Islam Rediscovered
12. Islamic Fundamentalism
~ 218 ~
aim of achieving political ascendancy. On the
contrary, the objective of the Islamic struggle is to
inculcate in people the Islamic character and the
true spirit of Islam. And then, if, in any given
society, a large number of people were to become
imbued with this true spirit, a time might come
when God in His wisdom saw fit to invest them
with political authority.
Similarly, the Quran says for the benefit of the
believers: “God is powerful and mighty: He will
assuredly help those who, once made masters in the
land, will attend to their prayers and pay the alms
tax, enjoin justice and forbid evil.” (22:41).
From the following verse also, we learn from God’s
injunction to the Prophet that the matter of political
power rests entirely in the hands of God: “Say,
Lord, Sovereign of all sovereignty, You bestow
sovereignty on whom You will, and take it away
from whom You please” (3:26).
That is why political power cannot be the goal to
which believers direct their efforts. The first and
foremost duty of the believers is for all of them, as
individuals and without exception, to fulfill their
