Spirit of Islam, Feb 2017

T HE question of reforming a community always arises after the period of a prophet. Hence, to reform a community means to bring back on to the path of the prophets the later generations of a people among whom degeneration has set in. In other words, the purpose of reforming a people is to bring back their later generations to the ways prevalent at the time of their prophet. It is this that Imam Malik refers to when he cites his teacher Wahb ibn Kaisan: “The Muslim community, in its last phase, will be reformed through that which reformed it in its first phase.” The narrator asked Imam Malik what was it that Wahb was referring to. Malik replied that what Wahb was speaking of was taqwa, or God-consciousness. (Musnad al-Muwatta). One of the traits of the Prophet’s Companions mentioned in the Quran is that they were ‘firm and unyielding towards those who deny the truth’ (48: 29). That is to say, in matters of religion, they did not imbibe external influences. In contrast to this, with regard to degenerated people the Quran says that they are prone to imitating others (9: 30). That is to say, with regard to religion, they imbibe external influences. In these verses, a law of nature is explained with the help of references to some communities. When a particular community or people are in their ascendant phase, they are so firm on their principles that they remain established in their religious teachings without accepting any influences from their surrounding environment. In contrast to this, when a people begin to degenerate, they lose their concern for principles. As a result, in matters of religion they begin to accept influences from the surrounding environment. This is the cause for the decline of communities. When degeneration sets in among a people, it is the duty of its reformers to deeply study its conditions. Discovering the root cause of this degeneration, they must plan, in a realistic manner, for the community’s reform. In the modern age, there was great talk about Communism, Socialism and Democracy. Their proponents viewed human life in terms of socio-political systems. REFORMING A COMMUNITY An Important Task When degeneration sets in among a people, it is the duty of its reformers to deeply study its conditions. Discovering the root cause of this degeneration, they must plan, in a realistic manner, for the community’s reform.