A True Voice

A True Voice Taqwiatul Iman by Maulana Shah Abul Hasan Zayd Faruqi, pp. 86-87) In Islam, decisions about collective affairs are based on mutual consultation, or shura (The Quran 42:38). Such consultation leads to healthy decision-making. A climate where criticism and differences of opinion are accepted is a must for proper consultation. However, because the present-day Ulama do not accept criticism and differences of opinion, there is no genuine shura in their circles. When the British were ruling India, there were other communities besides the Muslims, and many of them indulged in various forms of shirk, associating others with God. Now, from the perspective of the Shariah, the first responsibility of the Ulama ought to have been to launch a movement based on the worship of God through kind words and gentle guidance and exhortation, infused by a genuine concern for the people’s welfare. However, if you examine the history of the last three hundred years, you will find that there was not even a single Indian Muslim religious leader who was conscious of this urgent need and who drew the attention of the Muslims to it. This task of inviting people to God is so vital that if it is abandoned, the Muslim community will lose all