Towards A Unified Zakat System

Movement towards greater economic and social justice can befacilitated by the application and practice of two mainideas. These are: (i) motivating and enabling theindividual to perform his task with the aim of realisingboth efficiency and equity; and, (ii) reducing theconcentration of wealth, economic and political powers(Chapra, 1971). These ideas, combined with the particularfeatures of Islamic economics (state interventions andmoral values) would result in a system that is radicallydifferent from capitalism or socialism. At the same time itwould have a greater chance of achieving its goal of thewellbeing of its individuals.3.4.4 Equitable distribution of incomeDespite its aims of social and economic justice, Islamiceconomics recognises the possibility of inequality inincome and wealth. This is accepted, but only if it is moreor less proportional to the input (e. g., skill, effort,capital, risk) given by the individual. If the individualpays his/her workers the just price, and does notovercharge customers, inequality of distribution is boundto remain limited. A fair distribution of income isachieved in three ways (Chapra, 1971).70