On Need of Islamic Society to Bara’at
This is what Hani Chitchian, a member of the Quran and Etrat School of the University of Tehran, discussed in the tenth session in a series on Surah At-Tawbah. Following are excerpts from his remarks in the session:
A problem with governments that have been established with the name of Islam is that they accept Islamic tenets but fail to clean the society of polytheism. Accordingly, Bara’at has not taken place. There are various reasons for this.
Basically, false establishments have had no problem with believers’ worshipping of God provided that they accept the polytheist society’s lifestyle. The problem arises when believers seek to disassociate themselves from disbelievers.
“Idolaters should not inhabit the mosques of Allah bearing witness against themselves with disbelief. Those, their deeds have been annulled, and in the Fire they shall live for ever.” (Surah At-Tawbah, verse 17)
Why does God say this? Apparently, some disbelievers were helping a mosque and Muslims were happy about this. It is not strange for polytheists to try to help mosques and in return ask believers to not protest their establishment.
Of course, it is wrong to say that all that has been achieved in a non-religious establishment is bad. But how one should differentiate between good and bad?
One should refer to anthropology and sociology and find a narrative based on his/her worldview. We should offer our own analysis of the world.
Islamic society needs Bara’at. Bara’at means believers want not only to worship God but also seek to have monotheism in all aspects of their life be it in the university, agriculture, upbringing of children, etc. Many Muslims have been accustomed to non-religious approaches and one cannot disassociate them.
Bara’at is one of the signs of the rule of Allah and is one of the important criteria for differentiating right from wrong. In the confrontation of two Muslim groups, the one which has disassociated itself more from disbelievers is rightful.
