معروف نظام ہائے اقتصادیات کے اصول و کلیات کا تجزیاتی و تقابلی مطالعہ

Abstract

Since setting his foot on earth, among other needs, mankind has been looking for ways to live satisfactorily on this planet and to make it as better and easier as he can. Searching for the resources that produce food to survive, planning for unexpected and expected outcomes of his economic endeavors, saving for the future needs etc. all are the known practices for mankind in both, individual as well as collective capacity. Man is very much familiar with the associated difficulties and has been struggling to tackle them since the departure of Adam and Eve from the Heavens. Two precious gifts mankind is bestowed upon to climb such hurdles, to walk happily on his way and to live prosperously are; wisdom descended from the heaven conveyed through the chosen men of the Supreme Lord, and the ability to use the intellect and logic, hence among other things an economic thought process also evolved. In simple words, the economic systems are the set of rules and principles concluded by the human intellect in the light of experiences, with or without having the benefits of heavenly revelations, to solve such issues of production, saving and planning for a better life. Difference of opinionin finding such solutions caused several schools of thoughts to come into existence and all those schools have prominent economic intellectuals to defend and elaborate uponthe underlying principles. Though there are many, but the mainstream economic systems that drew the most attention of the masses and are still competing for dominance are Feudalism, Mercantilism, Classical Economics, Neo-classical Economics, Capitalism, Socialism, Communism/Marxism, and Anarchist Economics. As mentioned above, different religions also have had their fair share of providing the laws and restrictions aiming at social welfare and economic equality. Being a religion that deals with each and every aspect of human life, Islam the practiced belief for one fifth of the world’s population, also significantly contributestowards the laws and principles pertaining to economic prosperity.Though until twentieth century Islamic economics principles were not compiled in an organized and systematic way like other economic systems, the Muslims all over the world were pragmatically conducting their individual and collective economic affairs according to Shariah Laws (especially in the Ottoman and Mughal empires). They sought guidance from the Islamic Fiqh(law and jurisprudence) literature in which the economic and financial problems are dealt with in a clear manner. These are howeverscattered across various chapters and mixed with the rulings on worship practices, politics and other discussions. As the Western economic principles continued to evolve in a systematic manner by the philosophers and economists, renowned Islamic scholars and intellectuals took upon the challenge to arrange and compilethe related Islamic teachings in order for it to be recognized as an Islamic Economic system. Maulana Manazir Ahsan Geelani (b. 1892/ d. 1956), Maulana Hifzur Rahman Seoharwi (b. 1901/ d. 1962), Maulana Abu al-A’la al-Maududi (b. 1903/ d. 1976) and Baqir as-Sadr (b. 1935/ d. 1980) were some of the pioneers who achieved major milestones in this quest based on their untiring efforts in the compilations of the Islamic economic teachings in one place. While their efforts were remarkable and may Allah bestow upon them the reward for that, there is still a gap that needs to be bridged. In their books, the revered scholars have dealt with the Islamic economic objectives and principles and havecompared Feudalism, Capitalism and Socialism with the teachings of Islam. However, the important religio-economic laws, western economic systems and their offshoots demand a more elaborate and critical review.In order to cover this intellectual gap, I propose to take up the research project and debate the teachings of different mainstream systems comparatively and analytically.The thesis is divided into nine chapters and its core outline reads as below;  Introduction to Economics; definitions and some basics  trade history; regional as well as international  moral and economic teachings of some well known religions  principles of Feudalism, Mercantilism, Physiocracy, Classic Economic System, Capitalism, Socialism and its offshoots  historical analysis of the times when those systems emerged  era and causes of the decline of each and every economic system  detailed chapter pertaining to Islamic economic structure and direct and indirect necessities of an Islamic economic system to play its due role May Allah (SWT) accept the efforts and fully reward all of those helping hands that willfully and happily provided me their assistance.