Green and White: The essence of Islamic Anarchism

(flag design by Ammer Ishad Ali, Muslim Anarchist Flag)

Islamic Anarchist may seem like a contradiction in terms to many people sort of like Islamic punk because after all how can an overtly oppressive religion have any sort of free thinkers or radicals right? Wrong, people who make such claims about Islam are usually from outside the movement with lack of historical knowledge beyond propaganda that is consistently being proven wrong such as "Islam was spread by the Sword" myth. Others who may have been on the inside are most likely unaware that they are critical not of Islam but of the culture they grew up in. Many people in the Islamic community really believe that the culture they grew up in is one percent Islamic and that all the rules come from the Qur'an, though it's a lovely though it's one percent inaccurate. Sure many populations adopted Islam as a religion but very few got rid of the baggage that came before Islam or due to colonization had to adapt to outside forces. No country on earth is one hundred percent Islamic just like no country on earth is one percent Christian, Judaic (that includes Israel), or any other religious system despite what people may be led to believe.

 This is not going to go through every minute detail about Islam and Anarchism and how they are perfect for one another, lots of other websites do that but instead I will try to show the essence of Islamic Anarchism by showing what they all have in common. Just like Islam and Anarchism are not monolithic ideas neither is Islamic Anarchy, some are pacifists, some are more mystical, some have social ideas, while others lean towards primitivism. Having said that they all share some basic ideas that I believe make up the very essence, the very backbone of the this movement that is needed to make it a long lasting presence in the world both in the west and the east.

Theocratic

 Akin to Christian Anarchists Islamic Anarchists are in one way or another based on theocratic principles. There is no god but Allah, and Submission to Allah means that the individual person has every right to question, not to adhere to, any authority that is not God. All other forms of authority are viewed with suspicion and in many cases as usurper's of Gods role. This is not saying that all forms of authority are demonic but it insists that all authority that is not God must prove that they are legitimate and necessary in order to have the cooperation of the people, if this legitimacy cannot be provided then they should be ousted. The second a Tyrant takes the helm the tyrant should be overthrown. 

 Anti-Clerical

 Many Islamic Anarchists insist on the ability that humans do not need an intermediary between themselves and the divine. This is actually an Islamic principle that each individual has the ability to use their own reasoning to decide not only how they should live but also what the scripture says. This does not mean that all Clerics are evil but it does mean they can give an opinion but that's all they can do. The authority that clerics hold will be done away with because too many people believe what clerics say over the Qur'an, many clerics like Priests and other religious leaders never teach the whole truth about Islam or the Qur'an but certain truths in order to maintain power over the minds of the populace. In the Islamic Anarchist community you have the ability to use your own mind without someone telling you how it should be. 

Critical of Anarchism itself

 One of the refreshing aspects of Islamic Anarchists is not only do they critique Governments, Religious institutions and other forms of authority but they also critique the Anarchist Movement itself from the classical period to the current. This process I believe will always allow Anarchism to grow into new directions that many would not think of if they are stuck in the mold of a certain thought. Along with this is self-evaluation both as individuals and as a whole. Islamic Anarchist are the first to point out the flaws of there own movement but also work on how to correct these flaws. If you do a google search this is evident in the writings of each Muslim Anarchist that not only builds on what came before but also critiques and moves in a direction that may or may not have been intended but would be better for the community as a whole.

Communal

 Just like Islam is a communal based religion Islamic Anarchism is a Communal based society. No one is better than the next person, everyone is on the level.

Voluntary

 No one is or should be forced to do anything so all aspects of society should be done in a voluntary manner. This is how it was when Muhammad (pbu) was alive and in many ways the Medina Constitution reflects certain ideas that are common in the Islamic Anarchist Movement. Voluntarism is a basis of the Movement because the Prophet did not force people to accept his way of life neither will the Islamic Anarchist Movement.

Pluralism

 The Movement accepts others as they are and other movements as they are and are not out to change what others think nor convert to their religion. They accept that they will coexist with Atheist, Christians, Jews, Hindus, and even Capitalists (as well as Communist).

Property is Theft

 Since Allah is the Owner and Creator of the world Property cannot be owned. It can be used, it can be shared, but it cannot be possessed and passed down from individual to individual. This illusion that you can own Property is seen as one of the biggest flaws not only in society but in human development as a whole. It is true that the early Muslim community operated under the idea of property it was also understood that people can be nothing more than care takers of the property but God is ultimate ruler.

 This aspect ties into the Communal nature where most if not all things are shared for the benefit of everyone in the community. This does not mean that boundaries will not exist certainly if an Anarchist state is formed it will need a boundary, but those within the state will live out the Communal aspect.

Self Defense

 You and the community has a right to defend itself from outside and inside power hungry usurpers. Offensive attack is not accepted in this Movement.

Judicial System

 Unclear to exactly what this entails it is agreed that some sort of Judicial system may be needed in order to safe guard the individuals within the community and from the community becoming an authoritative state. 

Moneyless

 Most Islamic Anarchists uphold a Moneyless state, stating all the usual rhetoric of other moneyless socials do.

Neither Sunni nor Shiite nor Sufi

 Though many Anarchists come from a certain background be it Sunni, Shiite, or Sufi the aim of Islamic Anarchists is to get rid of all divisions seeing them as decisive and keeping the Community in achieving real and lasting unity. How one wants to pray is an individualistic choice and people should not fight over past historical issues but make peace with them. Ultimately Islamic Anarchists would like to see a time when those who embrace Islam are simply Muslims and that all divisions are done away with as it was in the time of Muhammad (pbu). In this case many can say that Islamic Anarchists are the true upholders of the original intent of Islam itself. 

Many have compared Islamic Anarchism to Islam Hadhari, a progressive movement that was started in 1957 that was founded by Tunku Abdul Rahman. Though many aspects of both movement parallel one another and often times converge the one critique of Islam Hadhari by Islamic Anarchists is that Islam Hadhari stil operates under the need for a centralized government were as Islamic Anarchists do not think a centralized government is needed.

As I have said before this is not a case by case but an overview of the essence of the Islamic Anarchist movement.


©2016 Abdul Batin Bey