ONE OF the pertinent areas that Islam highlights in its economic organisation is in the rights of an individual and his social responsibility. Islam teaches that one of the means to realise economic stability is to harmonise between individual rights and social responsibility.
The proper approach to this issue is fundamental in order to achieve a harmonious and stable economy. This is important for continuous economic performance.
Man, by nature, requires the right to determine his own destiny. Indeed, it is fundamental to a society that individual rights be highly placed in the appropriate perspective.
The proper placement of individual rights by man to manoeuvre himself within the societal set-up is the key to the establishment of a noble society. In his last sermon, among other important reminders to mankind, Prophet Muhammad gave great emphasis on the rights of the individual in the following words :
“O Men, your lives and your property shall be inviolate until you meet your Lord. The safety of your lives and of
your property shall be as inviolate as this holy day and holy month.’’In the light of this hadith, Islam gives an assurance through the state authority to safeguard human lives, which are sacred.This implies that individuals have the right to adhere to their religious faith and that their rights for justice, security, mobility and to participate in economic activities, elect the leader for the society and to fulfil individual basic needs, are guaranteed at birth by Islam.
The absence of these rights will destroy society and, ultimately, humanity.
Islam also accords the individual the right to own and utilise his property in line with his choices within the guidelines of shariah. From the economic perspective, this right is fundamental to a nation’s economic success.
Collective property ownership and centralisation of economic decisions are not in consonance with the nature of individual rights and societal set-up.This will destroy the availability of the basic ingredients needed for economic success. For the nation to achieve economic success, it has to attain a high level of productivity and have the ability to produce quality goods and services.
These will never be attained if the individuals are not motivated, dedicated and possess creativity.An environment conducive for individuals to possess all these qualities must allow them the right to own property and the right to decentralise economic decisions.
Islam insists that individuals strive for a respectable position in society. In the eyes of God, being free to decide on his own future, an individual can even surpass the angels in doing good deeds and in acquiring nobility, provided he subscribes to the ideal of Allah’s commandments.
Islam emphasises that, in doing things, the spirit of individual initiative is through voluntary action. It believes voluntarism is the art of the game.
The imposition of regulative measures is a minimum requirement for men, individually and collectively, to organise themselves as a united society.
For example, the imposition of zakat on the wealth of the Muslims is a minimum legal requirement as a source of income for the state to eradicate poverty and defend Islam.
The Islamic teachings highly encourage the individuals to give alms or gifts, besides zakat, to the needy. Through such voluntary actions, individuals are helping the authorities to eradicate poverty among the masses. This is individual social responsibility.
If the zakat collected by the state is not sufficient to meet the basic requirements of the masses and the problem cannot be solved through collective actions of the society, the state has to participate through the raising of revenue by imposing taxes. Taxes imposed should not be to such an extent that it reduces individual rights and liberty.
Islam tries to strike a balance between individual rights and social responsibility. Proper and effective economic decisions demand a decentralised structure for the system. Decentralisation can serve the spirit of the individual’s rights.
Since an individual has a role to play in society, Islam places great emphasis on education to develop proper human character.
The purpose of education is to produce good and productive individuals. Moral and ethical education must not be understood to mean developing only good behaviour, but also the ability to play a leading and productive role in all social functions.
Islam provides special positions for those who can acquire managerial and professional skills. The appointment of Khalid Ibn Walid as the military commander by Prophet Muhammad to lead the military expeditions during his time was a great testimony to the respect given to a professional.Despite the presence of many pious, older and knowledgeable companions, Khalid was picked by the Prophet basically because of his military knowledge.
Islam believes individuals are also social beings. It insists individuals participate and contribute to society.
Through fard kifayah (social obligatory duty), Islam has imposed obligations on all Muslims to undertake social responsibilities for the benefit of the entire society.
If no individuals come forward to fulfil a particular necessary function, then the entire Muslim community will be answerable to God.
If there are few who are able to perform that function, then the whole community will be freed from that responsibility.This arrangement of the Islamic scheme of social order reflects the need for individual co-operation and social responsibility.
Thus the principles of individual rights and social responsibilities must always be harmonised. These principles can be considered as guidelines for formulating an economic system and policy for advancement and social success.ONE OF the pertinent areas that Islam highlights in its economic organisation is in the rights of an individual and his social responsibility. Islam teaches that one of the means to realise economic stability is to harmonise between individual rights and social responsibility.The proper approach to this issue is fundamental in order to achieve a harmonious and stable economy. This is important for continuous economic performance.
Man, by nature, requires the right to determine his own destiny. Indeed, it is fundamental to a society that individual rights be highly placed in the appropriate perspective.
The proper placement of individual rights by man to manoeuvre himself within the societal set-up is the key to the establishment of a noble society.
In his last sermon, among other important reminders to mankind, Prophet Muhammad gave great emphasis on the rights of the individual in the following words :
“O Men, your lives and your property shall be inviolate until you meet your Lord. The safety of your lives and of your property shall be as inviolate as this holy day and holy month.’’
In the light of this hadith, Islam gives an assurance through the state authority to safeguard human lives, which are sacred.This implies that individuals have the right to adhere to their religious faith and that their rights for justice, security, mobility and to participate in economic activities, elect the leader for the society and to fulfil individual basic needs, are guaranteed at birth by Islam.The absence of these rights will destroy society and, ultimately, humanity.
Islam also accords the individual the right to own and utilise his property in line with his choices within the guidelines of shariah. From the economic perspective, this right is fundamental to a nation’s economic success.
Collective property ownership and centralisation of economic decisions are not in consonance with the nature of individual rights and societal set-up.This will destroy the availability of the basic ingredients needed for economic success. For the nation to achieve economic success, it has to attain a high level of productivity and have the ability to produce quality goods and services.
These will never be attained if the individuals are not motivated, dedicated and possess creativity. An environment conducive for individuals to possess all these qualities must allow them the right to own property and the right to decentralise economic decisions.
Islam insists that individuals strive for a respectable position in society. In the eyes of God, being free to decide on his own future, an individual can even surpass the angels in doing good deeds and in acquiring nobility, provided he subscribes to the ideal of Allah’s commandments.
Islam emphasises that, in doing things, the spirit of individual initiative is through voluntary action. It believes voluntarism is the art of the game. The imposition of regulative measures is a minimum requirement for men, individually and collectively, to organise themselves as a united society.
For example, the imposition of zakat on the wealth of the Muslims is a minimum legal requirement as a source of income for the state to eradicate poverty and defend Islam.
The Islamic teachings highly encourage the individuals to give alms or gifts, besides zakat, to the needy.
Through such voluntary actions, individuals are helping the authorities to eradicate poverty among the masses. This is individual social responsibility.
If the zakat collected by the state is not sufficient to meet the basic requirements of the masses and the problem cannot be solved through collective actions of the society, the state has to participate through the raising of revenue by imposing taxes.
Taxes imposed should not be to such an extent that it reduces individual rights and liberty. Islam tries to strike a balance between individual rights and social responsibility.
Proper and effective economic decisions demand a decentralised structure for the system. Decentralisation can serve the spirit of the individual’s rights.
Since an individual has a role to play in society, Islam places great emphasis on education to develop proper human character.
The purpose of education is to produce good and productive individuals. Moral and ethical education must not be understood to mean developing only good behaviour, but also the ability to play a leading and productive role in all social functions.
Islam provides special positions for those who can acquire managerial and professional skills. The appointment of Khalid Ibn Walid as the military commander by Prophet Muhammad to lead the military expeditions during his time was a great testimony to the respect given to a professional.Despite the presence of many pious, older and knowledgeable companions, Khalid was picked by the Prophet basically because of his military knowledge.
Islam believes individuals are also social beings. It insists individuals participate and contribute to society. Through fard kifayah (social obligatory duty), Islam has imposed obligations on all Muslims to undertake social responsibilities for the benefit of the entire society.
If no individuals come forward to fulfil a particular necessary function, then the entire Muslim community will be answerable to God. If there are few who are able to perform that function, then the whole community will be freed from that responsibility.This arrangement of the Islamic scheme of social order reflects the need for individual co-operation and social responsibility.
Thus the principles of individual rights and social responsibilities must always be harmonised. These principles can be considered as guidelines for formulating an economic system and policy for advancement and social success.