Is religion a personal matter?

[ajazali]

Re: Is religion a personal matter?

@Sa1eem

As far as I know and understand, without going into detail and keeping things as precise as possible:

There are different aspects of Religion (when religion concerned is Islam):

1: A part of religion is personal matter.
2: A part of religion is mutual obligation.
3: A part of religion is obligations towards one that is right of others.
4: A part of religion is state mater.

Unfortunately, when people, state or society mixed up these parts and interfere, they create fitna and fisad in society and community. Their action also becomes un-Islamic and sinful, as Islam needs an environment where test of Allah is carried out without any obstruction and force from individuals, society, or state, and that human on judgement day could not claim they did something with their free will when they were forced into, or they could not say that they were forced when they got into with free will.

1: Religion that is personal matter.
All ibadah (religious beliefs, rituals and duties) are personal matters and no one can (at least no one should) interfere, be it individuals, society, or state. If anyone starts interfering than that creates fitna and fisad in society and it is also against Islam.

Examples: Salaat, Saum, Haj, Zakat, or any activities that one does as part of religions or religious beliefs are personal and there is complete freedom here. One is answerable for all these only to Allah and no one else … neither anyone is Allah to make someone answerable for all these things.

2: Mutual obligation is that part of religion that it needs two or more people to get involved, and Islam forbids. Anyhow, as long as violation is under cover or not in open, then individuals involved are not answerable to society or state (would be answerable to only Allah) and no one should interfere nor people should show curiosity of finding them out … though if the violation is in open or in public, then state should interfere with punishment.

Examples: Adultery, gambling, etc …

what happen on media fashion shows, is it not what Islam forbids?
is it not open?
it affects people’s mind same as adultery do.

3: There are parts of religion that is obligation towards one that is right of others. State can force a person to fulfil obligations toward those who has rights over that person. State can only do that on principle of safeguarding rights of others on a person (not due to violation of obligation by that person).

Examples: Rights of wife, parents, children, neighbour, etc … or inheritance rights.

[Neighbour … when one sells a property or land, right of neighbour is first to purchase as long as price is competitive, and state can enforce that]

4: There is part of religion that is state matter. That is to provide law and order in the country, stop and punish crimes (crimes that are violation of others right to their property, person, life, safety, religious and belief freedom, freedom of thoughts and actions, emotion, etc). In protecting people within their area of influence from outside powers, it is right of state to declare Jihad on invaders or on those harming state and citizens of state. State can announce any punishment for violation of state laws.

Examples: Rape, murder, robbery, theft, fraud, abuses, bribery, etc … actually crimes of one individual against other, against society, or state, that society or state thinks appropriate for punishing.

Overall, in most cases, state interference on individuals’ life within state is such that it is similar for Muslims as well as non-Muslims … apart of safeguarding rights of dependents and others on individuals that Islam made obligation on Muslims (and rights of others) … but then, if State wants to, state can make such and similar laws obligatory on non-Muslims living in Muslim society (preferably with consent). State can also make laws in similar regards with consent of people, that is not obligatory in Islam … like restricting Jehaz, expenditure in marriage, extend of food varieties in marriage, marrying more with consent of earlier wife/wives, etc.

Society and whatever happens in society is test. So, consider what is disrupting your values as test for you and your family. If one keeps oneself safe from wrongs, then one is successful and if not then one would be failure.

why gambbling and adultery is not a test then?
on one hand you say that state can enforce to stop gambbling and adultery but on other hand you say it is test, hence let happen everything.
why you even bothered to write such long posts? simply tell people that it is test!

Anyhow, I found very few people living in west complaining that obscenity and other wrongs in western society is stopping them to be good Muslim or effecting their Islamic values, rather most I met say that Muslim countries have worse Muslims when it comes to character and religious values then people who migrate from Muslim countries to west … and that is in spite of Muslims in western countries getting exposed to non-Muslim values and obscenity of severe kind.

It shows that society is not reason for any concern, but it is individuals who get involved in wrongs and blame society (or when no one to blame then one blames Shaitan-Iblis

No, to strive to save Islamic values of Islamic society is responsiblity of every Muslim. If you think that it is blaming then then you are unconcerned for growth of Islamic values in Islamic Society.

Kaam bhie yea khoob hay hazraat-e-Insaan ka
Her burayee khud karay aur naam lay Shaitan ka

Yea
Her Burayee khud karay aur naam lay Mu-ashray ka]

It is surprising that those who talk most about enforcing morality and religious duties on others on ground that it effects them, in majority do not feel any problem in leaving Muslim countries to live in non-Muslim country, or taking dollars from non-Muslims (for instance, Taliban in Afghanistan was not creating any revenues in Afghanistan, but most of their expense were coming from Americans either directly or through Saudi Arabia).

you mean those are better who openly love America?

Ishaq qatil se bhi maqtool se hamdardi bhi
ye bata kis se mohabbat ki jaza mangay ga

Sajda Kahliq ko bhi Iblees se yaarana bhi
Hashar main kis se aqeedat ka sila mangay ga