Page 238 - Quranic Wisdom - New.indd

Spirituality versus Politics

It needs only one thing—and that is willpower. This goal must
be attained regardless of whether conditions are favourable or
unfavourable.

But the case of political power is quite different. As compared
to spirituality, politics is a bilateral or a multilateral issue. There
are always two parties and a number of political rivals. So, if you
want to make political gains, you have to overwhelm the other
party or rivals. This means that confrontation is inherently a
part of politics: without confrontation there is no politics. But
confrontation breeds hatred and sometimes leads to violence.
Indeed, having a political target is quite against the Quranic
spirit.

According to the Quranic scheme, one’s principal endeavour
should be to lead a spiritual life and then try to spread the
spiritual message to others. One may engage in spiritual activities,
provided they are strictly non-political.
According to Quranic teaching, the real part of a believer’s life
is spirituality, while politics is quite subsidiary. This means that
spirituality is required in every situation, at every stage in life, but
politics is required only when the situation calls for it. If there is
a society that is ready for its affairs to be administered according
to Islamic teachings, then believers can go into politics.
In other words, spirituality is a matter for the individual’s
choice, while politics comes into the picture only when society
is prepared for this, i.e. when society itself wants to be governed
according to Islamic teachings.
As far as social or national affairs are concerned, their
management or governance must be determined by democratic
means, through free and fair elections. Spirituality and politics
must both refrain from encroaching upon others’ fields.
The goal of spirituality is to gain a seat in the eternal Paradise,
in the world hereafter, while politics is basically a worldly affair.
It is for society to adopt a political system by its own decision.

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