Answer
Salam Dear Javid,
Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam.
Islam is not a religion in the common, distorted meaning of the word, confining its scope only to the private life of man.
By saying that it is a complete way of life, we mean that it caters for all the fields of human existence.
In fact, Islam provides guidance for all walks of life – individual and social, material and moral, economic and political, legal and cultural, national and international.
The Quran enjoins Man to enter the fold of Islam without any reservation and to follow God’s guidance in all fields of life.
As a matter of fact, it was an unfortunate day when the scope of religion was confined to the private life of man, while its social and cultural role was reduced to naught.
No other factor has, perhaps, been more important in causing the decline of religion in the modern age than its retreat into the realm of private life.
In the words of a modern philosopher:
“Religion asks us to separate things of God from those of Caesar. Such a judicial separation between the two means the degrading of both the secular and the sacred… That religion is worth little, if the conscience of its followers is not disturbed when war clouds are hanging over us all and industrial conflicts are threatening social peace. Religion has weakened Man’s social conscience and moral sensitivity, by separating the things of God from those of Caesar.”
Islam’s View
As for Islam, it totally denounces this concept of religion and clearly states that its objectives are purification of the soul and the reform and reconstruction of the society.
The Qur’an says in Surah 57, verse 25:
{We verily sent Our messengers with clear proofs and revealed with them the scripture and the balance [i.e. the authority to establish justice], that mankind may observe justice and the right measure…} (57:25)
Then in Surah 12, verse 40:
{The command is for none but Allah; He has commanded that you obey none but Him; that is the right path.} (12:40)
Also, in Surah 22, verse 41:
{[Muslims are] those who if We give them power in the land, establish [the system of] salat (prayers and worship) and zakat (poor due) and enjoin virtue and forbid vice and evil.} (22:41)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Everyone of you is a keeper or a guardian and will be questioned about the well-being of the people of the State. Every man is a guardian to his family and will be answerable about every member of it. Every woman is a guardian to the family of her husband and will be accountable for every member of it. And every servant is a guardian to his master and will be questioned about the property of his master.”
Thus, even a cursory study of the teachings of Islam shows that it is an all-embracing way of life and does not leave out any field of human existence to become a playground for satanic forces.
Hope this answer is satisfactory. Thank you.
Salam and please keep in touch.
*Adapted with slight modifications from Basic Characteristics of Islamic Ideology – By Khurshid Ahmad. Please refer to the book for more about the topic.
(From Ask About Islam archives)
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