~Marxism and Islam : is it compatible?

INTRODUCTION

Communism was developed by Karl Marx. Communism is a collectivist system in which the means of production are owned by the state and in which the products of the society are distributed according to needs. Communism can be said as the exploitation and class conflict inherent in capitalism. In its final stage, communism means a classless and therefore, stateless society. ( Moten & Abdel Salam, 2005,p.27). The concept of communism as it was originally meant, did not imply a national economic system, rather it meat a local, communal relationship among small groups of people. With the industrial revolution, however, two factors evolved that make collective production, distribution and consumption of goods on national scale is feasible. First, the mechanization production increased output so greatly that some people began to believe hunger and poverty could be eliminated. Second, improvement of the technologies and communications made it possible to organized, administer and control a national economic system. (Baradat, 1981,p.165).

In this discussion, I try to Islamize the concept of Marxist Communism. First part of the assignment I try to look at the meaning from the western and try to understand what is the Marxism. I look at the sociological, economical, historical and also political aspect and see how Marx develops this idea, on what basis he develops these ideas and so on. I also focus on his theory of work and how he develops his ideas. Then I look at the Islamic point of view about the concept of Marxism Communism. I focus on how Muslims scholars look at the compatibility between Marxism Communism and Islam and try to see whether Islam accept that concept or not.

MARXIST’S SOCIOLOGICAL, HISTORICAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL THEORY.

Communism is a very old concept, can be traced back to the beginning of recorded history. Communist tendencies in Europe can be found in as early a work as Plato’s Republic, in early Christian life, in Sir Thomas More’s Utopia, in the German Anabaptis and in the English Levelers and Diggers. Communism is a very old idea that Karl Marx greatly influenced but certainly did not invent. The basic thought that Marx developed can best be understood in the context of the economic, social and political environment in which he lived. Marx believed that people’s idea are conditioned by their economic environment ant that economic change stimulates a dialectic conflict between those ruling and those ruled in the society.

The rulers use every available resource to keep themselves in power, but this effort is doomed to failure. Marx was optimistic about the future of humanity. He saw people in historical terms. He believes that individual naturally have freedom and creativity but had been prevented from developing completely because they were slaves to their own basic needs. The most fundamental assumption in Marxism is economic determinism. It implies that the economic factor is the primary forces behind any human motivation. “it is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence”, Marx argues, “ but their social existence that determines their conciouesness”. (Baradat, 1981,p.149). For Marx, the most fundamental fact of life is that people must produce goods before they can do anything else. They must also reproduce themselves, but they cannot even do that unless they are capable of feeding themselves. Thus, the material production or economic relationships are basic to all life. ( Sargent, 1990,p.128)
Marx saw all societies composed of two basic parts which are the foundation and the superstructure. The foundation according to Marx is material or in other words, the economic system is at the base of the society. He also points out two basic factors in the economic systems which are the means of production and the relation of production. Resources and technology that are available in the given society are the means of production and the economic system of the given country are determines by their interrelationship. The ‘relation of production’ are the social classes which are determined by the relation between people and the means of production.(Zeenath Kausar,2005,p.100).

According to Marx, the owners of the ‘means of production’ enjoys the most beneficial position in the economy, thus they become the most influential social group which is the ruling class. Marx said that the foundation of the society determines the nature of the society’s superstructure which rest upon the foundation. The superstructure is composed of all non-material institutions in the society including government, law, education, art, values and religion. The function of the superstructure is to assure the rulers continued dominance and to keep the ruled in their place. (Baradat, 1991,p.150). In addition, Marx looks at the government as a ‘tool of class oppression’ to manipulate the cultural elements in the society to give advantage to those people in the society who control the economy. Political power for him is nothing but an organized power of one class to oppress another. ( Zeenath Kausar, 2005,p.101). Marx also called religion “the opiate of the people” because he believed that it drugged them, numbing their senses and disposing them to put up with their wretched existence so that they would be rewarded in a mythical afterlife.

In addition, Marx points out that under capitalist system the different institutions are evolve in their superstructure. According to him, under capitalism, only who own the means of production remain the wealthiest and politically influential and powerful people and they form the class, the masses remain poor and would continue their miserable life unless they realize the reason of their dilemma and go for the revolution. Furthermore, in each phase of history, the primary means of social change is class struggle culminating in revolution. According to his Communist Manifesto, “The history of all hitherto existing society in the history of class struggle”.

History according to Marx has its own locomotive and inner momentum. The last stage, capitalism sees the most intense forms of oppression and exploitation, the inevitable rise of proletariat, the overthrow of the bourgeoisie and the coercive political apparatus, the capitalist state. The proletarian revolution leads to the abolition of private ownership of the means of production, and hence of classes, class struggle, and the state. Following the short perid of dictatorship of the proletariat in which the attempts of the bourgeoisie to subvert the revolution and restore the status quo are thwarted, the transition to a class society is completed. Humankind, thus, reaches a utopia of harmony, peace and plenty. ( Mostafa Rejai, 1984,p.55).

In addition to that, Marx also said that man is alienated from the activity of his own labor. The reason is simply that forced labor is against human nature, put in simple words, human is being dehumanized. Marx defines history in different ways, he mentioned that history moves and develops due to the struggle between divinely inspired ideas. Marx brought his own fundamental assumption of economic determinism and claimed that there is a dialectic conflict among worldly affairs. ( Zeenath Kausar,p.102). These issues thus led to the proletariat revolution where the oppress worker began to realize that their rights is being abuse. According to Marx, this is the final dialectic struggle. The proletariat would go for a revolution and would be successful in overthrowing the capitalist system. The proletariat would settle all the problems created by the capitalist system and all the class differences would be eliminated. This is where peace and happiness may be achieved. This class society according to him will adopt socialist economic system and the government would be democratic.

The proletariat then, according to Marx will develop two steps which are the establishment of the proletariat dictatorship ad later, the creation of democratic utopia. The system will democratic since the proletariat among the majority. Marx also mentioned that the nation-state system was developed by the capitalist as a part of capitalist superstructure, since he believed that the dialectic materialism was a law of historical development, and he expected that socialism would be adopted in every country in the world. As mentioned earlier, economic relationship is the foundation of the entire social system, he said that people must produce goods before they can do anything else. Marx argued that nothing had value without labor; neither capital nor land is of any value until labor is added. This is the labor theory of value. He also believed that profit of the capitalist was taken from the amount produced over and above the wages paid to the worker. This is the theory of surplus value.

Thus, Marxist theory is based on material aspect of life. Economic factor change human life as well as influence it. It also create class which can lead to the destruction (where the worker has been oppressed). As what has been discussed, after the revolution, the stage of what so called dictatorship of the proletariat will be created. During this stage, the state will be the tool of the dominant class and it will be use to achieved to goal of the proletariat. The economic system will be reorganized and the means of production must be taken from the capitalists and become the property of the state. The state must also establish a new way of administering the means of production so that the economy is kept running and goods produced, distributed, tribute and consumed. ( Sargent, 1998,p.144). After the goal of the proletariat has been achieved, then come the next stage, which the final, the full communism.

Full communism according to Marx is the goal of the entire system. I will briefly explain that the full communism there is no exploiters, only workers. The people will work without any incentives; all will be rewarded according to need. The class is no longer exist, and because of this, state will no longer be necessary and would disappear and would be replaced by the administration of things. Marx believed the entire world would become communist, both because people would choose the best system and because the logic of the dialectic led in that direction. Marx also thought class similarities would overcome national differences.



ISLAMIC VIEW ON COMMUNISM MARXISM

Islam was not the creation of class-based community. Islam is a comprehensive way of life and has established the principle of equality to all people. All people are equal and posses the same level. There is no distinction among the people, all are equal. Islam was not the outcome of conflict within the class based community, it was not a reactionary religion designed to maintain the privileges and wealth of the class of tyrants. Islam urged people to enjoy the pleasure of life and share the same opportunity as we are all brothers and sisters. Islam establishes the principles of equality of opportunity, a guaranteed level of income for all citizens and also promotes economic balance between individuals and the community. It is not the teaching of Islam when the people being oppress, Islam totally rejects the concept of discrimination, and rather, Islam promotes what so called the concept of brotherhood.

In addition, according to Sayyid Qutb, he asserts that the laboring classes who contemplate a class struggle have concluded that religion will not serve their cause in that struggle. (Zeenath Kausar, 2005,p.110). Marxist thought falls into the basic contradiction of asking people to make sacrifices and suffer for other while denying religious incentives and the life of the spirit. It is religion that provide man with the highest capacity for self sacrifice and for making every possible contribution to the community welfare. ( M.M Enani, p.68). According to the communists, the church uses religion as an opiate for the working class. This is the reason why there is a manifest communist hostility to religion. (Zeenath Kausar, 2005,p.110). Qutb points out that communism is compelled to oppose religion in order to safeguard the rights of the worker, but, however, it is not the case with Islam because there is no separation between Islam and society. Qutb writes that Islam is ‘at once worship and work, religious law and exhortation’ as Quran say :

O ye, who believe, when proclaimation is made for prayer on the day of assembly, strive towards the remembrance of Allah and leave off business. That is better for you if you are wise. But when the prayer is finished, scatter abroad in the land and seek the bounty of Allah. ( Quran, 62:9-10)
Qutb also mention that Islam has complete social order and he said that because of this Muslim should not go for other ideologies for the purpose of guidance or legislation. He also critics on communism on the materialistic perspective, in communism, as discussed earlier on, is a struggle for the satisfaction of the material needs of man, Islam on the other hand, establish unity in the material and spiritual aspects of life. Islam possesses an all-embracing view of life and does not allowed any division and separation among the different aspects of life. Thus, Islam is not only looking for the material aspect, but also the other aspect that related to life of human being as well.

Furthermore, according to Dr Mostafa Mahmoud on his book translated by M. M Enani, he said that the difference between Islam and communism is far greater; it is different in its basic concepts, principles, and application. Islam is against public ownership of all the means of production, which means that the government monopolizes everybody livelihood as well as everybody freedom. He said, communism proceeds, in its application of full nationalization from a materialistic interpretation of history and an irregular concept of class struggle which is totally rejects by Islam. He totally rejected Marxism due to he Marx’s deterministic view. He said, with regard to human affairs, nothing can be regarded as determinist or inevitable. We are not billiards balls or cogs in big wheels.( M.M Enani, p.105).

Moreover, according to Dr Mostafa Mahmoud, Islam proceed from a concept of harmony, concord, fraternity and cooperation between the rich and the poor, its requires the rich to pay the poor that what have been practice in Islam. The rich have to pay zakah for the use of the needy and the poor. Islam also promotes the concept of balance between individual and social interests. Islam does not only focus on individual’s aspect of life, rather than looking at the whole community. Therefore, in Islam, it is our responsibility to help each other, the rich helping the poor and so on, this is what has been mention in the Quran and the Sunnah. For example giving Zakah is the responsibility of the rich towards the poor, as the Prophet (PBUH) said:“Verily, Allah has ordained the payment of zakah on them (Muslims). It will be taken from the rich and returned to the poor “(Muslims). ( M.Zafar Iqbal,1998,p.64). According to Islam, it is a ruler duty to that money ( zakah) to be given to the poor without distort the private property. Thus, in simple word, Islam is simple, perfect and its principle are more advance than any other codes ( capitalist, communist, or even socialist).

In addition, according to Qutb, he points out the major difference between Islam and communism which is the conceptions of social justices. According to him, the fundamental outline of social justice in Islam are so comprehensives that it is not merely focus on economic justices, but it covers all aspect of life. Communism claimed only for the economic justices which is totally rejected by Islam as Islam is universal religion that covers all aspect of life. The other points that Qutb made is that on the economic justice. According to him, Islam believes in the comprehensive justices and comprehensive equality. He contends “justice in Islam is a human equality, envisaging the adjustment of all values, of which the economic is but one. ( Zeenath Kausar, 2005,p.111). Islam emphasizes the fundamental equality of the people and the fundamental justices among all unlike communism which believe in compulsory economic equality in the narrow sense of the term.


CONCLUSION

By looking at the arguments from the Islamic perspective, I can say that Islam and Marxism are not compatible. Islam looks at the aspect of human life in different way from communism. Islam is a comprehensive way of life, as discussed earlier, communism only look for the material part which is absolutely contradict with the teaching of Islam. When is come to the freedom and equality of man, communism look at the very basic part, one side, which are only on the economic factor. As what I points out earlier, Marx said that economic factor is the primary force behind any human motivation, whereas in Islam, we are not looking at only one side factor rather than we looking at all the factors that drive human motivation.

Muslims fighting for social and political injustices. What is emphasize in Islam is not only for the material part as what Marxist said about his work. Qutb said that communism is a secular origin, it is the division based on interests only, focus only the material part which is totally rejected by Islam. In addition, Qutb also points out that the excessive collectivism in Communism and excessive individualism in Capitalism have both failed to comprehend the basic nature of man, and again, it is not acceptable to Islam. So, as I can conclude here, Marxist communism concept is not compatible with Islam, thus it cannot be practice in Islam. Only Islam which keeps the balanced approach to life, bringing unity between matter and soul and between the individual society. Allah SWT has ordained for man this complete system of life. Islam alone possesses absolute knowledge of the nature of man and his requirement of life for justices, peace, success in here and also in the hereafter. Qutb writes :

Islam is an original genuine system with its own unique bases and an integral comprehensive plan,not mere adjustments to current understanding conditions. It is a system for conception and beliefs as well as for action and realities. Accordingly it alone is the system most appropriate and most qualified for understanding the commission of rebuilding the human life or new immovable bases.

By : Nor Hazwani Bt Mat Rashid


REFRENCES

Al Quran, Surah 62 : 9 – 10

Abdul Rashid Moten & El Fatih A.Abdel Salam, ( 2005). Glossary of Political Science Terms : Islamin and Western. Kuala Lumput : Thomson Asia Pte. Ltd

Baradat, L.P, (1981). Political ideologies, Their Origins and Impact.New Jersey : Prentice Hall

Enani,M.M, ( 1990). Marxism and Islam.Cairo University.

Mostafa Rejai, ( 1984). Comparative Political Ideologies. New York : St. Martin’s Press

Sargent,L.T, (1990). Comtemporary Political Ideologies. California : Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.

Zeenath Kausar, (2005). Modern Western Poltical Ideologies : An Islamic Critique. Malaysia : Prentice Hall