Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 297
297 subordinates in the land and to make them leaders and to make them inheritors of Our favours and to establish them in the land” (28:5—7). Pharaoh’s end and that of his nobles and courtiers became a terrible lesson for all succeeding generations (10:91 ⎯ 93). Economic exploitation of one people or country by another inevitably leads to domination by the exploiters, and develops into a threat to peace. The Quran prohibits such exploitation and points out that an economy based on the exploitation of other peoples and their resources cannot be beneficial in its consequences, nor can it endure. Only such economic development is beneficial and enduring as is based upon the exploitation of a country’s own resources and on equitable sharing with others of the bounties which God has provided for each people. “Do not raise thine eyes covetously after that which We have bestowed on some groups, to enjoy for a period, of the ornaments of this life that We may try them thereby ⎯ the provision bestowed upon thee by thy Lord is better and more enduring” (20:132). Even when a strong and powerful state avoids domination or exploitation of weaker states or peoples, its behaviour and attitude toward them, if they savor of arrogance or contempt, might cause irritation and resentment which could result in the disturbance of good relations and imperil the maintenance of peace. The Quran admonishes against