Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 238
238 islam’s response to contemporary issues different religions are concerned, they seldom choose to come in confrontation with the established government on such issues. This applies not only to Muslims or Christians but to all religions of the world equally as well. Of course, the pure Hindu laws of Manusmarti are at complete variance with the secular rule of political governments in India. Yet, somehow, people seem to live in a state of compromise. If religious law were invoked seriously against the prevailing political systems in different countries, the world would most certainly turn into a blood bath. But fortunately for man, this is not so. As far as Islam is concerned, there should be no such problem because the ultimate and unyielding principle propounded by Islam in this regard is the principle of absolute justice. This principle remains central and fundamental to all forms of governments which claim to be Islamic in spirit. Alas! This most pivotal point in understanding the Islamic concept of statecraft is little, if at all, understood by the political thinkers in Islam. They fail to make a distinction between the application of the common law relating to crimes, which are universal in nature and without any religious bearing, and such crimes as are specific to certain injunctions of that religion. Therefore, only adherents of such religions are liable for prosecution. These two categories are not clearly defined. There is a fair size of grey area where common crimes can have religious or moral bearing as well as rank as offences against accepted human norms. For instance, the act of stealing is a crime varying in degrees of condemnation and prescribed punishment. Similarly, there is the question of murder, drinking and public disorder, which are partially or wholly forbidden