If Prophet Muhammad were to return and witness the many movements and governments that now claim to act in the name of Islam, his reaction would likely be one of deep concern mixed with measured hope.
He would recognize good intentions among some, but he would also see how far the political expressions of Islam have drifted from the moral and spiritual vision he once lived and taught.
1. The Prophet’s Vision of Justice and Mercy
Prophet Muhammad was both a messenger of faith and a leader of people. In Medina, he established a community founded on justice, compassion, and equality before God. His rule was built on consultation (shūrā), honesty, and care for the poor and the weak.
If modern political Islam truly sought to revive these values—promoting ethical leadership, social responsibility, and moral accountability—the Prophet would no doubt approve of that aspiration.
He always desired a society where rulers served their people with humility and where governance reflected the divine command:
> “Indeed, Allah commands justice, kindness, and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality, wrongdoing, and oppression.” (Qur’an 16:90)
2. Religion as a Tool of Power
Yet much of what passes as political Islam today is far removed from that spirit.
In many parts of the Muslim world, religion is used as a political weapon—to control people, to silence dissent, or to justify violence.
Prophet Muhammad never sought power for its own sake. He refused the Quraysh’s offer of kingship in exchange for compromise, declaring that he would rather live humbly under God than rule unjustly over men.
He taught that the most despised rulers before God are those who oppress their people.
He would therefore be deeply grieved by those who use Islam to gain worldly authority or to oppress others in the name of piety.
3. From Moral Reform to Political Domination
The Prophet’s own revolution was not a political takeover—it was a moral awakening.
He began by changing hearts: calling people to truth, honesty, mercy, and the worship of one God. Society changed from within, not by the sword of conquest or by the machinery of state.
Modern political Islam often reverses this pattern. It seeks to impose religious laws and institutions from the top down, assuming that if the state becomes “Islamic,” society will follow.
But the Prophet would remind Muslims that true Islam begins in the soul, not in the statute book.
He might say: “You cannot build a righteous state upon unrighteous hearts.”
4. Division and Violence Among Believers
Another sight that would pain him deeply is the disunity of Muslims.
He foresaw that his followers would one day be divided into sects, each claiming to possess the truth. Today’s political Islam often intensifies those divisions—between Sunnis and Shi’as, between moderates and extremists, between those who seek peace and those who glorify conflict.
He would remind the ummah of the Qur’anic command:
> “Hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of Allah, and do not be divided.” (Qur’an 3:103)
For the Prophet, unity was not uniformity—it was brotherhood in faith, compassion, and justice. Any politics that destroys that spirit cannot claim his blessing.
5. A Call for Renewal
If the Prophet could speak to today’s Muslims, perhaps he would not call for a new Islamic state, but for a new Islamic conscience.
He might say:
> “You were sent to be witnesses of justice and mercy to humanity, not rulers of the world. Let Islam be seen in your integrity, in your compassion, in your service to others—not merely in your slogans or your struggles for power.”
Political Islam, he would remind us, has often confused means with ends.
Power is not the goal; righteousness is.
The Prophet’s mission was to build a community that reflects God’s light through justice, love, and truth—not through domination.
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Conclusion
In the end, Prophet Muhammad would likely rejoice and weep at once—rejoice that millions still honor his name, and weep that his message of mercy has been overshadowed by ambition and strife.
He would call Muslims to rediscover the essence of Islam not in politics, but in character—in humility, forgiveness, service, and faithfulness to God.
For in his own words, “The strongest among you is the one who controls his anger,” not the one who conquers nations.
