Assumptions and misconceptions about Islam prevailing among people today are due to misinformation. Anti-Islamic ideology through propaganda and prejudiced media through twisted, and sometimes, fabricated stories attempt to defame Islam for their ulterior motives. Consequently, people tend to assume that Islam is a religion of aggression, cruelty and terrorism. The truth is diametrically opposite. This misconception might also be a result of erroneous, inapt practices on the part of some Muslims, Muslim-rulers/political entities owing to selfish, worldly interests.
There are two primary sources to know about Islamic ideology. One is the Qur’ān and the other is the guidelines given by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The trends set by the four Caliphs subsequent to Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ rule and the detailed practical guidelines (the fiqh) framed by the erudite scholars of Islam to facilitate the enforcement of Islamic laws are the secondary sources.
The first misconception about Islam is that it is a ‘religion’ of Muslims. However, the reality is that it is neither a mere religion nor is it of Muslims alone. Islam is more than a religion; it is an ideology, a comprehensive system of life dealing with all walks of life. To call it a religion of Muslims alone is a misleading idea. Islam is for all mankind irrespective of time and place. The Qur’ān addresses all human beings. The Prophet ﷺ was sent as a messenger to the whole universe. To consider Prophet Muhammad ﷺ merely a spiritual leader of Muslims is to rob him of his magnanimity and to belittle the expanse and amplitude of the message he disseminated.
Islam professes that all human beings are children of a single pair of parents. There are three important components of Islamic faith: Oneness of God, Prophethood, and Life after death.
- Oneness of God (Monotheism): God is Omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. All prayers, sacrifice and prostration must be for Him only. Men must live their individual or collective lives pertaining to each and every branch of human life including social, economic and political issues in accordance with the guidelines given by Him only.
- Prophethood: To acquaint man with His likes and dislikes, what is permissible and what is prohibited, God chose a few pious persons as His messengers. A Muslim must respect all the prophets. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the last prophet of God and his life and traditions are ideal and guide for all humankind.
- Life after Death: This earthly life has been given to men to put them to test whether they do right or wrong. There exists an unending life after this earthly life. On the Day of Judgment all human beings, who have lived on earth from the inception of human life to the doomsday will be resurrected. Those who have done right in this earthly life will be rewarded by heaven and the wrong doers will be punished in hell.
The philosophy and ideology of Islamic system of life can be understood by objectively and meticulously perusing the following branches of its system.
1) Educational System: Islam gives priority to education. It is obligatory on the part of every man and woman to acquire education. Knowledge, wisdom and sagacity are desirable qualities for a Muslim. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ says that an erudite person is better than one thousand worshippers. The Qur’ān puts a rhetorical question: “Are those who know and those who do not know equal?” (39:9)
2) Moral Code of Conduct: Islam gives utmost importance to values. Good conduct will be the heaviest element a pious person finds in his balance while his deeds are weighed on the Day of Judgment. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “The better among you is the one with good moral values.”
3) Family System: Though joint family system is not encouraged in Islam, rights and duties of each individual towards others are well defined. Children are strictly warned not to be harsh on parents. Old parents must be taken care of by their children. Elders are respected and the young are dealt with affectionately.
4) Social System: To establish an amicable and co-operative human society is a priority in Islam. The one who eats full while his neighbour sleeps hungry cannot be a Muslim. The one who inflicts his neighbour with his words and deeds does not remain a Muslim. Beggars must not be turned down. Giving alms and charity is a must. Natural resources like water must not be stopped from reaching others. It is necessary to visit the sick and ailing. Hospitality for guests is an admirable quality.
5) Economic System: Islamic economic system strives for eradication of economic inequalities. It opposes economics based on interest. Usury is a taboo. Zakat (tax) is collected from the haves and judiciously distributed among the have-nots.
6) Political System: Democracy is the heart of Islam. The caliph is elected by the citizens. The caliph does not frame any constitution but rules over by enforcing the divine civil and criminal laws which ensure peace, progress and justice. Power is decentralised. Governors are appointed to govern the provinces. Rulers are not permitted to spend extravagantly from the public fund. The office bearers are accountable to the commoners. Right to information was in force. Transparency in all matters is maintained.
7) Judiciary: The wellness of any system is ensured by the judiciary system in that society. It should be free from political impact. It must not discriminate between the rich and the poor. In Islamic system courts were established in all provinces and judges were appointed.
A grave misconception which is propagated by the West and America is the association of Islam with terrorism. Terrorism and Islam are poles apart. Islam means peace.
Another issue on which the modern world is contemptuous of Islam is the place of woman in Islam. Before the advent of Islam in Arabia the position of woman was appalling. Girls were buried alive as soon as they were born. Islam emancipated woman in all respects through freedom, equality dignity and economic empowerment.
Present day world is grappling with the problems of environment. Islam does not ignore the issues of environment. It orders its followers to judiciously use natural resources. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ says, “Even if you sit on the bank of the river, you must take a limited quantity of water for the ablution. Trees must not be felled even in war, though they are advantageous for enemy forces. About plants and trees Prophet Muhammad ﷺ says: “One who plants a tree and does farming, (and) if human beings and birds get benefit of his endeavour, such a person will get reward from God. The one who transforms a barren land into a fertile one shall also be rewarded.”
The Islamic ideology is both human and environment friendly and beneficial to the disadvantaged sections of the society. An eminent scholar, Leopold Weiss has elucidated: “Islam appears to me like a perfect work of architecture. All its parts are harmoniously conceived to complement and support each other. Nothing is superfluous and nothing is lacking, with the result of absolute balance and solid composure.”
[The writer is Professor, Maulana Azad College, Aurangabad, Maharashtra]