Political World and Islam: Bureaucratic rank and position and Social Status
Shahinul Khalisdar
Tax Advisor | Business Advisor/ Taxation Expertise/ Enrolled Agent (EA)/Master of Science in Taxation (MST)/ Author
Can you please tell me Islamically what is social status, professional and bureaucratic position and rank?
As a couple of people asked me, "What is the Islamic perspective on social status, professional positions, and bureaucratic ranks?" I deeply thought about the answer and tried to understand the benefit of knowing the question’s answer.
First and foremost, as a Muslim, I must understand what is most important to Allah and then what is beneficial to me and my family as Allah said, “O believers! Protect yourselves and your families...” (66:6) and then for the society and community as a whole.
To Allah matters the most; a person with taqwa is someone who is morally responsible and ethically performs their duties while always being conscious of Allah. As Allah said, 'O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may get to know one another. Surely, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.' (49:13)
To Allah, nothing matters except for the status, position, rank, or achievement of someone who performs fard al-ayn (individual responsibility) with sincerity. Allah said, 'O believers! Whoever among you abandons their faith, Allah will replace them with others who love Him and are loved by Him. They will be humble with the believers but firm towards the disbelievers, struggling in the Way of Allah, fearing no blame from anyone. This is the favor of Allah. He grants it to whoever He wills. And Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.' (5:54)"
However, we all need to keep in mind that the hypocrites do not understand how to respect and why to respect others as Allah said, '' But Al-`Izzah (respect, honor) belongs to Allah, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.).” (63:8) and the jahil (ignorant person) will never understand the most of the “social intelligence.” It is better not to argue with them regarding social status, professional and bureaucratic position and rank.
Let us delve into the answering:
Social status
Social status is largely inherited from the family line, often based on being the son, daughter, or grandson of a particular individual. It represents a person's perceived level of social worth, including respect, honor, assumed competence, and deference.
Social scientists consider social status as a "reward" for those who treat others well and take initiative, explaining its presence across different cultures. Based on academic social sciences research findings, those with higher status enjoy various benefits, including better health, admiration, resources, influence, and freedom, while those with lower status tend to experience poorer outcomes. That is one of the reasons why Allah chose to make almost all the Prophets and Messengers from those with higher social status.
It's important to recognize that status is shaped by widely held beliefs about an individual's competence and moral character within a society due to his or her family line. These beliefs can be influenced by factors such as family achievements, but societal perceptions of family values can also influence them. As a result, status reflects how a society assesses an individual's social value and worth—regardless of how accurate or inaccurate these assessments may be. Given that status determines the distribution of resources, leadership roles, and other forms of power, it can perpetuate unequal distributions of resources and power, thereby reinforcing social stratification systems.
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As a matter of fact, we Muslims do respect those who have a good family line as an example set by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Prophet Muhammad gave the keys to the Kaaba to the Banu Shaiba tribe, a branch of the bin Murrah family, after conquering Mecca. The Prophet's words were, "Take it, Oh Bani Talha, eternally up to the Day of Resurrection, and it will not be taken from you unless by an unjust, oppressive tyrant."
It is important to remember that if a member of a respected family commits a crime, they must be brought to justice, as stated in the Quran, "O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice as witnesses to Allah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a better Protector to both. So follow not the lusts, lest you may avoid justice; and if you distort or refuse [to give], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted." (4:135).
However, maintaining the family's status is not easy, as jealous and envious people will always try to damage your reputation by spreading lies and rumors.
Bureaucratic rank and position
Bureaucratic rank denotes the level of authority and trustworthiness of a bureaucrat within a hierarchical organizational structure. Bureaucratic hierarchies are commonly utilized to manage companies, organizations, and countries. A bureaucratic position is a role in an organization that is part of a bureaucracy, which operates with a clear chain of command and strict regulations.
Bureaucracies have a clear chain of command, with each worker having a designated place in the chain and being overseen by someone higher up. Professional positions necessitate a specific level of education, training, and specialized knowledge to perform. These positions are prevalent in various fields and industries, offering opportunities for growth and networking.
Professional rank refers to the position or grade that an individual holds within an organization and can also pertain to a person's social standing or status.
In today's digitalized world, many people are obsessed with becoming viral online, and it often seems that social values and professional positions hold little importance. However, as Muslims, it's important for us to adhere to the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah.
Also, be careful with people. There are many types of fraudulent activities, such as scams, con artists, and fake people dominating. We should be cautious but respect everyone in general.