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Articles & News
Between Yesterday and Today
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate
Praise be to Allah, may He bless and save Our guide Muhammad,
the victor and the Seal of all prophets, His family and his
Companions.
The Message of the Faithful Prophet
Thirteen hundred and seventy years ago, Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah,
the Illiterate Prophet, proclaimed in the heart of Mecca from
Mount Al-Safa:
‘O
mankind, I am sent to you all as a messenger of Allah,
to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the
earth: There is no god but He; it is He who gives life
and brings about death. Therefore believe in Allah and
His messenger, the Prophet can neither read or write,
who believes in Allah and His Words, and follow him. So
that you may be guided’
(Surat-al-A’raaf
(7), ayah 158)
This
universal mission marked the boundary for all of creation
between a dark, oppressive past and a brilliant, shining future,
as well as a prosperous and exuberant present A clear
announcement of a new order decreed by Allah, the all knowing,
the all Wise. Its herald was Mohammed, the bringer of glad
tidings and a warner. Its Book was the clear and Enlightening
Qur'an. Its soldiers were the vanguards of the Emigrants and the
Ansar (helpers) and those who followed them in doing good. It
was not contrived by man: it was rather a favour from Allah, for
who is better than Allah in his favours?
‘Thou
didst not know what the Book was, nor the Faith, but We
have made it a light through which We guide those whom
We will of our worshippers. And truly thou dost guide to
a straight path, the path of Allah to whom belongs all
that is in the heavens and the earth. Do not all things
proceed to Allah?’
(Surat-ash-Shura
(42), ayahs 52-53)
The Qur’anic Method for Social Reform
The
Qur'an contains the principles of complete social reform. It was
revealed to the Prophet (PBUH) and gradually declared to the
Believers over time, depending on the fall of events,
circumstances, and situations:
‘In this
manner, so that We may reinforce thy heart with it, and
We have set it out in order. And they do not bring thee
any similitude, but that we bring thee the truth, and a
better one as exposition’
(Surat-al-Furqaan
(25), ayahs 32-33)
This
continued for some twenty two years until the revelation was
complete, preserved within the hearts and written notes of men.
Now Allah had gathered therein an explanation for everything
concerning this Ummah and the bases for complete social reform.
All of which may be summarised under these headings:
a)
Godliness. (i.e. everything that we do is for the sake of Allah
alone)
b)
The elevation of the human spirit.
c)
The doctrine of reward and punishment.
d)
The proclamation of the brotherhood of man.
e)
Advancement for men and women together; the declaration of their
joint responsibility and their equality: the precise definition
of their respective duties.
f)
The safeguarding of society by stipulating the right to life,
property, work, health, freedom, education, and security for
every member, and defining the legitimate sources of gain.
g)
The control of the two instincts: the instinct of self
preservation and the instinct of the preservation of the
species; the regulation of the alimentary and sexual demands.
h)
Severity in punishing cardinal crimes.
i)
The confirmation of the unity of the Umma and condemnation of
all the causes and symptoms of disunity.
j)
The obligation of the Ummah to wage jihad to safeguard the
principles of justice provided by this order.
k)
valuing the state as an embodiment of the ideology, capable to
defend itself, and responsible for fulfilling its aim within its
own society as well as for conveying it to mankind as a whole.
The Practical Aspects of This System
This
Qur'anic order stood in opposition to all other unchallenged
systems and theoretical philosophies. It did not allow its
principles and teachings to remain as theories in one’s head, or
ideas confined to books, or words not going further than the
mouths of men. On the contrary, it instituted ways to establish
them, to strengthen them, and draw profit from their effects and
results. It compelled the Ummah which believed and owed
allegiance to it, to guard their duties making them a must.
Omission from these duties and giving in to whimsical desires is
simply unacceptable. Indeed, it rewards the worker, and punishes
the negligent, such that it removes him from the boundaries set
by the Islamic society and casts him in to an abyss. The most
important duties which this order has placed as a protective
fence to establish its principles are the following:
a)
Prayer, dhikr, repentance, duaa’, etc.
b)
Fasting, chastity, warning against luxury.
c)
Zakah, alms giving, expenditure for benevolent purposes.
d)
Pilgrimage, travel, journeying, discovery, and investigation of
Allah ' s Kingdom .
e)
Procurement, work, and the prohibition of begging.
f)
Jihad, fighting, outfitting fighters, and caring for their
families and interests after their departure.
g)
Commanding the good and giving sound advice.
h)
Forbidding evil, and intervention when it takes place and
against its perpetrators.
i)
The obtaining of education and knowledge by every male and
female Muslim in the various disciplines of life, each one in
what suits him best.
j)
Sound manners and behaviour and assiduous cultivation of high
moral values.
h)
Striving for physical health and control of the senses.
k)
Social responsibility of both the ruler and ruled, in social
welfare and obedience.
A
Muslim is compelled to fulfil these obligations and put them
into practice as the Qur'anic order has set them out. He must
not slacken in performing any of them, for they have all been
specified in the Noble Qur'an, and have been unequivocally
illustrated in the deeds of the Prophet (PBUH) his Companions
and those who followed them in doing good, with simplicity and
clarity. Every deed, establishes and affirms one or some of the
principles cited above all of which came to benefit mankind by
virtue of their results and effects.
The First Islamic State
On
the foundation of this virtuous Qur'anic social order the first
Islamic state arose, having unshakeable faith in it,
meticulously applying it, and spreading it throughout the world,
so that the first Khilafah used to say: ‘If I should lose a
camel's lead, I would find it in Allah's Book.’. He fought
those who refused to pay zakah, regarding them as apostates
because they had overthrown one of the pillars of this order,
saying: ‘By Allah, if they refused me a lead which they would
hand over to the Apostle of Allah (PBUH), I would fight them as
soon as I have a sword in my hand!’ For unity, in all its
meanings and manifestations, pervaded this new forthcoming
nation. Complete social unity arose from making the Qur'anic
order and it’s language universal, while complete political
unity was under the shadow of the Amir Al-Mumineen and beneath
the standard of the Khilafah in the capital. The fact that the
Islamic ideology was one of decentralisation of the armed
forces, the state treasuries, and the provincial governors
proved to be no obstacle to this, since all acted according to a
single creed and a unified and comprehensive control. The
Qur'anic principles dispelled and laid to rest the superstitious
idolatry prevalent in the Arabian Peninsula and Persia. They
banished guileful Judaism and confined it to a narrow province,
putting an end to its religious and political authority. They
struggled with Christianity such that its influence was greatly
diminished in the Asian and African continents, confined only to
Europe under the guard of the Byzantine Empire in
Constantinople. Thus the Islamic state became the centre of
spiritual and political dominance within the two largest
continents. This state persisted in its attacks against the
third continent, assaulting Constantinople from the east and
besieging it until the siege grew wearisome. Then it came at it
from the west, plunging into Spain, with its victorious soldiers
reaching the heart of France and penetrating as far as northern
and southern Italy. It established an imposing state in Western
Europe, radiant with science and knowledge. Afterwards, it ended
the conquest of Constantinople itself and the confined
Christianity within the restricted area of Central Europe.
Islamic fleets ventured into the depths of the Mediterranean and
Red seas, both became Islamic lakes. And so the armed forces of
the Islamic state assumed supremacy of the seas both in the East
and West, enjoying absolute mastery over land and sea. These
Islamic nations had already combined and incorporated many
things from other civilisations, but they triumphed through the
strength of their faith and the solidness of their system over
others. They Arabised them, or succeeded in doing so to a
degree, and were able to sway them and convert them to the
splendour, beauty and vitality of their language and religion.
The Muslims were free to adopt anything beneficial from other
civilisations, insofar as it did not have adverse effects on
their social and political unity.
Factors leading to the Dissolution of the Islamic State.
For
all the immense strength and extensive empire, the factors of
disintegration began to infiltrate the very fibre of this
Qur'anic nation Gradually becoming more serious, widespread and
powerful, until they rent this fabric apart and brought the
centralised Islamic state to an end in the sixth century after
the Hijrah (the thirteenth century AD.) at the hands of the
Tartars. In the fourteenth century after Hijrah (the twentieth
century AD.) they did this a second time, leaving in their wake
on both occasions disunited nations and small states aspiring
toward unity and striving for resurgence. The most significant
of these (disintegrating) factors were the following
a)
Political differences, partisanship, and struggle for supremacy
and prestige, despite the strict prohibition against this in
Islam, which calls for indifference with respect to positions of
power and being attracted to it, which is like a cancer within
nations and the death blow for it’s people:
‘And
contend not with one another, so that you become weak
and your strength depart, and persevere, for Allah is
with those who persevere.’
(Surat-al-Anfaal
(8), ayah 46)
and
despite the profound exhortations to remain faithful to Allah
alone in speech and act, and to flee love of fame and praise.
b)
Differences in religion and schools of thought, and turning away
from religion in both beliefs and actions leading to dead works
endowed with no spirit or life, accompanied by negligence
towards Allah's Book and the Sunnah of the Apostle (PBUH)
Leading to stagnation, fanaticism in thought and word, and a
passion for disputation, controversy, and wrangling, All these
were among the things Islam had warned against and forbidden
most rigorously, so that the Apostle (PBUH) said:
‘No people have ever fallen into error after receiving guidance
except by falling into disputes.’
c)
Self indulgence in luxuries and comforts, and craving for
pleasure and sensual joys to the point that what has been
recorded of Muslim rulers in many periods goes beyond anything
recorded of others, and this despite what they read in of the
Words of Allah (PBUH):
‘And when
We wish to destroy a city, We issue a command to its men
of wealth, and they transgress therein, and so the Word
against them is justified, and We destroy it utterly.’
(Surat-al-Israa’ (17), ayah 16)
d)
The transfer of authority to non Arabs; Persians at one time, at
another, the Mamluks, Turks, and others who had never had a
taste of genuine Islam, and whose hearts had never been
illuminated with the light of the Qur'an because of the
difficulty they encountered in trying to grasp its concepts,
even though they read the Words of Allah (SWT):
‘O ye who
believe! Do not take as confidants those who are not of
you; they will not fail to cast disorder among you; they
are pleased by what troubles you. Hatred has been
revealed out of their mouths; what their hearts conceal
is yet greater. We have made the signs clear to you, if
you would but understand.’
(Surat-aal-Imran (3), ayah 118)
e)
Indifference to the applied and natural sciences, all the while
wasting time and loosing energy on abstruse, speculative
philosophies and unhealthy, imaginary pseudo sciences, despite
Islam's urging them to consider the universe, to explore the
secrets of creation, and to travel about in the earth, for it
commands them to contemplate the Kingdom of Allah:
‘Say: "Behold what is in the heavens and the earth."’
(Surat-Yunus (10), ayah 102)
f)
Arrogance of the government regarding it’s authority, self
deception as to it’s power, and a failure to look into the
social evolution of the nations outside it’s fold, until such
nations took the lead in preparation and equipment, eventually
taking the Islamic state by surprise. But the Qur'an had
commanded them to be alert, and had warned them about the
consequences of negligence, regarding the negligent as cattle,
nay, even more deluded:
‘For We
have surely created for Jahannam many jinn and men,
having hearts with which they discern not, having eyes
with which they see not, having ears with which they
hear not these are like cattle, nay, even more deluded;
these are the heedless.’
(Surat-al-A’raaf (7), ayah 179)
g)
Self deception through the charms of hostile flatterers,
admiration for their actions and their apparent lifestyles, and
blind imitation of them in what is harmful rather than
beneficial, even though resembling them has been strictly
prohibited while remaining different to them, preserving the
basic elements of the Islamic Ummah, and warning about the
consequences of this imitation are clear cut commands, to which
effect the Noble Qur'an says:
‘O ye who
believe! If you obey those who disbelieve, they will
throw you back upon your heels, and you will be turned
into losers.’
(Surat-aal-Imran (3), ayah 149)
Political Struggle
Assaults on the Islamic State
These factors began to operate within the substance of the
Islamic state and the Ummah as a whole, suppressed nations
thought that the time was ripe to take their revenge and bring
to ruin the very Islamic state which had earlier conquered their
lands and changed their entire way of life. The Tartars swept
across the Islamic state like a devastating flood, tearing it
apart piece by piece such that when they arrived at Baghdad, the
capital of the ‘Abbasid Khilafah, they trampled it and disgraced
the Khalifah , Al-Musta’sim. Thus the unity of the state and the
knot of the Khilafah was undone for the first time. The nations
fell apart into small states, every tribe having it’s own pulpit
and an Amir Al-Mumineen. Europe saw the resurgence of
Christianity, whose forces gathered and hurled back the Muslim
East in both Asia and Africa through nine crusading assaults, in
which the best of their cavalry, royalty, and arms were
deployed. These invading forces were able to establish a
Crusader state in Jerusalem, threatening the Islamic nations of
the East and West, and attacking Egypt - the most powerful of
these states at that time.
Revival
But
Allah (SWT) did not allow falsehood to vanquish truth. Egypt was
able to draw together the scattered forces of some of these
minor states, and hurl them at the necks of the Crusaders, under
the leadership of Salah-ud-Din. It regained Jerusalem from the
Christians, and showed them the meaning of defeat at Hitteen.
Then Egypt stood in the face of the Tartars under the leadership
of Alzahir Baybars, throwing them back on their heels, at Ayn
Jalut, and restoring the lines of the Khilafah once again. It
was the will of Allah that an Islamic state re-emerge, extensive
in domain, bold in courage, and formidable in power, welding its
people into one and uniting most of the Islamic nations under
its banner. Its lofty ambitions meant that an attack on
Christianity in its very lair was crucial. Thus It conquered
Constantinople, and its authority extended to the heart of
Europe reaching as far as Vienna. This came the state of the
Ottoman Turks.
Fruits of the Renaissance in Europe
The
Islamic state was tranquil under the banner and authority of the
Ottomans, it remained passive was heedless of what was happening
around it. But Europe, which had come into contact with the
light of Islam in the West through Andalus, and in the East
through the Crusades, wasted no opportunity and did not fail to
benefit from these lessons. It began to build up and unite her
forces under the banner of the Franks in the land of Gaul, where
it was able to stem the tides of an onslaught against the
Islamic West and sow dissension within the ranks of the Muslims
in Andalus, employing people to fall upon others, until finally
it drove them overseas back to the African coast. The young
Spanish state took it’s place, as Europe continued to build up
it strength, to unite, to plan, to acquire knowledge, to
traverse foreign lands, and to discover new countries, such that
America was discovered by Spain and the route to India by
Portugal. Cries for reform followed swiftly in each state within
Europe. Numerous reformers arose, while natural science and
fruitful, productive knowledge was eagerly embraced. The
Reformation resulted in the creation of a number of
nationalities and the rise of a strong state - it’s sole purpose
to dismember the Islamic state, which Europe had already shared
among its nations and whose place it had taken control of in
Asia and Africa. These young states formed alliances for this
purpose, which at times rose to the level of sacred pacts
A
New Attack
European power expanded, thanks to discoveries, expeditions, and
travels to far and distant lands as far as many of the remote
Islamic countries like India, as well some of the neighbouring
Islamic provinces. Europe began to work earnestly at
dismembering the powerful and far flung Islamic state proposing
numerous plans toward this end, referring to them at times as
‘the Eastern question’ and at others as ‘dividing up the
inheritance of the Sick Man of Europe’. Every state began to
seize any opportunity as it arose, adopting the flimsiest of
excuses to attack the peaceful yet careless Islamic state, and
to reduce its periphery or demolish parts of its integral
fabric. This onslaught continued over a long period of time,
during which the Ottoman Empire was stripped of much of it’s
Islamic territory which then fell under European domination,
e.g., Morocco and North Africa. Many non Islamic areas
previously under Ottoman rule became independent during this
time, e.g., Greece and the Balkan states. The final round of
this struggle was the First World War, from 1914 to 1918, which
ended in the defeat of Turkey and her allies, providing a
perfect opportunity for the strongest nations of Europe,
(England and France, and under their patronage, Italy). They
laid their hands on the huge legacy left behind by the Islamic
nations, imposing their rule over them under the various titles
of occupation, colonialism, trusteeship or mandate dividing them
up in the following manner:
1)
North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunis) became French
colonies lying in between a zone of international influence in
Tangier and a Spanish colony in the Reef.
2)
Tripoli and Barca became Italian colonies in which Italy did not
wish a single trace of Islam to remain. It forced Italian
citizenship upon the people giving it the name of ‘South Italy’
and filling it with thousands of hungry families and wild beasts
in human form (Italian outcasts).
3)
Egypt and the Sudan fell under English authority, neither one
possessing a shred of independent authority.
4)
Palestine became an English colony, which England took the
liberty of selling to the Jews so that they might establish
therein a national Zionist homeland.
5)
Syria became a French colony.
6)
Iraq became an English colony.
7)
The Hijaz possessed a weak, unstable government dependent on
charity and clinging to false treaties and worthless covenants.
8)
Yemen possessed an outmoded government and a poverty stricken
populace exposed to attack anywhere and at any time.
9)
The remaining nations of the Arabian peninsula consisted of
small emirates whose rulers lived under the wing of the British
consuls and who fought one another for the crumbs falling from
their tables, their souls burning with mutual resentment and
hatred. This was the case despite the reassuring promises and
binding treaties drawn up by the Allies with the mightiest
monarch of the Peninsula, King Hussain, stating that they would
help him achieve the Arab independence and support the authority
of the Arab Khilafah.
10)
Iran and the Afghanistan possessed shaky governments beset by
power hungry people on every side, they would be under the wing
of one nation at one time and under that of another at other
times.
11)
India was an English colony.
12)
Turkestan and the adjoining regions were Russian colonies,
subjected to the bitter harshness of the Bolshevik authorities.
Apart from these, there were also the Islamic minorities
scattered across many countries, knowing no state to whose
protection they might have recourse, nor any well armed
government to defend their nationality, as the Muslims in
Ethiopia, China, the Balkans, and the lands of Central, South,
East and West Africa. Under such conditions, Europe won in the
political struggle, and finally accomplished its goal in
dismembering the Islamic empire, annihilating the Islamic state
and erasing it politically, from the list of powerful, living
nations.
Return to Power
However this flagrant hostility and contempt for treaties and
covenants tormented men's hearts and aroused their spirits.
These nations began to demand their independence and struggled
to regain their freedom and glory. Towards this end, revolts
flared up within their borders: Turkey revolted, Egypt revolted,
Iraq and Syria revolted, while repeated revolts took place in
Palestine and the Reef in Morocco. Every where people began to
stir, and as a result the Islamic people regained some of their
rights. Turkey became independent within her new frontiers,
Egypt and Iraq were recognised as sovereign states, the Saudi
state rose in the Hijaz and Najd, while, Yemen, Iran, and
Afghanistan preserved their already existing independence, Syria
came close to winning recognition of her independence. Palestine
drew the attention of the world to itself through its struggle.
The Muslims, without any doubt, took significant steps, even if
they were few and slow, towards the noble goal of restoring
their freedom and glory and rebuilding their state. With each
nation demanding its right to freedom as an independent entity,
concepts of localised nationalism arose, and many states working
towards this revival purposely ignored the idea of unity.
Without a doubt the outcome the of these steps will result in
the consolidation and return of the Islamic empire as a unified
state embracing the Muslims that have been scattered around the
World, raising the banner of Islam and carrying its message.
There is no nation in the world that is held together by
linguistic unity, participation in material and spiritual
interests, and similarity of suffering and hope in the same that
the Muslims are.
A
New War
The
European nations emerged from the First World War with the seeds
of rancour and hatred deeply implanted within many of them. The
peace conference took place and the ensuing treaties were sharp
slaps in the face to some and painfully, false expectations to
many others; furthermore, many new concepts and ideologies,
strongly fanatical, made their appearance. Such a situation will
inevitably lead to renewed opposition and a terrible,
devastating war which would tear these nations asunder and end
their unity, bringing them back to their senses and deterring
them from injustice. It will give the Islamic nations another
opportunity to straighten their ranks, to unite, and finally
achieve their freedom and independence, thus regaining their
state and their unity under the leadership of the Amir Al
Mumineen:
‘And We
desired to show favour to those who had been rendered
weak in the earth, and to make them leaders and make
them inheritors.’
(Surat-al-Qasas (28), ayah 5).
Social Struggle
A
New Civilisation
The
European nations, which had socialised and had come into contact
with Islam and Muslims (due to their Crusades in the East, and
their proximity to the Arabs of Andalus in the West), not only
benefited from this in terms of a heightened awareness,
cohesion, and political unification; but also in terms of a
great intellectual awakening, acquiring numerous sciences and
branches of knowledge. A scientific and cultural Renaissance,
vast in scope, made its appearance, and the Church with all the
strength at its command rose to combat this strange phenomenon.
It subjected their scholars and intellectuals to the most
horrific punishments: the courts of The Inquisition waged war
upon them and aroused the wrath of the people against them. But
this accomplished nothing, its teachings could not stand up in
front of scientific realities and discoveries. The scientific
Renaissance emerged victorious, and the state thereby awoke and
it too fought the Church until it completely delivered European
society from Church authority. Its men were driven into the
shrine and the cloister, the Pope was confined to the Vatican,
and the work of the clergy was limited and their efforts were
confined. Christianity remained in Europe, but only to serve as
a historical heirloom. It was an instrument for educating the
simple minded and naive among the masses, and a mechanism for
conquest, colonisation, and the suppression of political
aspirations. The domain of science stretched out before Europe,
and the scope of invention and discovery broadened. The machine
doubled production and industrialised life. All this preceded
hand in hand with the rise of the strong state, whose authority
reached out across many lands and regions. The world eagerly
welcomed the European nations and chose them as it’s sustainers.
Wealth poured out from it in every direction. It was only
natural then, that European life and culture should be based on
excluding religion from all aspects of social life, especially
the state, the law court, and the school; with a predominant
materialistic outlook becoming the criterion for everything. As
a result, the make-up of this civilisation became purely
materialistic, demolishing what the revealed religions had
advocated and utterly contradicting the principle of uniting the
spiritual and the material which Islam had laid as the
foundation of it’s civilisation. Among the most important traits
of European civilisation are the following:
1)
Apostasy, doubt in Allah, denial of the soul, disregard as to
reward or punishment in the world to come, and an obsession to
limit themselves to only that which is material and tangible:
‘They
know something external of the life of this world, but
of the world to come they are heedless ‘
(Surat-ar-Rum (30), ayah 7)
2)
Lust, unseemly dedication to pleasure, new ways of self
indulgence, uncontrolled freedom of the lower instincts and
bodily desires, the equipment of women with every technique of
seduction and incitement, and the drowning into wicked practices
which shatter both mind and body, destroying the integrity of
the family and threatening the happiness of the home:
‘Those
who disbelieve take their enjoyment and eat as cattle
eat, and the Fire is their dwelling place.’
(Surat-Muhammad (47), ayah 12)
3)
Individual greed, for every man wants any thing good only for
himself; Greed also exists in the social strata, for each strata
wants to gain the upper hand over the other and seeks to secure
profits for itself. Finally there is greed on a national level,
for each nation is prejudiced towards its own nationality, while
looking down on all others, and trying to engulf those who are
weaker.
4)
Usury, granting it legal recognition, regarding it as a
principle of general transactions, and making it a general
practice among nations and individuals.
These purely materialistic traits of European society have
corrupted the spirit, devalued morality, and made them sluggish
in the war against crime, all this and the problems have
multiplied, destructive ideologies have made their appearance,
devastating and damning revolutions have burst forth, economic,
social, and political institutions no longer stand on firm
foundations. Nations have been torn apart by sects and parties,
while greed and hatred have driven people to cut each others’
throats. This modern civilisation has substantiated its complete
impotence in securing peace, tranquillity and safety within
society. It has failed to grant happiness to man, despite all
the doors of science, knowledge, wealth and opulence it has left
open for them, and despite the power and authority it enjoys
throughout the earth, and even though it has not been in
existence for so much as a century.
The Tyranny of Materialism On Muslim Land
The
Europeans worked assiduously in trying to immerse (the world) in
materialism, with their corrupting traits and murderous germs,
to overwhelm those Muslim lands that their hands stretched out
to. Under their authority the Muslims suffered an ill fate, for
while they secured for themselves power and prosperity through
science, knowledge, industry, and good organisation, the Muslims
were barred from all this. They laid the plans for this social
turmoil in masterly fashion, invoking the aid of their political
intellect and military might until they achieved their goal.
They deluded the Muslim leaders by granting them loans and
entering into financial transactions with them - An easy task
which enabled them to infiltrate the economy and flood the
country with their capital, their banks, and their companies;
Thus they ran the economic machinery, exploiting the enormous
profits and vast sums of money. All to the exclusion of the
inhabitants. Hence, they were able to alter the basic principles
of government, justice, and education, and infuse in the most
powerful Islamic countries, their own peculiar political
judicial, and cultural systems. They imported their semi-naked
women into these regions, together with their liquors, their
theatres, their dance halls, their amusements arcades, their
stories, their newspapers, their novels, their whims, their
silly games, and their vices. Here they allowed for crimes
intolerable in their own countries, and beautified this
tumultuous world to the deluded, naive eyes of wealthy Muslims
and those of rank and authority. This was not enough for them,
so they built schools and scientific cultural institutes,
casting doubt and heresy within the hearts of people . They
taught them how to demean themselves, to vilify their religion
and their homeland, to detach themselves from their beliefs, and
to regard anything Western as sacred, in the belief that only
that which is European can be emulated. These schools were
restricted to the upper class, the ruling body, the powerful and
the future leaders. Those who were unsuccessful in such places
were sent abroad to complete their studies. This drastic, well
organised social campaign was tremendously successful since it
appealed to the mind. It will continue to exert its strong
intellectual influence over a long period of time. Thus, it was
far more dangerous than any political or military campaign. Some
Islamic countries went overboard in their admiration for the
European civilisation and their dissatisfaction with the Islamic
one, to the point that Turkey declared itself a non-Islamic
state, imitating the Europeans in everything that they did. Aman
Allah Khan, King of Afghanistan, tried this, but the attempt
lost him his throne. In Egypt the manifestations of this mimicry
increased and became so serious that one of the intellectual
leaders could openly say that the only path to progress was to
adopt this civilisation: good or evil, bitter or sweet, praise
worthy or reprehensible. From Egypt it spread with strength and
speed into the neighbouring countries, to the extent that it
reached Morocco and encircled the holy sanctuaries within the
midst of Hijaz. We may subdivide the Muslim nations that were
affected by this materialistic civilisation, into three
categories:
1)
Countries in which this influence has reached serious
proportions.
Not
only is this seen outwardly but has gone so far as to penetrate
the minds and feelings of the people. Among these countries are
Turkey and Egypt, where the slightest trace of an Islamic
ideology has disappeared from all walks of life, banished to
mosques and Sufi retreats.
2)
Countries which have only been influenced outwardly. Emotions
and feelings However remaining intact. Such as Iran and North
Africa.
3)
Countries which have not been influenced by this civilisation,
except for a particular class consisting of the well educated
and the ruling group, to the exclusion of the common people and
the masses. Such as Syria, Iraq, the Hijaz, many sections of the
Arabian Peninsula, and the remaining Muslim countries.
Nevertheless, this current is spreading with the speed of
lightning reaching those it has not struck yet. The enemies of
Islam can deceive Muslim intellectuals and draw a thick veil
over the eyes of the zealous by depicting Islam as defective in
various aspects of doctrine, ritual observance, and morality.
What helps them to carry out this deception is the Muslims
ignorance about the intrinsic nature of Islam, such that many of
them are quite happy to accept the status quo. They have been
ingrained in this for such along time now that it is difficult
to explain to them that Islam is complete, social system
encompassing all aspects of life.
Thus
we can say that the Western civilisation, has triumphed over the
Islamic civilisation in its social struggle. This has occurred
on Muslim land, not only militarily but also spiritually and
ideologically. Small wonder, for what is strong is wholly
strong, and what is weak is wholly weak:
‘These
are the days which we apportion to mankind in turn.’
(Surat-aal-Imraan (3), ayah 140)
Even
if the ideology and teachings of Islam have gone astray, it is
powerful in its essential nature, full of life and vitality,
attractive and enchanting in its splendour and beauty, and it
will remain so because it is the truth, and human existence will
never achieve perfection and virtue through any other means. It
is the work of Allah and under his protection:
‘Lo, We
have sent down the Reminder, and lo, We are its
Protector.’
(Surat-al-Hijr (15), ayah 9)
‘God
refuses ought but that He should perfect His light,
though the unbelievers feel aversion’
(Surat-at-Tawbah (9), ayah 32)
Awakening: Just as political aggression had its effect in
arousing nationalist feelings, so has social aggression in
reviving the Islamic ideology. Voices have been raised in every
land, demanding a return to Islam, an understanding of its
precepts, and an application of its rules. The day must soon
come when the walls of this materialistic civilisation will come
down upon the heads of its inhabitants. Then their hearts and
souls will burn with a spiritual hunger, but they will find no
sustenance, no healing, no remedy, except in the teachings of
this Noble Book:
‘O man,
an admonition from your Lord has come to you, and a
healing for what is in your hearts, a guidance and a
mercy for the believers. Say: 'In God's bounty, and in
His mercy: let them rejoice in that.' It is better than
what they hoard.’
(Surat-Yunus (10), ayah 58-59)
Our Mission is one of Reawakening and Deliverance
A
Weighty Legacy
Thus
dear Brothers, It is Allah’s will that we are the inheritors of
this legacy; no matter what the consequences, the light of your
mission glows amidst this darkness; He has chosen you to exalt
His Word, to bring back the Sharee’ah and re-establish His
state:
‘Allah
will surely aid one who helps Him. Allah is Mighty,
Glorious.’
(Surat-al-Hajj (22), ayah 40)
Our General Aims
What
do we want, dear brothers? Do we seek temporary goals such as
hoarding up wealth and becoming famous? Or do we want dominion
over the earth?
‘The
earth is Allah's: He gives to inherit it those whom He
will of His servants.’
(Surat-al-A’raaf (7), ayah 127)
Even
as we read the Speech of Allah (SWT):
‘That is
the Abode of the Hereafter which We assign to those who
do not want exaltation in the earth, nor any corruption.
The final consequence is to the pious.’
(Surat-al-Qasas (28), ayah 83)
May
Allah witness that we do not want any of these, that our work
and our mission are not toward these ends. Rather always bear in
mind that you have two fundamental goals:
1)
Freeing the Islamic homeland from all foreign authority, for
this is a natural right belonging to every human being which
only the unjust oppressor will deny.
2)
The establishment of an Islamic state within this homeland,
which acts according to the precepts of Islam, applies its
social regulations, advocates its sound principles, and
broadcasts its mission to all of mankind. For as long as this
state does not emerge, every Muslim is sinning. and is
responsible before Allah the Almighty for the failure and
slackness in establishing it. In these bewildering
circumstances, it is against the interests of humanity that a
state advocating injustice and oppression should arise, while
there should be no one at all working for the advent of a state
founded on truth, justice, and peace. We want to accomplish
these two goals in the Nile Valley and the Arab kingdom, and in
every land which Allah has blessed with the Islamic creed:
uniting all the Muslims.
Our Specific Aims
Apart from these two aims, we have some specific aims, If they
are not accomplished our society cannot become wholly Islamic.
Dear brothers, recall that more than sixty percent of the
Egyptians live at a subhuman level. Only through the most
arduous toil do they get enough to eat. Egypt is threatened by
murderous famines and exposed to many economic problems, the
outcome of which only Allah can know. Recall too that there are
more than 320 foreign companies in Egypt, monopolising all the
public utilities and important facilities in every sector of the
country; the wheels of commerce, industry, and all economic
institutions are in the hands of profiteering foreigners; our
wealth in land is being transferred with lightning speed from
our hands to those of others. Recall also that, out of the
entire civilised world, Egypt is subject to the most diseases,
plagues, and illness; over 90 percent of the Egyptian people are
threatened by physical infirmity, the loss of some sensory
perception, and a variety of sicknesses and ailments; Egypt is
still backward, with no more than one fifth of the population
possessing any form of education, and of these more than one
hundred thousand have never gone further than the primary school
level. Recall that crime has doubled in Egypt, and that it is
increasing at an alarming rate to the point that there are more
people coming out of prisons than schools; that up to the
present time Egypt has been unable to properly outfit a single
army division; These symptoms and phenomena may be observed in
any Islamic country. Amid your aims are to work in reforming
education; to fight poverty, ignorance, disease, and crime; and
to create an exemplary society deserving to be associated with
the Islamic Sharee’ah.
Our General Means
How
will we arrive at these goals? Speeches, announcements, letters,
lessons, lectures, a diagnosis of the ailment and a prescription
of the medicine. All these by themselves are useless and will
never achieve, nor help achieve a single aim. Nevertheless,
every mission has an approach which it must adopt and act
accordingly. it remains invariable and unchanging, and is
confined to the following three matters:
1)
Deep faith.
2)
Precise organisation
3)
Uninterrupted work.
This
is our general approach dear brothers, so have conviction in
your ideology, rally around it and work steadfastly for it.
Further Measures
Besides this general approach, there may be further measures
that have to be adopted and strictly adhered to. They may have
both positive and negative aspects to them, either in
compatibility with man’s customary habits or in stark
contradiction. Some are mild while others are rigorous, so we
must train ourselves and prepare to face all this in order to
guarantee success. We may be asked to break old customs and
habits, to conform to unfamiliar backgrounds and settings. For
in reality our mission is to change that which is prevailing and
conventional. Are you prepared for this, dear brothers?
Discouragement
Many
people will say: What do these measures mean? How can they build
a nation or maintain a society burdened with such chronic
problems and sunk in a welter of corruption? How will you manage
the economy on a non profit basis? how will you respond to the
woman question? How will you obtain your rights without the use
of force?
Dear
brothers, know that Satan slips his devilish bid into the
aspirations of every reformer, but Allah cancels out what Satan
whispers; then Allah decrees His miracles, for Allah is Knowing,
Wise. Remind these people that history teaches us lessons about
past and contemporary nations; Any nation determined to live
cannot possibly die.
Obstacles in Our Path
I
would like to admit to you that frankly your mission is still
unknown to many people, and the day they find out about it and
grasp its potential and objectives, you will face stern
opposition and sharp hostility. Your way will be riddled with
hardship and obstacles. Only then will you be following the path
of those who convey the message. For the moment you are still
unknown, simply preparing for the call and getting ready for the
struggle that lies ahead of you. The ignorance of the people as
to what constitutes true Islam will remain an obstacle in your
path, and you will find among the religious body and the
official scholars those who will regard your understanding of
Islam as outlandish, denouncing your campaign. Chiefs, leaders,
and men of rank and authority will hate you. Every government
without exception will rise against you, each one trying to
limit your activities and hinder your path.
The
oppressors will use all the mechanisms to oppose you and
extinguish the light of your mission. To that end they will
invoke the aid of weak governments, dirty tactics and the help
of those who seek their affection, while displaying animosity
towards you. They will arouse suspicion and unjust accusations
about your mission, trying to endow it with every possible
defect and displaying it before the people in the most repugnant
possible guise. They will rely on their strength, authority,
wealth and influence.
‘They
desire to extinguish Allah's light with their mouths,
but Allah will perfect His light though the unbelievers
be averse to it.’
(Surat-as-Saff (61), ayah 68)
Without a doubt, you will experience trials and tribulations,
you will be imprisoned, arrested, deported, and persecuted. Your
goods will be confiscated, your employment suspended, and your
homes will be searched. This period of trial may last a long
time:
‘Do men
imagine that they will be left to say: "We believe", and
that they will not be put to the test?’
(Surat-al-‘Ankabut (29), ayah 2)
Allah has promised you with the success of the mujaahideen and
the reward of sincere workers:
‘O ye who
believe, shall I show you a commerce that will save you
from a painful chastisement ?... Then We sustained those
who believed against their enemy, and they became
victorious.’
(Surat-as-Saff (61), ayah 10 and 14)
Are
you resolved to be Allah's helpers ?
The Factors for Success
Dear
brothers, as we face these obstacles, it is only fitting that we
remember we are conveying the loftiest of messages - that of
Allah; that we are advocating the most powerful system - The
Islamic ideology; and that we are offering to mankind the most
just law - The Sacred Law of the Qur'an:
‘The
religion of Allah and what is better than Allah
religion.’
(Surat-al-Baqarah (2), ayah 138)
Surely the entire world is in need of this message, which is
smoothing out and preparing the world to take this path, Allah
be praised, we are free from personal ambition and far from
seeking internal advantage. We seek nothing but Allah's Face and
the welfare of mankind. We only work to seek his pleasure. We
look forward to Allah's support and help, for he whom Allah
helps cannot be overcome:
‘That is
because Allah is the defender of those who believe, and
because the unbelievers have no defender.’
(Surat-Muhammad (47), ayah 11)
The
strength of our call and the need for it, the nobility of our
goals and Allah's support for us are all the factors leading to
success. Nothing can stand in its path:
‘And
Allah has the upper hand in His affairs, but most of
mankind do not know.’
(Surat-Yusuf (12), ayah 21)
Sincere Advice
Fellow Muslims, listen !
Through these words, I wished to clarify to you your ideology.
For it is possible that critical times await us, and the
communication between me and you will be cut off for a while so
that I may not be able to speak or write to you. Therefore I
advise you to ponder over these words carefully, learn them by
heart if you can, and accept them whole-heartedly. For behind
every word lie manifold meanings.
Dear
brothers, you are not a welfare organisation, nor a political
party, nor a local association with strictly limited aims.
Rather you are a new spirit making its way into the heart of
this nation - reviving it with the Qur'an; a new light dawning,
dispelling the darkness of materialism through the knowledge of
Allah; a resounding voice rising high - echoing the message of
the Apostle (PBUH). In truth and without being excessive, you
should feel that you are the bearers of a burden the rest of
mankind has shrugged off. If someone asks you: "To what are you
calling?" Say: "We are calling you to Islam, which was brought
by Muhammad (PBUH): Government is part of it, freedom is a
religious obligation." If someone should say to you: "This is
politics!" Say: This is Islam, and we do not recognise such
divisions.
If
someone should say to you: "You are advocates of revolution!"
say: "We are advocates of truth and peace - we believe and take
pride in this. If you rise up against us and stand in the path
of our mission, Allah has permitted us to defend ourselves, and
you will be the unjust rebels." If they say to you: "You are
asking the help of individuals and associations!" say: "We
believe in Allah alone, and reject that which you were
associating with Him." If they persist in their hostility, say:
‘Peace be unto you! We have no desire for the ignorant." (Surat-al-Qasas
(28), ayah 55)
Duties
Dear
brothers believe in Allah, exalt His presence, depend and rely
upon Him, Fear no one but Him, stand in awe of no other than
Him. Perform that which He has made obligatory and shun that
which He has forbidden.
Model yourselves on excellence and hold fast to perfection. Have
a strong moral character and live up to the honour that Allah
has gifted the Muslims and the nobility of the pious.
Draw
near to the Qur’an and study it, devote yourselves to the Life
of the Prophet, taking counsel from it. Be active workers rather
than wranglers, for when Allah bestows His guidance on a people
He inspires them to work; And people do not go astray after
receiving guidance, except when they give into disputation.
Love
one another, and make sure you guard your unity, for this is the
secret of your strength and the buttress of your success. Stand
fast until Allah judges justly between you and your people, for
He is the best of Judges.
Listen, and obey your leaders both in duress and comfort, in
good times and bad, for this is the token of your conviction and
the bond of solidarity between you.
Finally, look forward to Allah's aid and His support. This
opportunity will arise, without a doubt:
‘And then
the believers will rejoice in Allah's aid. He aids whom
He will, and He is the Mighty, the Merciful.’
(Surat-ar-Rum
(30), ayah 4)
May
Allah grant both of us success in that which He loves and
approves, and steer us on the path of those who are good and
rightly guided; may He make us live like the glorious and the
fortunate, and grant us the death of martyrs and those who have
striven in jihad. For He is the best of Defenders, and the best
of helpers.
Written By Hassan al-banna |
