Lending money by rates or simply the usury (part 02) : a different perspective

   When many economist admit the practical working of usury in monetary system now, and they justify that implementation by reason of the missed opportunities, today; many others are bearing the idea of cancelling the usury from all commercial contracts and lending policies, including practical Christians and Muslims who consider that as a violation of God’s legislation, in case of the big gap between the rich people who become richer, and the poor who became poorer too with time when many people can’t pay their interests regardless to the origin debt and its services which denotes a new crisis in the road. And the authorities prefer to escape forward in hoping to get results, but they don’t know how much they waste from time and from other hidden and fruitful experiences until now, or maybe deliberately isolated, but they agree also that these economic benefits of usury, “make enormous problem from ethical and philosophical aspects”.

    The Islamic banks provide several ways to invest in money avoiding the usury transactions, the first experiences in this way were unilateral tries since the forties of last century until seventies in Dubai. Then these experiences are expended in many countries when the UK integrated these transactions as a part among their financial systems to collecting more and bringing an important amount quantity from Muslim community in there.

    There are 7 or 8 faces of financial products in Islamic banking, and I’ll mention here the most important of them like:  “al-murabah” (win-win) or “al-musharakah” (contribution in the capital, and whether in benefit or losses), direct or indirect investments. Besides; some other procedures and mechanisms (which we can explain all of them in one article or two) to insure the legal transactions between people, organizations or banks.

    From their benefits on global economy, these rules decrease the inflation rates, because the money is used just in legal investments, and not to make a large expenditure without production increases the volume of cash without exchanging for foods or services. And we get a monetary inflation in fact. The Islamic perspective is based on the principle of lending money without zero interests but with a deadline of course. But in case of “procrastination” and delay in payment of debts, what should we do if someone exceeds that deadline?

Regardless to the sinfulness toward the god (the reason which push the majority of people to rushing in payment); the logical sanctions are the imprisonment, inhibition him from the licit advantages for whole people, prevention from the financial facilities in his transactions and the reputation of - person/organization/company- in business generally.

    And from practical solutions we can cite: the collaboration between banks and financial institutions against those who delayed intentionally to pay off their debts to adding them into the blacklist.  Or like it is going now by holding on some of his properties to the bank or the entering of bank by a certain portion with the debtor in his realties.

The income inequality and its effects

    Statistics: The richest 1 percent of the world's population has access to nearly 14 percent of global income, while 20 percent of the poorest people are getting on the 1 percent only.

   The main economic challenge in our century is to decrease the immense gap in the incomes between people in the same country, and insure the most possible of transparency in the redistribution of wealth. All the disposable ways and procedures for achieving that goal are working within partial efficiency, which means that the inequality of income is a big problem in every country not only in the economic aspect; but also social and ethical sides in society as well. In many economies, the fiscal policy is used to maintain the financial system for supporting the economic efficiency (e.g: to reduce the tax evasion or cutting unproductive expenditures), then to spend these revenues more equitably.

   “Many policy makers view a more equal income distribution as a desirable goal, although the underlying motivations may differ. Lower income inequality is often viewed as important for achieving greater equality of opportunities to access economic, social, and political resources.”

   A lot of economists say that this inequality is useful for the economic growth, but today they believe by the contrast of that. Because of many social and ethical advantages coming by reducing the inequality affect positively on the economy. And the most used measure (to show what happen in fiscal policy and to measure its trend in every country) is GINI coefficient (from 0 “absolute equality” to 1 “complete inequality”). “The failure to redistribute income may also reflect a political reality, but it can be limited through more of conscious government policies.”

   Disposable Solutions: Fiscal policy has played a significant role in reducing income inequality in advanced economies, especially in economies with high initial pre-tax and transfer inequality.

   The government’s fiscal policies were a logical reaction to reduce the income inequality over time, especially in the advanced economies through direct taxes (like the income taxes) and indirect (like the expenditure on the education and healthcare or public pensions) to reach a positive points in contributing of growth of economy. And the studies viewed that many countries achieved a substantive progress in decreasing the inequality, but these policies weren’t efficient enough in longer-term.

   “Some economists said that the pursuing the equality can reduce the efficiency and the incentive to work and incest.” Furthermore; “the poor will not receive all the money that is taken from the rich.”

    I copy the same example I found in interesting article about this matter, when the tide is rising, it lifts all boats and helps whether the big and small boats in the port. Where the focusing is only on the small boats can lead to indirect help for all equally. In other way; the government subsidy (financial support) must be oriented to serve the fragile classes in society by projection on them in assigned methods guarantee the proper channel until the targeted people.

   “Still, there may be some win-win policies, such as better-targeted subsidies, better access to education for the poor that improves equality of economic opportunity, and active labour market measures that promote employment.”

Religion & State: There is no separation in reality (Part 03)

    I’m still giving more arguments about the matter of religion in life, and how the life is very complicated because of these interferences in ways that we don’t see them clearly, but they’re true.

   Today people and nations deal each other in starting from their religious backgrounds, they behave in starting from that it’s the modernization of the new century (new age), that the life imposes it, it’s their understanding to the democracy, and liberty of speech in somehow. They deny the effects of this background on their opinions and views and they try to find a different explanation. Certainly the foreign affairs in every government work in order to guarantee benefits and if we focus on the matter, we’ll see the deep roots of those benefits in religious aspects.

  We can find this effect in every decision, every treatment or deal, so it’s available always as a factor among us using in everywhere, we can’t deny the existing of religious background in the life.

   Practically we can’t separate between these two aspects in everything we do it in life. And I add one more thing. In philosophy the philosophers talked a lot about one important issue, it’s the relationship between the topic and the person who’s studying it? Sometimes the way of events’ organization imposes on you the way how to interpret then to react according to your previous knowledge for many years.

   And it’s called “the regularity of shapes”, the simple example is to draw an arc and ask many people to continue the drawing, the majority (if I don’t say all of them) will complete the arc and draw a circle. Why they don’t draw another form and they have in mind only the circle at the first glance. That’s because depending on the previous knowledge which the person got throughout many years. Furthermore; when I look at the history I distinguish clearly the same effects with these backgrounds.

   Now tell me! Does the interference of your religious background on your deals bring a qualitative addition in your life? What’s the positive effect on your way to see and treat everything happening around you? Don’t you think that this intervention can be unjust sometimes; where you’re mistaken you get wrong opinions, wrong convictions and you believe that you’re certainly right?

   I want you think about this matter to attain answers for controlling more yourself and limit the interference when it is not logical and not wise to not react awfully or not to do something stupid that you’ll regret after it.

   In the next articles, I’ll try to discuss another part from our daily life, and the some problems are in our societies coming from people themselves according to the laws.

the meditation it's also a way to find ourselves.

In this universe; the mankind is one among the creatures, the god is the most generous, when he created the human in the best look (appearance) and gave him the mind. This mind is the only mean to differ between the human-being, and everything   else. And also, only mean to insure the thinking before doing.

    The human thought and he created wonderful civilizations during centuries; he invented the machines, transportations means, communicating ways, and organizing for the lifestyles…etc. to make his life easier always and more comfort. It’s the origin of instinct to think always to reach the best cases and ideality.

    So we can’t imagine the life without the existence of thinking; else this strong power (the mind) will be inactive and we waste very important energy from human energies. So how can we invest in this power in everywhere we’re?

    I always read from the Qur’an some verses which say:

“ Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): "Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You!” 3, verse 190  (searchtruth.com)

“Then let man look at his food, (and how We provide it):…” 42, verse 24 (searchtruth.com)

“So let man see from what he is created! ….” 86, verse 5 (searchtruth.com)

     And other verses too confirm the same thing, and classify the meditation (in universe) as one of practical adorations. Also there are many other concepts in other cultures say the same. Because the need to meditation for repairing our souls and our lives generally. Many different nations of people, and the same thing from animals in wilds, birds, insects, ..Etc. Several lifestyles which we should look at them (carefully) and extract the moralities and the lessons (from them) for our future. So what we mean exactly by the meditation?

    The meditation is the thinking (reflection) in the natural phenomenons, daily events, and in all creatures in this universe, even in yourself as a human.

    The scientists know that, and they follow their pure instincts, and they derive a lot of products, achievements from the universe. Because they meditate very well in the natural and universal phenomenons, and observe any system to get the information.

     Many events happen in our lives, we just see them as simple events or coincidences only. We neglect the need of meditation in all these, although it’s necessary for the spirits. Also the meditation is the only way to renew this human energy –the mind- and to spend (in the same time).

     A lot of moments in your life can provide to you a great and precious conclusions, only through the meditation in these moments, when you tender with weak people, be tolerant with wrong people, generous with others whom are in needs,….etc. without asking them for *thanking* or asking any other thing as a recompense in contrast of your good treatment.

     We can’t make the life better - and easier - if we don’t get many good qualities like the patience, kindness, smartness, knowledge, lessons…) and we can’t get them if we don’t reach to real precious modalities in the human life, and these modalities won’t be inside us if we don’t meditate in this universe and inspire from its phenomenons, and its events (our daily events).

     Your thinking – deeply - (in this world and all what happen in it) brings the wisdom to you, and it’ll help you always make the best decisions in your life, and let you choose between many available choices).

      Look differently to your life and what happens in it, you’ll find your human soul, and you’ll feel yourself realizing your roles, and the reasons for your existence in this life.