A Muslim in Society

Published by :

Al Balagh Foundation

Introduction

Society is defined as an enduring and co-operating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another. Our world is vast and made up of many societies, each having their own special pattern of relationships connected through language, customs or common interests. These societies tend to close themselves to others who do not share these common factors. This is true for all societies, except one.

Muslims come from many countries. Indeed, we cannot find any country on earth today that does not boast a Muslim community of some size. They speak different languages, have different customs, and generally, because of their specific environment, have different interests and goals. What makes this society of more than 1 billion people so special is that they all share a common belief in a superior religion; a religion based on brotherhood and peace. Therefore, a Muslim from Nigeria has no fear or apprehension when meeting a Muslim from Chicago or Venezuela.

The bond between all Muslims is the single phrase:

"There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger."

So, we have one billion brothers and sisters across the world believing, without deviation, in one single thought. This belief makes the Muslim society, or ummah, one of the most unique and the largest in all history.

A society, as we defined it, is enduring. What makes it so? Propagation of its message and guidelines not only familiarises those who are estranged to its ideas, but also helps the society itself to better understand its own responsibilities.

Islam is not a closed society. It is open to all of God's creation and invites all to partake of its refreshing and cleansing waters. What are the responsibilities of this great society and what is the responsibility of a Muslim in this society? This booklet answers these questions and gives the reader, Muslim and non-Muslim, a clear understanding of Islamic duties and responsibilities in our world today. We pray to Almighty Allah that its message will guide those who are part of this society and those who may enter it, God willing.

Responsibility

The Messenger of Allah [s] said:

"No foot of a servant (of Allah) will move on the Resurrection Day before being asked about four things: his years and how he spent them, his body and how he used it, his wealth and how he earned and spent it, and about his love towards us, the Ahlul Bayt [a]. ¹

Explanation

The Prophet of Allah, Muhammad [s], teaches us, through this glorious tradition hadith, that it is obligatory to make use of the blessings and bounties that Almighty Allah granted us. It also explains to us that we are held accountable for the way we use our time, property, health and strength, and we should use them properly in the life of this world.

Surely Allah, the Most High, created man and gave him life for a certain time. He gave him wisdom, strength, free will, wealth, etc. to enable him to use them in doing good and useful deeds, obtaining knowledge, and worshipping Him.

If man wastes these blessings and bounties without taking any advantage of them, undoubtedly he will be held responsible for them on the Resurrection Day.

Accordingly, man must be aware of his responsibility. He must feel a responsibility to Allah on the Resurrection Day. Thus Allah, the Almighty, will hold him to account on that Day for the wealth that He gave him and how he obtained and used it. Did he obtain it through lawful means like agriculture, industry, trading and the like, or through unlawful ways like deceiving others, robbery, oppression and the like? If he earned it through unlawful actions, his lot will be punishment and torture. If his wealth was gained through lawful means, most surely Allah will reward him and be pleased with him.

On the Resurrection Day, man will be questioned about the property that he owned in the life of this world and how he used it. Did he spend it on forbidden deeds such as drinking alcohol, gambling, frivolous entertainment, etc? Or, did he spend it on himself and his family, participating in establishing useful and charitable projects and foundations to help the poor and needy?

He will also be questioned in the Hereafter about his time and youthful strength and health. Did he use them in doing good deeds and in obedience to Allah?

He will also be questioned about his love for the Ahlul Bayt (the Prophet's pure and sinless Household). Definitely, the love of Ahlul Bayt [a] is an obligatory duty upon all Muslims.

Through the narrations and traditions of the Prophet of Allah [s] it is clearly obligatory for every Muslim to love the Ahlul Bayt [a] and obey them, be faithful to them and act according to their instructions and guidance.

The Holy Qur'an also makes clear to us that the love of the Ahlul Bayt [a] is obligatory:

"... say: I do not ask of you any reward for it (the message) but love for my near relatives ..."

Holy Qur'an (42:23)

The Prophet of Allah [s] interpreted and explained this verse to the Muslims by saying that 'near relatives' referred to the household of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad [s].

When they heard this verse the Muslims asked the Holy Prophet [s], "Who are your near relatives, whose love Allah has made obligatory on us?" The Apostle of Allah replied: "Ali, Fatimah and her two sons (Hasan and Hussein)." ²

So, we understand that love for Ahlul Bayt and their offspring is an obligation upon all Muslims. On Judgement Day they will be questioned about this love, and whoever departs from the love of Ahlul-Bait indeed departs from one of the obligatory duties of his religion and becomes distant from the Holy Prophet Muhammad [s].

The Best wisdom is to Fear Allah.

How to Act Upon the Holy Qur'an

Our Holy Prophet Muhammad [s] said:

"Whoever makes unlawful deeds lawful, never believed in the Qur'an." ³

The Holy Qur'an is Allah's message revealed to Prophet Muhammad [s] through His angel Gabriel [a]. Allah, the Almighty, ordered the Prophet [s] to convey it to all people, to guide them towards peace and goodness, to instruct them in useful actions and to teach them to abstain from evil actions and corruption.

Thus, the Qur'an teaches us issues and matters related to our religion. Among them are: To believe in Allah, His angels, His prophets and the Day of Judgement. To develop good manners and behaviour like telling the truth, love, co-operation, respect of parents, etc. To show us what is lawful (permitted) and what is unlawful (forbidden), urging us towards lawful deeds and forbidding us from unlawful ones. For instance, Allah made the following deeds unlawful (forbidden): robbery, suicide, gambling, lying, injustice, theft, wronging our neighbours, helping oppressors and those guilty of wrongdoing, eating dead animals or the flesh of swine (pork), and drinking alcohol.

It is obligatory for us, as Muslims, to give up these forbidden deeds and others that the Holy Qur'an specifies as forbidden haram. This is so because we believe that everything which is forbidden is useless and fruitless for us and for other people.

Therefore it does not please us to be beaten or have our property stolen or to be deceived or oppressed. We abstain from such forbidden deeds. We realize that every forbidden act is useless to us and if we indulge in them we will suffer Allah's displeasure. It becomes obligatory for us to give them up.

Indeed, whoever gives up deeds forbidden by the Holy Qur'an is a truthful believer of the Qur'an as Allah's word and he always follows it during his life. Whoever does not give up these forbidden actions and does them as if they are lawful is one who does not believe that the Qur'an is Allah's word revealed to His Prophet ... because he does not give up what Allah, the Most High, has forbidden. Hence, we should think, whether a certain act is lawful or unlawful, before saying or doing anything. If it is lawful we may do it, but if it is unlawful we must abstain from doing it. Our Prophet Muhammad [s] says: Man is never a true believer unless he gives up deeds forbidden by the Qur'an.

Most Surely it is an Honoured Qur'an, in a Preserved Book.

Calling To Islam

Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq [a] narrates:

Once the Messenger of Allah [s] sent Imam Ali [a] to Yemen to guide people to Islam, teach them Islamic laws and regulations, and to spread Islam among the people. He said to Imam Ali [a]:

"Do not declare war on any person unless you have first invited him to Islam."

This meant that he should begin the mission by spreading Islam and explaining its principles to non-Muslims through clear proofs and reason. This is so because Islam is the religion of reason and knowledge. If any enter the faith, they become your brothers in religion. If they refuse Islam then he should fight them for persisting in their infidelity and unbelief, and wanting to defend oppression and corruption.

The Messenger of Allah [s] said to Imam Ali [a], after explaining to him how to spread Islam and convey its message:

"... if Allah guides only one person through you, it will be better for you than all that the sun has risen or set over." ⁴

By this noble hadith, the Messenger of Allah [s] explains the significance of Islamic call Da'wah and its great importance to Allah, the Almighty. He also points out the greatness of those who invite or call others to Islam. These missionaries undertake the task of spreading Islam and inviting non-Muslims to enter into the faith, thus saving them from disbelief, oppression and corruption. They also undertake the duty of guiding every deviated one who has gone astray from the right path, by teaching Islamic laws, education and thoughts. They also explain the right Islamic concepts.

Surely, whoever guides a deviator, whether non-believer in Islam or a Muslim who commits evil deeds but misunderstands Islam, gains more to his own benefit than owning the whole world because the possessions of the world perish while the reward of guiding people will remain permanent with Allah and will be a cause of Allah's pleasure. The believer who guides people will enter Paradise. Guiding others will gain the reward of Paradise and Allah's pleasure, while possessing the whole world with its property and wealth will gain nothing in the Hereafter.

It is obligatory for every Muslim to be a caller to Islam and to spread the word of Islam in every corner of the world. Today there are more than one billion Muslims! Believers, through calling others, can convey the Islamic religion to mankind and spread its message to different parts of the world. Such work guides and reforms man. Without calling people to Islam no one would be guided and the true religion can not spread to others.

Muslims themselves should learn about Islam and act according to its laws and principles, inviting others to believe in Islam and act accordingly. Indeed guiding one person is better than whatever man possesses in this world because this guidance is a step towards saving people and reforming them. The meaning of guidance and Islamic Call Da'wah is to spread Islam among people and to teach them Islamic laws, principles and ideologies, as well as how to act and believe according to these laws.

Opposing the Oppressors and the Unjust

It is narrated that the great companion, Jabir bin Abdullah al-Ansari quoted the Messenger of Allah [s] as saying:

"Whoever pleases an unjust ruler, and deviates from the right path, is expelled from the religion of Allah." ⁵

We all know that the social life of any community requires the establishment of a government that undertakes the task of providing schools, universities, hospitals, roads, bridges, law and order, state security, national defence, etc. So, Allah ordered Muslims to have a state, a government and to also have a leader (an Imam) who has power, authority and sovereignty.

The leader of the Muslims, who has power over everything related to strength and authority, should possess the following qualifications: He should be a free man, sane, pubescent, and of legitimate birth. He should be pious (God-fearing) and just in his rule over the people. He should rule and govern according to Allah's laws and regulations i.e. the Qur'an and the sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet [s]. He should have the ability to run the affairs of the state and be familiar with the principles of government and politics. He should be faqih (jurisprudent) and familiar with Islamic laws and teachings.

It is obligatory for all Muslims to obey such a Muslim leader who possesses the necessary qualifications, and to act according to his instructions and to carry out his orders. In this case, obeying him will be an obligatory duty for Muslims as long as he obeys Allah's regulations. If, God forbid, he disobeys Allah and acts against His laws, he should not be obeyed nor co-operated with.

Accordingly, the Messenger of Allah [s] says:

"Whoever commits evil deeds such as murder, losing his temper, oppressing others, drinking alcohol, and giving or taking bribes to please an unjust ruler, or co-operates with him, is not a true Muslim. He is expelled from the religion because Islam forbids these actions and deeds."

The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad [s] says:

"Never obey anyone when your obedience to him is disobedience to the Creator."

Indeed, man's social life will not be happy except by following the Divine laws revealed in the Holy Qur'an and Prophetic Traditions. For both of them bid us to discard the forbidden actions, and to perform the obligatory actions, protecting people's rights, establishing justice, seeking bounty in life, guarding the interests of the Muslim community and setting people free from the control of the oppressors.

Thus through these Islamic laws and instructions, we form a developed Islamic society in which justice, mercy, love and equality exist and in which all kinds of corruption, crime and aggression disappear.

There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

Advice

The Messenger of Allah [s] said:

"Religion is pure truth and sincerity." He was asked: 'To whom should this be addressed?' He replied: 'To Allah, His Messenger, Muslim leaders (Imams), and to all Muslim communities.'" ⁶

The Messenger of Allah [s], through this hadith, explains the importance of giving advice to others and shows us how a Muslim can be a good advisor in the cause of Allah and His Messenger. The meaning of giving good advice is to preserve the Islamic religion and convey its Divine Message to all people in order to guide them to the right path.

Surely the Muslim who maintains and guards the Book of Allah against distortions and forgery is a good advisor for Allah, the Almighty. The Muslim who protects the Prophet's traditions against innovation and falsities is also a good advisor for the Holy Prophet [s].

It is obligatory for Muslims to be characterised by good Islamic morals including giving sound advice to others for the sake of Allah and His Messenger.

Our Holy Prophet, Muhammad [s], emphasizes to Muslims that our religion is giving advice to others. He himself came to guide people towards what is right and forbid them from what is wrong. In fact, all prophets (peace be upon them) came with their Scriptures to advise and guide people towards righteousness and goodness in this world and the Hereafter. This is the real meaning of giving advice for Muslims and their leaders, Imams.

The leaders of religion are those scholars ulama' of the Muslims, and their rulers, who govern the people according to Islamic laws, shari'ah.

Therefore every Muslim should advise leaders if they make mistakes, do not rule with justice or if they are not familiar with, or misinterpret some Islamic obligations.

Giving advice to other Muslims has two aspects:

1. Guiding Muslim rulers to govern with truth, justice and equality, and not to oppress the people, not to refuse to correct their actions, or to supply services to society such as building universities, schools, hospitals, industries, mosques, etc.

2. If those rulers are not familiar with Islamic laws, or disagree with them, or do not rule according to Islamic laws, Muslims should explain to them the right way of Islam and its laws. They should guide the leaders towards righteousness and should not fear any unjust authority, because Mlah has already authorised the ruler to do his job, including giving advice, enjoining what is right and good and forbidding what is wrong and bad.

It is also obligatory for a Muslim to give advice to Muslim scholars ulama' if they do not enjoin good and forbid evil, or if these scholars give verdicts (legal opinions) which contradict Allah's instructions in order to please the oppressors or seek the pleasure of the unjust for worldly gain.

Among the benefits of giving advice for the rest of the Muslims is to keep them united. Without dividing them we should direct them towards acting according to Islamic laws and co-operating with each other. This also preserves their interests.

A Muslim advisor to his nation is the one who loves doing good and is covetous of the interest of Muslims. He is the one who, when given responsibility, practising a profession, or assuming leadership, preserves Muslim property and interests, and guides the Muslims towards good acts and obedience to Allah, the Almighty.

Giving advice can be done through a good speech, sermon or lecture. It can be done through publications and broadcasting.

In the event that our good and Islamic advice falls on deaf ears of unjust rulers or deviated scholars, in that case, Muslims should cut their relations with them and not cooperate with them. They should strive to replace them with good and righteous persons.
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1 This hadith is narrated by Soyyoti in Ihya' al Mayyit, p.36.

2 Al-Zamakhshari, Tafsir al-Kashshaf.

3 Al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-Uqool an aali al-Rasool, p. 39.

4 Al-Hur al-Amili, Wasa'il al-Shi'ah, vol. 6, Kitab al-Jihad, Bab wujud al-Du'a ila al-Islam.

5 Al-Tabari, Mishkat al-Anwar, Fasil al-Dukhul ala al-Salatin wa ahwalihim.

6 Al-Hur al-Amili, vol. 6, Abwab fil al-Ma'roof, Bab wujub nasihat al-Mu'min.