News:

On 12th September 2013, the Guardian Newspaper quoted the Director of National Food Security in the Tanzania Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Karimu Mtambo saying at least five regions are facing food shortages including the city of Dar-es-Salaam yet Tanzania has sufficient food stocks and several regions have registered surplus produce.

Comment:

Tanzania has announced it has enough food surpluses in its stores to fight hunger. It has also stated it is strategizing to make sure it has good food policies. Announcing the food surplus levels is one thing while distributing to the needy is a different thing altogether. This is an indicator of the concept of measure in Capitalism which gives preference to statistics instead of distribution. Therefore the question that needs to be asked is does everyone access the food? The answer is no, as they have used the Capitalist measure to determine that the surplus food available is enough for the year. However, there are many people who sleep hungry without food as they have no money to buy the food and the government does not oversee the distribution to make sure they access the food.

How does Islam make sure everyone receives food?

Islam has solved such a problem in various ways. As an example, when the wife of Abu Sufyan went to accuse his husband of neglect in satisfying her needs, the Prophet (saw) told her to take justly what will satisfy her needs from the pockets of her husband. Also Umar (ra) ensured food was delivered from Egypt to feed Madina which was facing drought and hunger. Also Umar bin Abdulaziz ensured that basic needs of everyone are catered for to the point there was no one to receive Zakah.

Therefore, the Khilafah "Caliphate" state will take the following measures to solve the food security issue.

First, Islam takes any problem facing human beings and not as an economic, political or hunger problem. Therefore, the solution ensures that the problem is solved for everyone who faces it.

Second is everyone who has the means must look after the affairs of his needy relative. It is only then that the needy will be assured of food. If there is no one to look after the needy, it becomes the responsibility of the state to look after them. If the government has no capacity to look after the needy, it will borrow from the rich to solve the problem or will force those with means to feed a certain number of the needy.

Third, the Khilafah "Caliphate" state will ensure the best administration of zakah, war booty, barren land, use of funds from public properties and distribute to the eligible on time.

Written for Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by

Ali Amour

Member of Media Office in Hizb ut Tahrir East Africa