Islam and Human Rights — Page 62
Isl am and Hum an R ights 62 a right to share. “In their wealth they acknowledge the right of those who asked and of those who could not” (51:20). Part of this obligation is given legal form and is made effective through legal sanctions, but the greater part is sought to be secured by voluntary effort put forth out of a desire to achieve the highest moral and spiritual benefits for all concerned. In fact, this supplementing of legal obligations through voluntary effort runs through every part of the Islamic system. Its operation can be observed in every sphere. The object of the Islamic economic system is to secure the widest and most beneficent distribution of wealth through institutions set up by it and through moral exhort ation. Wealth must remain in constant circulation among all sections of the community and should not become the monoply of the rich (59:8). Islam recognizes the diversity of capacities and talents, which is in itself beneficent, and consequently the diversity in earnings and material rewards (4:33). It does not ap prove of a dead-level equality in the distribution of wealth, as that would defeat the very purpose of the diversity, and would amount to denying “the favour of Allah” (16:72). It is obvious that if the incentive of proportionate reward for labour, effort,