Saturday, October 28, 2017

ABD HALIM ISMAIL: Politics: A Stripe in the Broad Band of Dakwah



Politics: A Stripe in the Broad Band of Dakwah 

There are those who regard the the triumvirate of main Islamic movements in Malaysia, which consist of Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar-pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM), Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) and Wadah Pencerdasan Umat (WADAH) has now become too political and has in one way or another relinquished the noble act of dakwah (the act of persuading people to Islam) and tarbiyyah (educational approaches), - in other words, “reaching out and nurturing” – which have been the core concerns of the movement ever since. When the national joint convention of the three termed 5th Ijtimak Haraki (2017) chose the seminar theme ‘Political Islam and Democracy’ featuring panelists from among political public figures, this was adopted as wholesale proof affirming their presumption.  To them, the notion of being ‘non-partisan’ as  expressed time after time does not hold water anymore.  These critical views have to be pondered upon so that our standpoint and outlook are seen in the true and proper perspective.

We must be aware of politics having a huge impact and effect on everyday life and social well being. In a democracy, politics enable political parties to compete against one another to gain public trust and seek political power.  Party leaders obtain public mandate, whether by legitimate and just means, or through deceit and manipulation. They become the ruling government and determine key policies to be implemented. We can see many nations ruled by totalitarian dictators, resulting in policies which cause people to suffer and live in fear.

Today we find democracy being manipulated allowing the ghastliest of leaders to be elected who themselves become the source of public misery and deprivation. Many leaders of democratic nations take advantage of their power to acquire wealth and live in luxury by depriving the interests of the people. Their privileged position and fortunes causes them to lose their concern and sensitivities for the people’s problems. We see how despicable leaders introduce policies which add to people’s woes like imposing new taxes, abolishing subsidies, reducing scholarship funding, in fact, slashing budgets for hospitals and universities. It becomes worse when national apparatus like the mainstream media, the judiciary and police are used to frighten and force the people to accept everything that the government desires. Such leaders have no conscience and feel no guilt in their actions, when without even pausing, they offer various twisted justifications to legitimize their wayward actions. 

A responsible government should endeavour to fulfil two criteria in order to ensure public well being.

Firstly: Ensure basic needs physical, biological and intellectual like food, shelter, education and health are enough for all of the people.

Secondly: Psychological and spiritual needs so that people live in peace and security, having peace of mind away from oppression and intimidation, protected from discrimination and crime. This is manifest and symbolized in the verse  al-lazi ath-‘ama-hum min juu`in wa aa-mana-hum min khauf from the Qur’an Surah Quraish (106).


فَلْيَعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّ هَٰذَا ٱلْبَيْتِ
ٱلَّذِىٓ أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍ وَءَامَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفٍۭ
Let them worship the Lord of this House,
Who has fed them, [saving them] from hunger and made them safe, [saving them] from fear.

As a responsible Islamic movement, its role is not only to engage and inform people towards understanding Islam as the religion that promotes a life of peace and prosperity, but the movement strives to create a conducive environment for change for the better as aspired. The strive for change demands the Islamic movement to come forward with its own programs as well as cooperate and work together in common with those who share its ideas and vision.

Observing the dire final effects of the political process and the role elected political leaders play affecting public good and people’s fortune, the Islamic movement cannot remain oblivious. It has to be involved and be engaged in the process of educating and creating public awareness in promoting healthy politics for the benefit of all. Choosing to be absent totally from politics is to blindly rely on luck and providence. Whatever happens in politics brings a big impact and affects our lives and the society at large in the long term.   It is not wise to leave political affairs only in the hands of political parties because that may be the weight that drowns all of us.

A nation which comprehends and appreciates politics from an Islamic perspective will choose leaders and political parties who are concerned and responsible, those with impeccable morals, people of integrity and ready to work hard for the good of the people. This ensures public good and benefit for the nation and generations to come. Letting the people flounder in being ill-informed about the prospects of vibrant and healthy politics, and democracy means allowing them to be manipulated by leaders with vested interests. This unfortunate flap means selecting bad and poor leaders. In order to overcome this, discourses have to reach the masses in order to expound Islamic politics, ethical and clean politics guided by the Quran and the Sunnah as well as meaningful views of Muslim thinkers concerning  siasah shar’iyyah, which have to be presented convincingly to society at large.

The Islamic movement has to work together with and gain from others who show commitment towards the aims of political concepts and practices which are healthy and ethical. This includes cooperating with political parties within terms and limits. Its involvement with political parties in principle is at the level of developing crucial ideas involving siasah shariyyah, maqasidi thought and studies on political and socio-economic issues. This is carried out with the aim of informing and raising the awareness of the community and encouraging the ability of society to reason to a higher plane. The Islamic movement should not be out proactively campaigning and canvassing to convince public voters to vote certain parties. Even with this approach, some political parties may get some leverage, but it might also turn to be otherwise. Whatever the outcome, the movement must hold firmly to its principles.

The Islamic movement is not a political wing or affiliate in tutelage of a political party. Hence, it does not take instructions or accept being directed by any party. To the Islamic movement, politics is only part of a bigger dakwah and islah agenda- reaching out and reform - which it bears. A movement which is only bound by a political agenda, with politics and attaining  power being its only objective, has betrayed the meaning and purpose of the struggle.

The agenda of dakwah is inherited from the message of the Prophets who were on a mission to invite mankind to know Allah s.w.t., to worship Allah s.w.t. and serve Him only, whether in specific worship or in daily life. The agenda of islah – reform and renewal- is also inherited from prophethood with the purpose to prevent mafsadah (corrupt and iniquity). Islah builds, develops and intensifies doing good and making things better to bring about peace and prosperity to mankind. This is stated in the Qur’an Surah al-Bayyinah [98] and Surah Hud [11].

وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَذَلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ
And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion. [5]


إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا ٱلْإِصْلَٰحَ مَا ٱسْتَطَعْتُ ۚ وَمَا تَوْفِيقِىٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ ۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ
I only intend reform as much as I am able. And my success is not but through Allah . Upon him I have relied, and to Him I return.[ 88].

There is none more valuable and worthy other than dakwah and islah. The Islamic movement has to be true and steadfast to the efforts of dakwah, tarbiyah and islah. The core business remains dakwah, tarbiyah and islah. Politics is a stripe in the broad band of  dakwah.


Ab Halim Ismail
Vice President Wadah Pencerdasan Umat Malaysia WADAH
Movement for an Informed Society

26 Muharram 1439
16 October 2017.


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