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**Poverty: A Weapon of Mass Destruction in the Modern World**
 
The eradication of poverty is of utmost importance, as it is treated as a weapon of mass destruction in the modern world. While systems like capitalism and communism have introduced various measures to alleviate poverty, they have failed to meet the needs of the people. Concepts such as private ownership, laissez-faire policy, class war, state ownership, and dialectical materialism have not addressed the root causes of poverty. In light of this, it is crucial to explore the possibilities of Islamic economics in alleviating poverty.
 
**The Islamic Economic System and Poverty Alleviation**
 
In an Islamic economic system, the aim of poverty alleviation can be achieved by reducing inequality. Rather than focusing on equality, Islam emphasizes equity and justice in the distribution of income and wealth. Islam eliminates absolute inequality by addressing unequal distribution of income, while relative inequality arises from equitable distribution of income and wealth. Islamic economics offers various instruments to alleviate poverty, such as zakat (charitable giving), sadaqa (voluntary charity), qard hasan (benevolent loans), ganima (war booty), khums (religious tax), fay (public property income), jizya (tax on non-Muslims), mudaraba (profit-sharing), musharaka (partnership), prohibition of interest, abolition of extravagance, prohibition of speculation, and anti-hoarding measures. These Islamic economic instruments have significant effects on consumption, investment, production, and prices.
 
**Sources and References**
 
The content of this article is based on references including Dr. Sabahuddin Azmi’s “Islamic Economics,” S. M. Hasanuzzaman’s “Economic Function of an Islamic State: The Early Experience,” Dr. P. Ibrahim’s “Towards Understanding the Economic System of Islam,” and Moulavi M.V. Saleem’s “Introduction to the Economic System.” These sources provide valuable insights into conventional and Islamic economics, poverty in the current world, and the Islamic perspective on poverty.
 
**Introduction to Economics and Islamic Economics**
 
Economics is a social science that examines the production, distribution, trade, and consumption of goods and services. Different economic systems have emerged worldwide, all claiming to promote economic welfare. However, these dominant economic systems have failed to achieve economic justice, prosperity, and the eradication of inequality and poverty. This failure necessitates the need for an alternative economic system capable of creating a poverty-free world.
 
Islamic economics, as a system of life, provides guidance in various areas including economics. Islamic economists have developed numerous definitions based on the guidance provided in the Quran and hadith. According to Yusuf Ibrahim, Islamic economics is a science that studies human behavior in using resources to satisfy needs. Islamic economics emphasizes the sufficiency of resources, responsible use of resources, divine guidance in resource management, satisfaction of legal needs, and avoidance of illegal desires that harm life on Earth. It is built on Islamic philosophies such as the belief in the absolute ownership of wealth by God, the concept of universal brotherhood and equality, and the accountability of individuals in the afterlife.
 
**Understanding Poverty and its Impact**
 
Poverty is a significant evil in any economy, pushing it back by decades. Its impact goes beyond starvation, affecting income, education, access to information and opportunities, and child mortality rates among deprived sections. Even with efforts by countries and international organizations, such as the World Trade Organization, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank, the challenge of poverty persists. More than 1 billion people worldwide live on less than $1 per day, and almost 3 billion live on less than $2 per day. Income distribution is highly skewed, with 20% of the elite class sharing 74% of global income. Poverty prevents access to education, with 110 million primary school-age children out of school, 60% of whom are girls.
 
**Poverty and Islamic Economics**
 
In the Islamic economic system, poverty is addressed through the concept of the Below Poverty Line (BPL), which determines eligibility for zakat payment based on the ownership of nisab. Those who fall below the nisab threshold are considered zakat recipients and are categorized as poor. Islamic economics strives to eliminate starvation and ensure accessibility to food, shelter, clothing, and education, ultimately working towards human welfare. It rejects economic instruments that contribute to deprivation. Islam recognizes that poverty results from various causes, including limited income, unequal distribution of wealth and resources, regional disparities, unemployment, social injustice, and decreased investments. It places the responsibility of fulfilling the basic needs of every member of society on the ruler. Scholars continually emphasize the importance of meeting not just traditional needs like food, clothing, and shelter but other essentials such as personal attendants for disabled individuals, assistance with marriage expenses for the poor, and support for entire families in need.
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Ihab Salloum