I ought to write this piece due to a calling from my heart after quite a number of Facebook posts and articles going around the internet talking about how a reformation of the government is needed to achieve a new reformation of the law and legislation.
Why do they want such change? Easy. A supposedly "easy" way out to hinder people from doing immoral acts deviating from religions and morality.
The premise of such arguments coming from those people are easy: a new government with a better law, will create better policy, and in time will produce higher morality among the people.
Well, today I'm going to argue and rebut that premise. Do understand I am NOT arguing the idea that a change of government is necessary, NOR am I arguing that a better law is available, or that the current legislation is perfect.
I only want to argue that MORALITY does not come from the LAW. Two arguments:
1) Laws and legislation might be a factor, but not a major contributor of morality.
During the era of early Islam, when Madinah was still Yathrib, our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW's strategy to build a strong ummah is not to overthrow the wicked leaders of Makkah. Instead, he build strong characters and aqeedah of the Muslims.
You might argue that later on, the Muslims of that time took over Makkah. Yes. But do be reminded that during the invasion of Makkah, the aqeedah and morality of Muslims at that time was very strong and pure. Hence, the invasion or the re-opening of the beautiful city of Makkah was not to reinforce the aqeedah of the people, but to stop the oppression by the wicked leaders.
Does oppression still occurs today? Some might say yes, some might say no. But let me ask you this, is the immorality and the wickedness of the people living here today, is due to the leaders and the law? Or is it because people themselves are not taught by their parents and teachers on the beauty of Islam?
The Muslims during the time of Prophet Muhammad SAW who lived under wicked rulings of the Quraisy leaders before the Hijrah had strong aqeedah and morality, even if the law and legislation were worse than today. Can you see the link?
2) Morality comes internally, not externally.
"Swords can bend heads, but not hearts." -- anonymous.
Swords, and other external factors might force a person to obey the law, or do something which is far from their internal ideologies. Yet, their hearts will stay the same without proper education and exposure. Still does not believe me?
Here's an interesting fact: Pakistan's highest search on porn materials from Google was child rape, camel sex, horse sex, and etc. This is a country which, by their own accord, applies a very strict Islamic legislation.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the shariah law is weak. It's the best source of law in this world. It's from Allah, the Almighty, the Creator.
What I'm saying here is, even with the best law, morality and goodness of an individual comes from within, not from that law. The law might affect the people in some way, but not in a thorough way.
Let's give a parallel here: if you give the best racing car -- a Ferrari for example -- with the best race track, the best equipment, to a person who does not know how to drive and race, nor the desire, then it is still pretty useless.
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Conclusion
People need to stop blaming everything on the government and the leaders (I'm not saying they did not do wrong, I'm just saying don't blame EVERYTHING), and realize that to produce a nation of muttaqi is not as easy as just changing the government and the leaders.
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