Introduction

It could be argued that A Perspective on the Islamic Economic System, alongside The Issue of Hijab, is among the most controversial works of Martyr Professor Morteza Motahari. The accusation that Professor Motahari essentially endorsed the economic theory of socialism in this book has been a topic of debate in academic circles for years, leading to extensive discussions and critiques. Below is a brief review of this book, published posthumously after the martyrdom of Professor Motahari.

Bibliographic Information: A Perspective on the Islamic Economic System, Martyr Morteza Motahari, Sadra Publications, 2023 CE, 242 pages.

This book is a compilation of notes by the martyred thinker Professor Morteza Motahari, published after his martyrdom. It consists of a preface and eight sections. The preface includes two parts: an article titled A Perspective on Islamic Economics and a discussion on a healthy economy.

Structure of the Book

The book is divided into the following sections:

• Section One: Defines economics and economic concepts.

• Section Two: Discusses ownership from a philosophical perspective.

• Sections Three and Four: Focus on value and surplus value.

• Section Five: Examines capitalism and socialism from an Islamic perspective.

• Section Six: Consists of three economic treatises: ownership of land in Islam, spoils of war (anfal), and inheritance.

• Section Seven: Includes two notes.

Section One: Economics

In this section, the author defines economics and elaborates on production, explaining various types of relations with examples. He distinguishes two types of relations: natural relations and legislative relations. He further explores the interplay between natural and contractual relations, followed by discussions on exchange, the value of money, and the stages of social and economic life.

Section Two: Ownership

The author considers ownership as equivalent to exchange or barter, meaning the priority a person assigns to certain objects, limited to items they have created or acquired from nature. Ownership is divided into two types: individual ownership, where only the individual owns the wealth and no one else has the right to dispose of it, and collective ownership, where a group or all individuals collectively own wealth and benefit from it.

Sections Three and Four: Value

One of the critical issues in economics, both from a theoretical and technical perspective and an ethical one, is the concept of value. What is value, and what determines it? Value is defined as worth. Humans assign worth to things that are beneficial or useful to them. Thus, economic value is the worth inherent in a material means of livelihood or the monetary value assigned to material or intangible matters, such as education or artistic endeavors like singing. In this section, the author presents various viewpoints, addresses their critiques, and examines value from a jurisprudential perspective.

Section Five: Capitalism and Socialism from an Islamic Perspective

This section explores the compatibility or incompatibility of capitalism and socialism with Islam. Capitalism, as a phenomenon in the modern world, is relatively new, only a few centuries old, and is a novel economic and social phenomenon resulting from advancements in modern technology. Therefore, it must be examined independently. Jurists of the era have discu ssion of certain applications and their affirmation or negation.

Section Six: Economic Treatises

Treatise One: Spoils of War (Anfal)

According to Martyr Motahari, there are three types of land: (1) lands owned by individuals, over which neither the public nor the ruler has any claim; (2) lands belonging to the general Muslim community, managed by the ruler for taxation, distribution, or occasional allocation, such as public spaces; and (3) lands belonging neither to individuals nor the public but to the ruler, though Shiite and Sunni jurists differ on this matter.

Treatise Two: Inheritance

The author believes that inheritance is a significant issue in social, political, and economic systems, carrying ethical and, in some cases, social dimensions, with the higher interests of Sharia also considered from a theoretical perspective. Inheritance is a function of individual ownership; if individual ownership is entirely rejected, the concept of inheritance becomes irrelevant. Denying individual ownership negates inheritance, but accepting individual ownership does not necessarily entail accepting inheritance. For instance, someone might recognize individual ownership based on the natural priority of labor over work but reject inheritance due to its disconnection from labor and ownership. Socialists, for example, do not oppose ownership of wealth produced through personal labor but often oppose inheritance, citing reasons such as the disconnection between labor and ownership, moral corruption, and the idleness of heirs. In Western systems, inheritance is tied to wills and falls under that category, whereas in Islam, inheritance is distinct from wills. A will is the owner’s right, while inheritance is a divine obligation beyond the bequeather’s control.

Treatise Three: Socialism

According to Professor Motahari, a key question about socialism is whether it is necessarily a product of capitalism. As communists assert, socialism could not have existed without capitalism, as it is a product of specific economic relations that only emerge after passing through feudalism and capitalism. These statements suggest that for communists, a fundamental principle is the materialist interpretation of history. However, if we grant primacy to human thought, what would prevent the concept of socialism from being proposed at the dawn of history—not as a reaction to injustices but as a guiding light for society, acting with voluntary insight and free from compulsion, like other living beings, with the aim of achieving true justice?

Section Seven: Notes

In one of his notes, Martyr Motahari writes: For the science of economics, we must establish primary principles that are indisputable to ensure a unified science. These principles should be universally accepted, such as justice, equality, and the avoidance of exploitation. Communists frequently rely on these principles, even using them to argue for abolishing private ownership of the means of production. In my view, the principle of avoiding exploitation is a derivative of justice and one of the natural and inherent rights of humans. One of the natural and inherent rights of humanity is to enjoy justice and reject exploitation.