It strikes me sometimes, is the concept of wala instilled within Islamic movements nationwide (worldwide), the antithesis of individual liberty of it members? Of course fine lines must be drawn to pinpoint what is meant by wala before we could proceed to syllogistically equate the very concept - claimed to have a strong root in the Quran and Tradition - with any coercive secular ideology there are. Naive out-of-context use of wala in defence of anything, even in the name and pursue of Islam, is pathetic. Order must be preserved, surely, but, ironically enough, that is the very basis of totalitarian state proposed by David Hume for he believes that men are irrational and self-interested. Hence, should we put totalitarianism in the equation whenever the notion of Islamic movements (harakah Islamiyah) is concerned? Managing a massive organisation demands more than just coercion, subjecting people to what is believed to be the greater good for all just because the decision was/is/is going to be made by the infallible body of syura. The Platos aristocracy would be a great example of syura then. But this is a Western ideology and Islam is the hal (the reality, the solver) and does not tolerate whatsoever not originating from its womb (of which I contemplate to be Arab-centric), not even the civil society, so says some Islamic movements. Perhaps one would argue on the idea of ahl hal wal aqd, persons in charge of the syura who is, ideally speaking, must be the most pious and most intelligent of the society/organisation - creme de la creme. But the irony is, still, we muslims believe that the best generation of Islam is the first three centuries termed as the Salaf and those after the period, alternatively called the Khalaf, would never challenge their superiority in the discipline of theology and jurisprudence. So in a sense, no one is at par with the Salaf, but the syura is as righteous as it has always been. A contradiction. So, should we reintepret what wala really means and start educating the people like, now? Politics is the new idol.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 08:53:35 +0000