Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 139
Socio-economic Peace 139 rights such as freedom to choose one’s profession, equal access to opportunities and the basic requirements of life. The lack of this very special attitude has already caused much misery, pain and disorder in the history of human struggle for survival. There is thus greater emphasis in Islam on giving than on taking or keeping. The governments and the wealthy must constantly be on the lookout lest there be a section of society which is deprived of the fundamental human right to live decently. A truly Islamic state would have felt the need and taken appropriate measures for its fulfilment. Before grief turns into cries and protest and before the need threatens peace and order, the cause of grief must be removed and the need fulfilled. Apparently, in this respect, Islam shares its character with the socialist society but, in fact, the similarity is only superficial. Islam achieves its goal but not through the same coercive means prescribed by scientific socialism. Time does not permit me to describe in detail how Islam endeavours to achieve this lofty goal but we can briefly mention that the Islamic approach to this issue is not lifeless and mechanical like the philosophy of dialectical materialism. The Islamic social system remains deeply wedded to the innate laws of the human psyche. Among other things, Islam creates an atmosphere where the demand for one’s own rights gives way to regard for the rights of others. The level of consciousness and sensitivity to the suffering of fellow human beings is raised to a degree whereby members of society as a whole are concerned more about what they owe to society than what society owes to them. ‘Give the labourer more than his dues’ is the Holy Prophet’s sa repeated reminder to his followers. ‘Pay him what he has earned before his sweat has dried out. Do not put those who serve under you to such