Professor Irfan Shahid portrays how Islam promotes agriculture, which promises economic growth.
The occupation of agriculture is highly regarded in Islam. Islam promotes the profession which requires labour and hard work. Agriculture also requires hard work and labour. Allah’s Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) has given glad tidings of Paradise to a person who was a farmer. When Hazrat Ali listened to the statement of the Prophet, he became so curious that he started following the person. Hazrat Ali found nothing special in his life; he was just a farmer who did farming and fulfilled basic religious obligations.
There are a number of ahadīth which promote the profession of farming and agriculture. The Prophet said that when a person sows the seeds and grows crops, many creatures get benefited from the crops and the tree. He said that even an insect eats a grain from the crops and the farmer is rewarded for this. People sit under the shade of the tree and the farmer gets a reward for this. People buy food grain from market, and then the farmer gets the reward.
In Islamic scheme of things, there is no way of receiving full advance payment in any business save and except agricultural harvesting. Islam permits the farmer to take full payment of his crops in advance. This particular practice is known as a Bai-e-Salam.
Islam reduces the amount of Usr (1/10 zakah) if there is no natural rain and the farmer irrigates his land through hand pump and artificial irrigation.
Islam has waved off zakah and Usr on vegetable crops like tomato, ladyfinger, cabbage which cannot be saved for a long time.
Abu Obadiah, a Muslim jurist of the 9th century, who has compiled a voluminous book on taxation in Islamic estates, has suggested a new strategy for land distribution. He said if a person could not cultivate land, the government should give that uncultivated piece of land to another needy person who can cultivate it and make it beneficial for the government and people both. Farming activities were appreciated during the regimes of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) and pious caliphs of Islam.
Narrated by Anas bin Malik: Allah’s Messenger said, “There is none among the Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it but is regarded as a charitable gift from him.” [Sahih Bukhari, Volume III, Book 40 (Book of Cultivation), Number 513]
Ibn Khaldun’s views on Taxation on crops
Islam reduces the tax on agriculture to make it available to every person of the society irrespective of his or her being rich or poor. It is essential goods. Ibn Khaldun, a famous economist and historian, has recommended to the government to reduce the tax burden on agriculture produces. He presented the argument that heavy tax reduces the level of production in the economy which may reduce the supply of food grains in market; it may also lead to cost-push inflation in the economy. He explained that a heavy tax duty reduces the productivity of the country including agriculture. The light tax has a positive relation to revenue generation. Later on, many western economists supported the idea of Ibn Khaldun regarding taxation, the government and general economics. Professor Laffer and Adam Smith were highly influenced with the idea of Ibn Khaldun.
Maqasid-al-Shariah and Agriculture
The concept of Maqasid al-Shariah in Islam stresses on the social welfare of each member of the society. In an Islamic society, a level playing field, including access to the natural resources provided by Allah needs to be ensured to all members of the community so that every member can enjoy the opportunities and rights to groom themselves. In fact, Islam emphasises production of foods grain. There is a special chapter in the book Islamic Jurisprudence which deals with the issue of agriculture that shows the level of significance regarding agriculture.
Importance of agriculture in Economics
Farming and agriculture is an industry which is counted in the primary sector in economy. It helps to grow secondary and tertiary sectors in the economy; thus agriculture becomes an essential sector of the economy. In the time of war, the enemy country tries to cut down the primary resources like food and water. Once foods and water become disappeared, people automatically start dying. In a nutshell, agriculture and farming is an essential part of economy. A country should be well off in the primary sector. Secondary and tertiary sectors of an economy are based on the successful development of the primary sector.
In a hadīth the Prophet beautifully narrated the virtues of cultivation and occupation of farming. He says that when a person sows crops or implants a tree and when the tree fully grows up and starts yielding fruit, thus people eat the fruit of the tree, people stay under the shade of the tree and many birds and insects eat the fruit, Allah gives a reward to the farmer and caretaker of the farmhouse and the tree.
Islam gives relaxation to the farming business, reduces amount of Usr during the time of artificial rain.
Billions of dollars’ worth industry in the economy is based on primary sector. However, Primary Sector provides the raw material and food grains from agriculture, farming, mining and fishing. Secondary sector obtains the raw material and makes finished goods like clothes, houses, furniture, cars, medicines, various kinds of foods, etc. Tertiary sector provides services for the public. In a nutshell, primary sector promotes the secondary and tertiary sectors. The well-being of secondary and primary sectors is based on a powerful and healthy primary sector. Thus, it is concluded that the primary sector plays an instrumental role in the development of the economy. It stimulates the growth and development of the economy. In most of the developing countries, primary sector has a good percentage of share in Gross Domestic Product. Spoiling of the primary sector will affect both sectors of the economy and it may ruin the entire economy. However primary sector meets the demand of necessities of the consumer. Therefore, Islam has emphasised agriculture, considering one of the prime sources of economic growth.
Role of Bai-e-Salam
Bai-e-Salam is one of the business contracts in Islamic Jurisprudence which promotes the business of farming and agriculture. A deep study of Islamic Jurisprudence and books of hadīth dealing with muamilaat reveal that the contract of Bai-e-Salam is made for the welfare and protection of farmers. No business has got such special attention as Agriculture and Farming in Islam.
This is the only profession where Islam permits to take full down payment of their product and allows future delivery.
Needs of organic foods
We should support and encourage our farmers to grow crops naturally and educate them to grow organic foods which are the need at the present time. Inorganic and contaminated foods are highly injurious to health. Today every house has diabetic and heart patients. It is the result of unnaturally produced foods which continuously boost pharmaceutical industry in India. We can not produce organic foods without the cooperation of farmers. Thus it is important to save the life of farmers through helping, encouraging and educating them.
Agriculture sector is the core of economic growth. It plays a significant role in economic development. Islam promotes the profession of agriculture, and there is a multifold reward for the persons engaged in the farming occupation.