ISL201 GDB Idea Solution Spring 03 July 2012
Solution:-Every individual, according to Islam, is accountable for his actions done in this world. He would be rewarded for his good actions and punished for his evil actions in the hereafter. Accountability for individual’s actions is meaningless if the individual is not provided reasonable freedom to act independently. Therefore, Islam puts highest value on individual’s freedom of action in every field of human activity such as social, political, economic religious, moral, etc.
Islamic principle of economic freedom means that an individual has been allowed liberty by God to earn wealth, own it, enjoy it and spend it as he likes. It also entails freedom to adopt any profession, business or vocation to earn livelihood. But Islam has not allowed unlimited freedom in the economic sphere. As we have already discussed, Islam makes distinction between Halal (lawful) and Haram (unlawful). In the field of production, distribution, exchange and consumption, only Halal (lawful) means are permitted. Remaining within the restrictions of Halal and Haram, an individual enjoys full freedom to earn and spend wealth as he likes. Thus Islam recognizes free enterprise, human initiative, and individuals potential. It also recognizes role of organization, capital, labor and market forces in economic field. No unnecessary curbs are placed on the individual or the organization regarding earning or owning of wealth. No upper limit or ceiling is imposed on properties or holdings. Besides restrictions of Halal and Haram, other restrictions are rarely placed on economic activities, prices of goods, ownership or on monopolies unless the same are really necessary for safeguarding the common interest of Muslim community.
Another Solution:-
The Prophet Muhammad informed us in a very famous tradition, commonly quoted with reference to halal and haram, about the importance of the heart. He said:
"There is in the body a clump of flesh - if it becomes good, the whole body becomes good and if it becomes bad, the whole body becomes bad. And indeed it is the heart."
[The hadith in full :- Bukhary, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 49: Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir: I heard Allah's Apostle saying, 'Both legal and illegal things are evident but in between them there are doubtful (suspicious) things and most of the people have no knowledge about them. So whoever saves himself from these suspicious things saves his religion and his honor. And whoever indulges in these suspicious things is like a shepherd who grazes (his animals) near the Hima (private pasture) of someone else and at any moment he is liable to get in it. (O people!) Beware! Every king has a Hima and the Hima of Allah on the earth is His illegal (forbidden) things. Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.']
He said that after explaining that the halal is clear and that the haram is clear and that between them are obscure areas, not known to most people. However, what protects a person from the haram and ensures that he remains in the halal is knowledge; but beyond knowledge, it is the state of the heart. If the heart is good, then it makes use of the knowledge and it avoids what is prohibited. If the heart is bad, then the knowledge is of no benefit to it and it will indulge in what is prohibited.
