In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
The Islamic State
Quranic perspective
[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in God has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. God is Hearer, Omniscient.
[18:29] Proclaim: "This is the truth from your Lord," then whoever wills let him believe, and whoever wills let him disbelieve. We have prepared for the transgressors a fire that will completely surround them. When they scream for help, they will be given a liquid like concentrated acid that scalds the faces. What a miserable drink! What a miserable destiny!
Freedom is one of God's great gift to humans. The Quran clearly spells out that freedom should be the foundation for any society that claims to be Islamic (Islam is an Arabic word which translates as Submission in English).
For a modern Islamic society (or nation) there are three kinds of freedoms:
- Religious
- Political
- Economic
Religious Freedom
The above verses make it clear that the word of God in the Quran advocates the absolute freedom of religion. Any society or nation which claims to be Islamic must have fundamental freedom of religion. The right to preach any religion, the right to assembly and worship would be the basic tenants. Tolerance of other religions and civility would be the hallmarks of such a society. It will be the duty of the state to preserve and protect the right of any citizen to practice their religion in freedom.
[60:8] God does not enjoin you from befriending those who do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them. God loves the equitable.
[60:9] God enjoins you only from befriending those who fight you because of religion, evict you from your homes, and band together with others to banish you. You shall not befriend them. Those who befriend them are the transgressors.
Political Freedom
All freedom originates from religious freedom. The free societies in the west and their political democratic systems originated from religion and religious freedom.
[42:38] They respond to their Lord by observing the Contact Prayers (Salat). Their affairs are decided after due consultation among themselves, and from our provisions to them they give (to charity).
The political system in United States is a good example of two separate elected bodies (House and Senate) agreeing on a proposed law which has to be endorsed by the President, who is also elected. The Supreme Court provides further check and balance if any law is originated which violates the constitution of USA.
Economic Freedom
The Quran has numerous verses which provide for and respect property rights (2:205, 2:220, 4:2, 4:5-6, 4:10, 4:29, 16:71, 38:24, 59:8). The Quran encourages commerce (2:198, 2:275, 30:46). Only mutually acceptable transactions (4:29) are permitted. Excessive interest or usury from lenders (such as mafia) is prohibited.
In the modern world such freedom in commerce and exercise of individual property rights is also known as capitalism. Any society which exercises freedom of economy prospers. Those who place restrictions on such freedom (socialism or communism) do not prosper. It might be noted that religious, political and economic freedoms go together and benefit most of the citizens in a society.
The present "Islamic States", the Mullahs and the "Word of God."
All of us who claim to be Submitters (In Arabic: Muslim) are individually answerable to God on the Day of Judgment for our individual acts and our adherence to God's commandments (in the Quran). Our individual responsibility in a society is to maintain (and strife to keep) the above freedoms using all possible means.
It is obvious from the Quran, that there is no nation on earth now which calls itself Islamic, that in fact is Islamic.
When the Mullahs (religious leaders) and scholars of these states proclaim "Word of (God) Allah" (Allah is the Arabic for God), they refer to writings of humans put in book form 200+ years after the revelation of the Quran. The Quran condemns such writings, which are also known as Hadith and Sunna. The scholars are actually refering to "Word of scholars" rather than the Word of God. The failure of these states to follow the word of God, has lead to loss of all aspects of freedom called for in the Quran in all these states.
This is what the Quran , the Word of God, says about those who follow the words of these scholars.
[9:31] They have set up their religious leaders and scholars as lords,* instead of God. Others deified the Messiah, son of Mary. They were all commanded to worship only one god. There is no god except He. Be He glorified, high above having any partners.
An obvious conclusion cannot escape us - USA as a society and as a nation practices God's laws as laid out in the Quran, more so, than any other nation in the world.
One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for All
Editorial Comment: Submission.org, does not support any policy carried out by any current or previous administration of the US government that is not based on the Quranic law of guaranteeing equal justice, freedom and dignity for ALL humans irrespective of their race, color, religion or national origin. We do not agree with any US government foreign policy which supports aggression, oppression or inhumane treatment by any state or groups against another. We do not agree with any US government foreign policy which supports dictatorial governments while the citizens of those countries do not have freedom of religion, political expression and/or private property rights. We do maintain that the basic laws of freedom and democracy in the USA, when applied, parallel the requirements advocated in the Quran.