The foreign
policy of an Islamic nation or collectivity must, of necessity, be
rooted in the principles of the religion applied in the context and
within the limitations of prevailing circumstances. These
principles, laid down in the Qur'an and exemplified in the life of
the prophet Muhammad, take precedence over all other considerations;
but, at the same time, the example of the prophet himself teaches
Muslims to be realists, assessing every situation in a spirit of
serene objectivity. It is often said that politics is "the art of
the possible", and this is even more true of international and
inter-group relations. An Islamic policy does not, from this point
of view, differ from any other principled policy, but it operates
subject to the fear of God and of His judgment. No distinction can
be made between the manner in which a man acts in his private life
and the manner in which he acts as a statesman; he will be judged
equally on both counts and always in terms of
justice.
The guiding
principles of an Islamic policy are justice between the nations,
justice within the nations, and the security of the Muslims. It must
however be understood that the concept of the nation-state is a
purely secular concept, and it would be preferable to speak of
justice between different communities and within each community.
Islam is the religion of unity and relationship. In our human
situation this means, in the first place, the intimate and mutually
supportive relationships within the family and, closely allied to
this, between those who have common interests; then come the
relationships within the community of which the family or group is a
component, and here too the relationships have a sacred character,
finally there are the relationships between different communities,
whether we call them nations or not. The Qur'an teaches that the
variety of human races and cultures is willed by God and therefore
to be respected; unity is not the same as uniformity. The principle
of "live and let live" is one that Muslims can adopt without
difficulty, but it is impossible for Muslims to regard the secular
notion of inviolable "national sovereignty" as sacred. It is not in
accordance with Islamic principles to stand aside and wring our
hands while we watch a dictator who has usurped power in a
particular country slaughter millions of his own people (as in fact
happened in Cambodia in the 1970s). When gross injustices are seen
to occur it is the Muslim's duty to do whatever may be in his power
to correct the situation. If he cannot do so by direct action, then
he has a duty to denounce these injustices and, if possible, to
persuade others to combine with him in effective action. Man-made
barriers between different peoples are not always worthy of respect.
According to the Qur'an, we are all the issue of "one single soul",
and Muslims cannot ignore their responsibilities to their fellow
creatures.
The
responsibility of a Muslim government or group is however
proportionate to the power at its disposal. If it has the means to
put an end to oppression, wherever this may occur, then it has an
obligation to do so, if possible by peaceful persuasion, otherwise
by such "pressures" (e.g. economic sanctions) as may be available.
Military force is a last resort. Whatever the circumstances, and
whatever action may be necessary, Muslims who are true to their
faith must always keep in mind the fact that the outcome of any and
every action is in the hands of God. It follows that they have no
excuse either for despair or for panic when faced with seemingly
insuperable problems. They are required only to form the right
intention and then to do what they can, knowing that there is but a
single Will which determines events, including the vicissitudes
which occur in the affairs of nations. Muslims are committed to
Jihad, which does not, in the first instance, mean war, but simply
right effort and right action. According to the teachings of the
Qur'an, right action is fertile and productive, and its fruit
endures. Wrong action is sterile. In the Muslim view, speech belongs
to the category of action, and Islam, more than any other faith,
recognises the power of the word. To proclaim righteousness and to
denounce oppression, injustice and corruption is a political duty as
well as a personal one. Moreover, the Muslims' historical experience
suggests to them that righteousness and realism frequently coincide.
With hindsight it is evident that statesmen who have acted purely in
terms of realpolitik, putting aside all higher principles, have been
proved wrong more often than right even on the level of practical
politics. Principles are not "ideals"; they provide a framework for
effective action.
In the light
of these considerations, what could be the function, in the field of
foreign relations, of an Islamic Party in a country in which Muslims
are only a small minority? Its function is to give a voice to that
minority and to its worldwide concerns, while, at the same time,
proclaiming principles and values which are of universal validity.
It exists also to bring to bear such influence as it may acquire
upon those who hold power in the nation and to speak persuasively to
men and women of good will in the majority community. It has, at the
same time, a right - acting on behalf of the Muslim minority - to
seek representation in the "corridors of power".
In exerting
such influence as it may have, an Islamic Party has a duty to speak
also on behalf of Muslim minorities elsewhere who are suffering
oppression. A case in point at the present time is the painful
situation of the Muslims in Bulgaria and, though to a lesser extent,
in other parts of Eastern Europe. But the overriding concern of such
a party, as also of other Muslim organisations, wherever they may
be, can only be the brave struggle of the Palestinian people against
military occupation. It is on this matter that the Islamic Party
would hope to make its voice most effectively heard. Those who
believe so strongly in the power of the word must cultivate
eloquence and persuasiveness, not only in the interests of their own
community but also, more generally, in the cause of peace and
justice between the nations. It is time, as we approach the 1990s,
for the Muslim voice to be given a hearing in this country and
elsewhere in Western Europe. The host communities may find that
Islamic principles have much to offer to them in an age of moral
uncertainty.