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 Brother,

Assalamualikum,

Could you tell me who Syed Qutab was and how did he see Islam in modern times. Are Muslims allowed to overthrough a so called "Muslim ruler" who is oppressing his fellow muslims and does not follow the Islamic Law of Sharia. If you live in a Khafir country such as United States and people in your neighborhood celebrate Thanksgiving, Holoween etc. Can we as Muslims celebrate Thanksgiven or give treats to children on Howleen. Thanks 

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Answer:

Syed Qutub/Halloween thanksgiving

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.

Q-1: Could you tell me who Syed Qutab was and how did he see Islam in modern times.

Brother Syed Qutub (may Allah have mercy on his soul) was a Egyptian national. He studied at the Dar-ul-Uloom University in Cairo, before continuing his education in the United States of America. It was in the US and his experience with the western society, that made him change his thoughts on life, and he started contemplating true Islam in light of the Quran and Sunnah.

When he came back to Egypt after his education in the US, he joined the Islamic Brotherhood movement, and started writing about the Truth of Islam. He was a dedicated and tireless worker in the Just Cause of Allah Subhanah, and soon came to be recognized as one of the leaders of the Islamic Brotherhood Movement. The Egyptian dictator of the time, President Jamal Abdul Nasser, was not particularly an Islamist and he felt threatened at the popularity of the Islamic Brotherhood Movement and its mass support. President Jamal Abdul Nasser was a staunch Arab nationalist, and obviously his views and plans clashed with the views of True Islam, where regardless of race or origin, the believers are all brothers to each other.

President Jamal came down hard upon the Islamic Brotherhood Movement, and basically labeled them outlaws and fundamentalists. He closed their offices, imprisoned many of their leaders through his appointed ‘kangaroo’ courts, severely tortured them, and some were even sentenced to death! Brother Syed Qutub continued his writings of Truth even when in jail; and ultimately in 1966 he was sentenced to death for his beliefs, his writing, and for charges of supposedly inciting the people of Egypt against the government. He was honored with martyrdom at the gallows, but his writings are available to this day as an inspiration to the believers of Truth.

His vision of Islam in modern times was to unite the broken Ummah of Islam, regardless of race, language, or color. He was indeed a true ‘fundementalist’, and propagated the believers to rise above the shallow facades of race and nationality, and turn back to the basic fundamentals of the Quran and Sunnah. He was of the firm opinion that only by obeying and following the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws), would the believers come out of the slavery of thought of the Western Civilization, and become the true slaves of Allah Subhanah. And only by becoming true slaves of Allah Subhanah would make them successful in the life of this world, and in the life of the Hereafter.

Q-2: Are Muslims allowed to overthrough a so called "Muslim ruler" who is oppressing his fellow muslims and does not follow the Islamic Law of Sharia.

Islam teaches the believers that the muslims must obey their rulers, and support them as long as the ruler obeys and rules by the Laws of Allah and His Messenger (saws).

But if the ruler of a Muslim Nation is un-Islamic, and oppresses his fellow muslim subjects, the believers must first try to advise him and guide him to the laws of Allah and His Messenger (saws). And if in a country there is a democratic system of government, then the believers must strive to bring in a government that would rule by the laws of Shariah through the democratic process, and must not use force to overthrow the elected government.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 4573 Narrated by Awf ibn Malik

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “The best of your rulers are those whom you love and who love you, who invoke God's blessings upon you and you invoke His blessings upon them. And the worst of your rulers are those whom you hate and who hate you, and whom you curse and who curse you.” It was asked (by those present): “Shouldn't we overthrow them with the help of the sword?” He (saws) said: “No, as long as they establish prayer among you. If you then find anything detestable in them, you should hate their administration, but do not withdraw yourselves from their obedience.”

But if in a Muslim Nation, the ruler is an unjust un-Islamic dictator, and rules by the law of oppression and injustice; the believers must always declare the Truth, no matter what the consequences. If the majority of the population are good believers, and they want to live under Shariah, then there is no harm in overthrowing the unjust dictator. But if true Islam does not have popular support in the nation, where the hypocrites and weak-muslims are in the majority, then it is the duty of the true believers to work tirelessly to propagate the Message of Truth in a peaceful manner, and try to convince the people of the nation about the Truth of Al-Islam.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4330 Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudri

The Prophet (saws) said: “The best fighting (jihad) in the path of Allah is (to speak) a word of justice to an oppressive ruler.”

In today’s times, people should be invited to true Islam with wisdom, patience, and in the most polite manner; and when the majority of the people turn to Islam in its true form, the change from bad to good leadership will naturally take place. The change to Islam can only be sustained if the majority of the people turn to Islam, and sincerely want to themselves live by the laws of Shariah.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.258 Narrated by Abdullah

The Prophet (saws) said, "A Muslim has to listen to and obey (the order of his ruler) whether he likes it or not, as long as his orders involve not one in disobedience (to Allah); but if an act of disobedience (to Allah) is imposed, one should not listen to it or obey it."

Q-3: If you live in a Khafir country such as United States and people in your neighborhood celebrate Thanksgiving, Holoween etc. Can we as Muslims celebrate Thanksgiven or give treats to children on Howleen.

If the festival of the non-muslim is pagan or polytheist (shirk) in its nature, then it would not be permissible for one who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to celebrate these non-muslim festivals with them, and/or wish them, or give them gifts. For example, a believer should not celebrate Christmas (because the Christians have made Jesus (a.s.) the son of Allah and worship him), or Diwali (because the Hindus celebrate the victory of Ram over Ravana), etc. These are pagan and polytheist festivals and it does not behove a believer in Allah and the Last Day to celebrate them.

Halloween obviously has its roots in paganism, where by celebrating this festival, the ignorant people seek protection from the evil spirits! I am not aware of the origins of the North American festival of Thanksgiving, thus cannot particularly comment on it. But from its specific turkey-eating traditions, it seems like a pagan or religious festival; and the believers must abstain from all such pagan religious festivals.

But if the occasion is of a personal nature like some non-muslim got married, or had a child, or passed an exam, etc., then there is no harm in wishing and congratulating them, and giving them gifts, etc.

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 in Islam,

Burhan