POLITICAL SOVEREIGNTY
Not a True Goal
POLITICAL power is not the goal of Islam. However, God does grant political power to people as a means by which human beings are tested. Just as they are tested when bestowed with wealth. With the same objective, political authority is granted to every nation one after another according to God’s wisdom. This passing on of power from one nation or group to another is intended so that God might observe how people conduct themselves when they attain political power. (10: 14)
This political dominance, according to the Quran, is granted only by God. He bestows it upon whoever He wishes, and withholds it from whoever He wishes. The Quran says:
Say, ‘Lord, sovereign of all sovereignty. You bestow sovereignty on whom You will and take it away from whom You please; You exalt whoever You will and abase whoever You will. All that is good lies in Your hands. You have the power to will anything.’ (3: 26)
The political dominance, according to the Quran, is granted only by God. He bestows it upon whoever He wishes, and withholds it from whoever He wishes.
Accumulation of wealth is not the purpose of life. Similarly, attaining political supremacy is not the goal of the Islamic message. It is against the Divine plan that a community should make attainment of political dominance its sole purpose and then strive to realize this objective.
As far as the believers are concerned, political dominance is something which has been promised to them. It is not something that believers should set as their goal. In other words, it would not be right for the believers to start a movement aimed directly at the acquisition of political authority. What they must endeavour to do instead is to cultivate within themselves strong consciousness of Islamic faith and fulfil all practical obligations of faith pertaining to themselves. Those who do so are promised by God thus:
God has promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely grant them power in the land as He granted to those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them. He will cause their state of fear to be replaced by a sense of security. Let them worship Me and associate no other with Me. Whoever still chooses to deny the truth is truly rebellious. (24: 55)
Political dominance or an ideal and righteous socio-political system is not something that will materialize out of thin air. In this world, righteous individuals are always needed to establish a righteous system. In the absence of righteous people, a righteous government cannot be established. This is exactly according to rule of action and consequence. Aiming for a harvest of fruits, one must pass through the rigorous stage of planting seeds. No one can ever relish the taste of fruit without doing the necessary work of planting the seeds in the field.
Those who seek political glory need to first instil a higher level of faith in the people. They should first try to build a lofty moral character in the people.
The same principle is at work with regard to the establishment of a socio-political system. Those who seek political glory need to first instil a higher level of faith in the people. They should first try to build a lofty moral character in the people. They should prepare such individuals who deal with people rising above all kinds of psychological stimuli, who have the capability to remain modest even after attaining power, who are not lured away when the treasures of the Earth fall into their hands, who stick to the principle of justice even after their ego has been hurt. Such individuals establish a righteous system. Without such people, raising the slogan of political rule is in fact a cause of corruption in the land, not a positive resultoriented action.