How We Lost Our Way
As
you know, Islam is much more than a religion; it is, in fact, the
all-encompassing Deen, based upon absolute and unconditional obedience to
Almighty Allah (SWT). It includes “religious” features — that is, a set of
metaphysical beliefs, modes of worship, social customs and rituals, as well as
what is commonly regarded as the “secular” elements — those dealing with
social, economic, and political spheres of human life. During the long period
of decline of the Muslim Ummah, starting from the end of the Rightly Guided
Caliphate down to the present century, what has happened is that slowly and
insidiously our concept of Islam has undergone a total transformation — decay,
to be more exact. As a result of this transformation, Deen has been turned into
a madhab, a mere religion. The focus is now restricted to the dogmatic and
ritualistic framework of Islam, while the issue of establishing and maintaining
the Deen as a politico-socio-economic order has slowly lost its significance
and has gone completely into oblivion.
During
the era of Western Colonialism, we came across the “religion” of Christianity.
As you know, this is a very peculiar religion, in that it has no law, no
Shari‘ah. Christianity consists of a dogma, some ethical and moral teachings, a
bit of mysticism, and that is all. Christianity does not prescribe any
politico-socio-economic system. It does
not possess even any legal frame-work. So, under the impact of Western
imperialism, we started to use the English word “religion” — more suited to
Christianity — with reference to Islam, and began to view this God-given Deen
as nothing more than a private affair. The dominant system of Muslim lands as well
as the law that was enforced upon us was no longer Islam; rather, it was an
entirely secular polity that was dictated by our European masters. When the
collective aspects of Islam went out of our sight, they inevitably went out of
our mind as well. The result is that many of the Muslims find it incredible
when they are told that Islam has a complete and viable politico-
socio-economic system of its own.
Thus,
we find that, during the centuries of decline, the concept of Islam as a Deen
vanished from our minds. Even during the Colonial rule, we were allowed to have
our own beliefs; we were free to perform Salat, to pay Zakat, to fast during
the month of Ramadan, and to perform Hajj; we were also free to celebrate the
birth of our children with aqeeqa, to solemnize our marriages with nikah, and
to bury our dead in the traditional manner prescribed by the Sunnah. That is
why these aspects of Islam continue to remain under our focus. But since during
the Colonial rule our social system, our economic system, and our political
system were no longer in practice, these aspects of Islam gradually faded away
from our collective mind.
To be continued....
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