(Founder of Encyclopaedia of Islam in German language, founder of the most popular German Islamic homepage muslim-markt.de, responsible member of Islamic Way [rahe islami], Webmaster of khamenei.de and author of 6 Islamic books, one about the live of Imam Khamene’i)

Introduction
In the awaited time of the 12th Imam – may he return soon – a very special form of economy is predicted. On the one hand nobody will find any poor to give his Zakat to him and on the other hand he will be able to receive whatever he wants by articulating a “Salawat”, greetings to the Holy Prophet of Islam and his pure family, the Ahl-ul-Bayt.
Scheich Mufid quoted a tradition [hadith] by Abu Abdillah (a.) which al-Mufaddhal ibn Umar had heard, that a time will come in which earth will show all its treasures. And man will search for somebody to give him his money or to spend his Zakat but he will not find anybody in need . Wealth will flow like water, everyone will be independent and have surplus wealth and property to the extent that nobody will be in the need of Zakat and Sadaqa thus receiving of Zakat and Sadaqa will be discarded.
The today’s question regarding this prophecy is: How can we imagine such a time? Will it be a miracle, or are we able to prepare it partly? Is this form of wealth a special one for the time of Imam Mahdi (a.), while earth hides this wealth until he returns, or does this already exist in parts, but is misused? And the most important question in this regard shall be: What can we do to prepare that time, also in our economy?
Examples of specific Islamic economy
Since the existence of mankind, we never have seen a time, where the whole mankind has been provided inside a worldwide economy. There have been always lots of poor starving and dying of thirst, and on the other hand extreme rich people, who did not help the poor. This is one aspect of the story of Cain and Abel. It is also the story of Moses and Pharaoh. The same story exists in the time of our Prophet in Mecca, when the poor have not been provided or even helped by the Sufyanis. The story remained through all the Islamic history from Umayyads over Abbasids and all the dynasties ruling in the several parts of Muslim world. In our today’s world every single day about 30.000 people die in average, because they have not enough to eat or no clean water to drink.
So we have no comprehensive example, neither in history nor today, for the awaited time of the Salawat-System. But nevertheless there are some exemplary events, which can give an idea of such an economy.
In Islamic history an event about a necklace of the blessed Fatima-tu-Zahra (a.) is known very well, which she gave to a poor man. The necklace on its way gave food and clothes to a poor, freed a slave and performed several other blessed things before returning to its owner Fatima (a.). Although she had “spent” the necklace, she received it back without any further payment and the necklace on its return way fulfilled several other “payments”, like freeing a slave.
Another example is known from the time of Imam Hussain (a.). A few days before the battle of Kerbela, Imam Hussain (a.) gave water to Hurr al-Riyahi and his companions. This water freed Hurr from his jails of falsehood and returned to the Imam (a.) in the hands of Sukayna, who got the water from Hurr’s wife at the evening after Aschoora. Imam Hussain had left this world, but the water he gave, came back to him.
These two examples show that the economy of truth works within other principles than our today’s economy. Nevertheless it is possible, that even today’s economical situation can give signs according to a future of just economy. Today’s economy work with money. Any economical work without money seems to be not thinkable. To understand this aspect, at first it has to be asked, what money is?
What is money and why is interest [riba] forbidden?
Money today is any good that functions as a medium of exchange that is socially and legally accepted in payment for goods and services and in settlement of debts. Money also serves as a standard of value for measuring the relative worth of different goods and services and as a store of value. One can say that money is a form of standardised certificate of debt. Person A gives person B any good and person B hands over to person A a standardised certificate of debt for this good, which person A can use in a defined economy.
In former times money had its own value. The standardized coins have been produced out of gold or silver, so that the money itself at the same time was a good itself. But today’s money is no longer the same as real value. The papers in our hands have no own value. It is only a standardised certificate of debt and has its value only if there is someone to honour this money with any goods. Nevertheless, it is used as a good itself to get interest [riba].
Interest [riba] is another part of today’s world economy. If someone is ready to lend his existing standardised certificate of debts – called money – to another person, this other person has to give back the lend money one defined day. But in addition to this lend money, he has to give back an additional money, which is called interest or “Riba” as Islamic term.
As we know, interest is forbidden in Islam. To prove how wrong and defect the system of “Riba” is, on can assume, what would happen, if someone living in the time of Prophet Muhammad, more than 1400 years ago, and had invested only one single Tuman with 5% interest. The result would be that his today progeny would posses nearly 5 Quadrilliarde (4,62401 x 1029) Tuman. This is a 5 with 29 zeros behind! And you can imagine that this is much more than today’s existing money in Iran.
This corrupt system of “Riba” can only exist for some decades and needs afterwards a world war to start again by zero. Today we live in the era of such a crash. But this era gives us a good chance to understand, why the Salawat-System could work even without miracles. Therefore we need a short view into the recent existing government debts.
Government debts
Germany today has about 1500 milliard (American: billion) EUR debts. The leader of the Western World USA today has about 8500 milliard (American: billion) EUR debts, and Japan 7000 milliard (American: billion) EUR. If we add only the debts of these three countries (Germany, USA, Japan), the result is 17 billion (American: trillion) EUR, it is a 17 with 12 zeros behind. This money – or let us remember: standardised certificates of debts – has been given by someone, who does not need it today and who lives from the interest [riba]. We can say that this world even today has debts of much more than 17 billion EUR (American: trillion), which nobody needs actually. If we would have a look into the situation of much more countries the result would be enormous; let us assume around 35 billion EUR. If we divide this debts to the existing world population of 7 milliard (American: billion) every single person in this world, every child, every old, every woman and man, every one of you would have a starting capital of 5000 EUR which is the annual salary for the majority of world population. A family with 5 person could get 25.000 EUR.
This short calculation was only to show, how the already existing money or debts in this world could lead to a moderate richness of recent mankind if distributed justly. Instead, unfortunately all these debts are used to oppress the people of Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and several other countries of the world. The problem of unfair distribution enfolds not only money, but also goods and the valuing of it. A typical example is the payment for fuel.
Injustice of world’s economy
To understand which dimension of injustice the world’s economy today has reached, the example of fuel is typical. Usually one can think, that oil comes from Iran and several other countries and these countries should be rich due to selling this oil to the western world. And the western world cannot earn money with oil, because they buy it. But this way of thinking is absolutely wrong in this world full of oppression.
Here the calculation for Germany can be given as an example. Germany earns much more money with the oil coming from Iran, that Iran does. The price for fuel in Germany is around 1,40 EUR per liter. But the product price is only 40 Cent. Iran gets about 10 Cent from this 40 Cent. The rest goes to transport, refining and some other production processes. But 1 EUR of the price, Germans pay are taxes, which the German state earns. Remember: Iran gets 10 CENT for this 1 liter while Germany gets 1 EUR, although the oil comes from Iran. Within this simple example one can imagine, how the injustice in distribution concerns several parts of economy. All these injustices will loose its relevance, if he system of money is overcome. But is an economy without money possible?
Economy without money?

As we know from prophetic words, one day will come, when people will meet all their needs by speaking out a “Salawat”. Based on today’s predatory capitalism, which forces its pressure into the whole world, the question may be raised, how a system without any money ever can work? The answer is very simple: The predatory capitalism itself shows, that it is possible! If one recognises, that the USA only work with money they do not possess, if one considers, that most of money transfers in the world is virtual and has nothing to do with real existing values, it can be seen, that a system without money could be imagined. But the preconditions to realize such a system in a real existing society are not easy to fulfil. The reason for this is, that the goals of economy in a real existing capitalism is only to increase money.
Thanks God – alhamdulillah – we live in the time of the existing Islamic Republic of Iran and in the preamble of the constitution we read following words in the Chapter: “The Economy is a Means, Not an End”:
“In strengthening the foundations of the economy, the fundamental consideration will be fulfilment of the material needs of man in the course of his overall growth and development. This principle contrasts with other economic systems, where the aim is concentration and accumulation of wealth and maximization of profit. In materialist schools of thought, the economy represents an end in itself, so that it comes to be a subversive and corrupting factor in the course of man\'s development. In Islam, the economy is a means, and all that is required of a means is that it should be an efficient factor contributing to the attainment of the ultimate goal.
From this viewpoint, the economic program of Islam consists of providing the means needed for the emergence of the various creative capacities of the human being. Accordingly, it is the duty of the Islamic government to furnish all citizens with equal and appropriate opportunities, to provide them with work, and to satisfy their essential needs, so that the course of their progress may be assured.”
If one reads in addition “Article 43” about the economy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and all the other articles, it can be ascertained that the word “money” does not exist in the constitution.
To overcome the monetary system it has to be understood that the work done in an Islamic country is enough to supply all citizens. The wealth of some few people is the reason for the poverty of many others, and an Islamic way should be found to correct this asymmetrical distribution. From Islamic history we know, that Imam Ali (a.) had to defend the Islamic system during the short time of his caliphate against those who wanted privileges for themselves. If we understand that the work done by the citizen is enough to supply all citizens, and is even more than enough, then we can think about using the existing capacity of work for valuable services like educating children and developing the knowledge of adults.
A just distribution of wealth will be only possible, if wealth and power will be separated from each other. And this is in the hand of those, who take part in elections. Imam Khamenei’s –hafizahuallah, may Allah protect him – way of life as an ideal, and we have to teach it also as an ideal, to prepare the country’s wealth as a living example for the whole oppressed mankind. Those who take part at elections have this responsibility to vote for those, who live humbly and who are not interested in this world’s wealth. If someone lives a live of material affluence in his private boundaries, he will not be able to protect a just distribution of wealth in the country.
Preparing the return of the 12th Imam from the viewpoint of economy
If we want o prepare the return of the 12th Imam also in economical fields, we have to understand the system of Imam Mahdi (a.), and we have to treat his real representative as he would be the 12th Imam himself. The realized system of Welayet-e-Faqih in the only existing Islamic System, the hope, that this system will increase Islamic values inside the country and being a model for all other Muslims is unique since 1400 years. Never before we had a system, in which the hope of the awaited return is as high as in our time. So let us have a short look at Imam Khamene’is words about the economical system and situation.
In a news about the situation of teachers IRNA wrote:
“Economic improvement is the key to the problems of all labourers, teachers and people, said the Supreme leader adding that control of inflation, boosting national currency, preventing unnecessary expenses, administering justice and removal of discrimination can help improve people\'s living conditions.” (30th April 2003)
And here some further words.
"Thus it has managed to prove to Muslim nations that a system based on Islamic principles is practical. Besides, in view of its daily progress in various political, cultural, scientific, social and economic fields it has attracted the attention of the educational elite, youth and the world Muslims," (21st September 2004)
“Imam Khamene´i said that campaign against economic corruption and injustice is a difficult job, but full of blessing because if people feel campaign against discrimination and injustice they will tolerate all problems and hardships.”(10th September 2004)
And on 28th August 2006, exactly one year ago, Imam Khamene’i held a speech about economics. Imam Khamene’i said the government is expected to take maximum advantage of the exceptional political and economic situation to attain its goals especially the action plan in line with Article 44 of the Constitution. He has forwarded an action plan to the legislature, the executive branch and the judiciary to enforce Article 44 of the Constitution which calls for major privatization program and ceding shares of the state-run enterprises to people through the Stock Exchange.
Some of Imam Khamen’is advice has been applied already, others will be implemented in future inshaallah. To remember Article 44:
“The economy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to consist of three sectors: state, cooperative, and private, and is to be based on systematic and sound planning. The state sector is to include all large-scale and mother industries, foreign trade, major minerals, banking, insurance, power generation, dams and large-scale irrigation networks, radio and television, post, telegraph and telephone services, aviation, shipping, roads, railroads and the like; all these will be publicly owned and administered by the State. The cooperative sector is to include cooperative companies and enterprises concerned with production and distribution, in urban and rural areas, in accordance with Islamic criteria. The private sector consists of those activities concerned with agriculture, animal husbandry, industry, trade, and services that supplement the economic activities of the state and cooperative sectors. Ownership in each of these three sectors is protected by the laws of the Islamic Republic, in so far as this ownership is in conformity with the other articles of this chapter, does not go beyond the bounds of Islamic law, contributes to the economic growth and progress of the country, and does not harm society. The [precise] scope of each of these sectors, as well as the regulations and conditions governing their operation, will be specified by law.”
Every step on the way to realize these ideals means a step on the way for preparing the return of the 12th Imam – may he come soon.
If we treat Imam Khamene’i as the real representative of the 12th Imam, if we understand, that His Eminence is the Holiness of our time, we can accelerate the awaited return. But as long, as we do not apply his advices also in economical fields, we have to wait. And it will be in our responsibility that the waiting time increases.

Bright future
The economical system of the western world seams to be strong and insuperable. But this is only the appearance. In reality their economical system based on insures and debts has reached its limits and even western intellectuals discuss about an awaited crash. The so called “clash of cultures” and the “war against terrorism” are only measures to extend the live period of the western economical system.
But are we ready to start with an alternative? How ready is our Islamic banking system? Muslims all over the world ask for Islamic funds and Islamic accounts. Are we ready to fulfil these requirements? Have we already started with the Islamic banking system inside the country and have build branches outside to bind Muslims all over the world to the Islamic system? Will it not be an ideal implementation of the recent years motto: “National unity and Islamic solidaritiy”, which Imam Khamene’i has announced. Are we not bound to fulfil the announced motto of the year also in the field of economy? And is this great work not a work of us all, and not only of the government?
And what about other fields of halal economy? Has Iran implemented a system to test all imported food according to its halal ingredients? If so, how can that system be internationalized? If not, what can we do to realize this?
Based on a halal economy, based on the Islamic alternative, which the intellectuals of the Islamic state and all Muslim thinkers all over the world have to prepare a bright future can be introduced, and accelerate the return of the 12th Imam inshaallah.
The western world has shown, how they are able to develop the whole world into a chaos of injustice with money they do not passes. Muslims should be able to bring justice into the world with own values, with own material possibilities and with the idealistically active youth. And preparing such a system will inshaallah lead to the awaited return of the 12th Imam, who will establish the Salawat-Economy. And this will lead to lots of Salawat among all believers, and all mankind will benefit from it and will love to say Salawat: Allahumma salli ala Muhammad wa aali Muhammad.