Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Personal Freedom in Islam

Personal freedom is one of the pillars of the "religion" of secularism preached by the West. So what role does personal freedom have in Islam?

Any human being is free to choose or not to choose Islam - they have full personal freedom in this matter. But once they have entered the fold of Islam they are bound to its system of laws. Just like one is not forced to accept a country's citizenship, but once they take that oath of allegiance, they are bound to fully fulfil the rights and obligations that it entails.

The laws of Islam are natural laws and if someone violates them they are going against the forces of nature, thus they must be brought back in line. A farmer is free to plant or not to plant the seeds in the proper season. It is a natural law that not sowing the seeds will result only in the cultivation of weeds. Similarly a Muslim may or may not follow Islamic injunctions. His choosing not to do so will have disruptive natural consequences for himself and the whole society. Since one of the principles of Islam is to protect human rights, property and honor, any violation resulting from following personal whims should be curtailed. Thus unrestrained personal freedom has no place in Islam.

Having said that, there is a lot of personal freedoms in Islam if one stays within the boundaries of its laws. One is free to adopt from a range of options about which the ulema have agreed to have a difference of opinion. Almost all laws depend on the specific circumstances of the individual and punishments can not be implemented except by the Qadi of a just Islamic government - something missing in today's world.

Maybe due to the latter fact, there is a growing global phenomenon among the Muslims in that they are making Islam a personal religion -- just like Jews and Christians have done before them. Rather than referring to the specialists in the field, they are interpreting many allegorical verses from the Holy Quran, while completely ignoring the Sunnah of the Propphet (SWAS). This is a calculated strategy of the opponents of Islam, so that Islam becomes a private religion, while Global Secularism becomes the functional religion of all societies of the world.

On the one hand many born Muslims are leaving the practise of their religion, enticed by the false attraction of unrestrained freedoms of this new functional religion. On the other, many more non-Muslims who have been suppressed by that system are finding true liberation in Islam, by accepting only the servitude of Allah (SWT). In Islam, one has complete freedom -- in fact one is bound to disobey everyone (including one's parents) -- if their obedience means the disobedience of Allah (SWT). In many Muslim societies, we follow decadent traditions instead of authentic Islam. Exploiting the weaker members in such societies has no place in Islam and should always be opposed. Muslims have a duty to filter their traditions and only keep what complies with Islam.

If one surrenders one's will to the natural laws that govern everything in the universe, one will be synergizing with all the natural forces in the world and genuinely feel true liberation. It was this understanding, that led to the triumph of Islam throughout the known world in the 7th century AD and still makes Islam the most practised religion in the world.

The immortal lyrics sung by the late Allan Faqir reminds us of this very idea:

Jissay darya ka pani jeevan day
Ussay dunya ki lehroN say DaRna kya?

Allah Allah kar bhayya
Allah hi say DaR bhayya

---

For whom the water of the river gives life
What fear should he have for the waves of this world?

Say "Allah! Allah!", Brother
Fear only Allah, Brother

The Greater Evil

Most Pakistani Muslims going to the West only concern themselves with being safe from eating only halal/zabiha meat. They make inquiries about its availability. They meticulously check the ingredients before buying any product, etc. Unfortunately they have no qualms in dealing with interest in banking or borrowing on interest for their cars and housing. Eating halal food is mentioned in the Quran but there are no real warnings for those who do not like there are for dealing in interest.


Have a look at these warnings:

1. Dealing in interest is tantamount to WAR with ALLAH and HIS PROPHET (SWAS) {Quran}

2. Dealing in interest is as if you have been made mad by the touch of Iblees (Satan) {Quran}

3. Dealing in interest at the lowest level is equivalent to having intercourse with your mother {Hadith, Ibn Majah -- classified as Saheeh by Shaykh Al Albani}

4, The Prophet (SWAS) refused to pray janaza for those who had loans (non-interest bearing).
If this is the case with halal loans, imagine how serious is having interest bearing loans for 20-30 years!

Most of us borrow on interest to show off their wealth & status. If a simple used car would be sufficient for our needs, we borrow to drive a 4x4. If a studio apartment can serve our purpose, we go for a town house. The habits of living economically within our means are now becoming extinct. Why should one save money for such investments and pay zakaat on it when one can pay that amount in downpayment and enjoy the life of the privileged members of society?

Question: Why is Riba prohibited in such serious terms?

Answer: Because it pools resources in the hands of only some members of society and causes enmity among the haves and have-nots. Eating non-zabiha meat causes health problems which are limited to the individual. Dealing in interest tears apart the fabric of brotherhood in societies apart and has serious repercussions. Since the effect is more the severity of prohibition is more.

Unfortunately we often follow Islam on the basis of peer pressure. If we can find a fatwa that will justify our desires to our Muslim friends and relatives we will pursue that course of action. There is a great need to understand Islam holistically. Imagine that there is no one around you that you are answerable to no one except Allah. Will you still follow your desires and justify your wrong actions to the ALL KNOWING? Being answerable to Him is most important. Everyone else do not matter...