Quranic Foundations And Structure Of Muslim Society
PART 2. DUTIES OF CONDITION
TOWARDS OTHER INDIVIDUALS
A.Duties to Relatives and to the non-Relatives belonging
to one’s home;
B.Duties with respect to Age and Rank;
C.Duties to Particular Categories of non-Relatives;
D.Duties to Muslims as Muslims;
E.Duties to non-Muslims as non-Muslims.
In
part I of the “Duties to Others”, we have covered those duties of omission and
commission which the Holy Qur’an has prescribed in respect of our dealings with
our fellow-beings without consideration of the nature of our relationship with
them. They are duties which, according to the Holy Qur’an, we owe to every
human being in his capacity as human being. In other words, they are duties
which relate to fundamental human rights.
The Holy Qur’an has
prescribed, however, another set of duties also, which we owe to others in
consideration of their specific relations with us. They may be called: “Duties
of condition.” We shall deal with them now, classifying them first into five
broad sections: A, B, C, D, and E, as given above. Of course, these sections
are further sub-divisible, as we shall see.
Quranic Foundations And Structure Of Muslim Society
(II) DUTIES OF COMMISSON
END: Active struggle
for creating an atmosphere conducive to morality and awakening the moral
consciousness of one’s fellow-beings by word and deed.
Preliminary:
The Holy Qur’an says:
“By Time (as it has unfolded
through the ages, recording man’s successes and failures), verily man is in a
state of loss, but not those who have Faith and do (constantly) righteous
deeds, and exhort one another to Truth, and exhort one another to endurance (in
the service of Truth).” (103:1-3).
The
Holy Qur’an further warns that evasion of this active struggle leads to
calamities of the highest magnitude, which afflict the innocent and the guilty
alike:
“And fear the chaveisement that
shall not afflict those alone who among you do wrong; and know that verily
Allah is Severe in Chaveising.” (8:25).
DUTIES:
a.Duty of Love;
b.Duty of Respect.
(a)
DUTY OF LOVE:
Active struggle for the fullest
establishment of morality enjoined:
(1)The mission which
has been entrusted by God to the Muslim community is the establishment of moral
order in the world as a whole —a mission the fulfillment of which is the duty
of every Muslim, man and woman:
“(O Muslims!)
You are the best (ideological) community that has been raised up for mankind.
You enjoin right conduct and forbid all that is wrong (i.e., evil); and you
believe in Allah …” (3:110).
(2)This mission
entails, however, certain difficult conditions. Hence, it is not possible for
every Muslim to fulfill this mission. Consequently, while it is the duty of
every Muslim to co-operate(4:85) in it to the best of his capacity and
in the manner best suited to him, it is necessary that there should be a
trained, disciplined and devoted band of Muslims who should lead the struggle.
And this is what the Holy Qur’an has enjoined:
“Let there arise out of you a band
of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding
what is wrong: They are the ones who attain felicity.” (3:104).
(3)The basic
struggle consists, thus, in propagating among mankind the Divine Teachings
which form the very foundation and the life-blood of the moral order. This
struggle has, however, to be pursued in the sublimest manner. The Holy Qur’an
says:
“Invite (all) to the Way of your
Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are
best and most gracious: For your Lord knows best who have strayed from His Path
and who receive guidance.” (16:125).
(4)The establishment
of the moral order necessitates finally the employment of state-authority for
this purpose. The Holy Qur’an enjoins this function on the Islamic State:
“… Allah will certainly aid those
who aid His (cause)—for verily Allah is Full of Strength, exalted in Might,
(able to enforce His Will). (Muslims are) those who, if We give them authority
in the land, establish regular prayer and give regular charity, enjoin the
right and forbid wrong; and with Allah rests the end (and decision) of (all)
affairs.” (22:40-41).
(5)The Holy Qur’an
condemns the establishment of secret societies for evil ends. But it permits
secret activity, if absolutely necessary, for the promotion of virtue:
“In most of their secret talks
there is no good, but if one exhorts to a deed of charity or justice or
conciliation between human beings, (secrecy is permissible): to him who does
this, seeking the good pleasure of Allah, We shall soon give a reward of the
highest (value).” (4:114).
(b)
DUTY OF RESPECT:
Marriage permitted as the
only means of fulfilling sexual need and made obligatory for preserving the
moral health of society:
“Marry those among you who are
single, or the virtuous ones among your slaves, male or female: if they are in
poverty, Allah will give them means out of His Grace: for Allah encompasses
all, and He knows all things. Let those who find not the wherewithal for
marriage keep themselves chavee, until Allah gives them means out of His
Grace.” (24:32).
