Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
The Deen of Islam is a universal Deen that is for all people, in all places, in all times, until the Day of Qiyaamah. When this religion is a universal religion, then it has the solution to all the problems of the ummah, whether current or future, that may arise until the Day of Qiyaamah. It is an all-encompassing way of life that enriches man with goodness, physically as well as spiritually.
When one takes a cursory glance at every aspect of Islam, then he will find that it contains goodness as well as kindness for humanity at large – and why would it not be so when it has been divinely chosen by Allah Ta‘ala as a complete and perfect way of life for this ummah until the Day of Qiyaamah?
In Surah Maa’idah, Allah Ta‘ala declares:
اَلۡیَوۡمَ اَکۡمَلۡتُ لَکُمۡ دِیۡنَکُمۡ وَ اَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَیۡکُمۡ نِعۡمَتِیۡ وَ رَضِیۡتُ لَکُمُ الۡاِسۡلَامَ دِیۡنًا ؕ
Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. (Surah Maa’idah v. 3)
This verse was revealed at the end of the mubaarak life of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) during the Farewell Haj, and it marks the completion of deen, as well as the completion of the mission of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). In this verse, Allah Ta‘ala openly states that He has divinely chosen and selected Islam as our religion, and He is pleased with Islam as our way of life.
Similarly, in this verse, Allah Ta‘ala says that He has completed His favour upon the ummah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), through which we understand that the Deen of Islam is such a comprehensive way of life that is being referred to as the ‘complete favour’ of Allah Ta‘ala upon this ummah. Hence, no other way can be better than the way of Islam.
The Beauty of the Islamic Economic System
Islam advocates brotherhood and showing kindness and compassion to the creation. One is permitted and encouraged to earn a halaal living. However, this must be done together with maintaining a balance and with fulfilling the needs of the creation.
The hallmark of the Islamic Economic system is that it protects the rights of one and all in the most appropriate and just manner. People have equal opportunities and the weak are not abused and exploited. Hence, we find mention made in the Hadith of the prohibition of hoarding wealth which people are in need of (e.g. grain and food items, etc.) in the hope of gaining a monopoly over the market and receiving extra profit. Similarly, purchasing the entire consignment of goods from people out of town who supply the market in the town has been condemned on account of it causing harm to the general public and the other traders, based on one’s personal greed. (Saheeh Muslim #1517, 1519 & Sunan Ibnu Maajah #2154)
In essence, the divine system of Allah Ta‘ala is such that those who adopted this system and implemented it in the world were always successful, from the time of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and through the centuries that followed. One such example is the golden era of Umar bin Abdul Azeez (rahimahullah) who ruled from 99 A.H. until 101 A.H. During his rule when the entire Islamic Empire was run upon the Islamic Economic System, the Islamic Empire was so progressive and prosperous that there was no need for people to beg and the Muslims could not find people who were deserving of zakaat. (Seerah Umar bin Abzil Azeez libni Abdil Hakam pg. 65)
The Unjust and Oppressive Western Economic System
Contrary to the Islamic Economic System is the Western economic system. This system is an inhumane, unjust and oppressive system that is based on interest.
In this system, the money of the rich is pooled in banks and offered to the poor, according to their financial status, under the pretext of fulfilling their needs and requirements with the condition of interest attached, thereby making it extremely difficult for them to continue life and escape their poverty.
The outcome of this system is that the wealthy thrive and prosper through the blood and sweat of the poor. Hence, they create monopolies and become richer while the poor become poorer in slogging to pay off their debts to the rich.
In essence, the riba system of the West has achieved nothing besides widening the gap between the rich and the poor, causing man to fall deeper into the abyss of misery and destruction. Worst of all, it gradually sucks the blood of the poor and entraps them in slavery that is not in the form of shackles and chains, but rather in the form of anxiety and sleepless nights.
Many countries’ deficit accounts run into billions due to the interest-bearing loans that are borrowed from other countries, the brunt of which is borne by none but the citizens of the borrowing countries. The reality of the matter is that today’s ten richest men in the world own more than the combined wealth of 48 poor countries of the world. Millions are malnourished, lack access to pure water and are underprivileged in terms of the basic necessities of life. It is for this reason that Islam has severely condemned the riba system.
A believer should understand that interest outwardly seems to be a means of increasing his wealth, but in reality, it is actually a means of bringing decrease to his wealth. This is on account of the fact that his wealth will be contaminated and polluted with riba, and will thus become the means for him falling into major problems which will ultimately result in him losing his wealth. Hence, Allah Ta‘ala mentions in the Qur’aan Majeed, “Allah destroys riba (interest) and gives increase for charities.” (Surah Baqarah v. 276)
Similarly, in the Mubaarak Hadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “No matter how much the interest may be, it will result in decrease (of wealth).” (Mustadrak #2262)
The Severe Warnings Mentioned in the Ahaadith for those who Get Involved in Riba
Hazrat Abdullah bin Hanzalah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Consuming one dirham of riba knowingly is worse than committing zina thirty-six times.” (Sunan Daaraqutni #48)
In another Hadith, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is reported to have mentioned, “The fire of Jahannum is more deserving for the one who nourished his body with haraam (riba).” (Mu’jam Kabeer #298)
In yet another Hadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) cursed the one who consumes interest, pays interest, the scribe of the interest-bearing deal and the witness to such a deal, and he said that all are equal in the sin (of riba). (Saheeh Muslim #106)
The Declaration of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) on the Occasion of the Farewell Haj
On the occasion of the farewell pilgrimage, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) declared:
“Indeed, your life and wealth are sacred upon you like the sanctity of this day, in this auspicious month, in this blessed land. Remember! All pre-Islamic ways and practices (against the Deen of Islam) are abolished beneath my feet… All interest dealings which used to take place in the pre-Islamic era (Jaahiliyyah) are abolished in Islam.” (Saheeh Muslim #147)
