In order to better grasp the underlying philosophy of Islam, it is important to address a key question that often arises in this context.
Is Islam a political ideology or a moral and spiritual guide?
Interestingly, the answer is not straightforward and depends on one’s point of view. There is an important reason for this conundrum. Because of the fact that a state emerged in Islamic society during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad, it becomes a challenge to separate the religion from state. This is the argument that people make while proposing the concept of an Islamic state. However, there is another school of thought which argues that Quran advocates the use of conscience to follow the right path and not coercion.
So, how can a society impose the Shariah without bringing the religious clergy into politics? Is it even possible? Let’s try to unravel this puzzle, as it holds the key to the possibility of secularism in Muslim societies.
There is a consensus among the Islamic jurists that it is only the rules of ibadat (pertaining to worship, prayer, hajj, zakat, etc) that cannot be changed. Those pertaining to the social and political matters can be changed from time to time. The law cannot remain stagnant in such matters, and requires constant interpretation as well as reforms.
The point is, while principles and values cannot change, law based on those principles and values should adapt itself to changing times. For instance, if your value is to respect women, it might happen that there would be different norms, practices, social behaviour, or laws, to pay that respect. The value should prevail over the means through which it is achieved. Also, any law imposed by the state might not being about real moral transformation, which is the main purpose of Islamic Shariah. Therefore, a legitimate case can be made to keep the religion out of politics, just like it would be done in any other secular society. That’s the theoretical part, though. The fate of its applicability depends on how Muslim societies act.
Now that we have dealt with the political aspect, let’s deep dive into the spiritual philosophy of Islam. In that sense, the fundamental philosophy behind its teachings is to bring about individual transformation through the act of belief. This has to be understood in the light of the history in which the religion evolved.
Arabia, in the seventh century, was a backward, tribal society which needed a radical transformation. It was immersed in superstitions, divided into often mutually antagonistic tribes causing bloodshed and warfare, without any moral code. Certain tribes were dominating the socio-economic fabric of society and unscrupulously exploiting weaker sections. There was no political authority to enforce legal and moral obligations upon the rich and powerful. It was in that vacuum that Islam’s advent took place. That is the main reason that it was welcomed by the weaker sections of the Arab society and it expanded at such a quick rate.
Like many other religions, Islam, too, advocates that a just society can be formed on the shoulders of just people. This is to be achieved by building the house of virtue on the foundations of faith, using the material that of religious practices as prescribed by Islam.
Reference books:
Kalampedia 