Reciprocity in the Acquisition of Livelihood: Reclaiming Al-Isfahani’s Spiritual Ethics of al-Kasb
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21111/tsaqafah.v22i2.55Keywords:
al-Kasb, al-Raghib al-Isfahani, Islamic Economic Thought, Reciprocal Work EthicAbstract
The modern-day work activity, driven by a neoliberal economy, has led to deterioration and deprivation for most working-class people worldwide. Reducing labour to simply employment has induced social disparities between the elite and the working class, ultimately sacrificing society's welfare. This study aims to explore the concept of a reciprocal work ethic proposed by al-Raghib al-Isfahani, an intellectual whose ideas on this subject have yet to acquire adequate attention from contemporary scholars. This qualitative study employs content analysis on al-Isfahani's primary work, al-Dharī'ah ilā Makārim al-Sharī'ah, integrating his semantic approach to examine key Arabic terms related to the concept of work ethos (al-Kasb). The findings reveal that al-Isfahani is a classical Islamic scholar who articulated a socio-religious work ethos grounded in his conception of humans as social beings. According to him, humans cannot live in isolation and require the assistance of others, necessitating mutual aid and cooperation within society. Each individual pursues a specific line of work based on their inclinations and expertise, which, in turn, enables society to continue to develop. Al-Isfahani conceptualises reciprocity in earning a livelihood, requiring every human work activity to be oriented toward social welfare. This finding makes an original contribution to the study of Islamic institutional values, serving as a foundation for establishing socially oriented rules and policies in contemporary working institutions.
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