A number of eminent Muslim scholars on Saturday stressed the need for inculcating core values in society as defined by Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) that transformed the fate of “lowly Arab people” into world leaders.

This came during a dialogue between Prime Minister Imran Khan and globally-acknowledged Muslim scholars under the theme ‘Islam, society and ethical revival’.

George University, Washington Islamic Studies Professor Dr Seyyed Hossein Nasir, Zaytun College President Hamza Yousuf, Cambridge Muslim College Dean Dr Timothy Winter/Abdal Hakim Murad, Malaysian thinker Dr Chandra Muzaffar, University of Malaya, Malaysia Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Religion Osman Bakar, Ibn Haldun University, Turkey Rector Dr Recep Senturk, and UAE Fatwa Council Chairman Abdullah bin Bayyah were among the speakers at the dialogue.

In the first part of the dialogue, they responded to questions about different aspects of the sunnah of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and their need with respect to contemporary challenges posed to the Muslim youth and society. The dialogue was held by the Rehmatul-lil-Alameen Authority.

Scholars endorsed PM Imran’s observation that a society could not achieve prosperity without the rule of law and the basic principles that were practised by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions in Riasat-e-Madina.

To the PM’s query, Dr Nasir said the Muslims Ummah faced certain changes in the last century, stressing that the sunnah of Holy Prophet (PBUH) should be followed as the Uswa of Prophet (PBUH) had large meanings and the model of Riasat-e-Madina was critical for revival of the Muslim society.

He added that Islam through the sunnah spread the message that transformed the sturdy-hearted Arabs because they were able to receive what Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was saying. “The holy prophet (PBUH) presented the message of Allah, to an audience that gave their whole thoughts to it and spend their lives to achieve them,” he added.

The George University chair said: “Madina was the first Islamic society and it was a golden period of Islam, the foundation of which was laid down by the Holy Prophet (PBUH). That period remained ideal for us and we have to learn from it.”

American scholar Hamza Yusuf said the Holy Prophet (PBUH) raised the values of ethics first, then justice and rule of law served as the basis for a culmination of civilised society.

“Ethics and morals did not come from a vacuum these qualities include honesty, modesty and integrity etc,” he said, “The Prophet (PBUH) was the physician of the hearts. The people around him were called (Ashabs) companions.”

Yusuf added the treatment to all ills in society had been identified in the Quranic teachings that provided solutions to such ills.

He also stressed that people in power and authority must embody the key ethics that should be a part of their character.

Sharing his experience of Al-Quds visit, Dr Timothy Winter/Abdal Hakim Murad said that it was the “spiritual alchemy” that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) infused among his followers enabling them to build an ideal society and beautiful buildings around the world.

Dr Murad added that it was too difficult to put into words the vast aspects of the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He was of the view that Muslims should not comply with the sunnah robotically.

Malaysian scholar Dr Chandra Muzaffar endorsed the PM’s viewpoint that there could be no two different sets of law for the powerful and the weak. He linked the viability of a society with its ability to implement the rule of law.

He said: “The transformation of soul was a must and an Islamic society must understand the depth of the message given by Holy Prophet (PBUH) about social relations.”

Dr Muzaffar was of the view that structural transformation and changing of relations vis-a-vis the availability of resources had been a difficult challenge.

“Once the character became weak due to environment, the changes take place from generations to generations,” he said, underlining how the education could sustain such basic values, was a critical question.

University of Malaya Emeritus Professor Dr Osman Bakar said that due to the personality of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) the characters of the people in Madina were raised.

“By imparting education to his companions, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) helped them to become the most excellent individuals and the world leaders,” he added.

The education system should not be concentrated on external aspects of Sunnah, but the inner spiritual and moral values must be presented to the younger generations, he said, adding: “A society should be based upon spiritual meritocracy. Unity of Eman (faith) and knowledge are challenges for us today.”.

Turkish academic Dr Recep Senturk referring to famous sociologist Ibn Khaldun’s saying highlighted that the state was a power and it survived with sunnah.

“The Sunnah of Holy Prophet (PBUH) is not something for an individual to follow but for the whole society and the whole world to seek guidance,” he said, elaborating that sunnah was a system of governance and political administration.

He said the Prophet (PBUH) was living among the people and governing a city.

“We should not be pessimistic, we have a strong moral system,” he said underlining the need for the younger generations to also study the sunnah as history.

Dr Recep further regretted that they focused only on professional education and stressed building society through ‘Taleem’ and ‘Tazkiya’.

He opined that Muslim youth lacked future vision like the other young people in other societies.

UAE Fatwa Council Chairman Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah said: “Islam as a religion had its sets of values reflected through sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) who had established ‘Akhowwat’ (bond of brotherhood) between Mohajirs and Ansars, the values of eman and sincerity, in Madina which brought all people together.”

His followers preserved those messages, he said, adding moral courage was the important message while its implementation rooted deeply in the obedience of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).