Is engagement in politics prohibited, permissible or necessary in Islam? What does the Qur’an say about our responsibilities to the world? Why did Shiism have a period where political engagement was prohibited?
In part one we introduced the series by looking at how the Qur’an relates the responsibilities of a Muslim society and how it can practically affect a non Muslim society. This leads us to ask what is the foundation of Islamic political thinking which this part focuses on.
The purposes of creation
The first point is that building good governance and infrastructure in which people can thrive is one of the reasons for creation. The Qur’an and Ahadith detail several reasons for our purpose, of which this is one. Let us review some of these purposes and note how some of them relate directly to the need of political participation:
1) Purpose is to serve God
(51:56) And I have not created the jinn and mankind except that they may serve Me.
2) A purpose is love of Ahl al-Bayt (a)
In the Event of Kisaa (refer to commentaries of verse 33:33) the angel Gibrael states that Allah (swt) said, “I have not created the skies, the earth, the moon or the sun except for the love of the five underneath the cloak” meaning the Prophet Muhammad (s), his daughter Lady Fatima (a), Imam Ali (a) and Imam’s Hassan (a) and Hussain (a).
3) Purpose of Isti’maar (Cultivation)
(11:61) And to [the tribe of] Thamud [We sent] their brother Salih. He said: "O my people! Worship God [alone]: you have no deity other than Him. He brought you into being out of the earth, and made you thrive thereon.
The third purpose of creation is for us to cultivate and progress our civilisation. Thriving here means something positive; something of benefit. In the Islamic sense if you cultivate something harmful it does not fulfil the goal of cultivation and so it does not count. Of course when cultivating civilisation this needs regulations and policies which would be the responsibility of a just government. This is why the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (s) states, "One hour of a Just Ruler is better than 70 years of the Worshipper” because his impact in cultivating the earth can produce so much positive progression.
4) Purpose of Istikhlaaf (stewardship)
(6:165) For, He it is who has made you inherit the earth, and has raised some of you by degrees above others, so that He might try you by means of what He has bestowed upon you.
The fourth purpose of creation is stewardship. Specific stewardship is reserved for those appointed Caliphs of Allah (swt) however, general stewardship is for all mankind to be responsible for the planet and what is within their capacity to be a shepard over.
This stewardship is divided into two: Care for that which came before you and responsibility toward those who will come after you. Those before you will have performed their Isti’maar and cultivated civilisation; we are obliged to protect and develop it further. If it has reached us in a poor state we are obliged to improve it. This may be roads, healthcare systems or the environment, for example. If it reaches us having being improved we are also prohibited from damaging it as per the verse “Do not corrupt the earth after its reformation.” As for that which we are leaving behind, we are responsible to leave for the forthcoming generations a world which is healthy, safe and productive for them.
In this way we are the link between what came previously and what is to come which also requires standards and laws which are put in place by government and policy makers.
For full write up please visit www.hujjat.org.
