A.T.M.Nurun Nabi :
Wants are unlimited. Hunger, clothing, shelter, education and medicine are the first five basic needs of a man. And the subject that deals with man’s financial activities is called Economics.
Economics is the social science that seeks to describe the factors which determine the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. It studies resources and optimum use of minimum resources, land and land policy, capital and organisation, skills and technology, labourers and labour strategy, relation between employees and employers, management and marketing facilities, income and distribution.
In the primitive ages, men used to live together in one area. But with the increase of population, they in separate groups went out in search of new lands and settlement. Families, tribes and race grew in this way. And the family and the tribe having greater number of population occupied more lands and established authority over the weaker. In this way grew feudalism.
Landlords and the serfs are the two opposing classes of feudalism. The landlords paid a nominal wage to the serfs, and never heard their miseries. Thus, conflict grew between the oppressors and the oppressed. This conflict has been continuing from time immemorial. German Philosopher Karl Marx rightly said, history of mankind is hitherto the history of class struggle.
After industrial revolution in 1688 in Europe, capitalism grew and quickly built strong foundation. But instead of fighting, it compromised with feudalism in the class interests. Mills and factories were established, the capitalists became rich to richer. Contrarily, the workers’ conditions became very miserable. In such situation, the workers of the Hay Market in Chicago in the USA rose in revolt against the exploitation by their employers on May 1 in 1986..
International Workers’ Day is the commemoration of the 1886 Hay Market affair in Chicago. The police were trying to disperse a public assembly during a general strike for the eight-hour workday, when an unidentified person threw a bomb at them. The police reacted by firing on the workers, killing dozens of demonstrators and several of their own officers. Reliable witnesses testified that all the pistol flashes came from the center of the street, where the police were waiting, and none from the crowd. Moreover, initial newspaper reports made no mention of firing by civilians. A telegraph pole at the scene was filled with bullet holes, all coming from the direction of the police.
In 1889, the first Congress of the Second International, meeting in Paris for the centennial of the French Revolution and the Exposition Universelle, following a proposal by Raymond Laving, called for international demonstrations in 1890 on the Chicago protests. May Day was thus formally recognised as an annual event at the International’s Second Congress in 1891.
In 1904, the International Socialist Conference meeting in Amsterdam called on all Social Democratic Parties and organisations and trade unions through out the world to demonstrate energetically on May First for the legal establishment of the eight-hour workday, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal peace. The Congress made it mandatory upon the proletarian organisations of all countries to stop work on May 1, wherever it is possible without injury to the workers.
In many countries, the working classes sought to make May Day an official holiday, and their efforts largely succeeded. May Day has long been a focal point for demonstrations by various Socialist, Communist and anarchist groups. In some circles, bonfires are lit in commemoration of the Hay Market sacrifices, usually at dawn. May Day has been an important official holiday in countries such as China, North Korea, Cuba, Bangladesh and the former Soviet Union. May Day celebrations typically feature elaborate popular and military parades in these countries.
In the United States and Canada, however, the official holiday for workers is Labour Day in September. US President Grover Cleveland feared that commemorating Labour Day on May 1 could become an opportunity for the communists to sow seeds of Marxism. Thus he moved a draft in 1887 to support the Labour Day in September.
May Day is recognised as the International Workers’ Day though their rights to wages and incentives are not recognised in many countries of the world. It is still a matter to research whether the Hay Market’s workers were influenced by the contents of the book ‘Communist Manifesto’ of Karl Marx.
In the world, there are three kinds of economies. These are capitalism, socialism and Islami economy. It was said in the sixties that the conditions of the workers in the USA and in some European countries were better than in the former Soviet Union and China. But the fact is that none dies from starvation in a Socialist country. This is also the lesson of Islami economy. To attain this noble objective, certain principles are to be applied. These are:
Islam stresses on giving a full measure to the buyers and workers and to weigh with a true balance. It is also emphasized that none should be given less than his due.
The Prophet Muhammad (SM) said, “‘Workers are part of production and hence they are part of profit. Appoint not anyone in a job unless you fix his wage and terms of work, and pay their wages before their sweat is dried.”
German Philosopher Karl Marx said, labour is the basis of wealth. So, profit should go to the workers. In contrast, classical economist Adam Smith said, the capitalists invest capital and so the profit is their. Both Marxism and capitalism follow extremism in economic policy. Contrarily, Islam pursues the middle course, reconciliation between the employee and the employers, between the rich and the poor.
Friedman by economic development said, “Growth is an expansion of the system in one or more dimensions without a change in its structure. According to Meier and Baldwin, “Economic development is a process whereby an economy’s real national income increases over a long period of time.”
Agriculture is the prime profession of mankind. In the early days of the Islami rule, Hazrat Omar (RA) and Hazrat Ali (RA) reformed agriculture laws in order to prevent feudalism. Hazrat Omar by decree forbade purchase of land in the conquered countries. It protected the people of the defeated country from becoming landless.
The Prophet said,”There is no need of retaining surplus land with you. Give it to your brother. Never keep it uncultivated.”
Hazrat Ali (RA) said: Land belongs to him who ploughs. One day a man came to Ali and said: I have reclaimed a piece of land, introduced irrigation system and produced crops. The Caliph said: Continue cultivation. You are a producer, not a destroyer.
He said, ‘Give loan to the farmers so that they could buy seeds and fertilizers and bear other costs. If the crop production falls, do not force them to repay the loan, nor confiscate their cattle. Give them time’.
On the other hand, capitalists argue that an individual has right to become owner of lands as far as possible. He has absolute right to cultivate possessed lands either by his own men or to lease out to the marginal or the landless farmers. Herbert Spencer argued for survival of the fittest and the elimination of the unfit, Marx demanded state control on means of production and distribution, meaning that all lands belong to the state. Islam says that lands belong to the state as the state is liable, directly or indirectly, to provide food, shelter, clothing, education and medicine to its citizens.
On profit, Marxists argued that the workers were entitled to profit. Karl Marx and Richardo believed that the price of a commodity was to be determined according to labour invested to it. They said, labour is the basis of wealth as they produce a product with their labour. He said, capitalists sell products at a higher rate over the production cost. The difference between the cost of production and sale price is called the profit. It should go to labourers. In history, it is called the Theory of Surplus Value.
By capitalistic economy, we mean absolute control of the individuals over means of production and distributions. J.F.Regan and L.B. Thomas say that pure Capitalism is an economic process in which ownership of property exists, and markets, not central authority executes economic decisions. Capitalism grew through the last stage of the French Revolution in the whole of Europe. Classical economist Adam Smith was the strong advocate of Capitalism.
Between the two opposing theories, Islam pursues a moderate one. An individual can be the owner of the small scale industries, but the State will take the charge of the large scale industries, while joint ownership will look after medium scale industries.
Mineral resources, forests, livers, water bodies, graveyards, roads and highway and fallen lands belong to the State (Kitabul Kharaz by Imam Abu Yusuf). Abu Dhar Giffari, a trusted lieutenant of the Prophet, strongly opposed the accumulation of wealth in the hands of the few.
‘The Prophet gave a piece of land to one of his companions. The land was taken back the moment a salt mine was discovered. It is because minerals are State properties. No individual can own it.
On the question of working hours, both Islam and Marxism stresses on workers’ ability to work. But capitalism uses force on the workers to work sometimes 12 to 14 hours. On fixation of wages, Islam and Marxism say that they will get their wages subject to the volume and quality of their work, meaning that men are not equal in merit and application.
As per Al-Quran, Verse No. 4/5, the State will take care of those who are physically and mentally unfit to work. Karl Marx reflected the same principle in his book ‘Communist Manifesto’.
Hazrat Umar (RA) asked his officials to prepare a list of the unemployed men and the widow to give them monthly allowances and pensions.
In fine, Capitalism stresses on individual’s control on means of production and distribution, Marxism prescribes state control on means of production and distribution, while Islami economy sanctions both state and individual’s control on means of production and distribution.
Finally, the May Day’s call is to improve the economic condition of the working class and the people as a whole that no man will exploit another and justice for all will prevail.
Wants are unlimited. Hunger, clothing, shelter, education and medicine are the first five basic needs of a man. And the subject that deals with man’s financial activities is called Economics.
Economics is the social science that seeks to describe the factors which determine the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. It studies resources and optimum use of minimum resources, land and land policy, capital and organisation, skills and technology, labourers and labour strategy, relation between employees and employers, management and marketing facilities, income and distribution.
In the primitive ages, men used to live together in one area. But with the increase of population, they in separate groups went out in search of new lands and settlement. Families, tribes and race grew in this way. And the family and the tribe having greater number of population occupied more lands and established authority over the weaker. In this way grew feudalism.
Landlords and the serfs are the two opposing classes of feudalism. The landlords paid a nominal wage to the serfs, and never heard their miseries. Thus, conflict grew between the oppressors and the oppressed. This conflict has been continuing from time immemorial. German Philosopher Karl Marx rightly said, history of mankind is hitherto the history of class struggle.
After industrial revolution in 1688 in Europe, capitalism grew and quickly built strong foundation. But instead of fighting, it compromised with feudalism in the class interests. Mills and factories were established, the capitalists became rich to richer. Contrarily, the workers’ conditions became very miserable. In such situation, the workers of the Hay Market in Chicago in the USA rose in revolt against the exploitation by their employers on May 1 in 1986..
International Workers’ Day is the commemoration of the 1886 Hay Market affair in Chicago. The police were trying to disperse a public assembly during a general strike for the eight-hour workday, when an unidentified person threw a bomb at them. The police reacted by firing on the workers, killing dozens of demonstrators and several of their own officers. Reliable witnesses testified that all the pistol flashes came from the center of the street, where the police were waiting, and none from the crowd. Moreover, initial newspaper reports made no mention of firing by civilians. A telegraph pole at the scene was filled with bullet holes, all coming from the direction of the police.
In 1889, the first Congress of the Second International, meeting in Paris for the centennial of the French Revolution and the Exposition Universelle, following a proposal by Raymond Laving, called for international demonstrations in 1890 on the Chicago protests. May Day was thus formally recognised as an annual event at the International’s Second Congress in 1891.
In 1904, the International Socialist Conference meeting in Amsterdam called on all Social Democratic Parties and organisations and trade unions through out the world to demonstrate energetically on May First for the legal establishment of the eight-hour workday, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal peace. The Congress made it mandatory upon the proletarian organisations of all countries to stop work on May 1, wherever it is possible without injury to the workers.
In many countries, the working classes sought to make May Day an official holiday, and their efforts largely succeeded. May Day has long been a focal point for demonstrations by various Socialist, Communist and anarchist groups. In some circles, bonfires are lit in commemoration of the Hay Market sacrifices, usually at dawn. May Day has been an important official holiday in countries such as China, North Korea, Cuba, Bangladesh and the former Soviet Union. May Day celebrations typically feature elaborate popular and military parades in these countries.
In the United States and Canada, however, the official holiday for workers is Labour Day in September. US President Grover Cleveland feared that commemorating Labour Day on May 1 could become an opportunity for the communists to sow seeds of Marxism. Thus he moved a draft in 1887 to support the Labour Day in September.
May Day is recognised as the International Workers’ Day though their rights to wages and incentives are not recognised in many countries of the world. It is still a matter to research whether the Hay Market’s workers were influenced by the contents of the book ‘Communist Manifesto’ of Karl Marx.
In the world, there are three kinds of economies. These are capitalism, socialism and Islami economy. It was said in the sixties that the conditions of the workers in the USA and in some European countries were better than in the former Soviet Union and China. But the fact is that none dies from starvation in a Socialist country. This is also the lesson of Islami economy. To attain this noble objective, certain principles are to be applied. These are:
Islam stresses on giving a full measure to the buyers and workers and to weigh with a true balance. It is also emphasized that none should be given less than his due.
The Prophet Muhammad (SM) said, “‘Workers are part of production and hence they are part of profit. Appoint not anyone in a job unless you fix his wage and terms of work, and pay their wages before their sweat is dried.”
German Philosopher Karl Marx said, labour is the basis of wealth. So, profit should go to the workers. In contrast, classical economist Adam Smith said, the capitalists invest capital and so the profit is their. Both Marxism and capitalism follow extremism in economic policy. Contrarily, Islam pursues the middle course, reconciliation between the employee and the employers, between the rich and the poor.
Friedman by economic development said, “Growth is an expansion of the system in one or more dimensions without a change in its structure. According to Meier and Baldwin, “Economic development is a process whereby an economy’s real national income increases over a long period of time.”
Agriculture is the prime profession of mankind. In the early days of the Islami rule, Hazrat Omar (RA) and Hazrat Ali (RA) reformed agriculture laws in order to prevent feudalism. Hazrat Omar by decree forbade purchase of land in the conquered countries. It protected the people of the defeated country from becoming landless.
The Prophet said,”There is no need of retaining surplus land with you. Give it to your brother. Never keep it uncultivated.”
Hazrat Ali (RA) said: Land belongs to him who ploughs. One day a man came to Ali and said: I have reclaimed a piece of land, introduced irrigation system and produced crops. The Caliph said: Continue cultivation. You are a producer, not a destroyer.
He said, ‘Give loan to the farmers so that they could buy seeds and fertilizers and bear other costs. If the crop production falls, do not force them to repay the loan, nor confiscate their cattle. Give them time’.
On the other hand, capitalists argue that an individual has right to become owner of lands as far as possible. He has absolute right to cultivate possessed lands either by his own men or to lease out to the marginal or the landless farmers. Herbert Spencer argued for survival of the fittest and the elimination of the unfit, Marx demanded state control on means of production and distribution, meaning that all lands belong to the state. Islam says that lands belong to the state as the state is liable, directly or indirectly, to provide food, shelter, clothing, education and medicine to its citizens.
On profit, Marxists argued that the workers were entitled to profit. Karl Marx and Richardo believed that the price of a commodity was to be determined according to labour invested to it. They said, labour is the basis of wealth as they produce a product with their labour. He said, capitalists sell products at a higher rate over the production cost. The difference between the cost of production and sale price is called the profit. It should go to labourers. In history, it is called the Theory of Surplus Value.
By capitalistic economy, we mean absolute control of the individuals over means of production and distributions. J.F.Regan and L.B. Thomas say that pure Capitalism is an economic process in which ownership of property exists, and markets, not central authority executes economic decisions. Capitalism grew through the last stage of the French Revolution in the whole of Europe. Classical economist Adam Smith was the strong advocate of Capitalism.
Between the two opposing theories, Islam pursues a moderate one. An individual can be the owner of the small scale industries, but the State will take the charge of the large scale industries, while joint ownership will look after medium scale industries.
Mineral resources, forests, livers, water bodies, graveyards, roads and highway and fallen lands belong to the State (Kitabul Kharaz by Imam Abu Yusuf). Abu Dhar Giffari, a trusted lieutenant of the Prophet, strongly opposed the accumulation of wealth in the hands of the few.
‘The Prophet gave a piece of land to one of his companions. The land was taken back the moment a salt mine was discovered. It is because minerals are State properties. No individual can own it.
On the question of working hours, both Islam and Marxism stresses on workers’ ability to work. But capitalism uses force on the workers to work sometimes 12 to 14 hours. On fixation of wages, Islam and Marxism say that they will get their wages subject to the volume and quality of their work, meaning that men are not equal in merit and application.
As per Al-Quran, Verse No. 4/5, the State will take care of those who are physically and mentally unfit to work. Karl Marx reflected the same principle in his book ‘Communist Manifesto’.
Hazrat Umar (RA) asked his officials to prepare a list of the unemployed men and the widow to give them monthly allowances and pensions.
In fine, Capitalism stresses on individual’s control on means of production and distribution, Marxism prescribes state control on means of production and distribution, while Islami economy sanctions both state and individual’s control on means of production and distribution.
Finally, the May Day’s call is to improve the economic condition of the working class and the people as a whole that no man will exploit another and justice for all will prevail.
