Tauhidinomics: Faith-Based Principles to Address Global Economic Crises

Mohammad Nur Rianto Al Arif
Professor at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta
Secretary General of the Indonesian Lecturers Association (DPP)
Assistant to the Presidential Special Envoy for Food Security

In an era marked by globalization, capitalism, and economic secularization, Muslim intellectuals increasingly question why the prevailing modern economic system often fails to deliver social justice, environmental balance, and genuine human well-being.

While global economic growth has accelerated, income inequality has widened, ecological crises have deepened, and fundamental human values are frequently marginalized.

This concern has led to the emergence of Tauhidinomics: a paradigm rooted in monotheism, which is the core of Islamic teaching. Rather than centering economics on human or capital interests, it affirms that all economic activity must ultimately begin with and return to Allah.

Unlike approaches that merely adapt capitalist models with mere Islamic labels, Tauhidinomics offers a more profound reorientation—a complete restructuring of economic thought grounded in faith. It rests on three theological pillars:

• Tauhid Uluhiyah (singling out Allah as the ultimate purpose, framing economic activity as worship).

• Tauhid Rububiyah (recognizing Allah as the sole provider of sustenance by rejecting greed).

• Tauhid Asma’ wa Sifat (emulating divine attributes: justice, compassion, and wisdom in transactions and policymaking).

These foundations translate into practical economic principles: justice (al-‘adl), balance (tawazun), solidarity (ukhuwwah), accountability (amanah), and blessing (barakah). Therefore, wealth is not an end goal but a means of worship; nature is not an object of unlimited exploitation but a trust to be preserved.

Furthermore, Tauhidinomics positions itself between capitalism and socialism: affirming individual ownership while demanding social responsibility, fostering creativity while curbing greed, and ensuring fairness without forced equality. It calls for Islamic financial institutions to move beyond formality and profit-seeking, urging them to empower communities, support MSMEs, and advance social welfare. Likewise, zakat must evolve into structured fiscal tools for poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

However, the challenges remain as political and business elites often lack awareness of this paradigm, making global capitalism exert overwhelming influence in global economics. Critics argue it is overly idealistic and lacks concrete mechanisms. Thus, Tauhidionomics needs these criticisms, which underscore the need for further research and practical frameworks.

If capitalism emerged from Europe’s secular Enlightenment, Tauhidinomics arises from the divine revelation of the East. It seeks to address three pressing global crises: inequality through distributive justice, ecological damage through balance and sustainability, and spiritual void by restoring the sacred dimension of economics.

For Indonesia, Tauhidinomics offers a vision for just, sustainable, and meaningful development, aligning material progress with spiritual purpose. It is not utopian but a viable framework that requires intellectual effort, visionary policymaking, and collective commitment to re-anchor economic life.

Economics is about who helps others and who gets closer to Him, not who gets the most money.

This article was first published in CNBC Indonesia on Wednesday (September 24, 2025).