Four Categories Of People

Despite the fact that God has given every human being (in his innermost self) the ability to become aware of the existence of the Supreme power sustaining him and to be devoted to Him (see: Qur’an, 7:172), and that God has sent Messengers to spread His guidance to Mankind so that they may act justly (see also: 57:25), yet in the reality of Mankind’s life there are always four categories of people in this regard:

First, those, who believe in God, but are lazy and negligent and do not follow His ordinances seriously.

Second, those who do not believe and totally reject God’s guidance. They pretend that mankind should create their own way-of-life.

Contradictorily, in this category we find those who, while governing, practice secularism and democracy, but also those who practice a dictatorial or similar system, with secularism of course.

Third, those who believe and attained to faith to God; they try to observe their duty with full devotion. They are sociable and friendly with all people. This category is supposed to represent the whole Muslim nation, as indicated by God in the Qur’an as follows: “We have made you (believers) into a just community, so that you may bear witness (to the truth) before others and so that the Messenger may bear witness (to it) before you …” (2:143).

But unfortunately, so far, they do not have enough means and might to realize institutions, that are inspired by God’s ordinances, which assuredly could help develop their mode of life in different domains according to God’s guidance.

Fourth, those who believe and attained to faith, but are narrow-minded. Their understanding of God’s ordinances is very short-sighted.

From what I can see today in the political world, it is clear that the second category (both in democratic and dictatorial systems) have the supremacy over others in almost all domains of life. This category is able to overpower the first category, even though they are in fact the majority in most countries.

This situation causes a lot of injustice in human societies. And if we search more deeply, we understand that this catastrophic situation exists partly because of the lack of action and weak creativity of those from the third category. These people in the third category are supposed to be stronger, more active, more intelligent in facing those in the second category.

And another reason for the victory of those in the second category is the foolishness of those narrow-minded extremists in the fourth category. For example, we see today a group of people who claim to be “salafi” (= followers of the ancestors) and “jihadi” (= who do the utmost in defending the faith), who announced the establishment of an “Islamic State”. However, they make horrific decisions in the name of “shari’ah” (God’s Law). They in fact do a lot of very bad propaganda against Islam and damage its image. Instead of being merciful to all people, they are cruel and demolish antiquities and relics considered honorable by certain communities.

When Prophet Muhammad (peace and God’s blessings be upon him) immigrated with his followers from Makkah to Medina, he contacted all the different communities in the city and discussed with them, until they understood his honesty and sincerity. He established a Charter, which reflected pluralism, so that those people of different communities recognized the Prophet’s authority and accepted his political judgments. They all lived peacefully together. Why not, when God says in the Qur’an:

“And We have not sent you (O Prophet) only as a mercy to all people” (21:107).

Those extremists who claim to establish an Islamic State, act so bad and with so much cruelty, while the Qur’an says:

“And who could be better of speech than he who calls (people) unto God, and does what is just and right, and says: ’I am of those who surrendered themselves to God’. And they are not equal, the good deed and the evil deed. Repel with that which is better then, behold, so that the person between whom and you there was enmity will be as though he were a close and valued friend” (41:33-34).