Volume 10 Surah 12 - 15 - Enjoy Islam

Yūsuf (Joseph) | FROM PRISON TO PALACE
This group of people do not limit their faith to a certain piece of land, or to a
certain race, nation, colour, language or similarly hollow tie. Their mission is to
liberate mankind, the world over, from submission to anyone other than God, and to
elevate mankind far above the level of subservience to tyrants, regardless of their
type of tyranny.
As this movement goes on, people’s qualities become apparent, and their
respective positions are identified on the basis of standards and values that are
firmly rooted in this faith and acceptable to all the community. These are values such
as dedication to the cause, sacrifice, piety, a high standard of morals, efficiency and
ability. All these values are judged by practice, as they become apparent through
action and movement. Thus the community comes to recognize those who have
them. Such people do not need to make any pretension to excellence, nor do they
need to seek a position of government or be elected to parliament on the basis of
their own campaigns.
In such a Muslim community, the social make-up is based on the distinction
achieved through movement and action to implement the values of faith. That is
what happened in the first Muslim community, when distinction was achieved by
the early group of the Muhājirīn and the Anşār, by the army in the Battle of Badr, by
those who gave the Prophet the pledge to fight till death before the signing of the
Treaty of Al-Ĥudaybiyah, and by the ones who fought in different battles for Islam
before the victory that regained Makkah for Islam. In subsequent generations,
distinction was achieved through dedication to the cause of Islam. In such a
community people do not begrudge others their dues, and they do not deny them
their positions of honour, even though human weakness may overcome some people
who covet personal gains. This means that people do not need to extol their own
virtues and seek power for themselves.
Suitability and Responsibility
Some people may suggest that this quality belongs uniquely to the first Muslim
community on the basis of its historical circumstances. They forget, however, that a
true Islamic society will have no other foundation or method of existence. It will not
come about unless a movement advocates a return to Islam and helps people
abandon the jāhiliyyah into which they have sunk. That is the starting point. It will
inevitably be followed by a period of hardship and trial, just like the first time. Some
of its members will succumb to pressure, while others will remain steadfast. There
will be martyrs among them while those who survive will be determined to continue
the struggle. They will hate sinking back into jāhiliyyah as much as they hate being
thrown into fire. They keep up the struggle until God has judged between them and
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