Our God — Page 212
212 Similarly, the mineral resources obtained, unearthed from private lands, are also levied a tax of 20% in order to help the poor. Sixth, in addition to the compulsory tax of Zak a t, Islam has exhorted the Muslims to give alms to the poor, so that in addition to Zak a t administered by the government, people should also develop sympathy for their poor brothers and neighbours and that fosters the spirit of brotherhood, cooperation and camaraderie. Seventh, if the above-mentioned measures fail to provide ade- quate assistance for all the poor, then it is binding on the govern- ment to help the needy from its own treasury so that everyone receives the basic necessities. These are the seven principles whereby Islam has provided for the just distribution of wealth and assistance of the poor and the needy. (For a detailed study of Islam and Communism please refer to ‘The Economic System of Islam’ by Hadrat Khalifatul Mas ih II and my treatise, ‘Communism and Islam’). The fundamental concept is that an individual should be incentivised to make an effort and benefit from the success of his efforts, and his mental faculties should be honed through a sense of competition and achievement; at the same time, a just system of just distribution of wealth is applied by the state, and measures should be taken to continually reinvest the wealth of the nation for national inter- ests. That is the wonderful middle course which staves off the ills of both sides (capitalism and communism) and incorporates the excellence of both, and that is the course adopted by Islam. In short, as far as its basic principles are concerned, Russian communism is not directly related to atheism. It is merely an eco- nomic system which has indirectly attacked religion to strengthen itself. As already stated, it is a blind reaction that leads people