THE ECONOMIC MOTIVE OF MAN: AN ANALYSIS OF IBN SINA’S THEORY ON ECONOMICS
By
Nurizal Ismail*
and
Siti Aisyah Darussalam*
ABSTRACT
Islamic civilization has reached a very rich literary tradition that consists of human knowledge either revealed or rational knowledge. This progress has encouraged Muslim thinkers to do a research and to write a book relating to their background of knowledge. Furthermore, some books written contain some economic ideas. Therefore according to Orman, the source of Islamic economic thought is divided into two further categories: (1) independent works forming different of literature (general source) and (2) single independent (or unique) works (special work). The Jurists, the theologians, the sufis and the philosophers have contributed to the source of Islamic economic thought which is defined as the set of Islamic texts that contain explicit expression of economic ideas. This paper attempts to study one of the Muslim philosopher’s contributions on economics who is famous in west as Avicenna. Ibn Sina or Avicenna of economic idea and thought can be found in his practical philosophy that is divided into three headings: Ahklāq (ethics), ‘ilm Tadbir al-Manzil (economics) and ‘ilm Tadbir al-Madinah (politics). Its study consists of the relation between man and economic, the division of labor and the wealth management concept which are derived from Ibn Sina’s theory of economics. These three have been subjected to the man as vicegerent of Allah to earn rizq by doing economic activities.
Keywords: Islamic economic thought, Ibn Sina, economic motive of man
* Master student of International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) of IIUM
* Master student of economics in International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)
