Every action of the Muslim has to be based on a daleel (evidence) derived from the Islamic legislative sources namely Quran, Sunnah and other sources. It is the daleel that dictates whether action can be performed or abstained from. However apart from knowing the shariah rules there are other important aspects which need to be given consideration when undertaking actions. These aspects are important for the purpose of building and maintaining the correct Islamic personality.

Motive - Although many of us perform the action mentioned in the Islamic texts, the motive to perform these actions is linked to a reason that Islam did not state. For example, some people claim that reason for fasting in Ramadhan is to attain taqwa. Some others claim that reason why pork is prohibited for us is because it is a dirty animal. Or some others claim the reason why women have to wear the hijaab is because it provides safety.

When Allah (swt) orders us to perform an action the legal reason (called 'Illah' in Arabic) may or may not exist with every rule. Furthermore, the illah should not be invented using our minds. Rather, it has to be a textual reason stated in the Quran and Sunnah. If the reason is not found in the texts, then we should not invent a reason rationally.

Seeking Illah for the rules of fasting, hijaab, pork is wrong and dangerous, because if an Illah was sought the result would be that if the Illah of the rule ceased to exist then the rule would no longer exist. This is because the Illah is connected to the rule in existence and absence. As an example, if we assumed attaining taqwa is the reason why we have to fast, then in a situation where a person thinks that he has already attained taqwa, he may not be motivated to fast in Ramadhan. This sort of mentality would lead to abandon the rules.

Values Sought and tangible objective: It is equally important that, when we perform action, we have to seek the value which Islam affixed to the action. For example in prayer we have to seek spiritual values. In entering into marriage and trade contracts we seek material benefits. That is, we should not engage in duaa to increase our livelihood and seek material values. Similarly, Having more than one wife is not going to strengthen the link between Allah and us. This is because marriage belongs to a different category of actions. Strengthening the link between us and Allah requires the performance of a specific category of actions such as fasting, prayer and dawah or jihad. Thus, in the spiritual category of actions, there is no objective other than seeking Allah's pleasure.

However in the furoo' (branches) of worship reason (illah) may exist because certain tangible results are sought. For example; Jihad is worship but its performance entails certain tangible results such as driving out the enemy. 

Goal: The ultimate goal of every action is earn Allah's pleasure in the hereafter.

Method: The method also play a crucial factor in determining the correctness of our actions. Islam has prescribed a specific method for achieving a specific objective. 

So, what about politics ? What should be the motive for engaging in politics ? What are objective and goals of political actions ?

The Motive: As demonstrated above, we need to be driven by an Islamic reason to involve in Islamic politics. Some people claim that poverty is the reason why political work has to be performed. This would mean that political work is not required if poverty does not exist. This is wrong because, as demonstrated earlier, the legal reason (illah) is connected to the rule in existence and absence. However, the Islamic texts pertaining to politics does not state such a reason (illah), which means that the only reason for obeying Allah's commands related to politics is due to the commands of Allah. Poverty and the like can be treated as a subject which may be addressed politically. 

Value and objective : Achieving material benefit is not the objective of political work. As stated before, political work such as writing an article, questioning the ruler/group, giving a speech is solely for fulfilling our duty; thus it is an ibaadah. Hence, we should proactively seek spiritual values and increase our commitment to the deen.

Goal : To attain Jannah(heaven) and evade Jahannam .

Method : It is important to stick to the Islamic method in achieving the Islamic objective. The concept and method has to be fused together. For example, changing a society is a type of political work. It is Islam which dictates to us the nature of the change required and the method to bring about such a change. Instigating violence, lying, back-stabbing are not part of the Islamic method to change a society.

Related

Link between Aqeeda and actions

Spiritual power is the most potent power

Islamic text as a legal text

Islamic Objective defines the Means and Ends

Differentiating the method and Styles

Spirit and Spirituality 

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