In this blog, I will write about the definition of Politics in Islam.
Islam is the religion selected by Allah Almighty for the betterment of mankind. It is not just a religion۔ Islam is not just the name of establishing prayer, fasting, Hajj, Zakat and carrying out some religious rituals but a complete Political system for the betterment of mankind. Allah sent about Hundred and Twenty-four Thousand Prophets starting from Hazrat Adam and ending on Hazrat Muhammad SAW on earth for the guidance of Mankind. The lives of all these Prophets and their rightly guided companions serve as a model for all mankind to follow but the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW are the best examples among all these Prophets for us to follow. Every Prophet came to guide mankind to the right path and to tell them there is only one God i.e. Allah Almighty. He is the creator and no one is his partner and only he is the one worthy to be worshipped. Here the question arises is this all for which Allah sent his Prophets?
The point on which I am trying to emphasize here is that Allah does not need our prayers. He does not need our Zakat or Fasting. Allah did not send each of His Messengers to any particular nation just to introduce them to Allah. In fact, he sent them to eradicate the evil that was found in them. For example, Prophet Noah was sent to the Nation of Nuh, Prophet Lot was sent to the people of Lot, in the same way, Prophet Moses and Prophet Isa (Jesus Christ) were sent to the children of Israel, and in the same way he sent many other prophets to there particular nations not only to worship Allah but also to eradicate the evils found in them.
"And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allāh and avoid ṭāghūt." And among them were those whom Allāh guided, and among them were those upon whom error was [deservedly] decreed. So proceed [i.e., travel] through the earth and observe how was the end of the deniers."[Quran 16:36]
How did they eradicate or fight that evil then? They did this through Politics. Now you must be thinking how did they do it through politics? Unlike the typical meaning of Politics where politicians use every tactic to win and crush their opponents. They think only of their interests. They do not think of others and forget the distinction between right and wrong to achieve their personal goals. They are power-hungry and have no defined set of rules in Politics. Islam does not accept such politics. Rather, in Islam, this kind of politics and political system is called pharaohism. Allah says in the Quran:
"The hypocrites, be they men or women, are all alike. They enjoin what is evil, and forbid what is good, and withhold their hands from doing good. They forgot Allah, so Allah also forgot them. Surely the hypocrites are wicked."[Quran,9:67]
The Politics of all the Prophets sent by Allah Almighty was against any tyrant that was present at that time. For example Prophet Moses against Pharaoh, Prophet Daud (David) against Jalut etc. They all did Politics against tyranny to help the poor, the needy and the oppressed. To guide their nation to the right path. They all did this through Politics. This is the reason that in Islam Politics is a Sunnah because to raise your voice against tyranny is what Prophet Muhammad PBUH and all other Prophets before him did.
This is what the companions of Prophet Muhammad SAW did and this is what the five rightly guided caliphs Abu Bakr, Umer, Usman, Ali and Hassan (may Allah be pleased with all of them did). This is what Hussein (may Allah be pleased with him) did when he embraced martyrdom while fighting the tyranny of Yazeed. These are the teachings and basic principles of Islam. Islam does not allow the oppressor to oppress and the oppressed to be an oppressor. He should fight against the oppressor for his rights in the same manner Hazrat Hussein (may Allah be pleased with him) did against the oppression of Yazeed. If you see oppression and injustice happening around you you do nothing to stop it. Then you are disobeying the teachings of Islam. In the following verses of Surah-al-Shura of the Quran Allah says:
"Whatever ˹pleasure˺ you have been given is ˹no more than a fleeting˺ enjoyment of this worldly life. But what is with Allah is far better and more lasting for those who believe and put their trust in their Lord;"[42:36]
"who avoid major sins and shameful deeds, and forgive when angered;"[42:37]
"who respond to their Lord, establish prayer, conduct their affairs by mutual consultation, and donate from what We have provided for them;"[42:38]
"and who enforce justice when wronged."[42:39]
You should speak up against that injustice the same way all the Prophets fought against the injustice happening around them. If you sit back and do nothing in this situation to help the oppressed then you are also supporting the oppressor by doing nothing. Allah says in the Quran:
"And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allāh and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, "Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper"?"[ Quran 4:75]
A true Muslim is not the one who is neutral. He is the one who always stands for truth no matter how bad the situation gets. This is what politics in Islam is. Allah says in the Quran:
“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both.” [Quran, 4:135]
Prophet Muhammad SAW said:
“Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.” [Muslim Hadith 34, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi]
In another Hadith, he said:
Allah’s Apostle SAW said, “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one. People asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?” The Prophet SAW said, “By preventing him from oppressing others.”
[Bukhari]
In Islam Politics does not mean to only fight for yourself or be selfish. It doesn't mean to fight only to get power. This is what typical Politicians do. They are selfish and only do what best suits their interests. They do not think of others. In Islam, Politics is to put yourself to the service of mankind. Allah says in the Quran:
"You are the best community ever raised for the good of mankind—you encourage good, forbid evil, and believe in Allah. Had the People of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. Some of them are faithful, but most are rebellious." [Quran 3:110]
Allah says in the Surah Nahl:
Indeed, Allah commands justice, grace, as well as generosity to close relatives. He forbids indecency, wickedness, and aggression. He instructs you so perhaps you will be mindful. [Quran 16:90]
If you fight against injustice and cruelty then this is the true meaning of Politics in Islam. Fighting for the rights of others and your rights is what Islam teaches us. Helping others and Putting yourself in the service of humanity is what Islam teaches us. As a Muslim, we must stand up against any injustice that is happening in front of you or any other part of the world. It is our duty to serve mankind. If you do all of this that then you would obey the Sunnah of the Prophets. You would obey the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and his rightly guided companions. Then you would be counted among those people who Allah loves the most because Allah loves those who are best to others.
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