The economic policy is the objective of the laws, which deal with the management of human basic needs (food, shelter, education, health, security). Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) is narrated to have said: “Whom who ends his day with security at home, with healthy body, and with food at home has acquired his needs in this life”. Also, he states: “Allah breaks covenant with any group of people living in a close vicinity, whereby one of them goes to bed while hungry”.
The economic policy in Islam aims at securing the complete satisfaction of all basic needs for every individual, and to enable each individual to satisfy his luxuries as much as he can, as a person living in a particular society, which has a certain way of life. So Islam looks at every individual by himself rather than the total of individuals who live in the country. It looks at him as a human being first, who needs to satisfy all of his basic needs completely, then it looks to him in his capacity as a particular individual, to enable him to satisfy his luxuries as much as possible. Islam looks to him at the same time, as a person living in a society with other people just like him who have similar needs.
The purpose of the economic policy in Islam is not to only raise the standard of living in the country without looking to secure the rights of life for every individual completely. Nor is it just to provide the means of satisfaction in the society, leaving people free to take from such means as much as they can, without securing the right of livelihood for each individual. This is achieved by obliging each capable person to work, so as to achieve the basic needs for himself and his dependants. Islam obliges the children or the heirs to support the parents if they are not able to work, or obliges the State Treasury (Bait ul-Mal) to do so, if there is nobody to support them. As such, Islam requires that the individual secures for himself and his dependants the satisfaction of the basic needs i.e. adequate foodstuffs, clothing, education, medication and housing. Islam then encourages the individual to secure the luxuries of life as much as he can.
Islam also prevents the government from taking property through the imposition of taxes, except in cases where it is obligatory upon all Muslims to care for e.g. famine. Tax then is taken only on the wealth which exceeds that which each individual normally uses to satisfy his basic needs and luxuries. In this way, it achieves the right of livelihood for everyone individually, and facilitates the securing of the luxuries. At the same time, Islam sets certain limits within which the individual can earn in order to satisfy his basic needs and luxuries. So Islam prohibits the production and consumption of wine by Muslims, and it does not consider it an economic material. Islam prohibits the taking of riba (usury, interest, etc.) and its usage in transactions for everyone who holds Islamic citizenship. It does not consider riba as an economic commodity, whether for Muslims or non-Muslims. So Islam considers what the society ought to be when utilizing any property as a fundamental basis for utilizing the economic commodity.
Islam did not detach the individual from being human, nor the human being from being a particular individual. Furthermore, Islam does not consider what the society ought to be separate from the issue of securing the satisfaction of the basic needs for every individual, and enabling him to satisfy his luxuries. Rather, Islam makes the satisfaction of the needs and what the society ought to be, as two inseparable matters from each other, but by making what the society ought to be as a basis for satisfying the needs. For the sake of satisfying all the basic needs completely, and to enable satisfaction of the luxuries, the economic commodity should be available to people, and it will not be available to them unless they strive to earn it. Therefore, Islam urges people to earn, seek the provision and strive. And it made striving to earn the provision compulsory upon Muslims.
Allah said:
“So walk in the paths of the earth and eat of His sustenance which He provides.”[Al-Mulk: 15]
Many Ahadith came to encourage the earning of property. In one Hadith, the Prophet Mohammad shook the hand of Sa’ad ibn Muadh (ra) and found his hands to be rough. When the Prophet asked about it, Sa’ad said: “I dig with the shovel to maintain my family.” The Prophet kissed Sa’ad’s hands and said: “(They are) two hands which Allah loves.” The Prophet said: “Nobody would ever eat food that is better than to eat of his own hand’s work.”
It was also narrated that Umar b. Al-Khattab (RA) passed by some people, who were known as readers of the Qur’an. He saw them sitting and bending their heads, and asked who they were. He was told: “They are those who depend (Al-Mutawwakiloon) upon Allah .” Umar replied: “No, they are the eaters who eat the people’s properties. Do you want me to describe those who really depend upon Allah (Al-Mutawwakiloon)?” He was answered in the affirmative, and then he said: “He is the person who throws the seeds in the earth and then depends on his Lord The Almighty, The Exalted (‘Azza wa jalla).”
Thus we find that the verses and the Ahadith encourage striving to seek provision, and working to earn property, just as they encourage the enjoyment of the property and eating of the good things.
Allah said:
“Say: who has forbidden the beautiful gifts of Allah, which He has provided for His servants, and the things, clean and pure, (that He has provided)?”[Al-A’raf: 32]
“And let not those who are niggardly, who withhold the gifts which Allah has given them from His Grace, think that it is good for them. Rather it is worse for them. That which they hoard will be their collar on the Day of Resurrection. To Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is informed of what you do.” [Al-Imran: 180]
“O you who believe! Spend of the good things which you have earned, and of that which We bring forth from the earth for you.” [Al-Baqarah: 267]
And:
“O you who believe! Do not prohibit the good things which Allah made halal for you.” [Al-Ma’idah: 87]
These verses, and the like, denote clearly that the divine rules (AhkamShari’ah) related to the economy, aim at acquiring property and enjoying good things. So Islam obliged individuals to earn, and ordered them to enjoy wealth that they earned, so as to achieve economic growth in the country, to satisfy the basic needs of every person, and to enable the satisfaction of his luxuries.
However, the economic progress through motivating every capable individual to work, assigning properties to the State and the investing of public property, all that is a means to satisfy the needs, not for the sake of having property for itself, nor for boasting, nor to spend it in sin, nor for arrogance and oppression.
The Messenger of Allah said: “Whosoever sought the life (matters) legitimately (halal) and decently he will meet Allah with his face as a full moon; and whosoever sought it arrogantly and excessively he will meet Allah while He is angry at him.”
The Prophet also said: “Do you have, son of Adam, of your property except that which you ate and consumed, that which you wore and exhausted, and that which you donated and kept (for yourself)?”
Allah the Supreme said:
“Don’t commit Israaf (spending or going beyond the limits imposed by Islam);surely He does not like those who condone Israaf.” [Al-A’raf: 31]
Islam made the aim of owning property a means towards satisfying the needs and not for the purpose of boasting. It also made managing the economy as a whole according to Allah’s orders obligatory. It ordered the Muslim to seek the Hereafter through what he earns and not to forget his share of this worldly life.
Allah said:
“But seek the abode of the Hereafter in that which Allah has given you, and do not neglect your portion of worldly life, and be kind as Allah has been kind to you, and seek not corruption in the earth.” [Al-Qasas: 77]
Islam secured the observance of the rules by motivating the Muslim to adhere to this economic policy through the fear of Allah (Taqwa), and the abiding of the people, in general, to it through the legislated laws which the State implements upon the people.
Allah said:
“O you who believe! observe your duty to Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from riba, if you are (in truth) believers.” [Al-Baqarah: 278]
