Village Journals
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Constitutional Ideals Apply to Islam As Well
Constitutional Ideals Apply to Islam As Well
July 25, 2008 edition of the Finger Lake Times (New York)
Sardar Anees Ahmad
Perhaps the most fitting summary of the American idea is a phrase as brief as it is beautiful, ?life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.? Since Independence Day was earlier this month, I wanted to see if the principles this country was founded upon, and celebrates, are as compatible with my being an American, as with my being a Muslim.
To begin with, early Americans fled England for the very reason that early Muslims migrated from Mecca to Medina ? to seek a land that offered religious and political-economic freedom. Prophet Muhammad?s Charter of Medina did for every Medinite (Muslim or otherwise) just what the U.S constitution did for its citizens in recognizing every fundamental liberty as a fundamental right.
Perhaps the most vital quality allowing for the development of both communities was a strict separation of church and state. It was the ?wall? of Jefferson allowed for a Catholic president in a pre-dominantly Protestant America, the very same as the wall of Muhammad allowed for the number of Jewish scholars in Moorish Spain. During Muhammad?s lifetime, Muslims strictly observed the Quranic directive, ?There is no compulsion in religion? (2:256) ? evident from the fact that no Jew, Christian, or pagan was ever coerced into conversion. For example, Muhammad employed in his home for errands but never pressured him to become a Muslim.
Muhammad?s State was also able support both the capitalist, such as Usman bin Affan, with the likes of Abu Dharr Ghiffari, a staunch socialist. Moreover, under Muhammad?s rule, Arabia was just as tolerant of various political ideologies. Prophet Muhammad found his state upon democratic precepts, as the Quran described the implementation of principles such as consultation as a righteous act (3:159, 42:38). Grass-root ideology and activism were not only allowed, but promoted ? as the Quran and Muhammad indicated, ?The greatest Jihad is to speak truth in the face of a tyrant? (Tirmidhi, Abwab-ul-Fitan). While war was permitted to preserve the State, prisoners of war were treated with respect (22:39, 8:67). Legal decisions were also made based on tribal or Jewish law, provided it did not violate common law. Overall, the government was a welfare state, with an economic and medical system in service of the entire society (20:118-119, 2:205).
At the same time many positions were appointed, not filled via election, with merit as the discerning criteria in securing any job. A system of governance whereby talent shapes a social hierarchy, that is a meritocracy, was stressed in John Locke?s Second Treatise of Government ? a document that heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson during the writing of the Declaration. Muhammad believed both a republic and a monarchy were ?Islamic? in nature, so long as its ultimate aim was the service of its citizens. Ultimately, Muhammad?s State was not necessarily by, but always for, the people.
Naturally, a society that nurtures and promotes religious and political-economic pluralism will attract people from every conceivable background. It was this quality to which President Lyndon Johnson alluded when stating, ?America is not merely a nation but a nation of nations.? As is the case with America, the Islamic Empire brought the Arab on level ground with the Ethiopian, the Persian, the Afghani, the Indian, the Spaniard, and the Chinese. Muhammad was exposed to a number of cultures, and never prohibited their expression so long as they were not immoral. For example, a non-Muslim once grabbed Muhammad?s beard during a discussion ? a custom of his tribe when one wanted to stress a point. Naturally, Muhammad?s companions were very upset, but Muhammad never censured the man?s behavior. Following the Quranic injunction, Muhammad also guaranteed all places of worship would have a home in his State, and their defense would take priority over that of a mosque (22:40). Religious tolerance aside, such a welcoming attitude towards people of any faith undoubtedly promotes the interaction, and oftentimes integration, of various cultures and traditions.
In closing, inherent in the words ?life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? is an undying attachment to inclusiveness, understanding, and progress. It is these very words which were realized 1,400 years ago in the deserts of Arabia and which we now celebrate every July 4th.
July 25, 2008 edition of the Finger Lake Times (New York)
Sardar Anees Ahmad
Perhaps the most fitting summary of the American idea is a phrase as brief as it is beautiful, ?life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.? Since Independence Day was earlier this month, I wanted to see if the principles this country was founded upon, and celebrates, are as compatible with my being an American, as with my being a Muslim.
To begin with, early Americans fled England for the very reason that early Muslims migrated from Mecca to Medina ? to seek a land that offered religious and political-economic freedom. Prophet Muhammad?s Charter of Medina did for every Medinite (Muslim or otherwise) just what the U.S constitution did for its citizens in recognizing every fundamental liberty as a fundamental right.
Perhaps the most vital quality allowing for the development of both communities was a strict separation of church and state. It was the ?wall? of Jefferson allowed for a Catholic president in a pre-dominantly Protestant America, the very same as the wall of Muhammad allowed for the number of Jewish scholars in Moorish Spain. During Muhammad?s lifetime, Muslims strictly observed the Quranic directive, ?There is no compulsion in religion? (2:256) ? evident from the fact that no Jew, Christian, or pagan was ever coerced into conversion. For example, Muhammad employed in his home for errands but never pressured him to become a Muslim.
Muhammad?s State was also able support both the capitalist, such as Usman bin Affan, with the likes of Abu Dharr Ghiffari, a staunch socialist. Moreover, under Muhammad?s rule, Arabia was just as tolerant of various political ideologies. Prophet Muhammad found his state upon democratic precepts, as the Quran described the implementation of principles such as consultation as a righteous act (3:159, 42:38). Grass-root ideology and activism were not only allowed, but promoted ? as the Quran and Muhammad indicated, ?The greatest Jihad is to speak truth in the face of a tyrant? (Tirmidhi, Abwab-ul-Fitan). While war was permitted to preserve the State, prisoners of war were treated with respect (22:39, 8:67). Legal decisions were also made based on tribal or Jewish law, provided it did not violate common law. Overall, the government was a welfare state, with an economic and medical system in service of the entire society (20:118-119, 2:205).
At the same time many positions were appointed, not filled via election, with merit as the discerning criteria in securing any job. A system of governance whereby talent shapes a social hierarchy, that is a meritocracy, was stressed in John Locke?s Second Treatise of Government ? a document that heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson during the writing of the Declaration. Muhammad believed both a republic and a monarchy were ?Islamic? in nature, so long as its ultimate aim was the service of its citizens. Ultimately, Muhammad?s State was not necessarily by, but always for, the people.
Naturally, a society that nurtures and promotes religious and political-economic pluralism will attract people from every conceivable background. It was this quality to which President Lyndon Johnson alluded when stating, ?America is not merely a nation but a nation of nations.? As is the case with America, the Islamic Empire brought the Arab on level ground with the Ethiopian, the Persian, the Afghani, the Indian, the Spaniard, and the Chinese. Muhammad was exposed to a number of cultures, and never prohibited their expression so long as they were not immoral. For example, a non-Muslim once grabbed Muhammad?s beard during a discussion ? a custom of his tribe when one wanted to stress a point. Naturally, Muhammad?s companions were very upset, but Muhammad never censured the man?s behavior. Following the Quranic injunction, Muhammad also guaranteed all places of worship would have a home in his State, and their defense would take priority over that of a mosque (22:40). Religious tolerance aside, such a welcoming attitude towards people of any faith undoubtedly promotes the interaction, and oftentimes integration, of various cultures and traditions.
In closing, inherent in the words ?life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? is an undying attachment to inclusiveness, understanding, and progress. It is these very words which were realized 1,400 years ago in the deserts of Arabia and which we now celebrate every July 4th.