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When morality meets power, from critical distance to engagement

2026-06-23 10:03:00, Opinione Dr.Arben Ramkaj

In political philosophy, but also in Islamic thought, we often find the idea that society needs people who always stay outside of power, criticize it, and defend the truth.

It is an idea that we find, each in their own way, in both Antonio Gramsci, the renowned Italian Marxist, and Malik Ben Nabi, the prominent philosopher of Islamic thought.

But I've always wondered: if the best and most capable people choose to never take responsibility, then who will build the shared values?

The story of Joseph (as) has made me see this dilemma differently. When given the opportunity to serve the people, he did not choose to remain outside the administration of Egypt. Instead, he sought responsibility himself. Similarly, the Prophet said: "A believer who mixes with people and endures their harm is better than one who does not mix with people and endures their harm."

This, in my opinion, invites us not towards constant criticism, but towards commitment and responsibility.

Islamic history has also known this debate. A tendency, embodied in the figure of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him), saw maintaining a critical distance from power as the best way to defend the truth.

Another trend, followed by most of the companions and later concretized in the state-forming experience of Muawiyah ibn Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him) and the governments that followed, saw taking responsibility for governance as part of service to society.

Maybe we don't need to choose between morality and responsibility. The challenge is to bring the two together. Because a society is not changed only by those who denounce injustice, but also by those who have the courage to take responsibility and build something better. / CNA