Dr Mir Kousar Gulzar
Aristotle, the father of many sciences, rightly said, “Man is a social animal.” Since the dawn of human existence, humans have recognized the need for cooperation and collaboration to delve collectively. Coordination is the art of harmonizing diverse elements towards a common goal or purpose. It ensures cooperation, communication, and synergy among individuals to achieve a common objective.
The prophet of Allah (Peace be upon him) gave a famous slogan called “One Ummah, one body,” stressing that all Muslim Ummah is like one body; if one part aches, it is felt by the whole. Islam views society not only as a conglomerate of individuals but as an organic entity with shared values, responsibilities, and rights. Imam Adam Jamal, in one of his Jummah Khutbahs, highlights the coordination within Islam by giving the example of the Quran. The command “Establish Prayer” is always followed by another command “give Zakat” (Aqimus’salata wa autuz’zakata). If Allah only said “Establish Prayer,” that would imply a very inward religion focusing only on the self. Similarly, if Allah only mentioned the latter, it would suggest giving to others only and not considering oneself, like an annual backflow.
Islam, the religion of perfection, mentions both and balances both individuality and society. Coordination and societal cohesion are embedded in Islamic teachings with profound moral virtues. Compassion, humility, and self-awareness are among the foundational principles of coordination and harmony. Despite the ideals of harmony and coordination that Islam provides, contemporary realities present various challenges to these values. Socioeconomic disparities, political realms, and ideological divisions fracture these beautiful threads of societal coordination.
The rise of individualism and materialism in modern times has eroded the sense of communal responsibility and solidarity, leading to fragmentation and alienation within communities. Overcoming these challenges requires a concrete effort to revive the spirit of brotherhood, compassion, and mutual respect. We need to foster education, dialogue, and interfaith collaboration to promote reconciliation among different dynamic segments of society. A culture of social justice, accountability, ethical governance, and equal distribution of resources within society can bring balance. In a society full of chaos, as Muslims strive to navigate the complexities of the modern world, it is obligatory upon each of us to uphold the values of coordination and societal cohesion espoused by our faith.
By fostering a culture of cooperation, empathy, and solidarity, Muslims can contribute to the realization of a more just, compassionate, and inclusive society, under the teachings of Islam, the religion of Peace and Harmony.
In societal coordination, Islam teaches that each and every person has a responsibility to contribute positively to society and to work towards the betterment of their community. In Surah Al-Ma’idah, Allah says, “Cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression” (Quran 5:2).
The Quran enforces upon us that calling to Almighty Allah is among the best kinds of worship and the loftiest good works. Almighty Allah has commanded His slaves (Suhabas) to carry out this blessed duty, as He, Glory be to Him, says:
“Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islâm), enjoining Al-Ma‘rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden). And it is they who are successful.” [Surat A’li `Imran:104].
May Allah give us courage, guidance, and perfection in supporting this call to bring out the people from darkness to light. Ameen!
Dr. Sheikh Arshid Ahmad Writer/Columnist/Counselor Dr. Mir Kousar Gulzar, PhD in Women and Digital Media, IUST Awantipora
