Islam and Politics: An Unholy Mix?
http://www.onislam.net/english
Question and answer details
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| Warina Sushil Jukuy | |
| 2011/02/27 | |
| Bismillahir rahmanir rahim, Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh... With all due respect and begging for your indulgence, dear scholars of Islam, I originated from the town of Jolo, province of Sulu, ARMM, Philippines, (the only Catholic state/country in Asia). Our local ummah is beset by tribulations on issues of bid`ah, please kindly enlighten me about jihad al-akbar (jihadun nafs). Is it bid`ah (innovation) to advocate its significance for change in local society for the benefit of each Muslim (as his/her personal struggle)? We have seen distressing news and images of pervading famine and poverty in Africa, of corruption, oppression, injustice, ignorance (Quran and Sunnah) and some of us Muslims resort to "armed struggle" invoking jihad (fighting). May we appeal to our local ULAMA to balance the disequilibrium of our contemporary milieu by enjoining good and forbidding evil in conformity with the principle of AHLU AL HALLI WA AL AQDI? Some of our local ulama's (May ALLAH bless them, have mercy on them & increase their `ilm (knowledge) & hikmah (wisdom) Ameen) general reply is that politics cannot mix with Islam. I asked: "Is Islam not a comprehensive deen and such political matters can never be dissociated from Islam?" | |
| Jasser Auda | |
Question and answer details
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| Warina Sushil Jukuy | |
| 2011/02/27 | |
| Bismillahir rahmanir rahim, Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh... With all due respect and begging for your indulgence, dear scholars of Islam, I originated from the town of Jolo, province of Sulu, ARMM, Philippines, (the only Catholic state/country in Asia). Our local ummah is beset by tribulations on issues of bid`ah, please kindly enlighten me about jihad al-akbar (jihadun nafs). Is it bid`ah (innovation) to advocate its significance for change in local society for the benefit of each Muslim (as his/her personal struggle)? We have seen distressing news and images of pervading famine and poverty in Africa, of corruption, oppression, injustice, ignorance (Quran and Sunnah) and some of us Muslims resort to "armed struggle" invoking jihad (fighting). May we appeal to our local ULAMA to balance the disequilibrium of our contemporary milieu by enjoining good and forbidding evil in conformity with the principle of AHLU AL HALLI WA AL AQDI? Some of our local ulama's (May ALLAH bless them, have mercy on them & increase their `ilm (knowledge) & hikmah (wisdom) Ameen) general reply is that politics cannot mix with Islam. I asked: "Is Islam not a comprehensive deen and such political matters can never be dissociated from Islam?" | |
| Jasser Auda | |
Answer
Salam, Warina.
Thank you for your important question.
The
relationship between 'Islam' and politics is not a simple relationship
that could be explained in one statement such as either statement
mentioned in your question. So, 'Islam cannot mix with politics' is not
an accurate statement. Nor is 'political matters cannot be dissociated
from Islam' an accurate statement either.
Let
us start by defining what we mean by 'Islam' when we talk about
politics. In the area of politics, 'Islam' could only mean general
guidelines and principles, rather than specific rules and detailed
fatwas about specific political matters.
In
other words, the part of Islam that deals with the ever-changing area
of politics is the part that is about its fixed universal values and
principles, and not the part that is about its details and instructions.
For example, when it comes to political participation, the Quranic verses that apply here are the verses that talked about shura
(consultation), which is a general and guiding principle. The mechanism
of how this consultation should take place is meant, in Islam, to be
changeable and to be left for people to define according to their own
time and circumstances.
Thus,
if the Prophet (peace be upon him) had consulted his companions in a
direct and oral way (as narrated about the battles of Badr and Uhud,
for example), this does not mean that 'Islam' prefers or encourages
some sort of 'direct democracy' over other types of polling systems or
political systems.
Any
type of democracy, or even a different political theory or system, is
approved in Islam only as long as it is compatible with the principles
of consultation, justice, equality of human beings, and the other
Islamic principles and values.
For another example, the issue of wars (or jihad al-qital)
is also a political issue that should only be based on the general
guidelines of Islam and cannot have one and only rule for every place
and time.
In this area, what is required is to balance two objectives (maqasid):
(1) to promote and protect peaceful co-existence, which is one of
Islam's higher principles, and (2) to promote and protect Muslims'
lives and wellbeing, which is also one of Islam's higher principles.
The
default and ideal situation in Islam is peace and peaceful
co-existence, and directing the Muslim struggle (jihad) to bettering
themselves and improving their morals and spirituality (jihad al-nafs), thus giving a chance for (1) and (2) to be fulfilled together.
This is proven by numerous traditions of the Prophet. One such tradition is 'The Scroll of Madinah' (Sahifat Al-Madinah),
in which the Prophet and the Jews of Madinah wrote a 'covenant' that
defined the relationship between Muslims and Jews living in Madinah.
The scroll stated that, "Muslims and Jews are one nation (ummah), with Muslims having their own religion and Jews having their own religion." (Refer, for example, to: Burhan Zuraiq, Al-Sahifah: Mithaq Al-Rasoul, 1st ed., Damascus: Dar al-Numair 1996, p. 353).
However,
if that peaceful co-existence is betrayed by others and Muslims are
'killed and driven out of their homes,' as the other verses say, then
fighting is sanctioned in order to protect Muslims' lives.
The
problem with many of these militant groups that you mentioned is that
they misinterpret the verses of the Quran to mean one choice for all
time: war! They, surprisingly, forget about the higher objectives of
prosperity and cooperation of human beings.....Please READ MORE.....http://www.onislam.net/english
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