There should be no Compromise on Islaamic Principles
by Imaam al-Haramain Saud Ash-Shuraim
All praise is due to Allaah. May peace and benedictions be upon the Messenger
of Allaah, his
household and companions.
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah, put your trust in Him, seek for His aid and
humble yourselves before Him
in order to be elevated and have a good ending in this world and the hereafter.
Allaah says,
“No doubt verily, the friends of Allaah, no fear
shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.
Those who believed in the oneness of Allaah and
used to fear Him much.” (Yoonus 10:62-63)
Brethren in Faith! When one takes a cursory look at the series of the current
world happenings one will
conclude that he who claims that any concepts, movements or ideologies
that do not emanate from
Islaam and its pristine teachings can solve the world problems and correct
the wrongs should be either
abnormal, sick or a conspirator who should not be trusted at all.
Islaam is a pure religion that frees man from worshipping fellow creatures
to the worshipping of the
Creator. It affirms that real glory can only be achieved through Islaam
while humiliation is a result of
keeping away from it. No matter what happens, it is impossible for Islaam
to enter a heart with all its
sweetness and yet that heart surrenders to any other authority besides
that of Allaah. Allaah says,
“Truly, the religion with Allaah is Islaam.” (Aal
‘Imraan 3:19)
He also says,
“Whoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it
will never be accepted of him and in the Hereafter
he will be one of the losers.” (Aal ‘Imraan 3:85)
Brethren in Islaam! When we see a lot of atrocities that are being committed
all
over the Muslim world and we hear the agonies of those whose lands and
properties are wrongly occupied and seized without anyone standing up to
answer the clarion call for help being made by the victims of these atrocities,
we
start to ponder over the causes of this weakness that has befallen the
Muslim
nation, the silence of those who have the truth and the woes, division
and
calamities that the might of the falsehood people has brought to the humanity.
If
we make a good diagnosis of our condition, it will not be difficult to
identify the
disease. Yes, things may not be permanently good for the Muslims; they
may
have problems here and there, for attaining perfection in worldly comfort
is
illusory. It is therefore good to train oneself on how to confront attacks
on
Islaam and the Muslims and get oneself ready to endure and stand firm without
wasting time on passing commentaries that bring no benefit nor remove harm.
Moreover, all these afflictions that befall the Muslim nation between now
and
then are mere trials with which Allaah distinguishes between the good and
the
bad. Allaah enjoins us to react whenever He tries us with good things of
this
world with the saying of Prophet Sulaymaan,
“This is by the Grace of my Lord to test me
whether I am grateful or ungrateful.” (An-Naml
27:40)
He also forbids us from reacting during afflictions like those whom He
describes in this verse,
“And among mankind is he who worships Allaah
as it were, upon the edge (i.e. in doubt): if good
befalls him, he is content therewith; but if a trials
befalls him he turns back on his face (i.e. he
reverts to disbelief after embracing Islaam). He
loses both this world and the Hereafter. That is
the evident loss.” (Al-Hajj 22:11)
Brethren in Islaam! Non-Muslims shall never be pleased with Muslims until
they
abandon their religion and their Divine Law or at least make a lot of
compromise that will leave nothing left of Islaam but its name only. ‘Umar
came
to the Messenger of Allaah with a book he got from some people of the
Scripture and started reading it. The Messenger of Allaah got annoyed and
said,
“I have brought unto you a pure and clean religion. Do not ask people of
the
Book anything lest they tell you the truth which you may deny and tell
you a lie
which you may believe. By Him in Whose hand is my soul, if (Prophet) Moosa
were to be alive now, he would have no option but to follow me.”
Therefore, bargaining with the religion of Islaam or any of its values
or
established concepts is the greatest act of treachery and madness, for
man’s
and the society’s glory lie in their adherence to Islaam, its practices
and in
remaining firm on that till death. So, he whom the circumstances of this
worldly
life has changed or that his very essence has been altered by these worldly
slogans and therefore abandoned his religion, such is a disgraced person
and a
loser whose lot ignominy. Allaah says,
“Verily, those who have turned back as
disbelievers after the guidance have been
manifested to them, Satan has beautified for
them (their false hopes) and Allaah prolonged
their term. This is because they said to those who
hate what Allaah has sent down: ‘We will obey
you in part of the matter.’ But Allaah knows their
secrets. Then how will it be when the angels take
their souls at death, smiting their faces and their
backs? That is because they follow that which
angers Allaah and hated that which pleases Him.
So He made their deeds fruitless.” (Muhammad
47:25-28)
Islaam enjoins the Muslims to stand firm in their religion. Allaah says
in the
Qur’aan,
“And worship your Lord until there comes unto
you the certainty (death).” (Al-Hijr 15:99)
The Messenger of Allaah, while encouraging his companions to be steadfast
and remain firm in the face of any trials used to tell them of the stories
of the
brave people among those who were before them. He would say,
“A ditch would be dug for one of those who were before you and he would
then
be put into that ditch. A saw would be brought, put on his head and cut
his
head into two; yet, that would not divert him from his religion. Also,
a metal
comb will be driven into his flesh alive and yet that would not change
him from
his religion.” (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
It is therefore surprising to see those who know the gravity of following
other
religions beside Islaam or loving and adoring the enemies of Islaam whatever
the circumstances may be, to succumb to their pressures, putting one’s
writings
and thoughts under their control, yielding to their desires and answering
their
calls to smite Islaam, compromising on some of its concepts and values
or
casting doubt on the Muslims’ educational system and the fruits of Islaamic
reawakening. Doing any of the above is a great sin and speaking good of
it is a
great falsehood.
Dear Muslims! You may be disappointed by those ideologies that carry the
name of Islaam and whose propagators are deluded by their wealth, popularity
and lust into writing and saying strangest things about Islaam with no
fairness
nor justice. The best we can say of these people is that they are products
of
western imitation that knows no difference between established values and
changing situations or attributing things to other than its causes. If
a person were
to steal in a mosque, these people would have called for the demolition
of the
mosque or at least closing up of it in order to avoid reoccurrence as they
would
claim. And if a veiled woman were to commit a fraud, they would call to
the
abolition of Hijaab and claim that it aids fraud. They would however not
support the amputation of the thief or a deterrent punishment for the veiled
lady
but would instead call for the demolition of the mosque and abolition of
Hijaab.
Abu Sufyaan came to the city of Madeenah before he embraced Islaam and
entered the house of his daughter Umm Habeebah (a wife of the Prophet).
When he wanted to sit on the Prophet’s bed, she folded it. Abu Sufyaan
asked
in astonishment,
“Are you keeping me away from the bed or keeping the bed away from me?!”
She
answered, “This is the Messenger of Allaah’s bed and you are an idolater
and filthy.”
This is a word of Umm Habeebah that contradicts the popular Arab saying,
“Every girl is proud of her father.”
Umm Habeebah, by this deed of hers set a good precedent of how serious
a
Muslim should be in matters of his faith however minute it is even if it
involves
close relatives as one’s father. She did this to her father simply because
he has
not yet embraced Islaam.
Brethren in faith! The Message of Islaam is like the Prophet’s bed that
should
be held in high esteem and with honour and respect. Whoever allows anyone
who is not a Muslim to sit on it out of shyness or because of a favour,
such a
person did not give Allaah and His Messenger their due estimation neither
did
he respect his religion and his community. Hence, it is very natural to
conclude
that there will be no human maturity where the ties with Allaah has been
severed and where there is hatred for His law. What is therefore being
rumoured lately that there are some ideologies that will keep a Muslim
away
from his religion and leave him with practising only a part thereof while
he will
no more have any regard for Islaamic legal punishments is very dangerous
and
will not augur well for the humanity as a whole. But the ideologies themselves
pose some questions. When has the belief in Allaah become an easy issue
in
which denial and faith are equal? When has Islaamic Monotheism and
associating partners with Allaah in worship become the same thing? Has
the
matter of faith become so insignificant that there is no more line of demarcation
between permanent values and continuous happenings, between justice and
injustice and between truth and doubt? If a man tells us that the earth
is square
or that Atlantic and sea water is sweet, we will certainly write him off
as mad
and stupid. How then do we react in such a way to a mistake done as regards
mundane facts and not do the same if the mistake is committed as regards
matters concerning Allaah the Lord of all the worlds?
“Verily, those who turn away from our Signs are
not hidden from us. Is he who is cast into Fire
better or he who comes secure on the Day of
Resurrection? Do what you will. Verily, He is
All-Seer of what you do.” (Fussilat 41:40)
It is now up to the men of wisdom and truth to guide people to that which
can
preserve Islaam for them, protect them and let them have confidence in
the
principles of their religion as well as their educational system and law.
They
should warn the generality of the Muslims against the evils of their enemies
and
establish for them a balance of justice in word and deed so that, they
will be
able to distinguish between good and evil.
Fellow Muslims! Muslim countries and established Islaamic values and
concepts have become targets of attack from internal and external enemies.
One particular example is the land of the two Sacred Mosques. The enemies
has launched a malicious attack against this country, but by the Grace
of Allaah,
it will never surrender to those who cast doubt on its religion, values
and
systems, for their educational systems, ideologies and their policy of
are based
on the and their policy of allegiance and renunciation are all based on
Islaamic
Faith of Monotheism. Its people will never become mouthpiece for falsehood
and error which the enemy wants them to be. Allaah says,
“Those who wait and watch about you; if you gain
a victory from Allaah, they say: ‘Were we not
with you?’ But if the believers gain a success,
they say (to them): ‘Did we not gain mastery over
you and did we not protect you from the
believers?’ Allaah will judge between you (all) on
the Day of Resurrection. And never will Allaah
grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over
the believers.” (An-Nisaa 4:141)
Brethren in Faith! Every nation has its policy, philosophy and ideology.
And it
has a special way of dealing with its problems whether it is good or not.
It is
therefore illogical and unfair to accuse Islaam of problems it has nothing
to do
with and which are rather alien to it or as a result, to request the Muslims
to
think according to the accusers perspectives in total disregard for Islaam.
In
order have deeper understanding of Islaamic principle of allegiance and
renunciation, to avoid what kept many people away from their glory and
shinning history; in order to avoid making unwarranted ideological and
educational compromises and avoid western subordination, we must the
following points in mind:
One: That our faith is based on Islaamic Monotheism, submission to Allaah
through obedience and abstention from associating any partner to Him. This
is
the correct faith besides whose no other creeds will accepted. Allaah says,
“Surely, they have disbelieved who say: ‘Allaah is
the Messiah son of Mary.’ But the Messiah said: ‘O
Children of Israel! Worship Allaah, my Lord and
your Lord.’ Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in
worship) with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden
Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode.
And for the polytheists and wrongdoers, there
are no helpers.” (Al-Maaidah 5:72)
Two: That, it is absolutely impossible to achieve Islaamic solidarity among
individuals and societies while some of them hate others or detest Islaam
or
reject some of its teachings.
Three: In order that the desired unity may be achieved, there should be
concordance in the means and goals and that should be in accordance with
the
truth and Sharee‘ah. Any unity that takes place outside the established
Islaamic
rules and values is a mere illusion.
Four: That the weakness of the Muslims as a nation has its source in their
individual weaknesses before pressures from their enemies added to that.
We
are not the first nation to be tested and urged to remain firm in its religion.
Five: That our desired civilization should be based on unity, bridging
the gaps
between us, being proud of our religion and upon supporting our religious
values and refuting the allegations against Islaam and its systems. Our
call
should be unto the revival of Islamic unity and we should show the true
picture
of Islaam upon which the constructive Islaamic resurgence and rightful
thought
can be based. Allaah says,
“Shall We treat those who believe (in the Oneness
of Allaah) and do righteous good deeds as
Mufsidoon (those associate partners with Allaah
and commit crimes) on earth? Or shall We treat
the pious as the criminals?” (Saad 38:28)
