Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 138
138 islam’s response to contemporary issues In scientific socialism, an attempt is made to level-off the economic soil so completely and perfectly that there are no ups and downs left. If watered, such soil will get its share equally. There is no question of any demand from the have-nots nor any threat to the have-alls from the less fortunate sections of society to forcibly ‘rob’ them of their ‘surplus wealth’. In the capitalist society they talk more of equal opportunities, level playing fields and free economies than of equal distribution of wealth. Thus, there is always room for the demand of rights and the creation of pressure groups such as trade unions etc. , which seek the most out of the government or other capitalists for the sake of the employee and the labourer who always live under a sense of deprivation. If scientific socialism is implemented ideally, there is no need left for any section of society to make demands. Either that society would be rich enough to equitably distribute national wealth according to the needs or it would be so poor as to have failed to fulfil their needs leaving every member of the society sharing his or her misery equally. Either way, it would end up as a society where demand no longer has a meaningful role to play. The capitalist system on the other hand is demand-oriented. The less fortunate section of society must be given the right to express its dissatisfaction and a free opportunity to be heard: hence the need for the formation of pressure groups and strikes, industrial strife, lockouts, etc. Islam attempts to create an attitude whereby the governments and the wealthy are constantly reminded that it is in their own ultimate interest to establish an equitable economic system. They are also constantly exhorted to be on the lookout for the rights of others. The weak and poor should not be denied their fundamental economic