Islamic Economics: A Short History

CHAPTER TWO

THE BIRTH OF THE ISLAMIC STATE

ECONOMIC THOUGHT IN THE QUR"ÀN AND SUNNAH

(610 A.C.–632 A.C.)

Introduction

In 610 A.C. Central Arabia was on the verge of a dramatic change
that would transform not only its history but also the history of
many other nations for centuries to come. At that date, Makkah
heard for the first time the Prophet Muœammad (571–632) pro-
claiming a new religion to which he was the Messenger.
The new religion is called Islam, meaning the full submission to
one supreme God and the entire surrender to His divine power.
God in Islam is one true God, the God of Prophet Ibràhìm, and
the faithful should believe in this “one God, in His angels, in His
Books, in His Apostles, in the Day of Judgment and in the Divine
decree of good and evil”, (flaœìœMuslim). The Arabic word for one
supreme God is Allah, a name which should not be thought of as
a different God from Prophet Ibràhìm’s God; He is the same God.
The only difference is that the word Allah is an un-translated Arabic
word for the word God. It should not be conceived as an exclu-
sively Islamic God that is different from the monotheistic God in
Judaism or Christianity. It explains why Judaism and Christianity
are acknowledged in Islam as divinely inspired religions. Antecedent
Apostles and Prophets are highly regarded. What distinguishes Islam
from Judaism and Christianity, however, is that, among other things,
it does not discriminate between religion and politics. Hence it is
both a religion and a political institution. Moreover, Islam emphat-
ically confirms that, “Say: He is God, One, the Everlasting Refuge,
who has not begotten, and has not been begotten, and equal Him
is not anyone” (Qur"àn 112:1–4).
Like the previous two monotheistic religions, Judaism and
Christianity, Islam was resisted. The Bedouins of Arabia were strongly
attached to their past religion and traditions, as mentioned in the
previous chapter. They could not accept any ideas that would chal-