SPIRIT OF ISLAM JULY 2O18

14 Spirit of Islam Issue 67 July 2018 In making an assessment of Islam in relation to politics, one crucial point must be taken into consideration, politics being only a relative and not the real part of Islam. ISLAM AND POLITICS Will of Society I N making an assessment of Islam in relation to politics, one crucial point must be taken into consideration, about politics being only a relative and not the real part of Islam. This difference between a real and a relative feature is what is essential and relevant in all circumstances and at all times, whereas the relative feature is required only in relation to particular sets of circumstances. Wherever such circumstances do not exist, relative features lose their relevance and therefore their desirability. This difference between the real and relative is illustrated by the Quranic injunction to perform the Hajj pilgrimage: “Pilgrimage to the House of God is a duty to God for all who can make the journey.” (3: 97) The wording of the command to perform Hajj shows that it is not obligatory for all believers in an absolute sense. It is obligatory rather for those who have the means and the resources, and who are in good health to reach the place of pilgrimage. This injunction does not imply that those who do not have the means should make superhuman efforts to find the wherewithal for the journey, so that they may perform this ritual worship. The injunction only means that those who have the means should perform the pilgrimage and those who do not will not only be exempted, but will not even be held accountable for having failed to do so. The same is true of politics. That is, if a group of Muslims find themselves in a position to establish the political system of Islam by peaceful methods, and without any violence, then the Shariah will require them to do exactly that. But for those who do not find themselves in such a position, it is not their bounden duty to establish an Islamic political system, nor are they required to set in motion political initiatives calculated to create opportunities to do so. That is why the Quran at no point gives the following command: “O Muslims, establish the political system of Islam.” On the contrary, the Quran makes such clear statements about government and politics as prove that they are relative and not the real parts of Islam. For instance, addressing the believers the Quran says: