RELIGIOUS IMITATION, POLITICAL IMITATION

RELIGIOUS IMITATION, POLITICAL IMITATION

Corruption in Religion

FOLLOWERS of the previous Prophets, during the period of their degeneration indulged in a form of corruption that the Quran refers to as ‘muzahat’. (THE QURAN 9: 30)

The literal meaning of ‘muzahat’ is ‘imitation’. That is to say, adopting irreligious ways and practices by giving them a religious name. For instance, consider the practice of worshipping nature instead of the worship of God. To be influenced by this practice and adopt it by labelling it as following the traditions of one’s forefathers is ‘muzahat’.

One form of ‘muzahat’ could be called ‘Religious imitation’. All the practices of bidaat or innovation in religion are a part of ‘Religious imitation’. Bidaat does not mean the practices that have been created anew. Bidaat in fact is to take the irreligious practices of others and adopt them by giving them religious sanction.

Another form of muzahat that is apparent in the present times on a large scale, could be referred to as ‘Political imitation’. For example, taking some practices of secular parties and organisations and adopting them as a religious obligation by giving them an Islamic name. Thus, for instance Muslims today use the method of protest on a very wide scale. Without any doubt whatsoever, this is ‘Political innovation’ or ‘Political imitation’. To stage protests and demonstrations, to issue statements of protest, to organize conferences to protest against this or that, to take out protest rallies, to call for strikes and to raise slogans in protest; such actions done in the name of Islamic cause, are all forms of ‘Political imitation’.

Protesting is a method of secularism. It is not the method of Islam. At the time of the Prophet Muhammad, the Kabah in Makkah had been practically turned into a place where polytheism was practiced. The Prophet did not protest against this. Likewise, for 13 years of the Prophet’s life in Makkah, he and his Companions had to face all sorts of oppression. Yet, he did not protest against this either. He was subjected to social boycott, he and his Companions were compelled to leave their homeland, but here also he did not protest. 

The fact is that protesting in itself is a completely un-Islamic method. One simply cannot make it Islamic by giving it a beautiful-sounding name—by calling it ‘Peaceful protest’, or ‘Religious protest’, ‘Protesting for one’s rights’, ‘Protesting against the oppression of the Government’, ‘Protesting against insults to the Prophet’, ‘Protesting against the sacrilege of holy places’, ‘Protesting against insults to Islam’, and so on.

What is the psyche behind this imitation of others? The answer to this is found in the Quran, in the following words: ‘their hearts are all alike.’(2: 118) In other words, imitation at the level of thought. When peoples who have been given a divine scripture pass through a phase of degeneration, their way of thinking is no longer based on God’s deen or way of life. Their minds are dispossessed of a live God-consciousness. As a result, they get influenced by irreligious thoughts and ideologies of their surroundings. The true divine model as a practice becomes unknown to them. So, they give non-divine models a religious title or label and adopt them as a part of religion.

Present-day Muslims have fully fallen prey to both forms of imitation— to religious imitation as well as political imitation. The many innovative practices widespread among Muslims are all a result of this religious imitation of others. For instance, various rituals and practices among Muslims that they have adopted in imitation of others but by giving them a seemingly ‘Islamic’ justification—such as Milad un Nabi (celebration of the birthday of Prophet) and Quran khani (arabic recitation of the Quran by a group of people) are all innovations. The activities that present-day Muslims are engaged in all across the world in the name of Muslim politics are all, and without any exception whatsoever, a result of the ‘Political imitation’ of others. In the name of Muslim politics or Islamic politics, present-day Muslims have sought to ‘Islamise’ things that are not at all Islamic.

This so-called ‘Islamic politics’ is, in reality, the politics of a degenerated community. It was practiced by earlier peoples who were provided divine scriptures but still strayed away from God’s path in their later periods. This ‘Islamic politics’ will bring no benefit to Muslims, either in this world or in the Hereafter.

The task that Muslims must undertake is dawah, that is, communication of the message of God to mankind, not politics. Until Muslims abandon this method of ‘imitation’ and adopt the method of dawah, they will continue to be deprived of God’s blessings. They will never receive God’s help unless they undertake God’s work of communicating His message to mankind.