Learn about the Islamic concept of private ownership and how it is regulated within Islamic teachings. Discover the rights and responsibilities associated with private property in Islam.
The fundamental principle which is to be kept in view in the process of production is the manifestation of the principle of economic welfare. The uniqueness of the Islamic concept of economic welfare lies in the fact that it cannot ignore the broader consideration of the general welfare which involves in the question if morality, education, religion and many other things.
The Islamic concept of private ownership is unique.
Under the Islamic system of production the concept of Islamic welfare is used in more comprehensive manner. The Islamic concept of economic welfare consist in the increasing of income resulting from the increase of production of only beneficial goods through the maximum utilisation of resources.
Private ownership (land)
Eight rules of the Sharah.
The Islamic concept of private ownership is unique in the sense that absolute ownership of every thing on earth and heaven belongs to Allah alone. Man is simply the vicegerent of Allah on earth. Generally speaking, there are seven rules of the Sharah governing private ownership of property. They are
- Continuous utilisation of property.
The prophet (p.b.u.h) is reported to have said that “the person who sizes land belonging to nobody would cease to have any right to such land if he did not reasonably exploit it after three years of possession. Thus impetus is given to the cultivation of waste land.” Thus impetus is given to the cultivation of wasteland. Since the non-use of property is waste full and impoverishes the owner as well as the community as a whole, the Islamic state can intervene and deprive them of ownership to the extent of land remaining unutilised .
- Payment of Zakat.
The second rule of the shalah in regard to the conduct of the owner of private property is that he must pay zakat in proportion to the property owned.
- Beneficent use.
The third rule gives emphasis to the beneficent use of property which means utilisation of wealth “in the way of God” which hi turn means all causes beneficial to the community as a whole and’ conducive to its prosperity.
- Harmless use.
Fourthly, when Islam gives emphasis to the beneficent use of property it imposes upon the owner of property the duty not to use it in such a way as to cause harm to others or to the community. Absolute ownership of every thing belongs to Allah; every individual, rich or poor, has the inherent right to use it. Therefore, when harm is done to others, this would be aggression which is forbidden.
- Lawful possesion.
All such unlawful means of equiring property are prohibited as those in the end destroy people. Acquisition of property through false hood falls in the same category. It is equally unlawful to seek to establish title to property by • obtaining judgment through corrupt means like bribery or false evidence. The sharah gives the state full powers to punish dishonest activities. As regards monopoly Islam provides that property hoarded or monopolised would be punished because it puis wealth out of circulation and deprives the owner as well as the rest of the community of its beneficent use.
- Balanced use.
Owner should use Ihe property in a balanced way. The owner should be neither prodigal or parsimonious in its use. As regards prodigality, it can be said that goods and property lawfully acquired are a bounty of Allah. They should be properly looked after and should not be wasted through neglect. A person of defective judgment should not be allowed to squander away his subsistence. As regards parsimony it must be admitted that some people ha\e a tendency of holding beck. I he Quran has repeatedly prohibited people from parsimonious holding back.
- Due Benefits.
Many people utilise their property for securing for them selves undue special benefits in political and economic spheres to the neglect of the larger interest of the community. This is obviously against the spirit of Islam. In Islam state must ensure that property is never used for the attainment of such selfish objectives.
Conclusion.
In Islam an individual has undoubtedly the right to own property to purchase or to sell it and to inherit it but this right is accompanied by certain duties and obligation which he owes to society