DEVELOPING SECURITY IN COMMUNITY.

DEVELOPING SECURITY IN COMMUNITY.

Allah SWT had created humans as Khalifah on earth. The purpose of khalifah on the earth is to keep peace and fulfilling the moral laws, which include Islamic religious law. In community, security is a must and need to preserve as the community, which include Muslims and non-Muslims to live in harmony. To keep peace and harmony in community, the authority person must enforce sharia law. A main call of the Islamic religion is to establish a just social system. The violence in community is cause by ‘maksiat’ that committed by fasiq. Fasiq is a person who is straying from the right path and keep disobeying Allah SWT until it comes as a habitual, culture enjoyable for him, where he feel nothing wrong  doing that. This will affect the community itself as it will disturb the harmonies. As the authority, an action must take to adjust to wrong doing.

Islam had teach every Muslims to fight for justice. Every evil doing must be stop. Prophet Muhammad PBUH said if you see wrong doing , you must prevent it by your hand , if you can’t you must prevent it by your mouth, but if you can’t you must prevent by hated the wrong doing and it is the weakest iman. One of Muslim’s duty is to work for justice and reject oppression and injustice. In the Qur’an Allah S.W.T said:“Allah command justice,the doing of good and liberality to kith and kin and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion” (16:90)“You who believe ! stand out firmly for justice, as witness to Allah, even is against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin,whether it be (against) rich or poor! For Allah can best protect both…. Follow the lusts (of your hearts) lest you swerve, and if you distort (justice) or dislike to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do” (4:135).In the Qur’an, it remind us (Muslims) the value of justice. It is not simply favour, but rather divinely order that us to pursue justice. Thus every wrong doing must be prevented such as stealing so Allah will pleased with us.

Doing good in Islam is among the teachings, rules and institutes that insure justice. Acts of justice are so importance in Islam that it is even equated with other ways of worshipping Allah. In Islam, if someone doing bad thing, he must be punish as had told in sharia laws. There is no privilege granted based on races, ethnicity or tribal association. There is no different whatsoever between people except their devotion to Allah. Islam emphasizing on doing good deeds, the real test for Muslim’s faith is action. According to Islam a person has responsibilities according to which he will judge by Allah. The first is responsibility toward Allah, secondly to oneself by living in harmony and lastly is responsibility to live inharmony and peace with other fellow human.

In developing society, an authority unjust treatment is one of the most prohibited acts because it defies Islam’s message of justice. The law of shura is above all. Islamic law is to be followed by both the rulers and the people. Thus, equity value is among all members of community. Even the authority has no exception the shuralaws.Security is building block to Muslim country. In Islamic state a leader (al-amr) not a committee or political bureau should rule the Muslim Ummah. After the death of Prophet Muhammad SAW, Muslims Ummah then lead by Abu Bakrr.a, Umar Al-Khattabr.a, UtsmanibnAffanr.a  and Ali r.a. during their time many confrontation had occurs, but they manage to maintain the security of the Ummah. The security had become their priority. This example of how khalifaalrasyidin can be followed by modern leaders. A Muslims community is obliged to protect peace by doing what is necessary for assuring its defense. Thus,armaments are to serve the maintenance of peace and security through deterrence.

Man is the lieutenant of Allah on earth. He is mandated to build civilization and held responsible for the harnessing and protection of environment. The Muslim, in particular, is duty-bound to take care of the environment, in the general acceptance of the term, and to make every personal and possible effort to achieve sustainable development for the general well-being of each and everybody. Indeed, the most beloved by Allah are the pious and the charitable, and the most hated by Allah are the one who wreak havoc in earth. Charity is every good deed that benefits to people and takes care of the environment in which they live. It may be an act of social solidarity, a contribution to the restoration of peace and security or the eradication of poverty and unemployment, in a bid to achieve justice and equity through collective participation in the development enterprise, motivated by religious, cultural and humanitarian drives.

The best example in order to obtain security is by following Prophet Muhammad S.A.W doing. The holy Prophet has stated the foremost purpose of his being sent down in this world and the method of his call to the people in these words “I have been sent only for the purpose of perfecting good morals.” (AI-Muta) That great message which has left an indelible impression on the history of life, and for propagating which and for bringing people under whose influence Prophet Muhammad S.A.W worked ceaselessly. Its purpose was nothing else but to strengthen the moral character of the people so that the world of beauty and perfection may be illuminated before their eyes and they may try to achieve it consciously and with knowledge.

The authority must know that laws alone cannot bring about peace and security. This is a very important factor that sets Islam apart from all human attempts at peace and security. The first and most important factor that contributes to security has to do not with laws but with what is in the hearts of the people. The ultimate goal of Islamic law is to establish, strengthen and support the faith in individuals and in the community as a whole.  This faith brings peace into the heart, which immediately curtails violent feelings towards others. Thus person who authorize in developing security must ensure their own faith to Allah strong enough before they contribute to the communitiy. Furthermore, part of this faith is the implanting of taqwa (God-consciousness) into the hearts of the individuals. As noted, this faith and taqwa brings him peace but it also restrains his actions.  He must behave only within a set of general principles and one of the goals of those principles is the establishment of peace and security.  So there are limits to his behavior that ensure security and peace.There is actually a very important point that underlines the person’s entire outlook on life which again results in security and peace. This faith and taqwa provides a purpose to one’s life and an understanding of being a noble creature with a goal in life. This life is not meaningless. It is not the result of some random combining of matter. Similarly, humans are not simply descendant from other animals. This understanding in itself has a profound effect on the individuals’ actions.

What further contributes to the implementation of God’s laws that ensure security is that stress that Islam puts on the spirit of community. As a reaction  to the lack of peace and security, we must develop what is known as “neighborhood watcches”. This is where the neighbors look after one another and keep an eye on things. The goal is not simply to spot breaches of peace and security but to make the people realize that they are part of a community and that they should be concerned with what is happening to the others in their neighborhood. The reality is that some people are weak and they can be easily swayed by desires or by other evil people. They need people that they can lean on to keep them on the Straight Path and help them overcome their weaknesses. Thus, the spirit of brotherhood in Islam is permeated by the obligation to look after one another, encourage one another to do good and prevent one another from doing evil. Thus, God says: ”The believers, men and women, are auliyaa (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoining what is good and eradicate what is evil…” (At-Tawbah 9:71). The Prophet S.A.W said:“The believer with respect to another believer is like a building, one portion strengthening the other.” (Al Bukhari & Muslim).

Security can be considered an effect to the issue of peace.  The factors that bring about peace contribute to the establishment of security. There are several factors that can slow down the developing security in community such as poverty. Poverty is responsible for many health and social, as well as psychological and moral problems. The local, national and international communities need to plan development policies and plans for economic reforms in order to address poverty problems, by offering job opportunities, ensuring natural, human,economic and educational development of the poorest and most underdeveloped regions, and eradicating illiteracy. The people who manage welfare system must do their job responsible.

However, probably the first thing that comes to people’s mind when they think of security has to do with laws.  Laws are definitely important for security as they lay down the parameters of acceptable behavior.  In fact, Islam is a religion that not only provides general principles for life but also provides detailed laws.  These laws further bring about peace and security.  Peace and security will undoubtedly be the goal of any society.  However, God is the only one who has the knowledge of this creation to be able to determine laws that can bring about peace and security.  As for humans, they are always guessing.  One can point to the example of the death penalty (capital punishment).  The death penalty is arguably one of the greatest deterrents for major crimes.  However, the European Union has completely banned it.  In the United States, the masses keep swaying back and forth, never quite sure as to whether it is a good thing or not.  In reality, they will never be able to be certain.  This is because they will never be able to put humans in a laboratory experiment and determine whether the death penalty is more positive than negative.  Hence, they will always be guessing.  Even the European Union that is completely against it is actually completely against it based on nothing but conjecture.  On the other hand, one of the main goals of Islamic law is the preservation and continuance of life.  As part of that goal, the law of retribution and the death penalty are part of Islamic law.  These laws are not meant simply for the sake of punishment.  Such laws are actually meant to protect life, as God says:“And there is (a saving of) life for you in the Law of Equality in punishment, O men of understanding, that you may become the pious” (2:179)

This statement is coming from the only one who could possibly make such a statement and who alone knows the reality.  Thus, by turning away from God’s guidance, humans will always be groping and it does not, therefore, seem likely that they will ever be able to advise a complete social system on their own that could truly produce peace and security.  Thus, Islam, the religion of the Creator, is the only way of life that can ensure security.What further contributes to the implementation of God’s laws that ensure security is that stress that Islam puts on the spirit of community.According to Islam the society itself plays a very important role in the spread of good or evil that spreads in thatsociety. It (Islam) wants to attain power because it wants, with other things, to form a society in such a way that it may be helpful in encouraging chastity, righteousness, aversion from wickedness, proliferation or good acts, indifferent tolove for world, steadfastness for the right path and consistency. The Prophet has told the story or a murderer who wanted to repent for his crimes. He inquired of the address of thegreatest learned man of the land. His name was given to him, whom he saw and said :“I have committed hundred murders. Is there any chance of repentance for me ? He was told: “What thingcan comebetween you and repentance. Go to a particular place where some good slaves of Allah reside and are always found worshipping Him. You also join them in worshipping. and do not return to your village, because it is a bad place”-(Buhari). For this reason Islam says that for the safety of the healthy nature and for the training and reform of the rebellious tendencies the care and vigilance of the environment is necessary, and in the formation of the good moral character it plays a very important role, we are sure that if all these aspects are taken care of, then a clean and tidy society can be brought into; existence, in which pure qualities and chaste character may be nourished.

This good relationship between the individual members of communities will further bring about peace and security for the individuals of society. Islam takes care of both this life and the Hereafter.  In fact, it ties the two together.  One can argue that it is only through this intimate relationship that true peace and security are going to be achieved.  Guidance must come from God—and can only come from God—to know what are the beliefs, laws and steps that will provide peace and security.  Via Islam, the individual can find internal peace.  That can allow him to be at peace with others.  At the same time, he has the steps and laws he needs to ensure peace and security for the society at large. As Muslims, we must urge the others to explore more about Islam as a way of life through reliable and sound sources, without any preconceived notions.  The word “Islam” is the verbal noun of the verb aslama.  This verb is defined as, “He resigned or submitted himself.”  When used with respect to God, it means, “He became submissive to God.”  Thus, Islam is about an individual recognizing who his Lord is and recognizing that his attitude toward his Lord and Creator should be one of submission and worship.This understanding of what the word Islam means is vital for understanding the relationship between Islam and peace.  Islam, the submission to God, is what leads to true peace.  True peace—both internally and externally—can only be the result of the correct implementation of Islam. To sum up,  it is not correct to say, “Islam means peace,” but certainly true peace comes only via Islam.