Author: Mohammad Esmayil Alizahi
Islamic Economy (3rd part)
The relationship between economics and other sciences
Economics is one of the fields of social sciences that is related to many branches of other sciences; Economics is connected with sociology, psychology, anthropology, and especially with political science and government administration. Investigating culture, habits and customs, as well as predicting people’s behavior under specific social conditions, is of significant importance in economic studies.
Today, many scientists believe that culture and social values are the most effective factors in the backwardness or progress and economic development of different societies and nations.
Islamic economy from the perspective of Quran and Sunnah
By examining the teachings and economic rulings of Islam, we come to the conclusion that Islam has accepted the capabilities of the market, i.e. the ritual of supply and demand, and in any case, it has supported their use to solve economic problems As God Almighty says in the Holy Quran: «نحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ مَعِيشَتَهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا سُخْرِيًّا وَرَحْمَتُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ» (We have divided their [means of] sustenance among them in the life of this world, and we have placed some of them in higher ranks than others, so that some of them may serve others, and the mercy of the Lord. You are better than what they put up.)
It is clear that hiring someone else will be in this way that the employer; “Worker applicant”; And the worker is the “supplier of work”. With the coordination of these two powers (supply and demand), a moderate economy will be created.
The Holy Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, also says in this regard: دَعُوا النَّاسَ يَرْزُقِ اللهُ بَعْضَهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ» Leave the people free so that God will provide sustenance for some of them through others.
Legitimacy of work from the perspective of verses and traditions
Almighty God says: «فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانْتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِ When the prayer is done, disperse on the ground and seek God’s sustenance. And he says in another place «وَعَلَّمْنَاهُ صَنْعَةَ لَبُوسٍ لَكُمْ لِتُحْصِنَكُمْ مِنْ بَأْسِكُمْ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ شَاكِرُونَ» And We taught him to make armor to protect you in wars. So, do you give thanks? Argument from this verse: Almighty God taught his Prophet Dawood (peace be upon him) to make armor (which is used to fight and save from the enemy during war).
When he made it lawful for his Prophet to build war tools, it means that building anything that saves from the evil of enemies is necessary and legitimate. Almighty God says: «وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَمِنْ رِبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَآخَرِينَ مِنْ دُونِهِمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوا مِنْ شَيْءٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ» And prepare as much (material and spiritual) strength and (including) trained horses for (fighting) them as you can, so that you frighten the enemy of God and your enemy; And scare people other than them, whom you do not know, and God knows them.
Whatever you spend in the way of God (including war equipment and strengthening the Islamic defense and military base), you will be fully rewarded for it, and you will not see any oppression.
The argument from this verse is as follows: Muslims are tasked by God Almighty to use their last strength and ability and put fear in the hearts of infidels and polytheists, and also by displaying their power, create fear in the hearts of opportunistic hypocrites. do And Muslims should be encouraged to spend in the way of Allah; Because spending in the way of Allah is permanent and never wasted.
To prepare strength and power, having alimony is very important, and alimony is impossible without work, and without work there will be neither money nor strength for a person. Almighty God says: «يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُ مَا يَشَاءُ مِنْ مَحَارِيبَ وَتَمَاثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍ كَالْجَوابِ وَقُدُورٍ رَاسِيَاتٍ اعْمَلُوا آلَ دَاوُدَ شُكْرًا وَقَلِيلٌ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ» They made whatever Suleiman wanted for him, such as huge shrines, statues, large eating containers like basins and fixed pots (the size of which was indescribable. We said to the family of David): O family of David! Be grateful (for all these blessings), and (know that) few of my servants are grateful.
Argument from this verse: Almighty God entrusting Solomon to employ jinn in works such as architectural and industrial works to act according to Solomon’s wishes; And this implies the legitimacy of work for humans.
The Holy Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, also speaks about the legitimacy of work «اﻟﺘَّاجِرُ الصَّدُوقُ الأَمِین مَعَ النَّبِیّین وَالصِّدِّیقِینَ و الشُّهَدَاءِ»”; An honest and trustworthy merchant, he goes with the prophets, righteous people and martyrs (Hashr). He also says in another hadith: «مَا أَکَلَ أَحَدٌ طَعَامَاً قَطُّ خَیراً مِّن أَن یَّأکُلَ مِن عَمِلِ یَدِهِ وَ إِنَّ نَبِيَّ اللهِ داودُ کانَ یَأکُلُ مِن عَمَلِ یَدِهِ (No one has ever eaten food better than the food of his hand, and indeed David, the Prophet of God, peace be upon him, always ate from his hand.)
Argument from this hadith: The Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him, praised work that is done by human hands, and this hadith indicates that work done by human hands is one of the best types of earnings, and David, the Prophet of God, eats from the earnings of his own hands. And this itself is a great encouragement for “business”.
Islam’s view of the wealth of the world and the level of attention to it
In the religion of Islam, worldly wealth and possessions are desirable if they are obtained through legitimate means in order to reach the closeness of God. But if wealth is the goal and it is acquired through illegal means, or if it makes people forget about divine remembrance and spiritual life; It is considered reprehensible; As the verses of the Quran also refer to the same theme: (Kahf: 46; Noah: 12; Hud: 61; Nahl: 14-8; Malik: 15). And it is also stated in verse 77 of Surah Al-Qasas: “Don’t forget your benefits from (the lawful pleasures and blessings) of this world!”
Disadvantages of leaving work on the Islamic economy
Quitting work has bad and extensive consequences on Islamic religion, society and economy, Including:
a. disrupting religion and belief;
In the sense that quitting work leads to poverty and one of the negative effects of poverty on a person’s religion and belief is that it forces him to lie and make false promises.
b. The widespread supremacy of the enemies of Islam, against the Islamic economy;
c. prevalence of crimes among Muslims;
d. Physical weakness and degeneration in the spirituality of Muslims.
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