Islamic Law in Un-Islamic Society
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa
Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be
upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters
has asked this question:
Dear Brother in
ISLAM.
Asalamalakum
I have been reading your awnser on the question of punishment.that is cutting of the hands for theft etc.I think it must be made clear here that this would be
feasible in a just islamic society.
If a muslim brother or sister has had to steal to feed their
children or just live their lives then there is nothing islamic
in the society that they are living in .If we have kings who have gold taps in
their bathrooms who are punishing people who steal for food and a living ,then i cannot see the islamic rules applied because ,that king should be
supporting his brothers or sisters in their lives.
There is something
wrong with our islamic life
if this is going on.so before we state islamic punishment, we should be stating the justice that
should prevail in an islamic society, before we talk
about punishments. I hope you will reply to my concerns,thank you your sister in Islam
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
Answer:
In the name of Allah, We praise
Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can
misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We
bear witness that there is no one (no idol,
no person, no grave, no
prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone,
and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant
and the seal of His Messengers.
Dear Sister in Islam, you are
absolutely right in your deduction that Shariah can
only be enforced in a righteous and pious Islamic society. The guidance and teachings of Allah and His
Messenger (saws) are such that first it strives to create a righteous society
of believers who fear Allah in all their dealings; a society which establishes
prayer, a system of collecting and distributing zakaah
and charity, etc. Once this righteous
society is formed; only then will the benefits and advantages of the Shariah laws will be evident.
The criminal law cannot be taken
or understood in isolation, without the implementation of a righteous society;
both are an integral part of each other.
You are also absolutely right that the ‘Ameer’
or leader of the believers, should be one who fears Allah and recognizes his
responsibility towards the believers; rather than being interested in living
like a king of this world! It would
indeed be extremely hypocritical of this king to himself disobey the guidance
and teachings of the Quran and Sunnah;
but judge his people with the full extent of the Shariah!
In the absense
of such a righteous society, it becomes the duty of every believer to first
himself be a good muslim;
and then strive to create a society of the righteous.
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj
verse 78: And
strive in His cause as ye ought to strive (with sincerity and under discipline): He has chosen you and has imposed no
difficulties on you in religion; it is the deen of
your father Abraham. It is He Who has
named you Muslims both before and in this (Revelation); that the Apostle may be
a witness for you and ye be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayer give regular
Charity and hold fast to Allah! He is your Protector the Best to protect and
the Best to help!
Allah says in the Holy
Quran Chapter 29 Surah Ankabut verse 69:And those who
strive in Our (Cause), We will certainly guide them to Our Paths: for verily
Allah is with those who do right.
Whatever written of Truth and
benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error
is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He
is the Only Source of Strength.
Your Brother in Islam,
Burhan
