I know that my article is not related to this group ,but it might be useful.
PLEASE read it.
Freedom of Economic Activity
Islam seeks to guarantee the freedom of property owners to spend, give away, and
invest it as he or she deems fit. With the exception of three general
guidelines, set for the befit of society, such freedom of disposal is virtually
unrestrained.
The first guideline is that earnings should not be based on cheating and
swindling. It is imperative that the Muslim perform all his or her financial
transactions and dealings with no cheating whatsoever. The Islamic stance on
this point is so firm that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon
him) said a phrase to the effect that one who cheats is not of the Muslims.
Cheating infringes upon the rights of others and weakens the fabric of financial
interdependence.
The second guideline is that there is no monopolization of necessities. Islam
forbids the hoarding or monopolizing of goods and services, such as sources of
water, that are necessary for the continuation of life and that properly belong
in the public domain. Such monopolies would harm the public for the sake of a
gain in the hands of a select few, thus the Islamic system expressly forbids
them.
The third, and possibly the most well-known guideline, is that riba (loosely
translated to mean “interest”) is strictly forbidden. The Qur’anic verses and
Prophetic Hadiths (sayings or traditions of the Prophet Muhammad) that outlaw
interest are clear and irrefutable.
Islam strictly forbids the giving or taking of interest on any loan in any
amount. Interest is defined as a set return on a loan, and as such implies a
profit based on no risk or effort – a principle completely against Islamic
ideals. Financial profit is a result of effort or risk (or both), and interest
seeks to undermine the risk-based nature of trade. Furthermore, in many
instances interest is exploitative – it is typically used as a means of deriving
profit from the financially weaker members of society by a wealthy class in
whose hands the lent money is concentrated. With these people, a loan is not a
favor done to help others or the society, but is used as a means of oppression
and undermines social cohesion.
At the same time, Islam encourages investment and loans given as a means of
charity. Such loans are given by Muslims with the expectation that they be paid
back. However, the intention behind helping a fellow Muslim in distress is not
profit but the pleasure of Allah. Interest, as known today, is ubiquitous in the
financial markets of the world. It allows richer nations to capitalize on the
resources of poorer nations under the guise of “paying back national debt.”
Interest has crumbled empires, while making oppressors out of others. Most
importantly, our sustenance is determined by Allah, and He has promised to
decrease the sustenance of the collector of interest and increase the sustenance
of the one who gives alms. While the reality of this may seem against intellect,
it is a fact that will be clear tone with a proper understanding of the Ability
of Allah.
As the religion of the middle path, Islam decries extremism to either side and
encourages moderation in all affairs. In terms of spending on oneself and on
others, Islam condemns both niggardliness and extravagance. Niggardliness stems
from a misunderstanding of the nature of wealth, which is from Allah and is
bequeathed to people for a limited time. Whatever we do not spend of our wealth
in this life is in reality not our wealth in the first place. Allah describes
the abject nature of the niggard as a man having his hand tied to his neck and
unable to extend it.
On the other hand, extravagance is also seen as distinctly un-Islamic.
Lavishness and excess often lead to arrogance, and at the least, produce a
tendency toward base desires. Additionally, they can breed envy and resentment
between the affluent and less wealthy segments of society. The true Islamic way
lies in temperance between extravagance and miserliness. It entails spending
generously and practically, for to others, society, and oneself, while sincerely
intending the pleasure of Allah
For more information about Islam..
http://www.geocities.com/fares22uae/links.html
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