Press Release
If This Was the Last Capitalist Budget Speech Before Khilafah, Then it Really Would be "Historic"

The budget speech of Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh delivered today, 1 June 2012, has been hailed as being "historic" because it is the first time that a government has made it to the end of its five year term and presented a budget each year. So, this budget is not "historic" because it would provide affordable energy, or revive industry and agriculture, or give people relief from back breaking rises in prices or relieve them of oppressive taxes. It is simply "historic" because it actually took place! Hizb ut-Tahrir declares that what would make this speech historic is that it is the last time that the people would hear an announcement of further oppressive policies based on capitalism, an exploitative and inequitable system, that is collapsing all over the world. What would make it is historic is that it is the last such speech before the establishment of the Khilafah "Caliphate", who through Islam would raise the Muslim Lands of Pakistan as an economic marvel. And we elaborate just some of the laws that the Khilafah "Caliphate" will implement inshaaAllah.

1. Affordable energy and vibrant industry

Only once the Khilafah "Caliphate" is established will you see relief in terms of affordable and available energy. This is because in the Khilafah "Caliphate" system, public properties can neither be privatized nor even nationalized, rather the people are its actual owners, whilst the state only administers them on people's behalf. RasulAllah صلى الله عليه و سلم said,

"الْمُسْلِمُونَ شُرَكَاءُ فِي ثَلَاثٍ الْمَاءِ وَالْكَلَإِ وَالنَّارِ"

"The Muslims are partners in three things, waters, feeding pastures and fire" (Ahmad)

Accordingly, all energy resources, including oil and gas wells, coal mines and electricity generation plants will never be privatized. So, the Khilafah "Caliphate" will never profiteer from these public properties, rather it will ensure they benefit the entire society. This will significantly reduce the prices of power and fuel, providing relief for the masses and new life to the crippled industry and agricultural sector.

2. Bearable revenue generation

Only once the Khilafah "Caliphate" established will you see relief from crippling taxes, because RasulAllah صلى الله عليه و سلم said,

"لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ صَاحِبُ مَكْسٍ"

"The collector of taxes will not enter heaven" (Ahmad)

Accordingly, the state is not allowed to tax the people at will or in response to demands from the World Bank and IMF. The revenues for the Khilafah "Caliphate"'s state treasury are only those ordained by Allah سبحانه و تعالى. In Islam, the people's private property has sanctity and the Khilafah "Caliphate" state cannot rob its citizens under the guise of "taxation". Only Allah سبحانه و تعالى decides which revenues are fair as well as who are able to pay them. Islam has its own unique system of revenue collection, including revenue from public properties, such as gas and oil, copper and gold, agricultural production, such as ushr and kharaj, and industrial manufacture through Zakah on goods, which will generate funds for looking after the people, without oppressing them.

3. Stable, affordable prices

Only once the Khilafah "Caliphate" is established will you see relief in rising prices, because Islam mandates that each coin and note is backed by real wealth i.e Gold and Silver. RasulAllah صلى الله عليه و سلم commanded the Muslims to mint Gold Dinars, weighing 4.25g, and Silver Dirhams, weighing 2.975g, as the currency of the state. It means that Khilafah "Caliphate" cannot print currency notes according to her will and requirement. This is why the Khilafah "Caliphate" enjoyed stable prices for over a thousand years.

4. Agricultural revolution

Once the Khilafah "Caliphate" is established, will you see a surge in agricultural production. Uniquely, Islam links the owner ship of land with its cultivation. RasulAllah صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

"مَنْ أَعْمَرَ أَرْضًا لَيْسَتْ لِأَحَدٍ فَهُوَ أَحَقُّ"

"Whosoever cultivated a land that is not owned by anybody, then he deserved it more." (Bukhari)

Islam has also stipulated to take back the agricultural land from his owner if not cultivated for three consecutive years. This will ensure the full utilization of the agricultural land by the owner which will increase agricultural production. The Khilafah "Caliphate" state will provide grants or loans without interest for anyone who can cultivate lands. So, within months, there will be an increase in both cultivation of land and increased rural livelihood.
So Hizb ut-Tahrir calls upon the Muslims to turn aside from kufr capitalism, and embrace the serious work for the immediate re-establishment of the Khilafah "Caliphate".

Shahzad Shaikh
Deputy to the Spokesman
of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Pakistan