Hazrat Umar (ra) Establishes Infrastructure Providing Food and Clothing for Everyone

With regard to the Islamic government establishing an infrastructure for food and clothing for every person, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) further states:

“When the Islamic government obtained wealth, it created an infrastructure for the food and clothing of every person. Hence”, as mentioned earlier, “it was in the era of Hazrat Umar (ra) when the system was complete, at which time, according to the teachings of Islam, the food and clothing of every person was the responsibility of the government, and it carried out this duty with great care. This was the reason for which Hazrat Umar (ra) initiated the practice of taking a census and opened registries wherein everyone’s names would be entered”. As mentioned before, “European writers acknowledge that it was Hazrat Umar (ra) who first initiated a census and began the system of registration. The purpose of this census was so that every person could be given food and clothing, and it was necessary for the government to know the number of citizens in the country.

“Today, it is said that Soviet Russia was the first to create a system for providing food and clothing to the poor. However, such an economic system was first established by Islam. From the practical standpoint, during the era of Hazrat Umar (ra), the names of people from every village, town and city were entered into a registry; the names of everyone’s wives, children and the total number would be recorded, and then the amount of sustenance for each person would be stipulated so that even those who ate less could be content with their share and also those who ate more could eat to their fill.

“It is recorded in history that in his earlier decisions, Hazrat Umar (ra) had not provided for the needs of suckling babies, and an infant’s due ration was granted only after it had been weaned by its mother.”

As I mentioned in the previous sermon, “one night, while out on a round of quiet inspection, Hazrat Umar (ra) heard the wailing sound of an infant from a tent, which made him pause. But the cries continued, even though the mother tried to put the child to sleep by patting him. Eventually, Hazrat Umar (ra) entered the tent and enquired of the mother, ‘Why do you not suckle the child? The child has been crying for quite some time’ The woman did not recognise Hazrat Umar (ra) and thought he was an ordinary person. Hence, she answered, ‘Are you unaware that Hazrat Umar (ra) has decreed that no ration be granted in the case of suckling infants. We are poor with hardly enough to make ends meet. I have weaned the child early so that we should get the child’s share of ration from the treasury. If the child cries, then it is the fault of Umar (ra) who created such a law.’ Hazrat Umar (ra) returned at once and painfully addressed himself saying, ‘O Umar, O Umar, do you have any idea how you have weakened the coming generation of the Arabs by causing infants to be prematurely weaned; the responsibility for this lies with you.’ As he said this, he went to the storage, opened the door and lifted a sack of flour on his own back. When an attendant offered to carry it for him, he replied, ‘No. The fault is mine and I must bear the consequences for it myself.’ He then carried the flour to the woman and ordered the next day that a ration be granted for a child from the day it was born, because the nursing mother would be in need of better nourishment as she feeds the child.”

(Islam Ka Iqtasadi Nizam, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 18, pp. 61-62)

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) states:

“It is Islam alone that has established the rights of every person. According to Islam, every person’s sustenance, lodging and clothing is the responsibility of the government, and Islam was the very first to establish this principle. Now, other governments are also following suit, but not to the full extent. Insurance is still bought and family pensions are given out, but the principle of the government being responsible for the sustenance and clothing of young and old was not presented by any religion before Islam. Worldly governments take census in order to collect taxes or for the purposes of military conscription; so that if the need arises, they may know how many youths will be available to them. However, the very first census taken by Islam during the era of Hazrat Umar (ra) was for the purpose of providing food and clothing, not in order to impose taxes or to find out how many youths can be available for the army when needed. That census was solely conducted so that every person could be provided food and clothing.

“There is no doubt that a census was also conducted during the time of the Holy Prophet (sa), but at the time, the Muslims did not hold governance, thus the purpose of that census was only to determine the number of Muslims. The first census taken by an Islamic government was during the era of Hazrat Umar (ra), and was conducted so that every person could be provided food and clothing.

“This is a matter of vital importance, which can establish peace in the entire world. It is said that one ought to submit a request [for rations etc.] and it will be evaluated [by the government]; however, not everyone’s sense of honour will permit them to submit such a request that would then be evaluated. Thus, Islam established the principle that the responsibility of providing food and clothing lies upon the government which will be provided to the rich and poor alike; even if they are millionaires and even if they decide to pass it on to someone else. This is so that nobody is made to feel as if they are inferior.”

(Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 10, p. 308)

If the rich are righteous, then they will certainly give forth whatever they are given to those in need, rather than benefitting from it themselves.