Principle of Cooperation in Economic Fields

IQNA – One of the important applications of the principle of cooperation is in the field of economy, although the relationship between the principle of cooperation in the Quran and cooperative economy is at the level of verbal similarity.

The Quran proposes a basis that can be used in various fields, including in economy.

Cooperatives can be proposed and discussed in two forms: cooperative companies and cooperative economy. Cooperative companies fall under the generalities of Verse 1 of Surah Al-Ma’idah: “Believers, fulfill your obligations.”

And also the noble Hadith: “Believers are committed to their terms and contracts.”

Cooperative economy or movement was formed in the early 19th century following the spread of corruption resulting from the establishment of the liberal capitalist system, because this system, based on ontological and anthropological principles, in practice went in the direction that all surplus production was allocated to capital and the labor force only received a fixed wage. This approach increased the class gap and the spread of poverty. Thinkers sought a cooperative economy to save workers and eliminate widespread poverty.

Cooperative economy is a value-based and ethical economy that differs from the visionary and value-based foundations of the capitalist system. For example, the implementation of cooperative economy is not possible without the realization of principles and values ​​such as sacrifice, charity, fairness, altruism, social responsibility, and honesty, and these values ​​must replace the system of intense profit-seeking and competition.

Therefore, although the International Cooperative Union, with the help of thinkers of the cooperative system, made effective efforts to explain various models and develop the cooperative system, the cooperative system did not expand as expected because the necessary guarantees were not provided for the expansion of its scope.

Today, the world is facing many problems under the control of selfish and greedy supporters of the capitalist system, but by using Islamic teachings, it is possible to formulate and defend the foundations of vision and value for it.

If those seeking Ta’avon (cooperation) and the International Cooperative Union can expand the circle of personal interest in the eyes of the people as Islam has developed it, they will achieve their great economic, social, cultural and political goals with the least cost.

Unlike the capitalist system, in Islamic cosmology, one who acts upon the teachings of cooperation will never feel that he has lost anything, but will be sure that such actions are a type of investment that has abundant and sustainable benefits in life.

It is because he believes that after this worldly life, another eternal and everlasting life awaits him.

So, while the capitalist economic system is incompatible with the Islamic system in many of its ideological, value-based, and principled foundations, the cooperative economic system, with reforms in some principles and behaviors, can be approved and used as part of the Islamic economic system.