Islam and Peace
Non-Violence and Islam
~ 253 ~
the rulers are
zalim
and
fasiq
(tyrants and evil).”
(Sahih Muslim, Bisharh An-Nawawi, 12/229)
This command of the Prophet, as clearly expressed
above, was based on extremely important
considerations. In actual fact, in the early phase of
Islam (as well as in the later phase)
dawah
and
reform works had to be performed, without which
the history of Islam would not have been complete.
If the ulema of the Muslim community had tried to
pose a threat to the political institutions, certainly
all this constructive work would have been left
undone. That is why the Prophet of Islam expressly
prohibited any clash with political institutions. This
avoidance of strife guaranteed that non-political
constructive work would continue to be performed
without any break.
In every society there are always two systems side
by side, one political and the other non-political.
The latter is established through various non-
political institutions. According to the scheme of
Islam, non-political institutions established at the
social level have always to remain stable. In this
way there is a continuing endeavour – even when
