3.3 The Meaning of Ownership

The right of individual ownership is a legal right of the individual who has the right to possess movable and immovable assets. This right is protected and determined by legislation and culturing. The right of ownership, besides being an interest of monetary (financial) value determined by Shar’a, indicates that the individual has control over what He possesses. He may dispose of it in the same way that He has control over his optional actions. The right of ownership is thus determined within the limits of the commands and prohibitions of Allah (swt).

The determination of ownership is evident in the legal means of possession by which the right of ownership is decided, and in the cases to which punishments may or may not be applicable. Examples of this are the definition of theft, the definition of robbery and the definition of illegal seizure. This determination is also evident in the right of disposal of the ownership, where some cases of disposal are allowed, and some other cases are prohibited, and in the definition of these cases and the manifestation of their incidents. When Islam determines ownership it does not determine it by quantity but rather by its manner as shown in the following matters:

1. It determined ownership in respect of the means of possession and investing of the property, rather than in the amount of the property owned.

2. It determined the manner of disposal.

3. The fact that the Kharaji land title is owned by the State, not the individuals.

4. The fact that individual property forcibly becomes a public property in certain cases.

5. The State grants amounts deemed necessary to those whose means of ownership are insufficient to cater for their needs.

It is inevitable that in order to ensure legal rights of ownership of individual property, a defined authority for Him over what He owns should exist. Legislation makes the securing of the individuals right of ownership a duty upon the State. It ensures the respect of ownership, its protection and non-aggression against it. Legislation incorporates deterrents in the form of punishments, which are enforced upon those who infringe on this right, whether by stealing, robbery, or in any other manner. During culturing, emphasis is placed to curtail the desires of people from longing for that which they have no right to own, and that which is owned by others. So the only legal (Halal) property is that which falls within the meaning of ownership. And the illegal (Haram) property is not considered ownership, nor does it fall within the meaning of ownership.

Superior Economic Model : Islamic System

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