A friend and I had an argument on this a long time ago, and it relates to a book I’m reading now called The Fountainhead (by Ayn Rand).
I was under the impression that Islamic theory is balanced between both ideas…that one needs to give importance to themselves as individuals (as shown thru their work ethic and 1-on-1 relationship with God), but that importance must be given to the community thru altruism.
My friend argued that Islam is 100% about collectivism, and that no importance should be given to the individual, and everything the individual does is geared for the benefit of the community.
What do you guys think of it? Islamic references would be great, but please dont link me to some 10 page article. Its quite tedious. Thanks.
Islam does put emphasis on individual and community both.
Out of the five pillars of islam, four are for the individual itself.
-Shahadah
-Fasting
-Prayers
-Pilgrimage
and Zakat(charity) is beneficial to the individual and the community.
I dont have any proper reference with me right now, but individualism is important too, the Prophet(saw) used to spend time alone in Hira contemplating, its said that it's healthy too.
If Ayn Rand was alive today, I believe she would be lobbying the government to mass produce humans…Without stomachs too…According to her thinking, an individual which followed a path other than the ‘normal’ one, he was defunct…If he decides to become a non-performing individual, he is ready to be recycled…She would be a great fan of the Matrix…:k:…Any individual, according to her, that doesn’t follow capitalism, is ‘evil’…
…While In Islam, the individual’s efforts are deemed praiseworthy…An atmosphere is built where in any situation, the individual is not given special treatment…It is always for the betterment of the whole…Like all religions and movements, Islam too started out as being made up of the weak and the sick…It was their individual effort for something better that made them a collective force…Islam is indeed strange…It moves a person in mysterious ways…