Assalamualaikum,
Today is our 4th friday together, meaning left another 1 month to be here.
to learn, to sit for exam module 6&7, to built good networking etc..
but, still tomorrow and the day after, we need to sacrifice our weekends.
Personally, I do not mind but being grateful as the expert willing to share their experience and knowledge with us and probably he only has weekends while the other day is already full working in the industry.
Just to remember and share what I have learned from today class. We have a short-good debate entitle Islamic economics vs. other economic systems like socialism,communism,capitalism and mixed economics.
The session start by Islamic scholars to be (in one team) giving their short explanation on the objectives of Islamic economy system in the perspective of zakat. How implementing zakat can achieve below elements in the full Islamic economy..
1) Achievement of Falah
2) Fair & Equitable Distribution
3) Provision of Basic Human Needs
4) Establishment of Social Justice
5) Promotion of Brotherhood & Unity
6) Achievement of Moral & Material Development
7) Circulation of Wealth
8) Elimination of Exploitation
source : Dr Muhammad Shariff Chaudhry
What becomes the debate interesting is not the quarreling between us or some of us sort of lossing their temper, but more importantly is the contents from our discussion through answers, questions and opinions.
The interesting issues are
1) How Islam says, it promotes equality, fair and justice but, only muslim is eligible to receive zakat? how about the unfortunate non-muslim? adil ke?
Some people may answer
> Apart from zakat, Islam also encourage its believers to do charity like sedekah, derma. So from this fund, it can be channeled to unfortunate non-muslim.
Then they will people like capitalist attack, This situation is only applicable when there is people who are enough generous to do charity because it is not compulsory like zakat. What if nobody will do this or the fund is not enough??
> Islamist will say, The wisdom of paying zakat is to purify the wealth, while sedeqah's wisdom is to purify our heart. This is one of the reason why only kind-hearted person will do more charity than others; including non-muslim. Contrary, It is actually from the charity, they are purifying their heart. Because of charity they becomes good. Eventually, if people understand this concept, people will do more charity eventhough it is never been compulsory.
> In between of this discussion, there are some ideas to solve the problem
FIRST, using Gharamah (late payment charge from bank financing) to be distributed to all non- muslim needy. The reason is, the bank cannot take this late payment charges as it is not shariah, thus this penalty need to give back to public. So, there are suggesting this method.
SECOND, by implementing new policy like deducting portion of salary for charity. the idea was taken from Singapore policy, whereas they have no deduction for EPF, because every citizens will pay money to Govt and it will be distributed to pensioners. Innovation from this structure is change pensioner to the Needy (Muslim & Non-muslim)
>Coming back to the main issue..How the implementation of zakat can benefits non-muslim??
From the perspective of economy it can actually relates to purchasing power. For example, when people pay zakat and then the wealth has been distributed accordingly to 8 Asnaf, then the purchasing power of the zakat receiver will increase. Then they can buy more / more people can buy and eventually supplier will increase up their stocks. Impact from this is, the price of stock will go down and it also may open more job opportunities because more workloads to fulfill demands in market. It also will improve the performance of economy indirectly
Price going down, job opportunities and good economy. Don't this will be beneficial to Non Muslims?
~ This is some of issues we discussed, it may be correct may not. What more important is not the answer, but how we think in the journey to find the solution. Critical thinking skills which we cannot find the answer in texbook.. Somehow I love this kind of issue that will trigger us to think critically.
~let's continue again next time. There are more interesting part to be shared
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