In Islam’s View, Society’s Interests Precede Those of Individuals
In Islamic viewpoint, when there is a conflict between the interests of the society and those of individuals, social interests come first.
This is according to Hojat-ol-Islam Seyyed Hossein Mirmoezzi, academic board member of the Islamic Culture and Thought Research Center, speaking at a forum in the Iranian Academics Quranic Activities Organization about “Economic System in View of the Quran”.
He said while social interests have priority over individual interests, this in no way means that the interests of individuals are disregarded.
Hojat-ol-Islam Mirmoezzi noted that there is a question about whether the society or the individual is real. “According to the Quran, the society is not an inauthentic phenomenon but it is a reality. God has addressed nations and communities and considered life and death for them. God has talked about some societies taking the straight path and others going astray.”
He stressed that individuals are not inauthentic, either, but they are important and they constitute the society. “It is not the case that the individuals’ identity is dissolved in the identity of the society. Hence, according to the Quran, both the individual and the society are real.
“The question is whether individuals are influenced by other individuals and the society on the whole. The Quran says each human being has a personality but there is also the common consciousness of the society and these two affect one another.”
The scholar underlined that Islam attaches importance to both the society and the individual. “In Islam’s view, there is a common consciousness in the society but it does not negate the individual’s personality. On the other hand, there may be, and actually there have been, individuals with so strong a personality that they have altered the society’s common consciousness.”
He referred to Imam Khomeini (RA) as a great man whose character influenced the whole society and attracted the youth to God.
Hojat-ol-Islam Mirmoezzi stressed that there are many verses in the Quran that highlight the role of the society as well as the individual.
He referred to verse 38 of Surah Muddathir “Every person is a pledge for what he has earned”, and said no one can commit a sin and then on the Day of Judgment say he was influenced by the society.
“Based on verses 13 of Surah Isra, “And We have fastened every man's deeds to his neck, and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him a book which he will find wide open,” one cannot get away from his responsibilities and blame others for what he has done.”
The academic board member of the Islamic Culture and Thought Research Center cited two more verses of the Quran “And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides Allah, lest they insult Allah wrongfully without knowledge. Thus We have made fair-seeming to each people its own doings; then to their Lord is their return and He shall then inform them of all that they used to do” (Al-Ana’am, 108) and “And every nation has its appointed term; when their term is reached, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment),” (A’araf, 34) underlining that each society has a certain identity.
He further said that in Quranic view, whenever there is a conflict between the interests of the society and the individual, social interests should be given priority.
"Therefore, unlike socialist systems, Islam approves of individual freedom. However, this freedom is not absolute but is restricted by the society’s interests. Also, Islam approves of individual possession but that is not absolute, either.”
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He said while social interests have priority over individual interests, this in no way means that the interests of individuals are disregarded.
Hojat-ol-Islam Mirmoezzi noted that there is a question about whether the society or the individual is real. “According to the Quran, the society is not an inauthentic phenomenon but it is a reality. God has addressed nations and communities and considered life and death for them. God has talked about some societies taking the straight path and others going astray.”
He stressed that individuals are not inauthentic, either, but they are important and they constitute the society. “It is not the case that the individuals’ identity is dissolved in the identity of the society. Hence, according to the Quran, both the individual and the society are real.
“The question is whether individuals are influenced by other individuals and the society on the whole. The Quran says each human being has a personality but there is also the common consciousness of the society and these two affect one another.”
The scholar underlined that Islam attaches importance to both the society and the individual. “In Islam’s view, there is a common consciousness in the society but it does not negate the individual’s personality. On the other hand, there may be, and actually there have been, individuals with so strong a personality that they have altered the society’s common consciousness.”
He referred to Imam Khomeini (RA) as a great man whose character influenced the whole society and attracted the youth to God.
Hojat-ol-Islam Mirmoezzi stressed that there are many verses in the Quran that highlight the role of the society as well as the individual.
He referred to verse 38 of Surah Muddathir “Every person is a pledge for what he has earned”, and said no one can commit a sin and then on the Day of Judgment say he was influenced by the society.
“Based on verses 13 of Surah Isra, “And We have fastened every man's deeds to his neck, and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him a book which he will find wide open,” one cannot get away from his responsibilities and blame others for what he has done.”
The academic board member of the Islamic Culture and Thought Research Center cited two more verses of the Quran “And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides Allah, lest they insult Allah wrongfully without knowledge. Thus We have made fair-seeming to each people its own doings; then to their Lord is their return and He shall then inform them of all that they used to do” (Al-Ana’am, 108) and “And every nation has its appointed term; when their term is reached, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment),” (A’araf, 34) underlining that each society has a certain identity.
He further said that in Quranic view, whenever there is a conflict between the interests of the society and the individual, social interests should be given priority.
"Therefore, unlike socialist systems, Islam approves of individual freedom. However, this freedom is not absolute but is restricted by the society’s interests. Also, Islam approves of individual possession but that is not absolute, either.”
1122591
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