Captivity, Imprisonment and Trials

By Shaykh Abu Qatadah

(May Allah protect Him from harm)

Is prison a necessary stage for the Dā’ī (the caller to Allāh)? Is it a praised rank, whereby the one that is included in it is better than the one who isn’t because of having entered this stage?
From what there is no doubt about is that the path of Da’wah is filled with dangers and hardships. Allāh, Ta’ālā, said:

Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allāh will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allāh knows all that before putting them to test)[1]

That is because the Dā’ī comes to the people with matters that are new, and he calls them to abandon their profits and their agreements, and he is grieved over the course and the path they are upon, and this is a tremendous matter for the people because he challenges their principles and their greatest convictions. Therefore, the Dā’ī is met with vehemence and violence. And for this reason, hardships separate the ranks [of the people], and through them, the people return to their rightful positions without ambiguity or falsification. Trials make the standing of the people known, and endurance is only for one who is patient. Allāh, Ta’ālā, said:

And We made from among them (Children of Israel), leaders, giving guidance under Our Command, when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in Our Ayāt (proofs)[2]

Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allāh have Mercy upon him, said in the exegesis of this Verse, “With patience and certainty, leadership is attained.” So, patience prevents rashness, and certainty prevents despair. So the Dā’ī has two strengths that fortify him against mistakes. A strength that drives him – and it is certainty, and a strength that bides him time – and it is patience; certainty about the forthcoming promise, and patience in the trials presently occurring.

Tribulations and tests are manifest in every calling, and they surround the insubordinate ones, whether their insubordination was with Truth or with falsehood. It is not only the Prophets or their followers who meet hardships in the path of their Da’wah, but rather, all those who come to the people with something new. But what distinguishes the people of Truth from others regarding this is that the difficulties [faced by] the Prophets and their followers is for the sake of Allāh:

That is because they suffer neither thirst nor fatigue, nor hunger in the Cause of Allāh, nor they take any step to raise the anger of disbelievers nor inflict any injury upon an enemy but is written to their credit as a deed of righteousness.[3]

But as for the others, their hardships are a plague for them, as Allāh, Ta’ālā, said:

“Labouring (hard in the worldly life by worshipping others besides Allāh), weary (in the Hereafter with humility and disgrace). They will enter in the hot blazing Fire”. [4]

And as He, Ta’ālā, said:

Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the Path of Allāh, and so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will be overcome. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell[5]

So tribulations are manifest in the course of the Da’wāt (callings), because the presence of the enemies are from the indications of Allāh’s Victory to His Awliyā‘. Allāh, Ta’ālā, said:

And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies – Shayāt īn (devils) among mankind and Jinn[6]

And it is one of the implications of the Name of Allāh: Al-Muntaqim (the Avenger).

The disparity amongst people is a cosmic Sunnah, and so is their scrambling so that each one of them achieves the goals he is striving towards. And the equilibrium between the two parties comes through the attainment of the Victory and the defeat extended in the Qur’ān. There is no Divine injunction except that it is an element from the elements of Victory, and there is no violation of the Sharī’ah except that it is a factor from the factors of defeat.

Prison is one of the manifestations of tribulation, and is one of the forms of torment with which every party threatens the other, as Fir’awn menacingly said to Mūsā, Peace be upon him,

(Fir’awn) said: “If you choose an Ilāh (god) other than me, I will certainly put you among the prisoners.”[7]

And it was one of the choices of Quraysh in their torment of the Messenger of Allāh, Peace and Blessings be upon him;

And (remember) when the disbelievers plotted against you (O Muhammad) to imprison you, or to kill you, or to get you out (from Makkah) [8]

And this is because prison is one of the forms of psychological and physical torment, and it shackles the will of the human being and prohibits him from exercising his civil and human [rights]. And for the Dā’ī, it is even more unbearable and fatiguing because it separates between the Dā’ī and the surrounding he needs for his Da’wah. The work of the Dā’ī is the light within the people, and [it is] teaching them what is good, and winning followers for his call, and advancing his call to the individuals on the way. So prison is a deprivation for him of all this because the Dā’ī is isolated from his surroundings so as to prevent him from impacting and aquiring [followers].

In this contemporary estrangement (Ghurbah), the callers began to call to Allāh and the Sunnah of vindication has been completed between the Party of Hāq and the party of Bātil, and the Tāghūt has filled the prisons with the callers, and the forms of tribulation have recurred. And until now, [many] large groups have been put in prison. But what did prison do to them?

The prison is like a vessel whose colour is established depending on the colour of what is within it. Some of them deteriorated and fell, and usually, those are a minority that are not noticed. But the majority emerged from prison carrying memories of pain and torment, emerging to write to the people Karbala-like memoirs, full of weeping and lamentation, every one of the [writers] attempts to draw the readers’ emotions towards him with his work, and [attempts] to win their pity over it. And there is a form of literature found in the Islāmic libraries that exemplify this form of art, that of weeping and Karbala-like lamentation. And the intention behind this is to hang medals over the chests so as to indicate that this man has been tortured and beaten. And until now, there has not emerged from this afflicted group a work or works resulting from their experience that may be a provision for the coming generation.

So prison is a trial; it will either break [you], or squeeze [you], or profit [you] so that the imprisoned one will emerge purified of all impurities – impurities of thought and impurities within his Nafs, so that his insight ascends, and his Nafs is polished in its development and training. The one that is tested should not be praised except according to the extent he benefited from the trial. He is not praised and sought after in and of himself, for the person might deteriorate within [prison], or he might emerge from it just as he entered it – ignorant, blind, and with bad character, or he might emerge having risen in rank while he was in it. And all of this depends on the person and how he looks at the phases and manifestations that pass him by in life. And prison is not a praiseworthy stage, nor is it something that a person should seek so as to be better than those close to him; rather he should look to the magnitude of benefit to be gained from such an experience.

– Al-Jihād Wal-Ijtihād 102-104

————————————
[1] Al-‘Ankabūt : 2-3
[2] As-Sajdah : 24
[3] At-Tawbah : 120
[4] Al-Ghāshiyah : 3-4
[5] Al-Anfāl : 36
[6] Al-An’ām : 112
[7] Ash-Shu’arā : 29

[8] Al-Anfāl : 30

The 7 Signs of Destruction for any Nation

By Shaykh Omar Bakri Muhammad

Allah (SWT) has placed certain bounds which if exceeded will result in the destruction of any nation. Currently, there are many nations, such as the USA, who have exceeded these bounds and are therefore destined to be destroyed, by the Will of Allah, very soon.

The seven signs of destruction for any nation

When a nation allows forbidden sexual acts to become rampant, and spreads corruption and oppression on earth in the name of God

Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’aan:

And when they commit faahishah (evil deeds, every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse etc.), they say: “We found our fathers doing it, and Allah (God) has commanded us of it.” Say: “Nay, Allah never commands of faahishah. Do you say of Allah what you know not?” (EMQ al-A’raaf, 7:28)

When people begin to openly indulge in homosexuality, fornication, adultery, incest and other illegal sexual acts, Allah (SWT) will destroy them indiscriminately, like He did to the people of Sodom, who resided in an area which is today the Dead Sea. Allah (SWT) says:

And (remember) (Prophet) Loot (Lot), when he said to his people: “You commit al-faahishah (i.e. sodomy) which none has preceded you in (committing) before.”

“Verily, you do sodomy with men, and rob the wayfarer (travellers etc.)! And practise al-munkar (disbelief and polytheism and every kind of evil wicked deed) in your meetings.” But his people gave no answer except that they said: “Bring Allah’s Torment upon us if you are one of the truthful.” (EMQ al-‘Ankaboot, 29:28–29)

The people of Loot (Lot) belied the warnings.

Verily, We sent against them a violent tornado with showers of stones (which destroyed them all), except the family of Loot (Lot), whom We saved in last hour of the night. (EMQ al-Qamar, 54:33–34)

Countries such as Holland, Germany, Britain and the USA will inevitably face the same destiny as the people of Loot. Allah (SWT) will destroy them and send them all kinds of illnesses, sexually transmitted diseases and “natural disasters”. This is because they permit all forms of forbidden sexual acts and have killed thousands of innocent women and children in Afghanistan and Iraq – all in the name of God, freedom and democracy:

…They say: “We found our fathers doing it, and Allah (God) has commanded us of it.”

When they begin to plot against the believers, and seek to extinguish the Light of Allah

Allah (SWT) says:

They (the disbelievers) want to extinguish Allah’s Light (i.e. Islam) with their mouths, but Allah will not allow except that His Light should be perfected even though the Kaafiroon (disbelievers) hate (it). (EMQ at-Tawbah, 9:32)

And they (disbelievers) plotted, and Allah planned too. And Allah is the Best of the planners. (EMQ Aali ‘Imraan, 3:54)

When they begin to hunt the true believers and kill them

The chiefs of Fir’awn’s (Pharaoh) people said: “Will you leave Moosaa (Moses) and his people to spread mischief in the land, and to abandon you and your gods?” He said: “We will kill their sons, and let live their women, and we have indeed irresistible power over them.” (EMQ al-A’raaf, 7:127)

When they force the Muslims to declare kufr

Nowadays the Kuffaar are working hard to push the Muslims to integrate into their kufr society and disassociate themselves from the true believers. New laws, such as the laws against inciting religious hatred and glorifying “terrorism” (jihaad), make it almost impossible for Muslims to hold fast to their religion.

The People of the Cave faced a similar situation to us. They were forced to integrate with their kufr society and follow the customs and values of their people. However, they, being true believers, refused to integrate and compromise their belief and thus fled to the Cave. They chose to isolate themselves from society instead of becoming Kaafir by committing kufr and shirk. Allah (SWT) says:

(Remember) when the young men fled for refuge (from their disbelieving folk) to the Cave, they said: “Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Yourself, and facilitate for us our affair in the right way!” (EMQ al-Kahf, 18:10)

And We made their hearts firm and strong (with the light of Faith in Allah and bestowed upon them patience to bear the separation of their kith and kin and dwellings, etc.) when they stood up and said: “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, never shall we call upon any ilaah (god) other than Him; if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity in disbelief. (EMQ al-Kahf, 18:14)

When they accuse the believers of outrageous crimes

The Kuffaar will call the true Muslims “people of Hell”, and the Munaafiqeen (hypocrites) will call them Khawaarij. They will claim that it is the believers who are spreading mischief, creating havoc and killing innocent people, even though it is only they who have a history of doing so. Allah (SWT) says:

Fir’awn (Pharaoh) said: “Leave me to kill Moosaa (Moses), and let him call his Lord (to stop me from killing him)! I fear that he may change your religion, or that he may cause mischief to appear in the land!” (EMQ Ghaafir, 40:26)

When they start to mock the believers and swear at them

The Kuffaar (Quraysh) used to satirise the Prophet of Allah (SAW) and call him a liar, lunatic, extremist, fundamentalist, magician, madman and sorcerer etc. Today, the Kuffaar are still adhering to their sunnah (tradition) and mocking the true believers and even the Prophet (SAW) himself. Undoubtedly, they will have the same fate as the Quraysh, Inshaa’ Allah.

When they start to spread evil across the land and sea

And when We decide to destroy a town (population), We (first) send a definite order (to obey Allah and be righteous) to those among them (or We (first) increase in number those of its population) who are given the good things of this life. Then, they transgress therein, and thus the word (of torment) is justified against it (them). Then We destroy it with complete destruction. (EMQ al-Israa’, 17:16)

All of these seven signs are present in the USA; and hence, it is only a matter of time before they are destroyed.

We ask Allah (SWT) to fulfill His Promise and grant victory (authority or martyrdom) to the believers.

The excellence of the scholars

The Excellence of the Scholars
Written by Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says in the Noble Qur’aan: “Allaah bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped but He, and the angels, and those having knowledge (Oolul-‘llm) (also bear witness to this; (He is always) maintaining His creation in justice. None has the right to be worshipped but He. the All-Mighty. the All-Wise.” (Soorah Aal-‘Imraan (3):18)
This verse shows the superiority of knowledge (“ilm) and its people; the following points can be inferred from this verse:

1. Allaah chose the people of knowledge (Oolul ‘ilm) to bear witness to His Oneness (Tawheed) over and above the rest of His creation.

2. Allaah honoured the people of knowledge by mentioning their testimony along with His testimony.

3. He raised high the status of the scholars by associating their testimony with the testimony of the angels.

4. This verse bears witness to the superiority of those who possess knowledge. Allaah does not make any of His creation bear witness except the upright amongst them.

There is a well-known narration from the Prophet (sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam), who said: “The upright in every generation will carry this knowledge, rejecting the distortions of the extremists, the false claims of the liars, and the (false) interpretations of the ignorant.” (hasan)

5. Allaah, the One free from all defects. Himself bears witness to His Oneness, and He is the greatest of witnesses. Then He chose from His creation the angels and the scholars – this is sufficient to show their excellence.

6. Allaah made the scholars bear witness with the greatest and the most excellent testimony and that is, “None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah.” Allaah, the One free of all defects and the Most High, does not bear witness except to matters of great importance and only the greatest from Allaah’s creation bear witness to this.

7. Allaah made the testimony of the people of knowledge a proof against the rejecters. Thus they are its proofs and its signs, indicating His Oneness (Tawheed).

8. Allaah, the Most High, used a single verb (shahida) to refer to His testimony and the testimony of the angels and the scholars. He did not use an additional verb for their testimony; thus he connected their testimony to His. This shows the strong link between their testimony and Allaah’s testimony, as if He himself bore witness to His Oneness upon their tongues and made them utter this testimony.

9. Allaah, the One free from all defects, made the scholars fulfil His right (that none has the right to be worshipped but Him) through this testimony and if they fulfill it then they have fulfilled and established this right of Allaah upon them. Then it is obligatory upon mankind to accept this testimony which is the means to reach happiness in this life and in their final return (to Allaah). Whosoever takes this guidance from the scholars and accepts this truth because of their testimony, then for the scholars there is a reward equal to them. And none knows the value of this reward but Allaah.

May Allah reward the scholars of truth for their service at a time when the wolves in sheep’s clothing (the scholars of falsehood) have sold out the Muslim Ummah.

The difference between Ibn Laden & Bush

What is the difference between Osama bin Laden and George Bush?

Apart from their ideology, in what way are they different?

• Both are alleged terrorists.
• Both are engaged in war and recruiting people to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Both believe in supremacy for their religion and ideology.
• Both are accused of bombing buildings and the infrastructure of ‘sovereign’ states.
• And both are accused of targeting civilians.

So what is the difference between the two men? Why is it illegal to support one and not the other? Why is it a crime to sing praises for Bin Laden, but not for Bush?

The only difference I can see between the two men is that one is a Muslim and the other is a non-Muslim (Christian).

If one were to stand outside on the streets of Britain praising George Bush and celebrate the killing of Iraqi civilians and so-called insurgents, I don’t think anybody, especially the police, would have a problem with that. In fact, it certainly wouldn’t be a crime.

But on the other hand, if one were to stand in a mosque, praise Bin Laden or celebrate the killing of British and American soldiers – accused of beating children, raping women, destroying mosques and killing civilians – that would be a crime and one would consequently be arrested under the Terrorism Act if it came to the attention of the police.

The democratic definition of terrorism has thus become very clear indeed.

It is now understood that a ‘terrorist’ is a Muslim who possesses a book on self defence or believes Muslims must physically and intellectually resist the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. But on the contrary, killing Muslims, labelling them as extremists and thereby stripping them of their civil liberties or torturing them in Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo Bay is not terrorism, but rather “necessary to ensure the safety of the public and our freedom.”

If it is a crime under the Terrorism Act to sympathise with Bin Laden or support Muslims in Iraq who are fighting to defend their lives and sanctity, it should also be a crime under the Terrorism Act to stand by George Bush and support his wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Furthermore, those that vote for him or his like should be arrested for aiding and abetting a terrorist. Their homes should be raided, their lives should be turned upside down, and they should be detained in solitary confinement for anything up to 28 days, without trial, in a high security police station.

The Nullifiers of Islaam

the Imaam and Mujaddid – Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhaab

Know that the Nullifiers of Islaam are ten.

THE FIRST NULLIFIER

Shirk (associating partners) in the worship of Allaah. Allaah says:

“Verily, Allaah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him in worship (i.e. Shirk), but He forgives what is less than that to whom He wills.” [Surah An-Nisaa: 116]

And He says: “Verily, the one who mixes partners in worship with Allaah (Shirk), then Paradise has been made forbidden for him and his final abode will be the Hellfire. And the wrongdoers will not have any helpers (in Hell).” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 72]

What falls into this is performing sacrifices to someone other than Allaah,such as the person who offers a sacrifice to the Jinn or to a grave.

THE SECOND NULLIFIER

Whoever places intermediaries between himself and Allaah, callingunto them and asking intercession from them, and seeking reliance in them,has committed disbelief according to the unanimous agreement (Ijmaa’).

THE THIRD NULLIFIER

Whoever does not hold the polytheists to be disbelievers, or has doubtsabout their disbelief or considers their ways and beliefs to be correct, hascommitted disbelief.

THE FOURTH NULLIFIER

Whoever believes that some guidance other than that of the Prophet’s(sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is more complete than his guidance and thatsomeone else’s judgement is better than his judgement, such as the one whoprefers the judgement of the Tawaagheet (pl. of Taaghoot; falsedeities/religions) over his judgement, then he is a disbeliever.

THE FIFTH NULLIFIER

Whoever hates something that the Messenger came with, even thoughhe may act on it, has disbelieved.

THE SIXTH NULLIFIER

Whoever mocks or ridicules any part of the Messenger’s Religion or itsrewards or punishments has committed an act of disbelief. The proof for this is Allaah’s statement:

“Say: ‘Was it Allaah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuses, you have disbelieved after having had faith.” [Surah At-Tawbah: 65-66]

THE SEVENTH NULLIFIER

Sorcery, which includes magic spells that cause a person to hate something he seeks after (sarf) or love something he doesn’t seek after (‘atf).

So whoever performs it or is pleased with it being done, has committed disbelief. The proof for this is Allaah’s statement:

“And neither of these two (angels) would teach anyone until they had first said to them: ‘We are only a trial (for the people), so do not commit disbelief.’” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 102]

THE EIGHTH NULLIFIER

Supporting and assisting the polytheists against the Muslims. The proof for this is Allaah’s statement:

“And whoever amongst you takes them (i.e. the disbelievers) as allies and protectors then he is indeed from among them. Verily, Allaah does not guide a wrong-doing people.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 51]

THE NINTH NULLIFIER

Whoever believes that it is permitted for some people to be free of (implementing) the Sharee’ah (revealed laws) of Muhammad (i.e. Islaam), justas it was permitted for Al-Khidr to be free from the Sharee’ah of Moosaa, thenhe is a disbeliever.

THE TENTH NULLIFIER

Turning away from Allaah’s Religion, not learning it or implementing it (is an act of disbelief). The proof for this is Allaah’s saying:

“And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the ayaat(signs/verses) of his Lord, then turns away from them. Verily, We shall extract retribution from the criminals.” [Surah As-Sajdah: 22]

There is no difference, with regard to (committing any of) these nullifiers, between the one who jokes, the one who is serious or the one who does so out of fear. However, the one who commits them due to being coerced (is excused)  All of these (ten) matters are from the gravest in danger and from those that most often occur. So the Muslim must beware of them and fear from these acts befalling him. We seek refuge in Allaah from those things thatbring about His Anger and painful Punishment. May the peace and blessing be on the best of His creatures, Muhammad (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).