Importance of Collectivity
Before
proceeding further, let me give you a glimpse of the general nature of our
Deen. I have mentioned in the beginning the great importance that our Deen
attaches to the institution of Salat. Please note that for men, it is necessary
to perform the obligatory Salat in congregation, unless there is a genuine
excuse. The offering of the
congregational prayers exhibits in a
symbolic form the general discipline that is required by Islam in all matters.
What
happens during congregational Salat? There is one leader or Imam who is in
charge, and all others follow him in a disciplined manner. No one can perform
any movement ahead of the Imam. We must respond to his cautions. If someone
raises his head from the ruku‘ ahead of the Imam, he’ll lose his Salat. Even if
the Imam commits a mistake, all you are allowed to do is to point this out by
saying Allaho Akbar or Subhan Allah. But if the Imam persists in his mistake,
then it doesn’t mean that you can simply walk away from the congregation. Even
if you are one hundred percent sure that the Imam has committed an error, you
are still not allowed to leave the jama‘ah, the congregation. Of course, you
can discuss the matter after the Salat is over, and the Imam must repeat the
Salat if he has indeed committed a mistake, but the important point is that you
are obliged to remain with the congregation even if you don’t fully agree with
the leader.
Now
consider the basic institution of the Islamic social system. What is that
fundamental bond nikah and what is its essence and significance? A woman agrees
to obey her husband — within the limits set by the Shari‘ah, of course, as you
are not allowed to obey anyone if that obedience necessitates any transgression
of the Divine law — and offers herself in marriage to him, who accepts the
offer. There is no practical way of establishing a strong and healthy family
system except through regimentation and discipline. That is why Islam has made
it obligatory upon the wife to obey her husband. Of course she can advise,
recommend, suggest, argue, and plead; but if she does not obey her husband then
she is acting contrary to the teachings of Islam.
Let me give you a third
example. If two people are traveling together, then, according to the teaching
of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), one of them should be the ameer and he should lead
and guide the other. If two people are going to offer their obligatory prayers,
then one should act as the Imam and the other would be the muqtadi or follower.
All this clearly demonstrates the importance of collectivity in Islam, and also
sheds light on the nature of organized and collective life in our Deen, which
is our next topic.
To be continued....
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