The Economic System of Islam — Page 91
91 tance, the size of land ownership would decline within one or two generations. Islamic Islamic Islamic Islamic Approach Approach Approach Approach to Reduc to Reduc to Reduc to Reduce e e e Landh Landh Landh Landhol ol ol oldings as dings as dings as dings as Compared Compared Compared Compared with with with with Communis Communis Communis Communist Approach t Approach t Approach t Approach It should also be borne in mind that Islam does not allow anyone— not even someone who has no heirs and has made a will—to dispose of more than one-third of his property according to his own wishes. If he does have heirs, the land would be distributed in successive generations. If someone wishes to bequeath one-third to an heir for family prestige, Islam would not permit it—because none of the heirs are permitted to take any part of this one-third. Conse- quently, large land holdings under the Islamic system are virtually impossible. Even someone without an heir cannot bequeath more than one-third to anyone. The remainder will revert to the State, and thus be of benefit to the public at large. Another strength of this system is that while it prevents a landed aristocracy from interfering with the uplift of the poor, it does not curtail individual freedom. In fact, it leaves everyone free to develop intellectually, promote his family life, and allows him to do whatever is necessary for the preparation for the life to come. In contrast, the measures adopted by Communism, to translate its ideology into practice, destroy individual liberty, kill domestic har- mony, and deny any chance of serving one’s religion. What is more, Communism has utterly failed to implement what it originally sought. In regard to land, Communism held that all land belonged to the State, an approach that made the State the sole landowner,