There was a time when Anarchism had its advocates. By Anarchism, of course, they did not mean the emergence of chaos and disorder, a condition of society in which every man’s hand is against his neighbor, and he strong are free to prey upon weaker mortals. They only meant that if we took courage to do away with laws, the golden age would once again be restored, and people, both individually and collectively, would fraternize with one another.
That was the innocent belief into which the Rousseau and the Godwin had respond themselves, the naïve idealism into which the Shelly and the Condorcets had wandered on the wings of imagination. For it was an article of faith with these thinkers that left to himself, each man would be a perfect specimen of goodness brimming over with human charity and goodwill.
This tendency has proved hectic or hysterical and unwholesome in its effects. If the wild impulses in human nature are not controlled or checked, restrained and sublimated, they produce not only disorder in the social order but considerable frustration in individual minds. Free expressions individuals will lead to clash and conflict between one individual and another, and the ultimate effect is social disintegration. In such a state, no progress is possible at all. The urge for development is counteracted by the conflict, nothing remained to devote to the task of creation. I creates tension, uncertainly and ultimately disorder. But if the individuals or the nations control their individual impulses and eccentricities, leading ultimately to the welfare of the society and of mankind as a whole.
The Islamic conception of life must be accepted all over the world if mankind is to survive at all. The basis of this conception is that an individual or a class must be controlled in the interests of the community as a whole. Hence it follows that discipline has to be enforced on individuals, and they must be taught to obey the authority and to place the interests of the community above personal interests.
The Holy Quran says:
“O Ye who believe!
Obey Allah and obey the Apostle,
And those charged
With authority among you. Consult matters amongst you an when you look ecided
Then leave on the God.
If ye differ in anything
Among yourselves, refer it
To Allah and his Apostle,
If ye do believe in Allah
And the last day:
That is best, and suitable
For final determination”.
The words use in the Holy Quran are ‘obey ULIL AMR”, MEANS “those charged with authority or responsibility or decision, or the statement of affairs”. No doubt, all ultimate authority rests in Allah. Men of God derive their authority from HIM. So they righteousness and never follow the path of disobedience. Islam expects every person to be imbued with righteousness. So we must respect and obey the authority otherwise there will be no order or discipline. Where in actual fact, there is a sharp division between law and morality, between and religious affairs as is the case in most of the countries at the present day.
Sometimes, the evil of indiscipline is created by the hypocrites. The type of these men is called Mr. Facing-Both –Ways in Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress”. Such men declared that they are always will the RIGHT, but calmly intrigue with EVIL and INJUSTICE to undermine he authority. The best of true FAITH is not mere lip profession but to find no difficulty and no. resistance in the joyful acceptance.
Discipline means the training of the mind so as to make it accept willingly the control of rules and regulations or orders. The great nations of the world attained greatness by subjecting themselves to the most rigorous discipline. The ancient SPARTANS and the followers of Islam in the great days of the Caliphate insisted on the need of leading a controlled life. They knew that without strict control, man’s energies often go to waste in useless, undirected efforts.
Discipline is necessary, in the first place, for one’s moral life. Self-indulgence is a natural temptation for all men. Our senses crave easy stratification. But if we give way to this craving, we will in course of time think of nothing but this. It is the easier path, the path of pleasure as it were strewn with flowers, but ultimately it leads to failure, disappointment and miser. Therefore must learn to keep our passions under control. We can do this in two ways;
(a) We must accept a noble ideal.
(b) We must accept the guidance of our chosen leaders.
Pursuit of an ideal will remove from remove from the mind the longing for personal pleasures. Man is better than animals because man is ready to sacrifice all the pleasures of life for a noble cause. In every organized effort, where many take part, there must be one person in command. To submit to the orders of this leader is no shame: of our superiors. Whenever we are inclined to rebel agains.