Economic development in Islam in Western scholarship

Non-Muslims have some incorrect understandings of Islam that need to be clarified. The Islamic social sciences have a view of development. Harold Glidden is incorrect in saying that Islamic culture is full of vengeance and vindictiveness. While the Qur'ân does speak of violent struggle, it forbids aggression. Muslims rectify wrongs; they should not initiate them. The Western idea of historical paxes is irrelevant. Islam is concerned about both the individual and the whole community. It lacks a total distinction between consumption and production, and this lack of distinction reflects the religion's teachings of responsibility. Shari`a discusses private property. While in the West individual freedom has traditionally been solely positive, in Islam controls are placed to maintain an egalitarian society. The place of the poor and the orphan is especially central. Freedom does in fact exist in an Islamic state, although Western scholars don't see it. In Islam, one strives vig