| Answer: The propagation of the truth has
remained the mission of the Prophets, for it is the right of every truth that it
be disseminated far and wide. Islam requires of a Muslim that he propagate the
truth according to his ability, position and status. It says that every person
is the shepherd of his herd about which he shall be held accountable on the Day
of Judgement. It directs each person to strive to save himself and his family
from the flames of Hell. It defines each person’s sphere of authority in which
it is his responsibility to propagate and implement the truth.
This propagation has three distinct
categories depending upon who the propagating entity is:
1. Common Muslims
2. An Islamic State
3. Religious Scholars
All these categories have specific responsibilities, and
the ones meant for one can in no way whatsoever be discharged by the other.
Also, each has its own sphere of authority in which evil can be eliminated by
force if need arises.
It is the duty of a common Muslim to
urge the members of his family and, indeed, every person present in his
immediate surroundings to fulfil the three basic requirements which will ensure
their salvation in the Hereafter. These three requirements have been spelled out
in Sūrah ‘Asr:
Verily, Time bears evidence that man
is in a loss save those who accept faith, do virtuous deeds and invite each
other to the right path and urge each other to remain steadfast on it.(103:1-3)
It is the duty of the head of state and
all his representatives to implement the Sharī‘ah at the state level. Keeping in
view the welfare of the society, they must enforce the directives of Islam.
While pointing out the objectives of an Islamic State, the Qur’ān says:
[These believers are those who], if
We grant them authority in this land, will establish regular prayers and pay
Zakāh and enjoin what is virtuous and forbid what is evil. (22:41)
It is the duty of religious scholars to
guide the people in their religious obligations and warn them against the
dreadful fate that awaits them if they do not fulfil these obligations. The
Qur’ān refers to this responsibility in the following words:
It was not possible for all the
believers to undertake [this job]. So why did not a few from every group among
them come forward to gain sound knowledge in religion and warn their
[respective] people, when they returned to them that they may also take heed.
(9:122)
It is to be noted that the sphere of authority in which a
common Muslim can forcibly forbid evil lies within his sphere of responsibility
is his own family, as is evident from the following H~adīth of the Prophet (sws):
Beware! Each of you is a shepherd of his flock, and each
shall be asked about his flock. (Muslim, Kitābu’l-Imārah)
A Muslim has not been given the permission to use force
outside his sphere of authority. The only thing he can do outside this sphere is
to urge and exhort people.
The sphere of authority of an Islamic State is all its
citizens. It has all the authority to forcibly eliminate evil among its
citizens. |