/khilafah-magazine-september-2009

O you who believe, respond to the call of Allah and His Messenger when He calls you to that which would give you life...

RAMADHAN

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SHAWWAL

1430 ···

SEPTEMBER

2009 ···

ISSUE:

08

The Ulema Inheritors of the Prophets

SOMALIA: IN THE SPOTLIGHT - CONFERENCE OF THE ULEMA: INDONESIA TEEN CRISIS IS SOCIETAL CRISIS - RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ULEMA (Scholars) STERN WARNING – LET’S GET REAL ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE - DOES THE ISLAMIC DRESS OPPRESS WOMEN? - THE COMING OF AL-MAHDI AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KHILAFAH

NEWSBITES MEGRAHI’S RELEASE: COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS OR OIL FIELDS? While British politicians lambasted the celebratory reception that greeted home Abdelbasset Ali al-Megrahi, the convicted Lockerbie bomber, there were similar scenes of celebration in some quarters in the UK.

MILIBAND JUSTIFIES TERRORISM AND RUNS FOUL OF UK ANTI-TERROR LAWS The British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, paid tribute to a South African antiapartheid activist Joe Slovo – a friend of Mr Miliband’s father – during an interview on BBC Radio 4 in August. In doing so, he exposed the double standards prevalent in Western Politics. The BBC Radio 4 presenter had asked the Foreign Secretary: “Are there circumstances in which violent reaction, terrorism, is the right response?” Miliband responded: “Yes, there are circumstances in which it is justifiable, and yes, there are circumstances in which it is effective”. In making the statement Milliband opened himself to a charge under the Terrorism Act 2006 as it is a criminal offence to publish a statement that is: “likely to be understood by some or all of the members of the public to whom it is published as a direct or indirect encouragement or other inducement to them to the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism or Convention offences”. Although we won’t hold our breathe in waiting for the charge.

It’s clear from his statement that the Foreign Secretary does not condemn terrorism outright but only when it disagrees with British Foreign Policy. Hence legitimate resistance to the occupation in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine is condemned, whilst the brutal terrorism of Israel, the US and UK is presented as justifiable. In contrast, the Islamic view does not change with the whims of the politicians and maintains that the targetting of civilians is forbidden and cannot be justified to achieve political ends.

These would be, behind closed doors of the board rooms of some of Britain’s biggest firms, particularly those in the Oil Industry.

Despite harsh criticism of the Libyan regime and its oppressive treatment of its citizens, the release of al-Megrahi is widely seen as a move to improve Britain’s already rewarding trade relations with Libya. UK exports to Libya rose 21% last year to total £280m and Libya is soon to become the leading oil exporter in Africa making Britain very keen to further increase its trade relations.

Despite all the talk of promoting human rights, The West are happy to maintain business links with a long list of despots including Islam Karimov “the butcher of Andijan” and King Abdullah to name but a few. Western foreign policy puts business and strategic interests before lives and principle.

1,000,000,000 PEOPLE HUNGRY UN Food & Agriculture Organisation announced, a record one billion people are reported to be undernourished and is blaming the global financial crisis for a surge of 100 million more hungry since last year.

All of this throws dirt on the UN's belief that poverty can be completely eradicated by 2025.

Even with a cratered global economy the

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underlying inequities of Capitalism are clearly seen - agriculturally rich countries that have starving people. Already in a frighteningly quick manner this situation is set to worsen, with the recent increase in 'landgrabbing'; whereby wealthy countries are purchasing large tracts of arable land in the poorest of nations. An example of the scale of such ‘landgrabbing’ is when earlier in the year it transpired that the Korean giant Daewoo had made a deal with the government of Madagascar to lease 1.3 million hectares of land - or half the arable land on the island. This is a country that is barely able to feed itself and where half of the island's children under the age of 5 are malnourished.

MP AND MUSLIM MARRIAGES The story of a particular wedding at the London Muslim Centre certainly did not have a fairy tale ending. An important event of Bodrul Islam’s and Mahbuba Kamali’s life, the wedding attended by the MP for Poplar & Canning Town, Jim Fitzpatrick, descended into farce as he decided to walk out in protest at his “intolerance” of gender segregation. Calling the event “a very exceptional occasion, it's a new occurrence”, the MP not only demonstrated his ignorance of Islamic etiquette but also of the Muslims he claims to represent, who have been holding such weddings for many years. By usurping the limelight and attempting to use it as cheap political fodder, Fitzpatrick exhibited his utter contempt for the newly weds and also his shoddy brand of politics. His actions are suggestive of the hostility held by Westminster towards Islam, as he attempted to hijack an established religious practice to promote an intellectually bankrupt policy of community cohesion and integration.

This shows that despite the attempts by British Muslims to welcome non-Muslims to their communities with open arms the political establishment shall not be satisfied until Muslims surrender every Islamic value that they hold close to their hearts and submit to the policy of one sided assimilation, not mutual integration.

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Editorial revealed in this Quran and in the Sunnah of the Prophet (Sallahu alayhi wasallam) - that will restore dignity and security to this Ummah, so that mankind can be led out of darkness.

As Muslims feel sorrow at the passing of our faithful friend, the blessed month of Ramadhan, we also feel joy at the coming of Eid. Ramadhan is the month we have remembered Allah and, inshallah, become closer to Him through fasting, recitation of the Quran, and standing in nightly prayer. It's also a month - just like the month of Dhul Hijja, where Muslims feel united as one Ummah.

But for so many years Ramadhan and Eid have been tinged with sadness as our Ummah suffers under occupation, oppression, poverty and hardship. The Muslims of Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Chechnya and elsewhere face the hardship of occupation. Muslims in Central Asia feel the bite of tyrant rulers, as do those in the Arab world.

Muslims in Pakistan feel caught between the twin menaces of America and India - and feel the treachery of their politicians complicit with America, www.khilafah.eu

and the fear of civilians being bombed in town centres. Pakistan is feeling the fear of instability and insecurity that always accompanies the United States' interference anywhere.

But as we also cover in this month's magazine, the Muslims of Somalia have once again become the focus of attention of the world's powers. In August 2009 Hilary Clinton visited the region, a mere two years after America sponsored Ethiopia to attack and destabilise the region.

But its worth remembering that Ramadhan was the month the Quran was revealed for the Universe.

Allah SWT reminds us: “Alif Laam Ra This is a Book We have revealed to you, So that you can bring mankind out of darkness into the light” [Surah Ibrahim Verse 1] The Khilafah is our only hope to implement the Ahkaam of Allah -

We urge all Muslims everywhere to work for the return of the Khilafah in the Muslim world - according to the Prophet's method of intellectual and political struggle. Our article that discusses the coming of Imam Mahdi places firmly in context the noble prophesies of Allah's beloved Messenger relating to this issue, and the commands to work for the Khilafah.

So, use this Ramadhan to mark a promise to Allah, to renew your efforts for His sake, so that we can be amongst those who can say we helped in Cause of Allah.

“O you who believe! Be you helpers of Allah. As said Jesus the son of Mary to the Disciples, "Who will be my helpers to (the work of) Allah." Said the disciples, "We are Allah's helpers!" then a portion of the Children of Israel believed, and a portion disbelieved. But We gave power to those who believed, against their enemies, and they became the ones that prevailed.” [TMQ Surah 61:14] We pray Allah accepts all the good deeds of all the Muslims in the blessed month and wish all our reader Eid Mubarak.

Khilafah Magazine :: September 2009 :: 3

Sajjad Khan

SOMALIA: In the Spotlight

The visit by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to Africa and her meeting with Somalia President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed brings back into sharp focus the ongoing instability which is Somalia, considered by the UN as having one of the worst humanitarian crisis in Africa. Aid groups now believe one third of the country or almost 4 million people need food aid. It seems as in Pakistan and Afghanistan, America is intent on using the War on Terror as a convenient pretext to execute its wider foreign policy goals. Somalia which has seen almost two decades of chaos and conflict, had started to enjoy some stability in the second half of 2006 until America’s proxy Ethiopia decided to brutally invade the country to remove the 4 :: Khilafah Magazine :: September 2009

Supreme Islamic Courts Council (SICC), thus leading to over 1 million refugees who have now been displaced from the ensuing fighting. Yet despite all this suffering America is now threatening countries like Eritrea and those opposing Somalia’s transitional government with a view of escalating action in the horn of Africa alongside its current military operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As many had predicted America’s foreign policy goals have not altered in substance at all since the change of occupant in the Whitehouse in 2009.

There is a major myth that surrounds Somalia. Firstly that Somalia is a natural failed state always in the midst of a civil

war between competing actors, first tribal warlords, then between secular and Islamic factions and now between moderate Islamists under Sharif and the more radical elements within Al Shabab.

However though this is partly true, it is also clear that there has been significant foreign interference from countries like the United States and her allies, specifically Ethiopia who has engaged in a bloody war financed by her western masters under the so called War on Terror.

Spurred on and financed by the Bush Whitehouse in 2006, the Ethiopian army massacred scores of civilians, committed untold war crimes and was actively supported by increasing numbers of American military strikes under the pretence that the SICC was a front for extremism. This was despite numerous independent reports that cited the significant benefits that SICC had brought in terms of stabilising Somalia. Officially having withdrawn from Somalia in January 2009, Ethiopian troops remain engaged in Somalia intervening when necessary to ensure western interests are achieved. Coupled with the Ethiopian influence is the pernicious occupation of African Union Troops who are officially present for peacekeeping, yet are in cahoots with delivering western objectives in the country.

Sheikh Sharif though on paper the President of Somalia is actually the president of his own living room, as his militia barely controls any of the country.

Sharif having been in exile for almost two years (a portion of that time he was interrogated by US embassy officials in www.khilafah.eu

divided among three). AFRICOM commenced its operational life in October 2008 and aimed initially to have an operational headquarters in Africa, however Washington has been unable to persuade any of its regional allies as yet to host its command operation. America’s principal strategic concerns at this time according to commentators including the US private forecasting group Stratfor are: 1.

Kenya) before he ascended to the Presidency, has a minimal political base in the country and has no real authority.

Even the vote to elect Sharif as President was taken by the transitional parliament in neighbouring Djibouti as it was too dangerous to do it in Somalia. Sharif’s meeting with Clinton was also outside the country, as it was deemed too risky for the former first lady to travel. Sharif who was formerly the head of the political wing of the SICC has now been embraced

Fostering maritime security and stability in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea region, where Nigeria exercises considerable influence;

2.

Combating piracy off the coast of the Horn of Africa;

3.

Denying sanctuary to international terrorist organizations; and

4.

Undermining the spread of radical Islam in the Horn of Africa and across North Africa.

As can be seen from these objectives, America is actively interested in the African continent as evidenced that both President Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton have both visited the continent in their first few months of ascending to office. America is also concerned about China’s growing

...Somalia and Africa have become the latest front in America’s desire to control the resources of the world.

by Ethiopia and America as their proxy, believing that he can block stronger Islamic elements coming into power.

Hilary Clinton’s clear support for the current transitional government is an attempt to consolidate Sharif’s position politically while continuing to support his militia with weapons directly and indirectly via Ethiopia. In addition by continuing to support Sharif against so called extremist elements, America can continue its longer term aim to justify a full military presence in Africa via its new command AFRICOM. Intended to address Africa’s emerging strategic importance to the United States, AFRICOM has consolidated all of Africa except Egypt under one geographic combatant command (it was formerly www.khilafah.eu

footprint in Africa, with Beijing steadily increasing her influence and economic clout in many countries. Driven by its relentless pursuit of mineral and other resources China has been striking several high profile deals on the continent which has got Washington extremely nervous that it is losing the continent to its eastern rival. One of the criticisms of the Bush administration by many analysts, including some who now serve in the current administration, is that America was becoming so bogged down in Iraq that it took its eye off the ball in many other crucial areas of the globe including Africa. Concerns about oil, mineral resources, Chinese influence and the strategic importance of key waterways are obviously important to Washington but so is the concern that the Islamic ideology

will become dominant in the horn of Africa aligning itself with the greater Middle East. Indeed many in the Pentagon are now openly saying that there has been a migration of extremists travelling from Afghanistan and Pakistan to states like Somalia and Yemen. By articulating this, it is clear that Washington is now openly extending its current war in South Asia to the horn of Africa under the pretext of national security and defeating terrorism.

What is therefore concerning is that Somalia and Africa have become the latest front in America’s desire to control the resources of the world. America under every President continues the same policies of supporting brutal leaders who can best protect their geopolitical interests whether it be in the Middle East, South Asia or in Africa. Rather than spend a few hundred billion dollars (a fraction of what it has spent to protect the large banks) which would wipe poverty and disease off the African continent, America continues to believe that military occupation, missile strikes and massive political interference in other countries internal affairs remains the best strategy.

Indeed, unbelievably, Hilary Clinton on her visit to Kenya had the gall to say that Eritrea’s intrusion into Somalia’s affairs was unacceptable, yet said nothing either about Ethiopia’s or Washington’s actions over recent years. All foreign intrusion including massive American interference is unacceptable and asking for more foreign troops to occupy Somalia as Sharif has, is just throwing more oil on the fire.

Somalia was stable in 2006, yet this was not sufficient for the United States who wanted a puppet and absolute control in Mogadishu. In doing so they are directly responsible for the violence and instability that now characterise Somalia.

Of course the US will always act in their national interest regardless of who is President, yet why deny this principle to the rest of the world. The biggest security threat to the peoples of Cairo, Damascus and Mogadishu are not plans hatched from Somalia or the horn of Africa but those that emanate on a daily basis from Washington, Tel Aviv and London. A country that led the world in the commercial exploitation of slaves from Africa in the 19th century now continues to play politics with the lives of ordinary Africans in the 21st century through supporting illegitimate leaders like Sharif Khilafah Magazine :: September 2009 :: 5

fallen out of favour or counter weapons of mass destruction, the pretexts and lies have been endless.

and the brutal Ethiopian military. Fear of the return of the Khilafah stretching from Asia to the horn of Africa keeps American policymakers awake at night and helps to explain America’s militaristic policy. This is not a paranoid view as can be seen from AFRICOM’s agenda and according to opinion polls carried out by for instance the University of Maryland, a significant majority of Muslims support the establishment of a unified Khilafah in the Muslim world, the establishment of such an entity is therefore not a question of if but when. Also it is no coincidence that Nigeria and Angola, the continent’s two leading oil exporters have become Washington’s best friends as it seeks alternatives to the volatile supply from the Middle East. Africa has therefore yet again become a continent where the major powers are competing for the continents key resources. America, China and Europe are all seeking to colonise the continent as their predecessors did in prior ages.

Therefore the following points should be noted 1.

Somalia like the majority of the Muslim world in modern times has faced the scourge of western supported occupation ever since Napoleon landed in Egypt in 1799. Regardless of the century or decade, western leaders have found some pretext to occupy the Muslim world whether it be to attack the Ottoman Caliphate, enhance commerce, act against the nationalisation of oil, deal with proxy leaders which have

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2.

Added to this now, is the latest pretext, the need to stop piracy and extremism a rationale which even some western commentators believe to be counter productive as Somalia continues to suffer.

3.

There should therefore be a complete withdrawal of all foreign forces from Somalia and the wider region. The continued presence of foreign forces and influence cannot add to developing good governance or stability in the country.

4.

Fourthly any kind of ethnic or tribal division of Somalia along the lines of some kind of Iraqi partition should be rejected.

5.

Fifthly though there is chronic violence in Somalia today it is not a civil war of al Shabab against the transitional government as some would simplistically conclude. There are numerous conflicts going on in Somalia many of them involving foreign countries and AU peacekeepers.

6.

Sixthly it is clear that for there to be real economic empowerment for the citizens of Somalia, the cartel of warlords, pirates and warring tribes must be broken up.

7.

Lastly America’s involvement in Somalia cannot be separated from its wider destabilising strategy in the Middle East and South Asia.

The occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan is now developing into a more sinister war in Pakistan and Somalia through repeated missile attacks, proxy wars and covert operations. This therefore clearly illustrates that America’s agenda post Iraq is to continue its strategy to weaken important countries in the Muslim world.

To solve not just the instability of Somalia but of the rest of the Muslim world therefore requires a higher goal to be aspired to. Violence targeting other Muslims should be rejected as this is what

the enemies of Islam want, to pit Muslim against Muslim, to pit brother against brother to pit tribe against tribe. This is the American plan of divide and rule in Afghanistan and Pakistan and this is what America seeks to do in Somalia by supporting Sharif and his militia against Al Shabab, to ensure any kind of resistance to the United States is crushed.

Therefore only a constructive and coherent effort at re-establishing the Khilafah can address this problem. Only with a comprehensive elimination of the current constitution, judiciary and systems, and their replacement with the constitution, judiciary and systems of the Islamic Khilafah can the direction of countries like Somalia be comprehensively changed for the better.

After the failed experiments of warlords, anarchy and foreign occupation, it is only the Khilafah that can bring stability, accountability and prosperity back to the political system, develop strong economic foundations for the state and really ensure political decisions on the future of countries like Somalia are made at home and not in Washington. It is only the Khilafah that has the track record of uniting Arab, Asian and African, of uniting white, brown and black under the Islamic aqeedah. It can only be the Khilafah that can bring an end to the rule of warlords, despots and pirates. It can only be the Khilafah that can be trusted with key resources which would be utilised for the benefit of the many and not the few. It can only be the Khilafah that can end foreign occupation and political interference and bring stature and respect back again to the Muslim world.

What is becoming increasingly clear is that the Muslim world lacks a coherent presence in the international arena to address issues such as those that emanate in Somalia. By remaining divided and split into 50 plus states, it becomes easier for outside powers to manipulate the situation and undermine our security, just look at Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine.

What Muslims need to do is remove their current leaderships, unify their resources and implement the Islamic Khilafah (Caliphate) system. Only then can the Muslim world adequately confront all the challenges of the 21st century and compete effectively with the leading nations of the world.

www.khilafah.eu

Conference of the Ulema -

Indonesia “Nor should the Believers all go forth together: if a contingent from every expedition remained behind, they could devote themselves to studies in religion, and admonish the people when they return to them, that thus they (may learn) to guard themselves (against evil)” [9:122] Allah (SWT) in surat Taubah, indicates that not all should go forth together, but some of you must devote themselves to studies in the deen, so that upon their return, those who know can teach the others to guard themselves against evil.

“For truly is they want to go out (khuruj) dawah, tabligh, they need to prepare themselves. This preparation www.khilafah.eu

involves knowledge.” [9:46] “The one who fears Allah amongst His servants are those who have knowledge, verily, God is almighty, much-forgiving”. [35:28] Those who have knowledge are not like those who do not, in the hadith Narrated

by Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu Darda’ (r.a). “The ‘Ulama are the inheritors of the Prophets.”

In light of these noble verses and the authentic ahadith Hizb ut-Tahrir organised one of the most important conferences in recent history following the destruction of the Khilafah. There has been four occasions in the past where discussions took place by the Ulama over the need for the Khilafah

and the obligations to work for it. In fact this is the only serious discussion that has taken place which was not sponsored with ill intent. In the last 80 years there has been four conventions focused on the Khilafah but with nationalistic and personal agendas.

1. CONVENTION IN MECCA IN 1924 Four month after the abolishment of the Khilafah, in July 1924, during the hadj time a convention was held in Mecca. It was called by Sharif Husayn of Mecca (1853-1931) with the aim to legitimize his claims to universal Muslim leadership. In this convention the Arab participants dominated. The dominant issue, apart from Sharif Husayn’s claim to Khilafah Magazine :: September 2009 :: 7

THE CONFERENCE OF ULAMA, INDONESIA, 2009 The Muktamar Ulama took place in the most populous Muslim country. A country where the University of Maryland survey (2008) indicated at least 70% of the population want the Shariah. The 28th Rajab commemorated the anniversary of the destruction of the Khilafah at the hands of Mustafa Kamal.

Hizb ut-Tahrir from the Wilayah of Indonesia gathered Ulama from the four corners of Indonesia from Aceh to Sulawesi, Kalimanta, Java and Papua. It was the first conference that gathered Ulama from every corner of Indonesia (6,000 in total) as well as throughout the Muslim world.

be Khaleefah, was the unworkable notion of Arab unity as a precondition for Muslim unity.

2. THE CALIPHATE CONGRESS OF CAIRO IN 1926 This congress was called by the Egyptian Ulama with the aim to discuss the issue of the Khilafah. It was believed that the Egyptian king Fuad (reigned 1923-1936) wanted to legitimise his own claim to the Caliphate by sponsoring this convention.

3. CONGRESS OF JERUSALEM IN 1931 The General Muslim Congress in Jerusalem (al-Quds) was convened by Sayyid Amin al-Husayni, grand Mufti of Palestine, in December 1931. The aim of the Congress, as was stated in invitation letters, was to discuss three main issues: the conditions of the Muslims in the world, the holy Islamic places in Palestine and other issues concerning all Muslims. Circa 133 delegates from 22 countries, mainly in a private capacity, attended this Congress.

4. CONGRESS OF EUROPEAN MUSLIMS, GENEVA, IN 1935 This congress was a follow-up to the General Muslim Congress in Jerusalem, where it was suggested that regional and local conventions should be organised in 8 :: Khilafah Magazine :: September 2009

order to develop Muslim solidarity and a sense of unity. Congress objectives included; to strengthen ties between Muslims of Europe, enhance cooperation, Islamic virtues and general culture. Protection of the Islamic holy places in Palestine was also on the agenda and an expose des motifs was naively sent by the Congress to the League of Nations and the British

A warm welcoming orange banner and black flags led to the hall from the roads surrounding the conference venue and marked the presence of conference organisers - Hizb ut-Tahrir – at the 10,000 capacity arena.

The entrances was bustling with delegates and stalls filled with literature, on various aspects of the ruling in Islam, including: -

The System of Islam Social System

Glad tidings to the Islamic Ummah that the dawn of the Khilafah’s emergence is soon to come, its time has arrived and it will accomplish Allah (swt)’s promise government with regard to this issue.

The Congress was attended by 66 delegates from 11 European countries (Yugoslavia, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Romania, England, Italy and France) as well as invitees from nine Muslim countries.

The motives for each of the conferences above had very little to do with unifying Muslims and their lands. Rather they were sponsored by those who had illegitimately usurped power, or those who masterminded the destruction of the Khilafah State.

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Ruling System Economic System Concepts of Hizb ut-Tahrir Judiciary The Islamic Personality How the Khilafah was destroyed

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Institutions of State in the Khilafah

The conference hall was filled to capacity. Discussions flourished on governance, government accountability, and economy, amongst many topics.

Various Ulama addressed the conference from a host of Muslim countries and in www.khilafah.eu

Allah (swt) has granted us of knowledge and understanding of Islam’s commands, we shall approach the people of power in the Muslim countries to provide Nusrah to those who are working to establish the Khilafah, may Allah (swt) honour them with his bounties as He (swt) honoured the Ansar (r.a) of Madeenah.

the end the following resolution was adopted and signed.

Resolution passed at the Conference of the Ulama - Held on 28th Rajab 1430 Hijri (21st July 2009 CE) Allah (swt) informs: It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. [TMQ al Faatir: 28] And His Prophet (saw) said: “The ‘Ulama are the inheritors of the Prophets”, narrated by Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu Darda’ (r.a).

We, the ‘Ulama from various Muslim countries participating in our conference, stress on the following: 1.

Khilafah is a great Obligation, and to work for its re-establishment is mandatory for every single Muslim, and this obligation is so vital that the companions of the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) chose the work to establish the Khaleefah before burying the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam), though the burial was also fard upon them. The choice of priority by companions signifies the importance of the obligation of accomplishing this great fard. Also, the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) described the death of a person who does not give his pledge of allegiance (Bay’ah) to a Khaleefah, if he www.khilafah.eu

is present, or does not work to establish the Khilafah if it is not in existence, as the death of Jahilliyah (ignorance). The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said: “Whosoever takes off his hand from allegiance, will meet Allah on the day of Resurrection without having any proof for him, and whosoever dies whilst there was no Bay’ah on his neck (to a Khaleefah), he dies the death of Jahilliyyah.”

For a Bay’ah to be legitimate (Sharai’i), it can only be to a Khaleefah. In addition, vital tasks such as implementing the Hudood, applying the Sharee’ah, mobilising the armies, spreading the message of Islam and Opening of lands (Fath) etc. all require an Imam, the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said: ”Behold, the Imam is but a shield from behind whom the people fight and by whom they protect themselves.”

2.

We regard with great respect, the persistent & untiring efforts being undertaken by Hizb ut-Tahrir to restore the Islamic way of life by establishing an Islamic State, we support and assist these efforts and the ‘Ulama shall be in the forefront of these efforts to accomplish this great task by the Will of Allah.

3.

4.

This conference of ours is to alert & warn and give glad tidings: Warning to the Kuffar who have usurped and colonised our lands and their agent oppressive rulers that the Islamic Ummah very well remembers all their crimes against Islam and Muslims. We also warn them that when the Khilafah is established by the will of Allah, they shall be prosecuted as legitimately provided in the Islamic Sharee’ah, and Allah (swt) is sufficient Helper.

Glad tidings to the Islamic Ummah that the dawn of the Khilafah’s emergence is soon to come, its time has arrived and it will accomplish Allah (swt)’s promise that He made: “Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them,” [TMQ an Noor: 55] This will also realise the glad tiding given by the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) in an authentic hadith narrated in the Musnad of Ahmad: “And then there will be Khilafah on the method of Prophethood.”

“And on that day, the believers (i.e.

Muslims) will rejoice at the victory given by Allah–With the Help of Allah.

He helps whom He wills, and He is the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful.” [TMQ Ar Room: 04].

28th Rajab, 1430 A.H 21st July, 2009 C.E

We shall proceed with all that Khilafah Magazine :: September 2009 :: 9

Zaynab Ismail

Teen crisis is Societal crisis On the 1st September, the NSPCC released a new condemning survey spelling out the reality of teenage relationships in the UK. The survey explored the lives of 13-17 year olds where alarmingly 1 in 6 teenage girls felt pressured to sleep with their boyfriends and 1 in 16 had been raped. Violence is also an increasing factor in the lives of the young girls as one quarter said they had been slapped, punched or beaten by their boyfriends. Unsurprisingly three quarters of girls found their experiences harmful. Sadly this is just one aspect of the prolific teenage dating scene.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STI’s) which affect fertility and even life expectancy have only increased, despite government initiatives. STI’s have increased by a whopping 58% between 2003 and 2007 amongst under-16s.

Additionally the much debated issue of teenage pregnancies is rarely out of the news, recently punctuated by the 13 year old boy who fathered a child with his 15 year old girl friend.

Over the years the government has ploughed millions of pounds into numerous initiatives to curb the rise of these problems. Blame is put down to numerous issues, Pat Troop, chief executive of the Health Protection Agency cited mediums like television programmes as a source of influence since they encouraged unsafe sex. To curb these and other influences the call from bodies like the NSPCC and the government is to increase sexual education. In a bid to catch them as young as possible the controversial SRE lessons has been working its way into UK schools. These lessons are aimed at 10 :: Khilafah Magazine :: September 2009

www.khilafah.eu

teaching children as young as 5 a range of issues from different ‘kinds’ of relationships to the names of intimate body parts. In trying to protect the youths right to choice the government initiatives are aimed at helping them make an informed decision whilst providing them with facilities like sexual health clinics to allow them to do what they wish as long as its ‘safe’. Despite many attempts the government continues to fail to make any major dent in these problems. The recent £250 million Teenage Pregnancy Strategy was deemed “absolutely disastrous” by David Paton, a professor at Nottingham University Business school at a meeting with government officials. It is clear that the strategy to solve and cater to the results of a certain kind of behaviour has failed and will continue to fail.

Despite the government’s best efforts it is clear that the problem is not a lack of knowledge amongst teenagers, since no

The values these teenagers learn from society is to live life in any way they want, to think only of themselves and their enjoyment in their daily decisions. matter how much money, education and facilities are offered, the quality of teenagers lives are getting increasingly worse. One aspect of the lives of youth which is never under discussion is what really drives them to ignore education or even common sense and to act in a potentially harmful way. The values these teenagers learn from society is to live life in any way they want, to think only of themselves and their enjoyment in their daily decisions. The idea of personal freedom means that regardless of abundant education and publicity rigorously depicting the horrors of their actions, the individual is still free to do as they wish regardless of how it affects them and the society they live in. A lack of accountability accompanies this value leading to irresponsible behaviour, leading to insecure relationships, the spreading of STI’s and babies being born to children.

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Problems relating to teenagers are the tip of the western secular society’s iceberg. However instead of considering their own issues, the western governments, politicians, and media have taken it upon themselves to be saviours of Muslims, calling for us to change (or rather distort) our deen and to come to the “light” of their values of freedom. Last month, UK minister Jim Fitzpatrick accused the segregation of men and women at Islamic weddings as a sign of increasing radicalisation amongst Muslims in Britain. This August, Sayeda Versi, the Conservative Party representative for Community Cohesion attacked the issue of polygamy in the Muslim community in the UK. As the ummah of the Prophet (saw) who have been ordered to protect our deen at all times and spread the dawah of Islam we should not allow these attacks to shame us into the changing and reforming of our deen. We need to make

the carriers of backward ideas such as “freedom” think first about their values and way of life and present Islam as having real solutions for the misery sown within societies by the Western liberal system.

Khilafah Magazine :: September 2009 :: 11

Yahya Nisbet

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ULEMA (Scholars) inhabitants of His earth and the whales of the sea, all yusalloona (pray for and praise) over those who teach the people the good.”

In the tafsir of ibn Kathir of the above verse came the following: Ibn `Abbas said, "The one among His servants who knows about Ar-Rahman, is the one who does not associate anything in worship with Him; the one who accepts as lawful that which He has permitted and accepts as unlawful that which He has prohibited. He obeys His commands and is certain that he will meet Him and be brought to account for his deeds.

Sa`id bin Jubayr said, “Fear is what stands between you and disobeying Allah, may He be glorified.”

In Surah Fatir Allah says: “It is only those who have knowledge among His servants that fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Almighty, Oft-Forgiving” [35:28] The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said: "The ulama are the inheritors of the Prophets" The ulama are the inheritors of the Prophets, for they were the ones who delivered the message of Islam to the human beings so that Allah’s blessing spreads to all of the world, so it is the main duty of the ulama to continue this work since the Prophets have passed on.

In the tafsir of Qurtabi of the verse on surah Fatir: (It is only those who have knowledge among His servants that fear Allah.) Mujahid said: The alim is the one who fears Allah Azza wa Jalla.

Ar-Rabee’ bin Anas said: Whoever does not fear Allah is not an Alim.

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Saeed bin Ibrahim was asked: Who is the most knowledgeable? He said: The most fearing of his Lord, azza wa Jalla.

Ali said: "The true, the real faqih is he who does not push people to despair from Allah's mercy, nor lulls them into a false sense of safety from His Punishment, nor gives them license to disobey Allah, nor leaves the Qur'an for something else. There is no good in Ibadah in which there is no knowledge, and there is no knowledge in which there is no understanding, and there is no qira’ah in which there is no reflection in it.”

The messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said: “The superiority of an Alim over the rest of the worshippers is like my superiority over the lowest of you”, then he read the ayah “It is only those who have knowledge among His servants that fear Allah” Allah, His Angels, the inhabitants of His heaven, the

Sufyan Ath-Thawri narrated “It used to be said that the knowledgeable are of three types: (first) one who knows Allah and the command of Allah, (second) one who knows Allah but does not know the command of Allah, and (third) one who knows the command of Allah but does not know Allah. The one who knows Allah and the command of Allah is the one who fears Allah and knows the limits (Hudud) and the obligatory duties (Fara'id). The one who knows Allah but does not know the command of Allah is the one who fears Allah but does not know the limits (Hudud) and the obligatory duties (Fara'id).

The one who knows the command of Allah but does not know Allah is the one who knows the limits (Hudud) and the obligatory duties (Fara'id) but does not fear Allah”.

The critical role of the ulema today is to save this ummah from death. As the colonialists are striving to encourage us to abandon our deen, by re-interpreting it to conform to their own colonialist thoughts, they are using Muslims to do this dirty www.khilafah.eu

work for them. Our own brothers who have studied the details of Islamic Shariah are now being tempted to make statements that please the kuffar, but can only draw Allah’s anger, as instead of submitting to Allah’s pure Shariah, they rather debase themselves by calling to Western thoughts, wholly in contradiction with Islam.

The Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said: “There are 2 types of people if they become good then the Ummah will be good and if they become bad then the Ummah will be bad: the scholars and the rulers” and “Do not ask me about the bad but ask me about the good”. The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) repeated this three times then said, “indeed the worst of the worst are the bad scholars and the best of the good are the good scholars”.

Therefore, the ulama have an important position in the effort to revive the ummah which leads to the reestablishment of the pride of Islam and the Muslims. It is not their role to reform or reinterpret Islam to suit the dominant Western colonialists, rather their role is to study then explain the shariah to the Muslims, such that they are strengthened by it and desire to cling on to it even tighter.

However, we now hear ‘scholars’ proposing that there is no opposition to changing the Shariah to fit the new places and times.

They have put this idea forward as a Shariah principle and is now studied in many of the universities as if it was a vital Islamic idea. The colonialists, however, have exploited it. They have used it to justify accepting the occupation of Palestine by Israel, the cancelling of Jihad, the cancelling of all Islamic rules relating to foreign policy, with the excuse that the times have changed, and the places are not the same as they were at the time of revelation. Also, it is used to accept kufr ideas such as democracy, or to convince the Muslims to participate in the kufr ruling systems.

It is justified chiefly with the claim that Imam Shafii changed his fiqh when he moved to Egypt. Whereas in reality, when he travelled there he met ulema who gave him various hadith, so he changed as a result of the hadith that he was not previously aware of. In his new fiqh, he did www.khilafah.eu

not mention this principle of changing ahkam due to changes in time and place, yet, he is the first and most clear of all of the imams to write and explain his usul. So why is it not there?

He did not even mention one issue built upon this reasoning. He actually said: “It is not for anyone to say this is Halal or this is Haram except from the side of knowledge.

The side of knowledge is what is in the text of the Quran, the Sunnah, the ijmaa’ of Sahaba or Qiyas.

This principle contradicts the Qatii (definite) evidences of the Qur’an: “Say I am on clear proof from my Lord, but you deny it. I have not gotten what you are asking for impatiently. The decision is only for Allah, He declares the truth, and He is the Best of judges.” [al-an’am 57] “And in whatsoever you differ, the decision thereof is with Allah. Such is Allah, my Lord in Whom I put my trust, and to Him I turn in repentance.” [ashshura 10] “And if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day”. [an-nisaa 59] These Ayat give definite proof that the one who has the right to give a judgement of whether an action is good or bad is Allah, not people, nor the times, nor the prevailing trends or whatever.

If we said this is good or bad from our minds or based upon benefits, then we would not need Allah’s judgements, and He would no be our Lord in this. How could our minds know what will be rewarded or punished in the next life?

The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said: “The Halal is clear, and the Haram is clear” Such a principle was certainly not prevalent during the time of the earliest generations. Omar bin abdul Aziz said: “O people, Allah did not send a Prophet after your Prophet, and did not send down a book after this book sent down to him (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam). So what was made Halal by the tongue of His Prophet is Halal until the day of judgement, what was made Haram by the tongue of His Prophet is Haram until the day of judgement.”

Who other than the Scholar is better to carry out the noble duty to work to resume the Islamic way of life, by establishing the Khilafah after it was destroyed? Truly, a devout and sincere scholar is more entitled to this matter, and his place is to be at the forefront of this work. For that, we not only want to say to you “Support us, help us”, but we want to say more than that. “Work with us, and share with us this great honour!” Truly, we are confident and believe in the help of Allah, and the rising again of the dawn of a new Khilafah. Indeed, the glory of Islam and Muslims, with the permission of Allah, is not far away. Allah (SWT) has promised to the Saleheen of His servants.

“Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practice their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam).

And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fasiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).” [An-Nur 24:55] The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said: “Whoever has death come to him while he is seeking knowledge in order to revive Islam with it, will have only one level between him and the Prophets in Jannah.”

Allah says: “The command is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but; that is the straight deen, but most men know not.”

Of course the work for the revival of the deen and return of the Khilafah is an obligation upon all Muslims, not only the Scholars. But the Scholars have an important role in leading and motivating the Ummah to this most vital of work.

Khilafah Magazine :: September 2009 :: 13

Arif Samad

STERN WARNING let’s get real about Climate Change

Reducing carbon emission is about a lifestyle change in the West but in the developing world it is a matter of life and death. The climate change debate is incredibly Western centric. Using growing fears in the west over carbon emissions to take a pot-shot at the relatively recent economic growth in China and India is profoundly disingenuous given that since the industrial revolution the West has been solely responsible for most of the carbon dioxide emissions in the world today.

The members of the Group of Eight (G-8) - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – make up the industrialised world and together account for about two-thirds of the world's economic output. Not coincidently, since 1850 North America and Europe have produced 70% of all carbon dioxide emissions, according to the Stern economic climate change review. Industry, power generation and transport are among the biggest generators of carbon emissions world wide – accounting for 70% of green house gases in the EU. Meanwhile, the 14 :: Khilafah Magazine :: September 2009

US with 5% of the world’s population is the world’s single largest polluter in absolute terms and per capita.

What are the ‘fruits’ of the industrialised Western world: power literally at the flick of a switch; seemingly limitless selection and variety of household goods and appliances from all corners of the earth; unseasonal exotic foods all year round; the most elaborate disposable packaging to entice sale; decadently cheap flights for short-haul weekend breaks; and the ultimate freedom to drive a gas-guzzler a mere two blocks on the daily school run.

In stark contrast, the lot of the mainly poverty stricken developing world including India and China is: for the fortunate few that are connected to power, daily outages; no hot water let alone running clean water; death by every-day aliments eradicated in the west half a century ago; managing the whole family budget (food, housing, transport, education and heath) on less than $2 a day; no safety-net of a welfare state; and no passport to trouble the expanding market for air travel.

Morally it is highly questionable to look to India and China to curtail carbon emissions when they have only recently begun to lift some of their citizens out of abject poverty. Also, it sends the wrong message to other poor developing countries which need to grow, industrialise and reduce poverty.

It is also opportunist as the world is paying the price for mainly past emissions which have hung-around in the earth’s atmosphere for several decades – as the report highlights.

Furthermore, it is questionable whether the west is taking the problem of potentially cataclysmic proportions seriously. Aside from the growing selection of reports on the subject, what has practically been done to reduce carbon emissions? The most notable example is the emission trading scheme, a voluntary, hands-off, free market approach to the problem which excludes key polluting sectors such as Airlines, and big polluting countries such as the US. Indeed since the scheme was launched in January 2005 the value of carbon permits or the cost of polluting has fallen in real terms.

With the tool most favoured by Sir Stern to reduce carbon pollution widely said to be in disarray, it is difficult to see the West matching deeds to laudable words.

Given the lethal cocktail of capitalist industrial policy of the last 150 years mixed with the Western culture of unbridled consumerism, the depletion of the very air that we breathe was predictable. The fall-out will be mostly in the developing world – floods in Bangladesh, migration and food shortages in sub-Saharan Africa. While London and New York can afford to pay to fortify themselves against the impending rising tide, Chittagong and Madagascar can barely afford food for their citizens. A creditable and genuine Western stance would be to take the lead and consistently reduce carbon emissions over a decade - then Western leaders would be taken more seriously in what is a very serious debate about the future of our planet.

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Dr Nasreen Nawaz

Does the Islamic Dress Oppress Women?

(This is a shortened transcript of Dr. Nasreen’s speech from Hizb ut-Tahrir’s UK conference 2009) In a speech to the French parliament on June 22nd, French President Nicholas Sarkozy said: “The issue of the burqa is not a religious issue, it is a question of freedom and of women’s dignity. This is not a religious symbol. It is a sign of the enslavement, the subjugation, the submission of women. I want to say solemnly that it will not be welcome on our territory. We cannot accept that some women in our country are prisoners behind a grille, cut off from social life, deprived of their identity.”

Mr. Sarkozy – a re-known womanizer, a serial adulterer calling for women’s rights! Sarkozy, a staunch supporter of the hijab ban in France that robbed so many of our French sisters of a good education. If there is any subjugation being done here – it is to control the thinking of Muslim women from Islam, its values, its dress code; and if there is any pressure that Muslim women face to submit – it is the pressure to submit to the secular liberal values of Western states, through demonizing Islam and hijab bans.

Sarkozy of course is not alone in his views towards the Muslim woman’s dress – insults against the hijab, jilbab, niqab, and burqa flow freely today from the pages of Western newspapers and the mouths of certain Western

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politicians.

"The Hijab...immediately suggests a belief system in which women are inferior to men which is intolerable here." - Minette Marrin - The Times “...the values these outfits imply are repulsive and insulting to me. I find these clothes to be physical manifestations of outdated traditional practices...that oppress and victimize women, sometimes in the most degrading, cruel and barbaric of ways.” – Deborah Orr – The Independent – regarding the niqab Does covering oppress the woman, make her lower than the man, imprison her, and make her invisible in society?

Are man-made secular liberal values such as freedom the path to the liberation of woman?

DOES ISLAM ENSLAVE THE WOMAN? Mr. Sarkozy says that the burqa or niqab makes the woman a slave to the man.

No-one is arguing that Mr. Sarkozy

doesn’t know a thing or two about “Female enslavement” – he is after all married to Carla Bruni – a former nude model. However, Muslim women do not need lessons in how to dress from the husband of a woman who earnt her fame from showing the world how to undress. Nor do we need lessons in female enslavement from the leaders of any secular liberal state where the enslavement of women is legal under the law, with the existence of brothels, pornography, and lap-dancing clubs - all under the premise of liberty, of sexual freedom – women who serve no other purpose but to service the desires of men.

Some argue that freedom in the West brings the dignity of women. If so, what dignity has it brought the 1 in 4 women who are victims of domestic violence in the UK; what respect did it bring to the 2 women killed each week in Britain by their partners or husband; what dignity has it brought to the 28 million women battered by their husband or partner in the US – the Land of freedom where a Khilafah Magazine :: September 2009 :: 15

woman is beaten every 9 seconds and where battery is the single major cause of injury to women between the ages of 15-44 – more than car accidents, mugging, and rape combined.

If freedom has brought dignity to the woman, then why have 1 in 20 women been raped in the UK; and why is a woman sexually assaulted every 2 and ½ minutes in the US according to the US justice department? What has freedom brought to the 1000’s of women who face sexual harassment in the workplace in Western societies – 50% of women in the UK according to an Equal opportunity commission report in 2000.

So when people say that the woman in Islam is not free to dress how she likes – I say Yes, you’re right, we are not free, we dress according to the Commands of Our Creator – hijab, jilbab, the One who gave us life, the One to whom we will return, the One to Whom we will forever be grateful? He (swt) says, “... let them draw their head-coverings (khumur) over their necks and bosoms (juyub).”

[An-Nur 31]

The Prophet (saw) said, “The world and all things in the world are precious but the most precious thing in the world is a virtuous woman.”

As Muslim women, we embrace a dress that says - we refuse to be an ornament for public display. A dress that says - we demand to be respected as a woman for what we can give to society rather than what fulfillment we can give to men.

This is the liberation that Islam and this dress brings to the woman.

ARE WOMEN INFERIOR/SUBMISSIVE TO THE MAN IN ISLAM? Another accusation that some throw at Muslim women who cover, is that it lowers their status in society, makes them submissive and inferior to the man.

Are we then to believe that the miniskirt makes the woman superior to the man?

Why does the liberation of the woman have to depend on how much flesh she shows in public? What can lower her status more than a society that says it’s ok to use the woman as an object to fulfill men’s desires, it’s ok to degrade her in this way?

We embrace a religion, Islam, that says a man is not free to view a woman as he likes, nor use the woman to sell a product – no amount of money in the world will let you buy the respect of the woman.

“When a young girl begins to menstruate, it is not correct that anything should be seen of her except her face and hands up to the wrist.”

(Hadith Reported by Abu Dawud) “Oh Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (Jalabeeb) all over their bodies.” [AlAhzab:59] We embrace a religion, Islam, that says a man is not free to view a woman as he likes, nor use the woman to sell a product – no amount of money in the world will let you buy the respect of the woman. Why? Because in Islam her honour, her respect is priceless.

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As for submission, If Western politicians and journalists want to talk about the submission of women then why not talk about the constant pressures that so many women face in secular states to submit to expectations in looks, in dress, in her weight, in her body shape - To submit to the idea - “You’re just not quite good enough”. So much so that many women are willing to take drastic actions, sometimes life-threatening actions to change their appearance.

The British Assoc of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons reported a 36% rise in facelifts in the UK, from 2006-7; In American there were 11.7 million cosmetic surgical procedures in 2007 – 91% of these being women; In the UK over 1

million women have an eating disorder; 1 in 20 women in the US have anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder; 1,000 women die every year from anorexia (American Anorexia/Bulimia Association).

Is this the liberation they talk of that will come to the women of Afghanistan, Iraq and the Muslim world via secular, liberal, democracy?

Rather than this dress making us inferior, quite the contrary, it liberates us from the superficial, unrealistic, man-made expectation of looking flawless and feeling inferior if we don’t; It liberates us from the paranoia of never being good enough; It says that my beauty is not up for public discussion; it says that if you want to judge me – judge me on my mind, my skills, my abilities, not on how I look. As for submission - the Muslim woman submits to no man – only to the Creator and what he has asked of her. So when He (swt) asks her to obey her husband, father or brother, she does so with pride, honour, and grace because she knows she is gaining the Blessings and multiple rewards of her Creator (swt). But No Muslim woman would submit to her husband, father, brother if he asked her to uncover – her submission is solely to the One who gave her life.

How can Western leaders and journalists such as Deborrah Orr, Melanie Philips, and Polly Toynbee accuse Islam of making the woman inferior to the man?

Do they not know that: 1. While European thinkers such as Rouseau and Voltaire were still arguing in the 18th century that women did not have the same intellect as men – Islam, in the 7th century defined the man and woman’s intellect and worth as the same because they were created from one soul.

2. While women in secular states had to chain themselves to railings to secure basic rights such as the vote and right to voice their political opinions, Islam obliged women 1400 years ago to be active politically and gave them the vote.

3. While women in the US and Europe www.khilafah.eu

struggled for access to higher education, the history of the Islamic Khilafah is flooded with examples of 1000’s of female scholars, held in high esteem for the level of their knowledge, who would lecture in the main mosques, colleges or universities of the time.

4. Umm al-Darda 7th centruy in Damascus – lectured on hadith and fiqh at one of the main mosques – her students included the Caliph of Damascus; Nafisa bint Hasan 9th century – scholar in Egypt – Imam Shafi would sit in her circle in al-Fustat to learn fiqh when he was at the height of his fame; Sheikha Shuhda 12th century – lectured in one of the main mosques of Baghdad – capital of state and like a university – and taught Imam Bukhari.

While the phrase “Women’s Rights” was still a dirty word in the vocabulary of Western Secular states till the 19th century, Islam 1400 years ago raised the status of the woman in society from being the possession of men, insignificant in society to a human being with her own rights and identity, an equal citizen to the man in educational, economic, and political rights. So for women’s rights and women’s liberation from men one should really look up to Islam for the answers.

DOES ISLAM SUBJUGATE THE WOMAN? Some think the burqa or hijab imprisons the woman, subjugates her, and that we are forced by men to dress like this. We need to examine what really subjugates/controls the Muslim woman?

It is the idea that we cannot think for ourselves? It is forcing us to uncover. It is insulting comments against Islam and our dress code that increases the prejudice and discrimination we face in society.

What has really imprisoned the Muslim woman and cut her off from social life, is the hijab ban in France, Germany, Turkey, and other secular states that has: Denied thousands of Muslim women from access to a good education; Caused Muslim women to be sacked from jobs; Led to Muslim women being denied www.khilafah.eu

medical treatment. These have been the obstacles to Muslim women being active in the social life of Western societies. Not our dress code, certainly not Islam.

Regarding being forced to dress like this, can Western politicians and media really expect that thinking people – Muslim and non-Muslim alike - to believe that the millions of Muslim women who cover across the world do so because they are forced by men?

“Who is better in speech than the one who calls (men) to Allah, works righteousness and says I am one of the muslims.” [41:33]

Rather than being forced to cover, many women who want to wear the hijab and jilbab feel pressure not to because of prejudice against this dress, how others may view them, the impact on their education or jobs, and the anti-Islamic environment in many Western societies.

An-Anti-Islamic environment, made worse by anti-Islamic comments from politicians and journalists that has had disastrous consequences on the lives of ordinary Muslim women living in the West. Like the tragic murder of our Sister Marwa El-Sherbini in Germany earlier this month, killed for her hijab; “A Martyr of the Hijab” as many Muslims have called her. It is scandalous that Western politicians accuse the Islamic dress of oppressing the woman while they have been silent on this bloodbath, this horrific murder, of a young mother, killed because of her Islamic dress in their own backyard.

When people say, we are forced by men to wear this dress. No! It is rather men who are forced by this dress to value the woman as an equal citizen of society rather than an ornament that fulfils their desires. When people say this piece of cloth robs us of our freedom – the response must be “So What!” – Why should we accept this value of freedom that has brought such misery to so many women; this flawed value of freedom that Western states have so clearly illustrated with their hijab bans – the freedom which is “here today and gone tomorrow”. And let’s be clear here – we do not dress like this because of freedom of choice – to accept this would be to also accept the freedom of women to undress as they like, which we can never do as believing women.

HOW THE ISLAMIC LAWS LIBERATE THE WOMAN? It is high time that we turn this debate, this attack on our dress on its head. It is time we expose the false liberation of women claimed by Western freedoms.

These attacks on the hijab, jilbab, and niqab by Western leaders and politicians show that they are using their own burqa to cover up their absolute failure to convince Muslim women of the secular way of life.

Muslim women in Britain have a part to show the wider society that it is manmade laws and expectations that oppress the woman – not Islam; If there is any veil we should lift, it is this veil of lies surrounding our dress and Islam’s treatment of women.

So when people say, this piece of cloth oppresses us. Our response is No; it redefines the way men relate to women in a society, away from an object of pleasure to a human being that has a serious contribution to make in society.

We dress like this because it is a Command from our Creator.

This Islamic dress, along with the other social laws of Islam - the prohibition of socialising between the sexes, the prohibition of pornography and the sexualisation of society, the prohibition of fornication and adultery. All are rules that seek to ensure that the status of the woman is never cheapened. They are rules that seek to ensure that sexual relations and that which leads to it are restricted to marriage. They are rules that seek to ensure that when men and women interact in society, anything that may trigger the sexual desires does not create an obstacle to the healthy cooperation between the sexes. This is the liberation that an Islamic society within the Khilafah state, brings to women and society.

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Kamal abu-Zahrah

The coming of al-Mahdi and the establishment of the Khilafah

The coming of the Mahdi is one of the major signs of Judgement Day. Unlike the minor signs his appearance will signal that the Final Hour is near and that believers must ensure that they are ready to endure its trials and tribulations (fitan). The Mahdi will come at a time when Muslims will have become disunited and where tyranny and corruption will have prevailed. The situation will be so bad that a person would wish he was not born or that if someone died he would wish that it was him.

The story of al-Mahdi, as recounted in the sunnah, is a story of hope where the struggle between Haqq and Baatil results in the believers gaining victory over the disbelievers, where the earth is filled with peace and justice due to the just rule of al-Mahdi. It is narrated by Abu Said al-Khudri (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said: “At the end of the time of my ummah, 18 :: Khilafah Magazine :: September 2009

the Mahdi will appear. Allah will grant him rain, the earth will bring forth its fruits, he will give a lot of money, cattle will increase and the ummah will become great.” (Reported by al-Haakim in his Mustadrak, 4/557-558). The story of mahdi is one that encourages the believers to work for the unity of Muslims and the justice of Islam via the establishment of the Khilafah and the application of the Shariah as the believer knows that one day the whole world will be enlightened by the light of Islam and falsehood shall vanish. But until that day comes he must take encouragement from the bashaarat (glad tidings) of the Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) and strive and work for Islam following the Sunnah of the Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam).

So it is sad to hear sometimes that some find in the story of Mahdi an excuse and justification for inaction, taking the fatalistic view that we as an Ummah

cannot, and even should not, do anything about the corrupt situation until the Mahdi appears at the end of time and establishes the Khilafah.

Clearly, this is not the message the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) took when they heard the story directly from the lips of the Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam).

They heard this story and they took its lessons and they worked tirelessly, first in Makkah in order to establish dar alIslam and then after its establishment in Madinah to consolidate and extend the influence of the Islamic state. After the death of al-Mustafa (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) the Sahabah appointed Khulafah who extended the authority of Islam even further until the light of Islam had spread to a large part of the world. So how can it be that the coming of the Mahdi has become an excuse for the resignation to the corrupt reality? Indeed, if we analyse the authentic reports about the coming of Mahdi from both a prophetic and legal point of view we can conclude the following: The Khilafah will not be established by the Mahdi but he will be a Khaleefah coming after the death of the Khaleefah before him. In other words the Khilafah will have been established by the Muslims before the coming of the Mahdi. This can clearly be seen in the hadith narrated by Umm Salamah (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said: “Disagreement will occur at the death of a caliph and a man of the people of Medina will come flying forth to Mecca. Some of the www.khilafah.eu

people of Mecca will come to him, bring him out against his will and give bay’ah to him between the Rukn and the Maqam. An expeditionary force will then be sent against him from Syria but will be swallowed up in the desert between Mecca and Medina. When the people see that, the God fearing people of Syria and the best people of Iraq will come to him and swear allegiance to him between the Corner and the Maqam. Then there will arise a man of Quraysh whose maternal uncles belong to Kalb and send against them an expeditionary force which will be overcome by them, and that is the expedition of Kalb. Disappointed will be the one who does not receive the booty of Kalb. He will divide the property, and will govern the people by the Sunnah of their Prophet (peace be upon him) and establish Islam on Earth. He will remain seven years…” (Reported by at-Tabarani in al-Awsat. According to Ibn Hajar in his Majma’ az-Zawaid the transmitters in atTabarani’s narration are sound and authentic.)

Notice the above hadith states that disputes will take place at the death of the Khaleefah and consequently a man will come forth who after being given bay’ah as the khaleefah will declare himself to be the Mahdi. So clearly Mahdi will not establish the Khilafah Rashidah that will return as foretold in the ahadith, and as well he will not be the first Khaleefah after the destruction of the Khilafah and nor will he be the last Khaleefah. Rather, he will be a just Khaleefah who will establish the justice of Islam on earth. This is from the perspective of the account of the story as prophesised by the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam).

From a shar’I or legal perspective the hadith which detail the emergence of the Mahdi do not establish any Shariah rules for the reality of Muslims of today, as they relate to a different situation when the Khilafah exists. A Hukm Shar’i or divine rule comes for a manaat (reality to which the hukm pertains) which requires a ruling, which is our current reality and not the end of time which will be signaled by the major signs of the day of judgment. A hukm www.khilafah.eu

shar’i essentially is a request to do an action or refrain from it whether by way of obligation (wujoob), prohibition (tahreem), encouragement (nadb) or discouragement (karaaha). Although the hadiths about the Mahdi do not request the obligation to establish the Khilafah, as they are largely ikhbari (informative) in nature and as the Khilafah will already exist when the Mahdi comes (which is why we say this reality is inapplicable), but they certainly do NOT say it is not obligatory to work for a Khilafah when it does not exist. Indeed the Shariah rules established at the time of the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) are applicable till the end of time as long as they pertain to the reality for which they came. So not only must the Muslims abide by them, so must the Mahdi and so did ‘Isa (Alaihi as salam) who came not as a Prophet but as a follower of the Shariah of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam). So if the coming of a great Prophet like Isa (as), after the prophethood of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam), cannot suspend the rules of the Shariah, how can the coming of the Mahdi suspend them?

As for the hukm shar’i on what to do when the Khilafah does not exist, as we see in our situation today, we need to refer to the following hadith of the Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam) as it addressed that very manaat (reality): “Whosoever dies without a bay'ah on his neck dies the death of Jahiliyyah.”

(Reported by Muslim in his Sahih). This hadith clarifies by its implied meaning (mafhum) that it is not permitted for a Muslim to live without the presence of a Khaleefah as it censures the one who dies without his presence. Consequently, it becomes obligatory on the Muslim to work for the presence of a Khaleefah who will rule justly and work to remove, through only da’wah and political struggle, the Ruwaibidah that are our current despicable rulers. This is our reality today and the work to establish the Khilafah is the vital issue that the Muslims cannot neglect.

the subject as a “get-out” clause to not work for the return of the Khilafah and the giving of bayah to the next Khaleefah. As though the mere mention of Khilafah in the time of Mahdi in some way excuses Muslims from their obligation of removing the corrupt regimes of today. Yes, there will be a Khilafah again inSh’Allah, but will we all be of the ummah that lived in darkness and did nothing to change that situation?

And wait for Allah (SWT) to bring a people that loved him and He (SWT) loved.

Whilst the coming of the Mahdi is an important subject in the books of hadith, it is almost as though some have taken

“O you who believe! If you ever abandon your faith, Allah will in time bring forth (instead of you) people whom he loves and who love Him – humble towards the believers, strong towards all who deny truth: [people] who strive hard in Allah’s cause, and do not fear to be censured by anyone who might censure them” [5:54]

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