studies in islam series book 2

8/13/2019 Studies in Islam Series Book 2

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Studies in Islam SeriesIslam and Contemporary Economic Theories

by Dr. Mohammad Shawqi Al-Fan ari

Content

Preface

Stages of the Study

Capitalism

The General Theory of the New Capitalist System

Principles of the New capitalist System

Capitalism in the Field of Practical Application

Communism The General Theory of Communist System

The Principles of Communist System

Communism and Reason

Communism in the Field of Practical Application

Islam

Islam's General Theory of conomy

Principles of Islamic conomy

!ou"ts

Conclusion

About This !oo"

The present contri"ution to theeconomic theory of Islam is timely#The material ci$ili%ation of The &esthas "rought a"out on the one handa state of chaos in internationalrelations and on the other a class(war within e$ery nation# The war inthe social domain has di$ided The&est into two camps# &hile in most&estern countries capitalism has theupper hand and la"or is the $ictim of

tyranny Russia has gone to the othere)treme and only one class that ofthe wor*ers seems to "e dominant#Islam maintains the "alance"etween e)aggerated opposites andoccupies intermediate position"etween the doctrines of "ourgeoiscapitalism and +olshe$istcommunism#

The author of this "oo* has ta*en this $iew as a starting point and proceeded to gi$e adetailed assessment of "oth capitalism and communism# ,e has reached the conclusion that
http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/preface.htmhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/Stages_of_study.htmhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/capitalism.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/capitalist_theories.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/capitalist_principle.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/capitalist_application.htmhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/communism.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/communism_theories.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/communism_principle.htmhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/communism_reason.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/communism_application.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/islam.htmhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/islam_theories.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/islam_principle.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/islam_doubt.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/conclusion.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/preface.htmhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/Stages_of_study.htmhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/capitalism.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/capitalist_theories.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/capitalist_principle.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/capitalist_application.htmhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/communism.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/communism_theories.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/communism_principle.htmhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/communism_reason.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/communism_application.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/islam.htmhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/islam_theories.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/islam_principle.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/islam_doubt.htmlhttp://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MF_ICIT/conclusion.html


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Islam ta*es no side with a group against another# It directs each class of the community tothe proper way "y which it secures good for itself and for the community as a whole#

Sta#es o$ The Study

CAPITA-IS./ Its origin#The general concept of the new Capitalist system#Principles of the new Capitalist#Capitalism in the field of practical application#

C0..1NIS./ Its origin#The general concept of the communist system#Communism and reason#Communism in the field of practical application#

IS-A./ 0rigin#The general theory of economics in Islam#Principles of Islamic economy#!ou"ts#

C0NC-1SI0N

Capitalism

Origin:

In urope in the fifth century A! after the decline of the western Roman mpire feudalismcame into "eing# This new system was supported "y the Christian church which spo*e inthe name of Allah# It did not howe$er ha$e any di$ine law or sound guiding principles of itsown# Feudalism was a new de$elopment in urope and the church cooperated with itco$ering it in a gar" of sacred and di$ine ordinances#

+etween the fourteenth and the si)teenth centuries2 the traditional period which changedthe history of urope from the middle ages to the modern era 2 all aspects of &estern life


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"egan to ta*e shape and the centers of wealth power and culture "egan to lea$e thepro$inces and feudal estates and to accumulate in "ig cities# At the head of this mo$ementwere traders usurers and "ourgeois craftsmen who "enefited from the prospects offered "ythat de$elopment# These people used to li$e in towns and cities and go fre3uently a"roadthey were the first to recei$e the rich which poured into their country from outside andwhich forced them to adapt themsel$es to the new dictates of change and de$elopment# +ut

how was this possi"le while an insurmounta"le o"stacle in the form of the ecclesiasticalrules which supported the feudalists stood in their way4

A hard tussle "etween the two parties ensued a total war which co$ered all fields of sociallife# The last round in that "out was won "y the new system which preached the principlesof freedom modernism tolerance and "roader outloo* in all wal*s of life whether it "ereligion philosophy politics or economy#

&ith the help of these principles people wanted to remo$e all o"stacles from the path ofthe free and modern man# This led to two diametrically opposed parties ( the freedompreached "y the "ourgeoisie led in one direction while the narrow(minded feudalist churchled in another# ach of the two parties har"ored enmity towards the other and each of themhad its self interest# 0ne of the two parties e)ploited the name of Allah religion and ethicsto defend their concocted "eliefs and ancient oppressi$e rights while the other e)ploited theprinciples of freedom and tolerance to sha*e the truths which were inherent in religion andmorality# They de$ised the concept which stated that there is no need to o"ser$e moralprinciples in furthering one's aims and interests#

+esides the feudal church they fashioned the idols of pro$incialism or regionalism ( thoseharmful and accursed concepts which were responsi"le for the wars and strife of the time#For the first time they esta"lished the idea of ta*ing interest which was unanimouslyconsidered as illegal "y the thin*ers of earlier times# It was for"idden and made illegal notonly in the +i"le and the ,oly 5uran "ut "y Aristotle and Plato also and it was prohi"ited "yRoman and Gree* law# In the name of freedom and tolerance the "ourgeoisie succeeded insnatching these rights from the feudal church# ,a$ing ta*en into their hands they wereo$er6oyed and considered themsel$es as sole proprietors of them#

In the ecstasy of $ictory they forgot that there was an inferior class to themsel$es whichhad suffered hard ships at the hands of the feudalists and which had the right to get itsshare of the fruits of the new and free system# I do not *now why their li"eralism andtolerance faded away so 3uic*ly# &hen parliamentary go$ernment was set up in nglandfor instance and real so$ereignty was transferred in the parliament from the no"les to thecommoners the "ourgeoisie missionaries of freedom tolerance and wide outloo* assumedcompleted so$ereignty themsel$es# In denying the peoples their rights of franchise thearguments and reasons "y which they had "enefited were forgotten#

Following the industrial re$olution and the in$entor of the machine in the eighteenth

century the heat of the struggle "ecame intense At that time industrial production andraw materials were a$aila"le on a large scale# Similarly the consumption of manufacturedgoods too* place to an unprecedented degree# ,ere the "ourgeoisie who monopoli%edindustry trade and wealth and dominated the fields of science and literature sei%ed theopportunity and e)ploited the new scientific in$entions in e)panding their spheres ofinfluence#

This class pounced upon the opportunity and monopoli%ed the modern scientific in$entionswhich helped it to e)pand its sphere of influence and so$ereignty# There was a three(fold


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o"stacle in its way consisting of the *ings of the nation states who claimed to "e gifted withdi$ine authority together with the rich feudal lords and the men of the national church# Theresult was a perpetual conflict and discord "etween the last two groups#

-ater the cult of freedom and modernism armed itself with a new weapon# Its followerscalled for full economic freedom and as*ed for the adoption of a repu"lican system in thepolitical field together with the gi$ing of full ci$il li"erties to the indi$idual# They also wantedhim to en6oy freedom in the social cultural and moral fields#

Furthermore they called for the restriction of the go$ernment's political so$ereignty to theminimum and for granting indi$iduals the ma)imum of li"erty# The go$ernment in theiropinion was nothing "ut an agency which was assigned the tas* of administering 6usticeamongst indi$iduals pre$enting them from interfering with each other and safeguardingindi$idual li"erty#

They also wanted social and economic life to "e in conformity with the acti$ities actions andideas of indi$iduals# The go$ernment they suggested should not interfere in an indi$idual'saffairs "ecause in their opinion# It was not meant to play an acti$e role nor to assume

leadership# Thus it was that these people e)aggerated and spent all of their efforts inglorifying freedom tolerance and indi$idual nihilism#

The economic system "ased on the a"solute theory of free economy was the last step inthe de$elopment of that mo$ement adopting as its name 7the new capitalist system8

The %eneral Theory o$ the &ew Capitalist System

The concept of the new capitalist system draws its origin from 9ohn -oc*e's theory a"outthe :+irth of Society and the 0rigin of State8 and it may "e summari%ed as follows/

7Neither the church nor the state nor society is entitled to "ar the way of any indi$idual inhis efforts towards "enefit and ad$ancement# Complete li"erty must "e easily a$aila"le toeach indi$idual so as to ena"le him to utili%e his natural propensity 3uality and competenceaccording to his own leanings and proceed further according to his own a"ility# Society itselfcannot render any real ser$ice unless e$ery"ody in it is gi$en the chance to en6oy unlimitedli"erty in all spheres of life# ,e should also "e entirely free in doing the type of wor* heli*es; he should "e free from all types of official religious moral legal and socialrestriction


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'rinciples o$ the &ew Capitalist System

In the light of this theory of society and indi$iduals and their rights capitalist economistsdrew up the new capitalist system which can "e summari%ed under the following points/

=# The indi$idual has the right of pri$ate ownership# This right co$ers e$erything 2 ittreats e$erything which one utili%es and uses such as clothes; furniture ships andcattle# This list also includes the articles and the ser$ices which produce $ariousgoods for consumption such as machines instruments land and raw materials#

># The indi$idual has the right to wor*# Indi$iduals ha$e the right to use all the meanswhich they possess in all fields of la"or# The output of such wor* should "e theirs;they should not "e depri$ed of its "enefits "ut they should "ear the losses also#They ha$e the right to accept or refuse the conditions and responsi"ilities which theyha$e to respect in their trade premises and factories as well as the rules andregulations imposed on them# They are free to e)pand their production to sell at anyprice they fi) and to employ whate$er num"er of people they re3uire either "ygi$ing wages or monthly salary# !ealings in the field of trade or industry "etween theseller and "uyer employer and employee ser$ant and master should ta*e place inan atmosphere of full li"erty# $eryone should fulfill whate$er conditions he hasagreed to o"ser$e#

?# Pri$ate interest offers incenti$e for wor* The capitalist system depends for theproduction of consumer ser$ices and their de$elopment on the indi$idual's *eennessin securing his self interest# This is a natural instinct which mo$es man to wor* and

to increase his efforts for more production#

Supporters of the capitalist system claim that in human life there is no incenti$e forwor* stronger than this# They e$en say that this is the only incenti$e2 the smallerthe chances of securing self interest the less will "e the use of man's energiesacti$ities and efforts# If opportunity for securing pri$ate interest and personalad$ancement are pro$ided to each indi$idual it will ena"le him to ma*e gainsaccording to his own efforts# Indi$iduals ma*e more and more effort to increaseproduction and impro$e production standards and in this way production continuesto increase and more goods are consumed# In addition to this the spheres of acti$ityof the producti$e machinery widens# Incenti$es to secure personal interest in turnsafeguard the interests of the whole community# This ser$ice rendered to thecommunity can not "e rendered otherwise#

@# Ri$alry among indi$iduals# In the opinion of the supporters of the capitalist systemthe spirit of ri$alry pre$ents self interest in a free economy from trespassing"eyond the limits; it is this spirit which maintains "alance and e3uili"rium# It is 3uitenormal that in the free mar*et there are a num"er of people who produce one singlecommodity# If there are also num"ers of sellers and "uyers# It is ine$ita"le that areasona"le price "e fi)ed determined "y the dictates of competition# Personalinterests should not go "eyond their limits and similarly such interests should not


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lag "ehind these limits unless in a"normal and temporary circumstances# +y $irtue ofcompetition employers and employees fi) for themsel$es reasona"le wages andsalaries pro$ided that such a competition is free from any *ind of monopoly#

# !ifference "etween the employer and employee under the capitalist system

personnel of each commercial concern are di$ided into two categories /

a# The proprietors who founded the trade or industry and the managers who"ear all responsi"ilities for "enefit and loss#

"# The employees who are not $ery much concerned with either "enefit or loss#They ha$e nothing to do "ut to spend time energy and talents in their wor*against the fi)ed pay they recei$e#

!efenders of the system argue that this form of function re3uires that the "enefits

o"tained from trade or industry 2according to dictates of 6ustice2 should "e collectedonly "y whoe$er "ears the loss and e)poses himself to danger mployeesundou"tedly are entitled to ha$e their legitimate rewards determined "y mar*etstandards and in accordance with their a"ility and the 3uantity of their wor*# Such areward should not "e increased on the grounds that a trade or industry "ears fruitsor decreased in case of loss# mployees under all circumstances ha$e a right ino"taining their rewards; these rewards or salaries are not increased or deceasede)cept according to the natural law of supply and demand which permits goods andcommodities to increase or decrease in their mar*et $alue# If there are lessemployers and more employees desirous of getting wor* the wages decrease and ifthere is a scarcity of employees and a greater num"er of employers the wagesincrease# Naturally the difference "etween the acti$e and the indolent wor*ers"ecomes o"$ious in these cases# Proprietors of $arious concerns will try to win the

loyalty of wor*ers "y rewarding and promoting them# The higher the wage a wor*ergets the "etter the product he produces; it is in the interest of proprietors andemployers that they may ha$e to spend a little more in order to get much more#Naturally they try to reduce wages "ut it is true also that employees and wor*erswish to o"tain their re3uirements and raise their standard of li$ing as easily as may"e# They are constantly loo*ing forward for an increase in their play# It is naturalthen that in achie$ing "oth goals a form of strife and struggle ta*es place "etweenemployers and employees# In the case of wages they continue to "e decided "y anatural pressure accepted "y "oth parties# This same phenomenon happensregarding all matters of life#

># !ependence on natural reasons for de$elopment # It is said that as profit from tradeand commerce are accumulated as a result of the reduction of capital and theincrease of production the trader's personal interest re3uires in an attempt toincrease his production that he should apply the "est and the latest technicalsystems loo* after his tools and machines repairing and cleaning them from time totime and ac3uiring "ig 3uantities of raw materials at low princes# ,e should alsoma*e up his mind in de$eloping and promoting his "usiness# This cannot "e achie$edother than "y means of a free economy and under special circumstances which may"e free from e)ternal interference or contri$ed tric*s# Natural laws continue to utili%e


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the efforts of indi$iduals and separate groups in achie$ing de$elopment and securingwelfare for all# These goals could not "e satisfactorily achie$ed "y social measuresonly; there is a natural process in$ol$ed of whose operation no one is aware#

?# Non(interference "y the state# It is also said that unless indi$iduals en6oy freedom incarrying out their wor* without any pressure or restrictions progress and social

welfare under the a"o$e(mentioned principles could not satisfactorily he achie$ed#A natural process has imposed a harmony upon economic laws in that should suchlaws wor* in agreement with each other and in a cooperati$e way they pro$e usefulfor people whether as indi$iduals or groups# This happens e$en though the indi$idualwor*s and e)pends his energies for his own indi$idual profit#

It is natural that the more the indi$idual e)pects from his efforts in terms of complete andunlimited "enefits the more energy does he apply to ac3uiring wealth# This results in turnin the production of "etter and "igger amounts of manufactured articles# If generalcompetition e)ists "etween merchants and manufacturers and supplies of raw materials inthe free mar*et prices "ecome reasona"le and "alanced and the standard of productionimpro$es; the mar*et itself reali%es the re3uirements of the society# It is therefore not the

"usiness of the started to interfere in the natural function of the de$elopment of wealthsince it will un"alance it# The purpose of the state is to "ring a"out circumstances which willsafeguard fully the indi$iduals' li"erties ensure security esta"lish order and administrationprotect rights of ownership fulfill its commitments "y the force of law and protect thecountry with all its trade and industry from attac*s and outside dangers# It is the duty ofthe state to ensure 6ustice for e$ery"ody and to super$ise its affairs# +ut it is not its duty to"e itself the merchant manufacturer or the owner of the land since it is not e)pected of itthat it would do anything to arrogate to itself the wor* of merchants manufacturers andowners of the land and pre$ent them from wor*ing as they wish# Interference "y the statein such affairs is not to "e accepted#

Capitalism in the Field o$ 'ractical Application

These points summari%es the principles of the theory of capitalism# Its followers ha$e madeof them incomes ta"le principles which must not "e dou"ted critici%ed or challenged# Indoing so they ha$e e)aggerated and o$er( stated their case# $ents ha$e shown that manyprinciples are open to criticism when they are transferred to the field of application# Thefollowing are some of the wea* points which are underlined in practical application #

=# The natural laws which the "ourgeoisie still 3uote to support the theory of a freeeconomy do not measure up to the e)aggerated claims made for them# Neither inword nor in deed is this so# Commenting on this -ord Beynes says that the world is not go$erned "y a stronggo$ernment moti$ated "y moral and natural laws which achie$es a reconciliation of


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personal and communal interests# It is not right to conclude from the principles ofeconomy that an enlightened interest ensures progress and social prosperity#Similarly to say that interest is always enlightened is incorrect# &e often notice thatthe people who try their hardest to secure "enefits for themsel$es and for their ownpurposes alone are so e)cessi$ely wea* and foolish that they find themsel$es una"leto reali%e their aims as opposed to rendering essential and lasting ser$ices to thecommunity# The actions of the "ourgeois capitalists testify to the fact that their interests were notenlightened# They came together in action against the interests of consumersemployees and the go$ernment which safeguards order and secure welfare# Theyconspired together in order to get for themsel$es whate$er "enefits and profits theIndustrial Re$olution could yield# These conspiracies were of themsel$es a refutationof the greatest claim they ad$anced in support of the economy i#e# that e3uili"riumin securing "enefits "y e$ery"ody was the element pro$iding for a natural inter(reaction# This state of affairs led the well(*nown economist Adam Smith the greatest ofad$ocates of free economy to declare that seldom did merchants and craftsmengather at a meeting which was wound up without a plot or a decision ta*en to raisethe prices of commodities# $en at pu"lic meetings they attend they commit such agra$e crime# Thus "ad results appear when the opportunity presents itself and the principles offree economy are applied when this freedom "ecomes a murderous tool in thehands of powerful indi$iduals who conspire together against the many who are wea*in order to satisfy their own desires and indi$idual inclinations#

># !uring the Industrial Re$olution the mista*e made in an e)aggerated application ofthe principles of free economy "ecame clear# !uring that time the means ofproduction changed "asically and the machine replaced man and animal power# In

this way ten persons could produce the same amount of manufactured goods withthousands of people had produced pre$iously# This led to a situation where only afew could wor* while many others were left unemployed# &hen the un3ualified call for non(interference "y go$ernment in the wor* ofindi$iduals is heard 2 that call which in$o*es the principles of pri$ate ownership andthe freedom to wor* the error in its "asic assumptions "ecomes apparent# ,ow can it "e that one single man or a num"er of men can set up a "ig automaticfactory which floods the mar*et with its products simply "ecause he has in his handsthe means to do that 4 At the same time we o$erloo* the many thousands of otherswho could produce the same "y hand or in their small factories or in their homes# I do not mean "y this that machine production is not a good thing# I simply meanthat it should "e organi%ed and that the usage of machines should not "e madepermissi"le to all# It is the duty of the go$ernment to thin* first of the producers whowill "e left without wor*# &here will they earn their li$ing and how 4 This 3uestiondid not arise under capitalism and the result was unemployment on a large andunrestricted scale which "ecame an independent issue for society in a form whichhad ne$er "een seen "efore in the history of man*ind# 0ne cannot ignore the effectsof unemployment on life; it is not a pri$ate 3uestion# It is the "asis of many of life'spro"lems and difficulties ci$ic moral material and spiritual# At this point one


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3uestion presents itself / Can an indi$idual group of indi$iduals dispose of theirproperties in a way which engenders num"erless pro"lems in social life4 ,ow couldanyone allowed to argue that such a cruel proposition is the right of a select group ofpeople who continue to render ser$ices to the common interest and themsel$esperform a lasting ser$ice4 The idea that the national go$ernment should remainsilent o$er the actions of indi$iduals which affect the entire nation or close its eyes

to the effect upon the whole nation of the actions of a few people is without anyfoundation #

?# It has "ecome clear that whene$er capitalism de$elops into the stage of industrialre$olution the more widespread does po$erty "ecome and the more stringent"ecomes the grip of financial crisis# This is in addition to the unemployment whichforces thousands of people to hasten to the capitalists re3uesting of them 6o"s eitheragainst wages or monthly salary# At this point the fifth capitalist principle is to "e applied which differentiates "etweenthe employer and employee and the wages of those su"6ect to the law of supply anddemand decrease# Not only that "ut such people often "ecome degraded and losetheir human sensi"ility# They are o"liged to surrender to whate$er restrictions andregulations the capitalists impose on them# There is not one of them who thin*s of o"6ecting in any way for the simple reasonthat there are thousands of unemployed who loo* at him grudgingly and yearn toreplace him in his wor*# In such a case he must feel far happier than many others# The "ourgeoisie are wrong when they indicate their support of the principle that fairand "alanced wages get ad6usted themsel$es in the general competition "y theinterplay "etween the employer and employee# It "ecomes clear that this principlehas already lost its generality and that it can only "e applied on one side "y thecapitalist alone# The employee has to accept whate$er is offered to him he has to

accept wor* for longer periods of time and e$en for $ery small wages# Such peopleare treated li*e animals; they ha$e no alternati$e "ut to li$e in narrow dar* dwellingand their health suffers as does their character and mental outloo*# Selfishnessdepri$es the souls of such people of a sense of human $alues and the hearts offathers sons and "rothers "ecome "ereft of sympathy and affection# Not only that"ut fathers feel the "urden of their sons and womenfol*# The result is that not e$enone wal* of life is left immune from the harmful effects of a mista*en and e)tremistfree economy#

@# The capitalists ha$e neglected natural ways of trade and industry which they pretendto "oast of# They fa"ricated another way which clashed with the common interestand which made prices go up unnaturally and slowed down production# They had

many methods sometimes they purchased all commodities a$aila"le in the mar*etdepending on their wealth and stored them till the time came when thesecommodities completely disappeared from the mar*et and the demand for them"ecame pressing# In this way they dominated and controlled the mar*et and causedprices to go up in an unnatural way# At other times they used to "urn manufacturedgoods or throw them in the sea lest "ig 3uantities of these same( goods flood themar*ets causing drop in prices# At times they mediated "etween the originalproducer and the consumer with the result that commodities were e)changedamongst themsel$es one after another while relying on the money they had in hand


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and the facilities of 3uic* means of communications which they en6oyed# In this wayagain prices go up since each one of them ma*es a profit without rendering anyser$ice in the field of production or impro$ement# They carried out such transactionswithout e$en transferring goods or commodities from one place to another; this iswhat happens in the 7Contracts )change8#

Sometimes they dedicate their energies and resources for the production oflu)uries# Though $arious media of propaganda and ad$ertisement they pro$o*e thedesire of people who might not yet ha$e ac3uired necessities and push into theirimaginations the idea that such articles are indispensa"le# This action is ta*en "ythem "ecause the production of lu)uries is $ery lucrati$e while the production ofnecessities offers less profit# At the pea* of such methods comes the domination ofwea* countries for the sa*e of ser$ing the interests of the colonialists# The countriesare di$ided into spheres of influence each one to "e e)ploited "y one particularpower which turns the dominated people into machines ser$ing the colonialists# Inorder to safeguard their interests the colonialists fostered trou"les in these countriesin an attempt to di$ert the people's attention from the things which they too* awayfrom them# &e the gyptians ha$e had that e)perience and conse3uently we*now all a"out it#

# The capitalists en6oyed li"erty to ta*e further steps in the same direction de$iatingfrom all other systems of different periods# They allowed indi$iduals to accumulatemoney and to in$est it through usury ( this method was condemned "y the thin*ersof ancient times# Centuries "efore The +i"le and The 5uran Aristotle and Plato alsoattac*ed usury; it was considered "y all the communities of the world asdishonora"le and mischie$ous# +ut the capitalists ignored all considerations ofsociety and di$ine religion and disregarded all ideology so long as their own systemwould lead them to the accumulation of immense wealth# Such people are the sla$es of indi$idual gain and not the pioneers of social reform

as it is claimed# For this reason usury "ecame the only legal form of trade andfinancial transaction# -ater they enacted laws of the land which secured the interestof the capitalist rather than that of the de"tor# In this way the happiest of men washe who could accumulate wealth "y hoo* or "y croo*# others of course "e theythin*ers in$entors or legislators were of no importance# ach one of them "eingconcerned with his personal concerns was e)posed either to loss or gain "ut theman who lent his money through usury sat at home 3uiet and happy since his profitwas assured and of his losses was secure regardless of ideologies and humanitarianconsiderations# ,e cared only for his money and his gains which were collecteddespite the ordeal of the de"tor who was totally destroyed# The greatest calamitywas that the mischief had its effect upon go$ernments rather than indi$iduals#Go$ernments used to "orrow money to construct roads and railways and the li*e andwere then o"liged to collect ta)es from their citi%ens in order to pay the de"ts# Inthis way the malady remained inherent in the "ody of the whole nation "othgo$ernment and the people destroying e$erything# It is surprising that when anation is in$ol$ed in a war it does not pay any attention to those *illed or woundedor afflicted with calamities in their homes or those who lost their fathers or sons orhus"ands# These people are con$eniently left "y the state without any support orcompensation# +ut those who lent money to the state and were for this reasonconsidered to "e its legitimate sons# continued to recei$e their interest from theTreasury e$en for a period of hundreds of years# It is ironical that some of thosewho laid down their li$es in war ha$e to su"scri"e along with others to pay such


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interest# In this way does a system which is founded on usury re$eal the in6usticeand wrong it does to the real wor*ers and producers in the state a wrong done tosafeguard the interest of a few capitalists who ha$e no interest in the welfare ofothers# 1nder these circumstances society "oth populace and go$ernment "ecamethe ser$ant of a "and of capitalist o$erlords who occupied their position "ecause ofwealth and "ecause of the rights granted them "y law#

# Selfishness and deceit created characteristics in people which do not re3uire of aperson that he forgi$es or succors someone else# &hat *ind of society is this in which$ery great differences e)ist among its mem"ers and in which the ties uniting $ariouselements of the nation are lac*ing4 Such a society with its dissident groups each one har"oring animosity against theother cannot e)ist indefinitely# If such a thing happens it will "e due to suppressionand want and it is ine$ita"le that one day society must $anish ta*ing with it its so(called sta"ility#

D# The dar*ness of thought a"out the matter has "een so thic* that it has flooded theminds of the capitalists# &ithout reali%ing it they produced stagnation "oth inthemsel$es and their society "y saying that the indi$idual's attempt to secure pri$ateinterests in a free economy in itself pa$es the way for the de$elopment of ways andmeans for increasing production# They try to forget that any society with its millionseither of unemployed or persons with small and limited earnings cannot purchasethe huge 3uantities of goods e)hi"ited in shops# 0n the contrary these shops willsuffer depression which in turn will lead to the discontinuation of production "yfactories increase in unemployment and economic depression# As a result productioneither completely discontinues or e$ery"ody searches for a sphere of influence in oneof the underde$eloped countries to use it as a mar*et for his products# This is thepoint which gi$es rise to differences and wars#

E# The Capitalists sitting idle in their homes do not wor* either physical or mental#

They lac* nothing either physically or mentally; they ha$e health and money andleisure# 0n the other hand the destitute are always ready to accept the demands ofthe capitalist o$erlords# &hile the former wish to satisfy their sweeping desires thelatter are dri$en to flattery and hypocrisy# Thus does capitalism outline the "asis ofsociety in which it e)ists# Such a society is completely corrupt; its wealthy mem"ersare simply e)ploiters and its poor mem"ers are sla$es# There can "e no spirit of co(operation or compassion in it each of its mem"ers see*s nothing "ut his personalinterest#

# In addition to that under the shadow of a free economy though itself "ecomesconfused# As has already "een demonstrated society suffers from successi$epro"lems which stem from the corruption en$eloping the system# For this reasonthin*ers are sought out in order to find a solution to the pro"lems "ut they in turndistort the facts either to please the capitalists or in fear of their $iolence# Suchpeople do not try to find out the real causes for pro"lems; they attri"ute the causesto particular local reason and pay no attention to the true ones# They ne$er lin*pro"lems with their real sources which are the direct outcome of capitalism and thesolution they reach is always unreal# In this way they cause people to go round and


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round in empty circles in an attempt to find the two ends of the pro"lems# This stateof affairs creates dou"ts amongst the nation and restlessness and other socialsic*nesses pre$ail#

+earing all this in mind how can a community ensure the ser$ices of its mem"ers if theyare left a"solutely free to secure their pri$ate interests4 The capitalists ha$e pro$ed thatun"ridled selfishness seldom pro$es to ha$e regard for 6ustice particularly if it gets into itshands economic and political power and if it is assigned the tas* of legislation# In such casecapitalism tries only to secure the ma)imum of pri$ate interests# No "etter description ofcapitalist society could "e found than that gi$en "y the 1nited States President 6ohnBennedy in the "oo* 7The Strategy of Peace8 which contains a num"er of the speeches andstatements made "y him a"out certain American and International pro"lems# 9ohn Bennedysays 7Nearly one out of e$ery two young American men is re6ected "y Selecti$e Ser$icetoday as mentally physically or morally unfit for any *ind of military ser$ice# Still more arescreened out after induction


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certain hidden secrets which were responsi"le for gi$ing it a new life# I "elie$e that are "asicparallels "etween the reasons for its appearance "efore Christ and reappearance in the thirdcentury A#!# and in modern times# .e%de* did not preach this idea in the third century A#!#without ha$ing first o"ser$ed the une3ual distri"ution in matters of ownership amongindi$iduals# &hile there were people who had a great deal others had nothing at all#Reali%ing this he e)pounded his idea in the hope that money would "e a$aila"le to all#

,e was followed "y other thin*ers whose efforts came to nothing until Barl .ar) in themiddle of the nineteenth century made the appeal which was to achie$e such greatsuccess# There is no room for surprise at this for it did not stem from the idea itself "utfrom circumstances which were temporary and due to particular factors# The moment thesefactors disappeared the success also $anished#

The new appeal followed capitalism's $ictory o$er feudalism# The wea*ened feudalism had"een in no mood to plunge into a prolonged war with a new appeal and hastened tosurrender# In its fight for supremacy capitalism was generous in ma*ing new promises towor*ers and la"orers# The moment it gained ground it completely forgot all promises madeand "ecame more oppressi$e than its predecessor feudalism# In addition to thiscommunism contained a num"er of concepts which filled the $acuum created "y thereligious decline resulting from the emphasis upon secular matters during the last threecenturies# People were decei$ed "y the outward aspect of the new life and were attracted "ythe fresh fields of *nowledge which were accessi"le to them# All these factors com"inedwere responsi"le for the de$elopment of the communist system; ta*en together they helpedin the ad$ancement of communism# The di$ergence of opinion among different classes ofpeople was the main factor in "ringing them together on one platform#

After the death of .ar) -enin too* the lead# Around him mustered some of Russia's youthwho formed the nucleus of the Russian Communist Party in = # In = =D e)ploiting thedistur"ances in the country this party staged a re$olution which swept the entire countryagainst the Tsar who was forced to a"dicate in .arch = =D# The date mar*ed thetermination of the Tsarist dictatorship# It was followed "y another dictatorship which waswrongly descri"ed as the wor*ers' dictatorship# In fact it was a dictatorship of a select classwhich sei%ed power on "ehalf of the wor*ers# .oreo$er the $ictims of the dictatorship werethe same wor*ers in whone name it pretended to spea*# From this date .ar)ism flourishedand ad$anced as an international doctrine# &ith long strides it proceeded to sei%e powerand introduce communism in more and more areas# It occupied in the minds of its "elie$ersin the place of religion# They thought that communism could offer them a completeinterpretation "ringing to life a limitless perception# They "elie$ed it would pro$ide a newspirit for the fulfillment of man's goals and hopes# This was in fact what religion aimed at#It is not our concern here to e)plain why communists feel so distur"ed when parallel isdrawn "etween communism and religion# This feeling of theirs is an un3uestioned fact#Religion demands "elief in unseen matters which are "eyond the human mind# This "eliefwas to "e the "asis of each su"se3uent logical issue# Communism did the same thing; theonly difference "etween the two "eing that while religion admitted this fact communismwent on to pretend o"stinately and persistently that its fundamental principles weresupported "y science and sure *nowledge# It claimed that its ideals were "ased on agreedscientific theories# No dou"t that was nothing "ut $aunting claim "ut the fact remains thatthese principles are still $iewed as contro$ersial su"6ects "y scholars and those concernedwith research#

The %eneral Theory o$ Communist System


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The "asis of Barl .ar)'s ideology was that the history of each society was no more than thehistory of conflicts "etween classes "etween wor*ers and employers sla$es and masters#In his opinion e$ery society has to "e di$ided into two opposite classes the capitalists andthe wor*ers# The wor*ers and the poor the proletariat; collecti$ely endea$or to smashother classes# ,elped "y .ar) they form an engulfing re$olution to destroy all other classes

and eradicate the traditions customs and religions of society# In his $iew such a re$olutionwas the sole means for setting up a communist society# In this respect says ngels muchas !arwin disco$ered the law of e$olution in organic nature so had .ar) disco$ered ane$olutionary law in relation to human history# ngels went on to say :,e 7.ar)8 hasdisco$ered a simple fact which was hidden "y a plethora of intellectual theories# +eforeda""ling in politics religion science men ha$e to eat drin* and find shelter and clothing#Accordingly the production of the means of su"sistence and the le$el of economicde$elopment of any people in a specified period "ecome the two factors which determinethe "asis on which the system legislature art and e$en the religious "eliefs of the statestand# It is in this light that these things must "e e)plained and not in any other as was thecase up to our time8# In his "oo* The Communist .anifesto .ar) e)plains that the historyof all present day societies is the history of conflicts "etween classes# 0ne of themanifestations of this conflict was the struggle which too* place in ancient time "etween thefree and the sla$es "etween the lords and the commoners and later "etween leaders andforemen in party organi%ation# The same thing occurred in recent history "etween the"ourgeoisie and the wor*ers during the French Re$olution# At that time the "ourgeoisiewere those who directed the economy and had possession of wealth and political powerwhilst other classes were left to do the manual la"or despite the fact that the latter had the"iggest and the most important part to play in production# It was o"$ious that thepredestined result of such a conflict was the e)tinction of capitalism# In this connection .ar)says that the coming into e)istence of the communist system was the last stage in anyhistorical de$elopment and the final step class conflict in the a"olition of ownership anddestruction of class "arriers communism does not pro$ide for competition or conflicts"etween different social groups# In .ar)'s $iew wealth is not to "e e3ually distri"uted tothe mem"ers of a certain society# ,e "elie$es that distri"ution systems differ according to

different circumstances which e)ist in any society when it reaches a certain stage in itshistorical ad$ancement and this ma*es all the difference in the manner of distri"ution withina state# For this reason .ar) was of the opinion that a "ig part of the funds are to "ereser$ed for stepping up production the financing of economic cultural and de$elopmentschemes for financing social colla"oration and cooperation and for insurance against illnessand old age# The remaining amount .ar) thin*s is to "e distri"uted to wor*ers eachaccording to the $olume and 3uality of the wor* he performs# &hen a society reaches thehighest stages of the communist organi%ation namely when conflicts "etween intellectualand manual wor* disappear and as indi$idual 3ualities de$elop the producti$e forces wor*together for the increase of the resources of socialist wealth and wor* itself "ecomes thegoal of life and not merely a cheap means of li$ing# In such case the motto of e$ery"ody will"e :from each one according to his potentialities and for each according to his needs


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disappear and not one of the many classes is to ha$e the chance of dominating anotherclass# In this way any citi%en will "e permitted to achie$e progress freely "y himself eitherin the intellectual or social field# .ar)ist socialism aims at the creation of a society in whicheach mem"er can reali%e as a political end free and total progress#

The 'rinciples o$ Communist System

The principles gathered "y .ar)ists from his ideas on which the communist system was setup and on which the communist go$ernment is founded can "e summari%ed in the followingpoints/

=# There is no god and life is material# In the $iew of the proletariat law moral $aluesand religion are nothing more than deep(rooted "ourgeois conceptions "ehind which"ourgeoisie interest lur*# There are as many interest as there are concepts# Themission of the proletariat is to destroy religion and its ad$ocates# In his thesis on,egel .ar) says of religion that it is the e)pectoration of the oppressed creature ofhis feelings towards a cruel world; it is the opium gi$en to peoples# lsewheretal*ing a"out the war "etween classes in France he says that religion is the opiumwith which peoples are anaestheti%ed to "e easily ro""ed# Religion he adds wasused for spiritual su"6ugation as the state was used for economic e)ploitation# -enin his successor says in this respect that religionist the opium gi$en to people to

pacify them# It is he adds a *ind of alcohol of the spirit in which the sla$es ofcapitalism "ury their human characteristic and their sense of a dignified human life#

># A"olition of pri$ate ownership nationali%ation of pro6ects and esta"lishments and theplacing of the wealth of the whole nation in the hands of the go$ernment which will"e directed "y the proletariat from outside if they are not represented from within# Inthis conte)t ngels states that the proletariat ta*e o$er political power and transferthe means of social production to pu"lic ownership in an attempt to escape control"y the "ourgeoisie# +y such action they eliminate de$ices such as capital and allowde$ices of a social character the freedom to gain round# Social production is to "ereorgani%ed according to a set plan and the de$elopment of production ma*es thee)istence of classes a matter of the past# It remo$es the general authority of thestate and chaotic social production# The people finally control mutual cooperation and"ecome the masters of nature and of themsel$es that is they "ecome free#

?# The putting an end to internal trade and the adoption of a ration system which allowsindi$iduals to o"tain their necessities against a card# Indi$iduals are not allowed tothemsel$es engage in e)ternal trade; it is the monopoly of the state# After re$iewing the factors which demolish capitalism ngels states that there is nosolution other than practical Precognition of the character of the new forces of


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production namely the reconciling of the means of production ownership ande)change and the character of the means of social production# This goal hecontinues cannot "e achie$ed unless the means of production greatly increased andcontrolled "y man himself are sei%ed in entirely#

@# The application of wages system# The theory that something has to "e ta*en frome$ery"ody according to his potentiality and gi$en to others according to their needsshould not "e determined according to the $olume of wor* an indi$idual produces#Instead it should "e determined "y the $alue of necessities re3uired "y the wor*er#Social wealth is nothing "ut the sum total from which an indi$idual consumeswhate$er satisfies his re3uirements and not whate$er corresponds with his ser$icesand wor*#

Communism and (eason

In his introduction to the "oo* 7Criticism of Political conomy8 .ar) states that legalrelations and political forms cannot "e e)plained through the alleged de$elopment of man'smind since their roots go deep in material conditions of social life# In materialistic life theshape of production determines the characteristics of social intellectual and political life as awhole# It is not the awa*ening of the man which decides and limits his e)istence# 0n thecontrary it is his social "eing which determines his awa*ening#

In reply to his theory we say that facts and sound thin*ing ha$e pro$ed that materialfactors do not change the condition of human "eings unless they "ecome metamorphosis topsychological factors which they feel# The poor man who *nows well that he is poor does notthin* of changing his condition either consciously or unconsciously# Again the poor man who*nows $ery well that he is poor and pays no heed to the fact ne$er ta*es the trou"le to

thin* of changing his condition# It is surprising that .ar) succeeds in misleading the nineteenth century which was the first

in the history of urope to pro$e the influence of psychological factors on mo$ements ofreforms re$olutions and coups#

In point of fact the nineteenth century was full of serious grie$ances which no reformer orhistorian dared to ignore nor could he disregard those who felt these grie$ances# The truthis that those reformers and historians attached great importance to them in a mannerunprecedented in any of the pre$ious centuries# At that time many theories of reform cameto light in a way pre$iously un*nown# This was not "ecause other periods were free fromsuch serious grie$ances "ut "ecause the uropean citi%en of the nineteenth century wasmore conscious of his rights and felt the pri$ations more deeply than his predecessors#

This "eing so it "ecomes unsound to lin* reform and re$olutions with industrialde$elopment as .ar) wanted to do# The only connection which e)isted "etween them wasthat which was measured "y the e)tent of the need for li"erty and the recognition of therights of e3uality# .ar) and his colleagues were "rought up in countries which e)isted"etween feudalism and the great industrial age# They ad$ocated socialist systems yet thead$ocates of the Russian re$olution li$ed in lands which had not yet emerged fromfeudalism# These countries possessed no "ig industries "ut in other countries li*e ngland


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with large and de$eloping industries re"ellious mo$ements were few and appeals for reformwere made through constitutional means#

&hen .ar)ists reali%ed that it was impossi"le to ignore the effect of human factors andideas on history they found themsel$es in greater need when mustering proof to con$inceothers# In =E a student as*ed ngels to elucidate this issue# In reply ngels admittedthat he and .ar) were partly responsi"le for attaching more importance to economicelements than they deser$ed# ,e also stated that in the face of their enemies' they wereo"liged to put stress on the original principle of their appeal which their ad$ersaries haddenied# They had insufficient time he continued to "ring out other elements which wereresponsi"le for the action and reaction of $arious factors#

In such simple terms he had admitted that "oth .ar) and he had ignored the psychologicalor human elements incited "y the opponents and critics of their doctrine# &inning o$er theirenemies "y defying or challenging them was to the .ar)ists more worth while than caringfor the human $alues# They had repeatedly stated that .ar)ism aimed at sa$ing humanity#At this point one can as* &here was that humanity which could "e 6ettisoned while trying togain $ictories o$er their ad$ersaries "y deception4

on the assumption that $ictory did not result in neglect of duty would these 3ualities "efitsuch thin*ers and reformers who fought for a cause which they did not rely upon andwhose efforts did not produce anything "ut enmity and hatred in the souls of the wea*4

From ngels' letter it can "e gathered that they continued all along to interpret e$entswrongly# It is clear that such a misinterpretation cannot "e relied upon in turn ininterpreting the momentous conse3uences resulting from it ( that is communism falls shortin its representation not only of the conditions of its own time "ut also of the conditionswhich are to follow later# It is neither a true picture of social grie$ances nor a truerepresentation of the means of treating them#

Communism in the Field o$ 'ractical Application

&e ha$e already discussed the merit of communism and the 6udgment which reason passeson it# &e ha$e also reali%ed that it tries to pre$ent reason from "eing effecti$e "y using it inthe ser$ice of something already "elie$ed in#

After it had "ecome apparent to them that they had not "een acti$e in pursuit of reasonthey did their utmost to find the truth# +ut they failed to reach their goal either "ecausethey lost their way or "ecause the truth itself lay on a path other than theirs# They weremisguided and misled and their intentions "linded them to the right path# This they

admitted later on# They cannot "e e)cused the conse3uences simply "y pretending that due to the power of

their ad$ersaries they were o"liged to "e so o"durate and e)tra$agant in their attempt toachie$e $ictory "y means of falsehoods# This state of affairs has depri$ed them of the3ualities of true research wor*ers within the meaning of the term who are worthy of aposition of technical and intellectual leadership#


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,a$ing ascertained that we find oursel$es in no need to discuss their theories from anintellectual point of $iew#

0ur goal is to find out the truth which has to "e accepted "y the contumacious andfanatical# It is now necessary to discuss that theory from the point of $iew of practicalapplication# Its ad$ocates pretend that it is the "asis of conduct and "eha$ior and notmerely a theory# In this study we will deal with its fundamental principles and their positionin practical life after they had the opportunity to go$ern for nearly half a century a $aste)pense of land inha"ited "y two hundred million persons#

=# Communism denies the e)istence of anything else e)cept that which can "e felt andseen# It denies the e)istence of Allah soul and $irtues etc# Although it attri"utese$erything to matter it does not interpret one thing# The communists ne$er tried todiscuss or interpret matter itself ( the only thing they did was to tread o$er it andshout 7This is the matter in which we "elie$e and within which we li$e8# +y so doingthey were influenced "y some impulse which made them spea* hurriedly and withoutthin*ing; they did not reali%e the foolishness of their theory# People who are well(

$ersed in such su"6ects *now today that the 3uestion of spirit was not so difficult a3uestion for the mind to interpret as the 3uestion of matter# &hat is matter4 Is it acolor or a "ody4 !oes it ha$e a weight4 Is it an e)tension4 No it is not color for color is a passing attri"ute resulting from light and $ision itchanges according to illumination and sight# +odies on the other hand are atomswhich split and change into $i"rations in the ether# $en the term ether is "eyondfinite *nowledge ( it has no color taste or motion# Those who ha$e *nowledge of thesu"6ect find no difference in the definition of :ether< and that of :space


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There is no dou"t that the whole 3uestion turns more or less on the difference ofpeoples' feelings towards po$erty and the suppression of li"erty of "elief#

@# In sanctifying matter communism denies the e)istence of religion# Not only that itfights it $igorously# $ents ha$e shown us how .ar)ism incriminated religion in its

practical application although at the same time communist leaders relin3uishedsome of their materialist arrogance# Though narrowly limited in e)tent this was asign of defeat and a proof of the falseness of that important principle of the .ar)isttheory# In = @? Stalin who pre$iously declared that religion was the opium which was gi$ento peoples to into)icate them stated that religion sows in the hearts the seeds ofsacrifice courage and $elour# &hen war "ro*e out "etween ,itler and Russia headmired that Russia had made a mista*e in the past and that it had to correct thatmista*e and allow the practice of religions and recognition of Allah# At that time theRussian "roadcasts "egan a new to praise religion which had to recreate in thepeople a spiritual power which was inherent in orthodo) Russia# In this way Stalinaimed at "ringing a"out a "alance "etween the Jatican's power and that of the0rthodo) Church ta*ing into consideration that the +al*an States had at that timea"out forty million mem"ers of the 0rthodo) Church# In Septem"er = @? Stalin alsore$i$ed the 7Sacred Con$ention8 after its final closure "y the +olshe$i*s# ,eappointed for The .uslims a 7.ufti8 and for the Christians a Patriarch and sent hisloyal su"ordinates of the Communist Party to $illages and pro$inces to as* people to"elie$e and ha$e faith in Allah# All o$er the world in the ast and in the &est it waswidely said that Russia has restored religion# Sultan off one of the mem"ers of theRussian diplomatic mission in gypt em"raced Islam#

# .ar)ism has declared pri$ate ownership to "e illegal since it was responsi"le for thee)istence of classes# In the $iew of the psychologists each system which is "ased on

opposition to the original instincts of man can no longer sur$i$e# The practicalapplication of .ar)ism pro$ed the truth of this $iew# -enin a"olished the class ofsmall owners# -ater in = =D the first year of his rule Stalin did the same "ut in= >= he was o"liged to allow pri$ate ownership to reappear# In = > he againa"olished it and in = ?> he re$i$ed it# A"olition and then restoration se$eral timesclearly show how difficult it was to apply the system#

# The .ar)ist state controls the entire economy of the country# This results ineconomic disad$antages can "e pro$ed "y statistics# In his "oo* :The Spirit of Socialism< Gusta$ -o"on says that the estimate ofe)penditure on pure manufactured articles made "y companies and e)penditure on

manufactured articles made "y go$ernment are matters of paramount importance#stimates collected o$er a long period pro$ed that the cost of goods manufactured"y the go$ernment itself was higher than those manufactured "y indi$iduals "y > K#There were many reasons for the high cost of go$ernment manufactured goodsamong which there was a psychological reason which added to the complicationscreated "y the go$ernment routine wor*# It refers to man's carelessness concerningpro6ects in which he has no personal interest# .ost of the schemes which wereunderta*en "y middlemen failed "ecause no indi$iduals interested in their success


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too* o$er their change# Another result of this is the di$ersity of management#

D# The declaring of pri$ate ownership to "e illegal was followed "y declaring inheritanceillegal too# Inheritance is one type of ownership and ownership they say is thesource of all calamities# In saying this they forget that inheritance is one of the most

important and sound means for "rea*ing up holdings and is a practical means fordestroying capitalism# To a"olish inheritance is li*e contradicting human nature itselfwhich en6oins that sons should inherit their fathers' characteristics of health powerillness wea*ness intelligence stupidity and so on# 0n the other hand declaringinheritance to "e illegal remo$es hopes and incenti$es from "oth indi$iduals andgroups of people# If this is to "e the case that would moti$ate the wor*er to spendmore and more of his energy to "uild up rewards of which he and his sons will "edepri$ed# The communist system could not stic* to that principle for $ery long# In = @ itrecogni%ed the right of a testator to lea$e his "e3uest through a will to any"ody heselected in case of the a"sence of near relati$e# Article = of the new RussianConstitution stipulates that the right of ownership of the incomes and sa$ings ofciti%ens accumulated through wor* and the right of ownership of homes domesticarticles and e3uipments and articles of personal effect and comfort together with theright of the inheritance of pri$ate possessions is a right safeguarded "y law#

E# Then comes the 3uestion of the wor*er's wage in the communist system# All thepeople are considered as wor*ers; wages are the same either of those who domanual wor* of those who do intellectual wor* and the principle is that frome$ery"ody according to his potentiality to e$ery"ody according to his need# ,ereone may as* ,ow can acti$ities differ without affecting the wages4 The communistsystem says that all wor*ers are people who should get e3ual wages# This is wrong"ecause in determining e3ual wages for all wor*ers they also determine that all of

them are e3ual in strength wea*ness intelligence and creati$e a"ility# Thisstatement is denied "oth "y thin*ers and "y e$ents# +y what right does a wor*er ma*ing shoes or te)tiles "e e3ual to a scientist such asddison who spent all his life in research wor* in$ention4 Such an e3uality will surelyresult in slac*ening of effort# Since e3uality in terms of wages is guaranteed therewill "e no need for increasing or impro$ing production# Some measures would ha$e to "e ta*en to a$oid such a situation# Super$isors may"e appointed to incite wor*ers to increase production# The super$isor may succeed inhis mission in certain fields "ut it is impossi"le for him to carry out his missionsuccessfully on the farms# If such a principle is to "e applied can we set "eside eachfarmer one super$isor who has to control his wor*4 And can this "e done in $ast

lands where farmers and culti$ators are scattered here and there4 To sol$e thispro"lem they are forced to send spies e$erywhere to terrori%e people and threatenthem "y using agents of the secret police# People may also "e threatened with deathshould they lag in their wor*# Another solution of the pro"lem may "e in laying down a minimum le$el forproduction without which no wor*er can get a wage# +ut this is complete foolishnessfor how can we draw a le$el for minimum production whilst there are people whoha$e physical and mental powers which ena"le them to produce more than the


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3uantity prescri"ed4 And again how can this happen while there are other peoplewho are incapacitated "y wea*ness and accordingly are una"le to produce4 In sucha case society will "e depri$ed of the e)tra production which could "e "rought a"out"y a"le men# It is natural that people wish to ta*e it easy especially if wor* is to "edone without getting a reward# In applying such a principle the wea* will "econdemned to death "y star$ation since they will "e una"le to produce as re3uired#

This led Boestler to descri"e the .ar)ist society as a structure composed ofproduction at a lower stage and another higher and intellectual one with no gradesand stages "etween them# In fact the principle of e3uality of wages was nothing "ut a "luff which lured thewor*ers who suffered from unemployment under capitalism# +ut it was a "luff whichdid not li$e long# In = ?= Stalin re$ealed to a conference of financiers andeconomists who were super$ising production in the 1SSR that progress had "eenhandicapped due to negligence and carelessness on the part of wor*ers# At thatmeeting he held economists responsi"le for that start of affairs and as*ed them toadmit that the new conditions re3uired new ways and to adopt in a "id to increaseproduction a new system of differing wages# +y doing so .ar)ism ignored one of itsoriginal principles which stipulated that something was to "e ta*en from each personas much as he could afford and something should "e gi$en to someone else tosatisfy his needs# Article => of the new So$iet constitution stipulates a new systemfor wages# It stages that wages are to "e gi$en according to the capacity and type ofwor* done "y a wor*er#

# .ar)ism is a war waged against classes "ecause one class is the end of the wholehistory of man# +ut to stress this meaning .ar)ism distorted many aspects of life#when they applied their system in the practical field it "ecame easy for e$eryone tosee for himself how they tried to decei$e and into)icate the people "y their call forthe a"olishing of "arriers "etween classes# 0n April >Eth = E@ the wee*ly :A*hirSa'a< reproduced a statement released "y the So$iet News Agency TASS which

reads as follows / :The Stalin Award for music amounting to one hundred thousandru"les was granted in = D@ to 9oseph Butta for his song :The Song of Stalin< andthe Stalin Award for photography amounting to one hundred thousand ru"les wasgranted to -ara*ali Towidt% for his picture 7Stalin Spea*s at the >@th Anni$ersary ofthe 0cto"er Re$olution8# The third pri%e amounting to fifty thousand ru"les wasawarded to painter Par*rafetshin*o for his painting 7Gor*i Reads ,is Story "eforeStalin .oloto$ and Jorochilo$8# The Stalin Award for sculpture amounting to onehundred thousand ru"les was gi$en to Nicolai Tomos*i for his statue 7Stalin8#Second and third pri%es were also gi$en to musicians painters and sculptors for theirmusical compositions and statues of Stalin# The total of pri%es granted "y the State7the state of the communists and the paradise of the poor and needy8 in the name ofStalin and for pictures and statues amount to a"out forty thousand pounds# Theywere granted "y the So$iet Council presided o$er "y Stalin8# In a thesis a"out the new So$iet Constitution prepared "y .r# Foad Shi"i the e)(press(attachL' at the gyptian -egation in .oscow for his .#A# degree the followinginformation appeared# The e)amination "oard at that time included .r# Bamel A"delRehim e)(minister plenipotentiary for gypt in .oscow# The thesis stated that themonthly pay of the Russian peasant was ? ru"les 7each ru"le e3ualed a"out gyptian piastres8 from which = ru"les were ta*en "y the go$ernment tostrengthen industries# !ramatists dancers men of literature and writers the thesiscontinued were called the intellectual class and drew high salaries amounting to


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> ru"les per month# The cultured class which was a"out D(EK of thepopulation drew a"out @?K of the wages# The sons of that class were admitted touni$ersities either free of charge or with charges "ut the sons of peasants weredepri$ed of that concession# This is how the communist state fights the e)istence ofclasses in conformity with Barl .ar)'s principle#

= # Communism pretends that it would sa$e wor*ers from the humility andoppression they suffer under capitalism# This claim pro$ed to "e a "luff "y whichthey distorted facts and lured the people especially the wor*ing class# ,ere aresome of the facts which show communism's stand $is(M($is the wor*er# 0n 0cto"er ==th = ? a decree was issued to the effect that a wor*er had toaccept any 6o" assigned to him in any toward in any place# 0n >@th Septem"er= ? th 0cto"er = ? and = th August = @ other decrees were issuedprohi"iting any wor*er from lea$ing the wor* assigned to him on his own accordotherwise he would "e considered as a deserter and would "e su"6ect to ten yearsimprisonment in forced wor* camps# The decrees of = th !ecem"er = ?> and > th9une = @ pro$ided that if the wor*er a"sented himself for one day or if he came tohis wor* late three times in one month such a wor*er would "e dismissed anddepri$ed of the union card which indicated his profession and ga$e him the right oflodging and food# ,e would also "e su"6ect to imprisonment for a period rangingfrom si) to twel$e months# The two decrees issued on =st 9une = ?> and >nd 9une = @> stipulate that wor*ersare financially responsi"le for any damage suffered "y factories or e3uipment and assessed "y the manager only# The cut in the wor*er's pay in such a case amount toten times the $alue of the damages or loss# The Supreme So$iet -aw issued on > th 9une = @ gi$es the manager the right topass sentence for imprisonment on any wor*er for a period of four months without

standing trial or in$estigation# All such things occur under a go$ernment which pretends that it wor*s for thewelfare of wor*ers#

In the early years of its rule .ar)ism passed from one defeat to another# It continuallyforsoo* its principles one after the other# ear after year it a"andoned without e)ceptionall the doctrines and "eliefs on which its system had "een esta"lished# If .ar)ism had notta*en that turn it would not ha$e made any progress in industry or in agriculture#

The success of .ar)ist e)perience in a "ig communist country is due more to forsa*ingoriginal communist doctrines than to adopting them# All that which now e)ists in thecommunist state forty years after its inception pro$es that the for"idden things which.ar)ism was esta"lished to remo$e ha$e "ecome permissi"le# when the war "ro*e outreligion and nationalism were recogni%ed and the atheist leaders soon "ecame aware of theimportance and influence of religion and nationalism# After remo$ing e)ploitation which wase)ercised "y the capitalists the ruling class which they fought to destroy and for whosecause they committed e$ery crime remained untouched# 0n the contrary many otherclasses ha$e "een created and standards of li$ing differed accordingly#


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nations of the world too* shelter# -ater nothing remained of that tree e)cept the trun*which was withering away# The same point is mentioned "y +utler who says that theRomans used to collect tolls from e$ery indi$idual in gypt along with other ta)es#According to him the ta)es collected "y the Romans were "eyond the paying capacity of thepeople# They were also collected in an unfair manner "ut although the populace wasannoyed "y in6ustice they found themsel$es una"le to escape it since they li$ed under

ruthless control# Nor could they reach their goal "y any other e)ternal means# In an attemptto e)press their displeasure they in$ol$ed themsel$es in contro$ersial arguments and sterilemetaphorical discussions# A mon* of that time descri"es how contro$ersies were to "e founde$erywhere in the mar*ets at the cloth merchants the money changers and food dealers#If someone wanted to e)change a gold coin he had to enter into an argument as to whatwas created and what was not# Again if some"ody wanted to en3uire a"out the price ofgreed he would get as an answer that the Almighty Allah came from the son and the sonwas o"edient to him# If he as*ed whether his "ath had warm water the attendant wouldreply saying that the son was created from nothingness#

The same was also true of China for the people there distur"ed "y many ideas to which nosolution could "e offered whilst the complicated pro"lems increasing day after day# Therewere three religions in China Taoism Confucianism and +uddhism# They either fell short ofser$ing man's purposes or were themsel$es too wea*# They soon disappeared and theChinese were left without any religious message "y means of which they could sol$e thepro"lems of the world#

In the Ara"ian peninsula we find paganism dominant# Gam"ling was something to "eproud of and usury the order of the day# &omen were considered as o"6ects of en6oymentand were depri$ed of their right to li$e in a dignified manner; the new("orn girl wassometimes *illed immediately# &ars would "rea* out for any tri$ial reason and there weremany symptoms of decadence#

Al(Ta"ari says in his commentary upon The ,oly 5uran that in pre(Islamic days man usedto gam"le away his family and wealth# If he lost the game he sat sad and loo*ed at his

money "eing transferred to some"ody else's hands and this in turn engendered enmityand hatred#

It could "e said that as a whole the world had not e$en one $irtuous nation or a singlesociety founded on morals# There were no go$ernments "ased on 6ustice and righteousnessno leadership esta"lished on science and wisdom nor a religion re$ealed to a prophet tolead man*ind to prosperity and safety# These grie$ances despite their different causesprompted all peoples to loo* for a sa$ior who would remo$e in6ustice and oppression andwho would inculcate a new spirit into their souls# This was not a reason for the ad$ent ofIslam ( these grie$ances could ha$e "een treated "y the re$i$al of past messages and theneed was not so $ery pressing for a new prophet and a new religion#

+ut the need for Islam stemmed from another direction which made it $ery necessary forhumanity to ha$e a new religion which would through the amalgamation of the spiritualwith the material "e a"le to reali%e for humanity its purposes and o"6ecti$es# The need forsuch a religion was urgent and its function was to lead the people to an effecti$e and no"lelife which would recogni%e earthly needs and su"lime $irtues# For all these reasons Islamcame to ma*e the world happier and the peoples safe from tyrants# That is the rightreligion ( "ut most people *now not #


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Allah has honored man and gi$en him a mind and made him superior to all others# .an'smind has de$eloped since Adam the father of all man*ind and yet during the course oftime the mind of man "ecame wea*ened and in need of aid to help it ahead#

To promote the faculties of the mind Allah sent consecuti$e messages with a num"er ofmessengers# ach one of those messengers tried to gain the confidence of his people#

.iracles were matters which suited the immature nature and mentality of peoples to whomthe prophets were assigned and for this reason these miracles were material phenomenawhich had to "e "elie$ed in "y the "eholders and which ga$e the people the impression thatthe messengers had the support of a supernatural power#

.an's mind and logic did not reali%e that it was Allah who created e$erything and thatAllah was Right and 0mnipotent# To pro$e this we need not go "ac* to the days of pastprophets and see how they tried to con$ince their peoples# &e will simply re$iew some ofthe e$ents which occurred some twenty(fi$e centuries ago#

when Allah sent .oses to his people# ,e ga$e him 3ualities which could not "e denied# ,e7.oses8 was called from the right side of the $alley in the "lessed spot of the "usy# Allahsays what means/

0 .oses surely I am Allah the .aster of the worlds / And cast down thy rod So when hesaw it in motion as if it were a serpent he turned away retreating and loo*ed not "ac*# 0.oses come forward and fear not; surely thou art of those who are secure# Insert thy handunto thy "osom it will come forth white without e$il and remain calm in fear# These twoare two arguments from our .aster to Pharaoh and his chiefs# Surely they are atransgressing people# 7The ,oly 5uran8#

These miracles clearly pro$e the supremacy of mind's logic and show how materialistconception o$ercomes the spiritual one#

Fi$e or si) centuries later 9esus was sent to his people to as* them to "elie$e in Allah# Asa proof of his ha$ing the support of Allah and that he was inspired "y ,im he treated thesic* and re$i$ed the dead# when Allah will say what means /

0 9esus son of .ary remem"er .y fa$or to thee and to thy mother when Istrengthened thee with the ,oly Spirit; thou spo*est to people in the cradle and in old ageand when I taught thee the +oo* and the &isdom and the Torah and the Gospel and whenthou didst deterni"le out of clay a thing li*e the form of a "ird "y .y permission then thoudidst "reathe into it and it "ecame a "ird "y .y permission; and thou didst heal the "lindand the leprous "y .y permission; and when thou didst raise the dead "y .y permission;and when I withheld the Children of Israel from thee when thou camest to them with cleararguments ## "ut those of them who dis"elie$ed said/ This is nothing "ut clear enchantment#7The ,oly 5uran8#

This shows how the miracle had de$eloped according to the de$elopment of man's mind#From ha$ing "een concerned with mere matter it "ecame matter which resulted from heartand feeling# In 9esus' preaching the call for considering the sentiments of pity forgi$enessand affection was mingled with another call which had no support of logic# This was the callto "elie$e in the !i$inity of Allah and again it pro$es that up to that time the mind was inso mature as to "e a"le to reali%e the supreme truth a"out Allah and ,e was 0ne on &hoaall depend and that ,e "egets not nor is "egotten and who has no e3ual#


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At the time of .oses and 9esus gypt's sciences philosophy and law passed to Greeceand Rome where they con3uered the minds of peoples# It is from them that the Gree*philosophy and literature too* the "est# when the mind de$eloped together with its capacityfor logic it noted that material miracles could not "e ta*en as mental or logical proofs#

Allah has ordained that logic a mind was the crowning 3uality of human life pro$ided thatlogic should not "e $oid of sentiment and spiritual considerations# .ind should compromise"etween logic reason the sentiment and the spirit all com"ined together# In this way itcan disco$er the ma)imum 3ualities of humanity and could also disco$er the secrets of theuni$erse# This was em"odied in Islam the message of which was assigned to Islam'sProphet .uhammad i"n A"dllah Peace "e upon ,im# .uhammad's message called forrighteousness and reasoning supported "y sentimental and spiritual considerations# Allahsays what means/

In the creation of the hea$ens and the earth and the alternation of night and day and theships that in the sea with that which profits men and the water that Allah sends down fromthe s*y then gi$es life therewith to the earth after his death and spreads in it all 7*inds of8animals and the changing of the winds and the clouds made su"ser$ient "etween hea$en

and earth there are surely signs for a people who understand# Allah says what means/ Inthis creation of the hea$ens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day thereare surely signs for men of understanding# Those who remem"er Allah standing and sittingand 7lying8 on their sides and reflect on the creation of the hea$ens and the earth# AllahThou has not created this in $ain# Glory "e to thee# Sa$e us from the chastisement of theFire# 7The ,oly 5uran8#

Since religion lay at the pinnacle of mental maturity it had to include solutions for all thepro"lems of man# &ith Islam man*ind will "e in no need of another religion# To achie$e allthese goals the tenets of Islam are to correspond with the nature and aspirations of man#They see* his welfare e$en in the case when man for some reason has no affiliation tothem# Allah says what means /

So set thy face for religion "eing upright the nature made "y Allah in which ,e has createdmen# There is no altering Allah's creation# That is the right religion ( "ut most people *nownot# 7The ,oly 5uran8#

&ith that call man can dispense with any other appeal since it would "e purposeless# Forthis reason .uhammad's miracle was represented in that ,oly +oo* which was re$ealed tohim containing positi$e power corresponding with humanity in its clima) of de$elopment# Itdeals with all human necessities lea$ing nothing on earth without careful study# Itsafeguards for all peoples and all generations progress prosperity and sta"ility# Allah sayswhat means/

This day ha$e I perfected for you your religion and completed .y fa$or to you and chosenfor you Islam as a religion# 7The ,oly 5uran8 #

Islam)s %eneral Theory o$ Economy

It is erroneous to assume that Islam has only one conomic theory which has no relation toother economic theories#


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Islam "eing the religion of monotheism loo*s at man*ind with its grie$ances as aconsolidated unit# Since Islam aims at leading humanity to progress and ci$ili%ation it has tooffer e$erything which secures the reali%ation of all those goals#

In this scrutiny of man in society Islam reali%es that e$ery indi$idual is influenced "y twodifferent elements /

=# The internal one which controls a man's "eha$ior dominates his thoughts andshapes his indi$iduality# It is this element which is represented in man's instincts andsentiments#

># The second element stems from the circumstances of the indi$idual in relation to hisen$ironment# This attempts to depri$e the first element of its power and ha$ingmolded the indi$idual to force him into the community without any sense of his ownindi$iduality# This element is represented in man's relations with others whetherson wife parents "rothers relati$es or friends#

Islam admits that man "y his nature cannot dispense with either of those two elements#They are inter complementary and upon them the entire human edifice is constructed# Itwas with this in mind that Islam de$eloped its theory# It outlines for man the way to ahappy life where the indi$idual is not ac3uisiti$e at the e)pense of the interests of thecommunity and the community does not impose upon the indi$idual# It secures under theshelter of human 6ustice the good of "oth indi$idual and the community# This good cannot"e reached other than "y considering man's indi$iduality and the e)istence of thecommunity not only from the materialist point of $iew "ut as has already "een said fromall points of $iew# Islam demands from man that he "e a stone in the whole structure ofsociety and to reali%e "efore anything else his relation to e)istence and his position in it# Itstresses this point and underlines it within itself until it reaches the le$el of faith# ,is faithcalls upon a man to continue with the purification of his soul and to the de$elopment ofsound principles within his heart and mind# 0n that "asis man organi%es his economic andsocial life and all other aspects of human acti$ity#

Islam purifies the spirit and leads towards what is good; then on this "asis it constructsthe principles of "eha$ior and morality which deri$e from it together with an economicsystem for it is not possi"le to sacrifice these principles in pursuit of an economicorgani%ation#

Islam does not deny man's indi$idual personality nor his right of ownership# Nor does itignore the $arious instincts which moti$ate him# 0n the other hand it denies the right of thecommunity to safeguard indi$iduality to the e)tent that the strong "ecome more powerfuland the wea* wea*er a process which threatens to eradicate the no"le aspects of humanconscience and sentiment on which the structure of the family and the whole community isfounded#

To achie$e perfection humanity must safeguard man's right to personal acti$ities and thereward he may get from them# At the same time it has to pre$ent him from e)ercisingpressure on others and from pre$enting any"ody else from en6oying the rewards of hisacti$ities#

Islam has reali%ed all this# It recogni%es ownership and inheritance and respects the familyconsidering them as the fundamental "asis of social life# Reali%ing what may result from the


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e)istence of "ig holdings and the in6ustice which may "e done "y the rich together with thee)istence of a feeling of unfair treatment due to the disparity of the material rewards to "ewon "y the poor Islam pre$ents the e)istence of "ig holdings on a "asis other thanpersonal effort# Accordingly it prohi"ited usury and made inheritance an effecti$e means ofsplitting "ig holdings# In this way no society will ha$e mem"ers har"oring the hatred andill(feeling which arise from an un6ust disparity in earnings#

Islam has put man whether as an indi$idual or mem"er of a community inside a framewhich safeguards the relations of indi$idual with the community# -ater it ga$e man theli"erty to reform himself and his e)istence within the limits prescri"ed#

'rinciples o$ Islamic Economy

Islam did not introduce independent economic principles which were di$orced from otheraspects of life in the manner of positi$e concepts# Islam has a realistic $iew towards life# Inits opinion all aspects of life are inter(dependent and its materialist side has to rely on itsspiritual side# For this reason Islam's economic principles are mi)ed with others which may"e material social or educational#

Nor does Islam treat economics superficially it ma*es a deep study of it and in all othermatters it tries to find out the secrets of each pro"lem# In The ,oly +oo* and The Sunnathese sound principles "ased on a natural and realistic footing are to "e found e$erywhere#They are mentioned in these two sources in a way which follows the latest principles ofeducation# This ma*es them directi$es for good "eha$ior which can "e easily assimilatedand not 6ust set principles which cannot reach the heart and which are difficult to applye)cept through $iolence and authority#

Islam allows ownership and gi$es this right to e$ery"ody pro$ided no harm is to "e done toindi$iduals or groups of indi$iduals# It left to society the regulari%ing of its affairs withinthese limits according to en$ironment and circumstances related to time and space# If theapplication of these principles is carried out properly and precisely Islam is confident oftheir good results#

It is easy for e$eryone studying The ,oly +oo* and The Sunna to reali%e how Islam dealswith economy# Islam's way of approaching this can "e summari%ed under the followingpoints/

1 - Developing man's mind :

The Relation "etween man's mind and the economy is a powerful one since the humanmind is a sound measurement which man has to e)ploit not lea$e idle Allah says whatmeans /

In the creation of the hea$ens and the earth and the alternation of night and day and theships that run in the sea with that which profits men and the water that Allah sends downfrom the s*y then gi$es therewith to the earth after its death and spreads in it all 7*inds of8


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animals and the changing of the winds and the clouds made su"ser$ient "etween hea$enand earth there are surely signs for a people who understanding# 7The ,oly 5uran8

The 5uran repeats this meaning many times and in many chapters# It teaches man how tocontemplate and then how to order his relation with his world in order that he may starton his own from the "eginning without any distur"ance or distortion#

2- Faith in Allah is essential for man :

If man thin*s deeply he will soon ha$e faith in Allah# if such a man continues contemplationand thought endea$oring to *now a"out time and space and whate$er num"erless andchanging worlds they include he will feel that he is an atom in these worlds which areordered "y sound and steady laws and which aim at certain o"6ecti$es *nown to nonee)cept Allah# Su"missi$ely and 3uietly he recogni%ed only Allah and fears neither po$ertynor harm# Allah says what means /

Those who "elie$e and whose hearts find rest in the remem"rance of Allah# Now surely inAllah's remem"rance do hearts find rest# Those who "elie$e and do good a good final stateis theirs and goodly return And might "elongs to Allah and ,is .essenger and the "elie$ers"ut the hypocrites *now not# 7The ,oly 5uran8

3- Recognition of Private Ownership:

7i8 .an must recogni%e and admit this principle# Allah says what means/

&ho ma*e the earth a resting place for you and the hea$ens a structure and sends downrain from the clouds

studies in islam series book 2

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