A verse in the Quran says: “All power belongs to God alone.” (12: 40). The literal meaning of the Arabic word hukm, which appears in this verse, is “power” or “authority”. In this verse, hukm is meant in the sense of God exercising control and authority over the universe. In other words, the verse asserts that it is God alone who has created the vast cosmos and it is He who is sustaining and regulating it. The above verse in the Quran thus speaks of a reality that is already manifest. Such an understanding of God inspires a human being to surrender himself completely to his Creator.

In present times, however, some Muslim thinkers have taken the word hukm in the above verse to mean political power or political authority. This interpretation entrusted Muslims with the responsibility of imposing God’s political rule over the whole world. Since all people were not yet under Islamic or divine political rule, it became Muslims’ primary duty to confront those in possession of political power. Therefore their activities were directed at dethroning and replacing such rulers so that divine political rule could be established.

The truth is that the belief that God has control over everything requires a person to lead life in the spirit of modesty. Belief in a Creator who has absolute power over the world inspires a person to be extremely cautious in his words and deeds, taking care to always adhere to the path of justice in his conduct and dealings with others. Such a person will bear in mind that one day he will have to be accountable to God for all of his actions. Thus the idea of an all-powerful God is instrumental in cultivating noble and sublime virtues in a person.

However the political interpretation of the above verse caused Muslims to view themselves as political opponents of those in the position of power. Some Muslims took up the role of ideological opposition to people in authority, while others became involved in practical opposition to rulers whom they sought to dethrone. Such a movement of political opposition is tantamount to engaging in non-Islam in the name of Islam. An interpretation of this kind can only serve to take Muslims further away from Islam. Those Muslims who believe in the theory of imposing their political rule over others will have nothing but hatred and violence to give them.

Source: Spirit of Islam, August 2017