RIGHT STARTING-POINT

Address the Individual

WHEN the Prophet Muhammad was in Makkah, before his migration to Madinah, the chiefs of the Quraysh of Makkah offered to make him the ruler of the town. They said to the Prophet: “If it is political power that you desire, we will make you our chief”. The Prophet replied: “I do not desire to have political power over you”. (Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah)

From this reply of the Prophet we learn an important principle of an Islamic movement. And that is, that the goal of an Islamic movement is not government or political power. Instead, the real focus of an Islamic movement is bringing about change in an individual’s character. It is the re-engineering of the mind of individuals.

The principle of an Islamic movement is based on two points: bringing about a change in individual character and status quoism with respect to the political system.

This is the natural sequence that should be followed by an Islamic movement. If this sequence is changed—for instance, if the movement begins by trying to change the existing political system, then even after a struggle of a hundred years no positive result will follow.

If a movement begins by bringing about inner change in individuals it will immediately obtain a positive start. But if a movement begins by trying to change an existing political system, it will finally land up in a blind alley, surrounded by complete darkness.

It might be possible to arrive at a change in the political system if one started by trying to change the individual. But if the starting point is to change the political system, this sort of movement will not succeed. It will bring about nothing but further destruction.

If a movement begins by bringing about inner change in individuals it will immediately obtain a positive start. But if a movement begins by trying to change an existing political system, it will finally land up in a blind alley, surrounded by complete darkness.