The Approach of Converting to Islam (8)

Similarities and Differences

The correct position - as I think - is that man has to look for similarities, but should admit the differences between any contemporary Muslim group in any town and the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions in both periods of Makkah and Medina.

 Once those groups find themselves in a position similar to the position of the early Muslims, they have to follow the conduct of the Prophet in that position. We can explain this point by some examples:

1 - The people who accepted Islam in Makkah did not live as isolated individuals, but they formed an organized group. I believe that the wisdom behind this is:
First: Muslims - According to the Qur’an - are one nation, mainly brothers, therefore, it is not possible to live completely apart. This seems to be contradictory, but it is true, because when we live isolated, we will not achieve our existence or feel satisfied because there is a vacuum inside each one of us that cannot be filled but by the other Muslim brothers.

Second: If our ultimate goal is to establish our own community, then we must create that community within the society that we like to change. Thereby, we can face the challenges of the society in which we oppose and we can feel the blessing of living in a Muslim society and give others a living example of that community.

For any people who wish to establish a true Muslim society that can evolve to become a Muslim country, there are certain factors:
A - They have to organize themselves in one group and to have a leader. The correct thing is to have one Muslim group to work in a particular community whether it is ignorant or semi-ignorant. The more number of groups we have, the more we deviate from following the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the process of directing to the Islamic trend is delayed.

However, if it happens for one reason or another that there is more than one group in one community, the best position is to coexist with one another in a friendly manner, cooperate to achieve the common goals, and to coordinate their efforts to do so.

 
These groups have to remember that the bond between them is the testimony of “There is no god but Allah” which is more important than the things that reinforce division.

 B - They have to remember that their leader is not a prophet and his words should not be always obeyed because he himself is a follower of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

 Thus, it is obligatory to follow him only when he obeys the Prophet (peace be upon him).

 The followers of that leader should also have the means (The Qur'an and the Sunnah) to correct and direct their leader. That leader cannot reach the status of the Prophet (peace be upon him) or even the Four-Rightly guided caliphs such as Abu Bakr and `Umar or any other Muslim caliph. In order that a leader to be a prince, he should serve as a real leader of Muslims, i.e., the person who holds the real power and can apply the Islamic Shari`ah. In fact, our leaders are like real leaders, but in a narrower concept, therefore, it is a mistake on their part to claim the powers that were granted to the leaders by the Prophet, and it is wrong on our part to provide them with such authority.

C -They should do their best to maintain the brotherhood that is the strength of their unity and should remember that Satan will do all in its power to destroy this unity through the Qur’anic concept (corruption). Moreover, they must know that the conflict will bring them nothing but failure and decay.

D - According to the previous example, there should be cooperation between the Islamic organizations on the global scale, and between those organizations and any current Muslim country be willing to provide assistance and help. We hope that the time will come when the Muslim State is considered the headquarter of all faithful Muslims, opens the doors before them, accept them as citizens with full rights, and accelerate the process of going to the Islamic trend in the entire world as part of it duty. Thus, it provides them with all the moral and material support that it needs.

2 - The Prophet (peace be upon him) in Makkah followed the guidance of the Qur’an when he started to invite people to the main principles of faith. I do believe that he did so because Islam is not just a set of commands and prohibitions, but it is a system that is consistent with both logical and psychological aspects. Thus, if we did not support the internal basis, we will never be able to establish any strong external structure, i.e., if we cannot support faith in the hearts of people, it is futile to ask them to do what Allah has commanded or avoid what He has forbidden. This has been made clear in the saying of `Aishah that was reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari: when the Prophet came, he started to tell the people about Allah and the Hereafter and when they believed, he started to tell them not to drink alcohol or commit adultery. If he began with the second order, they would have firmly rejected his commands and did not stop sins.