Animal Taxation

Dr Swan resumed her session, "O my brothers and sisters! The most useful person, is the one who allows a person to implant goodness inside him, or to do him a favor, as this help is the means to attaining benefit and perfection. In fact, both the giver and the receiver, benefit from this. The most harmful of people, are those who overpower you until you disobey Allah. Such people only help you to harm yourself and decrease your morality.

Look out this apologue,

One day, all the parties of beasts, from the Tailed Star Party, to the Wild Ox Party, were gathering. Every party accompanied by their Leader of the Party. You know, these Party Leaders, was a special beast, because they were designated by certain qualities, determined by the beasts. The requirements to become the leader of their party, must meet at least, the most pernicious, eloquent and powerful, or the most ambitious and defigning beast, having engaged a Multitude of Followers, worked upon them as the Instrument of Power to complete their designs, encouraging to serve their forest, with a vision of serving themselves.

Several problems were discussed at the meeting, including, a small issue, of how to deal with, what they called, the "Oppositions." However, the problem solved, by mobilizing members party, of the dogs, cats and toads. This method was considered the most effective, as many oppositions had transformed into dogs, cats or toads.

A big issue came to arise, that a certain Toad, who reigned a feudalistic ruler in the forest, on a time arbitrarily, proposed to exact from his slavish subjects, a sufficient part of their daily prey for his own maintenance, that he might not himself toil for his subsistence; and that every beast should contribute according to his means in form of a tax.

A member of the Tailed Star Party, was the first who gave his opinion on this knotty point, saying that the properest and justest way, would be to lay a tax on vice, and that each Beast, should settle the quantity for his neighbour, as by that means it would prevent any selfish partiality. But a member of Wild Ox Party, said that the implementation of the New Taxation was not easy. A new order and standard of a new fiscal polisy must be created. In response to this, all parties took it seriously and agreed.

After a long and tiring debate, it was agreed a new order, as well as a way of life, and a new fiscal policy. This system was based on the culture of the beasts. Regarding the name, they haphazardly picked from a book by a philosopher named Aristotle, without understanding its meaning. Every party leader, upon hearing the name, was astonished, and simultaneously they proclaimed as "Ohli Gwarchy."

Furthermore, towards the new order, then issued what was called the "Eight Amendments." A member of the beast party was ordered to read it, and each time an amendment was read, the woodpecker was asked to carve it into the trunk of a large oak tree.

So, the member started to read,

EIGHT AMENDMENTS

• First, all beasts are equal;
• Second, whoever goes upon two legs and speak up clearly, is an enemy;
• Third, whoever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend;
• Fourth, no beasts shall wear clothes;
• Fifth, whoever sleeps on bed, recommended or even obliged, to wear double blanket;
• Sixth, no beasts shall kill each other characters;
• Seventh, no free lunch and dinner;
• Eighth, ....

When the member was about to read the eighth point, he was confused, it was blank. He asked one of the organizers, who replied, "Sorry, we haven't discussed it, because there was a problem of how to adjust, the proposed new Fiscal Policy!"

Finally, because the beasts were tired of discussing and arguing, they decided to invite a resource person. Initially, it was Miss Piggy who would be invited as had been done before, but considering she was out of the jungle, it was decided to call from the Elephants. They were considered neutral, because they didn't have parties and representatives. Also, their ordeal of being chased by Homo-sapiens for their tusks, was considered as an advantage.

An old wise elephant proceeded, "O Gentlemen! There are four ways of gaining wealth:

Wealth gained by obeying Allah and spent in the way of Allah, and that is the best wealth.

Wealth gained by disobeying Allah and spent in disobeying Allah, and that is the worst.

Wealth gained by doing harm to others, and spent in doing harm to others, that is also the worst.

Wealth gained licitly, and spent on lawful desires, and that is neither for him nor against him.

These are the principle ways of gaining wealth and spending them.

There are some other ways that branch out from them:

Wealth gained rightly, and spent illicitly.

Wealth gained illicitly, and spent rightly.

Therefore, spending it, is its expiation.

Wealth gained in a doubtful way, and its expiation is to spend it on dutifulness to Allah. And just as reward, punishment, praise and dispraise are connected to spending wealth, in the same way, they are connected to gaining it. Moreover, a man will be asked about his expenditure, where he gained it, and on what he spent it, would be a defect and a disgrace.

O Gentlemen! The characteristics, have limitations, which if surpassed, would be a transgression, and if one falls short of it, it would be a defect and a disgrace.

Therefore, there is a limitation for anger, which is courage and disdain for vice and deficiency. This is its perfection, but if it surpasses that limitation, its owner would be guilty of transgressing and wrong doing. And if it falls short of him, he would be a coward and would not have disdain for vice.

Desire has a limitation, which is taking what is sufficient for this worldly life and the attainment of competency. However, when it falls short of that, it would be a disgrace and a waste, and when it surpasses that, it would be greed and a desire for that which is not praiseworthy.

Envy has a limitation, which is to compete in seeking perfection and to be unwilling to let someone do better than oneself. Whoever surpasses that in injustice and transgression, would wish for other people’s grace to come to an end, and would seek to harm them. And when it becomes less than the required limit, it would be lowness and lack of ambition. 

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 

لاَ حَسَدَ إِلاَّ فِي اثْنَتَيْنِ رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً فَسُلِّطَ عَلَى هَلَكَتِهِ فِي الْحَقِّ، وَرَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْحِكْمَةَ، فَهْوَ يَقْضِي بِهَا وَيُعَلِّمُهَا

"Do not wish to be like anyone except in two cases. (The first is) A person, whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it righteously; (the second is) the one whom Allah has given wisdom (the Qur'an) and he acts according to it and teaches it to others." [Al-Bukhari in Fath-al-Bari]

This is a kind of emulation that the envier imposes on himself in order to be like the one he envies, and it is not the disgraceful kind of envy, in which the envier wishes that the grace of the envied is removed.

Lust has a limitation , which is relief of the heart and mind from the toil of obedience, earning good qualities and making use of them. When it increases to more than its normal state, it would become a burning desire, and its owner would be on the level of animals. And when it becomes less than that, and is not a kind of devotion to seek perfection and favor, it would be a weakness and a disgrace.

Rest has a limitation, which is the revitalization of the self and one’s perceptive faculties, in order to be ready for religious duties, earning good qualities and devoting oneself to all that is good., In this way they do not become weak because of toil and weariness and their effect does not become weak. When it goes beyond its normal limit, it would be apathy, laziness, wastefulness and many interests would be lost in this way. And when it becomes less than required, it would be harmful to one’s faculties and a means of weakening them, and may even come to a stop with him.

Generosity has a limitation, and it lies between two extremes. When it surpasses its limit, it becomes extravagance, and when it becomes less than the required limit, it is stinginess and miserliness.

Courage has a limitation, and when it surpasses it, it would be rashness, and when it becomes less than the required limit, it would be cowardice and weakness. Its limit is to boldly engage on occasions that require courage, and to refrain on the occasions that require refraining. 

Jealousy has a limitation, which when surpassed is a blameworthy and evil thought about the innocent, and when it becomes less than the required limit, it would be carelessness and indifference concerning one’s honor.

Humility has a limitation, which when surpassed would be lowness and disgrace. And when it is less than the required limit, it would turn to arrogance and pride.

Glory has a limitation, which when surpassed would be arrogance and a dispraised character. And when it is less than the required limit, it would turn to lowness and disgrace.

Balanced is the best way to deal with all Matters Controlling all these emotions with balanced, is to adopt the middle way between the two extremes. The interests of this worldly life and the Hereafter are based on this, and not only that, but it is the standard to which the body can work effectively.

If any of its elements are diverted from balanced, and are caused to exceed beyond its due limits or became less than it, its good health would decrease accordingly. Besides, it includes all natural acts, such as sleeping, staying up at night, eating, drinking, copulation, movement, sport, privacy, social intercourse and so on. If balanced is not achieved it would become a defect. Among the noblest and the most beneficial kinds of knowledge, is the knowledge of limitations, especially legal limits; what is commanded and what is forbidden. The most knowledgeable person is the most knowledgeable of these ordained limits, for he is not confused about that which belongs to them and that which does not.

O Gentlemen! As for the taxation you wanted to exercise, laying a tax on vice, according to our humble opinion, will never be just, as it will give power to ill-will and oppression. The best manner, in our judgment, would be, to lay the tax on virtues, and leave it to every one to give in a catalogue of his own, and then there is very little doubt, but it would prove the means of raising a most just and civilized exchequer.”

The beasts, some agreed, some disagreed, both were balanced, while those who abstained, were nil.  Therefore, further talks would be held in a short while."

Dr Swan wrapped up with, "O my brothers and sisters! Those who are just and civilized, are those who takes care of the limits of manners, deeds and legalities, in terms of learning and practicing them. And Allah knows best."

Citations & References :
- Imam Ibn Qayyim, Al Fawaa'id, Umm Al-Qura
- James Northcote, RA, One Hundred Fables, Originals and Selected, J. Johnson
- George Orwell, Animal Farm, Longmans
- Gregory Sharpe, A Short Dissertation Upon That Species of Misgovernment Called an Oligarchy, Creative Media Partners

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