The Dichotomy between political Islam and nonpolitical Islam

[NASSIR]

I came across this clearly concise illustration of the mystery of this concept and its widespread but dangerous misconception, from the new book of Ismail A. Ismail. Exchange similar & interesting encounters..

 

 

"Our actions and behavior are not circumscribed by laws alone, but also by our beliefs and values....

 

In Islam...there is nothing that approximates the Western concept of seperation of church and state. Simply, there is no historical parallel in Islam with the struggle for power between church and state. In the first place, the mosque is not hiararchically structured, and its Imams have no place in politics. However, there is a religious obligation on a Muslim ruler to ensure the furtherance and enrichment of religious life and to see to it that secular laws conform to and do not negate the word of God.

 

The Dichotomy between political Islam and nonpolitical Islam is false and misleading, because a Muslim is required to be politically conscious and active in order to fight evil and promote good. Jihad itself, which is a struggle against evil (a defense against aggression, injustice, corruption, abuse of power, moral decadence, ect.), is a cornerstone of Islam. A Muslim is not supposed to be a passive bystander; if he sees a wrong he must correct it with his hands, and, if that is not possible, he must use his tongue, and if that is not possible, he must reject it in his heart. In short, one must put oneself in a position where one can change things for the better. I do not see how this would be classified as politics. An apathetic Muslim is a contradiction in terms. But there must be a system, of course, through which individual energies could be channeled. The disciples of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) were undoubtedly political beings and the prophet himself (SAW) was, in a sense, a political leader making alliances, entering into negotiations and signing agreements, and mobilizing people. That he was not doing this for worldly gain, for the spreading of the word of God does not change the fact that he was a political leader.......Good governance requires good people, and religion inculcates good values and cultivates human virtues. But religion narrow-mindedness shuts one off from the wisdom of human civilizations."

 

Governance: The Scourge and Hope of Somalia (p. 455-6)

By Ismail Ali Ismail