10 American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 3, No. 1, 1986 

Guiding Light 
Selection from the Holy Qurizn 

Comments by Dr. XbdulHumid AbuSuluymun 

t (y Y t 
-_. 

Translation 
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful. 

God has promised, to those 
among you who believe 

and work righteous deeds, that He 
will, of a surety grant them 

in the Land, inheritance 
(of power), as He granted it 

to those before them; that 
He will establish in authority 

their religion- the one 
which He has chosen for them; 

And that He will change 
(their state), after the fear 

in which they (lived), to one 
of security and peace: 

'They will worship Me (alone) 
and not associate aught with Me.' 

If any do reject Faith 
after this, they are 

rebellious and wicked. Surah XXIV.55 

In this Qur'anic verse, Allah points out the three basic conditions for na- 
tions to gain leadership and establish civilization on earth. These three are: 
1) clarity of vision and commitment to goals @ruin); 2) determination to transla- 
latevision into action through appropriate means ( A n d ) ;  and 3) objectivity 
in assessing challenges and opportunities in order to devise and carry out 
strategies and tactics best suited to produce the desired results in accordance 
with the Laws of Creation (FZih). 

It is clear from this verse that Khilafah and the establishment of the Muslim 
Ummah as the leader of humanity and human civilization have to satisfy these 
three conditions of a clear commitment and a strategy based on a comprehen- 
sive understanding of Islam. ThisJtGn has to motivate action. Establishment 
of the rule of the Ummah and the Khilafa can never be accomplished accor- 
dmg to this verse unless the U .  actions are based on objective assessments 
of what can be done and on the objective development and pursuit of goals 
and objectives (SuZih). 



American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Vol. 3, No. 1, 1986 11 

+la is not intention. Intention is a matter of &uin, which in all cases 
will be rewarded on the Day of Judgement ( h i r a h ) .  

The Prophet (SAAS) also made it clear that a Muslim who does his best 
with good intentions to achieve an objective (ijtihrid) will get two rewards 
if he followed the right course of action (AjGn) but one kind of reward if 
he failed to fbllow the right course of action ( N d ~ ~ p h ) .  The Muslim who follows 
the right course of action (Sunan) will gain the fruits of his actions both in 
this world and in the Hereafter. If the Muslim fails to follow the right course 
of action, however, in pursuing his goals he will get the fruits of his inten- 
tions only in the Hereafter. 

This makes it clear to everyone thatJ& and intentions alone will not enable 
man to establish and lead great civilizations and establish Khilafah. Also essen- 
tial are vision and commitment based on the right attitude toward life and 
the universe. This attitude is one of commitment to objectivity, involvement, 
and action (ulbmal ul-plih). 

The Muslim mind and the Muslim methodology of thought, knowledge, 
and research should not confuse the Law of Causality with the truths of ghuyb 
(issues beyond human logic and Comprehension). Muslims who accept with 
full faith and confidence all aspects of ghuyb and al-kulliyat al-iluhiyah ac- 
cording to Allah's message, should subject their thought and action to the ob- 
jective laws of life and matter (sunan al-Wuzlq). 

Social scientists are invited to study and analyze this verse and the laws 
revealed to man in it. They are invited to study its scope and effects. They 
are invited to study the history of human civilization in its light and help 
man to understand himself better and follow a better course of action in the 
future.