Islam As It Is
Organisation
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effectively, it must be supervised by community
leaders who, once appointed, have to be obeyed
irrespective of personal likes or dislikes. Religious
duties, such as regular attendance at prayers, broad-
scale collection and distribution of
zakat,
the
systematic propagation of the message of true
religion can all be the more effectively carried out
once a definite social order has been established in
each Muslim community, for it provides a
framework within which devotees consider it their
bounden duty to follow the lead of those appointed
to its upkeep.
The task of organizing Muslim brethren need not
fall to a governmental body, for this is a duty which
ought to be undertaken by the people themselves,
irrespective of whether Muslims are in political
power or not, and regardless of general
circumstances. Such organization is, in itself an act
of worship, but its aims will be fulfilled only if it is
carried out without any external pressure being
exerted on the individuals concerned: it will bear
fruit only if people engage in it of their own free
will.
