UPRIGHT SYSTEM OR UPRIGHT INDIVIDUAL?

It is true that the Quran contains some laws and provisions which deal with government affairs, for example, theft, adultery, drunkenness, false accusation of adultery, murder, etc. But such orders are few. The purpose of laying down these rules is not to create a standard society, but, rather, to maintain a necessary level of order in society. One proof of this view is that there is no specific instruction in Islam regarding many of the most important components required to establish an ideal society, such as how to appoint a ruler of a state. After the Prophet’s death, there were five such heads of the Muslim state, including Umar bin Abdul Aziz (died AD 720), who are unanimously known as the Pious Caliphs. But the appointment process for all of them was different. Similarly, there was no specific system or structure of the parliament in the early days of Islam to serve as a model. After the emigration of the Prophet of Islam to Madinah, even the Prophet followed the old political system of Madinah until the conquest of Makkah. The present world has been created in order to put man to the test. To meet the requirements of the test, there will always be unfavourable conditions. According to the creation plan of God, the ideal world will be created in Heaven. In the present world, man’s task is to prove himself worthy of gaining entry into the next ideal world (Paradise). Trying to create a standard and ideal social system in the present world is like trying to build Paradise in the present world, which according to God’s plan is not possible at all. The concept of Islam regarding social system is that if a system exists that does not pose a problem for the believers to practice their religion, then it should not be challenged. By recognizing this in practice, Islam will be followed at the levels of individuals and institutions. Following the same principle, the Prophet Joseph did not oppose the polytheist king of Egypt, because under him, Prophet Joseph could live up to the requirements of monotheism. In similar fashion, the Prophet Muhammad’s Companions emigrated from Makkah and went to Ethiopia. It was then ruled by a Christian king named Negus. The Prophet’s Companions did not clash with him, as he granted people religious freedom. The main goal of Islam is that every individual attain God-realization, everyone become a rabbani person—a devoted servant of God in worship and in ethics.