Social Reformation From The Perspective Of The Biography Of The Prophet Muhammad Pbuh: Part 2

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 23 March 2023 Examining Areas Of Social Reformation In Light Of Sirat Al-Nabi Main Points: 1. Hadith: All creatures are [like] a family of God 2. Hadith: Whoever does not show mercy to people, Allah will not show mercy to him. 3. All Muslims were declared to be brothers of one another and given the mandate to live in peace and love. ----- Due to the fact that all of Creation has been referred to as the family of Allah Almighty and that they have been commanded to do justice and good to all humanity, the Prophet (peace be upon him) expanded the definition of social justice to include all members of the human race, including children, the elderly, men, women, Muslims, orphans, slaves, and non-Muslims. The holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "All creatures are [like] a family of God: and He loves best those who are kindest to His family. (Narrated by Anas in Mishkat al-Masabih, 3:1392; from Bukhari.) Then, based on this humanity, all Muslims were declared to be brothers of one another and given the mandate to live in peace and love. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reportedly said: "Do not be jealous of one another, do not raise prices by overbidding one another, do not despise one another, do not turn away from one another, and do not undercut one another in trade. But be O servants of Allah, as brothers. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim; he does not mistreat him, he does not fail him (when needed), he does not tell him lies, or treat him with contempt. Piety lies here - (he said) three times pointing to his chest. For a Muslim to despise his Muslim brother is enough evil. A Muslim's blood, possessions, and honour are all sacred to another Muslim." (Sahih Muslim) In this Hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gives us instructions on how to treat fellow Muslims. We should treat one another with the utmost respect and refinement, abstaining from vices like envy, oppression, deceit, and other behaviours that could lead to injury or conflict. To inspire good morals, keep us away from bad morals, eradicate animosity for other Muslims from our hearts, and prevent us from bad morals, we should love one another, be friends with one another, and treat one another with kindness. Another hadith highlights the values of humanity: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reportedly said: "Whoever does not show mercy to people, Allah will not show mercy to him," according to Jarr ibn 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him). (Reliable Hadith reported by Muslim and Bukhari) Social justice in modern human society is currently in peril. Poverty and desperation are pervasive. Unfairness and tyranny are at their maximum point. In order to practically bring about peace and prosperity for humanity, raise the voice of justice by eradicating the feeling of deprivation among the public, and inject social justice throughout human society, a balanced social structure is desired. Over the years, people from all around the world have presented a variety of social justice ideals and tactics. Nevertheless, practically speaking, we do not always uphold the rule of law. Promoting social justice in practice from all sides is a crucial necessity right now. Social Justice Social justice is the fair distribution of assets, opportunities, and privileges within a society. In both Western and Asian civilizations, the concept of social justice has been extensively employed to describe the process of ensuring that people fulfil their societal obligations and receive their rightful rewards from society. In the current campaigns for social justice, removing barriers to social mobility, creating safety nets, and encouraging economic fairness have been given priority. Establishing rights and responsibilities within societal institutions enables everyone to share in the benefits and expenses of cooperation. The relevant institutions usually include taxation, social insurance, public health, public education, public services, labour legislation, and market regulation in order to achieve equitable income distribution and opportunity. In many legal systems around the world today, the concepts of justice and equality are not only mentioned but also serve as guiding principles. Politico-legal institutions assert their justice in an effort to gain legitimacy. Islam is one of the religions that place a strong emphasis on justice and equity. So much so that Allah will not pardon anyone who perpetrates evil and injustice, according to several warnings in the Holy Quran. “Indeed, those who disbelieve and commit wrong or injustice – never will Allah forgive them, nor will He guide them to a path.” (4:168) Speaking a word of justice to an unjust ruler is considered the highest kind of jihad in the eyes of Allah, according to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Narrated Abu Sa’id al-Khudri: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The best fighting (jihad) in the path of Allah is (to speak) a word of justice to an oppressive ruler. (Sunan Abi Dawud 4344) There are numerous facets to justice. The theological meaning of justice is, broadly speaking, the vertical dimension of justice between people and God, while all forms of fairness between individuals is social justice. This would cover a wide range of topics, from macro political and macroeconomic factors to micro-level interpersonal relationships between relatives, friends, neighbours, and other people. The idea from the Qur'an that best represents social justice is the Arabic term qist (fairness), which denotes a feeling of equality and justice in distribution as well as a shared societal purpose to ensure that every member of society receives their fair share. Political justice, according to mutual consultation, includes just population management (Qur'an 42:38). There are numerous verses from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that extol the virtues of the just ruler and promise paradise to the just ruler. The Prophet also said that speaking the truth in front of an oppressive ruler is the most honourable struggle. The latter idea serves as a strong inspiration for political activists who advocate for human rights. How would God sanctify a nation that does not shield its weak from its strong? The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said so, after learning about a situation in which an elderly woman was pushed in Abyssinia. So, a nation's wealth and well-being are at stake when its citizens fail to protect the vulnerable from those in positions of control. Fairness in the allotment and distribution of resources to all individuals and social groupings is necessary for social justice. This is why Islam places such a strong focus on helping the underprivileged. The two primary obligations of believers, which the Qur'an constantly mentions (e.g., Qur'an 27:3), are a prayer to God and alms-tax, also known as Zakah, or alms-giving. Zakh is the Islamic responsibility that every Muslim who has sufficient income must fulfil by giving 2.5% of their assets to the underprivileged and in need. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave the people various directives when he first arrived in Madinah, which included "supporting the weak, assisting the oppressed, and spreading peace." (Sahih Bukhari 6235) The fundamental tenet of Islamic action is to constantly defend the oppressed. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned, "Beware of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and God. If Allah listens to the oppressed, then so should we. (Jami al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2014) (Continued) ---- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. Part One: Social Reformation from the Perspective of the Biography of the Prophet Muhammad Pbuh Part 1 URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/reformation-biography-prophet-muhammad-part-2/d/129378 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism