RI must become Islamic caliphate

RI must become Islamic caliphate

From Republika

Poverty can be seen in every rural and urban area in this country. In Jakarta, for instance, slums are found on river banks and behind highrise buildings, while disadvantaged children roam around intersections begging.

Following the economic crisis in the late 1990s, the number of poor people in Indonesia further increased. Based on data of the Central Statistics Bureau, 17.5 percent, or 34.5 million, people were classified as living in poverty in 1996. The rate declined slightly to 17.4 percent in 2003 but the number rose to 37.4 million because of the growing population.

Socialism has not been able to take off and so has not created public welfare and equality without social classes, while capitalism, in line with the world system, has also fallen short of global prosperity for mankind. In some cases it has even caused terrible economic ruin. What system should we turn to?

The universal system of Islam has historically proven to be the proper solution to poverty. During the heyday of the Islamic caliphate, poverty could be relieved and welfare created for centuries, regardless of the racial, ethnic and religious diversity of local communities.

With this fact, common sense should prompt us to adopt the Islamic system, which will bring about public welfare and benefit to Muslims as well as non-Muslims.

ACHMAD SOFIAN Jakarta