Muslims in the United States possess great freedoms, and potential. Upon pondering (reflection) over the conditions of the Muslims in the United States it is very possible to conclude fairly that there is much to be expected from a people who enjoy freedom and prosperity. 

In another light when we come to understand how freedom and wealth are understood in Shar’iah we learn that they are married to responsibility. 

“Freedom,” in Shar’iah, is a prerequisite of practice. Practice brought about by force is not considered legitimate for this reason coercion is not an acceptable way to bring a person into Islam. 

 “Wealth,” in Shar’iah, is to be used for the aim of creating the conditions for the practice of Islam. “Wealth,” allows us to alleviate the conditions of the poor, it is to be spent to maintain relatives, spent in the way of research and development. The goal of wealth then is to benefit humanity benefit humanity in the way of learning and technology. “Wealth” is to support life, to aid in establishing a refined life. 

Muslims in the United States possess both “Freedom,” and “Wealth.” Unfortunately, Muslims in the United States have not come to understand “Freedom” and “Wealth” in light of Islam. For this reason we find that there is little spent in the way of education, in the way of developing the community and society. 

It is essential that Muslims in the United States begin to understand the responsibility that accompanies, “Freedom” and “Wealth” beyond benefiting ones immediate and distant family and gaining in material status and possession.

When the community of Muslims in the United States begins to understand “Freedom” and “Wealth” in light of Islam then the community will discover responsibility. Upon understanding responsibility in the area of “Freedom” and “Wealth” then we will be ready to understand the right that America has over us as Muslims in the United States. We will come to understand that America holds over our heads the right to make the United States a better place, to improve its condition by understanding how to use our “freedom” and “wealth” for constructive efforts that safeguard our dignity –human dignity. 

Until this point we are still wanting, lacking in understanding what responsibility means in Islam and what is our responsibility to America. Our lack of understanding of what responsibility means in Shar’iah is the source of our sense of alienation and disorientation that has given birth to pessimism and self destructive tendencies. 

Some of us lash out against freedom because of the burden of choice and the possibility of failure, the possibility of failing in our very commitment to Islam but Islam demands freedom as a prerequisite to practice to being a better person, freedom was the trust which our father Adam (a) was entrusted with and it is what makes us most human and it is what allows us to be elevated or disgraced because freedom means choice of course of action and it is the prerequisite to being responsible for our deeds before Allah (swt) in this world and in the next.

 Allahu Al’am

 

Author: Abul-Hussein

Produced by: al-translators, 2010