The Dynamics of Change for the Salvation of the Muslims

The basis for the process of change, which Islam promotes through the Qur'anic verse “Allah does not bring about change in any group unless they initiate a change in themselves” must remain as one of the necessities of the third millenium so that we may regain three of the most important aspects which we lost during our backwardness in the last century. These three are the Single Government, Brotherhood and the laws facilitating Individual and Social Freedom.

In order to achieve this, a number of fundamental issues must be addressed and these issues have been elaborated upon by the religious authority grand ayatollah Imam Muhammad Shirazi, in his book “The Dynamics of Change for the Salvation of Muslims” of 454 pages.

In it, imam Shirazi addresses these issues in 38 introductions and preludes, presenting the shortfalls and errors which have overcome the Muslim activists and their views, not to mention authoritarianism and suchlike.

Imam shirazi's view is that the shortfalls and errors are not particular to an Ommah or a nation, but these could manifest in a government, in a political party, an association, an organisation, in a group or even in a family or an individual.

Imam Shirazi begins his book with the most important change that must take place, which is political awareness. Politics is of two dimensions:

To know what is happening in one's country and why,
To know the cures and remedies for the problems and how to rectify them.

Under the title “the means of avoiding disunity”, imam Shirazi views disunity between the Shi'a and Sunni as the outcome of a backward political system. Imam Shirazi proposes the following system:

All Shi'a religious authorities form a council, which is governed by majority rule,
All Sunni religious authorities form a council, which is governed by majority rule,
Both these council come under one unifying council,
Both the Shi'a and the Sunni have the freedom to debate all issues of concern,
Free Islamic parties operate in accordance with the higher council,
The task of the scholars and religious authorities as well as the political parties is to return to the one honourable Ommah and the laws of Allah the Almighty.

Imam Shirazi then goes on to detail the sound and proper way to deal with the enemies, and the five steps needed to be taken to prevent the activists from sliding into the haram territory.

Meanwhile, imam Shirazi does not neglect the importance and role of ‘Tawakkol' or having trust and confidence in Allah for help and support. Tawakkol enhances one's strength, confidence and tranquillity, and attracts Allah's favour and mercy. In short Tawakkol brings about success and victory.

Imam Shirazi also calls upon the activists and workers to observes what he calls “the six surroundings, which are the Soul, the body, the family, the society, the environment, and the manufacturing industries.” Each of these media or surroundings has a direct effect on the general well being or the deviation of the community, and therefore it is imperative to ensure health of these six aspects.

Imam Shirazi strongly emphasises on following the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in every aspect of this process of change. He calls upon the activists in the cause of Allah to avoid what he calls “political infancy”, some of its manifestations are:

To engage in trivial affairs
To engage in insulting and undermining others
To keep away from the people and their affairs
To boast about their activities/leadership and their intellectual ability
To take pride, arrogance, and self-centered opinions

Imam Shirazi cites more then seventy such manifestations, the possession of many of which would lead the activists into “political infancy” and thereby preventing them from reaching the goal of progress and development in the ‘process of change'.

In the second section of the book, while citing many examples and legal evidence, imam Shirazi addresses the issue of dictatorship in detail.

This book is regarded as one of Imam Shirazi's masterpieces. It is distinguished in its depth, examples and citations, topical analysis on the basis of sound Islamic principles. It presents the fundamental problems faced by the Muslim Ommah and the means to overcome them through suitable and ideal solutions based on the teaching of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) as well as lesson and experience of history.