Islamically Speaking Newsletter Vol. 2

10 Sha’ban 1430 A.H. (31July 2009)

ISLAMICALLYSPEAKING...

Vol 02 1- Practical Steps for Youth to change 2- Calling for Democracy. 3Nationalism and Islam

Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem AsSalamu Alaykum

Dear Brothers and Sisters, peace be with you, we hope you are well, and we are happy to present to you the second volume of “Islamically Speaking”, a newsletter aimed at the youth of the Muslim Ummah. This volume we have more advice for the Muslim youth, so that they may be able to change themselves into the much needed, righteous Muslims of today. We also have advice for the Muslims regarding a haraam type of political system, Democracy, there is a case study of a group of Somali Brothers and Sisters from The Islah Movement that we will use to demonstrate the ills of The Democratic System. Finally, there is a commentary on Nationalism and the Islamic viewpoint towards this widespread problem. We hope you enjoy this second volume, JazakAllah khayr.

EDUCATINGYOURSELF ABOUTISLAM

1 ) E D U C A T I N G YOURSELF ABOUT ISLAM The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.” [Ibn Majah] We need to believe with full conviction and understand how we can prove that Allah exists and that the Qur’an is the Word of Allah (SWT) .We have to also know about the Shari’ah rules and our duties in life. All over Britain and there are many Islamic da’wa carriers, brothers and sisters, who are available to practically help you develop Islamic personalities. Islam is a deen of collectiveness and helping each other - therefore as Muslims we must seek help when we need it.

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2) LINKING OUR ACTIONS TO THE CONSEQUENCES IN THE AKHIRAH (HEREAFTER) A Muslim must link his actions directly to the consequences, the rewards and

3) BEING IN A GOOD ENVIRONMENT Remaining in a correct atmosphere is vital for a Muslim to be able to avoid the temptations that the Shaytan puts forward. The type of corrupt atmosphere that exists amongst some of the youth

punishments in the hereafter. He should visualise these when even thinking about performing any prohibited action; this consciousness of Allah and the afterlife should be a shield to protect us from sin and should encourage us to earn reward. If we are tempted by intoxicants such as alcohol or drugs whether in large or small quantities, we should be warned

today is very decadent and is dominated by drugs, alcohol, lewd music and free mixing with the opposite sex. Often what is discussed is related to the opposite sex, haraam music, television, movies, computer games and the like. It is very rare that serious discussions about life take place.

4) V A L U I N G Messenger of Allah who said, “Value five things YOUR YOUTH Whilst we are young we have the potential to follow Islam by advancing our understanding and carrying Islam to others. Youth doesn’t last forever so we must make good use of it before it is gone. We have to ensure that we follow the footsteps of the great Muslim youth of the past who used t o b e l e a d e r s o f h u m a n i t y. Remember the words of the

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by the words of the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah also said, “An intoxicant is the mother of all vices. Whosoever drinks it; his prayers will not be accepted (by Allah) for forty days. If he died and there is wine in his stomach, he has died the death of Jahilliyah (ignorance).”

before five other things: Youth before old age; health before sickness; affluence before poverty; leisure before becoming too busy; and life before death.” [Tirmidhi]

Abu Musa narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “The example of a good companion in comparison with a bad one, is I like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith’s bellows (or furnace); from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either burn your

10 Sha’ban 1430 A.H. (31July 2009)

CallingFor Democracy Norway’s Oslo University, Abdurahman Abdullahi Baadiyow (one of the Somali Islah movement leaders) said: “Democracy is a western terminology; nevertheless, in its essence as a process is no different from the Islamic concept of consultation (Shura).” He further explains Democracy as follows: “Democracy in its ideal form is like pure water that does not have a shape and colour; however, takes the shape and colour of its container. Likewise, democracy takes the colour and the shape of the society in which it is applied. Therefore, democracy exists in different forms corresponding to the will and the choice of the different people. ... Western democracy is not unique; it is necessarily secular and takes a colour and shape in accordance with the western society’s culture, values and belief system. On the other hand, democracy in Muslim societies has to abide with the Islamic values, and culture of the people.” This, unfortunately, is a typical Ikhwani statement in support of the rotten theory of Democracy. First let us dispel the idea that somehow Democracy and Shura are two sides of the same coin. In a literal sense, Shura means consultation. In a political sense, Shura is the Islamic model of a council of advisors to a Khalifa. Period. They have no authority over the Khalifa, they do not share power with the Khalifa and they definitely do not run the state in the place of the Khalifa. Democracy on the other hand comes in two forms, direct democracy where every individual in a state has a say in every matter the state legislates or representative democracy where every individual in the state votes for a representative who then votes for what the state legislates (parliamentary democracy). Thus the first striking difference between shura and Democracy is where the authority lies. Shura has no authoritative power but only advisory, in a democracy the parliament has legislative power. Thus how foolish Mr. Baadiyow looks calling for shura without a Khalifa! An advisory council to whom? To do what? To sit and advise the criminal Ethiopian government most likely. Or maybe they aim to make the “advisory” council run the country, in which case it is no longer a Shura nor is it an Islamic Government

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but some nonsense made up and blindly copied from The West. The second difference between the two is touched on by Mr. Baadiyow himself in the second quote. The only problem with Mr Baadiyow’s interpretation is that there are no different democracies for different people. There are only different stages in the maturity of democracy – but all democracies will eventually turn into the same Western Secular model. Mr. Baadiyow says that in the West, democracy is “necessarily secular”. What does that mean? Why is Europe necessarily secular? Has Europe always been secular? Were the European people born liberal? Certainly not! Europe went through a period of extreme religious fundamentalism. They were intolerant, aggressive and blind followers of Christian theocracy and tyranny. But then the reformation hit the church and the renaissance started in Italy. Next thing you know European rulers started distancing themselves from the Papal authority (as in France, England, Italian regions, etc). Different countries started implementing more liberal rules and laws and until the Christian fundamentalist west gradually turned into the liberal secular west that we know today. They were not born secular. They were not born liberal. They were not born in the same image we see them today. They did, however, take the first step of implementing a form of Democracy that was acceptable to them at the time and this gradually evolved into what we see today. What Islah is too blind to see is that their implementation of their “Islamic Democracy” is the first step to turn Somali society and people into an image of the people of London. Maybe in ten years, maybe in twenty years, but this is how man-made laws work. They are not stable and their results are hardly foreseeable. And if indeed the Islah are after Shariah, then why are they too embarrassed from Islam to just say “Shura” and “Shariah”? Why do they have to hide behind words like “Democracy” and “Parliament”? Words that have – let’s be clear about it, Kufr meanings that should never be implemented in the Muslim world. Whatever definitions and mutations the Islah and their likes try to fit to these words, their purpose is clear to everyone. Why go through the trouble of saying what Mr. Baadiyow said above when he could have simply said “Shariah” and “Shura”? If it is indeed “Shariah” and “Shura” that Islah wants, then surely The Islamic Khilafah State that implemented The Shariah over an entire populace is what they should call for, and not some

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The Shariah and the Shura is what we want and it is want the Somali people want. Those two words have a clear definition in source, in word and in practice. There is no fear for the Muslims to fall into the trap of calling for Kufr systems. There is, however, a fear for Muslims to fall into the trap of calling for Kufr systems they are lead to believe is Islamic just because the word “Islamic” is placed in front of it. We heard of “Islamic Liberalism”, which would compromise The Shariah by moulding Islam to Western culture, one of crime, corruption, drugs, alcohol etc. We also heard of “Islamic Socialism”, which goes under another name: “Ba’athism”. This is the ideology of Saddam Hussein, who was known to be a dictator, and Basher “al Asad” who, like Saddam, imprisons, tortures and murders those who oppose him politically. And now of course, today we’re hearing of “Islamic democracy”. Brothers and Sisters, whenever you hear a someone calling for such a thing, then you should know that he calls for it either out ignorance, and you should kindly guide him. Brother and Sisters, also beware of someone in the White House or 10 Downing Street who work the same thing, to make Muslims imitate and adopt that which does not conform to Islam. Democracy states that men are the people who legislate, they are the ones who make the law. But is the law not for Allah (SWT) to make? Has he not prescribed The Shariah for us to live by?

The Prophet (saaws) said: "You will imitate the nations before you very closely to the extent that if they went into a lizard's hole, you would enter it as well.” His companions inquired: “(Do you mean) the Jews and Christians, O Messenger of Allah?” He (saaws) replied: "Who else?” (Bukhari & Muslim).

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Nationalism&Islam

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Quran) and be not divided among yourselves.” [Quran 3:103]

Are you Pakistani, British, or French? Can you be more then one? Why is it that we carry these labels? What does it mean to say that you are British? A better question would be, are these labels even valid? When we look at the world today, we see it divided into many different countries. Each of these countries is regarded as having its own nationality. Its identity was established through self-determination. People with common ethnic or cultural origins fought with others to establish this sense of identity to make it the prevailing identity. This need to govern is there simply because men have needs which need to be organized and their perceived collective identity is something that they value, and therefore bond on. We need to eat, to sleep, to be housed, educated, clothed and have a variety of social interactions. We need to do these things such a way that we can satisfy them, because of course, failing to do any of these things, would be a failure to live. Furthermore, getting people

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to believe that they belong to a particular nation, and that they have a vested interest in supporting it, keeps the nation itself alive. In this way, appealing to people’s sense of “nationhood” has helped the nation as a whole to survive. Its was Adolph Hitler's hatred for other nations that pushed him to war, and Churchill's own bigoted national pride for his own that pushed him to defend his country. As Muslims, we are required by Allah SWT to regard ourselves as part of one Ummah, regardless of our geographical/ethnic origin: “The Muslims are like one man, if his eye complains (from an ailment) then his whole body complains, and if his head complains his whole body complains.” [Muslim] Futhermore, there is the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): “And truly this Ummah of yours is a single Ummah, and I am your Lord so have taqwa (piety).” [Al-Muminoon: 52]

10 SHA’BAN 1430 A.H. (31JULY 2009)

3 Sovereignty Something which runs in common with every nation state, is the idea that it holds its own sovereignty. This means that in some way, the people, or the government holds the right to create law, irrespective of what Allah SWT has said on a matter. As Muslims, we know that it is Allah SWT that is the creator of all law, and that in fact, we become better Muslims by obeying him: “O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in authority; and if ye

have a dispute concerning any matter, refer it to Allah and the messenger if ye are (in truth) believers in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more seemly in the end.” [An-Nisa: 58] With this in mind, we should be mindful to care for and work with our dear brothers in Islam, regardless of their ethnic origin and our insignificant cultural differences. It is by coming together as Muslims with sincerity in our hearts that we can please Allah SWT. There will be more on the cancer of Nationalism (or in Arabic Asabiyyah) in a future volume, Insha’Allah.

Farewell Message: Jazakallah khayr for reading, we hope you will invest more time in the future to read coming volumes, Insha’Allah. We also wish to remind you of two other services, courtesy of The Shahadah Da’wah Team, firstly, there is a tuition service being organized, which will include lessons in English, History, Arabic, I.T and more. Secondly, there is a camping trip to Epping Park, which will be from the 9th – 11th of August, this will include a treasure hunt, among other things, we hope you can come. Until next time, As salaam alaykum wa rahmatullah!

As salaam alaykum wa rahmatullah

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