ORGANISATION

Organisation ~ 164 ~ effectively, it must be supervised by community leaders who, once appointed, have to be obeyed irrespective of personal likes or dislikes. Religious duties, such as regular attendance at prayers, broadscale collection and distribution of zakat, the systematic propagation of the message of true religion can all be the more effectively carried out once a definite social order has been established in each Muslim community, for it provides a framework within which devotees consider it their bounden duty to follow the lead of those appointed to its upkeep. The task of organizing Muslim brethren need not fall to a governmental body, for this is a duty which ought to be undertaken by the people themselves, irrespective of whether Muslims are in political power or not, and regardless of general circumstances. Such organization is, in itself an act of worship, but its aims will be fulfilled only if it is carried out without any external pressure being exerted on the individuals concerned: it will bear fruit only if people engage in it of their own free will.