Cases of Consumption of Anfal are poor immigrants; (Those who are in need due to Expulsion from the land and separation from thier property) (Surah Hashr, verse 8).
Thus, in the process of establishing justice and equality in consumption, the government should help the needy, homeless and immigrants who have been displaced from their land due to oppression, and this help should be sufficient to cover their annual expenses.
Human freedom
From the point of view of Islam, man is the center of all political, social, cultural and economic activities…
Continues…
