Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

one of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Burhan,

May you keep up the good work that you are doing by educating everyone in

the right path of Islam. I have a question for you which is causing me great concern all the time. As you know I am in England and due to the recent events of Sept 11th I wake up everyday and pray that the muslims in Afghanistan are not bombed or killed today. Every evening I go to bed praying that tommorrow there will be a resolution to the divisions between Islam amd the West and no more bombings will occur of innocent lives.

I know these are difficult times and Allah rewards patience but when I see the bombing of Afgahnis, Taliban, whomever I am deeply saddened that the only way I can help them is by monetary aid, however I feel that all muslims have now dissociated themselves and created a division amongst muslims with what the West says is terrorism. What does one do in a situation like this, especially living in the West the muslims have diassociated themselves from Afgahanistan. Are we in Jihad? The Quran and Sunnah talk about Haq to be practised at all times, in a complicated situation like this when we know that Western policies totally question the existence of Islam, unless we are secular so what do we do? I am not sure how long one can keep quiet and how can we follow the practice of the Prophet Muhammed (SAW) in these confusing times. Everyone is confused, no one speaks out about innocent lives being lost openly because that means we are siding with Islam and every one does not practice the real Haq that is mentioned in the Quran. I have listened to lots of important Islamic scholars and really there is a big division between what the people see as justice and what the Imams are saying?What does one do according to Quran and Sunnah in a situation like this? Also how can we bridge the gap between Islam and the West?

Your concerned brother in Islam.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Bridge gap between Islam and west

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Firstly, let us outline the principles and guidance of Islam in these trying times.

All, who truly believe in Allah and the Last Day, must at all times, obey and follow Allah and His Messenger (saws); no matter how much the disbelievers may hate it.

As believers, we are commanded by Allah and His Messenger to always stand up for Truth and Justice; no matter what the consequences.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 135:O you have believed! You be the standard-bearers of justice and witnesses for the sake of Allah; even though your justice and your evidence might be harmful to yourselves, or to your parents, or to your relatives. It does not matter whether the party concerned is rich or poor: Allah is their greater well-wisher than you. Therefore, do not follow your own desire lest you should deviate from doing justice. If you distort your evidence or refrain from the Truth, know it well that Allah is fully aware of what you do.

The Super Powers of the world have combined together and have declared a war against Islam in the name of ‘terror’. They have used the guise and excuse of the Sep-11 attacks in the USA, to unleash their aggression and oppression on one of the poorest nations of the world! They have justified their war and attacked a sovereign and innocent people in the guise of bringing their form of justice on one suspected individual, for which they have produced no concrete proof or evidence. For any fair-minded and righteous individual, whether he is a believer or not, this is manifest wrong, injustice, aggression and oppression! And we must do all in our power to resist this oppression against the innocent people of Afghanistan.

What happened in the USA on Sep-11 was undoubtedly wrong, and every righteous person, including all muslim scholars have condemned this attack against civilians. But what is happening now in the guise of that incident is far worse! Thousands of absolutely innocent people are being killed; millions have been made homeless; millions have been forced to flee their houses and their lands and become refugees; millions will die from starvation and cold…. And all this is done in the excuse of bringing justice to one individual who has been suspected (not convicted) of the said crime!

Let there be no confusion in anyone’s mind. What happened on Sep-11 was the work of one group of terrorists, and it is undoubtedly wrong. But the war that is happening now is the terror being done by Government States against an innocent people. And State Terrorism is always greater and more devastating than individual terrorism, although both are wrong and unjustified!

Your Question: Are we in Jihad?

Yes! It is the duty of every muslim to strive (do jihad) in the Cause of Allah. These are the opportunities that Allah blesses the believers with; and whoever takes this opportunity to barter his paltry worldly life for the life of the Hereafter, is the one who is successful. Whoever stands by and watches passively, and justifies this aggression against the innocent believers, will have nothing but regrets on an Inevitable Day.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verses 74-76:Those alone, who barter away this worldly life for that of the Hereafter, should fight in the Way of Allah. Then We will bestow a great reward upon him who fights in the way of Allah, whether he be slain, or be victorious. Why should you, then, not fight in the way of Allah for the sake of those helpless men, women, and children; who, being weak, have been oppressed and are crying out, “O our Lord, deliver us from this habitation whose inhabitants are unjust oppressors, and raise a protector for us by Thy Grace, and a helper from Thyself”. Those who follow the way of Faith, fight in the way of Allah, and those who follow the way of disbelief, fight in the way of evil. So fight against the helpers of Shaitaan with this conviction that Shaitaan’s crafty schemes are in fact very weak.

The Messenger of Allah said in an authentic narration: The likeness of the Muslim Ummah is like the human body. If one part of the body is hurt, the whole body feels the pain.

Thus, it is the duty of every muslim, who truly believes in Allah and the Last Day, to feel and share the pain of his innocent brethren who are being persecuted and oppressed by the war-mongers. It is the duty of every muslim to help his brethren in any and all ways, according to his capacity. If any muslim does not feel pain and is siding and assisting the aggressors in any way, then he should take check of his ‘imaan’, and prepare to face a severe accounting in the Just Court of Allah on an inevitable Day.

Your Question: I have listened to lots of important Islamic scholars and really there is a big division between what the people see as justice and what the Imams are saying?

The Quran is one, and the Sunnah of the Messenger (saws) is established; therefore the decision should be one. In my personal opinion, there is absolutely no difference of opinion in any of the good and righteous Islamic scholars. They have unanimously condemned the Sep-11 attacks on USA, and they have severely condemned the war against Afghanistan!

Justice is only justice if done according to the laws and guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws). If someone uses man-made laws to enforce his form justice, then it becomes oppression and aggression!

Your Question: What does one do according to Quran and Sunnah in a situation like this?

It is the duty of every believer, who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, to stand on the side of the Truth and Justice. Islam is absolutely against all forms of tyranny and oppression, and it is the duty of every believer to stand with the victims.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said in an authentic narration: Whoever amongst you (the believers) sees an evil and can stop it with his hands, must do so. If he cannot do that, then he must try to stop it with his tongue (speech). And if he is unable to do even that, then at least in his heart he must bear witness that it is evil; and that is the weakest of faith.

There are many ways to strive in the Cause of Allah. If you are able and willing to fight against the oppression and help the victims, you must do so. If you unable to do that, then use your power of speech and script to make the world aware of the oppression against the innocent victims. If you are unable to do that, then at least let your heart feel pain and bear witness that this oppression is evil. It is the duty of every believer to help the innocent victims of Afghanistan in any which way he can. If Allah has blessed him with His Bounty, then spend in the Way of Allah. If Allah has blessed him with eloquence in speech and/or script, then work in the Way of Allah. And at all times, with all humility and piety, constantly supplicate Allah to help the victims against the oppressors, and grant them victory over the disbelievers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 33:He is Allah, Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the Right Way so that He may make it prevail over all the other ‘deens’, even though the pagans be much opposed to it.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 8 Surah Anfal verse 30:They plot and they plan, and Allah plots and plans! And Allah is indeed the Best of Planners!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verse 175:It is Shaitaan who is frightening the people with the fear of his patrons. Therefore, in future, do not fear them, but fear Me (Allah), if you are indeed true Believers!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Fussilat (Ha Mim Sajdah) verses 30-32:Those who said, ‘Allah is our Lord’, and then stood steadfast, angels descend on them and say, ‘Fear not nor grieve, and rejoice in the good news of Paradise that has been promised to you: we are your companions in the life of this world, and also in the Hereafter. There you will have whatever you desire, and whatever you ask for will be yours! An entertainment from the One, Who is All Forgiving, All Merciful.’

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 58 Surah Mujadalah verse 22:They (the believers) are of the party of Allah. Truly it is the Party of Allah which will achieve True Success.

There is no strength and power, except Allah Subhanah, and Allah suffices as a Reckoner.

Your Question: Also how can we bridge the gap between Islam and the West?
Allah has not made it our duty to bridge the gap between Islam and the West. Islam is not against Western and any other Ideology; it the West which is against the Islamic Ideology, and it is they who have waged an unjustified war against Islam and the innocent muslim people of Afghanistan! Our duty is not to please the West or the Super Powers of the world; our duty is to do deeds that are pleasing to our Lord and Creator.

The Truth is what Allah and His Messenger (saws) have said. And no matter what the believers do, the West will never be pleased with them unless we leave Islam and follow their way of life! And for a believer, who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, that would be a sentence worse than death itself!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 120:The Jews and the Christians will never be satisfied with you unless you follow their way. Tell them plainly, “The Right Way is shown by Allah!”. And if after all the knowledge you have received, you were to yield to their desires, you shall find neither friend nor helper to protect you from Allah’s Wrath.

Our duty is to obey Allah and His Messenger (saws), be Just, be Right, be Steadfast, be Patient, and be Pious. When we develop these qualities, the bridge between Islam and the West will take care of itself. Our mission should always be to do deeds that are pleasing to Allah; not deeds that will earn the good-will of the disbelievers!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan