Islamic Ethics for Civic Engagement and Political Participation
By Dr. Hatem Bazian
This is an excerpt from Dr. Hatem Bazian’s forthcoming book Islamic Ethics for Civic Engagement and Political Participation
1. عدالة — A Commitment to Universal and Indivisible Justice
“O you who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts) lest ye swerve and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.” (Qur’an 4: 135)
2. كرامة — All Humans are Endowed with Divine Dignity
“We have ennobled the children of Adam and carried them by land and sea; We have provided good sustenance for them and favored them specially above many of those We have created.” (Qur’an 17:70)
3. مساواة — Equality of All Human Beings.
“And mankind is naught but a single nation.” (Quran 2:213)
“People, be mindful of your Lord, who created you from a single soul, and from it created its mate, and from the pair of them spread countless men and women far and wide; be mindful of God, in whose name you make requests of one another. Beware of severing the ties of kinship: God is always watching over you.” (Qur’an 4:1)
4. الحياة مقدسة يحرم التعدي عليها — All Life is Sacred
“…if anyone kills a person — unless in retribution for murder or spreading corruption in the land — it is as if he kills all mankind, while if anyone saves a life it is as if he saves the lives of all mankind…” (Qur’an 5:32)
5. الحرية — Freedom is the Primordial human state
“Whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve” (Qur’an 18:29).
“And if thy Lord had willed, He verily would have made mankind one nation, yet they cease not differing; Save him on whom thy Lord hath mercy; and for that He did create them.” (Qur’an 11:118–119).
6. الخلافة — Custodianship of the world means protecting the environment, reducing our carbon footprint, treading lightly on earth and changing our consumptive ways.
“And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the Register a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.” (Qur’an 6:38)
“The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allah] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving.” (Qur’an 17:44)
7. تجارة عن تراضٍ — Economic equity, economic fairness, equality and trade based on contentment not capitalism
“And in their wealth there is acknowledged right for the needy and the destitute.” (Qur’an 51:19)
“…so that (the wealth) may not become a monopoly of the rich among you.” (Qur’an 59:7)
8. الله حرم الظلم على نفسه والظلم ظلمات — All types of oppression are not divine and should be opposed.
And what is wrong with you that you struggle not in the cause of God, and for those weak, ill treated, and oppressed among men, women, and children, whose cry is: “Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from you one who will protect; and raise for us from you one who will help!” (Quran 4:75(
9. الايمان والعمل والعلم والعمل — Action is based on firm faith and sound knowledge.
And say, “Do [as you will], for Allah will see your deeds, and [so, will] His Messenger and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do.” (9:105)
“For there should separate from every division of them a group [remaining] to obtain understanding in the religion and warn their people when they return to them that they might be cautious.” (9:122)
10. الرحمة (غلبت رحمتي غضبي) Mercy is the foundation and the cover under which all humans should operate.
Perfection only belongs to God and manifesting mercy between each other is the highest calling. It is at the end of the list not as a sign of its order but an indication of the need to implement the above rather than the simple demand on the oppressed to show mercy while oppression continues.
