Page 86 - The Golden Age

THE GOLDEN AGE

mind social justice. That the wealth of the 200 richest people amounts
to the wealth of 2.5 billion fellow human beings is the most explicit
indication of the prevailing unjust system. When there are so many
people in need, many affluent people still strive to hoard even more
goods to add to their fortunes. Money spent only for pleasure and de-
bauchery, or for no purpose at all, may well become the way out for
hundreds of thousands of people dying of hunger. However, some
miserly people still turn their faces away from those who are suffer-
ing. In the Qur’an, Allah describes these people as follows:
No indeed! You do not honor orphans or urge the feeding of the
poor; you devour inheritance with voracious appetites and have an
insatiable love of wealth. (Surat al-Fajr: 17-20)
Such moral corruption is the result of being selfish and losing the
feelings of cooperation and solidarity. In this case, the only solution is
to establish the Qur’an’s morality throughout society, for those peo-
ple who display its morality are just, compassionate, and seek to help
those in need. Only through the existence of such morally excellent
people can this Earth be filled with justice, abundance, and blessings.
Some Qur’anic verses regarding the establishment of social justice
on Earth are as follows:
You will not attain true goodness until you give of what you love.
Whatever you give away, Allah knows it. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 92)
As for those who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend it in
the Way of Allah, give them the news of a painful punishment.
(Surat at-Tawba: 34)
O you who believe, give away some of the good things you have
earned and some of what the land produces for you. And do not aim
toward the defective therefrom, spending [from that] while you
would not take it [yourself] except with closed eyes. Know that
Allah is Rich Beyond Need, Praiseworthy. (Surat al-Baqara: 267)
If you give your alms in public, that is good. But if you conceal it
and give it to the poor, that is better for you, and We will erase some
of your bad actions from you. Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat
al-Baqara: 271)

82