Religion is a means for the people to express collective beliefs concerning the social commitment and social solidarity and provides a way for the people to affirm common values, beliefs and ideas and hence serves as a central value system. Islamic conception of society is not only based on race, nationality, locality, occupation, kingship, or special interest. It is Tawheed (Oneness of Almighty Allah) manifested in man’s submission to the Will of Almighty Allah, obedience to His law and commitment to His cause that constitute its basis. Therefore, Islamic society is the one fostered and nourished by Islam and has a historical mission which caste across physical boundaries, geographical location and goes beyond mere survival, sheer power, breeding or physical continuity. This is clearly stated in the Quran, “Let there be a community or Ummah among you, advocating what is good, demanding what is right and eradicating what is wrong. They are indeed successful” Thus, it is on the account of the historical role of demonstrating the virtuous, life both on individual and social levels that Islamic society can be considered as a modal society for the whole of humanity. Islam views society as an organic entity which patterns of social relation network are free from ‘opposition, contention, and confrontation of the interest of different classes. It also integrates different elements into a single people or Ummah through religious principles and institutions with the aim of creating a society, which, in its totality as well as within the heart of individual members, reflects Tawheed and illustrates the functioning of the divine well in life of humankind. It attains unity in all domains of life and removes any destructive competition and confrontation as regard to various classes of human society based on sex or social status.
“In Islamic conception of society individual, members are entrusted with the responsibility to do everything within their means for its safeguard and continuity. To this end, certain roles are set, for example, the rules of marriage, the rules of inheritance, the duties of Zakat and Hajj and the mutual rights and obligations of kin and the individual awareness of social belonging. All these are meant to secure the healthy continuity of the Muslim community”.
The strength of social relation in the Islamic conception of society is seen in the active role played by both individual and the society. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) describes the role of individual. Imam Muslim says “Whoever of you see something wrong must seek to rectify it by action or deed, if he cannot, let him to change it by words, if he cannot, let his feeling of disapproval and condemnation intensify and this is the minimal degree of faith.” From this statement of the Prophet (SAW) it becomes clear that in the Islamic conception of society, the individual is duty bound to play active role in elimination of the vice and promotion of good in society. In the same way, the society is responsible for promotion of good and the prevention of evil as a whole. By avoiding excess and extravagance, static rigidity, it must be able to present a middle course of action, hence providing a reference point for others. It must remain steadfast and consistent, know what is acceptable and what is rejected, and have the principle of permanence and movement, the hardest test of human character and social viability. It is in the light of above role and qualities that Islamic community is described as the best human community ever evolved. In Islamic conception of society individual, members are entrusted with the responsibility to do everything within their means for its safeguard and continuity. To this end, certain roles are set, for example, the rules of marriage, the rules of inheritance, the duties of Zakat and Hajj and the mutual rights and obligations of kin and the individual awareness of social belonging. All these are meant to secure the healthy continuity of the Muslim community.
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