GUIDANCE FOR LIFE IN ISLAM

GUIDANCE FOR LIFE IN ISLAM Voluntary not Coercive T HE statement ‘Islam is a complete guidance for life’ is both correct and incorrect. If this idea is taken in the sense of following Islam by one’s own choice, then it is true. However, if Islam is considered a complete system of life in the sense of enforcing it on others, then this would certainly be a wrong notion which finds no basis in the Quran or the life of the Prophet. Islam: A Subject of Individual Following For example, a verse in the Quran enjoins Muslims thus: “Believers, fear God, and say the right word.” (33: 70). This verse means that whenever a believer speaks, he should be cautious about saying that which is true and upright. But if the interpretation of the injunction given here is taken to be the establishment of a political system in which people are compelled to speak the truth and never utter anything that is improper, then this would be a self-styled interpretation, which finds no sanction in the Quran. Similarly, at another place the Quran says: “When you speak, observe justice.” (6: 152). This verse speaks about a commandment that has to be adopted in one’s individual life. That is, as an individual a believer should always be honest in speech and should never say a lie. However, if this verse is taken to mean that Muslims are duty-bound to establish a political system which forces people to always speak the truth and never be dishonest, then this would be a self-styled understanding of the injunction to speak the truth. Such an interpretation has nothing to do with this verse of the Quran. Another verse in the Quran reads: “Remain steadfast in religion.” (42: 13). Here the Quran is advising every individual believer to follow the divine religion in his life. If instead this verse is understood to mean that Muslims have been commanded to establish a state by force and to coerce people into abiding by the rules of this state, then this would again be a wrong meaning given to this verse. Islam is a complete code of life, however, it is so in the sense of an individual following the religion of Islam in his life by his own choice. To take Islam to be a complete socio-political system that must be established in society at every level by the force of political power—is a wrong idea.