Getting to the Root of the Problem

Getting to the Root of the Problem

1988 11 November 17 Getting to the Root of the Problem (310) In the days before the Prophet received his first revelation, and had not yet launched himself upon his prophetic mission, he was invited to attend a gathering at the house of Abd Allah ibn Judaan in his home town of Mecca. There the assembled citizens entered into an agreement – *hilf al-fudhool – that they would come to the aid of the oppressed and would secure for people any rights which they had been denied. Later, after he had begun his prophetic mission, when the subject of hilf al-fudhool was mentioned, the Prophet said, “Even now, as a Muslim, if I were invited to attend such a meeting, I would accept.”

As far as matters such as hilf al-fudhool were concerned, the Prophet was content to be an invitee. But where the central point of his mission was concerned – tawheed or the oneness of God – it was he who did the inviting. “This is my path. I invite unto Allah, I and all my followers.” (Quran, 12:108)

In a situation where polytheism predominates, the basic duty of a Muslim is of course, to follow the Prophet’s example, and invite people to accept the oneness of God. As far as social harmony and moral rectitude are concerned, however, a Muslim may accept the invitation of any well-intentioned group and co-operate with them in eradicating the ills of society. Such work, however, should not divert him from, or replace his essential mission, which is to call people to God: all social ills can, after all, be traced to one fundamental cause – people’s neglect of their Maker. If people forget their social responsibilities, it is because they forget God. It is, therefore, for a Muslim, first and foremost, to work on the root-cause of social malaise rather than to concentrate on removing mere off-shoots.

* This event is mentioned in various biographies of the Prophet.