FREEDOM OF THE OPPRESSED

FREEDOM OF THE OPPRESSED

By the Editor

AL-BALAAGH

(How the Noble Prophet (S) solved the political problems of the oppressed with the divine ideology of Islam)

ALLAH DOES NOT CHANGE THE CONDITIONS (PROBLEMS) OF A PEOPLE UNTIL THEY THEMSELVES BEGIN TO CHANGE WHAT IS (NEGATIVE) IN THEMSELVES. (13:11)

ALLAH GUIDES NOT EVIL-LIVING PEOPLE. (61:5)

EVIL-DOERS ARE DESTINED TO FALL IN THEIR PLOTTING (MISSION). (35:10)

WRONGDOERS WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL (IN THEIR STRUGGLES). (28:37)

ALLAH LOVES THOSE BELIEVERS WHO DO GOOD DEEDS. (3:148)

SUCCESS WILL COME TO THE BELIEVERS (IN THEIR STRUGGLES). (18:1; 24:55)

ALLAH IS WITH THE BELEIVERS IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST THE EVIL ONES. (3:120)
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The seven verses quoted above are from among scores of others in the same vein which appear in the Glorious Qur'an, summing up the formula for success or failure mapped out for BELIEVERS IN ISLAM who are engaged in any struggle against oppressive or tyrannical situations or conditions.

If we look at Islamic history during the time of the Noble Prophet (S) in the 7th century, we discover that a fascist, tyrannical Quraish regime was ruling Makkah, perpetrating the worst kind of crimes against humanity.

The poorer and lesser tribes were brutally oppressed by the stronger and bigger capitalistic clan. Slavery was rife. Blacks kidnapped by pagan Arab slave-traders and sold to rich merchants, became nothing less than beasts of burden with NO recognition as human beings with souls.

The corrupt Quraish clan ruling Makkah at the time indulged in evil deeds that defy description. They were committing rape, sodomy, fornication, adultery, mob violence, plunder, gambling, idol and ancestor worship - you name it and they were doing it.

This whole spectrum of evil, however, did not rest with the oppressor alone. It was the way of life of the oppressed as well!

And here lay the crux of the problem when the Noble Prophet (S) came along to free the oppressed from the oppressor. Under Divine Guidance, the Prophet (S) was informed that God would NOT deliver a people whose way of life was steeped in evil - even if they were oppressed and suffering.

The rules were clear. And they were Divine rules, not man-made ones! The oppressed masses HAD FIRST TO BE TAUGHT TO CHANGE WHAT WAS NEGATIVE IN THEMSELVES IF ALLAH WAS TO CHANGE TGHEIR CONDITION! (13:11)

The Prophet (S) was told that it would be an exercise in futility to free an oppressed, evil-living people. Past history had shown that when the tables were turned, the oppressed then became the oppressors, perpetrating the same crimes of the former rulers.

INCORRUPTIBLE

The society that Allah wanted was a God-conscious one where total honesty, justice, love, kindness and piety would be the order of the day!

When the evil oppressors were overthrown, the new government had to be run by people who were incorruptible, unbribable, and truly JUST in everything they did.

Their action ad to rest in a fear of Allah and Allah alone-a fear to do wrong (thus displeasing Allah) and an overwhelming love for humanity.

The Quran laid down all the rules and requirements for this type of government and society.

After 23 years of preaching Quranic ideology to oppressor and oppressed alike, the Noble Prophet (S) eventually built up an army of clean living, upright followers who were finally drawn into an armed clash with the evil rulers who refused to accept the Prophet's exhortations that they change.

And as Allah promised the now pious oppressed, victory after victory became theirs until falsehood and evil were eradicated !

The Prophet (S) set up his government based on Allah's Laws enunciated in the Qur'an, with his cabinet consisting of nothing less than the "best in conduct and justice."

TROUBLE-FREE

And as long as ruler and subject abided strictly by moral and ethical standards of the Qur'an, basing all their political, social and economic requirements on it, a trouble-free society ran its natural course in line with the immutable universal laws of Cause and Effect. Good causes resulted in good effects.

It was only later, after the Prophet (S) had passed away, that subsequent politicians and leaders began to deviate from the teachings of the Qur'an out of sheer hankering after power and greed for wealth. This led to the break-up of the ideal Islamic State, leading once again to strife, disunity and conflict.

Thus we learn from Islamic history and the Qur'an that the removal of MENTAL POLLUTION in the form of GREED, LUST, DECEIT, BACK-BITING, BACK-STABBING, IMMORALITY and the like is a PRE-REQUISITE for establishing an ideal society with peace, harmony, justice, love and mental equanimity.

FREEDOM

The moral in this short sketch is that ALL Muslims -irrespective of race -who wish to bring about an ideal Islamic society akin to the era of the Noble Prophet ((S), MUST embark upon an Islamic PROPAGATION MISSION to CHANGE the life-style of the oppressed nations FIRST before they can hope for Allah's help to FREE the people. And the change must come through the strict adherence to the Qur'an's teachings.

What must be borne foremost in a Muslim's mind is that the priority to total physical freedom is the need, initially, to attain total spiritual freedom in terms of MENTAL STATE immersed in total GOD-CONSCIOUSNESS (TAQWA).

This is a Divine Law. All other ways-especially the VIOLENT way! - that come through man's FAULTY reasoning, end only in disillusionment, frustration and chaos. We may look at the world around us today to see this fact. Neither Capitalism, Communism, Marxism, nor any other - ism has ever succeeded in freeing man totally, as Islam had done in the time of the Noble Prophet (S).

TRUE FREEDOM CAN ONLY COME FROM STUDYING AND UNDERSTANDING THE NOBLE QUR'AN….. AND THEN PRACTICING IT!!!

Courtesy: AL-BALAAGH VOL. 28, NO.1 FEB/MARCH 2003 p.5