Many people believe that the political theory of Islam is violence or armed struggle (Jihad). Nothing is further from the truth.
The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), the last Messenger of Allah, and the founder and leader of Islam, was a spiritual guide as well as a Statesman. His words, actions and tacit approvals form the basis of the Islamic law and the Muslim way of life. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) never employed violence to achieve his religious or political ambitions. His twenty-three years of leadership shows he was a peace-loving and harmonious preacher and commander.
Government initiative:
---Paganism overshadowed the city of Makkah. The idolaters housed over three-hundred statues inside the Ka'bah for worship and adoration. Arabs from all over the continent gathered in Makkah to pay homage to the idols during crucial Islamic months.
---The Quryesh government economically and socially boycotted the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), his family and followers because of Islam. In other words, they discriminated against the Muslims and utterly disfranchised them: Muslims lost their jobs, employers refused to hire a Muslim worker on wages. Market places stopped serving Muslims, illegal to trade of transact with Muslims. Health care renounced, all legal rights rebuffed under the constitution, i.e. no police protection or fair treatment. Legal to rob, torture, rape and murder Muslims.
---Death warrant issued against the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). A large bounty offered for anyone who killed him
---Muslims exiled from Makkah (this is the equivalent of being blacklisted and prevented from traveling freely. Frequently interrogated and searched at the airports and banned from entering the country).
Muslim response:
---No declaration of kufr against the obvious polytheists of Makkah. No death sentence against the infidel population. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) didn't attempt to bomb Dar al-Nadwa - the Parliament of the Quryesh. He (s.a.w) called no violent demonstrations against the invidious government policies, spoke no rhetoric, sang no nasheeds and held conferences convince Muslims to fight back.
Result - Muslims recognized as innocent seekers of religious piety and freedom and the Quryesh assigned fault for causing mayhem against defenseless and blameless Muslim victims. Because Muslims remained composed and non-threatening in their speech and actions, it encouraged the average Makkan listen to listen the them without prejudice.
---Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) peacefully preached the Makkan community. He (s.a.w) spoke to the groups assembled at the Ka'bah. Without reviling their false-gods, he (s.a.w) recited the Qu'ran to them until its message and wisdom dawned upon them. Allah is the Ever-Living, the Ever-Lasting, only true Creator of this universe who originated matter, life, time and energy. He alone bestows peace and calm. Only He gives shelter and support. Thus Allah alone deserves worship.
Result: profoundly amazed by logical philosophy of the Qur'an, many people embraced Islam without force.
---Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) didn't summon militants to avenge the Quryesh's unflagging enmity against the Muslims. No rockets launched and no building vandalized. Instead Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) negotiated with the Quryesh, accepted their demands unilaterally and entered into a ten-year no-war pact (treaty of Hudaybiyyah).
Result: peace established between both parties, secured full opportunity for peaceful Da'wah and opened door for a clear victory. Instead of conflict, Muslim power and potential concentrated on long term constructivism (not self-destruction).
Source: Khan, Wahiduddin. Islamic Activisim. Goodword Books, 2001, New Delhi.
Shari'ah law is not meant to replace the Western secular constitution. It shouldn't be imposed upon any individual, Muslim, (non-practicing Muslim) or non-Muslim.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) emigrated to Medina and found the city composed of Jews, Christians and Pagans. He accepted the social set-up as it was and established plurality. He did not confront diversity. Instead he issued a charter of interference. All individuals enjoyed religious freedom. Hence mutual respect was shared by everyone in the community.
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) consolidated his mission of teaching the Qur'an without much collision. Because of the peaceful environment, more people positively received the message of Allah and soon the multi-cultural society became uni-cultural. That is, everyone agreed upon the superiority of the Islamic law in comparison to their own feeble rulings. In facts Jews and Christians often shunned their own books of law and came to the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) for justice and solution.
Muslims can only reach this stage if we show that we are peaceful, sensible and composed community who wants to help, and not take over the world.
Who is responsible?
ReplyDeleteI am chuckling just thinking about the one two many conspiracy theories that spam numerous websites and daily conversations. Though some theories are pragmatic (don't get me wrong, I believe in the boogieman), more often than not, they only function as a scapegoat. Blame all international and national mistakes and crisis on the Americans (see I told you I was laughing) or on poverty and illiteracy.
Allah says, وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ calamities are the result of human corruption and crime. [Qur'an, 4:79]
Again, Allah says, وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ Humans incur tragedies in life because of their own immoral turpitude. [Qur'an, 42:30]
Moreover, ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ "Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness]." [Qur'an, 30:41]
So Muslims are responsible for their political predicament. Only knowledge and application of Qur'an and ahadith can fix our plight.
Uthaymeen, Muhammad ibn Saalih. "The ill effects of sins."
What is more important: Politics or Da'wah?
ReplyDeleteMany will insist it is politics, that we should dominate the world first and then teach it Islam. Right? Wrong! As Muslims our primary function, for which Allah created us is not politics but da'wah!
Allah says, وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ
" And thus we have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people" [Qur'an, 2:143] أُمَّةً وَسَطًا refers to an intermediary nation between the Prophets (a.s) and humanity. We are the people's link to the Qur'an
Allah says, our essential duty is to convey to the rest of humankind, the Qur'an. Allah says, وَجَاهِدْهُم بِهِ جِهَادًا كَبِيرًا "and strive against them with the Qur’ān a great striving." [Qur'an, 25:52] The Qur'an is a Book, not a weapon, so how does one strive with it? By making an intellectual effort and giving Da'wah through it.
Allah says, كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ "You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allāh." [Qur'an, 3:110] Not just announce what the Qur'an says (distribute pamphlets, and make make websites) but enforce the teachings of the Qur'an. Don't become the "Haram Police" - that is probably not a good idea. But at least create a culture for learning the Qur'an, endeavour to make its knowledge accessible to all people. Struggle to the utmost capacity to establish faith in Allah and goodness in society. Can you imagine a society where the Muslims fight for an increased minimum wage for the lower middle-class workers and university students? Muslims who protest against domestic abuse and child abandonment. Muslims who insist the governments to save the environment? Muslims who teach youth in high schools and hold the care for the elderly in senior homes. Muslims who build roads, give you medicine and come to your rescue when there is a fire. Then wouldn't you want to know what Islam is?