POLITICAL SYSTEM
PART II
QUR’ANIC SYTEM
I. Islamic View of HumanityIN an earlier chapter, we have given an exposition of the Islamic
view of human personality. We have seen that essential worth of
man lies in his self and not in his physical body. As far as the self is
concerned all men are equal, however much they may differ in
respects of caste, creed or race. This view gives full recognition to
the dignity of man as man. The Qur'an has expressed this view in
lucid and unambiguous language:
Verily, We have honoured every human being (17:70).
As human beings, all men are equal; every one possesses that
precious jewel, the human self. This is the basic principle of the
Islamic order of society.
It necessarily follows, therefore, that personality is an end in
itself. No man has the right to exploit another man or to use him as a
means in furthering his personal interests.* If society were
organised on this basis, there would be neither rulers nor subjects.
This is the second principle on which society in Islam is based. No
man is permitted to compel others to obey him. God alone is to be
obeyed through the Laws revealed by Him.
It is not right for man that God should give him the Book of Law, power
to judge and (even) Nubuwwah, and he should say to his fellow beings to
obey his orders rather than those of God. He should rather say: Be ye
faithful servants of god by virtue of your constant teaching of the Book
and your constant study of it (3:78).
The Qur'an forbids man to arrogate to himself the right to judge
and rule over other men; and yet it does not advocate a lawless
anarchical society. What it does is to lay down the principle that all
*In defending slavery, Aristotle argued that some men are born slaves.
They are, therefore, to be treated as chattels, i.e., used as tools as a crafts-
man uses his tools. The Qur'an, on the other hand, has categorically
rejected such ideas and in restoring to man his lost dignity has struck the
death blow to all forms of slavery. This point is argued further in the
chapter on Woman.