The Economic System of Islam — Page 67
67 People who are engaged in teaching the Holy Quran and Hadith, or are working for the propagation of faith, will not be able to make a living, and are, according to this verse, entitled to have a share in these revenues. If the government did not provide them with the necessary funds, it would result in either their moral stan- dard suffering because of the strain of constant want, forcing them to beg; or they would be forced to give up the service of religion in order to earn their livelihood. The Holy Quran contains an express injunction that among the Muslims there should always be people dedicated to the service of religion for all hours of the day and night. Therefore, dhil-qurb a refers to people dedicated to the service of religion and according to Islam this class of people has a definite claim on the State’s resources. To emphasise further that essential point is reiterated in the concluding portion of the passage. ‘Accept what the Prophet allows you but desist from claiming that which he has forbidden. ’ The rich should not try to get back the wealth taken from them by Islam in the interest of the poor, for this was essential for the peace and prosperity of society. State Obligated to Provide for Primary Needs of All The Islamic State, on gaining the resources, implemented the above outlined precepts and assumed responsibility for meeting each per- son’s needs for food and clothing. In the time of Hadrat Umar ra , when the New Order was completely established, a census was taken, involving registration of the individual’s name, in order to