Ahmadiyya Movement — Page 40
40 terest is not the natural foundation of the civic and social sys- tems of the world but has been adopted as such a foundation. A little consideration would show that, as the Quran says, interest is responsible for many of the wars that are undertaken in mod- ern times. If Governments were not able to raise loans on interest, they would never dare to enter upon a war for no war can be carried on without money, especially in modern days does war require heavy financial sacrifices, and if Governments were not able to secure the necessary amount of money by means of loans carrying interest, they would never rush into an expensive and ruinous war without serious reflection. The burden of direct taxation is immediately felt by the people, and they would not be willing to rush into a great war and incur the stupendous ex- penditure necessary for such an undertaking without trying every possible means that can avoid the necessity of the war. Similarly, if the payment and receipt of interest were prohibited, the wealth of a country would not be accumulated in a few hands and would be more evenly and more generally distributed among the community, as used to be the case in Islamic coun- tries, and thus wealth would be more widely and evenly distri- buted. The captains and directors of commerce and industry would then be compelled to borrow money from a large number of people in return for a share of the profits of the concern, and thus admit them to a sort of partnership in the concern. Islam and Polygamy Again, the teachings of Islam concerning polygamy are objected to, but moral, political, social, racial and financial problems sometimes arise, the only satisfactory solution of which is of- fered by polygamy. For instance, what course is open to a man who finds himself married to a woman who becomes insane or a permanent invalid ? Should he permit her to become the mother of his children and thus leave behind a legacy of suffering and