Chapter 13THE RUBUBIYYAH ORDER – ITS AIM AND SCOPE
(QUR'ANIC SOCIAL ORDER)
I. The Rububiyyah Order of SocietyTHE main aim of the socio-political group, which embodies the
Rububiyyah Order, is to provide the individual with full scope for
self-development. Its basic principles are that the individual is the
focus of value and that the group exists to enable the individual to
develop and express himself to the full extent of his capacity. It lays
primary stress on personal worth. A society based on these
principles will be composed of free individuals, each enriching his
life by working for the enrichment of all life, and each moving
onwards by helping others to do the same. This society should be
judged by the solutions it offers for the social, political and
economic problems that confront all human groups. We will first
consider the economic system it advocates,
II. Capitalism and the Rububiyyah OrderCapitalism is the oldest of economic systems. In course of time it
was invested with an air of sanctity. People believed that it was the
only system which was suited to "human nature." They could not
imagine that society could prosper and flourish under any other type
of economic organisation. The industrial and commercial
revolutions gave it a powerful impetus and it reached its peak in the
nineteenth century. When Capitalism was carried to the extreme, its
defects became obvious and could no longer be ignored. No doubt,
Capitalism has certain merits and, in the earlier stages of social
evolution, it helped man to create civilization and achieve a higher
standard of life. It calls forth some of the best qualities in man, such
as initiative, ingenuity, imagination and a capacity for hard work. But
its weakness, which washes away all its good points, is that it over-
emphasizes one factor of production, namely capital – nay, it gives