الحمدلله الذی هدانا لدین الاسلام وماکنا لِنهتدی لولا ان هدانا الله والصلوة والسلام علی محمدٍ قائدنا ورسول الله.
Translation: “Praise be to Allah who has guided us to the religion of Islam, and we could not have been guided if Allah had not guided us. Peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, our leader and Messenger of Allah.”
In this article, I intend to examine and compare different ideologies to determine which ideology has the ability to solve human problems. I will also explore whether the other two ideologies, namely capitalism and communism, contradict Islam. Additionally, I will address the questions: What is Islam, and how is it an ideology? Which ideology should Muslims live according to?
Islam
Islam is the name of the religion that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in order to solve human problems. Therefore, Islam is an ideology that provides thought and solutions.
Ideology:
An ideology is a rational belief that is formed from a system. This belief is a comprehensive thought about the universe, humanity, the life of this world, and its relationship to its past and future. The system that arises from this belief offers solutions to human problems and expresses how to implement these solutions while also protecting the belief and carrying the ideology. Thus, the expression of how to implement, protect, and carry the belief is referred to as “method,” and other aspects—those related to belief and problem-solving—are referred to as “thought.”
In Islam, there are no terms such as “religious leaders” or “worldly leaders.” From the perspective of Islam, all Muslims are equal because they all believe in one Allah (God) and share the same foundation of belief and faith. They have no superiority over each other except in piety. As Allah Almighty says: «اِنَّ اَکْرَمَکمْ عِنْداللهِ اَتقاکمْ» Translation: “Indeed, the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the most pious of you.” [Hujjarat: 13]
Islamic Belief:
Islamic belief consists of belief in Allah, angels, heavenly books, prophets, the Day of Judgment, and the belief in predestination, the good and the bad of which are from Allah Almighty.
Iman (faith) is derived from the root Aman, which means peace and security of mind. Iman also denotes a definite acceptance aligned with reality, created in the heart due to evidence, alongside confession with the tongue. Thus, two points should be emphasized:
1. Acceptance without evidence is not faith because there is no certainty in it.
2. Acceptance becomes certain when the supporting evidence is also certain; therefore, there is no such thing as hypothetical faith.
Similarly, belief is a testimony that there is no Allah but Allah Almighty and that Muhammad (PBUH) is the Messenger of Allah Almighty indeed. Accordingly, testifying must also be based on knowledge, certainty, and truth, not on suspicion and conjecture.
Islamic belief is considered the foundation of human life, the state, Islamic laws, and thoughts. Therefore, it is intellectual leadership, intellectual law, and political belief. The thoughts, rulings, opinions, and concepts that are derived from it or are connected with worldly affairs and their progression, as they are related to the affairs of the Hereafter, cover rulings concerning trade, rental agreements, agency, sponsorship, property rights, marriage, partnerships, and inheritance. There are also rulings pertaining to the implementation of laws and the management of worldly matters, such as the appointment of an Amir for the Ummah, methods for appointing an Amir, the obligation to obey the Amir, accountability of the Amir, as well as guidelines concerning jihad, peace, ceasefire, and penal rulings.
Thus, belief organizes and facilitates the progression of affairs. It is this belief that empowers a person to confront challenges and advocate for his cause until it reaches rulership, to support the Sultan and the continuity of his kingdom, and to ensure that laws are implemented and the Sultan is held accountable if he fails to do so.
What drives and regulates affairs is the belief, which must be established and then conveyed through the call and the struggle to share it with the world. The ruler who endorses this belief will be held accountable by the nation if he fails to apply it.
The essence of this belief is that servitude, submission, and legislation are exclusively for Allah Almighty, and servitude to anyone or anything else is rejected—be it idols, tyrants, or human desires. Only the Creator is worthy of worship, and He is the Sovereign, the Owner, the Legislator, the Guide, the Sustainer, the Giver of Life, the Giver of Death, and the Grantor of Victory. None of His creatures shares in these prerogatives. Such a belief necessitates that among all creatures, only Muhammad (PBUH) should be followed and obeyed. No one else should be followed, and everything should be sought from him; nothing should be asked of anyone else, as he conveys the law of Allah. It is impermissible to derive laws from any human, religion, principle, or legislator apart from him; rather, it is obligatory to follow and receive laws solely from him. (Of course, this includes the matters of Ijtihad where the opinions of mujtahids are followed, as this principle is also commanded by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).)
The criteria for actions in Islam are halal (permissible) and haram (forbidden). Legislation in Islam hinges on the Quran, Sunnah, consensus, and analogy. It is essential for Muslims to regulate their lives in accordance with these sources because Islam is a complete religion, as affirmed by the verse: «الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا» Translation: “Today I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have chosen Islam for you as your religion.” [Ma’edah: 3]
However, there is no shortage of Muslims wanting to turn to other ideologies and act accordingly in order to create or change the government and system governing them. This is surprising, as Islam has solved all aspects of their lives. When Muslims engage in prayer, fasting, and Hajj, they follow the example of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH); yet, in other aspects—such as governance, transactions, and economics—they often turn to foreign ideologies. It should be acknowledged that the sole authority for legislation is Sharia, and the Prophet (PBUH) should be followed because he brought the religion of Islam and no other religions. Other religions, therefore, are rejected according to this verse: «وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا» Translation: “And whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you, abstain from it.” [Hashr: 7]
It is also stated: «وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَامُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ» Translation: “No believing man or woman has the right to have any choice [against Allah’s command] when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter.” [Ahzab 36]
Therefore, it is obligatory upon Muslims to conduct all their actions in accordance with the laws of the Sharia, as Allah the Almighty has said: «فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ» Translation: “By your Lord, they will not believe until they make you judge in their disputes.” [Nisa 65]
It can be inferred from the above that Muslims are obligated to follow the Prophet (PBUH) solely in all their affairs. As Allah Almighty says: «لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ» Translation: “Indeed, there has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern.” [Ahzab 21]
Unfortunately, many Muslims imitate foreign ideologies and adopt them as their models. Muslims should recognize that the only path they must follow is that of Islam, the way that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) brought to us.
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