The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 64
Seal of the Prophets - Volume III 64 1. By means of the division of inheritance, the establishment of the system of Zakāt , the prohibition of usury and gambling; the wealth of the country should be prevented from accumulating into the hands of a few. 2. However, the individual right to produce wealth should be maintained, so that the natural incentive to work remains alive and that the mind of man does not become dull. 3. Despite these means, for those people who are unable to provide for even their basic necessities on account of a disability, the government should arrange ment of their needs. 4. In emergencies when there is a severe shortage of food, all individual food supplies should be gathered into a central storehouse, so that all people continue to receive an equal ration of basic food, lest a section of the country basks in luxury while others are deprived of even the most basic means of sustenance. Equality in Matters of Religion & Spirituality After this, we take up the discussion on that equality which relates to religious and spiritual affairs. As such, it should be known that although atheists and materialists may be uninformed of the significance of this domain, but in the sight of those who possess a passion for Divine nearness and seekers of ultimate salvation, this domain is much more significant and more worthy of attention than even the worldly life. Furthermore, all praise belongs to Allāh, that even in this domain the Islāmic teaching has fully maintained the balance of the scale of true equality. Firstly and foremost, on the one hand, other religions teach that the revelation of God’s word and the advent of His prophets and messengers has remained specific to distinct nations, and other nations of the world have remained wholly deprived of this magnificent spiritual bounty. For example, the Jewish people do not find any other nation but themselves worthy of this spiritual bounty. Similarly, the Hindus believe that the revelation of the word of God has been confined to only the Arya people and no other country and nation has received any part therefrom. Moreover, in fact, the Christians do not believe in a prophet and messenger, etc. , outside of the Children of Israel. Therefore, where all the nations of the world are asserting a monopoly over this spiritual bounty and do not consider any other nation worthy of it, on the other hand, Islām loudly announces the teaching that