The Faith Community at Davos has many different roles depending on what’s big at the time; last year although the financial crisis was massive news, the Gaza war was certainly uppermost in the eyes of many – I wrote this document supported explicitly by a few of the Faith Community present with me (and many hundred movers and shakers secretly) as well as a few outside of Davos.
But normally I like to see my own role at Davos as the networking nice guy, hooking up, relaxing, spreading the Deen and just having a doss nice beneficial time for all and sundry…
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As for the real ‘Ulema amongst us then they have far more serious roles, and in that light I wanted to share a wonderful policy document written by our Shaykh and Maulana, Mufti Taqi al-Usmani hafidhahullah, presented to the WEF at Davos on this Thursday morning (prime time) just gone. Here it is:
Post Crisis Reform: Points to Ponder
Please read carefully, digest, and pass on. This pristine religion really does have the solution for all this mess we’re in, but who will lend an ear?
Well, that’s your job folks, to get those ears wagging in the right direction…
February 11, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Assalaamualaikum our ex resident drug dealer/student of knowledge. I want to thank you for putting this little gem of work on your blog. I have only read half of it at the moment but it is a thoroughly interesting read. As an Economics graduate, I have always found that the western financial systems are fundamentally flawed on numerous levels and incredibly unjust. Mufti Taki (H.A)is one of the most eminent scholars of our time especially in relation to Islamic Finance. He has managed to simplify certain concepts and link it to fundamental Islamic principles and has done it in a succinct manner, which shows the quality of his writing. I just want to highlight some points which could be of benefit for those who may not have read the document. Firstly, Hasan al Basree’s (R.A)quote on money- “Money is such a companion of yours that it does not benefit you, unless it leaves you.” Meaning, the accumulation and hoarding of wealth really has no benefit to any of us. Also the reason for money is strictly to “bring comfort to the body and soul.” Thus, if a person is suffering by accumulating more than sufficient wealth then he is going against the reason Allah (T) created it in the first place. Finally, I implore everyone to read p11, where Mufti Taki (H.A)quotes Imam Ghazali (Rahmatuallai)regarding why interest is haraam.