Islam Rediscovered
18. Islamic Activism
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line with ancient traditions, the Quraysh had
acquired the position of leadership in Arabia. A
sudden change in this status quo would therefore
have created insurmountable problems. That was
why the Prophet advised the Muslims to accept the
existing political system. As a result of this wise
policy, Arab unity remained intact and the
furtherance of the Islamic mission continued
unhampered, even after the death of the Prophet.
6.
Positive Status Quoism in State Affairs:
Even after the demise of the Prophet Muhammad,
may peace be upon him, this practice of positive
status quoism continued in the early phase of Islam.
One outstanding example is the policy adopted by
the religious scholars during the latter half of the
Umayyad period and the entire Abbasid era. The
political system had been corrupted during this
period. Yet almost all the great Muslim scholars of
those times (
ulama
, traditionists, jurists) avoided
setting themselves on a collision course with those
in authority. The religious scholars were thus saved
from the backlash of the Muslim rulers; while those
