The mere enactment of good laws, the Quran asserts is not enough to ensure peace in the world. It is necessary that the laws should be properly enforced :We sent Our messengers with clear arguments and with these Our laws and the criterion of justice so that man may establish himself in justice ; and with it We have , also created steel wherein is mighty power and many other uses for mankind (57 : 25).
In other words, law which is not backed by force is no more than pious advice. Law must be enforced if the social order is to be maintained. The Quran, therefore, is in favour of the state maintaining sufficient power to enforce its laws. If the Quran calls God As-Salaam, the source of peace, it also applies to Him the terms, Protector, the Mighty, the Compeller, and the Self-reliant. The state should reflect these attributes as well.The power vested in the state should be used to maintain law and order and as a defence against those who threaten its independence. The state is not to use its powers to curtail the freedom of individual. The purpose for which the state exists is to maintain conditions in which the individual can develop and achieve self-realisation. This purpose is fulfilled only when the state is fully independent and prepared to meet aggression from any quarter : Make ready for your opponents all you can of armed forces and of horses tethered, that thereby you may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others beside whom you know not (8 : 60).
The state should not use its power to oppress the weaker nations. It should use its power to create conditions in which the way of life ordained by God can be followed. The first battle fought by the Muslims exemplifies the right use of force. The Rasool (prophet) and a small band of his devoted followers lived in Mecca for thirteen years. During this time they suffered all kinds of persecution with patience and humility. Every insult or act of violence was received in silence or at the most it evoked a gentle protest. But their self-imposed restraint was mistaken for weakness and every day they suffered outrages. When oppression became intolerable, they left their ancestral home and sought refuge in Madina, a town several hundred miles away from Mecca. Even here they were not left in peace. Their enemies were determined to compel them to renounce the new creed or to exterminate them if they refused to do so. A formidable force marched against them. For the refugees it was a question of life and death. even then they hesitated to meet force with force. They patiently waited for Divine guidance, that they might do which was right. They were at last permitted to resort to force and give battle to their implacable enemies: (As has been mentioned above) They do avenge themselves against any aggression committed on them and according to the Law of Justice this is obviously not a crime (Rather it discourages the crime) (42 : 41).
A clear directive is given in the following verses, Permission is given to those who are fought against (to right) for that they have been wronged ; and verily God has the power to help them :It is for this reason that permission is hereby given to the people (Momineen) who have been very oppressed and against whom war is being wrongfully waged, to fight (in self-defence). Allah Almighty indeed has the power to support oppressed people. The only fault of the oppressed people who were unjustifiably driven from their homes was that they proclaimed Allah Almighty alone as their Sustainer. (But evil rebellious forces never easily permit people to exercise the option of having their own Rabb). Imagine, if Allah Almighty had not enabled people to defend themselves against others (and let loose the rebellious forces to do whatever they liked), they would have not even spared places of worship like monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, where Allah's name is proclaimed profusely. These places would have been pulled down long ago. Allah Almighty will thus most certainly help any group which rises to defend the System based on justice and equity (wherein the freedom to worship is the basic right). Indeed Allah Almighty is most powerful and reigns supreme over everything. (22 : 39-40).
Page 1 of 2 :: First | Last :: Prev | 1 2 | Next
|