Forty Gems of Beauty — Page 59
59 Explanatory Notes This Hadith lays down the fundamental principle and Islamic criterion of obedience. Islam is a religion of great discipline and orderliness. It does not believe in forcing anybody against his will into its circle and says openly: “There is no compulsion in the matter of faith. ” 13 But when an individual has, by their free will and open heart, accepted Islam, it expects of them strict observance of its discipline and orderliness, as becomes an organised people. It wants every member of the faith to be an exemplar in obedience. It does not permit criticism of the order of the superiors, nor does it allow selective obedience to such orders, that is, to obey them if one likes them and to disregard them if one does not like them. “Hear and obey” is the eternal command of Islam. There is only one exception permitted in this code of obedience for the Muslims: that when one is commanded to do what is manifestly in contravention of the commandment of God and His Prophet or of superior authority, it should not be obeyed; every other order of whatever nature it is and under whatever circumstances it is given, must be obeyed. The addition of the word “hear,” with the word “obey,” points to the finer meaning that a negative type of obedience is no part of a Muslim’s obligation and that he is not enjoined to content himself with barren obedience to an order. In fact, he is required to be an exemplar in according to a lively and positive type of obedience. In other words, he should be all ears to the commands of his officer, so 13 The Holy Quran, Ch: 2 (Al-Baqarah), V: 257