The Art of Islamic Strategy in the Modern Age Book One Introduction In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful “All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.” (Sun Tzu) What is the objective of this book? Let us first examine the title of the book, word for word. Art – The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination. Islam – Achieving peace through the Submission to the Will of God. Strategy - A high level plan to achieve one or more goals under conditions of uncertainty. Modern Age - of or relating to the historical period following the Middle Ages. However, in the context of this book, the modern age will begin when two conditions are met. With that said, my purpose in writing this book is to layout a strategy to build strong viable communities in this age of confusion and doubt. Furthermore, I make the case that this strategy is supported by the two sources of Islamic thought, Al-Qur’an and the Sunnah, thereby making it an Islamic strategy. The Qur’an is the word of God and literally means “the recitation”. God recited it to the angel Gabriel who was then sent to recite it to Muhammad, peace be upon him, who was commissioned as a prophet and instructed to recite the Word to the people. The Sunnah is the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and it is the example of how the Qur’an should be embodied in our lives.
Two important things to learn in this book. 1. The need for an alliance between Muslim communities and indigenous communities. 2. The power of group economics and the need for communities to develop a comprehensive long term plan of action. “We cannot enter into alliance with neighboring princes until we are acquainted with their designs. We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account unless we make use of local guides.” (Sun Tzu) Before an alliance between communities can take place, we must first explain what is the core of the Islamic community and what is its goal. That will be explained in “Part 1: Our Foundation”. Next, we will discuss our true enemy and how we must strive together collectively in order to disrupt the plan of the enemy. That is “Part 2: Major Obstacles”. In “Part 3: Our Objective” we will discuss micro villages and the straightforward simplicity, yet an extremely powerful tactic, of group economics. Finally, the book will end with “Part 4: Conclusion”. Whenever I quote from the Qur’an I will reference the chapter and verse it is taken from. For example, the expression (18: 19) means the 18th chapter and the 19th verse in that chapter.
The Art of Islamic Strategy in the Modern Age Book One
“ If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.” - Sun Tzu
Markets
Indigenous Community Transportation
Housing
Islamic Village Food
Jama’ah Family
Alliances
1. Islam, Jama’ah, and the Islamic Village a.
Muslims must form or join a Jama’ah whose primary goal is to acquire land, establish a village, and achieve economic independence.
2. Build alliances with Indigenous communities a. b. c. d.
Trade Business Family ties Da’wah
3. Acquire property within or next to the Indigenous community a. b. c.
Buy at least five acres within the community The land should preferably have access to fresh water An Islamic village must be established on this land
4. Extend network a. b. c.
Support the creation of Muslim villages in other communities Open the invitation for hijrah Establish trade and business connections with other communities
Allah, there is none worthy of worship except Him “Allah, there is none worthy or worship except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation does not tire Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” (Al-Qur’an 2:255) “Whatever is in the heavens and earth exalts Allah, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. His is the dominion of the heavens and earth. He gives life and causes death, and He is over all things competent. He is the First and the Last, the Outward and the Intimate, and He has knowledge of all things. It is He who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein; and He is with you wherever you are. He sees all that you do. His is the dominion of the heavens and earth. And all affairs are returned to Allah. He causes the night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night, and He knows all that is in the hearts of men.” (57: 1-6) Say, "He is Allah the One, Allah the Self-sufficient One. He neither gives birth nor is he born, and there is nothing like Him.” (112:1-4) Say, [O Muhammad] "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous works and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.“ (18: 110) And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the caller when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me so that they may be rightly guided. “And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?” (54: 17)
If you love Allah, then follow me And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds. Say, “It is only revealed to me that your god is but One God; will you then submit to Him?” (21: 107-108) And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. It is the religion of your father, Abraham. Allah named you "Muslims" before in former scriptures and in this [revelation] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give charity to the poor and hold fast to Allah. He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper. (22: 78) Certainly did Allah confer great favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they had been before in manifest error. (3: 164) O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and to forgive you much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book. By which Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path. (5: 15 – 16) And We did not send before you, [O Muhammad], any of the messengers except that they ate food and walked in the markets. And We have made some of you as a trial for others - will you have patience? And ever is your Lord, Seeing. (25: 20) Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating in prayer, seeking bounty from Allah and His pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the planters - so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward. (48: 29) Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing. (33: 40) O you who have believed, fear Allah and believe in His Messenger; He will then give you a double portion of His mercy and make for you a light by which you will walk and forgive you; and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (57: 28)
Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, so Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” Say, “Obey Allah and the Messenger.” But if they turn away - then indeed, Allah does not like the disbelievers. (3: 31-32)
Good news and a warning O mankind, there has come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the hearts and guidance and mercy for the believers. (10: 57)
Allah! None has the right to be worshipped but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. It is He Who has sent down the Book, the Quran, to you (Muhammad) with truth, confirming what came before it. And he sent down the Torah and the Gospel aforetime as a guidance to mankind. And He sent down the criterion of judgment between right and wrong. Truly, those who disbelieve in the verses and signs of Allah, for them there is a severe torment; and Allah is All-Mighty, All-Able of Retribution. Truly, nothing is hidden from Allah, in the earth or in the heavens. It is He who forms you in the wombs however He wills. There is none worthy of worship except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses that are precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All of it is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding. (3: 2 – 7)
This [Qur'an] is a notification for the people that they may be warned thereby and that they may know that He is but one God and that those of understanding will be reminded. (14:52)
And if there was any Recitation by which the mountains would be removed or the earth would be broken apart or the dead would be made to speak, [it would be this Qur'an], but to Allah belongs the affair entirely. Then have those who believed not accepted that had Allah willed, He would have guided the people, all of them? And those who disbelieve do not cease to be struck, for what they have done, by calamity - or it will descend near their home - until there comes the promise of Allah. Indeed, Allah does not fail in [His] promise. (13: 31)
And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss. (17: 82)
And it was not possible for this Qur'an to be produced by other than Allah, but it is a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of the former Scripture, about which there is no doubt, from the Lord of the worlds. Or do they say [about the Prophet], “He invented it?” Say, “Then bring forth a surah like it and call upon for assistance whomever you can besides Allah, if you should be truthful.” (10: 37 – 38)
Good news and a warning All praise is due to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance. He has made it straight, to warn of severe punishment from Him and to give good news to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward, in which they will remain forever. (18: 1 – 3)
A revelation from the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. A Book whose verses are explained in detailed. An Arabic Recitation for people who possess knowledge, proclaiming good news and a warning. Yet most of them turn away and so do not listen. (41: 2 – 4)
Allah has sent down the best Message: a Book whose verses are co-similar and oft-repeated: that causes the skins of those in awe of their Lord to creep. Then their skins and their hearts soften at the mention of Allah. Such is the guidance of Allah. He bestows it upon whoever He wills; but no one can guide those whom Allah leaves to stray. (39: 23)
Proclaim what has been revealed to you from your Lord’s Book. None can change His words. You shall find no refuge besides Him.(18: 27)
Say, "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to help each other. In this Qur’an, We have set out all kinds of examples for people, but most of the people refused anything except disbelief. And they say, "We will not believe you until you break open for us from the ground a spring. Or until you have a garden of palm tress and grapes and make rivers gush forth within them in force and abundance. Or you make the heaven fall upon us in fragments as you have claimed or you bring Allah and the angels before us; Or you have a house of gold or you ascend into the sky. And even then, we will not believe in your ascension until you bring down to us a book we may read." Say, "Exalted is my Lord! I am but a human sent as a messenger?“ (17: 88 – 93)
Say, "If the ocean were ink for writing the words of my Lord, the ocean would be exhausted before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even if We added another ocean to it.“ (18: 109)
And with the truth We have sent the Qur'an down, and with the truth it has descended. And We have sent you, [O Muhammad], forth only to give good news and to give a warning. (17: 105)
“He came to teach you your Deen” On the authority of Umar son of Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said, While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, one day, suddenly appeared before us a man in extremely white clothes and having extremely black hair, on whom the effect of travel could not be seen, and none of us knew him. He sat close to the Prophet, peace be upon him, put his knees next to his, put his palms on his thighs, and said, “O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.” The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, “Islam is that you bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, perform the obligatory prayers, give alms to the poor, fast the month of Ramadan, and make the pilgrimage to the House in Makkah if you could find a way to it.” He said, “You told the truth.” We were surprised at him putting questions to the Prophet and then confirming the answers. He then said, “Then, tell me about Iman (faith).” The Prophet said, “It is that you believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Day of Judgment, and that you believe in Fate, its good and its evil.” He said, “You told the truth.” Then he said, “Then, tell me about Ihsan (spirituality).” The Prophet said, “It is that you worship and serve Allah as if you see Him; if you do not see Him, know that He sees you.” He said, “Then, tell me about the Hour of Doomsday.” The Prophet said, “The one who is asked has no more knowledge of it than the one who asks.” He said, “Then tell me about its signs.” The Prophet said, “It is that the slave woman give birth to her mistress, that you see the bare-footed, naked, and poor shepherds arrogantly erecting high buildings.” He then went out. I stayed there a while; then the Prophet said, “O Umar, do you know who the questioner was?” I said, “Allah and His Messenger have more knowledge.” He said, “That was angel Gabriel coming to teach you your Deen (religion).” The above incident happened a few months before the death of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. It was witnessed by many of the Prophet’s companions and it is known as the Hadeeth of Gabriel.
Islam Islam is that you bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, “O you who have believed, shall I guide you to a transaction that will save you from a painful punishment? It is that you believe in Allah and His Messenger and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is best for you, if you should know. He will forgive you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence. That is the supreme achievement.” (61: 10-12)
Perform the obligatory prayers, “And establish prayer and give zakah, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. Indeed, Allah is All-Seer of what you do.” (2: 110)
give alms (zakah) to the poor, “Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives or slaves and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the stranded traveler – it is an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.” (9: 60)
fast the month of Ramadan, “The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights the new moon of the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then fast an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and wants for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.” (2: 185)
and make the (Hajj) pilgrimage to the House in Makkah if you could find a way to it.” "Hajj is during well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of ihram], there is to be for him no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do - Allah knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.” (2: 197)
“And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?” (54: 17)
Iman (faith): Roots and Branches
Heaven 5 prayers Fear Allah Love Allah Defend Muslims Fulfill contracts
Hell Zakat
Trust in Allah Jihad Respect elders Fasting Prohibit Judge in evil fairness Waste
Hajj Love the Messenger Learn the Deen
Free slaves Avoid hatred
Protect honor To have shyness
Obey the Amir
Repent from sins
Refrain from useless entertainment
Respect parents
Visit the sick
Live for Allah
Iman
Angels
Books
Respect neighbors
Attend funerals Maintain links with relatives
Return the salaams
Allah
Persevere
Practice restraint
Good manners
Stick to the Jama’ah
nothing
Aid in good deeds
Prophets
Feel compassion to our brothers
Love the Qur’an
Fate The Last Day
Fig. 1
“Have you not considered how Allah presents an example, making a good word like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed and its branches high in the sky? It produces its fruit all the time, by permission of its Lord. And Allah presents examples for the people that perhaps they will be reminded. And the example of a bad word is like a bad tree, uprooted from the surface of the earth, not having any stability.” (14:24-26)
Ihsan Then he said, “Then, tell me about Ihsan (spirituality).” The Prophet said, “It is that you worship and serve Allah as if you see Him; if you do not see Him, know that He sees you.” “Indeed, Allah is Knower of the unseen aspects of the heavens and earth. Indeed, He is Knowing of that which is within the hearts.” (35: 38) “And warn them, [O Muhammad], of the Approaching Day, when hearts are at the throats, filled with distress. For the wrongdoers there will be no devoted friend and no intercessor who is obeyed. He knows that which deceives the eyes and what the hearts conceal.” (40: 18-19) “Ihsan is that you worship and serve Allah as if you see Him; if you do not see Him, know that He sees you.” “And We have already created man and We know what his soul whispers to himself, and We are closer to him than his jugular vein. When the two angels record, seated on the right and on the left. Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared to record. And the intoxication of death will bring the truth; that is what you were trying to avoid.” (50: 16-18)
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me. Indeed, it is Allah who is the continual Provider, the firm possessor of strength.” (51: 56-58) “He created you from one soul. Then He made from it its mate, and He produced for you from the grazing livestock eight mates. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, within three darknesses. That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs dominion. There is no deity except Him, so how are you averted? If you disbelieve - indeed, Allah is Free from need of you. And He does not approve for His servants disbelief. And if you are grateful, He approves it for you; and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you about what you used to do. Indeed, He is Knowing of that which is in the hearts.” (39: 6-7) “To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. Indeed, Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy. And if all the trees upon the earth were pens and the sea was ink, supported by seven more seas, the words of Allah would not be exhausted. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. The creation and resurrection of all of you will be like the creation and resurrection of a single soul. Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Seeing.” (31: 26-28) “Ihsan is that you worship and serve Allah as if you see Him; if you do not see Him, know that He sees you.” “Indeed, I have relied upon Allah, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature but that He holds its forelock. Indeed, my Lord is on the straight path.“ (11: 56) “And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?” (54: 17)
Signs of the hour Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) prophesied that ten major Signs of the Last Day would occur as follows: 1. Dajjal, the false Messiah or Anti-Christ, 2. Gog and Magog, 3. Smoke that will cover the people, 4. The beast of the earth or land (most likely the holy land), 5. That the sun would rise from the west, 6, 7 & 8. That the earth will sink on three occasions - one in the East, one in the West and one in Arabia, 9. That a fire would come out of Yemen and would drive people to their place of assembly, 10. That the son of Mary would descend (i.e. the return of Jesus, peace be upon him). These are not in chronological order. However, in the Hadeeth of Gabriel, which was witnessed by many of the Companions, only two signs were mentioned and these two signs are not mentioned amongst the major signs. Why is that?
He said, “Then tell me about its signs.” The Prophet said, “It is that the slave woman gives birth to her mistress, and that you see the bare-footed, naked, and poor shepherds arrogantly erecting high buildings.” Fig. 2 The “bare-footed and poor shepherds” are thought to mean the desert Arabs who up until a few decades ago were poor and had little resources. With the discovery of oil, some of the families have become the richest in the world. As of the writing of this book, the tallest building in the world is in the Middle East. The first time this has happened in recent history.
Fig. 3
Over the hundreds of years since the narration of the Hadeeth of Gabriel, many interpretations of “the slave woman gives birth to her mistress” have emerged. However, I believe the interpretation of the rich elite (masters) having the poor (slave) masses “carry” their babies for them is most apt. To the left is an excerpt from a recent news article in Nigeria. I think it sums up the current situation of surrogates and paints a picture of what is to come for the rest of the population. And Allah knows best.
The appearance of tall buildings in the Middle East has only happened in the last twenty years. The appearance of surrogate mothers and babies first happened over thirty years ago. Although, it has become commonplace amongst the rich elite (masters) in the last decade.
Dreams in Islam Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said: “When the Day of Resurrection approaches, the dreams of a believer will hardly fail to come true, and a dream of a believer is one of forty-six parts of prophethood, and whatever belongs to prophethood can never be false.” (Bukhari) Dream of Abraham (peace be upon him) “We gave him the good news of a gentle son. And when he reached the age when he could work with him his father said to him: My son, I dreamt that I was sacrificing you. Tell me what you think (i.e., tell me what is your response). He replied: Father, do as you are bidden. Allah willing, you shall find me one of those who are steadfast. “ (37: 101 – 102) Dream of Joseph (peace be upon him) “Behold, Joseph said to his father: father, I saw (in a dream) eleven stars and the sun and the moon; I saw them prostrating themselves before me. He said: O my son, say nothing of this dream to your brothers, lest they should plot evil against you: the devil is the sworn enemy of man.” (12: 4 – 5) Dream of the King “The King said: I saw seven fatted cows which seven lean ones devoured; and seven green ears (of wheat or corn) and seven others dry. O my nobles, tell me the meaning of this dream, if you can interpret dreams. “ (12: 43) Dream of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) “Allah has in truth fulfilled His Apostle’s vision (i.e., dream). You shall certainly enter the Sacred Masjid in security if Allah so wills, with hair cropped or shaven and without fear. He knew what you did not know; and what is more, He granted you a speedy victory.” (48: 27)
Dream #1: The Hilltop, circa 1998/1999 I saw myself sitting atop a very tall, green, grassy hill. In the valley below, there were many trees neatly growing in rows and columns. I looked above to the sky and I saw many clouds of varying color. The clouds were mainly white, gray, or black. They were moving across the sky at different speeds. All of a sudden, the gray and black clouds came down and were sucked in by the trees. Then a wonderful feeling came over me.
Dream #2: Deep Roots, January 2015 I saw myself sitting outside of a coffee shop at a table with Malcolm X. He said to me, “18 years…27 years.” Then I was sitting at a different table outside of a different coffee shop with a local history teacher and he said, “The city you are in has deep roots and many connections.”
Importance of Jama’ah (Community) O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Prophet and those in authority from among you ( 4:59). It was the pre-Hijrah period that the Prophet (SAW) was taken one night on a miraculous journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and into the heavens (called Al-Isra and Al-Mi´raj). During that journey into the heavens a remarkable event occurred, insofar as the revelation of the Qur´an was concerned. It was during the Mi´raj that Almighty Allah (SWT) revealed the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah (second chapter of the Qur´an). All the rest of the Qur´an was revealed to the Prophet (SAW) here on earth. In those two verses (Al-Baqarah 2:285-286) Allah, Most High, described the believers as a people who: ...all had conviction in their belief in Allah, and His angels, and His (revealed) Books, and His Messengers... The Qur´an then went on to place on the lips of the believers the following statement: ...we make no distinction between any of His Messengers. And they (go on to) say: We (are a people who) listen and obey... The implication of these two verses being revealed to the Prophet (SAW) during the Mi´raj, and of the above statement being placed on the lips of the believers by Allah Himself, is that listening and obeying forms part of the very essence of the faith of a believer. Additionally, it is through listening and obeying that the discipline can be established which protects the Jama´ah and its members from internal and external attacks and guarantees the integrity and survival of the Jama´ah. (The above is an excerpt from the works of Sheikh Imran N. Hosein, www.imranhosein.org ) The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “I command you with the same five things Allah has commanded me with. They are: 1. holding to the community (Jama’ah) 2. hearing (the instructions of the Amir) 3. obeying (the Amir) 4. emigration (to the villages of Islam with the Jama’ah and the Amir) 5. and struggle in the way of Allah (to defend the Islamic villages). Whoever separates from the community (Jama’ah) even a hand span, has removed the noose of al-Islam from around the neck, except if he returns.” Learn more about the Importance of Jama’ah by studying the works of Sheikh Imran N. Hosein and Imam Naeem Abdullah www.nuruzzamaaninstitute.org .
Summary of Part 1 Islam You must perform the duties given to you by Allah, willingly. “There shall be no compulsion in the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in falsehood and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” (2: 256) Iman You must believe that these duties are commanded from Allah and that He will reward you for the good and punish you for the bad. “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best way and best in result.” (4: 59) Ihsan You must perform these duties as though you see yourself standing before Allah and that He will reward or punish you for them immediately. “O you who have believed, fear Allah and believe in His Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of His mercy and make for you a light by which you will walk and forgive you; and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. “(57: 28) Signs of the Hour “It is that the slave woman gives birth to her mistress, that you see the bare-footed, naked, and poor shepherds arrogantly erecting high buildings.” When these two signs appear, you must flee the cities and form micro-communities to protect your Deen. “[Mention] when the youths retreated to the cave and said, "Our Lord, grant us Your special mercy and give us correct guidance in our affair.“ (18: 10) Jama’ah You are to strive in organized communities for the cause of Allah. Allah has promised protection of the Deen and victory to those who strive in such organized communities. “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together (in Jama’ah) and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you, when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided. And let there arise from you a nation (Jama’ah) inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful. And do not be like the ones who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. And those will have a great punishment.” (3: 104-105)
Islam
Jama’ah
1. Islam, Jama’ah, and the Islamic Village a.
Muslims must form or join a Jama’ah whose primary goal is to acquire land, establish a village, and achieve economic independence.
2. Build alliances with Indigenous communities a. b. c. d.
Trade Business Family ties Da’wah
3. Acquire property within or next to the Indigenous community a. b. c.
Buy at least five acres within the community The land should preferably have access to fresh water An Islamic village must be established on this land
4. Extend network a. b. c.
Support the creation of Muslim villages in other communities Open the invitation for hijrah Establish trade and business connections with other communities
Take him as an enemy “So when We have recited it, then follow its recitation attentively. Then it will be for Us to make its meaning clear.” (75: 18-19) “And mention when We said to the angles, ‘Prostrate to Adam,’ and they prostrated, except for Iblees (Satan). He said, ‘Should I prostrate to one You created from clay?’ Iblees said, ‘Do You see this one whom You have honored above me? If You delay (my punishment) until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely mislead his descendants, except for a few.’ Allah said, ‘Go, for whoever of them follows you, indeed Hell will be the reward of you all - an ample reward. And incite to senselessness whoever you can among them with your voice and assault them with your horses and foot soldiers and become a partner in their wealth and their children and make them promises.’ But Satan does not promise them anything except delusions. Indeed, over My believing servants you will have no authority. And sufficient is your Lord as Disposer of affairs.” (17: 61-65) “And mention when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused to obey and was arrogant and became one of the disbelievers.” (2: 34) “And mention when We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam,’ and they prostrated, except for Iblees (Satan). He was of the jinn (not an angel) and departed from the command of his Lord. Then will you take him and his descendants as allies other than Me while they are enemies to you? Wretched it is for the wrongdoers as an exchange.” (18: 50) Here, Allah has informed us of our common enemy, Satan. He has also informed us of the major characteristics of Satan: he is disobedient to Allah, he is arrogant, he disbelieves in the Word of Allah, and he is a Jinn not an angel. Satan wants us to become like him thereby removing us from the Grace of Allah and earning our place in the fire of Hell. In this section I will focus on two main tools of Satan and how we must protect against them. Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon their hearts? Indeed, those who reverted back to disbelief after guidance had become clear to them - Satan enticed them (to commit sins) and prolonged hope for them. That is because they said to those who disliked what Allah sent down, "We will obey you in part of the matter." And Allah knows what they conceal. (47: 24 – 26) In general, Satan tempts us to commit sin and disbelieve in the Promise of Allah. However, in this modern age we live in there are two major activities that are destroying our society, our communities, our families, and are a threat to our Deen. “O mankind, indeed the promise of Allah is true, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allah by the Deceiver. Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the inhabitants of the Fire.” (35: 5-6)
Tools of the Enemy: Idle chatter What is the number one addiction in the world? Take a few minutes and think hard on this subject. Understanding this question and the depth of it is critical in understanding strategy in the modern age. The answer is: entertainment. But when they saw a transaction or a diversion, [O Muhammad], they rushed to it and left you standing. Say, What is with Allah is better than diversion (entertainment) and than a transaction, and Allah is the best of providers. (62: 11)
And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech (entertainment) to mislead others from the way of Allah without knowledge and who takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment. (31: 6) And those who disbelieve say, “Do not listen to this Qur'an and speak noisily during [the recitation of] it that perhaps you will overcome them.” (41: 26) Then woe, that Day, to the deniers, Who are in empty discourse amusing themselves. The Day they are thrust toward the fire of Hell with a violent thrust, [its angels will say], "This is the Fire which you used to deny.” (52: 11-13) The amount spent on entertainment in the U.S. Activity
Hours per week
Television
34
Video games
22
Work
34.4
$336 billion The amount spent on public assistance in the U.S.
$153 billion What is the problem with entertainment many will ask? There are many issues to address with the world wide web of entertainment. However, in the scope of this book I will limit it to three main points. 1. It incites us to spend our wealth on products/services that have little or no real value. Therefore, most of our wealth is wasted. 2. It encourages us to waste our time. Many people are spending more time being entertained than being productive. The average Black adult female (arguably our most valuable resource) is spending over 40 hours a week watching television. 3. It corrupts our view and knowledge of the world. A handful of companies control what we experience on all electronic devices and most printed literature.
Tools of the Enemy: Idle chatter Problems and Solutions Problem 1:
General sin and disobedience severs our connection with Allah and prevents or delays our prayers from being answered.
Solution 1: O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims (in submission to Him). And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together (in Jama’ah) and do not become divided (from the Jama’ah). And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided. And let there arise from you a nation inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful. (3: 102 – 104)
Problem 2:
Wasting of our wealth.
Solution 2:
Extreme budgeting. Set a monthly budget for things you need and stick to it. Also, devise a plan to decrease your expenses over time.
Problem 3:
Wasting of our time and corruption of knowledge.
Solution 3:
Edutainment committees and Apprenticeship programs a) The Edutainment committee will be responsible for creating and maintaining short powerful productions that are educational and entertaining. Each class should include the use of technology (old and new), audio and visual interactions, and hands-on activities. Classes should be between 30 and 60 minutes in length. b) Apprenticeship programs can also be called thematic learning environments. In other words, all learning experiences (history, math, science, sociology, etc.) have the same core theme. I have devoted more explanation of this concept in a section further in this book. c) All of the community should be involved in both Edutainment and Apprenticeship programs either on a full or part-time basis.
O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely and perfectly and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. (2: 208) …That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allah and the Last day. And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out from every difficulty and will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set a measure for all things. (65: 2 – 3)
Tools of Satan: A Notice of War Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. (2: 268) Those who consume usury cannot stand on the Day of Resurrection except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, "Trade is just like usury." But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden usury. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allah. But whoever returns to [dealing in usury] - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein. Allah destroys usury and gives increase for charities. And Allah does not like every sinning disbeliever. Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakah will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. Oh you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains due to you of usury, if you should be believers. And if you do not, then be informed of a notice of war from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal - thus you do no wrong, nor are you wronged. (2: 275 – 279) Narrated by Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Avoid the seven great destructive sins.” The people enquired, “Oh Allah’s Apostle! What are they?” He said, 1. To join others in worship along with Allah, 2. to practice sorcery, 3. to kill the life which Allah has forbidden except for a just cause (according to Islamic law), 4. to eat up Riba (usury), 5. to eat up an orphan’s wealth, 6. to flee from the battlefield at the time of fighting, 7. and to accuse chaste women who are good believers of promiscuity. The prohibited and the lawful in Islam are very clear and straight forward. However, the problem is that in the Modern Age most concepts are not clearly explained. So, in order to simplify the matter, I will give a working definition of Riba and some major examples in our time. The common form of riba in our time is the borrowing and lending of money at an interest rate, whether it be a set or adjustable rate. Some of the common forms of riba in our time are: credit cards, home mortgages, car loans, and student loans.
A snapshot of Riba in the modern age (245 million adults in the U.S.) Category
% of people
Average owed
Rate
Min. payment
Pay off time
Total paid
Credit card
34%
$15,600
15%
$600
32 months
$19,200
Home mort.
2.65 mil. Homes 68% have mortgages
$156,700
4.5%
$585
30 years
$210,600
Student loan
16%
$30,000
6.8%
$345
10 years
$41,429
Car loans
155 million accounts
$26,530
8.6%
$352
66 months
$27,000
43% of American families spend more than they earn each year. Only 59% of Americans have at least $500 in savings account.
Tools of Satan: A Notice of War Problems and Solutions Problems Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. (2: 268) Why is riba so dangerous? It transfers money from the masses to the rich without the rich having to produce any beneficial products or services. Furthermore, it enslaves the borrowers, often this is a near permanent situation. The world wide web of entertainment is to ensure you think a certain way. The world wide web of debt is to keep you permanently enslaved.
Solutions 1) Live within your means. If you can’t do this or at least make a genuine effort in that direction nothing else will help you. 2) Develop an economic plan of action. Focus on the priorities: food, shelter, transportation, utilities, and 10% savings if possible. 3) Give in charity locally in order to purify your deeds and wealth, and also to increase your wealth. Allah destroys usury and gives increase for charities. 4) Practice Group Economics A. Buying products collectively in bulk B. Collectively investing in one of the five industries of society within the community. Five industries: Family, Food, Housing, Transportation, Energy I will discuss group economics further in chapter 3.
O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely and perfectly and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. (2: 208) …That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allah and the Last day. And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out from every difficulty and will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set a measure for all things. (65: 2 – 3)
No Compulsion But when they saw a transaction or a diversion, [O Muhammad], they rushed to it and left you standing. Say, What is with Allah is better than diversion (entertainment) and than a transaction (riba), and Allah is the best of providers. (62: 11) And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech (entertainment) to mislead others from the way of Allah without knowledge and who takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment. (31: 6) Oh you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains due to you of riba (usury), if you should be believers. And if you do not, then be informed of a notice of war from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal - thus you do no wrong, nor are you wronged. (2: 278 – 279) We must avoid the behaviors of Satan: disobedience (sin), arrogance (rejection of the truth), and disbelief in the Word of God. We must strive to live productive lives as communities, not as individuals wasting large portions of our time. In addition, we must practice group economics in order to combat the effects of debt and riba. We must strive collectively, in Jama’ah, to own and control local businesses that are directly related to the five industries of society: Family, Food, Housing, Transportation, Energy. And Satan will say (on the Day of Judgment) when the matter has been concluded, “Indeed, Allah had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to my invitation. So do not blame me, but blame yourselves. I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be called to my aid. Indeed, I deny your association of me before. Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment”. (14: 22)
Did I not enjoin upon you, O children of Adam, that you not worship Satan, for indeed, he is to you a clear enemy, and that you should worship only Me? This is the straight path. (36: 60-61) There is no compulsion in the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever has rejected the way of Satan and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold which will never break. And Allah is All Hearing and All Knowing. (2: 256)
1. Islam, Jama’ah, and the Islamic Village a.
Muslims must form or join a Jama’ah whose primary goal is to acquire land, establish a village, and achieve economic independence.
2. Build alliances with Indigenous communities a. b. c. d.
Trade Business Family ties Da’wah
3. Acquire property within or next to the Indigenous community a. b. c.
Buy at least five acres within the community The land should preferably have access to fresh water An Islamic village must be established on this land
4. Extend network a. b. c.
Support the creation of Muslim villages in other communities Open the invitation for hijrah Establish trade and business connections with other communities
Surah Al-kahf (the Cave): A Deeper Look “So when We have recited it, then follow its recitation attentively. Then it will be for Us to make its meaning clear.” (75: 18-19) Let the Qur’an be our guide. In the Qur’an there is a surah (chapter) that is connected to the Modern Age. It is surah Al-Kahf, the cave (chapter 18). It is an indicator of the strange conditions that will exist at that time. The surah contains several stories within it. I will leave it to the readers to do their own research of the surah. However, I need to list some of the stories and some of the lessons that can be derived from them. Story
Deeper Lesson
- People of the cave
- Leave the cities - Micro-villages between 3 and 8 families - Use of solar energy - use of silver and gold
- Two men and the gardens
- Diversification in farming (permaculture) - Acquire land with a body of fresh water
- People of the boat
- Protect the poor - Support family owned businesses - Governments will confiscate your property
- The fish
- Fisheries and aquaponics
- People of the town
- Hospitality and guest houses
- Young boy
- corruption of the youth and the need for programs
- Crumbling wall and orphan boys
- protect the property of orphans - renovate abandoned property
- Moses’ servant boy
- Apprenticeship programs
- Moses’ companion
- Things are not what they seem in the modern age - Understanding the modern age requires the light of Allah - knowledge and understanding requires patience
- Dhul-Qarnain
- Travel the land - protection of indigenous people
All of these lessons are very important and must be incorporated in the village. I will endeavor to expound on some of the topics within this book. For more information on surah al-kahf and its importance in our time, check out the works of Sheikh Imran N. Hosein at www.imranhosein.org .
8 Stages of Progress
I. Core Families
You should find individuals and families who are either farmers, homesteaders, landowners, gardeners, self-employed, or seeking to be self-employed. Your core team must be comprised of people who are already traveling the path you are on.
II. Marketing
You will need to collaborate with your core families and develop a marketing plan to inform others of your plans and to encourage others to join your cause. This is not a do-italone activity. This is a movement and a movement must build mass and momentum. Two things I believe everyone should study in regards to marketing are: a.) the design and function of TV commercials, and b.) books on guerilla marketing. This book is part of my marketing strategy.
III. Increase Core
The goal of marketing is to build up your numbers, period. The core families should tell as many people as they can about their goals, but efforts should be focused on finding people who are already the same path. The goal is for all of us to walk this path together, in Jama’ah, instead of separately.
IV. Network
Your core has achieved Networking Nirvana when there are open lines of communication between all parties. It is more than just having each others phone numbers and emails. It is that everyone (core) knows me, my biography, my location, my skills, the businesses I own, and the projects I am working on. Anyone not willing to share this minimum knowledge of themselves should not be considered part of the network. When we don’t share knowledge we can not build trust and there will be many resources that will go untapped or used inefficiently.
V. Business
You will need to form a registered business and offer investment opportunities for all those interested, especially those in your network. I intend to form a company and offer two options. OPTION 1: invest in the company as a whole. OPTION 2: invest in specific projects of the company.
VI. Projects
Your business will need to offer short term projects for investments. These projects will need to be low cost for investors and high percentage gain in a one to two year time frame. You must use these projects to build investor trust and to demonstrate your competence in getting things done.
VII. Villages
The success of the projects must be used to gain support for larger projects. This will include the ultimate Village project. In addition, the projects should be the first steps in creating the infrastructure of the village. More on that later.
VIII. Network of Micro-villages The above steps must be cycled through many times in order to achieve success in your ultimate goal.
The Goal of Group Economics Industries of society: No modern community can last without addressing these five pillars. Family, Food, Housing, Transportation, Energy. The ultimate goal of group economics is to locally control and own all five pillars of society. We must do this without being in perpetual debt. The hidden reality of business is that most (here, most means the overwhelming majority) of businesses, institutions, and governments operate in debt. We must and can avoid that quagmire. Not only must we avoid debt, we must also create a pathway for decreasing our overhead costs. Family : Teach your family what you are doing Food : Grow your own food Housing : Rent-to-own Transportation : Buy used, travel efficiently Energy : Find ways to lower cost, only use what is necessary
Your circle
Master your circle
Recruit others
Mastery
Recruit others
Some people try to expand their circle before they develop some mastery over their core. I believe it is a mistake to do this. If you have not started working on self-mastery no one else will take you serious. Although, trying to go it alone is also a complete mistake. It is important to try to maintain balance between working on mastery of your circle and expanding your network. Mastery is not perfection. Create scales for each category. Scales are to assess your current status and should be used to help you decide your next move. Below is a scale I created for myself. Mastery is an average score of 3. Each circle can represent a family or a community. The principle is the same either way. Before expanding your network outward you must first develop your core inward.
What actions are you taking to master your circle ?
N o t h i n g
S t u d y i n g
P l a n n i n g
E x e c u t i n g
T e a c h i n g
O w n i n g
0 1 2 3
4
5
Family
x
Food Master your circle
x
Housing
x
Trans.
x
Energy
x
Score of 3.4, focus should be on food and energy.
Debt and Riba vs. Productive Group Economics Chart 1
Group economics
Life Insurance
Scenario: a community of 100 people invest $50 a month in a community business project
Scenario: a community of 100 people invest $50 a month in life insurance
Halaal (permissible): blessings from Allah
Haraam (forbidden): it is a form of riba and it is declaring war against Allah, and of course no blessings from Allah
You can stop making payments and retain your investment
$50 a month until you die, if you stop paying, you lose coverage and all the money you put in
No one has to die in order to benefit from the investment
Your family can get some benefit if you die within 17 years, after 17 years you have paid more than what your family will receive
- $5000 a month invested in the community
- $5000 a month going out of the community
- $60,000 a year building community-owned businesses to benefit the community
-$60,000 a year leaving the community - $20,000 returning to the community but two people must die - this $20,000 is used for burial fees. Remaining money: $0 and two people are dead
The Islamic community can buy their own graveyard and bury their dead. A traditional cemetery holds about 1,250 plots per acre. Therefore, one acre is more than enough to serve the needs of the community.
(note: the mortality rate is about 2%) (This is assuming $50 a month is paid for $10,000 worth of coverage. The monetary amount can vary but the principle lesson is the same.)
Why food and families first? There are five industries that fuel society: Food, Family, Housing, Transportation, and Energy. Families are the building blocks of society, therefore, they must be made the priority in any society. Thus, we must compare the remaining four industries in order to set their priority. For, we can not focus on all industries at once. In the table below I have listed some start-up businesses in each category, their start-up costs and their yearly ROI (return on investment) in percents. Business
Start-up costs
ROI
Small farm (rent 5 acres)
$1500
82%
Flipping houses
$95,000
32%
Used car sales
$12,000
16%
Solar Power charging
$10,000
8 to 10 years to break even (0%)
Therefore, out of the four remaining industries, food is the most viable option to begin with. It is also the most necessary for life. Hence, the name of the movement I have started “Food and Families First�. Let us now take a deeper look at building family legacies through owning food based businesses.
Diversified Farming And He it is who causes gardens to grow, both trellised and un-trellised, and palm trees and crops of different kinds of food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Eat of its fruit when it yields and give its due [zakah] on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess. (6:141) And within the land are neighboring plots and gardens of grapevines and crops and palm trees, [growing] several from a root or otherwise, watered with one water; but We make some of them exceed others in quality of fruit. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason. (13:4) And present to them an example of two men: We granted to one of them two gardens of grapevines, and We bordered them with palm trees and placed between them fields of crops. Each of the two gardens produced its fruit and did not fall short thereof in anything. And We caused to gush forth within them a river. (18: 32 – 33) And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign and sheltered them within a high ground having level areas and flowing water. (23:50) Using the Qur’an as our guide and taking into consideration the many decades of research from around the world and my own personal experiences, I will say that “diversified farming” is the most practical approach for family farms. Diversified farming simply means to incorporate the ideas from permaculture, food forests, companion planting, square-foot gardening, and aquaponics onto the same farm. (See Appendix 1) It will be important for each farm to develop a 7-to-10 year plan and that these plans will need to revised every year. I will not say where each farm needs to start at because each farm and family is different. However, I will say that every farm should be incorporating all concepts into the farm within ten years.
Alliance with Indigenous Families Indigenous people are families that share cultural and historical ties to a particular region dating back over 100 years. I propose that Islamic communities should make alliances with indigenous Native American and African American communities. They said, "O Shu'ayb, we do not understand much of what you say, and indeed, we consider you among us as weak. And if not for your family, we would have stoned you [to death]; and you are not to us one respected.“ (11: 91) What does this alliance entail? The focus of the alliance should be the partnering of the Muslim community and local families to establish food based businesses in order to produce generational wealth. Generational wealth can only be maintained by preserving family lineages and family legacies.
Free Markets The free market needs to be an area where anyone can come, set up a booth and solicit buyers to purchase their goods or services. It should be free, requiring no rental fees or lease agreements. It should be free for the sellers and free for the buyers. It is similar to a flea market with the exception that at a flea market the seller pays a rental fee for the booth.
Local markets
The future dream
Local money
Local products
Local vendors
The destruction of the local markets has enabled powerful corporations to come into communities and quickly enslave them. Stores, which are not markets, have been major contributors to the destruction of local markets. If we are serious about establishing strong lasting communities, then we must be prepared to create and sustain areas in our communities that allow locals to buy and sell freely without taxation.
Multinational corporations
Banks
Local products Stores Local vendors
Local money
Local markets
The present nightmare
Business by the Numbers I will end this section with a compilation of ideas using real researched numbers for my area.
Group economics Revisited
Life Insurance
Scenario: a community of 100 people invest $50 a month in a community business project with the objective of owning land, creating generational wealth, and earning a profit.
Scenario: a community of 100 people invest $50 a month in life insurance
Jan.
$5,000
$5,000 spent
Feb.
$10,000
$10,000 spent
Mar.
Rent a 10 acre farm and plant peanuts (- $1500)
$13,500
$15,000 spent
May
$23,500
$25,000 spent
July
$33,500
$35,000 spent
Sep.
Harvest and sell peanuts $6460
$43,500 + 6460 = $49,960
$45,000 spent
Oct.
Purchase 7 acres with adjacent fish pond (-$40,000)
$9,960 + $5,000 = $14,960
$50,000 spent
Nov.
6.5 acres with fish pond
½ acre reserved for cemetery
$19,960
$55,000 spent
Dec.
6.5 acres - Divide this into Âź acre sections and that will create 26 sections for 26 projects that the investors will own.
A ½ acre cemetery can hold about 600 graves. That is enough for every core investor plus 500 plots that can be sold.
$24,960 that the investors have on hand and can invest in anything they choose to invest in. The investors own and control the business.
$60,000 spent on life insurance that grants each person a piece of paper. This paper states that if they should die then their beneficiaries are entitled to $10,000. This $10,000 is normally gone after one month. The purchasers of life insurance never own the business nor do they have a say in how the money is invested.
Summary of Part 3 Surah Al-Kahf Moses said to him, "May I follow you on the condition that you teach me from what you have been taught of sound judgment?" He said, "Indeed, with me you will never be able to have patience. And how can you have patience for what is beyond your knowledge?“ Moses said, "You will find me, if Allah wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in any order.“ (18: 66 – 69) Surah al-kahf, the cave, contains many lessons and it lays the foundation for strategy in the Modern Age. It is very important for the reader to study it and incorporate its lessons into the village.
Network of Micro-villages Creation of a village and a network of villages will not occur over night. All the elements needed are already in place. However, what is needed is a core group who will be committed to the long task of networking and finishing projects in a timely manner.
Group economics The ultimate goal of group economics is for families to collectively invest their money in order to locally control and own all five industries of society: Family, Food, Housing, Transportation, and Energy.
Diversified Farming Diversified farming simply means to incorporate the ideas from permaculture, food forests, companion planting, square-foot gardening, and aquaponics onto the same farm.
Alliances I propose that Islamic communities should make alliances with indigenous Native American and African American communities. The focus of the alliance should be the partnering of the Muslim community and local families to establish food based businesses in order to produce generational wealth.
Markets
Indigenous Community Transportation
Housing
Islamic Village Food
Jama’ah Family
Alliances
1. Islam, Jama’ah, and the Islamic Village a.
Muslims must form or join a Jama’ah whose primary goal is to acquire land, establish a village, and achieve economic independence.
2. Build alliances with Indigenous communities a. b. c. d.
Trade Business Family ties Da’wah
3. Acquire property within or next to the Indigenous community a. b. c.
Buy at least five acres within the community The land should preferably have access to fresh water An Islamic village must be established on this land
4. Extend network a. b. c.
Support the creation of Muslim villages in other communities Open the invitation for hijrah Establish trade and business connections with other communities
Teaching and Learning Normal speech
Profanity
I took a class in college many years ago called Human Growth and Development. In this class I learned about a study on toddlers and their propensity to learn curse words quicker than other vocabulary. If you take an oscilloscope and measure a person’s speech the lines on it will go up and down. However, when a person uses profanity it creates a spike. The toddler hears this spike and learns the word immediately. It is because this word “stood out” from all the other words is why it created a lasting impression on the child. Now, let us take another look at the Hadeeth of Gabriel on page ___. If we carefully analyze the event we see that it is a very “stand out” event. Also, if we count the number of topics mentioned, we can count 20 or more topics. Many people have learned and understood this event with no problem for many years. Even the narration of the event is a “stand out” moment. So, we have learned that angel Gabriel, peace be upon him, came not only to teach us our Deen, but he also taught us how to teach the Deen. If you can create a learning situation that is so different from any other situation, then your students will learn the skills or concepts immediately with lasting effects, if Allah wills. It is difficult to create learning situations that are totally unique. However, it is less difficult to create learning environments where concepts are taught in context. With that, let us discuss Apprentice programs. First of all, I will say don’t get stuck on a name. If your community calls it an apprentice program or you call it something else is of no consequence. What is important is that the students, young and old, learn reading, writing, and arithmetic in the context of a particular skill or trade. It is important that they learn history, science, and geography in the context of a skill or trade. It is important that the students learn business, economics, and interpersonal skills in the context of a particular trade. All learning is centered around a particular trade or skill.
Quincy Robotics Club: More than meets the eye In my area I am working on plans for a robotics club. In this club, students will learn about robotics using various kits and software. In addition, they will learn about history in the context of technology. They will learn business skills, social skills, writing skills, and so on, all in the context of technology. Your program or club or whatever you want to call it must be relevant, empowering, and it must be interesting. Our communities are spending a huge amount of time on entertainment (34 hours a week) that is morally corrosive, unproductive, and highly addictive. Our countermeasures must be: productive, practical,
empowering,
and very engaging.
The strategy of teaching strategy What is strategy? We are nearing the end of this book. It may seem strange that I choose now to ask the question, “What is strategy?” However, it is a subject that is not easily taught and not easily learned. This book (Book 1 of 2) is actually only addressing the foundation of Islamic strategy and hinting at the higher levels of strategy. Addressing the question, let us first provide the Wikipedia definition. Strategy is a high level plan to achieve one or more goals under conditions of uncertainty. Why is there a need for a strategy? The need arises when the conditions for achieving a certain goal are uncertain. What is the goal of Muslims? It is to establish and protect the Deen. In much of the world, Muslims are struggling to create an Islamic environment in a world that is very much against it. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, “All war is deception.” (Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 52, Number 269) “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.” (Sun Tzu) Allah, the exalted, has given us a strategy to protect our Deen in this Modern Age of uncertainty. However, I believe the strategy is implicit rather than explicit. Furthermore, I believe the important parts must be pieced together. If the strategy was spelled out explicitly in the Qur’an then the enemy can simply read the Qur’an and then make plans in advance to disrupt the strategy of Islam. In this section I will quote one of the masters of strategy, Sun Tzu, and reference what part of this book ties in with that strategy. From there, the reader will need to analyze the reference and ponder on its connections. Strategy can not be taught; it must be dissected, analyzed, and then personalized. “Thus what enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge.” (Sun Tzu) Part 1: Signs of the Hour “We cannot enter into alliance with neighboring princes until we are acquainted with their designs. We shall be unable to turn natural advantages to account unless we make use of local guides.” (Sun Tzu) Part 3: Alliances “Speed is the essence of war.” (Sun Tzu) “The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.” (Sun Tzu) Part 1: He came to teach you your Deen
“Hence the saying: If you know the enemy (Part 2) and know yourself (Part 1: Jama’ah), your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven (Part 1: Good news and a warning) and know Earth (Part 3: Group Economics), you may make your victory complete.” (Sun Tzu) “All men can see the tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.” (Sun Tzu) Part 3: Surah al-kahf “After that comes tactical maneuvering, than which there is nothing more difficult.” (Sun Tzu) Book 2
1.
Islam, Jama’ah, and the Islamic Village Muslims must form or join a Jama’ah whose primary goal is to acquire land, establish a village, and achieve economic independence.
Learn more about our Jama’ah at http://www.nuruzzamaaninstitute.org/ 2.
Build alliances with Indigenous communities Trade
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Business
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Family ties
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Da’wah
Indigenous community 3 families
Muslim community 3 families
12 month marketing goal
Indigenous community 40 families
3.
Muslim community 60 families
Acquire property within or next to the Indigenous community A. B. C.
4.
Core Alliance 100 families
Buy at least five acres within the community The land should preferably have access to fresh water An Islamic village must be established on this land
Extend network A. B. C.
Support the creation of Muslim villages in other communities Open the invitation for hijrah Establish trade and business connections with other communities
Appendix 1 Square foot gardening Square foot gardening is a method of maximizing the potential output of your garden. It includes such techniques as raised gardens, not stepping on the soil, successive planting, and the careful spacing of plants. It is a very important skill to know in the modern age of agriculture.
Companion planting Companion planting means putting plants together in the garden that like each other, or help each other out. Companion planting can have a real impact on the health and yield of your plants. Organic gardeners strive to achieve a balance in their gardens so that they don't require chemicals for pest or disease control. Edible food forest Edible forest gardening is the art and science of putting plants together in woodland-like patterns that forge mutually beneficial relationships, creating a garden ecosystem that is more than the sum of its parts. You can grow fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, other useful plants, and animals in a way that mimics natural ecosystems. You can create a beautiful, diverse, high-yield garden. If designed with care and deep understanding of ecosystem function, you can also design a garden that is largely self-maintaining.
Biography of the Author Born in 1975 on a small farm, Cedrick Campbell is a 5th generation native of Gadsden county, Florida. To this day, Gadsden county is the only predominantly Black district in Florida. It is an indigenous community with many of the families having ties to both African and Native American ancestry. He graduated from James A. Shanks High school, Quincy, FL Class of 1993. He later went on to serve in the US Army from 1994 to 1998 as a Telecommunications Specialist. In 1997, Cedrick Campbell reverted to Islam and henceforth also went by the name Yusuf. He has been studying and practicing Islam ever since.
He later graduated from the historically black school Florida A & M University with a Bachelors in Mathematical Sciences and a Minor in Education in 2006. He spent the next nine years teaching students at the middle school, high school, and college level. In 2010, he developed curriculum to help students analyze literature and strengthen their vocabulary by using simple 3-D art to create their own graphic novels. In addition, in 2011 he created a math workbook to help middle school students build a solid foundation in math vocabulary and math skills. Yusuf Campbell learned the importance of Jama’ah in 2014 and subsequently learned of the Nuruzzamaan Institute. The Nuruzzamaan Institute is a Jama’ah dedicated to imitating the life of Prophet Muhammad via the teachings of Sheikh Uthman Dan Fodio. Yusuf joined the Jama’ah and committed himself to establishing micro villages across the land.