WHO AMONG THE FOUR RIGHTLY GUIDED CALIPHS INTRODUCED THE SYSTEMS OF BAYT AL-MAL

• A. Umar ibn al-Khattab ✓
• B. Ali ibn Abi Talib
• C. Uthman ibn Affan
• D. Abū Bakr as Siddīq

The answer to the question is: A. Umar ibn al-Khattab

The system of Bayt al-Mal, also known as the Bayt al-Mal al-Muslimin, was introduced by the second Caliph, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab. Bayt al-Mal was the treasury or public finance of the early Muslim state, and it played a crucial role in the administration of the state’s affairs. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab established this system to manage the revenues and expenditures of the Islamic state and to ensure social welfare and economic justice.

Bayt al-Mal served as a central financial institution that collected revenues from various sources, including taxes, zakat (obligatory alms), jizya (poll tax), and other forms of income. The funds collected were then allocated to support various public services and projects, such as infrastructure development, welfare programs for the poor and needy, stipends for soldiers and their families, and other essential expenses of the state.

The establishment of Bayt al-Mal during ‘Umar’s caliphate reflected his commitment to ensuring equitable distribution of wealth and resources among the Muslim community. It also demonstrated his emphasis on fiscal accountability and transparency in managing the state’s finances.

‘Umar ibn al-Khattab’s introduction of Bayt al-Mal laid the foundation for a structured financial system within the Islamic state, which continued to evolve in subsequent periods of Islamic history. The principles and practices associated with Bayt al-Mal have had a lasting impact on Islamic economic thought and governance.