economic thought in the qur"àn and sunnah 43sion” or “wastage” is demonstrably applicable. Both production and
consumption functions in society are clearly affected by this basic
principle in Islamic economics.
The Principle of Social Justice, adàlah ijtima"iyyah
Social justice is embedded in Islam. People are equal in front of
God, fear the day “when you come unto us alone (powerless, with-
out wealth, companions or anything else), as We first created you,
having left behind you what We have entrusted in you (on earth)”,
the Qur"ànic verse warns (Qur"àn 6:94), and “People are as equal
as the comb’s teeth”, and, “The noblest of you are the best in char-
acter” (flaœìœal-Bùkhari, and flaœìœMuslim).
Islam, however, recognizes the differences between people that
may lead to differences in their ability to earn and, hence, in the
amount of wealth they may accumulate. “To some of you God has
given more than to others”, (Qur"àn, 16:71). But Islam does not
reward laziness or non-participation. It invites, or indeed ordains,
every one to work hard in earning a living and to seek the utiliza-
tion of the bounty of God. With the proviso that poverty is not the
result of laziness or non-participation in economic activities, Islam
does not accept a status quo of sharp demarcation between the rich
and the poor. The rich has the duty of giving to the poor and needy,
and to provide a balanced structure of relationships in the commu-
nity, as what the rich are giving is regarded as what the poor are
entitled to. The Qur"ànic message is very clear, “in their wealth
there is a rightgiven to the poor and the deprived”, (Qur"àn: 51:19),
and “... pay the right (italics ours) on it at the day of harvest”,
(Qur"àn 6:141). This emphasises the Qur"ànic fact that when the
rich give they don’t give with arrogance and air of superiority and
when the poor take they don’t receive with humiliation and hum-
bleness, the giving and taking is well organized and ordained by the
divine force. The rich, however, are not giving in vain, they are
rewarded, and generously, by Him and Him alone, God, and the
reward is bestowed in this life and life-after. This principle of social
justice has particular implications for the distribution of income and
economic justice as shown below.