INDIVIDUAL DUTY TO THE UMMAH

Each Muslim who knows what Islam stands for has a duty to work for the unity, strength and integrity of the Muslim ummah. Many people know and realize this. But the problems facing the ummah often seem too big and complex, and world structures and systems so infinitely intricate and powerful as to induce helplessness or a preoccupation with minor issues and problems.

The agenda for Muslim unity and strength has a long list of items. At the lowest level it requires individual awareness and effort and at the level of the ummah at requires vision and sincerity, and formidable intellectual and organizational skill.

As an individual, you can work for Muslim unity and strength in many ways:

· by acquiring and propagating knowledge and comprehension of Islam in all its concerns,

· by reforming yourself in order to achieve correct belief, a sound body, good character, cultured thought, an honest livelihood, well-organized use of time and resources,

· by developing an attitude of care and concern for others, avoiding all forms and expressions of dislike, condescension and discrimination against others, whether Muslims or non-Muslims, because of the color of their skin, their type of hair, the language they speak or their accents,

· by having a strong feeling of brotherhood with other believers, for true brotherhood is the companion of faith and division is the companion of unbelief. Unity produces strength but there can be no unity without love. The lowest degree of love is purity of intentions and unspitefulness of the heart, the highest degree of love is complete selflessness: ‘And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls are the ones that achieve prosperity’ (59: 9),

· by belonging to and working with a group or organized community to promote the interests of Muslims and of humanity;

· by seeking as an individual or a group to instruct and guide society to righteousness by encouraging virtue, enjoining all that is good, helping people, trying to win public opinion to the side of Islam, and observing the Islamic principles in all walks of life. This is part of the duty of Da’wah or inviting others to Islam,

· by seeking to influence and change governmental policies and program so that they are in line with Islamic principles and serve the interests not only of citizens in the state but of all members of the ummah and indeed of humanity. This requires not slogans and demonstrations in the first instance but will-thought out and developed alternative policies and strategies in the range of matters that an Islamic government is obliged to deal with: spreading education, protecting public health, overseeing public utilities, developing the resources of the land, providing opportunities for people to work, guarding the public treasury, strengthening the morals of the people, maintaining peace and order, providing security, implementing the Islamic moral and legal code, and spreading the call of Islam.

If a government sincerely and efficiently carries out these purposes, it has a right to your loyalty and support. If a government neglects its duties and falls short of its responsibilities, you have the duty first of all to advise and guide. If a government persists in wrong-doing and transgression of the Shari’ah, you have a duty to work for its replacement for, ‘There is no obedience due to a creature that involves the disobedience to the Creator’,

· by working for cooperation and unity of Muslim people, communities and institutions throughout the world, facilitating the flow of information, investment and resources, appropriate technologies, and people in a sort of Pax Islamica so that hunger and starvation, disease and illiteracy, war and strife are all removed from Muslim lands,

· work to ensure that an invigorated ummah once again take on the moral lead of a humanity that has transgressed and rebelled against God.

These are mammoth tasks. They require clear objectives, detailed planning, sound administrative sense, vision, knowledge, commitment, patience, striving, sacrifice.