Islam balances the freedom of individual and the interests of the community and matches rights and duties:
Dutifulness to one’s parents through the Prophetic hadiths equals Jihad in the cause of Allah, and that the good treatment of woman to her husband also equals Jihad in the cause of Allah. Also, the proper bringing up of children, especially girls, is a path to Paradise, a recurrent work that does not stop by the death of the one, rather a Muslim’s job is a kind of worship and pious act by which he draws himself closer to Allah so long as this job is lawful originally and contained no kind of disobedience.
– A believer is unsteady if isolated himself from society:
In Islam, individual and community accord in a very balanced and magnificent way, where the freedom of individual and the interests of community are balanced, duties and rights are in accord, and advantages and disadvantages are weighed in full justice. In Islam, legislator is the creator of man, so it is impossible for the All-Wise to legislate rulings and enforce regulations on man which contradict or impeded his nature.
Allah Almighty created man in double nature, namely individually and communally at the same time.
Individualism is an essential part in the composition of human being and this is why he likes his existence and survival in perfect way. However, man tends to live with others, so he is shaky and imbalanced if isolated from the community.
The most perfect system for man is that which combines these two aspects in a way neither of the two dominates the other. Accordingly, no wonder that Islam, as a religion of nature, is a moderate and just system, namely Islam does not oppress individual for the sake of community or vice versa. Islam does not pamper man through granting him so many rights and also does not overburden him by obligations; rather it imposes upon him duties within his abilities.
– Islam preserves dignity and human aspect of man:
Islam as a moderate way defines rights for man in a balance with obligations in a way fulfills his needs and preserves his dignity. In this regard, Islam honored the status of bloods that it guarded his right is life, Allah Almighty says: (Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely), Al-Maedah, 32. Therefore, Shari`ah prescribed punishment in case of killing and declared that such punishment preserves the life of all community.
– Freedom of belief:
Islam confirmed freedom of belief that it is not permissible to force a man to embrace another tenet other than that he believes in. this is stated in the Quranic verse which reads: (There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong…..), Al-Baqarah, 256.
– Sanctity of the honor:
Islam confirmed the sanctity of honor, namely his reputation, it preserved for man his right in dignity that it is not permissible to be humiliated in his presence, or slandered in his absence as declared in the Quranic verse: (O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is accepting of repentance and Merciful.)
– Sanctity of property:
Islam ensured the right of property for man that it is not permissible to take his property unless he agrees, Allah Almighty says: (O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent….), An-Nisaa, 29.
– Sanctity of home:
Islam highlighted the sanctity of homes; hence it guarded the independence aspect for man that is it is not permissible to enter his home without his permission, Allah Almighty says: (O you who have believed, do not enter houses other than your own houses until you ascertain welcome and greet their inhabitants. That is best for you; perhaps you will be reminded.), An-Nur, 27.
– Freedom of sincere positive criticism:
– Islam highlighted the value of sincere positive criticism, where Allah Almighty says: (And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.), Al-Emran, 104.
– Individual responsibility as outcome for obligation and freedom to earn:
Islam stressed on the individual responsibility and freedom to earn which is the cause of punishment as Allah Almighty says: (Every soul, for what it has earned, will be retained), Al-Mudathir, 38, (Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned), (And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And if a heavily laden soul calls [another] to [carry some of] its load, nothing of it will be carried, even if he should be a close relative. You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and have established prayer. And whoever purifies himself only purifies himself for [the benefit of] his soul. And to Allah is the [final] destination.), (So by your Lord, We will surely question them all), and (And fear a Day when you will be returned to Allah. Then every soul will be compensated for what it earned, and they will not be treated unjustly.)
– Right of the community is given the priority in the Islamic society:
Islam observed the communal aspect in man that is it imposed on him obligations accord his duties, and restricted these individual freedoms and rights to be at the interest of the community a whole and that it bears no harm on others. No Muslim is allowed to use his rights in harming the community, as well as that the right of individual when conflicting the right of the community, then priority should be given to the right of the community.
Source: An-Nabulsi
Translated by Ammar
