The correct political activism for Muslims in the West


".....WHY POLITICS IS INSEPARABLE FROM ISLAM

There are still some who argue that religion and politics should not mix, that religion is for the individual and should therefore not be imposed into society. However dig a bit deeper and the individuals who advocate ‘secularism’ (the detachment of religion from life) as a political doctrine have no problem imposing their rule over everyone else irregardless of whether the person is secular or not.

What is also not fully understood by Muslims and Non-Muslims alike is that Politics can not be stripped from the Islamic belief, it is inherent within the Islamic ideology that it came to solve all problems and came to address the people’s affairs. Bukhari narrated from Ibn Umar: The Prophet (salAllahu alaihi wasallam) said; “The Imam is in charge and he is responsible for his citizens”. Consequently there is no separation of the spiritual and the temporal within Islam, there is no separation of religion from politics or economics or foreign policy. Consequently the Islamic ideology by its nature cannot co-exists alongside other ideologies such as communism or capitalism within the same society, Muslims may live in these societies but will find that their key political values will inevitably clash with the political culture of the host society e.g. Muslims belief that the source of legislation emanates exclusively from the creator completely contradicts with liberal capitalism’s view that man is the source of legislation The Qur’an in Surah Ma’idah where Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) says...."

..CAN A MUSLIM ADOPT WESTERN POLITICAL VALUES?

The simple answer to this is no. Muslims have a unique political culture as can be seen from the Prophet’s life as a ruler in Medina and his successors who all governed as political leaders. Therefore the clear criteria for any action we as Muslims do whether it is in prayer, hajj, or politics is to find the divine rule.

The lamentable position today is that Muslims for a variety of reasons (ignorance, personal benefit, fear of losing face, cowardice, dazzled by western civilisation) have adopted western political values without asking for any Islamic evidence. So joining of any political parties is encouraged, despite their manifestos and constitutions violating the Islamic aqeedah, voting for MP’s is propagated, and standing for election is obviously the pinnacle.

The results of Muslim attempts to participate in British politics are clear, despite decades of Muslims being present in this country; we have mastered all of two MP’s. At the current rate of two new MP’s at each election we should have a comfortable majority in the House of Commons by the 27th century. ...""

ISLAMIC ACTIVISM IN THE WEST - SOME KEY POINTS

So what should Muslims do in the West? Muslims by the grace of Allah constitute many within the Western world; they have significant opportunities to engage in many activities, which are within the Islamic Shari’ah.

1. We are all aware that Islam provides the only plausible alternative to Western capitalism, Western societies are now characterised by so much corruption in every sector of society and public life that it is the ideal time to present Islam as a comprehensive ideology. This requires all of us to contact western thinkers, intellectuals, think tanks and influentials so that the Islamic ideas in politics, economics, within the social system or judiciary are presented to them as the comprehensive solution for the many problems mankind faces today. This should be done in an intellectual manner with a firm and composed style i.e. with wisdom (hikmah) and beautiful speech (maw’izah hasanah). We should not underestimate the powerful effect the propagation of the Islamic thought will have amongst these people, who at present see nothing beyond the system they have. Muslims wherever they are should therefore not be satisfied with simply satisfying their own interests but must be ambassadors of Islam abiding in their own lives by the Shari’ah as well as carrying Islam to others around them. Indeed this is how Islam spread to places like Indonesia; Muslims went there and propagated Islam unapologetically obviously refusing to integrate within the host Indonesian society. Compare that approach to what we see today from those who demand integration for the Muslims living here.

2. As Muslims living here, we should not forget that we are linked to the global Islamic Ummah by our 'aqeedah. The Prophet (salAllahu alaihi wasallam) said; "The Muslims are like one body, when one of its limbs hurts the entire body responds to that part with sleeplessness and fever"

This requires us to constantly raise the oppression that Muslims face all around the world as well as highlighting the oppression that all people including non-Muslims, face as a result of global capitalism. It is imperative Muslims in Britain help their brothers and sisters in the Islamic world in any actions that will help facilitate the replacement of the corrupt oppressive governments in the Muslim world with the Islamic state, the Khilafah. Muslims should not feel intimidated in calling for the Khilafah or raising the issue of oppression and colonialism, as it is their duty to do so. Muslims should not fear a loss of funding from these governments as calling them to account is a divine duty and Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) is the one who is the real source of our rizq. Also Muslims should be aware that judgements and solutions with respect to the oppression in Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq or Africa should be made using the Islamic Shari’ah and not from values such as human rights, international law or UN resolutions. This is because these values are the very same that have caused thee problems in the first place and they have no place in the Muslim’s political vocabulary.

3. In terms of human resources, Muslims constitute many skills and professions living in the West. We need to use this talent whether it is in finance, law, science, journalism, photography or IT to not just help ourselves but to strengthen the Muslims as a whole. We should prepare ourselves not just to study these topics for our material advancement but also to use them to help Muslims achieve their political objectives in the Islamic world as well as in the west. At the moment our skills base is so dissipated and disparate, that we lose political and ideological leverage. Today’s Muslim professionals should see their skills as powerful vehicles to understand, promote and carry the Islamic ideology to Western professionals as well as providing the brains, research and skills base for the future Islamic state.

These are just some of the alternatives that Muslims can turn to and this is in many ways a full time agenda if done diligently. All these actions are consistent with the Islamic Shari’ah and should be acted upon instead of participating in the democratic system, ruling and other prohibited areas like taking out membership of non-Muslim political parties. ...""

Sajjad Khan


Source: Khilafah Magazine September 2003 Edition

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