خلافتِ راشدہ کا زرعی نظام اور جدید ریاستی پالیسیاں

The Agricultural System of the Rashidun Caliphate and Modern State Policies

Abstract

The period of the Rashidun Caliphate (11–40 AH / 632–661 CE) occupies a central place in the history of Islamic civilization. It represents the formative era in which the foundations of Islamic governance, economy, and social justice were practically implemented under the leadership of the Rightly Guided Caliphs — Abu Bakr al-Ṣiddīq, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān, and ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (may Allah be pleased with them all). Among the various administrative and economic developments of this era, the agricultural system stands out as a cornerstone of economic stability, food security, and social welfare. Agriculture was not only a means of livelihood but also a manifestation of the Qur’ānic vision of productive labor, justice in resource distribution, and the ethical stewardship of land. The Rashidun Caliphs introduced policies that balanced ownership rights with social responsibility. Through instruments such as ‘ushr (tithe), kharāj (land tax), fay’ (state revenue from non-military sources), and the establishment of public lands, the state ensured a fair and sustainable management of agricultural resources. These measures reflected the Caliphs’ commitment to equity, efficiency, and public interest (maṣlaḥah).