I have often witnessed in my boyhood a Muslim vendor in front of my school saying assalamualaikum whenever he met a co-religionist. Alaikkum in Tamil means ‘calling’. So is Islam calling?, I used to wonder. When I finally dared to seek explanation, the vendor heartily laughed and said: “ ungalluku amaidhi undagattum” (peace be on you). Though I was happy in having my doubt cleared then, horrors of two World Wars, the danger of nuclearisation of the world, the perpetual threat posed by terrorism – all have convinced me that if at all there was any ideal the world needs and yet disregards, it is PEACE.
A peaceful society is impossible without individual minds in peace. A peace-loving mind is a product of psychological evolution nourished from childhood. Islam serves precisely this purpose. The Quran says: When those who believe in Our Signs come unto thee, say: peace be unto you!’(6:54) By regularly and unfailingly invoking peace in human relations, Islam engraves in mind what years of education may not: a sentiment of peaceful coexistence. Hajj is a classic manifestation of salaam
(Peace). A major purpose of Hajj Yathra, culminating in the biggest peace conference in the world, is to be peaceful with everything the pilgrims come across – with men, with animals and with the environment.
The so called Islamic fundamentalism, often described as a threat to peace in various parts of the world, is the very antithesis of Islam. More often than not, fundamentalism is identified with jihad which calls for a fair approach. In my view, jihad is essentially of a defensive nature. The greater struggle (jihad al-akbar) is a war of defense against self-indulgence and the lesser struggle (jihad al-asghar) is that against oppression. The entire universe, including human psyche, is the product of Divine Omnipotence. ‘Had Allah willed it, all men on the Earth should have been believers’. (10:99). But He did not. So the aim of institutions such as da’wah (Call of Islam) should not be what Allah did not wish to : to impose faith. The aim should be rather to inculcate faith by persuasion. ‘Wise argument and fair preaching’ (16:125) are the instruments and there should be ‘no coercion in religion’ (2:256). Even the missionary zeal of the Prophet was once called into question by Allah : ‘Remind and warn, that is your commission… You have no imperial authority over any man’ (88:21,22).
The prime objective of jihad according to Marcel A. Boisard, is ‘the establishment of peace in justice’. The classification of jihad into four categories-of heart, of tongue, of hand and of sword-permits armed combat only as a last resort. Again, man is a perennial source of untruth and injustice, and ‘jihad’ will last until the Day of Judgment’(h). The world has witnessed numerous war mongers. Hilter vowed to’ obliterate’ cities of enemy countries. From the Middle-East to Easter Europe, Muslims, now bear the brunt of high-tech imperialism. Washington’s constructive engagement with Israel and a more destructive engagement with Iraq together keep the Palestinian cause permanently subdued.
But Islam never sanctions aggression. ‘Allah loves not aggressors’ (2:190). The 1970 Declaration of Friendly Relations characterizes the war of aggression as a ‘crime against peace’. Only ‘those who are the victims of aggression could fight’ (22:39). After all, the UN Character upholds the ‘inherent right’ of self-defence if an ‘armed attack occurs’. In fact, Islam urges us to ‘repel vice by virtue’ (41:34) and expresses the hope that ‘in the end the hatred will disappear and enemies will become friends’ (41:34).
A few words about the situation in our subcontinent. the people who unitedly gave the world the noble concepts of ahimsa and satyagraha became the bitter enemies even after partition and still continue to remain so. The nuclearisation of the subcontinent is indeed a great leap-a Great Leap Backward! Gandhi preached truth and nonviolence. ‘Before it’, he declared, ‘the atom bomb is of no effect’. Unfortunately for us, Pokhran-II actually left the Buddha bleeding with wounds. It has enhanced insecurity for both countries. The Quran equates an unjust killing with the killing of the whole of mankind: ‘If any one kills another—except in retaliation for murder or for causing widespread mischief in the land-it is as if he killed the whole of mankind; and whosoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved the whole of mankind.’ (5:32). What, then, does an act of scorching millions of innocent people to instant death amount to in the sight of Allah? Competitive jingoism is a blood path and it will menacingly lead to bloodbath. Weapons of mass destruction are anti-Islamic. The responsibility to eliminate these sophisticated but dangerous satans, however, is ours.
Muslims, and His social Responsibilities
Every man is an unconscious Muslim insofar as he obeys the laws of nature ordained by God. he becomes a conscious Muslim only when he follows Allah ’s Will. Faith in the Unity of Allah and humanism are essential for salvation. If associating partners with Allah (shirk) is an unpardonable sin, then it follows that doing nothing for human welfare is also a cardinal sin. As we have seen, the Quran defines righteousness in terms of charity, humanism and philanthropic activities.
Charity and compassion, and, love and respect are the guiding principles of a Muslim towards his fellow brethren. Islam blames ‘those who oppress others, commit wrong and defy the right and justice’(42:42) on the other hand, God loves ‘those who are generous in good times and in bad, and who withhold anger, and who pardon people’(3:134). Amicable and respectful relationship with neighbors, fulfillment of promises, cleanliness, sociability, helping the needy, avoidance of spying, lying, slandering women, loud speech, arrogance and entering other’s houses without permission are all part of shariah.
A Muslim should be kind towards his parents and, ‘say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them; but address them in terms of honor. And out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: My Lord! Bestow on them Thy Mercy even as they cherished me when I was little.”(17:23, 24). While the world is celebrating the year 1999 as the international year of the Older Persons, senior citizens in the New Information Age Order (of which they themselves are the real founders) are finding solace in Old Age Houses. This is when their children and other members of family are still alive, active and enjoying a family life of their own. Aggressively selfish attitudes reduce the space fore peaceful coexistence based on the bonds of sentiments and a compassion – resulting in the disgraceful expulsion of the voiceless. Professional egoists should know that Allah has ‘made humankind responsible for their parents’(31:14). ‘Paradise is at your mother’s feet says a hadith. ‘The pleasure of Lord is in the pleasure of your father’, follows another. They should be treated with love, affection, respect and honour.
Muslims, are authorized to ‘disperse through the Earth and seek the bounty of Allah ’ (62:10) Earning money is thus a divine privilege. But they should be honest. ‘Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury’ (2:275). There are numerous hadiths, to protect consumer rights. Monopoly, exaggerated claims, cheating, hoarding, bribery, mismanagement of weights and measures, adulteration and defective merchandise are all strictly prohibited. An honest merchant is equated with the Prophets and martyrs. A blissful paradise awaits ‘for all who are righteous’. (6:32).
Wasteful expenses are highly detestable to Allah . extravagant life-style by a few virtually amounts to robbery. Concentration of wealth is accomplished to a great extent by indirectly depriving the poor of their rightful opportunities in the world, of which all are common owners. ‘Do they think that their wealth will last them forever?’ (104:3) Quran curses the hoarders. Islam discourages spending wealth ‘in vanity’(2:188), and if at the time of division (of the property of the deceased), other relatives, or orphans or poor are present, a Muslim should ‘give them out of the property’(4:8). Generating wealth and its equitable distribution form the foundation of a welfare state. Muslims are exhorted to contribute towards this noble goal through the institution of zakat and sadaqah (Sharing of wealth and charity).
In essence, Islam advocates a moderate life-style. The blessed are those who ‘are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but hold a balance between those extremes’ (25:67). Wanton consumerism ultimately leads to the depletion of natural resources. Moderation would thus prove to be beneficial not only to the society but also to our life-supporting systems. Tawhid, as we would see later, inspires environmental consciousness that compels us not to harm the Earth. Likewise, doing good should be supplemented by a firm commitment not to harm the society in anyway. Social welfare is indeed a collective enterprise to be achieved by an integrated approach. The Quran visualizes a ‘band of people inviting all that is good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong’ (3:104).
Muslims should not consume intoxicants or indulging gambling. Indeed, ‘alcohol is not a medicine but a disease’ (h). The most dangerous social evils, they keep the brains away from men, men away from their families, and families away from the society, and in the end, destroy both the family and society. They bring ill repute and disgrace and induce hawkish arrogance. A true Muslim is not to succumb to them for ‘Allah does not love the arrogant, the boastful, those who are avaricious or make others avaricious’ (4:36,37).
Islam means ‘peace’. It stands for universal peace. Muslims, are authorized to spread the universal message of Allah because ‘mankind was created as one nation, but it deferred subsequently’ (10:19). As we have already seen, Islam recognized the application of ‘free will’ in religious matters. The call of Islam (da’wah) too, does not entail the fall of peace as such. In fact, they should not debate ‘except by fair means’ (29:46), and in the face of a mounting counter-offensive, compromise by saying’ our God and your God is one and the same’ (29:46). Establishing communal harmony is thus a duty enjoined by God for the Muslims.
Perhaps the greatest social relevance of Islamic spiritualism lies in the Pancharatnas of Islamic worship, the Five Pillars of Islam’
The Declaration of Faith (Shahada): Proclaims the absolute transcendence and Unity of Allah, implies that all human beings are equal in their relationship to Allah and constantly reminds that a Muslim is but ‘one among the equals’.
The Prayer (Salat): Keeps people away from ‘shameful and evil deeds’ (29:45). An evil mind may go so far as to carry on ethnic cleansing jeopardizing the future of an entire race. Prayer in Islam inculcates a sense of cleanliness, engages one intimately with Allah, carries him into the realm of intellectual meditation, and, above all, makes him realize the goal of egalitarianism.
Fasting (Sawm): Is prescribed, the Quran says, to ‘learn self restraint’ (2:183). Medical sciences boast of its efficacy, many religions give a spiritual colour to it, but the vision of Islam is something more than this. Apart from investing one with a strong will power to overcome his passions, it enables him to experience the pains of deprivation. Sawm illuminates the pains of deprivation and the Muslims, should contribute something for the deprived.
Sharing of Wealth (Zakath); Is meant for the ‘poor and the needy… this is ordained by Allah ’ (9:60). It is neither alms nor donation but a duty of the believers and a right of the poor and the needy. The religious and spiritual significance of zakath is much deeper and more lively; so is its humanitarian, socioeconomic and political value and significance.
The Pilgrimage (Hajj): As we have seen, culminates in the world’s biggest peace conference. From the fact that Abraham sacrificed his own son at Allah ’s command, Hajj symbolizes, apart from peace, absolute submission to Allah, and, by implication, dedication to human welfare.
Given such highly welfare - oriented Islamic wisdom, combined with precise regulations in the Quran itself to enforce the, it would not be inappropriate t call a man following them as a ‘full-fledged member of what Dr. Rejendra Prasad called ‘an equal, classless, cooperative, free and happy society’, carrying the message of ‘cheer and culture, of freedom and prosperity, of life and light!’