Anarchism in the Qur'an

[Asfandyar]

After studying the Qur'an, I believe that it promotes anarcho-capitalism:

• 2:256 states that "there should be no compulsion in religion" - Most of us at Free-Minds also believe that 'religion' from a Qur'anic perspective just refers to any System (religions just being certain Systems) - as in the story of Pharoah and Joseph
• This could be addressed by a polycentric legal system - one where everyone is free to chose the System by which they live under
• Many people would also argue that many other things aside from law are also included within a System - for instance banking & the printing of money - to address this we should have free banking and people should be able to chose their defence providers, e.t.c. (which would be funded through voluntary funding on the part of individuals)
• God states in the Qur'an that their is a natural order (all the animals submit, e.t.c.) - science, mathematics and economics have a principle of the "Spontaneous Order" which naturally arises - this could potentially be natural submission (Islam)
• God states in the Qur'an that Islam will EXPOSE all other Systems - if everyone is free to chose their System eventually the best will become apparent (as in the free market the best goods become apparent)

All feedback and critiscims welcome.

Peace

[L.Hu]

Back in the 19th century many Philosophers supported the Nihilism you are advocating. The 20 century ruined all the good such anarchy promised. Most modern philosophers now think Nihilism is bad. Modern soceity is becomeing Nihilistic. In such culture there is no good and no bad. And as Nietzsche said "God is dead" in such a society. Nihilism looks good when viewed from afar. But whenever it has happened it leads to a cold and worthless existence. But then again I may have misunderstud you. Maybe you are not advocating Nihilism. If I did not understand you forgive me.

[afridi220]

THE QUR?AN AND THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE



The Qur?an makes it abundantly clear; every individual enjoys freedom of choice, and has full liberty, either to accept or reject any idea, concept or, way of life, utilizing the innate wisdom and ability to differentiate between right and wrong. This is also true with the constitution of the Qur?an, which can get a positive response or a negative one.   

In the verse 7:19, Allah presents this exquisite notion of personal freedom in an elegant manner.





?When the human beings finally reached [after 2.5 billion years of evolution] the status of Adam [a social entity, way above the closest primates] Allah advised the new species, ?You are free to dwell anywhere on this earthly paradise and have complete independence to work and eat, wherever you want on this lovely planet.

But there are certain limits you must respect in order to protect your social setup from the adverse effects of too much freedom.

The humans belong to a single genus and constitute an extensively   large family, which must never divide into different groups or parties, with the end result of conflicts and dissensions amongst you. You must evenly distribute the sources of wealth on this planet, in accordance with Allah?s Fiscal Policy, to satisfy every one?s needs. If there is a clash of interest amongst you, in that case your paradise on earth shall turn into a burning hell. Anarchy, pandemonium or, even mayhem may become order of the day.?

The Qur?an, in the verse 41:40, enunciates an excellent definition of freedom or that of the free choice, but it also stipulates a condition of voluntarily self-imposed restrictions to introduce checks and balances in the society. Unlimited liberty in any social setup means its total destruction, which beats the very purpose of freedom in the first place.







?You have complete freedom of choice and you may select any way of life you want. But Allah?s system based upon eternal code is watching your every move and results of your action shall be compiled upon the basis of our infinite knowledge.?

Additionally, Allah comes out very clearly in the verse [35:1]; He established His set of laws and rest assured, He shall honor them, without any change, whatsoever.   


?Certainly, Allah has established rules and regulations for every eventuality, within this universe and beyond. With the assistance of His immutable rules, He keeps a close watch, what goes on around? With the repetition of the same verse 35 times in the Qur?an, He assures every one; His laws are irreversible and there shall be no change in various limits imposed by Him for any one.?

Mohammad, addressing the whole world 1,400 years ago in Mecca, proclaimed, ?This Qur?an is the truth coming down from your Sustainer. Hence, whoever wants to accept or reject this code of conduct is free to do so, but before making any choice, each individual must use its intelligence and perception to make the right choice.? [18:29]



Their response was very simple; they would follow the path of their ancestors. [2:170]




?In response to the above declaration, they came up with a simple answer, ?We would follow the path of our forefathers and keep on doing, whatever they did.? What an unintelligent line of reasoning; their irrational ancestors were not on the right path.?

Allah suggests, do not follow the Qur?an without complete comprehension! [25:73]


?Allah accepts those people as real Muslims, who avoid adopting every commandment of the Qur?an, without complete understanding and comprehension, but use their innate intelligence and analytical logic for accepting or rejecting it.? 

There is no room for the idiosyncrasies of such blockhead dimwits, and morally corrupt individuals.





?The human mind is a witness of the absolute reality that every individual can instill wonderful equilibrium and commendable balance in its persona by adhering to Allah?s directives, as He has equipped every human being with the potential of self-destruction, as well as self-construction. Each individual possesses two choices, either to go for the first option or to get rid of it, by nourishing the second one and developing it to the highest level possible, utilizing the innate analytical prowess and impartial thinking. A person who really accomplishes that feat [by following the natural laws coupled with the Qur?anic principles] through his wonderful behavior is the real winner. Naturally, the one who destroys one?s persona through wrong pursuits, experiences personal failures, at every step of the way.?

Allah respects human right of freedom, by enunciating the directive, ?No coercion, whatsoever, is required for the acceptance of the divine social order.?







?Despite the fact that Allah possesses unlimited power, yet He has no desire to enforce the divine social order, embodied in the Qur?an, on this planet or on other extraterrestrial life forms, by compulsion. It is against his plan of independent development and progressive approach. Indubitably, He clearly indicated the right and the wrong paths and then left humans free to come up with their own choice. Whoever forcefully rebels against the Qur?an or chooses to adopt the right path by rejecting oppressive powers, is making a definite decision. The one who has made the correct selection has indeed grabbed the trust worthiest hand, which shall never break away. This is the promise of Allah, Who possesses the best documentation system, in lieu of His unlimited knowledge.? [8:29, 90:10, and 76:3]



In the verse 4:137, the Qur?an states, ?The people who quit implementing the code of the Qur?an in their daily lives [through the establishment of some government], shall neither find protection from Allah?s judicious system, nor shall they ever find the right path to build a happy life.?



                               


?Those, who first accepted Islam [started struggling for the establishment of a peaceful society based upon the constitution of the Qur'an], then went back and joined the opposite camp [non-Muslims], once again turned around to become a part of the Muslim Ummah, but left one more time and then grew stubborn in their denial of the truth; such type of people shall neither be protected from the Laws of Allah, nor they shall ever find the right path. They shall plunge deeper into ignorance and ignominy.?



Therefore, according to the above verse of the Qur?an, you are free to accept or reject the commandments of the Qur'an. Additionally, there is no capital punishment for any Muslim, who wants to rescind his allegiance to Allah and the Qur?an. Every one has full liberty either to belong to the Muslim community or go the other way. There is complete freedom of choice for every Muslim to become Hindu, Christian, Jew or an agnostic; whatever suits someone?s palate of belief.

Death penalty for an apostate is the fabrication of the Islamic priesthood and Iranian Imams. They invented the term ?apostate? and injected it into the Islamic Shariah, with a view to keep a firm hold on their respective sects and dissuade their followers from wandering away or changing sides, due to the hanging sword of decapitation over their heads. This concept is, however, alien to the Qur?an and is nothing more than an erroneous belief.

However, in defiance to your unwarranted and unsubstantiated accusations, the Qur?an states in the verse 5; 32: 



?If one kills a person without a just cause, it shall tantamount to the killing of the whole humanity. Conversely, if one saves the life of a single person, it shall be like saving the entire humankind.?



The Qur?an, contradicting the Islamic priesthood?s point of view, states in the verse 17:70:



?Certainly, every individual [regardless of race, religion, color and nationality] on this planet is equally honorable, as far as Allah is concerned. Unquestionably, the noblest amongst you from Allah?s standpoint is the one, who obeys Allah?s commandments for the establishment of a peaceful and prosperous society in this world.? [49:13]

Jews can be Jews by birth and so can be Christians, but it is different with Muslims. They have to learn the Qur?an and understand the verses without any help from synthesized Sunnah, fabricated Ahadith, and mixed-up Fiqah. Since the Muslims have given up the right of choice, they are in the hellhole. Jews and Christians have become secular, because their revelations have become extinct, millennia ago.

The concept of foreordination of everything by Allah or, belief in one?s luck is Iranian addition to the Qur?an; this is an alien plant sowed in the soil of Islam.

The Qur?an regards human ingenuity and perseverance with high esteem and considers these qualities essential for revving up the human evolutionary development. As mentioned above, every member of this community works diligently according to its knowledge, training and skill, but this effort is not made only for personal gains or benefits; the overall social improvement and betterment of others remains to be the major goal of every person. [53:39]




?In that society, one works to the best of one?s ability [giving one?s best shot, as per American slang] and is rewarded in accordance with the efforts made.?

Naturally, under the ethics of work defined above, none would like to be on welfare. It would be tantamount to degrading one?s public status in the progressive society and no one would like to be labeled as a social outcast or a communal parasite, as Mullahs are.


:)This article is written by Akhtar Sherazi

[Supernaut]

After studying the Qur'an, I believe that it promotes anarcho-capitalism:

• 2:256 states that "there should be no compulsion in religion" - Most of us at Free-Minds also believe that 'religion' from a Qur'anic perspective just refers to any System (religions just being certain Systems) - as in the story of Pharoah and Joseph
• This could be addressed by a polycentric legal system - one where everyone is free to chose the System by which they live under

Beautiful words! I couldn't agree more! Indeed, one of the main reasons why I accept the great reading to be from the god is because of its libertarian values.

• Many people would also argue that many other things aside from law are also included within a System - for instance banking & the printing of money - to address this we should have free banking and people should be able to chose their defence providers, e.t.c. (which would be funded through voluntary funding on the part of individuals)

I agree that the reading doesn't tell you to levy taxes on people (tax=extortion, period); that funding for anything should be entirely voluntary, but I think there's nothing in the reading about a standing army. Anyone - man or woman - who wishes to fight alongside believers against an enemy may do so.

• God states in the Qur'an that their is a natural order (all the animals submit, e.t.c.) - science, mathematics and economics have a principle of the "Spontaneous Order" which naturally arises - this could potentially be natural submission (Islam)
• God states in the Qur'an that Islam will EXPOSE all other Systems - if everyone is free to chose their System eventually the best will become apparent (as in the free market the best goods become apparent)

Peace

I agree.

The way I understand it, islam/peacemaking is all about choosing. You can't be prosecuted for making any choices at all except oppression, rape, murder, theft and anything that violates a person's body or property (you'll have to compensate someone if you accidentally break their window). Yes, the reading does tell you to flog adulterers in public and to put prostitutes under protective custody, but these laws apply only to people who willingly come under the reading's jurisdiction (5:41-51).

[Asfandyar]

Afridi,

Your "Divine Order" is very un-Islamic for the following reasons:

• Those stated in my first post

• 4:29 - This states that wealth is ONLY allowed to be "re-distributed" through mutually-agreed upon trade (and by what is just: i.e. charity)

• 16:71 - This states that God has PREFFERED some people in provision over others and that by denying this you are denying the favour of God (i.e. this is a revolt against Nature). Creating a welfare state (which, like in every country in the world, will be enacted coercivly upon others) is therefore un-Islamic - there is no equal-distribution of money enacted under Islam: Money is redistributed SOLELY through [mutually-agreed] trade and charity. Furthermore, if you read some of the works by Austrian economists and on mises.org you will quite clearly see how the welfare state is used to increase Government power and will eventually lead to tyranny.
  I understand how you say there will be no welfare but you "parasite" theory has never worked in the past: in every other situation those who didn't work were either forced to work or a welfare system was set up to support them - pretty much your exact idea has been tried in the past several times over and has failed EACH AND EVERY time.

• The notable economist and legal theorist F.A. Hayek pretty much proved in The Road to Serfdom that any from of socialism will eventually lead to tyranny due to its very core concept of planning - there is absolutely no way to enact a socialistic system except through some form of planning (as socialism requires a specific distribution of wealth, e.t.c.)

• Finally, the Ludwig von Mises Institute (mises.org) released a book a few years back which says that Islam was one of the few great libertarian movements - they cite the earliest records of the Islamic civilisation where most of day-to-day life was not run by any leaders, but instead was a proto-anarcho-capitalistic society where the Spontaneous Order was pretty much behind all of its advancement: Dosen't this also confirm where God states that he will support the believers - the Spontaneous Order seems to pretty much be Nature's natural way of helping the believers (as God only intervenes directly in our world to spread the message)

All feedback and critiscims welcome.

Peace

[Supernaut]

Asfandyar,

I salute you. Please forgive me if I sound like I'm kissing ass, but your latest message is replete with wisdom.

[Supernaut]

Though it's not relevant to this thread, I'd like to state that I developed my current libertarian understanding of the great reading long before I even learnt about libertarianism (the political ideology). I'm not someone who "understands" the great reading with a libertarian bias and I don't even consider myself a libertarian.

[liquiddharma]

I agree, the Quran is describing ethics in the absence of government, and is therefore an anarcho-libertarian text. However, despite being a muslim, I don't think this is a good thing. It's just a feature of the circumstances in which the prophet lived. Governance is a science, and it's a big mistake to turn back the clock in our scientific understanding of good government based upon the circumstances in which the Quran was written.

[Asfandyar]

Under a polycentric legal system, we will be able to institute "Qur'anic Laws" - i.e. ONLY the laws in which the Qur'an states an EARTHLY punishment for (e.g. theft); the "Government" (i.e. the Courts) would not be allowed to punish anyone who does not [voluntarily] subscribe to the legal system and should have no other powers WHATSOEVER so as to mantain 2:256.

The provision of services, goods, the military, charity, e.t.c. would be funded purely VOLUNTARILY as opposed to being provided through taxation which acts as COERCION to those who do not wish to pay it and therefore violates 2:256.

For this same reason there should be a free banking system (although people would be free to form central banks which they adhere to voluntary) and there should be no Qur'anic State (only Courts) as this would also violate 2:256.

It is for this reason that the Qur'an prefers consensus as opposed to "democracy" as the latter (as we know it today) is simply the electionm of leaders which then violate 2:256.

On another note, the "Constitution" proposed by some members on this forum violates both 2:256 (for reasons alreeady stated) and 4:29 and 16:71 with its "Right to Welfare". Welfare should ONLY be providied by voluntary charity and forced redistribution of wealth is denying the grace of God (i.e. is a revolt against nature). The verse from the Qur'an which they have used to justify [State "provided"] welfare is simply God stating what HE will do - where are we instructed to form a State to enact what He has promised to do (i.e. USURP His position)? It seems to me that most of the arguments used in favour of an "Islamic" State on this forum are based on the premise that if God has promised to do something it is our role to enact it out: Shouldn't we trust God where He says that HE will do what He has promised to do?

All feedback and critiscisms welcome.


P.S. liquiddharma,

I agree, the Quran is describing ethics in the absence of government, and is therefore an anarcho-libertarian text. However, despite being a muslim, I don't think this is a good thing. It's just a feature of the circumstances in which the prophet lived. Governance is a science, and it's a big mistake to turn back the clock in our scientific understanding of good government based upon the circumstances in which the Quran was written.

Surely the Qur'an is for all times?


Peace

[Supernaut]

I'm not a fan of the free-minds.org constitution either. It doesn't grant many of the liberties that the great reading does and it's got too many laws in it that aren't in the great reading. Around three years ago I discovered that the god commands that every ideological group in a nation should be allowed to live according to its own laws. This is made clear by verses such as 5:41-51, 2:256 and 109:6 ("To you is your system, and to me is mine"). The only time the god allows us to interfere in the affairs of other groups is when they commit human rights violations (4:75 and 4:90).

If someone who doesn't wish to come under the jurisdiction of the great reading perpetrates a crime against someone who does, then the punishment for them is supposed to be in accordance with what the great reading says with regard to that crime (5:45). And if a crime is committed against someone who doesn't subscribe to islam (peacemaking) by someone who does, then the punishment for the muslim criminal should still be in accordance with the laws of the great reading as far as I know (4:92).

A nation that truly lives in accordance with the god's laws will never have laws that require the country's citizens to be registered, nor require foreigners to apply for visas (49:12). The country's immigration policy will not discriminate against anyone; absolutely everyone will be allowed to enter the country's territory (5:23-24 and 2:58) provided they enter peacefully (8:60). People will be allowed to live completely anonymous lives without governmental interference.