ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN ISLAM
ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN ISLAMIslam is the only religion that includes1 all spheres of human life and human activity. Why docs it not just give us instructions about praying and fasting, and leave us free in other matters of life? The answer is clear: Islam aims at coating a just society of human beings in which there is no exploitation3 of the weaker by the strong.
Islamic system of social organisation is entirely different from the systems developed by communism and capitalism. On the one hand it does not accept the principle of the unlimited right of the individual to acquire, own and use wealth as he likes and on the other it rejects the philosophy of the complete statc-ownership of all means of production.
Both capitalism and communism create unjust societies in which one section of the society has all the advantages\ Capitalism gives the individual freedom of action in all matters but this freedom works in the favour of the rich. The poor have only the freedom of speech .and starvation. Communism guarantees the individual’s freedom from
starvation but deprives him of all other freedoms.
One very important principle of the Islamic system of social and economic justice is the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate8 sources of earning money. Islam does not give its followers a general license to earn money through any means. It sets up a clear distinction between fair means and foul means of earning. All those means that enable an individual to profit at the expense of another are immoral. Only those means of earning are fair that ensure the mutual benefit of individuals, and thus that of the whole society.
The Holy Quran says: “O people who have accepted the faith do not seize one another’s property by unfair means. Trade is, however, permitted which benefits both of you...?” Trade means' exchange of goods]1 and services. I{ can benefit both the parties only when it is conducted without any fiiksi without any pressure from any side. If one
party has all the trum'psf' and the other none, the trade between them is not trade but exploitation"
There arc other verses' in the Holy Quran that define sources of ill-gotten wealth: usurpation', briber)', misuse of private and public wealth and property, - gambling, usury and preparation, sale and transportation of alcoholic drinks and goods that promote immorality.
Another important principle of the Islamic economic system is the prohibition of the hoarding" of even legitimately earned wealth. The Holy Quran promises severe punishment to those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend it for Allah's purposes.
This verse also gives us the third principle of the economic system of Islam, i.e., the spending of wealth. A Muslim is not free to spend his wealth as he pleases. He is clearly enjoined to spend it for Allah’s purposes, i.e., to promote the welfare of the less fortunate members of the Muslim society.
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