Note of FAV board:
It goes without saying that the following text is addressed to the Islam
of the regimes and the defeatists, not the Islam of the freedom fighters
and activists.
ISLAM: A CALL TO ACTION
=======================
As the Zionists accelerate their programme of destruction and genocide in Palestine,
one would expect that the Arab Nation and the Muslim Ummah would unite with an
international community that supports simple justice to stop the course of the
Zionist crimes against the Palestinian people. Shamefully, instead of acting,
Arab leaders limit themselves to a half-hearted language of protest, following
the rather pathetic example of the international community. As for the Muslim
Ummah, although there can be no doubt whatsoever that Palestine must be
supported not by words alone but by deeds as well, no firm action has been
taken against the Zionists.
One would think, then, that any one who has the courage to step forward to
denounce the Zionists and to initiate any sort of action against them would
unite with others who share the same fervour for justice. One would expect
Muslims, Christians and secularists alike to stand firmly together at this
point in time against a blatant Oppressor.
Although Islam is an integral part of Arab civilisation and an integral part
of the history and culture of Palestine as well as the lives of the
Palestinian people, Palestine is not solely an Islamic country, and
Palestinians are Christian and secularist as well as Muslim. In any
case, the call for justice is not strictly an Islamic one, and the need
for liberation of Palestine should know no restrictions nor qualifications.
Historically, Christians, Muslims and secularists alike have been involved
in the liberation movement, and even the most devout of Muslims should
recognise the universal nature of the struggle and to act in unity with
non-Muslims where issues of justice and liberation are concerned.
On the contrary, sadly, not only have there been examples of Muslims who
refuse to unite with Christian and secularist resistance groups in support
of Palestine, but worse even, perhaps, there are those who preach a doctrine
of inaction to their fellow Muslims, on the grounds that Muslims must
'improve' their own religious state before involving themselves in the
cause of Palestine.
For example, at a protest yesterday in Amman, when suggestions were made
to march to the Zionist embassy, a student, rather than supporting this
course of action, began to denounce his fellow students for wearing
revealing clothing, not wearing hijab, not attending Fajr prayers,
and such, and then declared that every one should follow Islam strictly
in their daily lives before even thinking about political action against
the Zionists. This philosophy goes against everything in the Holy Qur'an.
For a start, Islam is a religion that does not separate itself from politics.
It is a religion of Justice and a religion that is intended to protect ALL
members of society. Fundamental to Islam is the individual, intimate
relationship of a Believer with Allah. Holy Qur'an declares again in Surah
al Nisa:
'84. Then fight in Allah's cause --- you are held responsible only for yourself
--- and rouse the Believers.'
In verse after verse, Holy Qur'an states that one cannot be held responsible
for any one but oneself. To pretend to be more concerned with the religious
practices of other Muslims than with fighting on behalf of the oppressed is
NOT true to Islam.
The duty of jihad is integral to Islam, and jihad refers not only to the
spiritual inner war of the soul against evil but to physical struggle against
evil in this world. Again in Surah al Nisa, 5, Holy Qur'an declares:
'And why should you not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who,
being weak, are ill-treated and oppressed? --- men, women, and children,
whose cry is: 'Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are
oppressors, and raise for us from You one who will protect, and raise
for us from you one who will help!'
76. Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who reject
Faith fight in the cause of Evil: so fight against the friends of Shaitan:
feeble indeed is the cunning of Shaitan.'
Of war, Surah al Baqarah, verse 190-193 states:
'Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you... and slay them wherever
you catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out, for
Persecution is worse than slaughter, but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque,
unless they first fight you there, but if they fight you slay them... and
fight them on until there is no more Persecution... but if they cease, let
there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression.'
And in the same Surah later,
'Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter.'
Moreover, the Holy Qur'an speaks out very sharply against those who 'practice'
Islam and yet who make excuses NOT to fight for justice when the need for
resistance arises. The next verse in the same Surah, 77, states:
'Have you not turned your thought to those who were told to hold back their
hands from fight but to establish regular prayers and spend in regular Zakat?
When the order for fighting at length was issued to them, behold! a section
of them feared men as -- or even more than -- they feared Allah. They said,
'Our Lord! why have you ordered us to fight? Would you not grant us respite
to our natural term of life, or near to it?' Say: 'Short is the enjoyment
of this world: the Hereafter is the best for those who do right: never will
you be dealt with unjustly in the least!'
As for the mandate to fight:
95. 'Not equal are those Believers who sit at home except those who are
disabled. And those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their
goods and their persons. Allah has granted a grade higher to those who
strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit at
home. Unto all has Allah promised good: but those who strive and fight
has He distinguished above those who sit at home by a great reward.'
With respect to those who are more concerned with political repercussions
than the cause of justice, verse 141 declares:
' There are the Ones who wait and watch about you: if you do gain a victory
from Allah, they say: 'Were we not with you?' but if the Unbelievers gain
a success, they say to them: 'Did we not gain an advantage over you, and did
we not guard you from the Believers?' But Allah will judge between you on the
Day of Judgment....'
Unfortunately, people always have been quick to make excuses for NOT resisting
injustice and for NOT revolting against oppression. The Holy Qur'an gives
many examples of this, of how the people sought to question Allah's Prophets
and to avoid any commitment to action. In Surah al Baqarah, a dispossessed
people sought to avoid any fight to regain their possessions and homes by
claiming that they could not do so without a strong leader. They asked
Allah to appoint a King for them:
'They said to a Prophet among them, 'Appoint for us a King, that we may
fight in the cause of Allah.' He said, 'Is it not possible, if you were
commanded to fight, that you would not fight?' They said, 'How could we
refuse to fight in the cause of Allah, seeing that we were turned out
of our homes and our families?' But when they were commanded to fight,
they turned back, except a small band among them. But Allah has full
knowledge of those who do wrong.' [And when Allah did appoint a king
over them] they said: 'How can he exercise authority over us when we are
better fitted than he to exercise authority, and he is not even gifted
with wealth in abundance?' He said, 'Allah has chosen him above you, and
has gifted him abundantly with knowledge and bodily prowess: Allah grants
his authority to whom he pleases; Allah is All-Embracing and All-Knowing.'
Baqarah, 246-247
Here it can be seen that even when Allah gave them the leader they claimed
they needed, they made further excuses, questioning the fitness and
superiority of the leader, rather than using their energies to work as a
team against the enemy.
This example as easily could be taken from contemporary political realities.
When will the Arab Nation stop looking for salvation from a leader and trust
their own hearts and strength to fight in the cause of justice? When will
Muslims look to the heart of the Holy Qur'an for guidance instead of sinking
into the bog of centuries of rules and regulations that were made by human
beings rather than by Allah? Does not the Holy Qur'an clearly state that
Muhammad is the LAST Prophet? Does not the Holy Qur'an command all Muslims:
'Read!' The Holy Qur'an is accessible to any one who can read, and its
meanings can be understood by any one with a pure heart and virtuous
motivations. Again and again, the Qur'an states that it was sent down
by Allah as a 'clear writing' as a 'simple writing', not poetry, not
arcane philosophy, but a clear, plain communication from Allah to humanity.
What are the true motives of those who profess to be devout Muslims but who
try to discourage protest and action against the Zionists? Our first qibla
is Jerusalem, and the desecration and destruction of mosques by the Zionists
cannot be allowed to continue. Moreover, it is incumbent upon Muslims to
answer the call of oppressed Muslims anywhere in the world. This quite
apart from a basic human obligation to fight for the oppressed and the
cause of justice and truth. Thus, any Muslim who suggests that we should
focus upon the improvement of our own spirituality at the price of abandoning
Palestine can only be perceived as one of those who 'fears mankind more than
he fears Allah'. Whether the motivation is fear or greed, it certainly is
NOT one that follows Islamic teachings.
To pretend that the motivation is spiritual is nothing but hypocrisy. Holy
Qur'an denounces Hypocrites in no uncertain terms, and the Hypocrites are
those who profess allegiance to Islam and to justice but who are unwilling
to risk their safety, security or possessions in the cause of justice. The
Hypocrites are those who are quick to point out the defects of others and
yet who cover their own flaws and self-righteously claim to be the only
true followers of Islam.
145. The Hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire: no helper will
you find for them.
Surah al 'Anfal states:
49. Lo! the Hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease, say: 'Those
people, their religion has misled them!' But if any trust in Allah, behold!
Allah is Exhalted in Might and Wise.'
Islam came to the Arab Nation as a revolutionary way of life, a philosophy
that protected the weak against oppression and emphasised inalienable human
rights. Through the influence of Islam, and the thirst for knowledge and
improvement that is intrinsic to Islam, the Arab Nation became the most
civilised and advanced in the world. Islam never was intended to become
stagnant. It is a religion that should open the gates of knowledge and
wisdom, not act as a straitjacket to Believers. In Surah al Baqarah, in
the verses known as Ayat al Kursi, it is said, 'La Ikraha fee deen. Qad
tabayyana rushdu min al Ghai'. Let there be no compulsion in Religion:
Truth stands out clearly from Error.' What does this mean except that
mankind has been given the tools with which to distinguish truth from
falsehood? That being so, religion must come from the human heart, and
not be fashioned by human beings into fetters with which to control others.
For Muslims to insist upon enforcement of such regulations as the wearing
of hijab or public prayer as a prerequisite to action goes against the very
spirit of Islam, and is contrary to the example of Prophet Muhammad, PBUH.
The West is fond of pointing out the 'backwardness' of contemporary Islamic
societies, and yet, it is not Islam that is to blame for that, but the
societies that have abused the religion. Rulers of so-called Islamic nations
too often use Islam as a means of oppressing the people, of burdening them
with rules and regulations that were never intended by the Qur'an to be
burdens, but only guideposts to good manners and ethical behaviour. It
is time to go forward under the banner of a true Islamic Revolution, one
that will sweep away all of the dead wood of the past, and restore the
original vision of the Holy Prophet. Allah is Most Merciful and He is
Just. How then can any true Islamic society be anything but merciful and just?
Moreover, the tradition of 'hijab' as 'perfected' by Islamic societies is
not part of the Holy Qur'an. Like so many of the rules and regulations
enforced by so-called Islamic states and organisations, it is an extended
interpretation of verses in the Holy Qur'an, based on certain possibly
presumptuous assumptions of what the Prophet might have approved in terms
of female fashion. Definitions of hijab actually arose from the following
verses in Surah al Nahl:
30. Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard
their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is
well acquainted with all that they do.
31. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and
guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments
except what ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over
their breasts and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their
fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their
brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women,
or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male attendants free of
sexual desires. Or small children who have no carnal knowledge of women,
and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to
their hidden ornaments.
60. Such elderly women as are past the prospect of marriage, there is no
blame on them if they lay aside their garments, provided they make not a
wanton display of their beauty: but it is best for them to be modest, and
Allah is One Who sees and knows all things.
The verses themselves set no unreasonable restrictions and indeed basically
encourage simple modesty in the attire both of men and of women. True to
the spirit of Islam, which is not burdensome, the original Qur'anic command
to modesty is something that should be defined by the individual, and should
come from the heart and not the opinion of another human being. The true
religion of Islam is NOT repressive.
In point of fact, Arab society at the time of the Prophet Muhammad, like
many civilisations in hot climates, was accustomed to varying degrees of
public nudity. The Holy Prophet essentially urged that Believers cover
their private parts and those parts of the body with sexual connotations.
Verse 60 indeed declares that elderly woman have the right to disrobe
completely if they so desire, but that it is 'best to be modest'. The
verse that precedes it speaks about the times of day when nudity was
practiced and how young children basically should ask permission before
interrupting an adult at such times. It is clear that the Holy Prophet
simply wished to promote a sense of modesty and privacy rather than
subscribing to any of the extravagant notions of hijab that have developed
through the centuries. In such a fashion, however, do human beings seek
to exert control over others, by pretending to a greater understanding
of Allah's will than others possess and reducing salvation to a series
of ritualistic gestures rather than true adherence to faith and justice.
The word 'hijab' means protection. Hijab should be a woman's protection
and NOT her burden. I am a Muslim woman living in the West who has chosen
to wear hijab, but I would not presume to tell any sister that she had to
follow my example in this. My reasons are partly personal and partly
political. On a personal level, hijab offers privacy and a sense that
my body belongs to me rather than to the general public. It gives me
dignity and protection from unwanted attentions. Moreover, it sets a good
example for my daughter. On a political level, hijab is an unequivocal
declaration of my support of Islam and a means by which to expose myths
about Islam to non-Muslims. As an educated woman and one without a husband
to dictate my actions, the wearing of hijab cannot be seen as anything but
my own free choice and one based upon knowledge rather than ignorance.
Although I do wear hijab and and never miss the Fajr prayer, I denounce
any Muslim who tries to impose his/her interpretation of religion on the
Resistance movement. It is only Allah who knows all, and who has the
right to judge a person's actions and thoughts. For a Muslim to declare
that his/her brand of Islam must be enforced before any one should think
of opposing the Zionist entity is an outrage. It would be as outrageous
frankly for any secularist to demand that Muslims women repudiate their hijab
and become atheists before joining any liberation movement. The fact of
the matter is that no one is responsible for the soul of another and that
this is something which is between oneself and Allah.
Furthermore, all of these human-imposed 'prerequisites' are nothing more
than excuses for not taking any responsibility and not acting. The Holy
Qur'an was sent down for every one, not simply to a elite group as a tool
by which to rule others. Whether one professes to wait until the
'authorities' give permission to protest or fight against injustice, or to
argue that so-called Islamic regulations and codes must be followed before
any action is taken, or to claim that one does not have the right
qualifications to act, the truth of the matter is that one has a natural
responsibility to ACT, and that responsibility cannot be shuffled off to
some one else or relegated to storage. Holy Qur'an states that no one can
assume the responsibility that belongs to another. There can be no excuses
or pretense that a leader or organisation will assume that responsibility
instead. Every human being has a responsibility to 'fight in the cause of
Allah', which bluntly means to fight in the cause of justice, and in the
cause of the oppressed and the weak against the strong and the oppressor.
For Muslims, the duty is very clear, mandated in Holy Qur'an. Those who
fear mankind more than they fear Allah, and those who are more concerned
with the riches and securities of this life than with the Hereafter are
not true Muslims. That is why jihad is as much an intrinsic part of Islam
as prayer and charity.
In short, there is NO excuse for inaction, NO excuse now for a failure to
protest against the Zionist outrages in Palestine. For any Muslim to use
ANY issue relating to religion to attempt to justify inaction is criminal.
Allah is the Helper of the Helpless, the Protector of those without
Protection and ALL Believers should be prepared to spend their wealth
and their lives in the cause of Justice.
At this point in time, when Palestine is under the worst conditions of
siege, it is criminal for ANY ONE to try to impose his or her own vision
of religion on any resistance or protest movement on behalf of the
Palestinian people. Finally, Islam is a religion that promotes aid to
the weak and the oppressed, not one to be used to oppress others. Shame
upon any Muslim who gives aid to the Oppressor in the name of Islam!
