In contrast to capitalism, Islam and the Islamic system of governance do not promote the pursuit of financial gains as the dominant value within the society but rather advocate the concept of taqwa – a consistent consciousness of the Creator and the need to recognise that every action performed has consequences of reward or punishment in the Hereafter. It seeks to create personalities and a general environment in society where people do not simply succumb to personal whims and desires but rather abide by both the letter and the spirit of the Islamic law. The Islamic law in turn shuns the idea that securing financial self-interest should be the primary goal of individuals but rather that they should adopt a mentality of responsibility towards sincerely looking after the welfare of others – whether that be to one’s family, community or the society in general.
The Prophet (saw) said, “Beware! Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible and answerable for his flock. The leader and the ruler is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects (as to how he conducted their affairs); a man is a guardian over his family and shall be questioned about them (as to how he looked after their physical and moral well-being); a woman is the guardian over the household of her husband and his children and shall be questioned about them (as to how she managed the household and brought up the children); a servant is the shepherd of his master’s property and shall be questioned about it (as to how he safeguarded his trust). Beware! Everyone of you is a guardian and everyone of you shall be questioned with regards to his trust.” (Bukhari and Muslim).
In contrast to capitalism, the Islamic ideology is not based upon seeking profit over all other values. Its laws are geared towards looking after all human needs, including upholding the moral values of the society and creating an environment of humanitarianism and altruism of its citizens. Therefore, unlike the Muslim world today, where rulers implement a selected handful of Shariah laws, the atmosphere generated by the comprehensive implementation of these Islamic values and laws within a society is one that cannot but affect both ruler and ruled alike. This is evident in the behaviour of so many rulers in the history of the Khilafah state, who shouldered their responsibility to look after the needs and welfare of the people with sincerity, seriousness and true commitment.
Khalifahs such as Abu Bakr (ra). This was a man who was a rich aristocrat of the Makkan society before embracing Islam, possessing 40,000dirhams. However, by the time that he died, he had only 5 dirhams to his name as Khalifah of the Muslims, having given so much of his wealth away both in charity and in spreading the message of Islam. At the time approaching his death, he sold his property in order to refund to the state treasury the entire amount of the allowance that he had taken to support the basic needs of himself and his family during the period of his Khilafah. Such was his piety that when his wife once expressed to him that she wished to have a sweet dish, he refused her saying that he would not take extra money from the treasury for such a thing. When he discovered that his wife had saved a little money over time for the dish from the allocated state allowance for his family, he deposited this back into the public treasury and had his allowance reduced by the extent of the saving his wife had made, on the grounds that this amount was surplus to his genuine needs.
Khalifahs such as Umar bin Al-Khattab (ra). As the second Khalifah of Islam he ruled over a vast area of land from Iran to Tripoli but did not leave his characteristic simplicity – his seat was no throne or designer sofa but a mat made out of grass leaves. When the areas of Northern Arabia and Syria were faced by a severe famine and drought, he himself did not eat any delicacy (e.g.butter, meat, fish) during this period. When he was requested to take care of his health, he replied, “If I don’t taste suffering, how can I know the suffering of others?”. On one occasion, his daughter Hafsa came to him and requested some share in the booty from one of the wars. She said to him, “Give me some because your relations have certain rights over you.” His responded, “Of course my relations have certain rights in my personal property but not in the property of the Muslims.” This was a man, who when he became sick and was advised by his physician to take honey, called the people to a general assembly just to request of them whether they would allow him to take some honey from the state treasury. Umar(ra) clarified on various occasions what a “Khalifah” was entitled to take from the Central Treasury for his use. He said, “Nothing is ‘Halal’ (lawful) for me and my family from Allah’s money (i.e. the Central Treasury) except a dress for the summer and a dress for the winter and an allowance equal to the income of an average Makkan. I am no more than an ordinary Muslim amongst you.”
Khalifahs such as Umar bin Abdul Aziz. Before becoming Khalifah of the Muslims, he lived a wealthy life, being one of the best dressed and best fed men of his time. It is narrated that on being appointed governor of Madinah, prior to being elected as Khalifah, it took 100 camels to carry all his possessions to Madinah from his home town. However, when he lay on his death bed as Khalifah, he had only one shirt to his name. Before his election as leader of the state, the income of his private property amounted to 50,000 dinars a year but was reduced to 200 dinars a year during his Khilafah, despite the great wealth the state possessed at the time. On one occasion, while engaged in state business in his chamber, his wife wanted to consult him on an urgent private matter. He asked her to bring his private lamp if she wished to talk to him as he never engaged in private matters using the light of a lamp which was burnt by the state owned oil - such was his piety and sense of responsibility in dealing with public funds. His deep sense of accountability for the trust that he had taken on as leader of the state, is reflected in an incident where his wife once found him dejected and weeping. When she asked him why he was crying, he replied, “Do you not think, one who has been entrusted by Allah with the welfare of the vast concourse of people in every nook and corner of a vast empire and has been overcast with a burden of such great responsibility should not be sorrowful to think that he would have to give relief, comfort, happiness, justice and security to every man of his vast realm?”.
With the history of the Islamic Khilafah being coloured with so many examples of similar leaders, it is not surprising that millions of Muslims across the world wish to see the return of this state. Indeed, it is the calibre of these types of rulers that the Muslim Ummah is promised and looks forward to Insha Allah on the return of the Khilafah.
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said,
"The Prophethood will last among you till Allah wishes it to last, and then Allah will eliminate it. Afterwards there will be a Khilafah according to the way of the Prophethood so long as Allah wishes it to last, and then Allah will eliminate it. Afterwards there will be a hereditary rule and it will last so long as Allah wishes it to last, and then Allah will eliminate it. Afterwards there will be an oppressive rule, and it will last as long as Allah wishes it to last, and then Allah will eliminate it. And then there will be a Khilafah according to the way of the Prophethood.” [Reported by Ahmad]
The Prophet (saw) said, “Beware! Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible and answerable for his flock. The leader and the ruler is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects (as to how he conducted their affairs); a man is a guardian over his family and shall be questioned about them (as to how he looked after their physical and moral well-being); a woman is the guardian over the household of her husband and his children and shall be questioned about them (as to how she managed the household and brought up the children); a servant is the shepherd of his master’s property and shall be questioned about it (as to how he safeguarded his trust). Beware! Everyone of you is a guardian and everyone of you shall be questioned with regards to his trust.” (Bukhari and Muslim).
In contrast to capitalism, the Islamic ideology is not based upon seeking profit over all other values. Its laws are geared towards looking after all human needs, including upholding the moral values of the society and creating an environment of humanitarianism and altruism of its citizens. Therefore, unlike the Muslim world today, where rulers implement a selected handful of Shariah laws, the atmosphere generated by the comprehensive implementation of these Islamic values and laws within a society is one that cannot but affect both ruler and ruled alike. This is evident in the behaviour of so many rulers in the history of the Khilafah state, who shouldered their responsibility to look after the needs and welfare of the people with sincerity, seriousness and true commitment.
Khalifahs such as Abu Bakr (ra). This was a man who was a rich aristocrat of the Makkan society before embracing Islam, possessing 40,000dirhams. However, by the time that he died, he had only 5 dirhams to his name as Khalifah of the Muslims, having given so much of his wealth away both in charity and in spreading the message of Islam. At the time approaching his death, he sold his property in order to refund to the state treasury the entire amount of the allowance that he had taken to support the basic needs of himself and his family during the period of his Khilafah. Such was his piety that when his wife once expressed to him that she wished to have a sweet dish, he refused her saying that he would not take extra money from the treasury for such a thing. When he discovered that his wife had saved a little money over time for the dish from the allocated state allowance for his family, he deposited this back into the public treasury and had his allowance reduced by the extent of the saving his wife had made, on the grounds that this amount was surplus to his genuine needs.
Khalifahs such as Umar bin Al-Khattab (ra). As the second Khalifah of Islam he ruled over a vast area of land from Iran to Tripoli but did not leave his characteristic simplicity – his seat was no throne or designer sofa but a mat made out of grass leaves. When the areas of Northern Arabia and Syria were faced by a severe famine and drought, he himself did not eat any delicacy (e.g.butter, meat, fish) during this period. When he was requested to take care of his health, he replied, “If I don’t taste suffering, how can I know the suffering of others?”. On one occasion, his daughter Hafsa came to him and requested some share in the booty from one of the wars. She said to him, “Give me some because your relations have certain rights over you.” His responded, “Of course my relations have certain rights in my personal property but not in the property of the Muslims.” This was a man, who when he became sick and was advised by his physician to take honey, called the people to a general assembly just to request of them whether they would allow him to take some honey from the state treasury. Umar(ra) clarified on various occasions what a “Khalifah” was entitled to take from the Central Treasury for his use. He said, “Nothing is ‘Halal’ (lawful) for me and my family from Allah’s money (i.e. the Central Treasury) except a dress for the summer and a dress for the winter and an allowance equal to the income of an average Makkan. I am no more than an ordinary Muslim amongst you.”
Khalifahs such as Umar bin Abdul Aziz. Before becoming Khalifah of the Muslims, he lived a wealthy life, being one of the best dressed and best fed men of his time. It is narrated that on being appointed governor of Madinah, prior to being elected as Khalifah, it took 100 camels to carry all his possessions to Madinah from his home town. However, when he lay on his death bed as Khalifah, he had only one shirt to his name. Before his election as leader of the state, the income of his private property amounted to 50,000 dinars a year but was reduced to 200 dinars a year during his Khilafah, despite the great wealth the state possessed at the time. On one occasion, while engaged in state business in his chamber, his wife wanted to consult him on an urgent private matter. He asked her to bring his private lamp if she wished to talk to him as he never engaged in private matters using the light of a lamp which was burnt by the state owned oil - such was his piety and sense of responsibility in dealing with public funds. His deep sense of accountability for the trust that he had taken on as leader of the state, is reflected in an incident where his wife once found him dejected and weeping. When she asked him why he was crying, he replied, “Do you not think, one who has been entrusted by Allah with the welfare of the vast concourse of people in every nook and corner of a vast empire and has been overcast with a burden of such great responsibility should not be sorrowful to think that he would have to give relief, comfort, happiness, justice and security to every man of his vast realm?”.
With the history of the Islamic Khilafah being coloured with so many examples of similar leaders, it is not surprising that millions of Muslims across the world wish to see the return of this state. Indeed, it is the calibre of these types of rulers that the Muslim Ummah is promised and looks forward to Insha Allah on the return of the Khilafah.
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said,
"The Prophethood will last among you till Allah wishes it to last, and then Allah will eliminate it. Afterwards there will be a Khilafah according to the way of the Prophethood so long as Allah wishes it to last, and then Allah will eliminate it. Afterwards there will be a hereditary rule and it will last so long as Allah wishes it to last, and then Allah will eliminate it. Afterwards there will be an oppressive rule, and it will last as long as Allah wishes it to last, and then Allah will eliminate it. And then there will be a Khilafah according to the way of the Prophethood.” [Reported by Ahmad]
[Extracted from the article ‘Capitalist Politics: The Art of Self-Service verses Serving the People’ by Dr Nasreen Nawaz]
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