How ISLAMIC Economic System can help Control INFLATION

[MHCN]

Selected points from The Rich Islamic Economic System that would help Check Inflation:​

1 Hard Currency – Tied to Gold standard.
Today countries artificially create currency by printing money as required. Whenever our Govt borrows money from SBP it is effectively printing the money and devaluing our currency and the very notes in our pockets over night. This has a big knock on effect on inflation. Scary when you think about it, the very notes in our pockets have no intrinsic value of their own and only possess the value of the paper they are printed on.

The Islamic system requires currency / medium of exchange to be based on the Gold & Silver standard which have an intrinsic value. Notes can be used to represent the precious metals instead of carrying gold and silver around, but they must be backed up by them. Due to the intrinsic value in the precious metals stability is achieved and devaluation and inflation controlled.


2 No Artificial money
As well as printing, money is also artificially created via bank loans. Banks regularly loan out more money than they have and there is in circulation i.e. they lend what they don’t have (e.g. in US in 2007 the debt was seven times the amount of money in actual circulation). This artificial consumer spending power also leads to inflation, as artificially increased money supply is competing in chasing limited goods.

The Islamic system doesn’t only forbid Riba, but also does not allow you to loan what you don’t own or have. Money cannot be pulled out of a rabbit’s hat. Banks cannot produce money.


3 Ownership of Oil, Gas, Natural Resources.
Pricing and inflation is also linked to the cost of energy resources. The price of a barrel of oil is rising exponentially and likewise is the cost of production and transportation. This has a direct effect on the price of all commodities especially the basic necessities such as food items (due to the barbaric Capitalist system, the poor are finding it difficult to buy food). High-energy costs are affected by govt taxes and drive for profits by hungry companies and this contributes to inflation.

Islam’s solution is based on its view of ownership and permissibility of generating profits from natural resources. Islam is the only system that defines 3 types of ownership; individual, public and state property. The Prophet SAW in his Hadith has included natural resources that combust (oil field, gas field, coal mine, etc) as public property as well as other natural resources. Public property can not be transferred to the state or private sector, but remains the property of the public (Muslim Ummah) and is run by the Islamic state for their benefit on a no profit, no tax basis. Any profit generated by selling surplus oil to friendly non-muslim countries must be spent on the Ummah. Imagine you could receive a cheque in the post from the Khalif with your share from the profits generated by oil revenue.
Hence the Islamic view on natural resources would be a pivotal factor in reducing prices and controlling inflation.

4 No hoarding to manipulate supply and demandWe know the capitalists regularly hoard essential items in an attempt to artificially affect supply and demand in order to push up prices. This usually happens under the govts. nose.

The Islamic system would actively prevent hoarding and the artificial manipulation of supply and demand.


5 Revival of Dead Land
The Prophet SAW informed us that a Muslim who revives a dead Khiraji land, which was never cultivated since Muslims opened it, would own the neck as well as its produce. The Prophet SAW also informed us any Muslim or Zimmi (non-Muslim citizen of the Islamic state) who revives a dead Khiraji land on which Khiraj was applied in the past would own the produce, whilst the neck would remain with the State.

The concept being whoever revives a dead land can benefit from it. In Pakistan there is approx 9,709,300 (one crore) Acres of barren land can you imagine the benefit to the state and the populace of reviving this land. This presents a great incentive for poor farm workers and others to take advantage of this Islamic rule and revive dead land and the whole state would benefit. Poverty would be reduced, employment would increase and so would production. Increased production leads to increased supply and therefore cheaper prices and lower inflation.

6 Independence from dictates of Colonial Organisations
Muslim countries do not have independent economic policies but take dictates from colonial organisations such as World Bank, IMF, WTO, etc. These organisations dictate a wide range of policy issues including removal of govt. subsidies on energy resources and subsidies to industry and agriculture. These subsidy removals also lead to higher prices and inflation for the general populace.

The Islamic State would not take dictates from any organisations regarding its policies. The state would enact Islamic policies beneficial to its citizens, without a care for such organisations.



These are just a few aspects of the Islamic economic system that would help lower and control inflation. Islam is a complete way of life and implementing aspects of it in a pick and choose fashion would not achieve the desired result. The complete system must be implemented as other parts are interlinked and work together(social, political, economic, penal, education, etc). The motivation for implementing the Islamic System should be derived from our desire to please our Creator.

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Other aspects of the Islamic Economic System:

1. Company Structure.a) Al-Inan (The Company of Equals),
b) Al-Abdan (The Company of Bodies),
c) Mudharaba (The Company of Body and Effort),
d) Wujooh (The Company of Reputation),
e) Mufawadha (Combination of Above).


2. Taxation System (Revenue and Expenditure)
No taxes on common man such as GST which does not differentiate between rich, poor, widow, child, etc all have to pay regardless of your economic standing. Wealth Tax, Income Tax, Withholding Tax all have no place in Islam. Islamic Taxes Include:
a) Al-Kharaj,
b) Al-Jizya,
c) Al-Ushr,
d) The Fifth of Al Rikaz (Hidden treasures),
e) Zackat on Import / Export of the Muslim Trader,
f) Hima,
g) Import / Export Duty on Foreign Traders.


3. Types of ownership
a) State Property,
b) Public Property,
c) Private Property.


4. Land Ownership and Land Laws
5. Non Interest banking system.

These are but a few.
Any mistakes or contradictions are from me and not from Islam, as Islam is from our Creator and therefore beyond any error, mistake or contradiction.

 

[pkpatriotic]

"O Mankind! There has come to you from your Guardian-Lord an exhortation, a prescription
for the minds, a guidance and beneficence for those who believe" [10:57].

The Arabic words Ma'eeshat and Aish share the same root. Ma'eeshat also means "economy" and "Aish" means "pleasure and happiness". There is no doubt that if the economy of a nation is good, it will have a life of pleasure and happiness. In other words, if Ma'eeshat of a country is good, the nation will have Aish. In 20:124, Allah says,

"Those who will disregard my Message [ZIKR], their economy will be in dire straits and they will be resurrected blind on the day of judgment" [20:124].

Muslims do a lot of Allah's ZIKR. They arrange special meetings and get-togethers for ZIKR. But their economy is still in dire straits [i.e. in very bad conditions]. On the other hand the economy of the West and other non-muslim states such as Japan, China is very good. They never hold any meetings to do Allah's ZIKR. What is the reason? The only reason is that Muslims are not doing Allah's ZIKR [i.e. regarding Allah's ZIKR] as they were meant to do. The sooner they realize their folly, the better. The ZIKR is not repeating something on the beads of a rosary. It is about remembering the injunctions of Allah such as TAFAKKUR, TADABBUR, AQL, ILM and so on and then galvanize the ZIKR into AML [i.e. actions].

GOD BLESS US

 

[MHCN]

JazakAllahKhair,

One of the names of the Quran is the "Zikr", so you are absolutely correct.
When we forget, or abondon the implementation of Allah SWT Zikr, the Quran our economy will become restricted and harsh.

Part of implementing the Zikr of Allah SWT is to implement His SWT Nizam!

 

[roadrunner]

Selected points from The Rich Islamic Economic System that would help Check Inflation:​

1 Hard Currency – Tied to Gold standard.
Today countries artificially create currency by printing money as required. Whenever our Govt borrows money from SBP it is effectively printing the money and devaluing our currency and the very notes in our pockets over night. This has a big knock on effect on inflation. Scary when you think about it, the very notes in our pockets have no intrinsic value of their own and only possess the value of the paper they are printed on.

The Islamic system requires currency / medium of exchange to be based on the Gold & Silver standard which have an intrinsic value. Notes can be used to represent the precious metals instead of carrying gold and silver around, but they must be backed up by them. Due to the intrinsic value in the precious metals stability is achieved and devaluation and inflation controlled.

The author's actually wrong here. Even with a precious metal based currency, inflation will still exist.

Also, the reason Riba is so common in many countries is because banks are not charity institutions. If Islamic banks are willing to give riba free loans, most people, even the non Muslims would be queueing outside these banks. But in a world full of riba, it's unlikely to work in the current situation.

 

[MHCN]

The author's actually wrong here. Even with a precious metal based currency, inflation will still exist.

Also, the reason Riba is so common in many countries is because banks are not charity institutions. If Islamic banks are willing to give riba free loans, most people, even the non Muslims would be queueing outside these banks. But in a world full of riba, it's unlikely to work in the current situation.

AoA,

Just a couple o points to note:
1. Nowhere do I say Inflation will be eliminated, but rather better controlled. So I think we are in agreement!

2. I agree with you the points above can not be implemented in isolaton but need to be implemented as part of the wider system of Islam.

3. To day there is a market for Islamic based banking products, so most of the products on offer by Banks need further investigation (Ijtihad) to decide if they are indeed acceptable.