There has been much talk this week about a creating a ‘Big Society' in Britain, following a speech by UK Prime Minister David Cameron. The argument that individuals and communities should be encouraged to do more for each other and the wider society, and that the state should be expected to do less, has been welcomed by many people, who sense a decline in community spirit over recent years, as well as much deeper social divisions, none of which seems to have been solved by more state intervention over the decades.

There are several reasons why this vision of a big society will not work to bring communities together in Britain or help heal its ‘broken society'.

1. Political insincerity.

Many people believe that the calls for a 'big society' are little more than 'spin', using clever language to justify the state cutting public spending. The present government's favorite catch phrase is they want to 'set people free' to do more in society: to set up schools, to run police authorities etc. This phrase, to 'set people free' will start to wear thin, especially when the weakest in society are 'set free' to fend for themselves as radical public spending cuts start to bite.

2. The Dominant Values of the society run counter to the 'big society' ethos.

Whilst there are still many ordinary people in Britain who do volunteer, help others and contribute within their communities, this sector was more obvious in a time when religious values were more evident. Indeed, it was the churches who dominated in this area - which is why so many schools, hospitals and charities were founded with links to religious groups. However, these values have declined immensely in the last 50 years, leaving secular values to dominate. And amongst those secular values, the idea that man should be 'free' and autonomous runs counter to ‘community' and helping others. In Britain, individualism is a value deeply ingrained in society. It has spawned terms and phrases like ‘what's in it for me' and 'not in my back yard'.

In the face of such values that dominate culture, media, the playground and street, ordinary individuals who seek to do some good will never be in sufficient strength to make an impact on a societal level.  In western societies, there is a strand of thinking that survival of the fittest is a natural phenomenon in nature, but a diminishing view that man's duty to help others is what elevates human over other creatures. The rise of individualism, and the decline in family cannot be separated - because for many - especially (but not exclusively) for those without a faith-based outlook, why would someone endure the ups and downs of family responsibility when they could 'set themselves free'.

3. The depth of the problems caused by the Capitalist system

Beyond values, we have a system that institutionalized those values. In Capitalism, the market dominates; and if the market dictates behavior that encourages profit, material gain and the pursuit of sensual pleasure, then there is little room left for the spiritual, humanitarian or ethical values. 

Consequently, over two centuries the divisions within society have become very deep.

For decades there have been those in the Muslim world who looked 'westwards' for answers as to how societies should be structured. Moreover, many Muslims living in Britain have found that their own families and communities are not immune from the wider problems in British society. Hence, Muslims need to look elsewhere for solutions, and it is only natural they look to Islam.

There are several reasons why Islam can provide solutions for these problems. One of which are Islam's Values. The Shariah taken as a whole serves to protect life, property, beliefs, honor, and the minds of people. Islam values individuals, but never at the expense of society. This relationship is exemplified by a hadith of the Prophet (saw) who said:

"The metaphor for someone who stops at the limits of Allah and someone who transgresses them is that of some people who draw lots on a boat. Some of them get the upper deck and some of them the lower. When those in the lower deck want to get water, they have to pass by those above them. Then they say, 'If we were to make a hole in our deck, we would not have to bother those above us.' If they were to let them do what they wanted, all of them would perish. If they seize hold of their hands and stop them, they will be saved and all of them will be saved."

There is an inherent recognition in Islam that freedom of the individual can lead to harms in society. Furthermore, Islam has mandated that  the Islamic state priorities helping those who are weakest.

Taji Mustafa