Al-Ghazali — Brief an alle, die ein friedliches und frommes Leben führen möchten

Similarly the large fortune at the disposal of kings also requires thorough scrutiny and careful investigation. Seen from this point of view a king hoards three kinds of wealth: *Money taken from some one by force. *Money collected from his subjects on account of a fine or penalty. *Money realized from subjects on account of tax and revenue at exorbitant rates. The above mentioned types of wealth are forbidden. Those kings and sultans are, of course, usurpers and tyrants who accumulate such wealth and do not return it to their rightful owners. There is a kind of money which is quite legitimate. This is the price of grain grown on one's own farm and disposed of. The goods on money stolen or taken away from others by brute force is illegitimate. The verdict of the Islamic Law is quite clear about this. The one who is in possession of such goods or money should distribute it among the needy, dervishes, or contribute it towards the welfare of the society. It must not be left in the hands of usurpers who will certainly misuse it and disturb social justice. If the owner of the money is a dervish, he should use as much of it as he is surely in need of. And if he is a rich man, he should not spend a single penny, but should contribute it towards the national reconstruction or the relief of the poor and needy. If this rich man is really in need of some money, he is allowed to take as much of it as is required to meet the bare necessities of his family. So and so has stayed several years in a hermitage near my home, he bears a good moral character and has discarded his worldly life for the sake of his life in the Hereafter. If a man is too poor to support his family and wants to be benefited by the sultans' voluntary charity or charitable endowments, he ought to secure a favorable religious verdict on this subject, and avail himself of the concession of the approval of a competent authority.