12. ECONOMIC SYSTEM AND DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH IN ISLAM.

        The Islamic objects are (1) the establishment of a practicable system of economy which (unlike communism) without using any compulsion or force, allows every individual to function in a normal way according to his ability, his aptitude and his own choice and liking. (2) Enabling every one to get what is rightfully due to him. In ISLAM (unlike Capitalism and Communism) "wealth" is in principle the property of Allah Himself who has made obligatory as legitimate sharers in wealth the poor, the helpless, the needy, the destitute and the like who too have a right to wealth (Qur'an 70 : 24-25, 6 : 142). (3) Eradicating the concentration of wealth (unlike capitalism) so that money or property on inheritance or else should not become concentrated in a few hands (Qur'an 59 : 7), ISLAM checks the exploitation of man by man but does not totally abolish private property or enterprise but does clearly stop monopoly, black marketing, hoarding and interest (riba) or usury (Qur'an 2 : 275).

              ISLAM recommends you to advance loan without interest to others when they need it. The creed of usury take undue advantage of miseries and needs of the needy when you increase your wealth (illegally) by advancing loan on interest to them without doing any work or labour, thereby increasing the greed of wealth which in turn teaches many more ways of dishonesty and fraud. For the benefit of the poor, in addition to "Khairat" or voluntary charity, ISLAM imposes 2.5% tax on the annual savings of the rich, called "Zakat". The Islamic laws of inheritance make the concentration of wealth in few hands impossible.

           "ISLAM tells us not to judge people by their financial and social status but to look at their higher morals and greater participation in the act of mercy in the way of God (sadly people forgot this :-( ). In an Islamic state, even if non-Muslim is unable to earn livelihood, he has " social security" to be maintained from the "Baitul Maal" or public treasury.

13. TOLERANCE AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN ISLAM.

            ISLAM enjoins equal faith in the founders of all the great religions of the world and the Qur'an (2 : 256) says : "there is no compulsion in religion". ISLAM has ordained justice, equality and mutual respect in inter-religious affairs and relations and has made it impossible the subjugation and exploitation of one man by another or one nation by another. In the Islamic social order no individual or religious community has the right to impose its own beliefs on others nor to restrict in any way the profession, preaching and practice by others of the religion of their own free choice.

14. KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENCE IN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY.

                 As a matter of fact the Christians remained steeped in ignorance and uncivilized for more than a thousand years behind the Muslims and emerged from the right of ignorance and superstition only when the light of learning from the Muslim universities penetrated the darkness of Europe and led to the Renaissance. Islam, unlike Christianity, makes the use of reason and acquisition of knowl a duty of the faithful and the believer : " The acquisition of knowledge is a duty incumbent on every Muslim, male and female " or "Go in quest of knowledge even unto china" or "The ink of scholar is more holy than the blood of martyr" or that "God has not created anything better than reason or anything more perfect or more beautiful than reason,... and God's wrath is caused by disregard of it" (Hadith). Islam encourages and gives the greatest possible impetus to scientific researches, investigations, projects, activities, and discoveries as a source of "ZIKRILLAH" or God's remembrance and as "signs for people who have sense" (Qur'an 2 : 164 and 16 : 12).

15. UNITY AND UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD OF MANKIND IN ISLAM.

           The Islamic belief in the unity of mankind (irrespective of race, colour, nationality, language or sex but with righteousness, piety and good conduct being the only mark of superiority as in the Qur'an (49 : 13, 2 : 213, 3 : 103) is the result of the Islamic belief in the unity of God.
              On the occasion of his last pilgrimage, the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) declared : "No Arab has superiority over any non-Arab, and no non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; no black person has any superiority over a white person and no white person has any superiority over a black person. The criterion of honour in the sight of God is righteousness or piety and honest living". The united brotherhood of ISLAM transcends all geographical and political barriers and unites all human beings in love and sympathy as brothers.

16. SOUND REASON AND RIGHT UNDERSTANDING IN ISLAM.

             The principles and rules of ISLAM are according to sound reason, right understanding and true nature and whenever any person raised any objection, our Ulema (learned men) gave a convincing, logical and complete answer to it. The distinctive characteristics of ISLAM as a world religion are its simplicity, its explicitness and its highly realistic attitude towards human problems, learning neither towards excessive optimism nor excessive pessimism and enjoying moderation and balance of mind in all things.

          ISLAM rejects the Christian doctrine of Original Sin, and maintains that all men and women are born completely innocent and it is only by their own actions and deeds, that they acquire good or evil. There is also no clergy or priesthood in ISLAM and Muslims repent to God directly without any mediator for the forgiveness of any and all sins.  

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Yours Naaz :-)