Islam and Social Development

Excerpts from the book ‘Islamic point of view on social development’

By: MajidRashidpour

Translated by: Mina Salimi

AllamahTabataba’I, the great Muslim theologian, held that Islamic rules and regulations are not new restrictions imposed on human beings and rather they are the very needs and requirements of human beings’ inborn, unaltered nature, presented to humanity as religious decrees and rules and that in fact, the religion expresses what human nature calls for.

Man is by nature a social being. He/she is born and raised in the society of family and after growing up, he/she starts a family. Moreover, a great deal of his/her evolution and progress takes place in the society outside the home environment and in his/her dealings with the other members of the society where he/she is supposed to serve and help in cooperation with the others.

So, human nature is inseparable from the society. Certainly by ‘society’ in this context, things like buildings, farms, gardens and deserts are not meant. Rather human community or human society is meant here. 

All human beings naturally feel themselves in need of the society, including the family society which is formed through marriage. The fact that in every human being’s body, there are sexual organs points to the inborn need for a mate and marital life.

Another proof for mankind’s being naturally social creature is that no one ever desires to live in an isolated lonely island, even if that island is equipped with everything which meets human beings’ material needs, such as the need for food, clothing and shelter. This is because human beings really need to have contact and association with each other.

And Islam as the last and most perfect faith rejects monasticism and emphasizes the significance of marriage, raising children and being helpful, cooperative members of the society. Islam is the religion of peace, lawfulness and sociability. According to Islamic teachings, man’s perfection can be fulfilled through his fruitful social life, and instead of seclusion and living lives of celibacy, man should try to find asceticism in living and working with his fellow-human beings while carefully observing Divine laws, rules and limitations in his dealings with the others, trying hard to avoid even the least bit of harm and/or injustice to the others, while of course defending his own rights and the rights of the others as well.

A thorough, thoughtful survey of this Divine outlook gives one the understanding that no asceticism is worthier than being in a society while abiding by all Divinely-ordained decrees and humane regulations and never exceeding the boundaries of human values and more over, taking upon one’s shoulders the burden of supporting one’s family through lawful means and bearing the responsibility of raising children in a way that they grow up to be useful, responsible members of the society. Islam praises such efforts and discourages living in loneliness. In a Prophetic Narration we read,: “No institution is loved by Allah more than marriage.” .

Likewise, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) of Islam would promptly condemn any deviation in the family life of Muslims. In the book ‘Safinatul-Bihar’ a hadith has been narrated which briefly goes as follows: A Muslim woman came to the Holy Prophet(PBUH)  of Islam and complained about her husband’s neglecting his marital duties  towards her, since he had chosen to spend all days in fasting and nights in prayers. Upon hearing this, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) got angry and went immediately to the man and addressed him thus. “Allah has not appointed me as a Prophet to preach monasticism. I myself pray and fast and also fulfill my marital duties towards my wife. So, anybody who wants to be a follower of my religion should act according to my teachings and manners, including marriage and being a dutiful good spouse.”

On another occasion,  the Holy Prophet(PBUH) of Islam was informed about the condition of a Muslim man who upon the death of his child, had built a mosque inside his own house and would constantly engage himself in prayers there, avoiding association with the others and refraining from participation in Muslims’ gatherings and circles. This time too, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) went to the man and said to him: “Allah – The Almighty has not commanded me to preach monasticism. Truly for my followers, monasticism is struggle in the way of Allah.”

From the Hadith it can be inferred that to be otherworldly, a Muslim should struggle and endeavor in the way of Allah, whether that struggle be in battle-fields or serving the people, or in the purification of one’s soul which is itself, according to the Holy Prophet(PBUH) of Islam the greatest Jihad.

These all share in common endeavor in the way of Allah which takes its full shape when one is in the society and in association with the other human beings. A careful study of various authentic Ahadith and Narrations reveal the fact that it is absolutely necessary for Muslim communities  to be devoid of dispersions and disputes, and that there should be perfect unity among Muslims both in their own societies and also at the world level. Obviously, for the fulfillment of such worthy goals, gigantic efforts   are needed. Imam Hussein (AS)has been quoted as saying, “A Mu’amin (a faithful person) is the brother of another Mu’amin, for they are related to each other like parts of a body.”

Likewise in the sources on Islamic history we read that when the verse “InnamalMu’aminoonaIkhwah” (truly the faithful are brothers) was revealed, the Holy Prophet(PBUH) of Islam ordered the Muslims to become brothers, and His Holiness the Holy Prophet(PBUH) himself made the brotherhood contract with His Holiness Ali(AS).

And in his regard, Imam Sadiq(AS) has stated, “A Muslim is another Muslim’s brother and included among the rights of a Muslim over his Muslim brother is that the latter should not feed himself up while his (Muslim) brother is hungry and should not fully satisfy  his thirst while his brother is thirsty and should not dress himself up while his brother  lacks enough clothing. It is indeed very interesting and thought-provoking to know that in certain Ahadith the Holy Prophet (PBUH) of Islam has warned the Muslims that the one who regards himself a Muslim and yet does not care about the problems of troubled Muslims and who is just concerned about his own life and his personal wants is not a true Muslim.   Likewise, there is a Hadith from Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as follows: “The one who passes a night(and reaches the morning) without thinking about the affairs of Muslim is not a Muslim.”

From the numerous Ahadith in this regard and also from the Qur’anic verses, we can conclude that no good act is more reward-worthy to Allah than serving the people. The following Ahadith from Imam Sadiq(AS) are particularly noteworthy in this connection: “By Allah, the right(s) of a Mu’amin is superior to the right(s) of Ka’bah.”

“The one who goes to visit his faithful (Mu’amin) brother to fulfill that brother’s needs will be regarded (and rewarded) as Allah’s pilgrims.”

“Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The one who helps a Mu’amin with his problem(s), will be helped and granted safety by Allah on the Day of Judgment, when there will be no shade from bad ending.”

All such invaluable Divine  teachings lead us to conclude among other things that each Muslim should desire for the others what he/she desires for himself/herself and should likewise avoid the conducts to the others which(conducts) he/she does not like the others to do to him/herself.

No doubt, the Muslim community will attain true growth when the members of that worldwide community attain such sublime attitude. Here, it must be emphasized that Islam attaches great significance to Muslims’ taking active part in their congregational rituals and social affairs. In fact, Islam is a religion all decrees and rules of which are in harmony with social growth and welfare. According to Islamic teachings, acts of worship done in gatherings and congregations are more rewarding than those performed in isolation. The congregational (Jama’at) and Friday (Jum’ah) prayers are no doubt outstanding examples of highly meritorious congregational acts of worship in Islam. Likewise, the Hajj Pilgrimage, while an act of worship to be fulfilled for getting nearer to Allah, has distinguished social and group benefits too. As inferred from the Qur’anic verses and the Ahadith from the Infallible in this regard. Allah desires the Muslims to, through the religious-political Hajj rituals, create firm, unshakable ties with each other and that at the magnificent Hajj gatherings which is as a massive congress, the world Muslims should become aware of each other’s  problems and conditions, exchange views and opinions, embark upon removing the afflictions and troubles faced by each Muslim community and attempt to help the advancement of Muslim communities on a collective basis and in collaboration with each other.

In various Ahadith, we read that to Allah,  prayers and supplications done in groups and congregations are superior to those done individually and alone and that if one prays for the others, Allah will fulfill his/her own wishes besides accepting his prayer for the others. Basically, Islam does not approve of a Muslim’s choosing to live a life of seclusion and celibacy. Read this Hadith from the Infallible to get better acquainted with Islam’s outlook towards unity, solidarity and compassion: “Truly the Prophet (PBUH) has cursed the one who chooses to eat alone, and the one who embarks on a journey through a desert alone and the one who chooses to sleep in a house alone.”

And Imam Ali(AS) has said, “Allah’s hand is with congregations.” There are also certain other Ahadith telling us that the greater the number of people sharing a meal with each other, the more blessed that meal will be and that the best of meals (to Allah) is that shared with as many people as possible. It has been narrated that at meal times, Imam Reza(AS) would always urge all people around, even those who were in charge of keeping the poultry to sit down and share the meal(s).

Thus Muslims everywhere, of whatever religious sect they might be, are brothers (and sisters) in Islam, and have to regard and treat each other as such. They should unite and prove to the enemies of Islam who are also the enemies of humanity as a whole that the evil plots they hatch for dispersing Muslims will backfire.