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Last updated January 2019

Mushtaq Mahindro

Essay on
Please comment on the ‘Universal Applicability of Islam'

Outline:
1. Introduction and scope of the topic
2. Objection of the western orientalists regarding the harsh punishments of Islam
3. The LGBT phenomenon and Islam
4. Western imperialism vs the dictates of democracy
5. The concept of militancy/terrorism in Islam vs the non-Islamic world
6. Fundamental principles of Islam
7. The superiority of Islam over other schools of thoughts with reference to the
establishment of egalitarian society.
There is a question does Islam has the ability to address the present day world socio-
economic challenges, and can present any recipe to let the world usher into an ear of universal
peace, whereas its sects are at daggers drawn particularly in the Middle East. Additionally, can its
principles as laid down in the Quran and Sunna be squarely adopted in the modern era as a model
to rid the world of its prevailing socio-economic ailments?
People in the West are also objecting that Islamic punishments for different crimes particularly
the capital punishment for the murderers are too harsh to be implemented. They is also criticism
on Islamic injunctions blocking ways leading to free sex and gay marriages in the society.
On the contrary, the West, which runs on majority-based decisions is increasingly
encouraging the same-sex marriage and abolishing the capital punishment even for the
confessional murders and terrorists. While allowing the same-sex marriage and propagation of
LGBT culture they are not willing to give yet an inch to nature’s position on this point as regards
to the peculiar biological configuration, physiology of men and women, and accordingly assigning
of different biological role to them, for instance, conceiving and giving birth to the babies.
The other tragic part of the story is that the whole world profoundly believes democracy as
the best governing mode, but never feel shy of toppling any democratic government and giving
legitimacy to a military dictator if it suits them. This all is done in the name of 'national interest.'
In the recent past up to mid-20th century all the powerful countries of the West liberally brought
the whole underdeveloped poor world under their colonial rule to promote their national cause.
Even at present, the permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations never like
to decide the international disputes and issues on the democratic lines through the auspices of
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General Assembly in the true spirit of democracy. That speaks that it is still the ‘MIGHT’ which
prevails even in the 21st century.
Coming to Islam; Quran maintains that it is the same religion which was revealed on Noah,
Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, and Muhammad (SAW), peace be upon them all.
Islam by most of the Western orientalists is portrayed as militant and extremist religion. The
critics believe that militancy is something inbuilt in this religion. While taking exception to this
narrative of the Western orientalists, I would like to mention here a few cases where a lot of
militancy and extremism has been exhibited by countries and communities which had no link to
Islam. For instance, Tamils, who are Hindu by religion, carried out suicidal attacks for years
against the Buddhist Sinhalese during their secessionist movement in Jaffna peninsula of Sri
Lanka. Likewise, Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura non-Muslim tribes in North-Eastern part of
India are still carrying out attacks against the Indian government and installations in a move to
establish an independent state there.
In the recent past Irish Republic Army of Northern Ireland also went for such militancy
against the British government in line with its secessionist movement. We have also witnessed one
of the World’s worst genocide of Bosnian Muslims in the hands of Christian Serbs towards the
end of the last century. Similarly, there has been a mutual massacre by Hutu and Tutsi non-Muslim
tribes of Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda in the late 20th century. Worst human rights violations
have been committed against the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar by the Buddhists majority
community, and are being committed by the Indian forces against the Muslims of occupied
Kashmir. Other than these there are many more such incidents scattered all around the world in
the human history speaking volumes that militancy, extremism, violence, and terrorism is not a
something which is linked to Islam.
While looking into its real cause one may find that militancy and clash is something which is
linked mainly to the clash of interests. In this clash somewhere somebody is undoubtedly wrong
if judged on the fault lines of justice and fair play.
The word "Islam" means voluntary submission to the will of Allah (God). And I must say
that the will of Allah is nothing but 'not to exploit others,' being the root cause of all human
conflicts and clashes. The tragedy is that Islam is not being practiced in its true spirit even by the
Islamic world. Islam calls them brothers, but they feel pleasure in fighting among themselves just
on the basis of petty differences. They are mostly at present the least educated, technically
backward, non-organized, and non-disciplined societies of the world. Most of the developed
western world though non-believers of the Islamic faith but are practicing most of the Islamic
principles considering these good for them without acknowledging the same as Islamic. They
adopted all this after their long experiences and in-depth cognitive analysis.
The question is what are the Islamic basic principles which are still applicable at world level
though these were revealed an ordained more than 14 centuries ago? Briefly speaking these
principles are as follows:
1. Nobody is allowed to exploit and cheat other.
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2. Governments and people at the helm of affairs are obliged to dispense justice at all costs.
3. Corruption both moral and financial is strictly forbidden.
4. Governments to ensure equal opportunities for progress for all and sundry.
5. Only men of character and integrity to be respected more and given authority.
6. Merit and fair play be ensured while distributing jobs.
7. Everybody including the government is duty bound to help those who are poor and needy. For
this purpose, every rich person is obliged to give 2.5% of its annual savings to the poor and
destitute. However, if somebody gives an extra amount (In the Quranic words ‘Infaq fe subelillah’)
that will be a great source of earning Allah's pleasure.
8. Sexual relations except your wives are strictly prohibited. Husbands are supposed to be loyal to
their wives and wives to their husbands. Even the West accepts these principles. President Clinton
had to say sorry before the nation for his inappropriate relations with Monika.
9. Life is most sacred in Islam. According to it, the murder of an innocent person is the worst crime
and takes it as the killing of whole humanity. It invokes Allah’s wrath who will treat the murderer
in the worst way in the life hereafter. In this life, the Islamic code imposes capital punishment to
the murderer being the best way to check this heinous crime to reoccur. However, only the
bereaved members of the family can forgive by taking some amount in lieu of or forgiving the
murderer at all.
10. Theft and dacoity is forbidden and liable to be punished in the harshest manner including the
amputation of hands being the only way to eradicate this evil from the society.
11. Extending respect to the parents and men of character and integrity is mandatory on all the
Muslims. Muslims are also obliged to be particularly kind to their neighbors, relatives, co-workers
and orphans.
12. Muslims have been enjoined to be kind to their wives and daughters. Allah has earmarked a
due share for both of them in the legacy. Every woman has been given an exclusive right (Haq
Meher) to demand money from the would-be husband at the time of marriage, the amount of which
has not been fixed. As regards the status and respect of womenfolk in Islam, Prophet (SAW) has
said that any person to whom two daughters are born, and he brings them up nicely and arrange
for their marriage that person will stand by him in the heavens like two fingers.
13. The Muslim forces are not allowed to kill the elderly, women and children during the war. The
Muslim forces not allowed to burn the crops and uproot the trees.
14. The prisoners of the battle of Badr were ordered to be released by the Prophet (SAW) only on
one condition that if they teach the Muslims how to read and write. The prophet (SAW) was so
pro-education that he said, “Educate yourself even if you have to travel to China."
15. Islam disdained all prejudices on the basis of cast, color, and creed or the geographical habitat.
It says that all human beings hail from one father (Adam) and one mother (Eve). If he has divided
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you into various tribes and clans that is only for recognition and not to make a point of claiming
superiority or false pride over others.
16. These are the injunctions which are obligatory on all the believers, and there is no excuse and
relaxation unless the person whose rights have been usurped willingly withdraw from his/her right.
17. Despite all the above in qur’anic words "there is no coercion in religion." It is a matter of will
whether you accept Islam or not. That speaks for the freedom of choice and expression so far as
religious beliefs are concerned.
These are the foundations on which the edifice of Islam is erected. And nowhere under any
school of thought could these pro-humanity principles be denied including the secular West. This
gives profound validity to the universal applicability of the Islamic code of life.
Additionally, Islam puts forth two enforcing powers to get its injunctions implemented, one;
the law of the land, and the second; punishment and reward in the life hereafter. Islam teaches us
to keep our desires subservient to the wishes of Allah because Allah says he is more impartial and
fair than any of the human being.
As regards the second part of the religion, i.e., practices like Prayers, fasting, and offering
Haj, etc., these are primarily to build man and develop a harmonious society under the command
of Allah Almighty. Because all these practices are to keep him/her conscious and sensitive that
he/she is accountable to Allah and is being watched and observed by Allah during all his/her
activities.
This is the way how Islam tries to lay the foundation of an egalitarian society in its true spirit.
This society was practically built and developed by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). It was the
time when the ruler used to live the life of an ordinary person without putting any undue burden
on the national exchequer. They left no assets at their death not coinciding with their legal earnings.
Concerning human rights, the governing principle of all the true Islamic rulers was that every weak
person of the society was extremely powerful for them unless his/her rights/prerogatives are
restored by taking the exploiter to the task.
In the wake of those above, if the principles of Islam are not being practiced by both West and
the Islamic world in letter and spirit, this is not due to the reason that these are not applicable in
the modern era. But for the reason that both West and the East have badly fallen prey to the inner
wrong self subservient to lust and selfishness.
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