The Economic System of Islam — Page 74
74 Objections Against Communism on the Basis of Religion As I represent the Islamic point of view, I take up first those aspects of the Communist economic system that bear on religion. 1. No Scope of Voluntary Efforts My foremost objection against Communism—an objection which all beliefs in life after death must have—is that it leaves little scope for individual voluntary effort, which alone is the basis for earning merit for the life to come. Instead of withholding some reasonable portion of his wealth for the State, and leaving the individual free to spend the rest as he wishes, a person is left with nothing more than what suffices for his needs. This deprives him of the means to pro- vide for the life to come. He is given food, he can clothe himself, he is assured of shelter, his education and medical care, but he has not a penny left to provide for the life Hereafter. In other words, Communism looks after only the material side of a person’s life— which may span forty to fifty years—but entirely ignores the life Hereafter that is believed to be everlasting. This is something to which no one who is convinced of the truth of religion and wishes to follow its teachings could ever be reconciled. Islam, for instance, expects , as some other religions do, that its followers spread out and carry its message to the world’s four corners so that mankind can seek deliverance. Anyone who remained away from Islam would miss this deliverance, and on the day of judgement he would face God as a guilty person. You may