Islamic Ideology of Life: An Introduction
Islam is not merely a religion focused on reforming an individual"s private or personal life, limited to a set of rituals, prayers, and customs. Rather, it is a complete code of life that, under the guidance of God and His final Prophet (peace be upon him), shapes and structures every aspect of life. It illuminates every facet of existence with divine guidance—whether personal or collective, social or cultural, material or spiritual, economic or political, sectarian or international.
The core message of Islam is that God"s law should prevail on His earth, and His will should be fulfilled in every corner of life, from the depths of the human heart to the farthest reaches of civilization.
Allama Iqbal, while discussing the essence of Islamic culture, brilliantly differentiates between a limited religious perspective and Islam"s revolutionary outlook. He references a Sufi reflection on the event of the Mi"raj (the Prophet"s ascension):
"Muhammad of Arabia reached the highest heavens and returned. By God, if I had reached that level, I would never have returned."
This single sentence encapsulates the difference between a limited religious mindset and the revolutionary perspective of the Prophets. A person solely focused on personal spiritual elevation might consider reaching God to be the ultimate goal. For such an individual, returning to the world and engaging with its complexities would seem unnecessary after attaining spiritual heights.
However, the approach of a Prophet is entirely different. After reaching such lofty heights, the Prophet returns to the world and uses the enlightenment and knowledge gained to build a new world. Prophets overcome historical forces, initiate revolutionary transformations, and rebuild human civilization.
God sent His Prophets to illuminate the world with divine guidance, establishing a new humanity and society under the truth of faith. All Prophets carried this mission, and our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) fulfilled it in its most complete and exemplary form.
Islam does not teach escapism but rather advocates for building life and beautifying it. It offers a comprehensive system of guidance to shape and perfect every aspect of life. This system of guidance is known as Islamic ideology.