of Nokounam, (Session 954)
The Holy Quran, like an illuminating lamp, reveals the path of felicity and justice across all aspects of human life. Ayah 29 of Surah An-Nisa, with profound and wise expression, elucidates the rules of interaction, commerce, and social living, and by prohibiting the consumption of wealth unjustly and promoting consensual trade, lays a firm foundation for Islamic economics. This treatise, by reflecting upon this noble verse and analysing its jurisprudential, social, economic, and historical dimensions, endeavours to present the Quranic messages in a clear and coherent context to the audience. Utilising the perspectives of religious scholars, this work examines the impact of colonialism on the economies of Islamic societies and the strategies for returning to self-sufficiency and economic justice. Its objective is to provide solutions for contemporary challenges through a profound understanding of this verse, and to clarify the role of equitable commerce in reducing conflict and increasing blessing.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ تِجَارَةً عَنْ تَرَاضٍ مِنْكُمْ ۚ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا
O you who have believed, do not consume one anothers wealth unjustly, except through trade by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves. Indeed, Allah is ever Merciful to you.
This noble verse, like a comprehensive map, delineates the rules of social and economic living. Addressed to the believers, it places the prohibition of consuming wealth unjustly and the promotion of trade based on consent at the centre of attention. These principles not only guarantee economic order but also reinforce social peace and solidarity.
The Holy Quran, by forbidding the consumption of wealth unjustly, condemns all forms of illicit trade, ranging from fraud and theft to coercion and deception. In this context, unjust refers to any act devoid of juridical and ethical legitimacy. This prohibition, like a steadfast shield, safeguards economic justice and prevents infringement upon property rights. For instance, the usurpation of property, such as in cases of smuggling or unlawful confiscation, is explicitly deemed prohibited. If wealth is seized from an individual, it must be returned to its rightful owner rather than being exploited by the confiscators.
The noble verse permits trade only when three essential conditions are fulfilled: lawful ownership of wealth, conducting the transaction in the form of trade, and full consent of the parties involved. These conditions, like sturdy pillars of an economic structure, ensure legitimacy and blessing. Any transaction lacking one of these conditions is invalid and deprives the economy of divine blessing. For example, if a person trades anothers property without their consent or engages in commerce through deceit and coercion, such action constitutes usurpation and prohibition.
Trade based on mutual consent, like a pure stream, strengthens trust and solidarity within society. This form of trade, prevalent in ancient communities as barter (such as exchanging wheat for clothing), was free from coercion and oppression. Mutual consent prevents disputes and conflicts because the parties enter into the transaction with awareness and satisfaction. This Quranic principle not only renders the economy just but also promotes social peace by diminishing motives for killing and quarrelling.
With the advent of money in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and the expansion of banking, the economic structures of societies underwent profound transformations. Banks, ostensibly instruments for wealth organisation, effectively became tools for concentrating economic power in the hands of colonialists. These institutions, by promoting usury and illegitimate profits, diverted the wealth of nations towards Western powers and weakened indigenous economies. This process, like a devastating storm, eradicated the self-sufficiency of Islamic countries and rendered them economically dependent.
Islamic countries, such as Iran, once enjoyed abundant natural resources and economic self-sufficiency. Products like saffron, pistachios, rice, and carpets not only met domestic needs but also had global renown. However, colonialism, through targeted policies, undermined these resources. For example, Iranian saffron, which shone like a brilliant jewel in global trade, was purchased at negligible prices and sold in international markets at multiplied values. This exploitation paralyzed the indigenous economy and turned Islamic countries into mere importers.
Economic sanctions acted as a heavy chain, excluding Islamic countries from the global trade cycle. These restrictions disrupted domestic production and intensified dependence on imports. For instance, Indian rice, at a meagre price, replaced local rice and rendered domestic production uneconomical. This unfair competition, like a dagger to the body of indigenous agriculture, destroyed local products and plunged nations into poverty and hunger.
Cities such as Qom, which once boasted fruitful orchards of pomegranates, figs, and apples, gradually transformed into arid deserts. This devastation resulted from uncontrolled urbanisation and colonial policies that undermined agriculture and animal husbandry. While in some Western countries, such as Ukraine, lands are fully utilised for farming and livestock, in Iran pastures have diminished and lands turned barren. This situation, like a dusty mirror, reflects neglect of natural capacities.
The Holy Quran, by emphasising barter trade, offers a simple and just solution for the economy. In this method, common in ancient societies, goods such as wheat, cotton, and clothing were exchanged with equal value. This approach, like a pure stream, was free from usury and ensured justice in transactions. The story of two brothers generously exchanging wheat and experiencing divine blessing testifies to the truth that fair trade brings blessing and abundance.
Reviving indigenous production, like a golden key, unlocks economic resistance. Islamic countries must, through reconstructing agricultural, pastoral, and handicraft capacities, liberate themselves from import dependence. Self-sufficiency in products such as saffron, pistachios, and rice not only strengthens the economy but also prevents colonial exploitation. This approach, like a steadfast shield, protects nations against sanctions and external pressures.
Faith, like a radiant torch, guides economic behaviour. The Holy Quran, addressing the believers, underscores the importance of faith in abstaining from consuming wealth unjustly and promoting just trade. The absence of faith diminishes trust in divine blessing and fosters erroneous beliefs, such as attributing problems to divine sadism. This misconception contradicts the mercy and justice of God, which is manifest in the verse stating, Indeed, Allah is ever Merciful to you.
Ayah 29 of Surah An-Nisa, by prohibiting the killing of the soul, establishes a profound link between just trade and social peace. When consensual trade flourishes, interdependence among individuals increases and motives for conflict and killing decrease. This principle, like a strong bridge, guides societies away from the abyss of violence towards peace and reconciliation. Conversely, when trade ceases, killing and strife rise, as money, unlike goods, amplifies motives for crime.
Generosity, like a shining jewel, brings blessing to the economy. Historical stories, such as the exchange of wheat among brothers, demonstrate the effect of faith and generosity on increasing bounty. Although such narratives are less believable in the contemporary era due to weakened faith, they offer valuable lessons about trust in divine mercy. God, with His boundless mercy, blesses just trade and delivers the economy from poverty and hardship.
Ayah 29 of Surah An-Nisa, by elucidating the principles of the Quranic economy, draws a clear path for justice and blessing in society. The prohibition of consuming wealth unjustly and the promotion of consensual trade provide a firm foundation for the Islamic economy. Colonialism, by destroying indigenous production and promoting usurious banking, led Islamic countries towards dependency and poverty. Reviving indigenous production, returning to barter trade, and strengthening faith are solutions that can rescue Islamic societies from this crisis. This verse not only defines economic rules but also, by forbidding killing, fosters peace and social cohesion. Returning to these principles, like a pure stream, will bring blessing and felicity.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
