As a God-centric Text, the Qur'an has a profound ethical vision that appeals to our individual and collective conscience to be good and do good in all phases of life. Indeed, historically speaking, the Qur'an brought about transformational change in the fortunes of a people by virtue of the strength of its moral and philosophical framework. Despite all the provocations and problems that the early Muslim community faced in standing up for freedom of conscience, and of religion within a pagan social framework; the Qur'an does not lapse into any strategies of coercion or intimidation in service of its religious outlook. In his Friday Sermon of 12 February 2021~29 Jamadi’ul Aakhir 1442 AH, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius explains the fatal mistakes made by the Mawdudians in seeking to deploy the Holy Text as a weapon of choice in the pursuit of capturing elusive State power.
Elaborating on Qur'anic verses and Prophetic practice, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) points out that in the complex backdrop of a repressive society, Islam stood up for freedom of conscience in matters of religion- investing in the power of persuasion, not of force or compulsion. The nascent Muslim State's attempts at sovereign regulations on various matters cannot be confused with, and needs to be seen in isolation from the spiritual domain of Islam as a religious order. Any attempt at reading Qur'an as a mere instrument of power politics- to be deployed in the campaign for seizing power at all costs- will corrode the very spirit and substance of the spiritual framework of Islam, notes Hazrat Saheb (aba) in the discourse. The Friday sermon also shares recent Divine revelations received by Hazrat Saheb (aba).
Read the Friday Sermon Below:
According to a Hadith, Allah can make things happen through politics that cannot be accomplished by the Holy Quran alone. This prompts some Muslims to argue that the first goal of the Ummah must be secular seizure of power. [According to them] It is only then that the teachings of the Holy Quran can be applied.
It
is the Mawdudis who support this
point of view. It has absolutely nothing to do with the practice of the Holy
Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). Indeed, contrary to what is advanced, by the
authority of Allah he (pbuh) had established the Holy Quran first; long before
he came to political power. The teachings were observed [implemented /
practiced] even though the political powers of the time opposed them [ie,
against the Quranic teachings].
In
light of what I have just said, the Hadith in question is in contradiction with
the established practice of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). It is, on the other hand,
with the verse of the Holy Quran which states - No compulsion in religion.
Faith cannot be established by using coercive force; to force someone to
believe [to have faith]. Several verses of the Holy Quran are clear on this.