Imam as a ruler to establish Islamic teaching

14-9-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

According to Moulana Maudoodi Muslims should work for Iqamat-e-Deen and not to be divided about it as in Ash-Shura: 13. We should work for the political establishment of Islam. They say Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) was asked by Allah to pray for power as in Surah Al-Isra (bani Israel): 80. What is your opinion?

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. Al-Maududi 's statement, that Shariah (Islamic Law) must be established to reign supreme and that an Imam (leader) must be elected, is not an innovation or something of his own invention. It is actually the consensus of the Muslims from the early days of Islam up to this day. Muslim scholars, advocates, intellectuals, and reformers have always been calling vigorously for implementing this great Islamic obligation, being a religious injunction and one of the essential prerequisites of a sound and proper life in every time and place. Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) referred to this consensus while commenting on Allah's Saying: {"And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: "Verily, I am going to place a successor in earth." .}[2:30]. He said: This verse sets the rule for the nomination of a qualified imam (leader) to act as a supreme authority whose directives and instructions must be followed obediently . This Imam acts as crucial factor in unifying the Muslims' word and implementing the caliphate's rulings. There is no discrepancy among the scholars of the Ummah (Muslim nation/community) in this respect. Al-Qurtubi also stated the foundation on which that consensus was built: The evidence is Allah's Saying, {"Verily, I am going to place a successor in earth."}[2:30] and: {"O Dawud (David)! Verily, We have placed you as a successor on the earth; so judge you between men in truth (and justice)... }[38:26] and: {Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), …}[24:55] (i.e., making them judges over other people). There are some other verses indicating this issue . The issue of nominating an imam/caliph to unify the Ummah being so crucial and essential, hardly can one find a book on Hadith (Prophet's tradition) of Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) that does not tackle it. Not only that, rather some scholars dealt with this issue as a matter of Belief and singled it out as a separate chapter in the books of Tawhid (Monotheism- belief in and worshipping One God). The main reason behind the disintegration and weakness of our Ummah is the abandonment of this great obligation. Hence, evil, ignorance, poverty, diseases, and backwardness have spread profusely in our societies. Communal obligations (those duties which are incumbent on some individuals of the community, not every individual) and duties have been neglected due to the absence of an Imam or Caliph for the Muslims who is able to revive their Ummah after the fall of their caliphate (regardless of how it was). The caliphate was an umbrella and symbol for unity and a source of worry and defiance for the enemies and respect for the lay Muslims. It enabled the Muslims to establish the foundations of Religion. After the deterioration of this feeble pillar (caliphate) Muslims were subjugated to humility and servitude. Their countries were conquered, their sanctuaries desecrated, their wealth appropriated, and they tasted bitter platitude at the hands of their enemies. All this was due to their dispensing with this great obligation whose inevitability was unanimously agreed upon by Muslims. The Ummah can never prosper and maintain its sovereignty until and unless it holds fast to its religion, establishes the foundations of the Divine Law, and elect an imam to unify its fold. The Ayah (verse) that our dear inquirer mentioned is relevant to the issue being discussed, but the verses mentioned by Imam Al-Qurtubi are more relevant and expressive. It is mentioned in the context referring to the legislation (law) that Allah Almighty has enacted for our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the other Prophets of resolve prior to him ( Abraham , Noah , Moses , and Jesus - peace be upon them all): {He (Allah) has ordained for you the same religion (Islamic Monotheism) which He ordained for Nuh (Noah), and that which We have revealed to you (O Muhammad s.a.w.), and that which We ordained for Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses?) and 'Is? (Jesus) saying you should establish religion (i.e. to do what it orders you to do practically) and make no divisions[1] in it (religion) (i.e. various sects in religion).}[42:13]. This means that Allah enacted for us through His Book and His Prophet's Sunnah (tradition) a Law on which all the previous revealed religions agreed upon in terms of the basics of belief such as: belief in Allah, His Messengers, the Last Day (Hereafter), Angels, and fundamentals of worship like establishing prayers, almsgiving, obedience to Allah Almighty, basics of morals and behaviour such as truthfulness, promise-keeping, honesty, maintaining intimate familial and blood relationships, prohibiting adultery, robbery, transgressing over others' honour, lives and properties…etc. Allah has enjoined us to maintain unity and integration and strongly warned against disunity and disintegration. As for the difference in the minor and subsidiary matters of worship and conduct (transactions) and their details, this is not something blameworthy. It is inevitable and concomitant to the difference of time, place, and interests, as Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced out way.}[5:80]. The other verse that the inquirer mentioned is more relevant to the issue of discussion. Through this verse Allah instructs His Prophet (peace be upon him) to supplicate Him with the following supplication when the Makkan polytheists conspired against him and forced him out of his hometown: {And say (O Muhammad SAW): My Lord! Let my entry (to the city of Al-Madinah) be good, and likewise my exit (from the city of Makkah) be good. And grant me from You an authority to help me (or a firm sign or a proof).}[17:80]. Allah here orders His Prophet to ask his Lord to give him power and sublime degree of reasoning with which he confounds the polytheists and surpass their authority. And it is well known that an order that is directed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) is an order similarly directed to his Ummah. To sum up, the establishment of religion and the election of a caliphate for the Muslims is an obligation enjoined by Allah Almighty on His slaves. It is a crucial and inevitable must for the right must have an authority and power to protect it. It (right) has to have a government and homeland to maintain it as well. This is Allah's law in this life and {So no change will you find in Allâh's Sunnah (way of dealing), and no turning off will you find in Allâh's Sunnah (way of dealing).}[35:43]. Allah knows best.