- ActivitesOther IssuesReform Issues
- June 1, 2009
- 7 minutes read
Can Muslims provide solutions to the Current Economic Crisis?
America Muslims cannot sit on sidelines talking only about foreign policy related issues. We must play a role in coming up with ideas to help the economy.
The Quran requires Muslims to be part of any change that promotes justice, equality, liberty and rule of law for every creation of God anywhere in the world.
The Quran instructs the believers to cooperate in things that are virtuous and lead to the fulfillment of the covenant with God and to avoid things that promote repression, aggression and things that result in undesirable consequences (Quran 5:2).
Can Muslim Americans offer something new to the nation that will help it overcome its worsening economic crisis and reassure the world that America is a nation that caters to justice and equality of all?
Muslim Americans have ample intellectual resources to make an attempt in this direction if they assume the much needed responsibility of the hour. With many intellectuals, educationists, economists, religious scholars and social activists, a debate within the Muslim community can be initiated to welcome and promote ideas that would result in concrete proposals for the betterment of the nation as a whole.
Muslims claim that the Quran offers guidelines to use human and material resources for the betterment of all. What are those guidelines and how can those guidelines can be given a concrete form and shape?
Muslim American organizations and Muslim intellectuals ought to offer relevant ideas to ensure that they play an active part in the economic recovery process.
Economists alone cannot find an answer to all the fiscal woes that the nation has at present. Economists can help to manage and utilize resources in an efficient and professional manner, yet the economists also need directions to move forward avoiding stagnation in their own ideas.
Can Muslim intellectuals offer some alternative ideas to utilize the natural resources in an affective manner and suggest ways and means to increase the circulation of money in such a way that it is distributed justly among people rather than being controlled and monopolized by a few?
Can Muslim thought leaders provide a deep insight into the functioning of no-interest banking system?
Can Muslim religious leaders offer the collection and distribution of zakat (religious obligation to share one”s wealth with those who are less fortunate in their financial conditions) as a viable means to help people circulate the money to uplift the marginalized and weaker section of the society?
Can Muslim scientists and technologists suggest new ideas to make resources more efficient without destroying the environment?
Can Muslim business and fiscal leaders offer concrete proposals to create new jobs so that the economy can be reinvigorated?
Can Muslim health professionals offer fresh perspective in streamlining the health resources to benefit all without losing sight of the business aspects?
Can Muslim activists mobilize their community to devote their energy in volunteering for service programs that would benefit their neighborhoods?
Certainly, Muslims have enough resources to at least make an attempt in this direction. They need to be reminded that their faith is not about improving their own life in ecclesiastical sense but in helping others as well as themselves to make their economic and social conditions better. They need to be reminded the ever lasting Quranic principle that whatever benefits humans as a whole lasts forever.
Those who are concerned about the situation can step forward and list their ideas in the comment section of this article. These ideas will be compiled and sent to the White House.
Dr. Aslam Abdullah is editor of the Detroit based English weekly, Muslim Observer, director of the Islamic Society of Nevada, Las Vegas and the recently elected General Secretary of the World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relation.
