The concept of complete religion
A
NOTHER
BASIS
FOR
the political interpretation of Islam was the
concept of a “complete religion”. “Complete religion” meant
that, along with commands on belief and worship in religion,
civil and criminal laws must also be enforced together. That is,
all the parts of religion must be treated as a whole. Otherwise,
adherence to religion would remain incomplete. But the truth
is that worship is the real part of religion, while the enforcement
of laws is a relative part. That is, the religious part has to be
observed in all circumstances by every believer, whereas the
enforcement of laws is a societal concern. If society is prepared
to enforce laws, that becomes its religious responsibility, but if
it is not prepared to do so; the enforcement of laws will remain
in abeyance.
The fallacy behind the concept of complete religion is that
both the real and relative parts of religion have been given equal
status, regardless of the circumstances. This has been the root
cause of all evil. In actual fact, the desirability of the real part of
religion is eternal in its nature, while the desirability of the social
part of the religion depends upon the actual condition of society.
Complete Islam for an individual is only that which is required
of him according to his capacity.
A political interpretation of Islam was disseminated in the
name of implementing the ‘complete Islam’. But as to the
practical result of this, it became akin to total deviation from
the real Islam. It was a case of totally distorting the reality of
Islam in terms of consequences. Of the ensuing evils, the first
kind of harm done by the political interpretation of Islam was
the changing of the genuine target of the Islamic mission. The
real goal, according to the Quran is: “To seek ways to come closer
to Him.” (5:35). But according to the political interpretation,
the “real” goal of Islam became, on the contrary, to overthrow
the existing political regime in order to enforce the “complete
Islam” throughout the world.
The second kind of harm done by this interpretation was
