This article briefly analyzes the logical arguments that are usually presented in the defense of interest as a price of money capital in loans.
Critical Analysis of Arguments in Favor of Interest
Concept of Wealth in Islamic Economics
Islamic economics enables a Muslim society to achieve certain ends. It is not so difficult to understand that material resources are required in order to achieve the objectives or Maqasid of Shariah namely “preservation and protection” of Deen, Life, Family and Intellect. The purpose of Divine Law is to make mankind successful in Akhirah. Therefore protection of the religious and spiritual status of the mankind is the prime objective of Shariah. The remaining objectives are also meant to help toward achieving this bigger goal.
Universal Ethics and Islam
Message of Islam invites people of all faiths, race, color, region and gender towards its message of peace, excellence of character and living in harmony with nature and environment.
Some Observations on User Cost of Capital
Interest based financial system discourages investment in socially optimal profitable projects, but which are not favored because of relative cost comparison from the market interest rate. If sales do not increase, it may lead to business cycle fluctuations with unplanned increase in inventories. With increased pressure to service debt, the environmental degradation and human resource exploitation may become common and secondary concerns.
Distribution of Resources in Islamic Economic Framework
Scarcity of resources is the basic premise on which the theories of classical and neoclassical economics are based upon. It implies that resources are scarce relatively as compared to the wants that are unlimited. But, this premise uses the word ‘wants’ in a general sense which includes both necessities and luxuries that people desire to have.
A Brief Look at Interest
“The term riba encompasses interest in all its manifestations irrespective of whether it relates to loans for consumption purposes or for productive purposes, whether the loans are of a personal nature or of a commercial type, whether the borrower is a government, a private individual or a concern, and whether the rate of interest is low or high” (Council’s Report, 1980).
Circular Flow Model: Islamic Economics Perspective
As per Islamic principles, within certain bounds, the market forces can operate and will determine which goods should be produced and offered at what price. The major difference from capitalistic system is that rather than having a fixed compensation, the capital will only earn a share in actual profit/loss out of the production process in which it is used.
Political Economy from Islamic Standpoint
In a capitalistic democracy, the elite class is able to expend on political campaigns and hence take part in politics and where crony capitalism results in business and political class combining to pursue their self interest.
Distributional Inequity and Welfare Loss in Interest Based Financial System
Salman Ahmed Shaikh Capitalism, the way it is practiced as an economic system, has largely allowed and provided legal cover to certain exploitative institutions and their operations based on free market philosophy. […]
Balancing Market Mechanism and Divine Injunctions in Islamic Economic Framework
Rather than complimenting humans in their animalistic instincts to keep having one-eyed focus on material well-being only, Islam inculcates piousness, kindness, cooperation and communal responsibility in humans. In some instances, Islam guides explicitly to avoid extravagance, lavishness and using certain products and services which harm a human’s ethical existence and well being either individually and/or harm the society in the process.
Islamic Economics Project 