Ramadan The Month Of Revelation And Our Responsibility

As this blessed month approaches, feelings of virtue within Muslims arise, and they look to Allah (SWT) that He may bestow upon us and the Islamic Ummah guidance and help to achieve good deeds, and honor us with His victory, and make all our actions committed for His sake alone. Muslims listen to lectures and sermons about fasting, prayer, making hajj, zakat, du'aa, istighfar, morals and about other Islamic - concepts. These are all part of Islam and they are all necessary, but there is another very important part of Islam, which you very rarely hear about, and even when you do hear about it, you listen to an incomplete or a misinterpreted speech. It is the part of Islam related to the function of the government or the ruling authority. This is not limited to one country alone. It is unfortunately the same in all the Muslim countries.

Allah (SWT) says,

" Whoever does not govern (rule) with what Allah has revealed, those are the disbelievers.'

It is therefore, clear that the matter is very serious, and of a very dangerous nature, because this issue could take a person from the ummah of Islam to the ummah of Kufr. So who are those rulers upon whom this verse applies, and under what case and what circumstance does the ruler become Kafir? There are other verses that come in the same context such as:

"Whoever does not govem (rule) with what Allah has revealed, those are the Zalim (the oppressors), "

"Whoever does not govem (rule) with what Allah has revealed, those are the fasiq (the evildoers) ".

The word govern (rules) here, includes every person who has the authority and the responsibility to decide the matter and to implement its appropriate divine rule, whether this person is the head of state, or any of his assistants, or helpers, or any one else who takes his authority from the head of the state. So every responsibility to decide any matter and execute it would come under the term govern (rule) which came in the above verses and others. So whoever settles the matter and implements it in any way that Allah did not permit then he governs (rules) with other than what Allah has revealed, whether he did it out of ignorance, negligence, or knowingly and intentionally, and whether he brings an excuse or he really seeks other that the law of Allah with confidence and assurance. So if the one who governs with other than what Allah has revealed, and does it intentionally and fully convinced with the truthfulness of what he is doing, then he is of the disbelievers.

The question is how can the muslim know whether the ruler governs by other than what Allah has revealed? The believer does not know for sure, but he has to accept what appears to him, and he does not need to dive into the heart of the matter. So if the evidence that the muslim has established is that the ruler does what he does with conviction, and he governs accordingly, and selects other than the Shari'ah of Allah, then he can evaluate that ruler as a disbeliever, and can even announce this openly to the people. The devotee then has to take all measures against the ruler, that the Shari'ah has ordered the muslim to take against the disbelieving ruler. However, the evidences in the question of Takfir (calling a muslim Kafir) are necessary to be decisive and with f ull assurance, because the Prophet (saw) said,

"Except only if you have seen a clear (or open) Kufr, upon which you have a proof from Allah. "

Thus for example, considering Riba (usury) as haram, is decisive, because it is decisively proved in the verse and decisively proved in the meaning. So if a ruler puts a law in which he legitimized Riba (usury), then in that case he seeks and governs with other than what Allah has revealed, and he makes Halal what Allah has made Haram. Therefore, if a ruler does make such a law, and he adopts this law, and he has appointed officials, such as police to protect and enforce that law, then he has acknowledged Kufr, and this matter does not require ljtihad, it is a matter of applying the text on this matter directly,

"Those who do not govern (rule) by what Allah has revealed, are the disbelievers, "

Other examples of pure kufr are making alcohol, gambling, adultery (zinah), apostasy from Islam, and neglect of the prayer Halal. By the use of the term making Halal we mean allowing such things to occur officially. Similarly, stopping the implementation of the hudood (penal code) and thus instead of implementing the amputation of the hand of the thief, or the stoning of the adulterer, or the execution of the apostate, or lashing the one who attacks the honor of people without proof, or punishing the one who drinks alcohol, the state adopts other penal codes.

However, there is a difference between the one who deals with usury believing it is haram, and the one who deals with usury and says that it is not haram. The first person is Assi (disobedient or sinful), while the latter is Kafir. The first one agrees with the divine rule but he disagrees with it in action i.e., he is disobedient, whilst the second person does not only disagree wfth the divine rule, but rejects it, and thus he puts himseft in the position of being a Kafir, since he knowingly and decisively separates himself from the Shari'ah. In the case of the ruler who gives up the divine rule, which is decisive, and puts in its place other laws, thinking-that they are better than the divine rule, then he would be a Kafir (disbeliever), and he is not a Muslim, even if he claims to be one.

Let us now examine the rulers in the Muslim countries. Do they give up some of the divine rules (Islamic rules) which are decisive, and put in their place other laws that are adopted from the West or East? The answer is YES. Do they recognize that they have given up the laws of the Shari'ah and adopted other laws, wilfully and with full conviction? The answer to this question is also YES. There are a few of them who may have some excuse that might save them from this crime of Kufr. But even then these rulers cannot save themselves from Fisq (wrongdoing) or Zuim (evil-doing).

Now let us come to the members of the parliament, which is also known as the legislative council. If these people adopt laws and legislation that disagree and contradict wish the Islamic texts, which are decisive in their proof (like Quran and Hadith Mutawatir) and decisive in their meaning, then in reality they are adopting clear kufr. Every member who declares his conviction and acceptance with that, defends the issue of taking the laws of kufr, is then a Kafir, and this cannot be refuted even if he claims otherwise.

In every muslim land we find that the ruler brings within his entourage some people whom he presents as the people of knowledge, and he leaves to them the issue of making Tafsir (interpretation) of the religion and issuing Fatwas in the way that agrees with his desires. These people comprise the court of the ruler, or part of his regime and they have become his mouthpiece. They are really of the most dangerous groups within the Ummah. And most of them are not actually Ulema, because the Ulema are the inheritors of the Prophets, and the Alem would be one of the people of Taqwa (piety). Allah (SWT) says,

"Really those who fear Allah from His servants are the Ulema. "

But actually most of these are hypocrites who misinterpret Islam, and change it to agree with the whims and desires of their rulers and their master. We find such people in every country. We find them in Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. So what is the divine rule regarding such people in the Shari'ah of Allah? If such an Alem is brought in front of the ruler, and he defends in a direct way a law that contradicts with a divine text, which is decisively proven and is decisive in as indication, and he encourages the adoption of such a law, then such an Alem is unfortunately jahil (ignorant), and is undoubtedly a Kafir even if he fasts, prays, makes hajj, gives zakat, and claims to be a muslim. This is because he is a munafiq (hypocrite), evil-doer, and a Kafir. How many of these hypocrftes do not recognize their corruption and do not recognize that they are safih (evilspeaker)! Let us read what Allah (SWT) says of such people in Surat Al Baqara: 13,

"Some of the people say that we have become believers, we believe in Allah, and the hereafter, but they are not believers. They try to deceive Allah and the believers, but really they deceive only themselves without feeling that. There is a disease in their hearts, and thus Allah has increased them more in disease, and they deserve a great torment because of their lies. If it is said to them do not make corruption in the land, they say, no we make lslah (reform). Verily they are the corrupters, but they do not feel it. And if it is said to them believe like the people have believed, they say should we believe like the Sufha'a, no they are the Sufha'a, but they do not know that "

So how many Kafir think of themselves as doing good things? Allah (SWT) said in Surah Kahf:102,

"Should I tell you about those who are the most lost in their actions, it is those who went astray in their lives, and they thought that they are doing good?"

And Allah (SWT) says in Surah AI-A'raf,

"They took Satan as their Friend insead of Allah, and they think they are themselves guided."

How many people have had bad things brought to their eyes disguised as good? The measure of actions should be the Shari'ah of Allah, not the whims and the desires of the people!

As we know, Allah (SWT) has sent Mohammed (saaws) with the message of Islam to all people. So whoever believed in the Prophet Mohammed (saaws), and that the Quran is from Allah, and that the Shari'ah of Islam is a revelation from Allah, and it is a guidance to the people, and his heart is assured of this, then he would not leave this faith or select other that this fafth. If, however, such a change does occur to a so-called sensible man, it is a clear sign that he became a disbeliever. So take notice of what Allah (SWT) says in the Chapter of AI-Nisa'a,

"Don't you look at those who claim that they believed in what was revealed unto you and what was revealed before you, they want to arbitrate to the Taghoot while they have been commanded to make disbelief in it but Satan wants to misguide them away? And if it is said to them come to what Allah has revealed, and to the Messenger, you find the hypocrites tum away from you surely."

In the Chapter of AI-Noor Allah (SWT) says,

"Verily we have revealed clear verses, and Allah guides whom He wishes to the straight path. And they say we believe in Allah and in the Messenger and we obey, then a party of them turns away after that and those are not the believers. If they have been called unto Allah and His Messenger to govem between them you will find sonme of them turn away. If the fight was on their side they will come to you submitting. Is there any disease in their hearts, or are they in doubt or do they fear that Allah and His Messenger will be unjust to them. No, but they are the Zalim (the wrong-doers). Whilst the believers, if they have been called to Allah and His Messenger to govern between them, they say 'we hear and we obey,' and those are the successful ones. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, and fears Allah and protects himself (of His anger), those are the real winners."

So the muslim ruler will never leave the Shari'ah of Allah and judge with other than what Allah has revealed, and if he does so with conviction and acceptance then he is not muslim. And here is the decisive word of Allah on this matter from the Chapter of AI-Nisa'a,

"By your Lord, they will not be true believers unless they make you judge of whatever disputes are among them, and they would not have any difficulty in their hearts about what you have decided (for them), and they submit completely."

So beware of certain actions that you may take lightly, but which are very grave to Allah (SWT). It could be a matter that takes a muslim away from Islam, when he is not aware of it, and later on it will not benefit him, however much he prays and fasts. And Allah (SWT) has informed us of the people of the Book before us who took their priests and their bishops as gods other than Allah (SWT). When the Prophet (saaws) said,

"They made to them the haram as halal and the halal as haram and then they obeyed them "

So look at your rulers, don't they make the haram halal for you, and make the halal haram for you, and don't you obey them? Undoubtedly, they have made Halal for you many things which Allah has make haram for you. And they have prohibited upon you many things which Allah has made Halal for you. But what about you? Are you accepting this in your heart? If you have done so, then you have taken them as gods other than Allah, and we surely seek the protection of Allah from involving ourselves in such an action.

The Prophet (saaws) said,

"Whoever of you see a Munkar (evil), he has to change it by his hand, if he can't then by his tongue, and if he can't then by his heart and this is the weakest Iman."

And in another narration instead of saying 'and this is the weakest Iman,' he said, 'and after that there is not even an atom's weight of lman.'

So these rulers are really the head of Munkar and their regimes are the source of Munkar. If the muslim could not change this Munkar by his hand and by his tongue, and if he did not hate it and deny it in his heart, then his heart is the heart of a Kafir, which does not have even an atom-weight of lman.

From all this, clearly most of the rulers of Muslims now are not only disobedient or Fasiq, but they are really and truly disbelievers, a disbelief which takes them away from the Deen of Islam. And clearly the media praises these rulers and the Kufr rules that they apply, are actually a media of hypocrites and even disbelievers, and their disbelief is real that takes them away from the Deen of Islam. Similarly, those who accept in their hearts these rulers, and the rules of Kufr that they implement upon us, are also Kafir, with a disbelief that takes them away from Islam. May Allah (SWT) forgive us and save us from failing into that great sin.

So it is not enough to deny the Munkar by your heart because it is the weakest Iman. However, most of the Muslims are capable of denying it with their tongues and hands. But the one who takes a stand against the ruler because of the ruler's Munkar, by his tongue or by his hand, he puts himself in a position of danger as he may be subjected to harm from the ruler or from his soldiers. So to what extent does Islam make it a duty upon a muslim to bear this harm and danger in the way of Allah, and in the way of changing this Batil (corruption) and supporting the truth? Allah (SWT) says,

"Obey Allah as much as you can"

and the Prophet (saaws) said,

"If I comrmnded you with something, make of it as much as you can."

The jurisprudents have decided the limits of that capability. They are those limits of repression and persecution in which death is most likely to occur, or where damage would render the people incapable to perform natural tasks in life, such as taking their eyes, or cutting their hands or their legs, or breaking their backs, or paralysing some of their limbs. Therefore, it is not Halal (allowed) for any muslim to leave any duty, or commit any haram unless he has been forced to that extent. But threatening with lashing, or with prison, or being deprived of a job and other such similar things, are not a license for the muslim to leave a duty or to commit haram, because these matters are not outside his capabilfty. This is the duty of Muslims. However, even though it is permitted to stop when those limits have been reached. It is still recommended for the muslim to go to the extent of death. Islam has encouraged the muslim to stand against a Munkar and the people of Munkar even if he sacraices his life, and not only his money and his time for the sake of Allah (SWT). The Prophet (saaws) said,

"The master of the martyrs is Hamza, and the person who stood up to an unjust ruler, and advised him but he killed him"

So Muslims stand up for your duty, may Allah (SWT) give you His mercy. Stand up for your society against the corruption. This can only be done by demolishing the systems and rules of Kufr, the rulers and the heads of Kufr and their helpers, and by taking the power from them and putting it in the hands of the people, who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and who govern by the rule of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (saaws).

O Muslim, the reward of the obedience in this month is great. It is multiples greater than in any other time. And it is one of the best times to work to establish, Insha' Allah, the guided Islamic Khilafah by which Allah (SWT) will honor us with victory over the Jews and those who support the Jews and the Kafir. And by which Allah will lnsha' Allah, unite the Muslims. And by which He will purify our minds, our hearts, and our society from the disease of Kufr that has invaded us. And by which the rules of Allah will return to our lands. And by which the Islamic Ummah returns as a mighty Ummah as Allah (swt) deemed us to be.

"Allah promised those of you who believe and do good deeds that He will make them Khalifahs of the land as He made those before you Khalifahs, and He will establish to them their Deen which He accepted to them, and He will turn their fear into security, on condition that they worship Me and do not associate anything with Me."

Ar-Raya Magazine