it cannot be denied that man is a social animal and cannot exist without relationship. Since individuals are the means of such coalescence any system which aims at this relationship of a perfect character should endeavor to mould the individual in any manner that it may always have the idea of relationship on the top. This will result in the development of a society. Its circle may be confined to a group or may even widen to the entire humanity. Generally the ethics of morality and the rules and conventions of the daily life of a society help or hinder its growth. But with recognition of the principle that man has to move with his mind gives incentives. It was Islam that endeavored to introduce the rule of intellect and reason (Furqan) at a time when the entire world was enveloped in darkness, barbarism, fetish and dogmas.
In Babylonia, China and even in Egypt the patriarch could sell his sons and daughters into slavery. And women were treated as chattels. In Greece, society was divided into three classes the nobles, the common people and the slaves. Rome also was similarly divided into various classes. There were the Patricians (the nobles) and the Plebians (The commons) who were poles asunder. In this subcontinent the Hindu society was divided into classes: The Brahmans, the Khshtriyas, Vaish and the Sudras i.e. the untouchables. This caste system still prevails.
In the seventh century the sun of Islam shone brightly and transformed this heterogeneous state of society into a homogeneous one and stirred up the rational element in man in order to make them accept things on reflective lines. Consequently a new spirit to draw all humanity to one center arose, and Islam declared with greatest vehemence and emphasis the message of Tauhid (Unity of God) which demolished all barriers of creed, race and color and founded a new society on brotherhood, equality and fraternity of man.
In the law of Islam every person is equal. Every one has equal right to seek redress through a court of Law. Every one has equal right to protection of life, property and honour. Islam proclaims equal treatment in Law, irrespective of one's status or position of life. Even the ruler has no exemption, unlike the practice and legal theory of the West according to which the Head of the State can do no wrong. He has soon to appear before a court of law, if called. The Caliph Omar, in a case filed against him, appeared personally before the judge, with the appellant who was a Jew, and so did Ali, the fourth Caliph, in another case.
An incident is reported in Al-Bukhari, Hadith-e-Sahih, that in Madinah a woman of Bance Makhzum Tribe committed a theft. The elders of this tribe prevailed upon Usamah Bin Zaid to intercede for her with the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The woman was likely to get physical punishment of Hadd or the cutting of hand. When Usamah approached the Prophet in this respect he felt extremely annoyed and said: " Would you intervene in the punishment prescribed by Allah"? Then he turned to those present and declared: "What has been the cause of the downfall of nations before you is that when a thief of noble origin was caught, he was exempted form punishment, whereas a thief of bumble origin was punished. I swear by Allah that if Fatima, daughter of Muhammad, committed a theft, I would have had her hand cut off This tradition bears a most significant example of the application of the law of equality and justice in Islam.
Economic equality
In the current economic conscious world people talk much about Socialism, Communism and other Isis, but do they ever realize that more than fourteen hundred years when these Isms were not born, the Divine Book, Al-Quran proclaimed with superb clarity: "And there is not a creature on the earth but the sustenance there of dependeth on Allah. He Knoweth its habitation and its repository. Each thing is recorded in the Book perspicuous." It is evident from this verse that Allah is the Originator, Maintainer and Sustainer of the entire universe and every created unit has equal right to benefit by the creations of Allah, which are meant for the good of all. Man, according to the Quran, is the "Vicegerent of Allah on earth" to implement His commandments, for expanding the best possible social harmony in human society. It is the duty and responsibility of man, individually as well as collectively, to fulfill the basic requirements and needs of all persons under his care and custody, including his neighbours. The Prophet of Islam has severely warned the persons who fulfill their own belly but neglect their hungry neighbours.
It is, therefore imperative for the Head of a Muslim State to see that every person, irrespective of religion, living in his domain should have equal opportunities to earn his living and share in prosperity. No one can be deprived of this fundamental Humans Rights guaranteed by Islam and no one can be permitted to exploit another. The Quran clearly states: "O mankind: Be careful of your duty to your Lord who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty towards Allah in Whom ye claim (Your rights) of one another, and towards the wombs (that bore you). Lo! Allah hath been a Watcher over you."
"Give unto orphans their wealth. Exchange not the good for the bad (in your management thereof) nor absorb their wealth into your own wealth. Lo! That would be great sin#.
The Quran has clearly envisaged the doctrine of equality and justice (Adl) and given broad outlines of the social philosophy of Islam.
It must be admitted that man was declared as the vicegerent of Allah and to place him above the rest of the creations he was bestowed with two extraordinary distinct powers of Nutq and Zamir conversation and the conscience of discretion which enabled him to unfold the hidden treasures of the Universe, to understand the laws of nature and to make widest contact with the humanity. God has said: "I am going to place on the earth on who shall rule it. He gave Adam knowledge of all things then presented him to angels. And celestial beings were ordered to pay homage to him. "Man had to acquire knowledge of all things in the Universe, after which the movers of natural forces would obey him in actualizing the potentialities inherent in creation.
The Quran revealed that in Nature nothing is purposeless, everything has its definite place in the order of the Universe and has been designed for his service and benefit, and the He has endowed him with the capacities necessary for working out His design. This purpose was to bring out his latent faculties and carry him to the height of material, moral and spiritual prosperity and happiness, through these works God meant to educate and raise the human race to a state of society which will enable it to rule Nature on the morally highest principles, and thus to minimize and alleviate the misery, adversity and privation.
For this purpose he was given those privilege that would come to him through a new bearing to be attained by him with reading, writing, thinking, deep observation reflection, experimental and inductive research as the Prophet rightly said, "Science is the remedy for the infirmities of ignorance, a comforting beacon in the right of justice. The study of the science has the value of fast (Saum) the teaching of them has the value of prayers (Salat); in a noble heart they inspire the highest feelings and they correct and humanize the perverted."
These principles were always kept in mind by the early Muslims who encouraged art, science, philosophy and technology and became foremost torch bearers of knowledge and radiated light in all corners of the world. There was not a single branch of intellectual development to which they did not give special attention. It was on the basis of universal and rational principles as would be all embracing and helpful in removing the misery and affliction of humanity, that he whole construction of Islamic society was raised, Brotherhood, equality, justice (Adl), dignity of human rights, no racial or class distinction, mutual cooperation, and unifying force of love should be the dominating feature of a real Islamic society.
In a nutshell it may be stated that an Islamic society is a society free of special privileges. There is complete equality before law. Both Hazrat Omar and Hazrat Ali had appeared in the courts as claimants of defendants to demand evenhanded justice. Allama Iqbal in his Ramooz-e-Bekhudi has immortalized this aspect of life, in the story of Sultan Murad and the architect. The Sultan having been disappointed with the work of the architect, cut his hands off in rage. The architect went straight before the Qazi to seek justice. Who having summoned the Sultan, informed him in these lines;
"Abde Muslim Kamtar az ahrar neest,
Khoone Shah rangeen tar az me "marneest"
(The son of a Muslim is in no way inferior to those placed high above him The blood of the Shah is not redder than that of the architect.
Further, Ibn Qutaiba has recorded a letter written by Omar-al-Faruq to one of his judges, in which, inter alia, Omar says: "Equalize all Muslim in your Court and Your attention, so neither the man of high station will expect you to be partials nor will the humble despair of justice from you.
2006-11-27 14:00:31
·
answer #5
·
answered by Anonymous
·
1⤊
1⤋