IDEA 36
Empowering the Word
In the case of any person whose judgment is really deserving of confidence, how has it become so? Because he has kept his mind open to criticism of his opinions and conduct. Because it has been his practice to listen to all that could be said against him; to profit by as much of it as was just, and expound to himself, and upon occasion to others, the fallacy of what was fallacious. Because he has felt, that the only way in which a human being can make some approach to knowing the whole of a subject, is by hearing what can be said about it by persons of every variety of opinion, and studying all modes in which it can be looked at by every character of mind. No wise man ever acquired his wisdom in any mode but this; nor is it in the nature of human intellect to become wise in any other manner. The steady habit of correcting and completing his own opinion by collating it with those of others, so far from causing doubt and hesitation in carrying it into practice, is the only stable foundation for a just reliance on it; for, being cognisant of all that can, at least obviously, be said against him, and having taken up his position against all gainsayers — knowing that he has sought for objections and difficulties, instead of avoiding them, and has shut out no light which can be thrown upon the subject from any quarter — he has a right to think his judgment better than that of any person, or any multitude, who have not gone through a similar process. [John Stuart Mill. On Liberty, Chapter 2]
J.S. Mill is no friend of religion, but Muslims nevertheless ought to thank him for reminding them of their ancient birthright, a legacy that should have continued to flourish where it was born, among a people who prized eloquence, admired clarity of thought, and considered themselves People of the Book. The Arabs at the advent of Islam could be moved to tears, feats of courage, and sudden leaps from unbelief to faith by a well-chosen word or pithy phrase. The famous story of ‘Umar’s conversion is a notable example of this power. But Muslims have forgotten how to harness this power or even trust it to rule their lives.
AL-LAH declares in Q10:99 – And if your Lord had willed it, everyone on Earth would have believed. Would you compel mankind till they have faith? Man has been given the powers of speech and understanding so that GOD might speak to him, reason with him, even argue with him, and thus draw him to the right path by intellect and insight, not brute force.
Muslims can no longer desire to be ruled by inspired prophets, the last of whom was Muhammad (may GOD bless him and give him peace). Their best option, therefore, is a “wise man” as described in the quotation above. Abu Bakr exemplified this openness to rational intercourse in his inaugural speech when he said to the assembled Muslims: “O people, I have been put in authority over you, and I am not the best among you. So if I act rightly, then help me, and if I act wrongly, then correct me.” Both the help and the correction were to be administered by words, not by force — the same means by which they themselves became believers. The political powers of the time were arrayed against them, but faithful Muslims came anyway; they came by the force of good character, sheer eloquence, and clear argument. Those were the authorities that they and their leaders had in common for the first glorious years of Islamic history. They respected the Word. They were people of the Book.
When we speak, therefore, of the people’s power of revocation, we should not intend by that some political maneuver or constitutional mechanism. Any conventionally powerful ruler can foresee, forestall, and permanently extinguish such a threat. The typical tyrant has all the means he needs to maintain his rule, and his first step in acquiring irresistible power is to banish free speech. The Muslim-majority states we have today are united in that aspect; none of them feels secure enough to let the leader live with and listen to the people directly, to be helped and corrected by the very popular and widely distributed power of speech.
This is the power that AL-LAH displays in the Qur’an and in the eloquence and pithiness of His Messenger (may GOD bless him and give him peace). If we do not practise this power of good speech, rational argument, and calm debate in our assemblies, and make decisions based on what emerges in these discussions — even if the amir has the final say — then we will never regain the unconquerable spirit of the early Muslims. We will continue to live under despots, dictators, and phony democrats — leaders isolated from the people and concerned not with truthfulness and right but with wealth and privilege.
I have no hope of seeing such a spirit at the national level in any nation in my lifetime. But if a leader can encourage his people to speak up without fear and express their heartfelt opinions openly and consistently, then when the need for revocation arises, for whatever reason, the people will have a leader who will be glad to be convinced that he should step down and be replaced. And that is the only culture in which one should want to be a leader or a follower.
Summon to your Master’s path with wisdom and with goodly exhortation, and dispute with them by what is better. Verily your Lord knows who has deviated from His path. And He knows better who are rightly guided. (Q16:125)
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