Political Freedom
Critic:-
You cannot claim that Islam is better than any other religion. Muslim rulers have sent armies into countries to conquer them and killed and looted.
Comment:-
Islam is a teaching. Muslims are people who vary in quality as everyone else and adhere to their religion to various extents or not at all.
Critic:-
If Muslims are only human, there is no reason to think that an Islamic state, would handle things better as a secular one.
Comment:-
That depends on what you mean by an Islamic State.
If it means that the people and rulers are driven by the same secular motives as elsewhere then it will be more or less, better or worse than anywhere else.
If it means that the people and rulers are really Muslim (submit to Allah and objective principles), that the people and rulers actually study and know the teachings of their religion, adopt the discipline (the spiritual education and training scheme) and apply Islamic principles, striving sincerely then things ought to gradually improve.
Critic:-
You think that people have no brains or are are children who must be led and controlled by others.
Comment:-
Human beings have brains with intelligence of various kinds and levels. What they ought to do from the point of view of a very intelligent person is not what most are capable of.
Critic:-
I have heard this before: We, the intelligent, are leading you, the mass of dumbheads. Ever read "The road to Wigan Pier" from George Orwell ? It's a highly interesting report on the social situation in Northern England during the thirties of the
Last century. In the second part Orwell acts as an "advocatus diaboli" to point out why people in general rejected socialism. It was because people generally object to being herded by other people who claim they know everything better.
Comment:-
That is not how Islam works.
Everyone is required to do his own studies and is responsible for the development of his own soul.
If he seeks truth then he also seeks those who have the knowledge, ability and virtue and takes their guidance.
If he seeks truth then he also develops his own knowledge, ability and guidance and this increases his responsibility to guide others.
There is no compulsion in Islam (Do not misunderstand - Islam is the teaching, or the Way of life or the State of Being and not to be confused with people called Muslim by accident of birth or name).
If people do not undertake their own development then they will certainly suffer or be manipulated or herded by others whether they object or not. It is inevitable. The more intelligent and enterprising will not be willing to let people live useless lives - they will force them to their own use and profit. That is why there are Right Wing Political Parties. There are other alternatives - either degeneration or self-discipline or external coercion.
Ethics demands that those who are better gifted should feel responsible and use these God-given gifts not to exploit others for doubtful personal gains but to help others to develop.
Critic:-
Suppose you are in the football trade, now a man enters your shop and requests a triangular football. Of course you ask him what he wants with a triangular football. He answers that he wants to play football. He asks only how much it will cost and you answer: Oh, about £ 5000. The guy takes his wallet, slaps £ 5000 cash on the counter and says: an extra £1000 if you can deliver within a week.
Although this person is raving mad I would accept that order and I don't feel guilty. I don't even have the feeling that I exploit anyone.
Comment:-
Yes that is the Commercial mentality - as long as it is profitable to you will do anything. Money buys conscience as well. This sort of thing, of course, will happen when people have no value systems other than personal ambitions and pleasures.
Your example does little harm. But even Democratic Capitalist States prosecute drug peddlers though they supply a demand.
Critic:-
I know you think of all atheists to be only that shortsighted. You should know better.
Comment:-
How do you know what I think?
It all depends on what you mean. If you have a false idea of God then Islam rejects it and may then be called Atheist. Some Muslims might believe that God is a man with a beard sitting on some planet in the sky. Though he may be regarded as a theist, he is an atheist in reality. On the other hand there may be a person who thinks he is an atheist but believes that there is something which is supreme in the Universe. He may have some other name for it. He may experience it or behave as if he believes this but does not state it in words.
It is the reality that counts rather than the words. The words are merely confirmations or methods of expressing or making us aware.
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