In The Name of Allah ..:: An Islamic City ::..
By: Huma Hasan Quran and Etrat Internet University http://university.etrat.net <http://university.etrat.net/> History of Islam Course Fall 2010 http://university.etrat.net/pdf/lin.jpg Abstract: The entire Universe is a unity and all its parts are interconnected and every one of them has a reciprocal effect on another. If there is peace and prosperity in one part of the world it spills over into other parts too, and vice versa! Thus the faith is founded on belief in Unity and Monotheism. A monotheist is one, who, with due deference to the Prophets (AS) and the Imams (AS), preserves the position of The Creator of the Universe, and does not attribute the work of one to the other. He accepts that jurisprudence and laws are formulated by Allah (SWT) for the betterment and unity of His creations, and are properly implemented by His Chosen Representatives only! An Islamic City or State is the place where Divine Laws are practiced for the Unity and betterment of humanity. It is a piece of heaven on the earth, where people are nurtured to achieve their goal of creation. This article deals with the advantages of running a city or state on Divinely Prescribed Guidelines. Keywords: Monotheism, Divine Rule, Divine Representatives, Islamic city. An Islamic City a piece of Heaven on the Earth: The crude human intellect has not yet realised the secret of worshipping the One Allah (SWT) absolutely, and is not aware that it is Allah (SWT) Who rules over the Universe, and is an Omnipotent and Omniscient Lord. He is the Creator, Who is free from every weakness and defect! His power, perfection, knowledge and wisdom are unlimited. He is above everything which may be assumed for Him. There is no accomplishment which He does not possess. There is no possibility which He cannot create. He is the One Allah (SWT), Who is competent to create all beings and phenomena, without the help of any person and without any supports. He can create other beings and phenomena in the same manner in which He has created the present ones. Hence, according to reason, the existence of the mediation of an authority or government, which may detract from the independence of the will of the peerless Allah (SWT), is unacceptable. The method employed by the Prophets (AS) and Imams (AS) for the teaching and guidance of the people is that of logic and reason, because they are concerned with the minds of the people. They desire to set up a government which should be established on the basis of faith, knowledge and justice and such a government cannot be established by means of violence, warfare and bloodshed. One should, therefore, differentiate between the governments of the Prophets (AS) and Imams (AS), and their representatives, and the governments of Pharaohs, Nimrods, Umayyad and Abbasside of yesterday, as well as satanic leaders of today. The object of the second group is security of their rule and government by all possible means, although their nation may break down after their death, or after their removal as leader. On the other hand the Divine People wish to set up a government, which should have its way in private, as well as in public, and whether the ruler is strong or weak at any particular time, or is alive or dead. Such an object cannot, of course, be achieved by use of force and pressure, which is the favourite tool of worldly rulers! A city where Code of Islam is implemented is a heaven on the earth! Here rights of all citizens are respected; people are pious and God-fearing who try their best to achieve the purpose of creation! The first step in the establishment of such a city is to improve the standard of awareness, and help increase knowledge of people. The education should be a common benefit provided to all. If one studies the history of migration of Prophet (SAWW), one finds that his first step on reaching Medina was to set up a mosque, which doubled up for an education centre. Prophet (SAWW) was sent to educate people according to Divine Commandments. [Al-Juma'a 62:2] He it is Who raised among the inhabitants of Mecca a Messenger from among themselves, who recites to them His communications and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and the Wisdom, although they were before certainly in clear error! The above verse clearly proves that being distant from Divine Signs makes one dwell in the life of error and transgression! Acquisition of correct knowledge is a step towards liberation from whims and desires. It opens up ones heart and soul for the acceptance of The Truth. Thus in an Islamic City people are provided all means to gain knowledge. They are trained according to Divine Laws. They are encouraged to establish their lives based on Divine Commands. In an Islamic City the governance is under a Divine Representative or his appointed governor, because he is an Infallible or delegate of a Pure One, and thus does not tolerate sinning and impure acts of others. [Al-Ahzaab 33:45] O Prophet! Surely We have sent you as a witness, and as a bearer of good news and as a Warner! Common man can be divided into three categories, a small minority is of those who are not influenced by their surroundings, and they walk steadily on the straight path even in most adverse conditions. Opposing them are the ones who even under best possible atmosphere never accept the path of The Truth, they too are in minority. In between is the majority of population. They are the ones most influenced by their surroundings. They follow in the footsteps of their rulers. Thus Islam recommends governance of Infallibles (AS), or of their appointed envoys, so that the majority receives guidance from the Leaders of The Truth. The Holy Prophet (SAWW) came as a Role Model and a Witness to all men about The Truth, which had been obscured by the falsehood of ignorance and superstition. He came as a bearer of the glad tidings of the mercy and reward of Allah (SWT), to those believers, who do good deeds, and also to those transgressors who believe, repent and then live a good life. He came also as a Warner to those, who are heedless of the hereafter, which is all important. This life is the reaping ground for the hereafter. If one leads a pure and pious life here, helping in the establishment of a Model Dwelling, or Islamic City, where submission is the mode of conduct, then one will be blessed with the same peaceful conditions in the hereafter too! He also came as one who has a right to invite all men to the religion of Allah (SWT). Above all he came as an eternal light or lamp (sirajan munira) to illuminate the right path, [Nuh 71:16] And made the moon a light in their midst, and made the sun as a Glorious Lamp! Therefore the Holy Prophet (SAWW) is like the sun which will illuminate the whole world till the end, through the Imams (AS) of His Holy Progeny. His and their actions will eternally guide people towards the Right Path. Thus his model set up in Medina is the best example of an Islamic State. Importance of such an ideal place can be gauged from the fact that the date of his migrating to Medina is considered the starting point of the Islamic Calendar. His ten years in Medina present the most ideal pattern of governance ever. In fact it will not be wrong to say that the ten years of Medina life after Prophet (SAWW)'s migration to that city, and the four and a half years of Imam Ali (AS)'s rule as an apparent Caliph, are the only true examples in history, which present a model Islamic City for us! Islam believes in equality of mankind. It encourages all to strive, be dexterous and try their best to earn their livelihood. But in case, even if after extreme hard work, someone is not able to provide for his family, or not able to make the ends meet, then the state is there to help and support him through the system of Zakat and Khums (Islamic Charities). This system encourages establishment of a crime free community. When all are willing to share Divine Bounties with others, the lesser blessed ones too feel satiated and do not employ wrong means to fulfil their desires! [Al-Tawbah 9:60] Alms are only for the poor and the needy, and the officials appointed over them, and those whose hearts are made to incline to truth, and the ransoming of captives, and those in debts, and in the way of Allah, and the wayfarer; an ordinance from Allah; and Allah is knowing, Wise. When the state treasuries are full, and the government workers are paid their proper dues, chances of financial corruption become nil. The officials perform their duties diligently. They willingly help and support the needy. In an Islamic State it is encouraged to sustain the poor of all faith, because it exposes them to the true compassionate face of Islam. It also helps in keeping an economical balance in the society. Muslims are commanded to help their neighbours without taking into account their faith. Prophet (SAWW) said to Imam Ali (AS), "Do not fight the disbelievers, first introduce Islamic teachings to them." (Daaem al-Islam, vol. 1, P.269) The Almighty Allah (SWT) encourages the struggle against the disbelievers and their social influences to cleanse the communities, but unnecessary violence is not supported. Instead one is encouraged to strive spiritually to remain free from evil influences. An Islamic City is a sanctuary for oppressed and downtrodden of the society. [An-Nisa'a 4:75] And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper. Here the rights of all inhabitants are respected and protected. People are not judged because of their material greatness, but because of the magnitude of their spiritual elevation. In such a place only those people are punished who refuse to surrender to Divine Will, who obstinately and continuously deviate from the Right Path, who oppress and tyrannizes weak members of the community, who usurp others rights! In Islam the primary motive of any struggle is to defend the cause of Allah (SWT), and also to protect or liberate the oppressed among men, women and children. Before Islam "survival of the fittest" was the driving force amongst Arabs. In the struggle for supremacy they used to employ all available means, good or bad, to obtain maximum resources, without giving any thing to other fellow beings. It was almost an animalistic society. Islam stopped it. With the development of intellectual faculties and inspiration, natural tendencies gave place to moral values, and instead of fighting for food and material necessities, they began to distinguish between right and wrong, good and bad. Islam gives permission to fight against those who deprive people from the essential freedom to worship Allah (SWT), and to make use of His bounties justly and equitably. Those who strive in the cause of Allah (SWT), to put an end to the survival of the fittest theory, receive help from Allah (SWT). Therefore the true servants of Allah (SWT) vie with one another to fight against the evil in their own selves, and in the society, in order to be nearer to Allah (SWT). This ensures peace and prosperity in the community, and thus helps develop a serene place to live in! The consequences of social, political and religious deviation will not only harm those who have done injustice to themselves, but also equally jeopardize the well-being of those who have done no wrong, therefore all the believers should safeguard themselves against evil by observing the laws made by Allah (SWT). Every person responds to the call of his desires, but when he submits to the call of Allah (SWT) or the Holy Prophet (SAWW), his act of submission is due to the coming of Allah (SWT) in between a man and his desires, and thus he is prevented from going astray on account of the dictates of his vain desires. If every member of a community works to develop the trait of submission in his nature, he will help in creating a perfect society! A society where Divine Law is respected and practiced! A place which can be named as a Perfect Islamic City! Thus Islam encourages a monotheist to say firmly, [Al-Kafiroon 109:6] To you be your Way, and to me mine. Conclusion Hence one can conclude that a city or state where Islamic Laws are implemented helps in developing and fortifying ones faith. Here one clearly comprehends the message of each article of faith. 1. An Islamic City helps strengthen the concept of Monotheism and Unity. 2. It makes one respect the concept of justice and equality. 3. It reinforces the position of Prophets (AS) and Imams (AS), as Infallible Divine Representatives, who alone can guide in the implementation of accurate Divine Jurisprudence. 4. It makes one appreciate that no good deed or sacrifice is wasted, but will be recompensed one day, whether in this world or the hereafter. 5. In an Islamically run city all citizens enjoy rights and have equal status. 6. Here one is encouraged to share material blessings with others. References: 1- The Message, By Ayatollah Jaffar Subhani; 2- A Restatement of the History of Islam and Muslims, By Sayed Ali Asgher Razwy 3- Commentary of Quran, By Amir Ali and Agha Mehdi Pooya; http://university.etrat.net/pdf/lin.jpg http://university.etrat.net/pdf/signature.png -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "shiagroup" group. To post to this group, send email to shiagr...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to shiagroup+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/shiagroup?hl=en.
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