The Economic System of Islam — Page 94
94 3. Communism Stifles Growth of Knowledge Although all are assured of food and clothing in the Soviet regime, its adopted measures also give rise to another grave fault in the system, i. e. intellectual progress will gradually die out. Because workers’ wages and salaries in this system are barely adequate to pay for food, shelter and clothing, leaving very little for foreign travel. This is a critical component of education that contributes to the development of scientific and technical knowledge and to the progress of civilisation. The Holy Quran has laid great empha- sis upon sair-fil-ar d , that is, travelling in various parts of the earth. When the Russian people had economic freedom, they saved a part of their income for travel to different countries. What they learned from foreign travels helped to enrich their country and contributed to national progress. This is the path nature has established for promoting progress and many nations have benefitted by adopting it. The Holy Quran has also enjoined travel to different lands; for without it, one’s perspective remains constricted. But because of the Communist system, it is now impossible for Russians to freely travel abroad, and the same thing will happen wherever Communism spreads. Its inevitable consequence would be an intellectual decline. Since the Revolution, one does occasionally come across a Communist government representative, but it is extremely rare to meet an ordinary citizen from a communist country. As the Imam of a large and far-flung religious Community, I have a wide network of contacts. I have not had the opportunity of meeting an independent Russian communist, though one does