islamic quotes of the day and fiqh issues (Page 5) Np19: We are about to witness what we long anticipated, to wit: a Turkish-led NATO attack on Syria to remove the present Syrian regime and replace it, Libyan-style, with another so-called Islamic regime. How else will Israel be able to claim that a ‘rising Islam’ now menaces that country, and that Israel is being surrounded by that menacing Islam and must wage pre-emptive war in order to survive? How else will Israel be able to replace USA as the next ruling State in the world unless she wages great wars – particularly against her Arab neighbors who surround the Zionist State? Turkey’s pro-NATO and hence pro-Zionist Government seems about to commit the ultimate act of foolishness in claiming the shooting-down of a Turkish warplane by Syria as causus bellum that justifies a Turkish military invasion of Syria. Such a Turkish military invasion of Syria would of course, have nothing to do with avenging the loss of an airplane and two pilots. Rather, it would have nothing less than Syrian regime-change as its primary objective. That military adventure would be an act of supreme foolishness for the following reasons: Syria has been on a high alert for some time now expecting external intervention (Libyan-style) in support of a Zionist-engineered armed insurrection that has so far failed to take-over the country. A Turkish warplane that enters into Syrian airspace cannot expect, in such circumstances, to be treated as an innocent intruder. If Russia and China respond to a Turkish military invasion of Syria by coming to the support of that country, that will eventually provoke the Malhama (great war) prophesied by Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). That Malhama will be so great that it will make the first and second world-wars look like a fight over peanuts. The Turkish government should remember that the Prophet (sallalahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) also prophesied that the Malhama or great war will lead to the conquest of Constantinople. It should not take Turkish Muslims long to realize that the 1453 conquest of Constantinople by Sultan Muhammad Fatih had nothing to do with the prophecy. Turkish Muslims will then wake up to the monstrous betrayal of their pro-Zionist government and prepare for the civil war that will fulfill the prophecy. Thus a Turkish military invasion of Syria will eventually lead to Turkish civil war and to the liberation of the city of Constantinople from NATO’s venomous control. Since Russia will inevitably enter in the war in defense of Syria, the Turkish military invasion of that country will lead to yet another prophecy of Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) being fulfilled, to wit: “that you (Muslims) will make an alliance with Rum (pronounced as ‘room’).” Rum in the Qur’an referred to the Eastern Christian Byzantine Empire. But after Constantinople was conquered in 1453, the capital city of Rum eventually became Moscow. This statement is issued to so guide Muslims that they may not be brainwashed by Protestant Islam’s Zionist Jihad, and by the inevitable CNN/Al-Jazeerah-led propaganda barrage that will now inundate mankind  Soniaaa: and what is nicier is that most ppl of the group read his post & encourage him to continue sharing interesting post.. you should do the same my brother (Post deleted by staff ) (Post deleted by Np19 ) (Post deleted by staff ) (Post deleted by Np19 ) (Post deleted by staff ) Np19: Al-Azhari said: "A servant's love for Allah and His Messenger means obeying them and following their command." Al-Baydaawi said: "Love is the will to obey." Ibn 'Arafah said: "Love in the language of Arabs means willing a thing uprightly." Az-Zajjaaj said: "Man's love for Allah and His Messenger is to obey them and to accept what Allah سبحانه وتعالى has commanded and the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم has brought." Allah's love for His servant means forgiveness, acceptance and reward. Al-Baydaawi said: "He loves you and that he will forgive you means, He will be pleased with you." Al-Azhari said: "Love of Allah, for His servant, is His blessing of his servant with forgiveness." He سبحانه وتعالى said: فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ "Allah does not love the disbelievers." [Al-Imraan, 3:32] i.e. He will not forgive them. Sufyan b. 'Unaynah said: "He loves you means, He will be close to you. Love is closeness. Allah does not love the Kafireen means He will not bring the Kafireen close (to Him)." Al-Baghawi said: "Love of Allah for the believers means His commendation, reward and forgiveness for them." Az-Zajjaaj said: "Love of Allah for His Creation means His forgiveness for them and His blessings, mercy, forgiveness and good commendation of them." However what concerns us here is the servant's love for Allah and His Messenger. This love in the above meaning is obligatory. Since love is an inclination (mayl) which shapes the behavioural disposition (nafsiyyah) of man. These inclinations can either be instinctive (ghareezi) having no relationship to a concept, such as man's inclination towards ownership, love for survival, justice, family and children etc. They might also be motives linked to concepts, which then define the type of inclination. The American Indians did not like the immigrants who came from Europe whilst the Ansar loved those who migrated to them. The love of Allah and His Messenger is the type Allah سبحانه وتعالى has linked to a Sharee'ah concept thereby making it obligatory. The evidence for this is the Book of Allah: He سبحانه وتعالى said: وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَنْدَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِلَّهِ "And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else)." [Al-Baqarah, 2:165] It means the believers' love of Allah is more than Mushriks' love to the rivals of Allah. He سبحانه وتعالى said: قُلْ إِنْ كَانَ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَالٌ اقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَارَةٌ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَاكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَجِهَادٍ فِي سَبِيلِهِ فَتَرَبَّصُوا حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَ اللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ "Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you have delight in are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger, and striving hard and fighting in His Cause, then wait until Allah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allah guides not the people who are Al-Fasiqun (the rebellious, disobedient to Allah)." [At-Tawbah, 9:24] As for the evidences from the Sunnah they are the following: Anas (ra) narrated: "That a man asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about the final Hour. He asked: when is the final hour? He said: What have you prepared for it? He said: nothing, but I love Allah and His Messenger. He said: you will be with the one you love. Anas said: nothing made us so overjoyed more than when we heard the Prophet saying you will be with the one you love. Anas said: I love the Prophet, Abu Bakr and 'Umar and I wish to join them because of my love for them even though I have not done as many good deeds as them." (Agreed upon) Anas (ra) narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "There are three things whoever obtains them he will experience the sweetness of belief - that Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anything else; that he loves a man only for the sake of Allah; and that he dislikes the thought of reverting to disbelief as much as he would dislike being cast into the Fire." (Agreed upon) Anas (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "None of you would be considered a believer until I become more beloved to him than his family, wealth and all the people." (Agreed upon). The companions of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم were very much concerned about the application of this duty. They used to compete in attaining this honour hoping that they would be the ones that Allah and His Messenger love. Anas (ra) narrated that on the day of the battle of Uhud: That the people ran away, leaving the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, but Abu- Talha was shielding the Prophet with his shield in front of him. Abu Talha was a strong, experienced archer who used to keep his arrow bow strong and well stretched. On that day he broke two or three arrow bows. If any man passed by carrying a quiver full of arrows, the Prophet would say to him, "Empty it in front of Abu Talha." When the Prophet started looking at the enemy by raising his head, Abu Talha said, "O Allah's Prophet! Let my parents be sacrificed for your sake! Please don't raise your head and make it visible, lest an arrow of the enemy should hit you. Let my neck and chest be wounded instead of yours." (Agreed upon) It was narrated that Qays said: "I saw Talha's hand paralysed, the one which he had protected the Prophet (from an arrow)." (al-Bukhari) In a long hadith narrated by Ka'b b. Malik about the three who stayed behind from the expedition of Tabuk Ka'b he says: "When this period of estrangement lengthened, I set out to walk until I climbed upon the wall of Abu Qatadah's garden. He was my cousin and amongst the most beloved of people to me. I conveyed the greeting upon him, and by Allah he did not reciprocate the greeting upon me. Hence, I said: "O Abu Qatadah: I implore you by Allah, are you aware that I love Allah and His Messenger?" He remained silent. I appealed to him by Allah a second time, however he remained silent. I appealed to him a third time. Then he responded: "Allah and His Messenger (SAWS) know better." Thereupon tears flowed from my eyes, I turned away and climbed over the wall." (Agreed upon) Sahl b. Sa'd narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said on the day of Khaybar: "Qutaybah bin Said informed us, Ya'qoob bin "abder-Rahman informed us from Aby Haazim, he said Sahlu bin Sa'd (r.a) told me that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said on the day of Khayber: I shall give this banner to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger and they (Allah and His Messenger) love him." All the Muslims came forward in the following morning hoping to be granted the honour of carrying the banner. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم called for 'Ali bin Abi Talib. He was told, O Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, his eyes hurt. He said, call for him. He was brought to him, and the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم spat in his eyes and made du'aa' for him, so he was cured as if he had no pain before. Then he handed the banner to him. 'Ali, on his part, pledged he would fight the enemies until they embraced Islam. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered him saying: "Take things easy and invite them to accept Islam and brief them on their duties towards Allah. I swear by Allah that if only one person should be guided at your hands, that would surely outweigh the best of our camels." (Agreed upon) Ibn Hibban reported in his Sahih: "...When Urwah went back to the Quraysh, he said, I have been to the courts of the kings and have seen the splendor of the Caesar and the Chosroes and the Negus. But never have I seen any king being so revered as Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم by his companions. By Allah, had he spat out mucus and it just fell on the hands of one of his companionshe would have rubbed it on his face and skin. When he ordered them with something they rushed to carry it out and if he made ablution they would fight for the used water. When he spoke they lowered their voices and they did not look sharp at him, as sign of reverence to him ..." Muhammad b. Sireen said: "People were reminiscing in the time of Umar (ra) as if they preferred Umar over Abu Bakr. When this news reached Umar b. al-Khattab (ra) he said: By Allah, a night with Abu Bakr is better than the family of 'Umar. The Prophet went out with Abu Bakr towards the Cave of Thawr, Abu Bakr sometimes would go ahead of the Prophet and sometimes behind him. The Prophet saw his uneasiness. He asked Abu Bakr, "O Abu Bakr, What is the matter? Sometimes you are walking behind me and then sometimes you go ahead of me." He replied, "O Messenger of Allah, when I think of the enemies that they might be pursuing you, I walk behind you, but when I think of some ambush I go in front of you." So he said: O Abu Bakr! Do you wish that something happened to you rather than to me? He said, yes, by Him Who sent you with truth, I wish no hardship but occur to me rather than to you. It is also reported that when the two arrived at the cave of Thawr, Abu Bakr requested the Prophet to wait until he had searched and cleaned up the cave. He went in and searched it and came out after cleaning it up. Then he remembered that he had not properly searched one hole. He again requested the Prophet to wait a bit and went in to see it for the second time. After he was fully satisfied that the place was safe and had no harmful insects or reptiles he said: enter o Messenger of Allah. 'Umar said: By the one in whose hands is my soul! That night was better than the family of 'Umar." (Reported by al-Hakim in his al-Mustadrak. He said the isnad is sound according to the condition of the two shaykhs ie. Al-Bukhari and Muslim, even though it is mursal. This mursal is of a type, which is accepted. Anas b. Malik (ra) narrated that: (When the enemy got the upper hand) on the day of the Battle of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was left with only seven men from the Ansar and two men from the Quraysh. When the enemy advanced towards him and overwhelmed him, he said: Whoso turns them away from us will attain Paradise or will be my Companion in Paradise. A man from the Ansar came forward and fought (the enemy) until he was killed. The enemy advanced and overwhelmed him again and he repeated the words: Whoso turns them away, from us will attain Paradise or will be my Companion in Paradise. A man from the Ansar came forward and fought until he was killed. This state continued until the seven Ansar were killed (one after the other). Now, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said to his two Companions: We have not done justice to our Companions.' (Muslim) 'Abdullah b. Hisham said: We were with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم when he took the hand of 'Umar. Umar said: "I love you more than anything except my soul which is between my two sides." The Prophet replied, "None of you will believe until I am dearer to him than his own soul." 'Umar said, "By the One who sent down the Book on you, I love you now more than my soul which is between my two sides." The Prophet said, "'Umar, now you have it!" (al-Bukhari) An-Nawawi reported in his commentary (Sharh) of Sahih Muslim the meaning of loving the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم on the authority of Sulayman al-Khattabi which states: "You will not be true in your love for me until you exhaust yourself in my obedience, until you prefer my pleasure over your whims even if it may lead to your death." Ibn Sireen said: I said to 'Ubaydah: We have some hair of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, which we came to acquire through Anas or the family of Anas (ra). He said: that I should have a strand of hair of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is dearer to me than the world and what it contains.' (al-Bukhari) 'Ayisha narrated: that Abu Bakr (ra) said: 'By the one in whose hand is my soul, maintaining relations with the relatives of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم is more dear to me than maintaining relations with my own relatives.' (al-Bukhari) 'Aiysha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Hind bint 'Utbah came and said: "O Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, there was no family on the surface of the earth, I wish to have degraded more than I did your family. But today there is no family whom I wish to have been honoured more than yours." (Agreed upon) Tariq b. Shihab narrated that he heard Ibn Mas'ud saying: "I witnessed Al-Miqdad b. Al-Aswad in an event, which would have been dearer to me than anything had I been the hero of that scene. He (i.e. Al-Miqdad) came to the Prophet while the Prophet was imploring Allah's anger against the pagans. Al-Miqdad said, "We will not say as the People of Moses said: Go you and your Lord and fight you two." [Al-Maa'idah:27]. But we shall fight on your right and on your left and in front of you and behind you." I saw the face of the Prophet getting bright with happiness, for that saying delighted him." (al-Bukhari) 'Aay'ish narrated that Sa'd said: "O Allah! You know that there is nothing more beloved to me than to fight in Your Cause against those who disbelieved Your Messenger and turned him out of (Makkah)". (Agreed upon) Abu Hurayrah (ra) narrated that Thumamah b. Uthal said: "O Muhammad. By Allah There was not a face more hated to me than your face but your face has become the most beloved. By Allah! There was no Deen more hated to me than your Deen but your Deen has become the most beloved to me. By Allah! There was no country more hated to me than your country Np19: Over the past few days, we have witnessed yet another act of uncalled provocation and repulsive assault on what Muslims hold dear – the final Messenger of Allah, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. The reaction from Muslims, as expected, has been one of utter disgust, anger and frustration. From Indonesia and Bangladesh, North Africa and Middle East to Europe, Muslims have protested against this latest caricature and distasteful depiction of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. The film, 'Innocence of Muslims', essentially depicts Islam as a religion of violence and hate and Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم as sexually perverse, a blood thirsty and power hungry man. It dishonours Khadija (ra) and further depicts the beloved Companions of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم as savage killers, hungry for wealth and bent on killing women and children. Such repulsive portrayal of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and his Companions has outraged even many non-Muslims, who condemned this film. There are, ironically, a minority of Muslims who, predominantly due to vested interests and infatuation with their liberal masters, have chosen to condemn the protesters for protesting against this film. One such comment said, "How can we expect non-Muslims to believe that Islam is a religion of peace, when Muslim mobs around the world make liars of us all, Muhammad included?" Such self-hating Muslims fail to address the real issues at hand and instead turn the table against the victims rather than the perpetrators. This article explores the real motives behind this type of gratuitous attacks on Islam and its sensitivities. It examines the historic context of Western cultural aggression against Islam and how it has evolved into the 21st century. Finally, it concludes by explaining what practical actions Muslims should undertake in the face of such provocation, which has become all too common these days. The 'War on Terror' (aka War against Islam) This film should not be viewed in isolation to the West's war against Islam, which has manifested in the past decade differently across the world, namely, as military invasion, e.g. in Iraq and Afghanistan; as proxy war, e.g. in Somalia and Sudan; as diplomatic and economic aggression, e.g. in Iran and as intellectual and cultural aggression, e.g. in the West against their own populations. Although the history of Western attacks did not begin with 9/11, the intellectual and cultural aggression has intensified in the past decade and the West's bigotry against Islam has become ever more apparent, as though there is now a competition amongst the 'Islam-bashers' about who could win the trophy for being most daring and vociferous in their hateful anti-Islamic inventions. Just to name a few, the Danish cartoon caricatures of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم were published in 2006, followed in 2010 by a Florida preacher, Terry Jones, who called for the burning of the Quran on the ninth anniversary of 9/11, and in February 2012, US soldiers at Bagram prison in Afghanistan burned 315 copies of the Quran and other religious materials. All of these had similarly outraged Muslims around the globe. Western sponsored demonization Since the release of Innocence of Muslims, American politicians have made token gestures, supposedly condemning the filmmakers. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the film which gave rise to the protests as "disgusting" and "reprehensible". As though the US was granting a favour towards Muslims, the White House merely "asked" YouTube to "consider" whether the film breaches its own guidelines but Google, which owns YouTube, said in a statement that the video was "clearly within our guidelines and so will stay on YouTube". Yet, Muslims perceive such hollow statements as meaningless, especially when viewed in the context of the West's aggressive history vis-à-vis Islam. Whether or not directly sponsored by Western states, such provocative misadventures by Western groups or individuals are far from autonomous acts. Clearly, such perpetrators receive tacit support and ideological encouragement to carry out these provocative deeds. Bred on a daily diet of hatred and propaganda that seek to malign Islam and Muslims, there is no doubt in the minds of Muslims that these perpetrators are sponsored by the West directly or indirectly. Allah سبحانه وتعالى says, قَدْ بَدَتِ الْبَغْضَاءُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِي صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ "Hatred has appeared out of their mouths, but what their breasts hide is far worse." [Surah Al-Imran, 3:118] The West's history of bigotry and vilification A cursory examination of the history of the West demonstrates that hatred towards Islam has been propagated for centuries. Although historically the Anglo-French colonialists had spearheaded the West's attacks against Islam, this agenda was adopted by the US since the Second World War and today the US acts towards Islam just as her colonial predecessors did. Much of today's discourse in the West vis-à-vis Islam has been shaped by the Orientalist tradition. Professor Edward Said (deceased) explored the depth of Western hatred towards the East, and Islam in particular, in some of his renowned books. This Orientalist tradition perceives and portrays Islam as a primitive and barbaric civilisation, which required subjugation and control. "Orientalism was itself a product of certain political forces and activities. Orientalism is a school of interpretation whose material happens to be the Orient [i.e. the East] its Civilisations, peoples, and localities". [Edward Said, Orientalism, 2003, Penguin Books, p-203] The West's vilification is partly motivated by Islam's formidable challenge to the West's capitalist hegemony and partly by Islam's non-Christian roots. Hence, the West is trigger happy to depict Islam as the villain. In the context of the Orientalist intellectual discourse, "It is therefore correct that every European, in what he could say about the Orient, was consequently a racist, an imperialist and most totally ethnocentric... As a cultural apparatus Orientalism is all aggression, activity, judgment, will-to-truth and knowledge". [Said, Orientalism, p-204] Insofar as the West was concerned, the East, and the Muslim world in particular, was a place of barbarity and backwardness. The Whiteman had a sense of duty and mission to civilise such people and in the case of the Ottoman state, the Whiteman had a civilising program. "Since the Oriental was a member of a subject race, he had to be subjected: it was that simple". [Said, Orientalism, p-207] In much of Western academic and intellectual discourse, there was a consensus that certain types of biased views, statements and comments regarding the East were correct and acceptable. As Said stated, "For most of the Middle Ages and during the early part of the Renaissance in Europe, Islam was believed to be a demonic religion of apostasy, blasphemy and obscurity ... Muhammad was a false prophet, a sower of discord, a sensualist, a hypocrite, an agent of devil". [Edward Said, Covering Islam, 1997, Vintage, p-5] Islam's challenge to the West meant that the West, instead of understanding Islam and its message, consistently demonised it. As far as the West is concerned, "Other civilisations of the East – India and China among them – could be thought of as defeated and distant and hence not a constant worry. Only Islam seemed never to have submitted completely to the West". [Said, Covering Islam, p-5] Such perceptions, coupled with the West's relentless search for external threats, make Islam the perfect enemy. The West has been facing socio-political and economic crises in the recent past, as exemplified by the current financial meltdown. Professor Noam Chomsky asserts that in the face of such domestic calamities, "You've got to divert the bewildered herd, because if they start noticing this, they may not like it, since they are the ones suffering from it. Just having them watch the Superbowl and the sitcoms may not be enough ... Over the last ten years, every year or two, some major monster is constructed that we have to defend ourselves against. There used to be one that was always readily available". [Noam Chomsky, Media Control, 2002, Seven Stories Press, p-43] Therefore, observers of today's Western vilification ought to take into account the above historical context to appreciate why the West demonises Islam. The West cannot deal with Islam intellectually and hence resorts to slander and vilification. Demonising Islam today helps the West to perpetuate its age-old enmity towards Islam whilst deflecting attention from its domestic woes and systemic breakdown. Freedom of speech – a familiar tale of duplicity The oft repeated mantra of free speech has been deployed to explain why Westerners are free to abuse and insult what others may hold dear. Just as liberals have become accustomed to ridiculing Christian symbols and characters, which Christianity now silently endures, such fanatic secularists expect the same response from Muslims when they abuse Islam. However, the West does not apply the same standard of free speech when it comes to its own sensitivities. Let us examine two contemporary examples, which occurred this week. Topless pictures of Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, have been printed in a number of European magazines and newspapers. The British Royal family adopted a hard-line stance, condemning such publishers and threatening them with legal action. On this occasion, freedom of expression vanished into thin air! No doubt, the publisher will be pursued in the courts shortly. Similarly, it was reported by the BBC that a Muslim teenager from West Yorkshire, Azhar Ahmed, was convicted this week for making "offensive remarks" about British soldiers in Afghanistan. The judge said his comments were "derogatory" and "inflammatory". Once again, free speech could not protect Ahmed and the prosecutors did not afford Ahmed the same right to free speech. Both of these examples demonstrate that freedom of expression is a convenient instrument the West deploys as and when necessary to achieve political aims. It is clear that every nation has sensitivities and redlines, upon which limits are imposed to protect such redlines. Alas, the West preaches to Muslims that which it does not practise at home! The collusion of the rulers of the Muslim world Whenever there is an unprovoked aggression against Islam and the Muslims, it is now an established practice that there is a stark contrast in reactions between the Muslim masses and their rulers, whether democrats or dictators. Whilst Muslims protest tirelessly, their rulers continue to wine and dine with Western leaders in a 'business as usual' like manner. In this present uproar, not a single ruler has sincerely taken any steps to repel the current wave of aggression against Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. The president of Egypt, Muhammad Mursi, the so-called 'Islamist revolutionary', merely paid leap service by condemning this film. His prime minister, Hisham Qandil, said it was "unacceptable to insult our Prophet". However, far from taking any positive action or severing diplomatic relations, Hisham Qandil said, the link between the US and Egypt was "a relationship that we need to make stronger based on mutual interests and respect for sovereignty". Such comments from the rulers highlight the spineless nature of these rulers whose stance towards their colonial masters is a stark contrast to the masses who demand positive action. Little wonder that Muslims the world over feel that nobody represents their opinions. Our response It is evident that there is a historical context in which the present assault against Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is taking place. It is further evident that the West applies duplicitous standards when it comes to their own sensitivities. However, we need to respond intellectually to these attacks whilst bearing in mind the following: 1. Islam is the truth and its intellectual strength has endured for centuries and will continue to do so. All manmade values are based on falsehood, destined to vanish. Allah سبحانه وتعالى says, بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ ۚ وَلَكُمُ الْوَيْلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ "Rather We hurl the truth against falsehood and it cuts right through it and it vanishes clean away!" [Surah Anbiya, 21:18] 2. We must not compromise in our deen, as Allah سبحانه وتعالى warns us. وَدُّوا لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُوا فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَاءً "They would like you to be kafir as they are kafir so that you will all be the same." [Surah Nisa, 4:89] 3. Islam does not permit the destruction of property. We must continue to uphold the truth of Islam and promote its sublime values and message. However, our approach has to be candid, uncompromising and intelligent, just as Allah سبحانه وتعالى ordained for us, ادْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَادِلْهُمْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ "Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair admonition, and argue with them in the kindest way." [Surah An-Nahl, 16:125] 4. Western gratuitous aggression fuelled by malice against Islam, our Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, his family members and Companions and the Quran is not tolerable. Whilst Muslims welcome sincere debate on all aspects of Islam, insincere assaults cannot be tolerated. 5. The West continues to prosecute wars in the Muslim world in the name of freedom and democracy. We need to absolutely reject such disgusting values which permit assaults on people's sensitivities. Moreover, we must reject those values which allow double standards. 6. The real criminals are the rulers of the Muslim world who are in collusion with their Western colonial masters. These rulers have sold Allah and His Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم decades ago and have no desire in upholding the deen of Islam. Moreover, they do not share the sentiments of the Muslim masses and only represent the Westernised elites. 7. As long as manmade systems prevail in the Muslim world, whether in the guise of "Islamic" democrats or secular dictators, Allah and His Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would not be protected and Muslims and Islam will continue to be violated. 8. It is only a sincere Islamic leadership manifested through the Khilafah that can protect Islam and Muslims against repeated military and cultural aggression by the West. We must work for this cause and re-establish the Khilafah in the Muslim world. Np19: Narrated by Anas bin Malik. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Nobody who dies and finds good from Allah (in the Hereafter) would wish to come back to this world even if he were given the whole world and whatever is in it, except the martyr who, on seeing the superiority of martyrdom, would like to come back to the world and get killed again (in Allah's Cause)." Narrated Anas: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "A single endeavour (of fighting) in Allah's Cause in the afternoon or in the forenoon is better than all the world and whatever is in it. A place in Paradise as small as the bow or lash of one of you is better than all the world and whatever is in it. And if a houri from Paradise appeared to the people of the earth, she would fill the space between Heaven and the Earth with light and pleasant scent and her head cover is better than the world and whatever is in it." Sahih Bukhari (Post deleted by Np19 ) |