Note: All references made to Qur’an in this post are in the form of ”(Chapter:Verse#)”. For example (3:19) means Al-Qur’an – Chapter 3 – Verse 19.
If you ask my vote to implement Islamic Shari’ah, My answer will be “YES”. But wait a minute: do not make a mistake. What do you mean by Islamic Shari’ah? What do you mean by Islam? Let’s first find this out.
A Passage from the History:
1400 years ago, when Mohammad P.B.U.H started calling people towards Islam, the majority of Arabs resisted his movement. Despite the fact that he never forced anybody to embrace Islam (2:256) (10:99) (18:29) (109:1-6), the number of his enemies increased day by day. The leaders and upper classes (34:34) in Arab offered several great deals to Mohammad P.B.U.H to stop his activities (68:9), but he refused. His opposition in Mecca did not leave any opportunity to torture him and his supporters. They tried their best to stop people listening to Mohammad P.B.U.H (41:26). When the opposition reached to a greater extent (8:30) and Islam had influenced the people outside Mecca, he migrated to Medina. But the opposition in Mecca did not let him continue his activities and tried all possible ways to interrupt him in his activities. From the day Mohammad migrated to Medina to the day he entered back in Mecca, he and his companions were attacked 82 times by the opposition who traveled 300 miles on their horses and camels from Mecca to Medina.
But
Keeping the traditional view of Islam in mind it becomes either difficult or confusing to understand the situation described in the above passage because, in a traditional approach, Islam is not much different than other religions in the world. You find same concepts in Traditional Islam as in other religions just with some different glossary and different styles. As observed in daily life, worshiping a single or multiple supreme beings, practicing rituals, having beliefs without laws, following orders without looking into the wisdom behind and dogmas do not affect the activities of other people in the society. At our work place, we, belonging to different religions or belonging to different schools of thought, work together to achieve a single objective and none of our religious differences affect our progress. The employer also does not care about the religious differences when hiring people. Also families belonging to different religions live in adjacent houses. Some worship idols, some worship fire, some worship a single supreme being in their houses or in religious centers. But one’s worshiping style does not give any harm to others. One’s cap, beard and high-ankle bottoms also do not affect others.
Then:
- What Mohammad P.B.U.H preached and practiced so that people especially who were well-established in the existing systems (43:23) became his enemies?
- Why the people in opposition who did not want to follow the way of Mohammad P.B.U.H also did not want others to do the same?
- Why the tribe-leaders and rich businessmen offered great deals to a person (Mohammad P.B.U.H) who was neither a leader, at that time, nor a rich businessman?
- Why slaveholders used to torture their slaves? For example: Ummaya used to make Bilal lay on the hot sand and put heavy stones on his chest so he could not move. Why Ummaya was afraid of Bilal’s belief?
- Why the opposition party from Mecca traveled 300 miles, spent so much money, lost so many lives in wars against Mohammad P.B.U.H and his companions? What they were afraid of?
What was Islam? And what it is now
There was never a nation but a warner had passed among them (35:25). The only DEEN each warner brought was Islam (3:19), not in the sense of religion but as a concept which covers the social and economic systems of the society. Mohammad P.B.U.H was not the founder of Islam but no religion with name of “Islam” found prior to him. He had to follow what other blessed-people had already done in the past (1:6). He was explicitly told to follow the way of Abraham (16:123). Mohammad P.B.U.H or any of the personalities or prophets Qur’an talks about were not religious figures. None of them had, ever, any association with any of the existing religions of their times. The division into different religions was not an objective of prophets at all and, also, none of the prophets brought any religion. The deep study of Qur’an produces no feelings of a religion. It criticizes all the existing religions of its time but recognizes the men to whom the religion had been associated as prophets or revolutionists. It even declares at a place that you belong to any religion, if you believe that all laws in this world have been defined by a GOD and believe that one day all your actions will bring their results out and act for better results then GOD has a reward for you according to HIS law of requital and then there will be no grief and fear (2:62). It invites the follower of different religions specially Ahl-al-Kitab to come together on the basis of commonalities but religion can never be common, religion aside, even different groups within a religion can never forget their religious differences so what is then common? The common is that we serve none but Allah, we make no gods other than GOD in the society and no-one among us should consider other one as an authority over the divine laws (3:64). When Qur’an reminds about previous prophets or the successful nations, It never discusses their religious practices, when reminding about previous destroyed nations, it never reminds their ignorance towards religious practices. It always reminds about a revolution each prophet brought against two deep-rooted systems in the society– Religion and Demonic System.
Against Religion – that is a subjective experience and concerned only with a private relationship between man and GOD and the objective of everyone in this system becomes his own salvation. Which shows you escape from the problems of this world and handover the control of the society to the executives of Demonic System and then throw you in your subjective world where there is nothing but a few believes and rituals.
Against Demonic System – in which powerful bodies in the society take control of the natural resources and deprive them from needy people (28:23). A system in which wealth moves in the hands of a few while it has to circulate through all quarters of the society (59:7). A system in which farmer remains hungry in the field and all profit goes to the landlord while the man should get what he strives for (53:39), A system in which the burden of powerfuls is carried by the weaks while everyone has to bear his burden himself (53:38).
Each prophet removed the mistaken religious thoughts owned by priesthood to reform the character of individuals so a system against the Demonic System could be built with the help of those high-moral characters. Therefore, each prophet faced opposition from priesthood and the executives of demonic system. But after a lifetime struggle, eventually, each prophet got succeeded in building a system that overruled the demonic system of its time and religions could not stand firm against revolutionary thoughts of the prophets.
But this glory did not sustain longer. The revolutionary thoughts of each prophet got lost in the fog of religions and a brand new religion came into existence everytime with same concepts inherited by earlier religions but with new glossary. And the destroyed demonic system came into power again – till the next prophet.
The executives of Demonic System are never afraid of religions. Demonic System can survive easily in the existence of one or more religions because religions do not give any harm to anyone in this world as defined earlier. The demonic system can only not survive in front of a system where, in contrast of it, natural differences among humanity make no differences. Such system can be drowned by introducing some concepts among the maintainers and supporters of the system which could take them far away from the real problems of this world so the control of the society can go back in the hands of executive of demonic system. And what is more viable than a religion for this purpose? People get emotionally attached with religions very quickly. The emotional quotient has always been proved more affective than intelligence quotient. The majority of people try to find ease and religion gives them that. Reciting sacred scripts to get a job instead of struggling for it can only be taught by a religion.
Gradually, the personality and the teachings of a prophet used to get masked by a completlely different thoughts . Also when people of different thoughts used to accept “ISLAM” as their way of living, they used to bring their concepts along. What else could be more appropriate for the executives of demonic system than it that the maintainers of their opponent system go in some other directions? So they supported this happening as well. The common people in religion used to have a belief that whatever they are doing is exactly what has been given to the humanity by their prophet. This was the reason that whenever a new prophet reminded religious people about the original teachings of previous prophets, they became the enemy of him. In Iqbal’s words “Shehri ho dehaati ho musalman hai saada, maanind-e-butaaN pujte hain kaa’be ke birahman”. They always had an argument “”we have been doing this since the time of our ancestors and you today tell us that we should leave this path” (2:170)(23:24). They had an objection that why the prophet did not have any supernatural attributes (17:89-94) (25:7-9) because of their untrue religious thoughts or dogmas. No prophets ever claimed such attributes (17:94-95) (25:20). Each of them said “I am a human like you (18:110)”. Obviously a human having supernatural characteristics can not become a role model for those not having supernatural attributes. However, the concept “I am a human like you” is the best way to implement equality in the soceity. Not only prophets, whoever spoke against their traditional approach they considered him a “Murtad” or an apostate. Intentionally, the punishment of apostasy was set as “Death” so no-one else could ever dare to deviate. In Iqbal’s words “Zahid-e-Tang-Nazar Ne Mujhe Kaafir Jaana – Aur Kaafir Yeh Samajhta Hai Musalman Hoon MeiN” but gradually it became more problematic for the followers of religions themselves when they got divided into different groups and each of them considered all the other groups as “Murtad” or “Kafir”. If you need a list of Fatwas issued by each sect against the other rival then ask me.
What happened to previous prophets happened with Mohammad P.B.U.H as well. He reminded his first addressees the original teachings of previous prophets, he was criticized by the followers of existing religions in the same way as previous prophets were, he was tortured by the executives and supporters of the demonic system, and finally he built a system. But later on his teachings ruled out by the concepts that were not the objective of his real teachings at all. A brand new religion was then formed and interestingly its name was “Islam” this time and then the followers of that religion were called “Muslims”.
The word “Islam” was never a label to any religion but was used as a concept through out history in which men are released from the grip of other men in the society by declaring that there is no god but GOD and the right of sovereignty over every human being belongs only to a single supreme power (12:40) so the other powerful bodies in the society can not grasp the rights of other weak people in the society. In Iqbal’s words “Woh aik sajdah jisey tu giraaN samajhta hai, hazaar sajdoN se deta hai aadmi ko nijaat”. It releases people from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that were upon them (7:157). The word “Muslim” was never a label for the follower of any religion but was used as an adjective attributed to all those who “practiced” the concepts of “Islam”. The way, each prophet followed, to make the society a paradise was “Islam” and people who contributed in the development and then maintenance of that society were called “Muslims”.
But later “Islam” transferred to generations in form of inheritance or recitation of First Kalima could easily make someone a “Muslim” anytime. People used the name of Islam for all purposes other than the real one, they even sold honey on the name of Islam. I believe if “Abu-Jehel” knew such “Islam” he wouldn’t delay a minute in embracing it. The term “Non-Practicing Muslim” is a paradox itself. Obviously one can not be a “Muslim” and “Non-Practicing” at the same time. A child is not born as a “muslim” or a “kafir”. These are the actions that one has to take with all his/her senses in his/her life whether he/she brings the reality forward (shukr) or hides it (kufr).
Satisfactory Factor
Mohammad P.B.U.H did one thing that no previous prophets could do due to unavailability of resources. He saved, that he was guided with, in a way that no one may alter it easily and the single-word change could be caught clearly. He got his companions memorized the Qur’an word-by-word and started binding the Qur’an in his lifetime. And we can still understand the real Islam from this book.
But
But I still say that the Qur’an was altered in a manner that its words remained same but lost their original interpretation, the first thing which happens to a DEEN when it becomes a religion. For example, the word “Qayam” is used for standing in the direction of Kaa’ba instead of standing for a cause while focusing on the central objective, the word “Rukoo” is used for bending your body by placing your hands on your knees instead of surrendering yourself in front of the laws given by GOD and the word “Sajdah” is used for placing your head on the earth instead of implementing those laws which have been given by GOD to humanity. The word “Aitekaaf” is used for staying for 10 days in the mosque in ramadan instead of struggling hard with steadfastness in the way of implementing those laws and the word “Tasbeeh” is used to recite the names of GOD for a particular time instead of struggling day and night for a cause like other things in universe do (24:41)(36:40), obviously we haven’t seen a chain of beeds in the hands of any other object in this universe. Every word loses its real objective and becomes an interpretation of a few beliefs and rituals when a DEEN is converted into a religion. In Iqbal’s words “Reh Gayi Rasm-e-AzaN rooh-e-bilali na rahi”.
The executive of demonic system never wanted people to listen Qur’an (41:26) because they knew if people would ever read that again, it will disclose the facts. But they could not refuse people clearly so a concept was introduced that the recitation of Qur’an, whether you practice it or not, gives you reward hereafter. Will you study JAVA if I promise you the same results without understanding and practicing it? The only difference is that I won’t be able to show you the results in this world. The clergy then took the responsibility of understanding the Qur’an and others followed whatever clergy understood. Their interpretation then was considered “unchangeable” forever. This was the time when stagnation in Islamic thoughts started from.
Where to derive the Islamic Shari’ah from (if there is any)?
There are two reasons that the traditionalists consider Qur’an an incomplete book and make it dependent on the other resources. First, they try to dig the religion out of it and it’s not there. The reason of this I have explained in previous paragraphs. Second, they try to find all Islamic laws from Qur’an and they don’t find details there. On several places Qur’an calls itself a book that has been explained in detail for those who understand (41:3). No doubt, the Qur’an has explained few of the orders in very detail especially relating to the institution of family, even about asking the permission before entering someone’s house (24:27). Then why not all sort of laws are there in detail? The reason is very simple. The laws relating to family remains same forever for all regions and for all generations but that is not the case with others. The world evolves day by day with new problems for which the solutions can not be predicted at an earlier stage. In Iqbal’s words “The primary source of extracting laws in Islam is Qur’an but Quran is not a legal code, the main purpose of it to awaken in man the higher conciousness of his relation with the GOD and Universe”. Qur’an discusses the core issues which are there since the first society created in this world and people started living together. Qur’an provides permanent values which should be and can be maintained in all ages in all regions to vanish those issues. It discusses two kind of people throughout the Qur’an from different legends and history. One who were blessed by GOD by maintaining those permanent values (1:6) and the other who went astray (1:7). It gives you a few basic principles, draws few boundaries and then leaves all other details on an advisory council (42:38) (3:159) where the constitution can be composed over those parmanent values by looking into the regional matters. However, that can not be considered as a universal constitution too forever.
In the lifetime of Mohammad, there were two entities that used to be considered as the sources of laws – The Qur’an and a legislative body whose head was Mohammad P.B.U.H and the mosque was a parliament. Mohammad did not have anything except Qur’an with him but he also established the laws according to the procedure described above. The prophet is actually responsible to train one particular people and to use them as a nucleus for later generations. The laws resulting after following this practice are specific to that people and the future generations have to compose their own constitution by following the same demonstrated procedure. This procedure is then called “Sunnah” instead of the laws themselves. This was the reason that Mohammad P.B.U.H did not leave anything beside Qur’an after him intentionally except the procedure of makings laws. He, according to few ahadith books, even refused collecting anything from him except Qur’an. If we had followed the same approach, we would have lived in a different world. But:
Zara Si Baat Thi Andesha-e-Ajam Ne Jise
Badhadiya Hai Faqat Zaib-e-DastaN Ke Liye
The Last Words
Apart from Qur’an, there was no written constitution of Islam from the earliest times to the rise of the Abbasids. The rationalist movement in the early days of Abbasids compelled the conservative thinkers to preserve the social integrity of Islam. This step received full support from Abbasids rulers, not because of their interest in Islamic Shari’ah but the fearing factor of political implications of rationalism. This was the time when Islam had already lost its real essence and muslims had been divided into different groups. And the proof of it was the kingship of Abbasids. The slavery which Mohammad P.B.U.H has released the people from had appeared again in the palaces of Abbasids ruler.
I won’t describe the whole story again that I have already explained above in detail but we see that not less than nineteen schools of law and legal opinion appeared in Islam from the middle of the first century to the beginning of the fourth. From 800 to 1100 not less than one hundred systems of theology appeared in Islam.
Now, I can hear the demands of Implementing Shariah in the country from same schools of thought who were against the demand of separate homeland – Pakistan – 62 years ago. At that time they did not have any intensions to implement Islamic Shariah, because if they had they would have supported the demand of a separate homeland. Obviously, you can’t implement shariah where you are not in power. But why now? And the most important question is – Which Shariah?
Please Think, You Can Think
!mran
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