tail wagging the dog
According to Fadhlalah, Isa Qassim and a bevy of other religious scholars taxes are haram.
With this opinion, our largest parliamentary bloc has been falling all over itself yesterday and today to distance themselves from their unanimous decision to adopt and approve the “Unemployment Benefits which automatically deduct 1% of everyone’s salary which will be jointly administered in a fund between the Ministry of Labour and the General Organisation of Social Insurance. This fund will exclude the security services – including the military – ministers and members of parliament of course, all of whom are regarded by the scheme as foreign to our society and not part of it.
What is the objection, I hear you ask? Simply that in Islam you cannot force people to give up their hard earned money, so if that money is collected from an unwilling participant who should give it up freely, then the receiver would have received “tainted” money, hence haram, should he or she accept it.
So what is a modern country to do, in light of these conflicting fatwas and interpretations thereof? Should we just shut shop or make any law specifically contingent on the acceptance of a disparate Shari’a scholars who can’t even decide to unify when the Maghreb prayer should be, let alone a whole calendar, or should we – as a modern country – turn our backs on them and go along with modern principals and studies to enable us to not only compete but be part of this world?
There is another dilemma of course for the government, they do not want to appear “anti-Islamic” so they will try to find a face-saving gesture to go around this new conflagration, rather than stick with modern principals, turn their backs on religious interpretation on modern economic principals and join the train with the rest of the world. My guess also is that as Bahrain is the “center of Islamic banking” – that chestnut that has been swallowed so readily because every institution therein employs and very handsomely rewards Shari’a enabled scholars who are ready to ameliorate differences of principals set 1,400 years ago with today’s business and economic arenas by creative interpretations and hearsay – the government will opt once again for the short-term gain rather than step up to the plate and for once declare that it is intent on looking way into the future for the benefit of this country and its citizens.
What we need are drastic measures and this is the perfect opportunity to grasp the moment and enact them.
What we need now is an unambiguous declaration to remove Islam from the basis of our constitution and rule the country with modern ways and thinking rather than stay for ever beholden to a bunch of folk’s disparate and desperate interpretation of ancient texts.
But then again, my money is on them taking the short-cut to keep ‘em quite quiet.
Until the next time.
Guys don’t take it personal…
I don’t have doubt in Mahmood’s religion and good intension.
I don’t agree with brother Mahmood that Islam should not rule the modern state, Islam is from Allah who knows what is best for humanity and we should not blame Islam for the corruption.
The prophet Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) was the Leader of the state, head of the army, and the prophet at the same time.
Yes we should look again at Islam’s guidance and rules and try to understand and employ them in our time because things change from generation to another and even scholars stated that fatwa may change depending on the time and place. Islam is flexible enough to cater for changes and development in civilizations.
Don’t forget brothers, Quran is not for people that lived 1500 yeas ago only or for Arabs only, it is for all times and all people.
I respect brother Mahmood point of view but that should not give you the right to question his believe in Islam. Please don’t to take it personal
In this law, the military and others are exempted. What kind of democracy is this. Expatriate cannot be classified as unemployed as they cannot be anything but non-employed residents or working residents. So shy do they have to pay tax that benefits lazy people. When there is money for palaces and siz million dinar monuments in Sakhir, why is there a shortage or fulus for unemployed youth?
Why are government people exempted? Do minister’s pay? Do other VIPs pay? I am curious?
Where is the validity of the law just because it is passed, does this a good law make?
When it is prejudicial no law is just or democratic? It should never have been signed in the first place. I am all for helping if the law makers and others also come under this law then it is just. There should be no exceptions from top to bottom.
People can argue for and against various aspects of this legislation, but surely most should agree that, with such a UI scheme, Bahrain is at long last joining a long list of developed and progressive countries. I am personally quite familiar with this plan’s features, and can guarantee that it is in accord with international norms as well as with ILO Conventions.
Whats your Point Salman? It’s not clear weather you are supporting the tax or criticising Mahmood. & look at your language, definitely not that of an educated person living in UK. Grow up Mr. & stop whinning for no reasons, its equally hard for you as well to subject your self & your family to the conditions you are challenging him, nevertheless what does all that have to do with the Tax??? . Yes, you may have the right to criticise on a statement or a comment in a manner that is limited to the topic itself, but some’s good luck or success gives you no right to critise them for their lifestyle. Haram or not haram, you have an obligation towards you own community & society to say the least, swallow the tax as if you are doing mankind a favor, not the government. In islam it doesnt matter what or how you do, what matters is with what intention you do it, thats what defines halal or haram, good or bad. Anyhow it seemed either you had a personal grudge against Mahmood or simply you suffer from the same habit of criticising that almost every arab traditionally has, which as again nothing to with the topic in subject here.