A Letter to a Dear One — Page 99
Muhammad Zafrulla Khan 99 repeatedly enjoined this. Islam has fixed rates for the payment of Zak ā t and ways of spending it are clearly determined as well. It is the duty of the government to collect this tax and use it on the fixed objectives only. The government does not have the right to use it on general obligations. The foremost disbursement of Zak ā t is that it is used to remunerate the staff that is employed to collect it. The needy and the poor are supported and helped out with it. Scholarships are granted to those who are engaged in researching knowledge and cannot earn a living. Skilled people, who do not have a capital, are given monetary help to get started in business. It is a shame that Muslims have abandoned the payment of Zak ā t and the system of its disbursement. It certainly has the answers to economic problems and necessities. The Prohibition on Interest Islam has forbidden usury and interest. The main reason being that it gives way to a perversion, which gradually eliminates the sense of human kindness and brotherhood. Lending on interest results in wealth accumulating with a few people and the rest of the society is totally dependent on their mercy in matters of economics. Although a few amass great wealth due to this system, on the other hand, thousands remain penniless and indigent. The Islamic viewpoint is that wealth should not amass among one group of people but should circulate among varied groups of people and should be divided among as many people as possible. Those who have the capacity and ability to increase the wealth may do so, and it can be divided all over again. The Holy Qur’ ā n predicts that interest and usury can lead to wars. An observation of history shows that if usury were not in custom, certain wars in history would not have prolonged as they did. In the current age, endless arrangements are being made for a fierce war, it’s causes lie mostly in interest and usury as well. If this custom did not prevail, various nations could only prepare for warfare on a very small scale. This would not put so much financial burden on them and there would not be such a danger of destruction. It should not be deduced from this that Islam has forbidden giving and taking of loan or has forbidden taking out mortgages and business partnerships. Islam considers taking and giving of loan without interest admissible. Islam directs to put all such dealings in writing regardless