THE ESSENCE OF RELIGION–PART II

It is not fitting for a believing man or woman to exercise any choice in his or her own affairs once God and His Messenger have reached a decision upon them. Anyone who disobeys God and His Messenger is in manifest error. (33: 36) Individual obedience is an obligation which every believer must fulfil. One cannot be regarded a worshipper in the eyes of God unless he obeys the commandments related to his life and his circumstances. Worship means submission of the inner self. Externally, man should mould his life entirely on the pattern indicated by God. It is the duty of all believers to reject other inducements and submit totally to God in all matters that they face in life: O believers, submit all of you wholeheartedly, and do not walk in Satan’s footsteps; he is your sworn enemy. (2: 208) The second category of commandments are termed social commandments. These are commandments, the obeying of which does not depend upon the will of an individual believer. These can be carried out only when the society is prepared to accept them. Therefore the social laws are addressed to any Muslim society which is invested with authority, rather than to individual believers who have no political power. These laws are not required to be obeyed in the absolute sense, but only in relation to circumstances of the individual or group addressed. The truth is that social and political commandments are directed only at those groups of believers who are in a position to carry them out. Believers with a limited sphere of power are not required to enforce religious laws on a social or national level. One clear principle of the Islamic laws is that, 'God does not charge a soul with more than it can bear' (2: 286). That is to say, no one is charged with a responsibility which is beyond his capacity to fulfil. To assign responsibility to anyone which is beyond his capacity is not God’s way. Then how can believers be asked to obey laws, which they are not in a position to comply with? Taking into account all the details of religious laws, if the claim is made that it is obligatory for believers to carry out and enforce these laws in all circumstances, will amount to saying, for example, that it is the The social laws are addressed to Muslim society which is invested with authority, rather than to individual believers who have no political power.