By
Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam
6 March
2024
The Increasing
Islamisation Of Muslim Societies, Poses A Threat To Islam's Core Messages Of
Pluralism And Coexistence
Main
Points:
1.
Sectarian tensions and blasphemy laws can
further restrict religious freedom
2.
The Islamic state established by the Prophet
was pluralistic
3.
The whole set of values that Islam propounds is
humanistic. and accepted by all good men of all times and places
4.
In a secular and pluralistic society like
India, the political representation of Islam should also establish social
justice.
------
Blasphemy
and apostasy laws were applied in a discriminatory manner in several Middle
Eastern and North African countries in 2023, according to a new report by the
U.S. State Department. “These laws are frequently used to repress dissent, to
harass political opponents, and to settle personal vendettas,” the Secretary of
State said on May 20. In Saudi Arabia, activists were reportedly arrested and
charged with apostasy and blasphemy. Under Egypt’s new constitution, prosecutors
pursued cases against individuals for denigrating religion. Sectarian violence
also plagued several countries, including Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria.
But, in theory, these transgressions are not Islamic.
While Islam
itself promotes respect for the Abrahamic faiths, religious intolerance exists
in some Muslim-majority countries. This intolerance can vary from social
discrimination faced by minorities to limitations on their houses of
worship. Sectarian tensions and
blasphemy laws can further restrict religious freedom. It's important to
remember this isn't a monolithic issue - some countries have a rich history of
religious coexistence.
The oldest
system of government in the world today is that of Islam. Fourteen centuries
later it continues to this day; Although there are many weaknesses.
The Prophet
established the Islamic state and governance. Through that, the Prophet was
carrying out the instructions of Allah. Its headquarters was at Yathrib
(Madeena). Muslims were a small minority when the Islamic state was established
there. Less than fifteen percent. There were less than fifteen hundred Muslims
in Yathrib, which had more than ten thousand people. Yet how was an Islamic
state established there? Prophet Muhammad with its ruler?
There were
twenty-two tribes in and around Yathrib. They had been fighting each other for
decades. War and massacres destroyed the civil life there. Conflicts had led to
unending tragedies and miseries. So everyone hated war. They wanted peace.
Meanwhile,
a group from Yathrib arrived in Makkah for Hajj. They became acquainted with
the Prophet. The situation in Yathrib was explained to him. The Prophet briefly
presented Islam before them. They were attracted by it and accepted Islam. They
belonged to the Khasraj tribe. After returning home, they introduced the
Prophet and Islam to the natives. Twelve of them came to Makkah the following
year and made a covenant with the Prophet (PBUH). The Prophet sent Miswab bin
Umayr with them for Islamic instruction in Yathrib.
The following
year, seventy-five believers, including two women, reached Aqaba and met the
Prophet. They invited the Prophet and his followers to Yathrib.
They
offered help and protection in every sense. With that, the background for Hijra
was set.
After the
Second Aqaba Treaty, the Prophet, who arrived at Yathrib, was received by the
people of that time with singing and expressing joy. They named their city
'Madinatunnabi' which means the city of the Prophet. All of them made him the
leader and ruler of their country.
The
Constitution of the Plural State
The Prophet
brought together the inhabitants of Madinah and made a detailed agreement with
them. A document was prepared detailing the rights and obligations of everyone.
This is the first written constitution in human history, known as the 'Madina
document'. Modern Islamic scholars have fragmented the Medina document into the
character of modern constitutions. But nothing was added or subtracted from
what was in the time of the Prophet.
This shows
that the Islamic state established by the Prophet was pluralistic. In the
Islamic constitution which was formed by him, the rights and obligations of all
the people of the country are written clearly and concisely. It ensures
complete religious freedom. It unequivocally states that no one's freedom of
belief, worship, custom, practice or personal laws shall be interfered with.
History is witness to the fact that Muslim countries and governments have
allowed non-religious groups complete freedom from the time of the Prophet till
today.
In Egypt,
which was ruled by Muslims for fourteen centuries, there are still about nine
percent Coptic Christians and five hundred Coptic churches. Boutros
Boutros-Ghali who was the Secretary-General of the United Nations, is an
Egyptian Coptic Christian. Tariq Aziz, former Iraqi minister, is also a
Christian. Iraq is also home to a Christian sect. Another country is Syria.
Lebanon has more than forty percent Christians. It is undeniable that Islam has
been a pluralistic nation from the time of the Prophet till today. Islam was
never a religious state.
Protection
of Human Rights
In the
Islamic view, human beings are highly respected. His life and life is very
precious. The Qur'an declares that killing one person is as grave and flagrant
as killing an entire human race (17:70, 5:32). Therefore, Muslims are bound to
stand up for the protection of human dignity and life, whether in the
government or in the opposition.
Like human
life, pride is respected. It should be protected in any case. Do not be harmed
(Quran 49:11, 104:1). It is therefore imperative that Islamic society
intervenes to protect human dignity, and individuals are permitted to acquire,
hold and spend property subject to the constraints
of
God-ordained social interests. This freedom must be protected. It should also
ensure that social interests are not violated. Therefore, political power and
pressure should be used to eradicate all forms of economic exploitation such as
fraud, cheating, fraud, embezzlement, embezzlement, hoarding, corruption, usury
and racketeering, along with constant awareness.
In the
Islamic view, religious diversity is part of the divinely ordained natural law.
Therefore, no force or pressure should be allowed for conversion or
integration. Freedom of belief is the birth right of man. It must be fully
protected (Qur'an 2:256, 18:29, 10:99).
Freedom of
worship is as important as freedom of religion. The Qur'an enjoins that no
one's object of worship be despised or reviled (6:108). The agreement made by
the Prophet with the Christian community is as follows: "The Christians of
Najran and their fellow citizens have the refuge of Allah and the protection of
the Messenger of God Muhammad. This is for their lives, religion, land, wealth,
those who are present and absent from them, their camels, sacrificial groups,
and religious symbols such as the cross and the church. No change will be made
in the existing situation. None of their rights and religious symbols will be
changed. . Their pastor, priest, or church servant will not be removed from his
position."
In Islam
war is allowed to maintain the balance of power. If not, the Qur'an says that
monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques where God's name is abundantly
remembered may be destroyed (22:39,40). This convinces us that the protection
of places of worship for all people is essential. The political representation
of Islam should be helpful in this way, the Islamic society is obliged to try
to protect all the fundamental rights of human beings. Their political
representation and involvement should be helpful for that.
Fulfilment
of Basic Needs
Basic needs
like food, clothing, shelter, education, treatment, water and light are the
basic rights of all human beings. Every citizen of the country should have
them. Otherwise, if there is anyone in society who is denied these basic
rights, the property of the rich will not belong to them. It will become the
inheritance of the poor and needy (Quran 51:19, 17:26, 107:1-3). Wealth should
not be confined to the rich (59:7).
The Prophet
said: "Let the one who has more than enough vehicles give to the one who
does not have it.
Imam Ibn
Hazm says: "The rich in every country should save the poor. If zakat and
other resources are not enough, the government should compel them to give more
than that. The rights of the poor are food, clothing for winter and summer, and
a house that provides protection from rain, sun, cold, and the harassment of
passers-by. '' (Al Muhalla, Part 6, Page 156).
The
government should fulfil the basic needs of all the citizens of the country.
Otherwise,
if the money in the public treasury is not enough, it should be collected from
the rich and distributed to the poor. The political involvement and
representation of the Islamic community should be instrumental in the
establishment of such a system of government or in changing the system of
government. The righteous caliphs were adamant that not only humans but also
cattle should not starve in their territory.
Administration
of Justice
Administration
of justice is the biggest responsibility of any government. Islam places great
importance on justice. The Qur'an makes it clear that the Prophets were
appointed and the scriptures were given to establish justice. It also stipulates
that pecuniary interests should not obstruct the administration of justice.
"O you who have believed, do justice and
bear witness for Allah, whether it is against you or your parents or your
relatives. It does not matter whether the party is rich or poor. Allah is
closer to both groups. So do not do justice because of your own preferences. Do
not distort facts or deviate from the truth" (4: 135).
What made
Caliph Umar's rule so remarkable was the precision and rigor in the
administration of justice. The greatest beneficiary of this in history is not a
Muslim but a Coptic Christian. Muhammad, the son of Amr bin Aswin, the Egyptian
governor of Caliph Umar al-Farooq, struck a Coptic Christian. When the case
came before the Caliph and he was found guilty, the Christian brother also got
an opportunity to beat the governor's son. After the punishment was done,
Umarul Farooq asked the governor and his son: "When did you start
enslaving the people. Their mothers gave birth to them free.''
This is how
the political intervention of the Islamic society should be guided to establish
and administer justice impartially and honestly.
Values
The whole
set of values that Islam propounds is humanistic. and accepted by all good men
of all times and places. All well-wishers irrespective of caste, religion and
community can agree on common moral values. A neutral social conscience is
against social evils like alcohol, drugs, sexual anarchy, robbery, murder,
bribery, fraud and exploitation. Along with this, the loss of values in public
life, politics and governance is the most serious challenge and crisis facing
our country and era. Therefore, one of the main goals of the political
representation of Islam is the valorisation of public life, politics and the
nation.
A part of
this is that political leaders and administrators should be those who adhere to
moral values. Then the rulers will not be alienated from the people,
inaccessible to them or privileged. The adage that people's leaders are
people's servants will also be invalidated. Political leaders and
administrators will be noted for their public service activities and sacrifices
made for the people. On the contrary, it will not be in the name of arrogance
and pride.
Administrators
should exercise extraordinary care and caution in the utilization of public
funds and educate even ordinary citizens to monitor them to ensure that they
are maintained. This can only be possible if the citizens of the country are
brought up to become highly civic-minded.
Emancipation
of the Oppressed
The
elimination of all forms of exploitation and the liberation of the oppressed
are among the noblest goals of Islam. Many prophets, including Prophet Musa,
were appointed to liberate the oppressed and the oppressed. The Qur'an and
Prophetic tradition enjoin to work hard for various emancipations.
The Islamic
state and society founded by the Prophet and led by the wise caliphs was
pluralistic. Through them, the people of Bharani experienced complete social
justice. Or, protection of fundamental rights and fulfilment of basic needs.
All the citizens got full justice irrespective of caste, religion, party and
bias. There was an end to all inequalities. No more discrimination. A situation
has been created where there are no human rights violations, torture or
exploitation. The ruler lived with them as one of the people. Truth, Dharma,
goodness and justice were established in public life.
In a
secular and pluralistic society like India, the political representation of
Islam should also establish social justice. It should be for the protection of
fundamental human rights and the liberation of the oppressed. The disadvantaged
should be uplifted all forms of discrimination should be ended and all forms of
exploitation and violence should be ended. As well as the valorisation of
politics and the nation.
The
realization of these goals, which can be agreed upon by everyone who wants the
good of society and the welfare of the country, should be attempted with the
cooperation and participation of all goodwill. Such an approach is what the
times demand of us.
-----
A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir
V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance
journalist.
URL: https://newageislam.com/debating-islam/islamism-threat-core-messages-pluralism-coexistence/d/131859
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