Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
12. The Relevance of the Quran and Sunnah in Modern Times
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variance with the changing times. When there is no such clash, the
question of irrelevance does not arise at all.
The guidance of the Prophet of Islam has been gathered
together in books of traditions, one part of which is found in
Kitab al Fitan
. In these traditions Muslims have been commanded,
in no uncertain terms, that in any circumstance and in any age
when they find political corruption among the rulers, they must
sedulously refrain from opting for a policy of confrontation with
them. Totally avoiding political confrontation with them, they
must continue working in non-controversial spheres, for instance,
in the fields of education, dawah, economics, social work, etc.
The aim of this teaching of the Prophet is to make Islam relevant
at all times.
The actual target of Islam is the intellectual, spiritual and
moral rectification of the individual. This task is wholly related to
the sphere of individual freedom. Today the principle has been
accepted all over the world that every individual should be
granted full freedom in his own personal sphere. He is free to
think and act as he likes. This is the actual sphere of Islamic
action. And when in this sphere every individual is granted total
freedom, no objection can be raised that Islam has lost its
relevance in modern times.
Another sphere of human action is that which concerns social
matters. This is the sphere in which confrontation takes place with
others, raising the question of relevance and irrelevance. Islamic
teaching for this sphere is action in accordance with circumstances.
