8. Taqseem-e-Dawlat — Distribution of Wealth

تقسیم دولت

Dear friends! Islam is a foundational principle — and that principle is the distribution of wealth.

The Qur'anic Principle of Wealth Distribution

إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

"Indeed, zakah (obligatory charity) expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect it and for bringing hearts together for Islam and for freeing captives and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the traveler — an obligation imposed by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise." (At-Tawbah, 9:60)

That is, zakah is only for the poor and the needy. It is also for the management of the zakah system itself, and for winning the hearts of people to Islam (ta'lif-e-qulub) and for freeing the enslaved (riqab) and for those in debt and for those traveling in the path of Allah and for travelers. This is an obligation that Allah has established. This is the law of God — a law and a wisdom, not charity.

In Islam, wealth is redistributed through multiple mechanisms: zakah (the annual obligatory alms on savings and assets), sadaqah (voluntary charity), waqf (endowments), and the rules of inheritance. The system of inheritance in the Qur'an ensures that property does not remain concentrated in the hands of a few, but is distributed among many heirs in precise shares:

مِن بَعْدِ وَصِيَّةٍ يُوصِي بِهَا أَوْ دَيْنٍ

"After any bequest he may have made or any debt." (An-Nisa, 4:12) — This establishes that inheritance is distributed only after fulfilling any debts and bequests.

Dear friends! Islam came with a concept that is a system of moderation. This is why its system appears balanced — so that no one person can permanently monopolize wealth. The Islamic system is such that it forbids the exploitation of those who hold wealth over the destitute. Islam is the principle: there shall be no permanent place for wealth in a single place, but rather a distribution throughout all people will continually occur. Remember: giving to others is humanity itself:

"Heart full of pain — to be a Believer is near us. To be human is this alone — and this too is being human." (Hasrat Siddiqui)

Dear friends! Allah Most High has created everything from His own mercy. Gold, silver, copper, iron — minerals, plants, animals — all were created by Him and through His own mercy placed at our disposal. Spending them as He commands is to be grateful for this mercy. The one who is ungrateful is ungrateful — but the occasion arises from time to time where gratitude is expressed.

Dear friends! Islam came three hundred years ahead of others as a system. It is apparent that the Islamic system is such that the capitalists and usurers who exploit the destitute are not able to maintain their power — for Islam is the principle: it is not right to leave wealth in one place; it should be distributed throughout all people. Islam declares: there shall be no anarchism — do not let things run wild. Islam declares a balanced middle path. Keep one's own property — nourish the poor — but without going to excess. This is Islam.