It is not surprising that the Muslims who came to Sri Lanka as viziers lived by not only business but also their religious teachings were based on business, and their political thinking continued in the same style. It cannot be denied that in today’s political environment, the same mindset has gripped Muslim leaders and voters. The purpose of this article is to explain that thinking and its consequences.
Dr. Ameer Ali, Murdoch University, Western Australia
Islam and Business
Islam has a very close relationship with the business. For example, the Prophet himself was engaged in business. His first wife was the head of a business establishment. Quraysh were traders. Makkah is a commercial center. Once a year, it turns into a giant shopping street. During those days fighting inside the stadium was prohibited because it would affect the trade.
Wouldn’t it be easier for a religion that has landed in such a commercial environment to introduce its teachings to suit that environment? That is why words and examples related to business are found in the holy Qur’an. It is not the purpose of this article to explain them all. Many research papers have appeared in European languages and sometimes in Arabic. Those who want can read them.
Islamic Teaching in Sri Lanka
‘Fear Allah, it is sure, life in this world is not permanent, and do good deeds and seek the path to heaven. Those actions are reciting the kalima, believing, praying five times a day, fasting in Ramadan, paying the poor tax, Hajj and reciting the holy Qur’an in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet. Put your good deeds on one scale and your bad deeds on the other, Allah (swt) will send you to heaven or hell according to whichever scale you place lower.’ Around this summary, all the teachings have been going on for years. Therefore, Muslim devotees also organized their lives around the mosque, family and career. Is there a place for thinking about society, thinking about the country, artistic interest, political involvement, and chemistry in this teaching? Thus the country got its freedom, and democratic rule was introduced in an environment where they lived as self-righteousness. What happened after that?
Muslims should not become partners in the political changes taking place in the country, but simply being spectators and running behind Muslim leaders will not solve the problems of Muslims. The wealth of leaders increases.
What did Rama do and what did Ravana do?
It is not surprising that a Vaishya tribe, who lived in constant thought about heaven and heaven, hell and mouth, turned to business with an eye on politics. Muslims approached politics from the point of view that whatever party came to power, it would be enough without disturbing their profession and religion. That’s what the priests also saw.
A norm has developed in the society that if a government is established without hindrance to build mosques, set up madrasahs, fulfill the obligation of Hajj, give permits and develop business, then it is better to support that government. Both Rama and Ravana were Kafirs. Therefore, it is not surprising that a political formula has developed among the Muslims that whoever fulfills the above requirements is our vote. The Muslim representatives who entered the parliament also operated on the basis of that formula.
Politics of Business and Politics of Prostitution
It cannot be denied that the business politics described above won some concessions for the Muslim community after 1980 until the formation of a Muslim party. Today’s Muslim schools, Muslim Maha Vidyalayas and Teacher Training Colleges are good examples of that. The ethnic rift between the Sinhalese and Tamil ethnic groups has allowed the Muslims to enter the middle, favoring the Muslims and making their business politics profitable. But only one thing must be emphasized.
That is, the Muslim representatives who received those concessions did not strive for them for their own selfish interests. The fact that their services have been forgotten by today’s Muslim generation is also a reflection of the commercial culture of this community, and those think will understand that truth. The change after 1980 has turned business politics into politics of prostitution. A prostitute has no control over who she has sex with. A prostitute’s only rule is to have sex with whoever pays. Similarly, those who formed Muslim parties after 1980 and entered the parliament, their goal is not to sit in the opposition, no matter which party they join, contest under which symbol and use any strategy. Being part of the government and getting appointed as ministers and governors is to earn money. Is it wrong to call the political leaders who substitute their race for any regime as adulterers? What they want is position and money. They are ready to compensate the society and even the religion if the occasion forces it. Will those who beat the drum saying that they will fight for the rights of Muslims mention any rights that have been fought for so far? Let it go. Can they at least publish a list of what those rights are?
Muslim rights or problems?
In any democratic regime, if the values of democracy are politicized, there can be no individual rights for any race or caste or religion. Can Abdullah have the right to be an Appuhami, Arulappan or Arumugam? If the rights of others are denied to the Muslims, it is not the Muslims who have to fight. Because there is a danger that the apparition will turn into racism. So it should become a struggle to build democratic rights. There is no need for a Muslim party for that struggle.
There is no democracy in this country. Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism resides where it should. That is what has created a new political culture that has become hostile not only to Muslims but to all minorities. This is the main issue today. That racism has also ruined the economy of this country for the past seven decades. Do we need a Muslim party to fight for democracy and eradicate racism? If necessary, this article points out that the political account is wrong.
Unless there is a change of the system, no solution to the problems
Muslims have various problems like land problem, occupational problem, poverty problem, education problem, health problem. There is no denying them. But don’t other species have those problems? Muslims should realize that the leaders of Muslim parties are campaigning as if it is only for Muslims that they too are promoting racism and basking in its heat. If the cure for one racism is another racism, the people of this country will never get relief. The problems of Muslims will never be solved. Only if it is left unresolved, the Muslim leaderships can sing the same hymn and stage an election drama. This is the Muslim politics of the last forty years.
Need an opportunity to change the system
First of all, the chauvinist political culture that plagues this country and the politicization that supports it must be removed. Realizing this, last year a younger community raised a demand to change the system. Knowing that the majority of the members who are now members of the parliament will not make that change, they raised their voices saying that they do not want those 225 members. After suppressing the insurgency and jailing its leaders, the same racist gang continues to rule under the leadership of Ranil.
People need an opportunity to change this regime and its political culture. The pradeshya saba election may be held next month should be considered as a springboard for a general election that will send a team that can fulfill that requirement to the parliament. But Ranil’s government is trying to prevent it from happening, however thw people’s power is gathering to oppose that effort. It is the duty of Muslims to support it. Muslims should become partners in the political changes taking place in the country, but merely being spectators and running behind Muslim leaders will not solve the problems of Muslims. It would only help the wealth of leaders increases.
In conclusion, the success of this article is if Muslim intellectuals realize that the political account given by Muslims for more than forty years is wrong and a new account is necessary.
source: Vidivelli
