Savage Capitalism: The Joint Product of Social Darwinism and Irreligiousness — The “Robber Barons,” Darwin’s Followers

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Those of you possessing affluence and ample wealth should not make oaths that they will not give to their relatives and the very poor and those who have migrated in the way of God. They should rather pardon and overlook… (Surat an-Nur, 22)

From the 19th century onwards, Darwinist capitalists maintained that only the rich and powerful had the right to live and that the poor, the weak, the crippled and sick were “useless burdens,” establishing oppressive systems in a great many countries. In this climate of ruthless competition, it was seen as perfectly justified to exploit, oppress, intimidate, frighten, injure and even kill people. No forms of immoral or illegal activity were prevented or condemned, since these were regarded as “compatible with the laws of nature.”

In many countries where people do not live by religious moral values, this system still continues today. The gap between rich and poor is growing at an ever-increasing rate, and the conditions in which the needy live are ignored. According to the propaganda of Social Darwinism, protecting and caring for the poor and needy is a violation of the laws of nature, and since such people are regarded as a burden, no help is extended to them.

Great differences between levels of well-being exist not only within a country, but also between countries. As the level of well-being rises rapidly in the West, famine, sickness and poverty afflict many Third World countries, where people are dying from starvation and neglect. If used in a rational and conscientious manner, however, the world's resources are plentiful enough to provide for all those now abandoned to hunger and poverty.

The world has enough resources for everyone, but these must be used in a rational and caring manner. Food goes to waste in many parts of the world, while people in many other countries are dying from starvation and poverty. If these people are to attain justice, the Social Darwinist mentality must be entirely eradicated.

In order for the world's resources to provide humane conditions, it is essential that Darwinism's intellectual influence be eradicated all over the world. When Darwinist views and understanding are replaced by the moral values of the Qur'an, such problems will naturally be resolved. That is because while Darwinism inculcates the idea of ruthless competition and the oppression of the poor, religious moral values impart compassion, protection, mutual cooperation, solidarity and sharing. For instance, our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) says in one of the hadith, “A believer is not the [mature] one who eats his fill when his neighbor is hungry.”³⁶ These wise words of the Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) are one of the indications of Muslims' affection and compassion.

In many of His verses, God has commanded love, compassion, affection and altruism and given Muslims examples of proper moral behavior. While social Darwinism consists of the rich using the poor and needy as stepping stones in order to rise, Islamic moral values command the rich to protect them. Some of the verses on this subject revealed by God are as follows:

Images of Great Britain in the second half of the 19th century. While part of the country enjoyed wealth and well-being, another lived in poverty.

Those of you possessing affluence and ample wealth should not make oaths that they will not give to their relatives and the very poor and those who have migrated in the way of God. They should rather pardon and overlook… (Surat an-Nur, 22)

They will ask you what they should give away. Say, “Any wealth you give away should go to your parents and relatives and to orphans and the very poor and travelers…” (Surat al-Baqara, 215)

... Eat of them and feed those who are poor and in need. (Surat al-Hajj, 28)

[Believers are] those in whose wealth there is a known share for beggars and the destitute. (Surat al-Ma'arij, 24-25)

They give food, despite their love for it, to the poor and orphans and captives: “We feed you only out of desire for the Face of God. We do not want any repayment from you or any thanks. Truly We fear from our Lord a glowering, calamitous Day.” (Surat al-Insan, 8-10)

Nothing changed, despite the passing of one hundred years. Yet the world's resources are rich enough for everyone to live in comfort. What needs to be disseminated is the altruism, cooperation and solidarity required by religious moral values.

In the Qur'an, God also reveals that those who do not help the poor and weak will be rewarded with Hell:

They [the companions of the Right] will ask the evildoers: “What caused you to enter Saqar?” They will say, “We were not among those who performed prayer and we did not feed the poor.” (Surat al-Muddaththir, 41-44)

Then bind him in a chain which is seventy cubits long. He used not to believe in God the Magnificent, nor did he urge the feeding of the poor. Therefore here today he has no friend. (Surat al-Haqqa, 32-35)

It must not be forgotten: It is Almighty God, the Lord of all existence and all the universe, Who gives everyone his earnings and success. A person does not become wealthy by engaging in ruthless competition in the “struggle for survival” or by oppressing the weak. It is God Who gives everyone all that they possess, distributing wealth among them in order to test them. A wealthy person is actually tested by means of that wealth. God reveals this fact in a verse:

We made everything on the Earth adornment for it so that We could test them to see whose actions are the best. (Surat al-Kahf, 7)

A person is responsible, therefore, for using all the blessings given him by God in the best manner possible, in order to earn His approval. A true believer must act in the knowledge that all he possesses are a blessing from God, and that just as our Lord can increase his possessions whenever He chooses, He can also take them away.

References

Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad; al-Hakim and al-Baihaqi. ↩