The fifth aspect in which Islam is quite alien to communism is the right of inheritance. Islam has reserved the right of inheritance to the children after the death of their parents, whereas in communism this right has been abolished. In fact, Islam has a very elaborate and accurate system of dividing the wealth of the fathers and mothers on their inheritants. It adds materially to the fair distribution of wealth on them. It does not confine it for instance to the elder son as in the British system of inheritance. Islam defines very carefully those who have the right to inherit. In certain cases they may include many relations other than the children of the father or the mother. Male and female, children and relations of the father or the mother have their own shares.
The Qur’an is very clear on these points. The communists argue against the right of inheritance saying why should we give the son of a rich man priority to the son of a poor man ?; the two should be equally treated so far as wealth is concerned. In the meantime Islam defends the right of inheritance in a more logic way. It says that, no doubt, the physical and mental qualities of man are inherited by his children. Some of these qualities may be good while others may be bad. It is, therefore, fair enough to allow his children to inherit his wealth as well.
According to Islam there is another point in favor of this right. Children are nothing but an extension to the life of the parents. If we abolish the right of inheritance we are automatically killing the incentive of the parents to work hard for their future life, the life of their children. In so doing the whole human society will be affected and the people will have less incentive to do more work if such a drastic communistic principle is adopted all over the world.
Islam has also safeguarded the destruction of wealth by spoilt, loose or insane sons by making it compulsory for such sons to be under control and to be cared for by proper guardians.
Full freedom of man is the sixth aspect of life which Islam strongly stresses, whereas it is lacking in communist countries. In those countries the system of government is essentially a dictatorship. Since the early days of human history mankind has been thriving hard to enjoy full freedom. In so doing man achieved great success and in many societies and countries in the world the people reached the goal of choosing their own form of government and their ruler. In communist countries and in the second half of the twentieth century man has been rendered a mere tool of production in a big factory. His main job in life is to eat, sleep and work, but not to think or express himself, the government is to think for him. Thus human dignity is destroyed.
According to communistic principles, the whole systems of press, radio, television, education, art, army, police, officials and laborers are all organs for the promotion of the official ideals of the government. Writers, thinkers and leading men in society are not allowed to express their opinions freely, nay, they are very careful about what they write and watch their lips when giving public lectures. Great scientific, social or literary works have to be submitted before publication to the government au-
thorities who will not allow the publishing of any book unless it advocates and praises the communistic principles.
In so doing the incentive of the people to think clearly and freely is killed. New ideas and reforms are thus suppressed and the march of human society towards perfection is stopped. It is a well known fact that freedom is a great energy which gives a momentous impetus to human progress.
The evidence of lack of freedom in those countries is that
we see and meet tourists from all countries who are free to visit
other countries for any length of time, whereas we hardly meet or see any tourists from communist countries. Again if those countries are really heaven on earth why their inhabitants are not allowed to visit other countries in orher to appreciate the so-called progress of their countries when compared with other countries where full freedom is enjoyed.
We should also like to cite in this respect that even visitors to communist countries are not allowed to see everything they would like to see. Instead they are kept under strict observation during their stay in those countries.
In fact communism is a system in which man is wholly absorbed, and is made to forget his personality, his religion and country. Communists are a great net who aim at making their leaders in Eastern Europe the masters of the whole world. Thus we look upon communism as a system of mental colonization of the whole world.
In Islam individual liberty and the power to think for yourself and make your own judgment on matters affecting you and the world at large is the basis of reward and punishment in this world and in the hereafter after death. Such freedom is enjoyed by man according to Islamic principles to so great an axtent that he is free to choose not only any system of life he likes better, but Islam went to the extent that every man is free to choose
any religion he believes in. The Holy Qur’an says "let be no compulsion in religion, right stands clear out of wrong".
Thus we see that Islam requires from men to think for themselves, to judge which is right and which is wrong and finally to exercise their free will in adopting the system which they believe is right for them. The Caliph Omar was quoted to say to the governor of Egypt who was rude with his subordinates "Since when you enslaved human beings in spite of the fact that they have been all borne free".
Freedom of speech which is one of the criterions of Islamic traditions is lacking under communistic rule. The Caliph Omar when once giving a sermon was corrected by a woman from the congregation. His answer to this challenge was not the prosecution of that woman but was a clear confession declared publicly when he made his famous statement "A woman corrected a wrong and Omar made a mistake
Freedom of thought is highly encouraged in Islam, so much so, that the Prophet of Islam said, "The best thing a man can do is the utterance of just words on the face of an unjust ruler". This is no doubt the basis of freedom. By this saying the Prophet of Islam, may peace be upon him and all the Prophets, has encouraged the whole world to revolt against any unfair and unjust acts of any ruler. Islam went still a further step in that respect. Prophet Muhammad said "He who sees anything wrong should try and correct it by his hand, if not possible he should try to correct it by his tongue, if not possible he should condemn it in his heart and that is the least he can do".
It is more interesting indeed to note in this respect that the Holy Qur’an went as far as to ask Muslims to leave any land when they are oppressed and their freedom is restricted. It says
"They said we were persecuted on earth. Was not the earth of God wide enough for you to immigrate to another part of it .".
The seventh aspect of’ life in which Islam is quite different from communism is that the communistic principles do not allow any class to exist side by side with the Prolitaria. Karl Marx states "The struggle between classes leads eventually to the dictatorship of the working class. Such dictatorship will never exist except after a complete wiping out revolution. The Prolitaria will never be able to move or lift up themselves unless they wake up from the opium with which religions have poisoned them, and wipes out all classes of the society above them". In this respect Stalin has been also reported to have said "The liberation of the working class depends on the destroying revolution. The working class will not revolt unless we fill their hearts with grudge, despise and fear of the other classes, since grudge, despise and fear are the stimulating factors and the fuel of the revolution. When revolution starts we throw into it all such fuels one by one until it wipes out all our enemies
Islam does not accept such wicked principles. It forbids hatred and grudge between classes, individuals or even between nations. According to Islam all people are one international society and are all the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, and thus they are all equal. Islam looks upon human society as one body if any one part of it aches the whole body will ache too.
It is a well known fact that all the principles of Islam deal very fairly and firmly with individuals on the terms of absolute equality and full fraternity and do not favor any one particular class. It should be remembered, however, that the existence of different classes is a natural phenomenon. It is in fact a social phenomenon which can never be abolished. Its case is exactly like the case of languages and nations.
Thus Islam, being a natural religion, accepts this natural and social phenomenon of the existence of different classes. But it should be mentioned here that in Islam the doors are wide open
between classes. Every one can, through his good deeds and noble acts reach the highest class, whether in political, social or economic spheres. We have cited, in our article about "Islam and Democracy" many cases where black slaves became through their zeal and hard work great leaders in many aspects of Islamic life including, ministers, leaders of armies, governors and heads of State.
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