Islam and the Concept of Centrality: Core Principles Explained

Islam and the Concept of Centrality: Core Principles Explained

Islam is a religion of international humanity, the fundamental point of which is monotheism and the essential characteristic is unity, based on the Islamic system. In reality, it encompasses all of humanity and all stages of human life. Islam is a complete religion for all ethnicities, whether Arabs or non-Arabs, white or black, whether they reside in the present time or are yet to come in the future. 

The Islamic system is a source of prosperity and welfare for everyone and will continue to be so forever. It is evident that such a comprehensive and international system as Islam, which has such flexibility and diversity that every nation and even every individual can participate in achieving worldly and spiritual welfare, must also maintain the foundation of unity and monotheism. 

For such a comprehensive system, it is necessary to contain specific central points upon which the entire system is established, and from these central points, there must be a direct system for every action's quality and both individual and collective issues. 

This way, its centralization will manifest, leading to unity in the religion, unity in the community, human equality, and solidarity in actions. All these attributes are found in the religion of Islam, which is why it has the capacity to endure eternally. This religion has remained consistent from the beginning of humanity to its evolutionary shape, Islam, because its center or main foundation has consistently evolved, even though various forms and methods have appeared in terms of details and aspects.

Hujjat al-Islam Shah Waliullah Dehlawi, may Allah have mercy on him, states in his famous work Hujjatullah al-Balighah:

ان اصل الدین واحد و الشرائع و المناھج مختلفۃ

That is, the foundation of the religion is one, but its legal and practical forms have varied.

Shah Sahib, may Allah have mercy on him, has elaborated on this point in great detail, which clarifies the central points of the religion and thus establishes the unity of the religion, making the unity and oneness in the Muslim community an essential and necessary component.

It is stated in a place in the Holy Quran.

شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِۦ نُوحًا وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِۦٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰٓ ۖ أَنْ أَقِيمُواْ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُواْ فِيهِ ۚ

Indeed, He has made it a law for you in religion, the same as that which We enjoined upon Noah, and that which We have revealed to you, and that which We enjoined upon Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, saying, 'Establish the religion and do not be divided therein.'

This noble verse shows that from Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the religion has remained the same, and the unity within its system is emphasized as an important central point, with the command to uphold it, and it is also stated that one should refrain from creating divisions and sects outside of this centrality. In another verse, it is emphatically stated:

The belief in the Oneness of God includes the Kaaba, the Prophet of God, and the Holy Quran, and each of these points is a manifestation of Unity.

Monotheism is a central point upon which believing and organizing one's life will unite all humanity, that is, to worship one Allah and consider Him as the sole Lord and the provider for one's needs. He is regarded as the Master of good and evil and the Administrator of the heavens and the earth. When this belief and practice belong to all people, there is no reason that mutual agreement and unity should not come about. Therefore, it is essential for every Muslim to acknowledge a single Lord as the owner of everything and the bestower, that is, the Giver, who is the Creator of the earth and the sky; this was exactly the declaration of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him).

اِنِّیْ وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِیَ لِلَّذِیْ فَطَرَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضَ حَنِیْفًا وَّ مَاۤ اَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِیْنَ(79)

Indeed, I turn my face towards the Being who created the heavens and the earth. I turn away from all false religions and focus on one God, and I am not among the polytheists.

In another verse, it is taught that every believer should ensure that all aspects of their life, including death, worship, and sacrifices, are solely for one Allah.

اِنَّ صَلَاتِیْ وَ نُسُكِیْ وَ مَحْیَایَ وَ مَمَاتِیْ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِیْنَ(162) لَا شَرِیْكَ لَهٗۚ

Indeed, my prayers, my sacrifices, my life and death are all for Allah, the Lord of the worlds, who has no partner.

Other central points should be understood in such a way that when the oneness of Allah is established, it will inevitably have to be believed that it is necessary to have faith in such a being, through whom guidance and leadership for humanity has been provided by Allah Almighty, and this being is referred to as a prophet and messenger in the Sharia; the revelation will be the divine book. In this final Sharia, this being is the Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the revelation that was sent down to him is the Holy Quran, from which humanity will continue to derive guidance until eternity, and its light will illuminate the entire world.

Similarly, the Kaaba is also the central point of unity, towards which every Muslim individual in the Islamic world turns to offer prayers, and where all Muslims from around the globe gather to perform Hajj, recognizing it as a religious center.

The Centrality of Islamic teachings and its way of life is so clear and prominent that any aspect one considers reveals this centrality distinctly. For instance, looking at worship, on one hand, the center of worship is the Almighty, and on the other hand, the center of the benefits of worship is to create unity and solidarity in humanity and human society, aiming to gather it at a single point. This is reflected in prayer, especially congregational prayer, pilgrimage, and almsgiving, as all of these are performed for the sake of Allah's Glorious Essence. Alongside this, it leads to the spiritual development of individuals, the improvement of society, unity, equality, and mutual affection and love.

Obedience to the Imam in the mosque and adherence to the Caliph of the time is an important part of Islamic teachings, and on the other hand, it also provides evidence of maintaining a center within the Islamic society. Obedience to the leader prevents national disunity and discord. Therefore, it is mentioned in a hadith that if two Muslims travel together, one should be appointed as the leader before the journey.

In Islam, sectarianism after shirk (associating partners with Allah) is considered a great sin. In fact, abandoning Tawheed (monotheism) and getting entangled in shirk leads to sectarianism. Therefore, the emphasis on Tawheed has been made multiple times, and in the Holy Quran, the command has been given to hold onto the 'strong rope' (al-'urwat al-wuthqa), and it is also said to obey Allah and His Messenger, and to obey those among you who are in authority.

"یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اَطِیْعُوا اللّٰهَ وَ اَطِیْعُوا الرَّسُوْلَ وَ اُولِی الْاَمْرِ مِنْكُمْۚ"

This command was given because these are all the central points of our Islamic society, and by staying connected to them, the strength and power of the nation continually increases, unity becomes stronger, and liberation is achieved from disputes and mutual differences that weaken or annihilate the nation's strength.

The decree of Allah is :-

وَ لَا تَنَازَعُوْا فَتَفْشَلُوْا وَ تَذْهَبَ رِیْحُكُمْ

And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not quarrel among yourselves, lest you lose heart and your strength departs.

In conclusion, the concept of centrality in Islam is multifaceted, encompassing the centrality of God, community, moral guidance, and the individual's relationship with the divine. Understanding these core principles is essential for grasping the essence of the Islamic faith and its application in the lives of millions around the world.