Rising food prices have sparked outrage across the world. The United Nations World Food Programme, which provides food aid to over 70 million people, says that the rise in prices of cereals and fuel caused it to increase its budget for 2008 by 17% – from $2.9 billion to $3.4 billion. Spokesperson Christiane Berthiaume says that people living close to the poverty line, who previously struggled to survive, could very soon find that prices are simply impossibly high. The food crisis has had the following impact around the world:
Egypt: Workers rioted for 2 days, where protesters threw petrol bombs at security forces and police fired tear gas at the crowds. When workers attempted to strike as a protest against the high prices, plainclothes security men took control of the factory and forced them to work.
Bangladesh: About 20,000 textile workers have clashed with police near Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital, demanding better wages to meet high food prices. In a recent press conference, the World Bank President Robert Zoellick stated: "In Bangladesh a two-kilogramme bag of rice…now consumes about half the daily income of a poor family".
Indonesia: Protesters demanded that the government bring down food prices after the media reported cases of starvation. It is estimated that Bangladeshis and poor Indonesians are now spending 70% or more of their income on food.
Haiti: Food prices rose over 40% in one year, resulting in 10 days of violent protest and the ousting of the Haitian Prime Minister.
Unrest has also occurred in Mexico, the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Mauritania, Mozambique, Senegal, Uzbekistan, Yemen, and Bolivia.
Food Crisis: Who’s to Blame?
Due to the widespread nature of the problem, it is only natural to examine the role of global policies in causing this crisis. Politicians, analysts, etc are blaming the following:
Bio-fuels: World Bank President, Alistair Darling (Chancellor of UK) and Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul (German Development Minister) blamed the rising food prices on the shift in agricultural production from food to bio-fuels (i.e. fuels made from plant sources). The German Minister stated that “increasing production of bio-fuels was 30 to 70% responsible for the rapid rise in food prices”.
Rising fuel costs: John Holmes, a UN official, blamed rising fuel costs; “The rising price of fuel, particularly diesel fuel used to transport food, is also adding to the issue by prompting a simultaneous increase in the cost of food.”
Falling US Dollar: Unlike Canada, developing countries have not let their currencies rise, in order to ensure that their exports continue to be sold in the American market. This makes US dollar denominated items (e.g. fuel) even more expensive to buy.
Growth in India and China: The exponential economic growth due to foreign investments in India and China has increased demand for goods, thereby pushing up prices.
Investor speculation in commodities: Jose Graziano, a UN official noted that, "The lack of confidence in the (U.S.) dollar has led investment funds to look for higher returns in commodities … first metals and then foods"
Holding Capitalism Accountable
Although the individual factors cited above could likely be responsible, the real issue is examining why such policies are pursued in the first place. The prime concern of the Capitalist economic system is to ensure that man’s freedom of acquiring and selling is guaranteed. As a result, if the investor wants to invest in fuel production instead of food production – then the system must ensure that he is “free” to make that choice without interference. The same thought process underlies the issue of speculation in commodities. Investors will move money from stocks and bonds to wheat, corn, and rice – if they believe they can make more money on rising food prices.
As a result, the current food crisis is a source of celebration for agribusinesses and other corporations. In other words, Capitalism is working as it was designed to – the increase in hunger is not something that the system attends to or cares about. Ensuring food security has no relevance to this mindset. Its sole concern is maximizing profits.
Islam and Food Security
Allah (swt) has revealed:
“We sent aforetime our messengers with Clear Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance (of Right and Wrong), that men may stand forth in justice” [TMQ Hadid 57:25]
Observing the food crisis unfolding over our Ummah and much of humanity, we should recognize that this situation is firstly caused by following a law and system that has not been revealed by Allah (swt). As Allah (swt) has revealed:
“The Deen before Allah is Islam” [TMQ 3:19]
We are aware Allah (swt) is the Creator of all reality. He (swt) created humans, their need for food and also the means and resources, such as plants, animals, etc, to satisfy their hunger. Therefore, only Allah (swt) is qualified to design a system that will ensure the food security of humanity. Subsequently we should not be surprised that the current state of affairs is unfolding, as the secular Capitalist system is man-made and therefore incapable of dealing with the task of ensuring humanity’s well-being.
As a result, when we examine the Quran and Sunnah, we find that Allah (swt) has prescribed many ahkam (laws) that would ensure food security for humanity. These ahkam specify responsibilities of the state, responsibilities of the community, and the responsibilities of the individual.
The Khaleefah is in general responsible for those under his guardianship. Rasullah (saw) said:
“Each of you is a shepherd, and all of you are responsible for your flocks.” [Bukhari, Muslim]
It is the responsibility of the ruler to guarantee housing, clothing and food for every single citizen of the Islamic state, based on the following hadith:
"The Son of Adam has no better right than that he would have a house wherein he may live, a piece of clothing whereby he may hide his nakedness and a piece of bread and some water." [Tirmidhi]
Consequently, the ruler will be diligent in applying the ahkam that pertain to economy, as this will be his best defense on the Day of Judgment. That is, the ahkam of Allah (swt) will address the issue of food security. Some examples include:
1. "Muslims are partners in three things: in water, pastures and fire" [Abu Dawud]. Muslims have common ownership of pastures and water –the fundamental resources required to produce food. All energy resources are also owned by the people. This means that no individual or company can monopolize its benefits/profits.
2. Land cannot remain idle. Landowners must ensure that their lands remain productive and do not stay idle. If they fail to use the land within 3 years, it is given to someone who will use it. This is based on the ijma of the sahabah (i.e. who acted on sunnah of the Prophet (saw) without mentioning it) on the saying of Umar ibn Al-Khattab (ra): “The one who circles a land has no right in it after 3 years.”
3. Prohibition on price-fixing. In era of rising food prices, the State is forbidden from fixing prices based on the following narrated by Imam Ahmed (ra): “Prices increased at the time of the Messenger of Allah (saw), so they said, O Messenger of Allah, we wish you would price (fix the prices). He (saw) said: “Indeed Allah is the Creator, the holder (Qabidh), the Open-handed (Basit), the Provider (Raziq), the Pricer (who fixes prices); and I wish I will meet Allah and nobody demands (complains) of me for unjust acts I did against him, neither in blood or property.” When States do not follow the sunnah of Rasullah (saw), they find that fixing the price of food actually make the food shortage worse, as food retailers hoard their provisions and sell the goods for high prices in the underground market.
4. Hoarding/monopolizing goods is forbidden. Producers or retailers cannot hoard or monopolize goods in order to cause the price to rise. This is based on the ahadith: “The Messenger of Allah (saw) forbade that a foodstuff be monopolized.” [Athram] and “Whoever monopolized is a wrongdoer.” [Muslim].
Under the Khilafah of Umar ibn-al Khattab (ra), Madinah experienced a famine. Umar (ra) ordered his governor of Egypt, ‘Amr bin al-As, to dig a canal from the River Nile to the Red Sea to transport grain to the Arabian Peninsula. Umar did not eat anything more than oil and dry bread until he was sure that everyone in Madinah was full.
The Muslim community is also responsible for ensuring that all people within the community are fed. This is based on the following narration of the Prophet (saw):
“Any community, whosoever they are, if a person among them became hungry, they will be removed from the protection of Allah the Blessed, the Supreme.” [Ahmed]
The implication of this hadith is that if a hungry person stole from the community, then the community would have no recourse to recover that property on the Day of Judgment.
Each Muslim is also responsible for ensuring that their neighbour is fed based on the following hadith:
“The one who slept (satisfied) while his close neighbour was hungry, and he was aware of that, would not have believed in me truly.” [Al-Bazzar]
Beyond the responsibility of ensuring the community is fed, Islam promotes a lifestyle where people eat less (which is in sharp contradiction to the Capitalist way of life that promotes over consumption). Rasullah (saw) said:
“No man fills a container worse than his stomach. A few morsels that keep his back upright are sufficient for him. If he has to, then he should keep one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for his breathing." [Tirmidhi]
This sunnah ensures and promotes a wider distribution of food, as individuals are encouraged to eat what is required.
Raising the issue of hunger with non-Muslims
When discussing the issue of food security with the community at large, we should keep in mind that the Islamic solutions can only be applied based on the aqeedah of Islam. That is, the capitalist mindset of cost-benefit is incapable of implementing the hukm of Allah (swt) because it contradicts it at a fundamental level. Capitalism maintains that man is free, making contradictory for the ideology to prescribe ‘fard’, i.e. responsibilities for people. Allah (swt), through the ahkam shariah, is the only One capable of dictating what is an obligation and what is not. In such discussions, we should be confident in raising this issue. That is, the West likes to talk about rights (e.g. the right to food), but shies away from the discussion of who is responsible for providing this right. The Islamic way of thinking makes responsibilities the primary concern for the individual, as he or she will be held accountable by Allah (swt) on the Day of Judgment for fulfilling these.
"And We have not sent you except as a mercy to mankind.” [TMQ 21:107]
Members of Hizb ut-Tahrir Canada
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