Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 214
214 islam’s response to contemporary issues I am not an economist, but understand this much at least that it is impossible for the Third World countries to retain bilateral trade relations with the advanced countries and yet prevent the flow of wealth from their countries to those of the rich by ensuring that export revenues equal the import bill. Another important factor to bear in mind is that in all economically advanced nations, there is a constant urge for an improvement in living standards. The poorer nations are encouraged to borrow money to match the rising living standards of the developed world. Push-button technology leads to an easier and more comfortable life, even if such addictions to modern amenities, ultimately, may adversely influence the human character of hardiness. But if the people in advanced countries want to restore blood to their own cheeks and restore their own physical health, how can the wealthier nations be expected to relieve the poorer nations from a state of pernicious, terminal anaemia when their own thirst for more blood knows no bound and when their standard of living must continue to rise, and all that money can buy must constantly be transferred into their own economies? This mad race for rising living standards without discrimination is not only robbing the poorer nations of their chance of survival but is also robbing the advanced nations themselves of their peace of mind and contentment of heart. The whole society is tantalised in the pursuit of artificially created needs so that everyone lives in a constant state of wanting something to keep up with the Joneses. This again is a state of affairs, which can potentially lead to war. This tendency is strongly discouraged in Islam. Islam presents to you a picture of a society in which people live within their means and