The Economic System of Islam — Page 26
26 dust’, in this verse implies the kind of extreme poverty that reduces one to near non-existence. Persistent destitution can deprive one of even the ability and energy to raise a voice. There are beggars who go from door to door seeking relief. Some of them beg insistently and refuse to take no for an answer. Others raise hue and cry in pro- test, and organize themselves to press the government and the rich to help them. However, God expects us to have such sympathy and love that we must seek out the helpless poor who do not even have the capacity to protest and beg at someone’s door. Such a person is not a member of a ‘trade union’ of beggars; his lips remain sealed even though his stomach may be empty; he remains hidden away in sickness and grief; he is friendless with no hope or energy left. Islam expects the rich to reach out to such hopeless poor and strive to heal their bruised hearts. Islam expects the rich to achieve such heights of moral advancement that, after doing everything in their power in the service of the poor, they do not regard themselves as superior for being charitable. Instead, Islam expects the rich to remain humble before God and constantly prod their hearts to as- certain if they have truly fulfilled their duty towards the poor. The rich must not remind the poor of their help, nor should they con- sider it as a favour to the recipient. Rather, they should constantly engage in self-examination if they have fulfilled their God-given obligations. The next verse ‘And exhort one another to be steadfast’ describes the next stage on this ‘uphill road. ’ It indicates that: beyond helping individuals, one seeks to address the troubles