Many contemporary and “educated” individuals are faced with religious and intellectual crisis. This is due to the prevalent secularist paradigm in the Western academic and social circles as well as the concerted efforts on the part of anti-religious forces to push religion away from the socio-political sphere of the modern world. Many European philosophers and great thinkers have already forgone—and rightly so—their religious creed and embraced the popular idea of separation between church and state. This is because Europe has suffered long years of moral, economic and social decline due to impractical and unreasonable, rigid religious monarchy, which paved the way for the enlightenment period of the 17^th and 18^th century.

But for the Muslim world, history teaches us almost the polar opposite experience than of Western Europe. That is because, Islam’s golden ages (650 AD -1650 AD) took place under the Islamic Khilafah rule when Islamic Scholars, Scientists, Engineers and Mathematicians made many discoveries and inventions that contributed to our quality of life in the modern world. This was all made possible because Islam is not a mere creed, or simply a philosophical abstract, but it is rather practical reality and a harmonious whole that includes economic system, social norms, civil and criminal legal codes that when implemented correctly will deliver the most just and prosperous outcome for mankind. This assertion however, draws skepticism or even harsh criticism at times from the secularist camp. The skepticism of the proponents of secularism is neither from the direct result of their experience with Islam nor is it from their independent thinking, it has rather deeper roots. Its roots go back to Europe in the Dark Age’s era. It was an idea that was more of a reactionary to a historical reality in Europe at the time.

In Islam, however, since its inception, there was no such a thing called separation of religion and politics. The more one understands Islam correctly, the more this would become self-evident. Not only are politics and religion intertwined in Islam, but also Muslims are not allowed to separate them.  For example, if we look at the Qur’an, it is obliged upon Muslims to accept it as a whole and refrain from picking and choosing. That is because; Muslims believe that the Allah is the author of the Qur’an as well as the other precedent revelations (i.e. Torah, the scriptures of Moses, and the Gospel), thus being the creator of the universe; he knows what is best for mankind. As Allah says in Surah Al-Ma’idah, verse 44: “Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light…….So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed – then it is those who are the disbelievers”—Also in verse 48 of the same Surah, Allah, speaking to prophet Muhammad (PBUH): “And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad SAW) the Book (this Quran) in truth….So judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging away from the truth that has come to you.”

Therefore, according to the Islamic teachings based on the Qur’an, Hadith and the consensus of the earliest generations of Muslims, rejecting any part of the Qur’an or an authentic Hadiths would lead to an immediate apostasy. Not to mention the intellectual and religious crisis that would come into play when people attempt the impossible tedious work and the mental gymnastics of trying to pick and choose Islamic values as they please.

As we have seen lately though, some people who claim to be Muslims, being either oblivious to what their professed faith entails or with deliberate ill intentions, constantly attempt to water-down authentic Islamic teachings in order to suit their worldly objectives. Since Islam is neither an ethnic identity, nor is acquired through genes, it is obligatory upon believers to understand what it means to be a Muslim. For the starters, Islam means, a complete submission to Allah as prescribed in the Qur’an and the prophetic tradition.  Accepting it as a timeless and comprehensive perfect system that does not need any man made additions and or modifications. Further, by nature, there is no room for secular ideology in Islam. Secularist ideologues are always working overtime to mislead the uneducated or weak-minded Muslims.  They wage their propaganda wars that primarily recycle the outdated and unfounded idea that Islam needs to be reformed and synchronized for the contemporary age. This type of anti-Shariah and pro-secular rhetoric has been put forth by the likes of Ayan Hirsi, the atheist who has explicitly rejected Islam and others like Irshad Manji who still claims to be Muslims yet reject many established Islamic rulings.

Islam, by virtue is a non- negotiatable faith. You either take it as a package or leave it altogether. There is no middle way where Islam could meet with other believe systems. As the Qur’an makes it crystal clear in Surah Al-Kaafiroon verses 1-6: “Say, “O disbelievers, I do not worship what you worship, nor are you worshippers of what I worship, nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship, nor will you be worshippers of what I worship, for you is your religion, and for me is my religion.” As you can see from this strong and repetitive emphasis, there is absolutely no theological meeting ground between the believers’ way of life and that of the disbelievers. There is no such a thing as “spiritual relativism” in Islam, the therapeutic alternative spiritual worldview, which Oprah Winfrey preaches to her viewers. She propagates that truth is subjective and humans could follow any path (or lack thereof) to God.   That is not to say that Islam does not tolerate religious pluralism. In fact, the beloved uncle of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Abu Talib died without ever accepting Islam.  But for those who have willingly chosen to believe the message of Islam; they must accept the whole package and trust in Allah.

The question then comes of what exactly is in this Shariah package or the Islamic teachings? Plenty, some very popular elements such as feeding the poor, taking care of the orphans, being kind to your parents and elders, but that is not the end of it. It is true that Shariah orders to be merciful towards the weak and powerless amongst us and the whole nine yard, but so does it prescribe harsh punishments against the transgressors —which by the way include chopping off of the hands of robbers, and yes flogging of fornicators—as indicated in Qur’an 5:38 and 24:02 respectively. If you are not a Muslim, hence do not understand the wisdom of these rulings, you may have a good reason to oppose Shariah. I invite you to learn more about Islam in general. I also urge you to objectively examine why Shariah-compliant banking systems are getting more popular in Europe—a glimpse of how it could help curtail contemporary issues. But if you are Muslim and find yourself at odd with some of these harsh punishments, then you might want to revisit your faith.

First of all, Allah does not order his creation anything that is not ultimately beneficial to their wellbeing. Thus, these punishments prevent chaos and fitnah to spread. They also serve the common good and promote harmonious environment for all. Secondly, our prophet whom Allah named him to be “The mercy for mankind” implemented these punishments. Hence for a Muslim, there is no option to pick and choose as Allah says in Surah Al-Ahzab verse 36: “When God and His Messenger have decreed a matter, it is not for a believing man and a believing woman to have an option insofar as they themselves are concerned. Whoever disobeys God and His Messenger has evidently gone astray.”

Wabillaahi Atowfiiq

By Ismaaciil Jirde Rooti

E-mail:

Comments

comments