Corruption has historically swayed the destiny of nations

File photo: Independent Media

File photo: Independent Media

Published Jul 18, 2017

Share

Corruption has always been amid leadership and has historically swayed the destiny of nations.

When the Jewish Pharisees, Romans overlords and King of Israel decided to crucify Jesus the Messiah, a main reason was his preaching of an egalitarian message. In the teaching of Jesus, the wealthy had a concern towards the poor and political and religious leaders had a duty to develop a state where the trajectory was towards the obedience of God and the indigent were not abused. 

Similarly, in Arabia even before the Arab leaders listened to Muhammad the envoy, they wanted to kill him. The traditional Arab leaders feared anything that would rob them of wealth and dominance. While the golden era of Islam lasted roughly through the first four caliphs, corruption seeped into the administration soon after Arabs ruled the Arabian Peninsula, Persia and parts of north Africa. 

The newly acquired wealth was too much for those in leadership as they corrupted themselves.

This corruption shocked the spiritual protectors of the Islamic message as Muhammad and his immediate followers lived practical lives of austerity and asceticism. 

The shock of corruption gave rise to cataclysmic battles both physical and spiritual. Concepts of governance needed to be established as wealth poured into the new empire which gave impetus to Sharia-law along a similar trajectory of the Talmud of the Jews. Within the Islamic family philosophical battles between literalists, traditionalists and rationalists ensued.

A major battle concerned the “essence of God”. Some argued that justice was the core of the Creator, others argued that the human mind was not capable of defining the Creator. The impetus for this narrative was the ability of materialism to corrupt spirituality and the pursuit of earthly justice. 

Why is this narrative relevant today in South Africa? For about 20 years our governing authority had the chance to set the agenda. It had opportunity to move our nation towards the Creator by establishing the ideals of genuine justice in word and action. 

Errors of the past could be corrected. Deceitful loyalty and perceived sacrifice aside, the future can only be built on that which pleases God. Who among our current leaders knows what pleases the Creator?

Cllr Yagyah Adams

Cape Muslim Congress

Related Topics: