EGHTESAD-E ISLAMI
Year:2010 | Volume:8 | Issue:34|Papers Count:9

Decision making regarding the choice of the quality and quantity of income allocation to fulfill various needs of life is amongst the fundamental issues of Economics. In traditional economics because of particular principles of the Capitalist school, the concept at the core of this problem is "consumption", and Maximization of utility derived from it, becomes a goal of the consumers' behavior.In Islamic sources, the central concept of this problem is "enfaq" [disbursement] (in its broader sense), which includes all the expenditures of life encompassing consumptive expenses, social-participation disbursements and capital expenditures.This article aims at discovering and explaining the desired model of individual-income allocation in the framework based on Islamic viewpoint. This article, by analyzing the ideological principles, aims, instances and the do's and don'ts of the model of income allocation in Islam, shows that, firstly: the central concept in this model is "enfaq" [disbursements] ("in its general sense"), consumption being just one of its instances. Secondly: Adopting this concept, in place of consumption, is based on the Islamic theoretical and value-based fundamentals. And finally: The desired behavior of income allocation (specially the consumption behavior) in Islamic framework gets shaped in such a way that it enhances welfare, social justice and spirituality, alongside each other.

If we want to base our consumption patterns on the foundations of Islamic values, first, we must identify the principles and assumptions derived from the values. Islam has numerous recommendations regarding morality, self-edification, keeping a distance from pure economic logic, having a simple lifestyle, attention to individual habits and prestige, caring for the needs of the poor, and abstinence from flaunt and jealousy. Therefore, consumption pattern analysis in such a framework, with focus on a person with the least required level of faith on these values, is different from the analyses which have been accomplished in other frameworks which stress upon pure economic [only] logic and the spirit of flaunt. Likewise, different perceptions of the values introduces differing patterns [and models] to the society, and bringing these perceptions close to each other requires more research [and study].This paper aims at revisiting and presenting the organization of the Islamic laws and values regarding the consumption pattern, and also their overall impact on micro and macro consumption[ s]. To present their organization, the methodology of Martyr Seyed Sadr (RA), in his book "Our Economics", has been followed. And to establish the laws and values, the arguments will be restricted to the important ones only, because the real aim is researching and presenting the organization of laws. In order to achieve this goal, first the literature of the discussion and a few related researches will be studied; then, the framework of values will be introduced and, finally, the overall results achieved regarding the pattern will be mentioned.

Though consumption is the ultimate goal of production, and increases man's utility, the current patterns of consumption, and the expansion of 'consumer society' phenomenon, has worsened the current crisis of the planet Earth; the crisis of pollution and trash, and the crisis of declining phenomenon of renewable resources. The patterns that govern the consumption in contemporary societies are influenced by the secular growth models, which took over after the World War II, and publicize getting closer to the developed [economies] and consumer societies.Whereas, travelling this path is not possible for all mankind and the development models are not capable of making the dreams of mankind, regarding extensive and persistent consumption, a reality. Based on this, new development models [and patterns] based on spirituality, justice and rationality must be derived.This article, by using a descriptive and analytic research methodology proves that development based on Islam is a sure and practical path for achieving an extensive and persistent consumption. The findings of our research show that Islamic development with the spiritual, benevolent, righteous, spoilage contesting and wastage contesting features, on one hand and, modest behavior of the officials and constant consideration of the life of the lower classes by the believers, on the other can, very well fulfill the responsibility of solving this fundamental problem.

In the previous centuries, while the Western economy was working on developing its economic infrastructures and increasing the production levels and, was crossing the levels of development; theories based on the Protestant ethics, encouraged them towards hard work and less consumption. In the twentieth century, the Western economy reached the stage of prosperity and mass production and, it was in this era that, in order to achieve the market for these products, the economic ethics changed its direction towards consumerism. The consequences of consumerism were the destruction of environment and elimination of environmental resources; resources in which future generations also had a share.Although these countries strived to transfer few of the polluted industries to the third world countries, they themselves were also not spared from their disasters.The subject of this article is that consumerism is one of the major factors of environmental damage and hampers the persistence of development in the developed countries. Through this article we intend to prove the hypothesis that: the religion of Islam by guiding the consumption pattern of Muslims and by formulating laws accordingly, has created the grounds for optimum consumption among Muslims, such that, the protection of environmental resources is one of its positive outcomes. Divine faith and belief in God, guide man's consumption behavior in such a way that, being [God's] Successor and Custodian, in the process of achieving personal [individual]welfare, he does not hurt other's rights; including the environment. The ethical and jurisprudential principles of, prohibition of extravagance, wastage, spoilage, and destruction, and the reproach of luxuriousness and consumptiveness, positively affect the achievement of these goals.Our methodology in this article is analytic-descriptive and by referring to the verses of the Holy Quran, the Traditions and also jurisprudential rules, the governing principles of consumption will be derived and, their role in protecting the environment will be analyzed.

Consumption, other than being referred to as an objective of production, distribution and all other economic activities, when changes noticeably effects all other macroeconomic variables like, production level, savings, employment, unemployment and inflation. In every society various factors are involved in shaping the consumption patterns; most important of them being the culture. In this article, we seek the answer to this question that: What kind of relationship exists between culture and consumption pattern of a society? What are the components, a consumption pattern is made up of and how do they get influenced by culture?To achieve the answers an analytical approach is used and, while assuming the society and its subordinate groups as a "system" and "related sub-systems", the relationship of components of culture and consumption pattern has been looked into.The findings of this article show that first of all, the components of consumption pattern i.e. consumption level, combination of consumptive goods and the manner of consumption develop in the cultural environment of the society and, the Islamic principles governing consumption also influence each of the three components. Secondly, consumption pattern in our society other than its incompatibility with the production pattern (and consequently its negative influence on development), is also away from the required consumption pattern from the religious viewpoint. And, due to the fact that both the present condition and the required one have cultural roots, it is not possible to create a fundamental change in it through economic tools alone, and its long term changes are essentially under the influence of changes in the cultural components related to it.

Consumption and consumerism is a multidimensional subject which can be studied from various aspects and is influenced, in each society, by its general culture, norms and dominant values.Consumerism is to give a central importance to consumption and, aiming at material comforts and wealth. This picture of consumption started becoming popular from 19th century, with an aim of perpetuation of Capitalism and to stress upon the culture of utmost consumption, with an aim of enjoying material pleasures. In advancement of this process, publicity was an appropriate tool for this task. Through it frontiers between countries were broken and consumerism became a value in all societies.Consumerism leaves various economic, psychological and, most significantly, sociological effects on a society. Amongst the sociological effects of consumerism, the transformation of wealth and consumption into a value and its dominance on other values, showing off of wealth, class gaps and social inequality, sense of deprivation etc., can be pointed out.The present article using a methodology of reference, analysis of materials and descriptive and, a sociological procedure, after explaining the effects of consumerism in the society, studies consumerism from the viewpoint of Islamic teachings, and concludes that consumption on its own is not an objectionable phenomenon and Islam too, encourages the Muslims to fulfill daily needs of their lives. Whereas, consumerism and making consumption a goal has negative effects, and is in line with concepts like extravagance, wastage and spoilage and has been considered objectionable from Islamic viewpoint.

The inappropriateness of consumption pattern in various areas, specially the consumption of nonrenewable and energy reserves, has become an important subject in Iran today, and as a Macro strategy and a national economic necessity, the Reform of Consumption Pattern has been placed on the agenda. The reality of extravagance (‘esraf’) and wastage of national resources and facilities is the result of various causes and factors, without the understanding and control of which, one cannot hope for the reform of consumption pattern. This study by inquiring that, in spite of the guidance of human intellect and Holy law towards optimum consumption and avoiding extravagance, why is the consumption pattern in Iran unreasonable? puts forward the hypothesis that ignorance towards the consumer's rights is one of the important factors in the unreasonableness of consumption pattern in this country. The results of this research show that inaccessibility to information regarding the quality of the goods offered, inexistence of choosing power in the competitive market, non-existence of tough laws regarding the responsibility of producers of defected goods, existence of bureaucratic and economic corruption, and consequently no control with regards to undesirable goods and finally, not benefitting from public participation in the organizations to defending consumer rights, are various factors that, while being a cause of unfairness towards weak and vulnerable majority of the society i.e. the consumers, is also followed by irregular consumption and wastage of the country's resource sand capitals.