IntheearlyperiodoftheIslamichistory,suchasituationactuallyoc-
cured.WhenUthmānbinAffānbecamecaliph,hehandledthepublic
wealthinsuchamannerthatwithinashorttime,histribe,theUmayy-
ads,becametherichestpeopleintheMuslimempire.Imam‘AlibinAbi
Tālib,inafamoussermon,explainsthereasonswhyhewasreluctantto
acceptthecaliphateafter`Uthmān'smurder.TheImamsays,“Haditnot
beenforthepledgeofAllahwiththelearnedpeoplethattheyshouldnot
beindifferenttothegluttonyoftheoppressorandthehungeroftheop-
pressed, I would have cast the rein of caliphate on its shoulders...
”[30]TopinthelistofprioritesofImam‘Ali'scaliphatewasthere-estab-
lishment of social justice in the Muslim community. And it thissame
agendawhichcreatedstrongoppositionto‘Aliamongthosewho were
used to special privileges during the previous caliphate.
IslamdoesnotonlyteachequalityoftheMuslimsintheeyesofAllah,
butitalsopromotesequalityineconomicsphere.However,“equality”in
Islamdoesnotmean“similarity”.Islamaimstoelevateallitsfollowers
tothelevelofghina—beingfreefromwant.ItisthisequalitywhichIslam
strives for in its economic system.