The Economic System of Islam — Page 39
39 Balance Between Individual Freedom and State Intervention The essence of lies in an appropriate combination of individual freedom with state intervention. It al- lows state intervention to a certain extent, but it also provides for individual freedom. A proper balance between these two defines the Islamic economic system. Individual freedom is granted to enable persons to build up assets and spend them voluntarily in order to gain the spiritual benefits in the life to come. State intervention, on the other hand, is provided in order to protect the poor from eco- nomic exploitation by the wealthy. The state intervention is deemed essential for putting in place certain safeguards against harming the weaker sections of society, while individual freedom is deemed essential for a healthy competi- tion among individuals and for enabling them to make provisions for the life Hereafter. Individuals are given full opportunity to vol- untarily serve humanity and earn merit in the life Hereafter. Indi- vidual freedom thus opens up endless possibilities of progress through the force of healthy competition. At the same time, judi- cious state intervention is provided so that the economic system is not based on brutality and injustice and hindrances to economic progress of any section of society are avoided. It should now be easier to understand that religions that believe in the hereafter in general, and Islam in particular, do not view the issue in simple economic terms, but from a religious, moral and economic perspective. Religion does not seek a purely economic solution because such a solution might interfere with the moral and