The Economic System of Islam — Page 23
23 also instruct the rich to reform themselves. For example, it is stated in S u rah al-Balad : 12 Allah the Almighty says: ‘Every rich man in the world says, ‘I am very rich and I have spent enormous wealth without any concern for the amount spent and therefore, I am enti- tled to honour and respect in the public. ’ The Arabic word lubad in this verse means ‘heap after heap’, and this is an accurate descrip- tion of the scale at which wealth is wasted by the rich in worthless pursuits. ’ Then He says: ‘Does such a foolish one think that no one sees him?’ i. e. , by spending countless amounts he thinks that he has done a favour to the country, but people can see that he is doing it for show and is not motivated by sympathy and love for the poor. If he had those feelings, he would have spread his enor- mous expenditure over many days for the benefit and feeding of the poor, but he totally lacked such motives. His only motivation was to be known for his wealth. ‘Does he imagine that no one sees him?’ He is totally wrong. The world is not blind and stupid. It is clear to 12 S u rah al-Balad, 90:7 – 18, (publishers)