Poverty Alleviation from the Viewpoint of Islam and the Structural Reforms of the Iranian Economy

Poverty alleviation from the view point of Islam is not limited to paying cash to the needy. Studying religious resources about poverty shows that poverty alleviation is a set of strategies that none of them alone can eradicate poverty, but it is through interaction of these strategies that poverty can be eradicated. Investigating poverty alleviation strategies in Islamic resources and Iran's economy, with a systemic attitude, indicates structural deficiencies in the Iranian economy for fighting against poverty. Lack of harmony in manufacturing systems, the consumption culture, wage and salaries management system, the social security system and the tax system with the goal of poverty alleviation are some of these shortcomings which need to be reformed. Remedial suggestions include the determination of minimum salaries above the poverty line, the modification of the procedures for implementing labor contracts and the encouragement of cooperative contracts, the reform of the social security structure to support the disadvantaged groups, the reform of the tax system during economic boom and stagnation, the reform of the production structure and creation of the required incentives for a non-wasteful high quality production, and ultimately the correction of consumption pattern.