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Islam and Social Change

Today, I gave a speech in Second Life at the UUtopia Library for World Religion Day and wanted to share it here. It's pretty short and I couldn't go into much detail on everything because of time constraints.

Islam and Social Change

When I speak about Islam, I am usually clearing up misconceptions about my faith. It’s frustrating work that I try to stay away from, so I’m glad to give a speech about social change in Islam. Social justice in Islam is one of my favorite topics.

Islam is a faith based on social justice. This justice extends equality to all races and ethnicities, all social classes, and all genders and gender expressions. There is inherent value in every person, no matter their level of ability. It also advocates the just and humane treatment of animals. In the Qur’an people are told that they are the custodians of this Earth and are to preserve and take care of it, not ruthlessly exploit natural resources.

"All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim... Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves" (Final Sermon of Muhammad)

The companions asked, “O Prophet of God, are we rewarded because of humane treatment towards animals?” He said, “There is a reward in (doing good to) every living being. (Hadith)

"If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity." (Hadith)

“The behaviour of those who cause corruption on earth is well noted: “And when he turneth away (from thee) his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle; and Allah loveth not mischief” (Quran 2:205)

Every chapter but one of the Qur’an begins with the phrase “Bismillah ar-rahma ar-raheem.” It translates to “In the name of G-d, the most gracious, the most merciful.” Justice with mercy is a basis of the Islamic faith. Shariah or Islamic Law is stereotyped as being backwards and inhumane with harsh punishments. In practice, judges showed extreme leniency and compassion in sentencing those who had broken laws. They drew their decisions from numerous stories in the hadith of Muhammad showing compassion to all people or of G-d forgiving people all of their sins for even the smallest act of mercy.

The Prophet Muhammad once told a newly-appointed official: "Fear the cry of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and God."

God has no mercy on one who has no mercy for others. (Hadith)

Allah's Apostle said, "A prostitute was forgiven by Allah, because, passing by a panting dog near a well and seeing that the dog was about to die of thirst, she took off her shoe, and tying it with her head-cover she drew out some water for it. So, Allah forgave her because of that."  (Hadith)

"Stand firmly for justice, as witnesses to G-d, even if it is against your parents, or your relatives, or whether it is against one who is rich or poor, or even if you must testify against yourself. Do not follow your own desires or you could distort or fail to do justice. If you act unjustly, G-d knows all that you do and what is in your heart." (Jamaesi’s translation of Qur’an 4:135)

Early Islamic society was a transformative culture. Women went from having little voice in their world and being treated brutally, being beaten and murdered, to having their rights recognized and having authoritative positions in jobs and religious callings. Women were no longer seen as property or a status symbol as trophy wives. Marriage was a contract between two consenting people, and women had the right to divorce, own property, be educated, work, and inherit from their relatives.

"The best of you is the one who is best to his wife.” (Hadith)

“The Apostle of Allah Said: "Do not beat Allah's handmaidens." (Hadith)

“A'ishah said, "The Messenger of Allah never struck a servant of his with his hand, nor did he ever hit a woman. He never hit anything with his hand, except for when he was fighting in the cause of Allah.” (Hadith)

Early on, Islam was the inheritor of classical science, preserving and expanding it and opening new centers of learning. This was a century after the rejection of learning based on religion had closed centers of learning in the Christian Empire. The philosophers and scholars banished from that empire were welcomed into Islamic society. The sciences took much of their familiar forms in the hands of Muslim scientists, with many innovations remaining unacknowledged to this day. Would algebra be such a maligned subject of study if it were called the science of “restoration”?

Islamic culture also embraced religious plurality. In a Muslim ruled area, people of different faiths were free to fully practice their religions under the protection of the Muslim rules and their armies. Evangelizing was not a focus of Islam, and conversions to Islam by people of other faiths were even discouraged. Muslims and Jews, in particular, lived closely and peacefully. At certain times during warfare or persecution, they were the protectors of each other. It is only very recently that there has been fighting between us, caused by the colonization of the Middle East.

As Islam shows, social change must begin with the individual and all of their dealings. Like a rock dropped in water, the ripples will spread out and affect all others in their sphere. It must begin with how we treat our parents, relatives, spouses, and children, and we must treat them with love and mercy. This love and mercy must extend to all people, all creatures, and the whole of the Earth itself.

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