The Balance

﷽

BALANCE IN THE ISLAMIC SOCIETY BETWEEN RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS

Balance is an important objective which pertains to both individuals and to societies and it can be achieved by following proper procedures. Balance means equilibrium which is a desired objective that is recognized and appreciated in Islam.

We live in this life by the will of Allah ﷻ Almighty for a genuine purpose. We are related to the law of the universe which is ordained by the Creator ﷻ who reveals,

"Every single thing is before His sight, in (due) proportion. He knoweth the Unseen and that which is open"

(Ar-R’ad:8-9)

تَزْدَادُ ۖ وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍ عِندَهُۥ بِمِقْدَارٍ

عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ ٱلْكَبِيرُ ٱلْمُتَعَالِ

And Allah ﷻ also reveals,

"Verily all things have We created in proportion and measure"

(Al-Qamar:49)

إِنَّا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَـٰهُ بِقَدَرٍۢ

Perfect balance is necessary to maintain life by coordinating the factors affecting it such as spiritual and temporal, economic, and human factors. The balance measurements are very clear, but, unfortunately, many people miss them. These measurements are the laws of Allah ﷻ, the One

"Who knows all (the tricks) that deceive with eyes and all that the hearts conceal"
(Surah Ghafir:19)

يَعْلَمُ خَآئِنَةَ ٱلْأَعْيُنِ وَمَا تُخْفِى ٱلصُّدُورُ

Any other measurements will not fulfill the objective, or at least not in a perfect way. Balance in its perfect form cannot be practiced except in an Islamic atmosphere and in an Islamic society. Therefore, we should know more about the nature of this society.

THE NATURE OF AN ISLAMIC SOCIETY

Mankind is the ‘vicegerent of Allah ﷻ on the earth’ and is tasked with establishing a just and equitable system by utilizing the entire creation which Allah ﷻ put under our dominion. The relation between man and other creations is based on the loyalty of both, to Allah ﷻ, the Originator.

On the other hand Islam is neither a mere religion, confining its scope to the private life of the individual, or just an ideological vision; it is a completely practical way of life. It provides guidance for all aspects of life, social, moral, economic, political, legal and cultural; and on the individual, national and international level.

It is very clear -in the sight of Islam -that man forms one unit consisting of spirit and body. The spiritual aspirations cannot be divorced or separated from his material needs. Neither of them should dominate the other in order to achieve peace and harmony within one's self.

The final goal according to Islam for the whole of humanity is to please Allah ﷻ. "To Allah we belong and to Him is our return." (Al-Baqarah:56) So if faith is confirmed by realization and action, the only laws that should be applied in this life are those which are revealed by Allah ﷻ.

The nature of the Islamic society is based on the previous principles which form the frame of its human interaction. It is a very lofty society and among its peculiarities are mutual love, mercy, respect, reciprocity and genuine feelings of brotherhood. In conclusion, the Islamic society is unique because all of its members believe in Allah ﷻ and practice His ﷻ laws in a beautiful system.

THE AIM OF SOCIAL LIFE

Social life in Islam is based upon supreme fundamentals which are designed to secure happiness and prosperity for all. These aims cannot be achieved without social solidarity and mutual responsibilities. The individual is responsible for the welfare of the society and the society is responsible for the welfare of its members, especially the disabled. Social life in Islam is characterized by co-operation in goodness and piety. In the meantime the Muslims are enjoined to play an active part in the establishment of social morals by inviting to good and combating evil in any form with all the legitimate means at their disposal. This is ordained in the Holy Quran:

"Help one another in righteousness and piety, and help not one another in sin and rancour"

(Al-Ma’idah:3)

This way a society proceeds collectively to achieve an equilibrium between the needs of the individual and the needs of the society. It is impossible to conceive of such a society permitting transgression or approving slavery and other forms of injustice.

DUTIES AND RIGHTS

In Islam, a human being is deemed to be a sanctuary regardless of colour, sex, race, origin or language. Islam confers equal rights on all without any distinction, and it subjects the highest and the lowest, the richest and the poorest, the governor and the commoner, to the sovereignty of Allah ﷻ. At the same time, it gives no superiority on account of class or wealth because humanity represents one family springing from one and the same father and mother, aspiring to the same ultimate goals. There is no room for racial prejudice, social injustice or class conflict.

Every human being is entitled to enjoy the common benefits as is enjoined to share the common responsibilities. These responsibilities are as follows:

a) Duties of the state

(I) The saying of beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is very clear. He is reported to have said, “Whosoever acts as a public officer for us (Islamic State) and has no wife; he shall have a wife; if he has no house, he shall be given a house to live in; if he has no servant, he shall have one, and if he has no animal (with which to travel) he shall be provided with one.”

(2) The state should provide full care for the disabled, poor and needy, and should grant education, health and security services to all.

(3) The state is responsible for collecting and distributing charity (zakah) according to the specified system and not to leave it to the individual’s initiative.

(4) To secure equal opportunities and to respect the differences in abilities and efforts.

These are in general the duties of the Islamic state, beside the fundamental duty which is "establishment of Allah’s religion (Al-Islam) and spreading its with every suitable means.

b) The duties of Muslims

1. There is a special claim every Muslim has on another Muslim. This flows out of a common bond with Islam. The saying of the Apostle of Allah ﷻ, Muhammad ﷺ is comprehensive and needs no explanation: “Every Muslim is a Muslim’s brother.” He should neither harm himself, not leave him alone (when someone else does so, best to help and to protect him). Whoever among you will fulfill the need of his brother, Allah will take it upon Himself to fulfill his need. And a Muslim who will remove the distress of a Muslim brother, will find a distress of his being removed by Allah on the Day of Requital. And anyone who will hide the shame of a Muslim, his sins will be hidden by Allah on the Last Day.”

2. To enjoin goodness and prevent the wickedness.

3. To lead his family on the path to Allah ﷻ.

4. To prepare himself to propagate Islam by working for peace.

5. To be merciful to the children, respectful elders, comfort and console the distressed, visit the sick, relieve the bereaved, and respect the rights of others.

6. "Fear Allah ﷻ as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam," and to love for his fellow-man what he loves for himself.

c) The role of the family

Family in Islam is not only a relationship between a man and a woman in order to procreate, but it is a fundamental institution of human society ~ to maintain, to develop and to preserve human culture. It is the basic unit which depends upon the well-being of a society. If the society is not healthy the family will not be healthy.

d) Special rights

There are some aspects of society that have special rights, therefore, duties and rights should correspond. These special rights are:

1. Towards parents - The Prophet ﷺ said “In the pleasure of parents lies the pleasure of Allah ﷻ, and in their displeasure, is the displeasure of Allah.” Allah relates His worship to kindness towards parents as He ﷻ says, "Your Lord has decreed that you worship none save Him, and that you be kind to your parents."

2. Towards children - Islam has laid an equal stress on the rights of children. Their rights are not only to feed and clothe them; the most important is their moral education and upbringing. The Prophet ﷺ said “No better gift can there be from a father to his children than that he raised them properly.”

3. Elders and youngsters - Every Muslim should respect the elders and conduct himself with due deference in their presence. In the same way, those who are older are required to treat the younger with kindness and affection even if they are not their relation. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said “He is not of us who is not affectionate to those who are younger than himself, and respectful to those who are older.”

4. Women - women are equal to men in the full sense. They have the same rights as men. They differ in duties. Therefore, every gender has been prepared to undertake certain tasks suitable to his or her abilities, but they assist each other in fulfilling their tasks and responsibilities. Allah ﷻ says in the Holy Qur’an, "And they (women) shall have rights similar to those against them according to what is equitable. But men have a degree of (advantage) over them” (Surah Al-Baqarah:228). The Prophet ﷺ said “It is the generous (in character) who do good to women, and it is the wicked who insult them.” In case of a mother, the Prophet ﷺ said “Paradise lies at the feet of Mothers.” And he ﷺ said regarding the wife “The best of you is the best to his family, and I am the best among you to my family.”

5. Kinship - all the relations through parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, in-laws, etc. Islam has ordained us to be mutually affectionate, cooperative and helpful. Fair and lofty treatment of one's relation as enjoined by Islam should be at one's own expense and within the limits of justice and fairness.

6. Neighbours - Islam requires us to be kind, loving and caring to all neighbours, to cooperate with them and to share their sorrow and happiness. It enjoins social relation among them in which one could depend upon the other and regard his life, honour and property to be safe. Not only this, but Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said “he is not a Muslim who eats his fill and lets his neighbour go hungry.”

7. Weak, poor and needy - it is the duty of the prosperous among Muslims to be generous towards their less fortunate brothers and to share their wealth and other resources. It is the duty of every member of the society to take care of the others as they would their own family.

BACK TO BALANCE

Islam appreciates all the genuine needs of mankind and tries to realize them and to effect a perfect balance as far as the limitations of human nature would allow. It starts with the individual maintaining balance between the requirements of his body and soul, reason and spirit, and in no case allows one side to dominate the other.

Then, Islam organizes the balance in the society among the individuals and between the individual and the community. Hence, Islam calls on us to foster an independent existence as a social philosophy as well as an economic system that takes into consideration the whole of society. In the worldview of Islam, life consists of established, well defined forms of mutual love and respect, cooperation and mutual responsibilities between Muslims in particular and between all human beings in general.

Note: This talk was delivered in Guyana by Ustadh Ahmad Ehwas circa 1979-80. Ustadh Ahmad would usually print multiple copies of his talks and give them to the brothers whom he believed would benefit from them. Faisal Baksh held onto the hard copy that was given to him. He scanned it and Nazim Baksh edited it to help readers appreciate and perhaps benefit from the ideas and concepts that Ustadh Ahmad introduced to the Muslim community in Guyana.