The Economic System of Islam — Page 87
87 the kind of equality that Communism rants about is little more than a delusion. Abiding happiness comes from the relationship with God alone, because all contingencies are under His control. You may grant food and clothing in equal amounts, but the man who lacks the relationship with God can have no peace. There are countless things whose presence or absence cause dissatisfaction, but it is entirely up to God to grant or withhold them. 2. Communism Interferes with Property Rights Russia under the Czars was not an industrial country. It consisted of large country estates owned by hereditary nobles. Land therefore was the first concern of Communism in Russia, not industry. Whatever Karl Marx wrote about Capitalism concerned mainly big money and industry, as he was born and educated in Germany, which was far more industrialised. When Lenin and other Russian revolutionary leaders adopted his philosophy and tried to apply his theories to Russian conditions, they came up with the following principles: 1. All land belongs to the State; 2. Land must therefore be taken over by the State and be re- distributed to those willing to till the soil; 3. Each land-holder should have just enough land that could be cultivated by him alone, and no more; 4. Land, as property of the State, must be utilized to its full potential. The cultivator, as agent of the State, must accept the decisions of the State regarding use of land.