Ernie : Yeah, it is interesting and has actual content worth thinking about. There is one little problem, though. But don't get me wrong. Non-userous finance has always seemed like a good idea to me. That isn't the problem. At issue is the fact, if not always, often enough, that along with Islamic banking, etc, goes a mission statement to the effect, said among Muslims, "this should be our opening to introduce Shariah Law into non-Muslim society." This is not ( or not usually ) understood as an "option." It is required of serious Muslims. Trouble is : ( 1 ) non-Muslims are initially kept in the dark, by design, and ( 2 ) some provisions of Islamic finance are based directly on Shariah. This allows Muslims, once their banking practices become accepted, to say, you already ( now ) practice Shariah in part, this is the time to adopt other aspects of Shariah. --including parts that to Americans are highly objectionable and criminal. Best to be cautious about anything Muslim, even what is good on the surface. All of this said, and to repeat, Western finance is userous, essentially immoral, ( or no better than amoral ) and we had better develop a new system. Billy ============================================================== In a message dated 7/30/2010 11:18:52 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
Not sure if this is spam or not, but it seemed highly topical on several levels, so I decided to let it in. :-) -- Ernie P. On Jul 29, 2010, at 3:37 AM, Salman Shaikh wrote: > Hi Everyone > > I hope this e-mail finds you and your family in the best of health. I > am Salman Ahmed Shaikh and am pursuing PhD in Islamic Economics from > Szabist. Previously, I did graduation with the honor Cum Laude from > Bahria University and MS from Szabist. I have written 3 books > (Mathematical Economics, Industries of Pakistan, and Business > Communication), 14 research papers on Islamic Economics & Finance and > 6 research articles on Islamic Finance. I received a commendation > certificate for my book on “Industries of Pakistan” from National Book > Foundation. I have conducted various guest speaker sessions on Islamic > economics at national universities including Szabist, Bahria, Biztek, > University of East etc. Currently, I am associated as a faculty member > with Szabist, PAF-KIET, HIAST Institute and University of East. I am > also associated with BMC Pakistan as a Research Analyst & Financial > Consultant. > > As per Islamic faith, my belief is that we along with other living > beings have been created by Allah. Allah created us to see who among > us are the best followers of His words. > > I am writing this email to introduce to you “Islamic Economics > Project”. This project tries to study that whether Islamic economic > principles have validity and rationale behind them to be followed in > today’s time, more so, when Capitalism after reigning over Socialism > in 1990s has also received set back in Great Recession of 2007. > > The Project’s website is accessible at: > > www.islamiceconomics.viviti.com > > Allah taught us the desirable behavior, actions and attitudes by > giving us guidance through a functioning conscience i.e. inner > guidance and by sending to us the pious Prophets i.e. external > guidance. Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was the last messenger and > Quran, the last and only authentic source of guidance for the whole > world till the end of this world. After revelation came to Muhammad > (Peace Be Upon Him) 1400 years ago, Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) being > the last messenger of Allah is the only source of divine guidance for > human beings. > > Since no messenger and divine guidance were to come after Muhammad > (Peace Be Upon Him), His teachings are thorough and comprehensive and > based on principles that encompass any particular context and > civilizational mode and applicable for all times for all societies. > > Societies and civilizations are not bound to follow any particular > culture, tradition, custom, particular tools and ways of carrying out > different functions of life; they are only obliged to follow certain > broad principles. In compliance with these principles, the societies > are given room to make their own modus operandi which suits their > particular civilization, extent of development and access to modern > tools and techniques. > > Islamic Economics is a project to research on Islamic Economics in the > research areas of: > > - Interest Free Corporate Finance. > - Interest Free Public Finance. > - Interest Free Commercial Banking. > - Theory of Taxation in Islam and formulation of Islamic Fiscal > Policy. > - Postulates of a Monetary Regime and formulation of Islamic Monetary > Policy. > - Inflation Targeting in Interest Free Economy. > - Dealing with Scarcity of Capital in Interest Free Economy. > - Holistic Development Economic Framework in Interest Free Economy. > - Pricing Capital Complying with Islamic Principles & Economic > Theory. > - Phase wise Application of Proposed Principles in Economy. > - Empirical Research to Determine the Case for the Validity of > Solutions. > > > Project’s Goals > > - The Project will support and promote research and researchers in > Islamic Economics. > > - Original papers with applied focus and impact factor will be > considered for publishing from the platform of Islamic Economics > Project and will be published on Project’s website. > > - The project will strive to promote its researches at various > platforms including research conferences etc. > > - The project will endeavor to foster healthy debates and envisions > becoming a think tank in Islamic Economics. > > > How You Can Participate > > - By praying for guidance for all of us. > - Reading the project’s research. > - Writing in-depth articles and papers for the project. > - Providing feedback and criticism. > - Encouraging others in your network who have interest in Sociology, > Philosophy, Economics and Religion to read the project’s research. > > I am deeply thankful to Allah who enabled me to write a book on > Islamic Economics which is the first major contribution of “Islamic > Economics Project”. The first edition of this book will be available > for readers by the end of July, 2010. If you are interested in reading > the book, kindly provide your mailing address where you want the book > to be delivered. I will be pleased to send a complimentary copy with > the hope that I will receive feedback after you have given it the full > reading. > > Your comments, suggestions, queries and criticism are welcomed to > convert these ideas into practicable models for the development of our > people. > > Thanks & Regards, > > Salman Ahmed Shaikh > > Project Director, Islamic Economics Project > www.islamiceconomics.viviti.com > > Important > > Please note that this project does not receive any funding yet nor > does it want to in the near future. I am available to deliver > lectures, conduct workshops, guest speaker sessions, delivering > presentations in seminars and symposiums without any cost on Islamic > Economics at any platform. > > -- > Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> > Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism > Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
