The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) cannot be defended by oppression and misguidance
Verily all praise is due
to Allaah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and
upon his family and his Companions, one and all.
To proceed...
No Muslim would ever
agree with the mocking, ridicule, and blasphemous lies directed at our Deen and
at our beloved Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Rather the Imaams of Ahlus-Sunnah, the
likes of Maalik, al-Layth, Ahmad, Ishaaq, and ash-Shaafi’ee, have
agreed unanimously that the one who mocks, ridicules, and defames the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) has disbelieved, and that the prescribed
punishment for the one who lives in the lands of the Muslims and does that is
death, a punishment that falls under the authority of the Muslim ruler.
There is no doubt that
these types of attacks on our Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) will cause anger and make the stomach of every Muslim turn due
to his love for Allaah, His Messenger, and His Deen. But
the Muslim who is truthful, sincere, and just, he doesn’t allow himself to be
overcome by emotion and respond to these attacks with a knee-jerk reaction that
entails actions which Allaah and His Messenger have
prohibited. Rather, like in all matters, he is first and foremost
patient, and then he takes those matters back to the Qur’aan and Sunnah and the
understanding of the Companions, and those ‘Ulamaa’ who are
firmly-grounded in knowledge. So he is patient and he plants his
feet squarely upon knowledge, and he submits to what Allaah and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) have decreed.
“O you who believe! Obey
Allaah and obey the Messenger, and
those of you who have
been placed in authority (over you). (And) if
you differ in anything
amongst yourselves, refer it back to Allaah
and His Messenger, if
you truly believe in Allaah and in the Last Day.
That is better and more
suitable for final determination.” [1]
And al-Haafith Ibn
Katheer mentions that “those of you who have been placed in authority (over
you)”, according to Ibn ‘Abbaas, Mujaahid, ‘Ataa’ and
others from the Salaf refers to the ‘Ulamaa’. And
Ibn Katheer mentions that it is general to both the rulers and the ‘Ulamaa’. And
of course this means the ‘Ulamaa’ of Ahlus-Sunnah, not those
who ahlul-bid’ah call scholars, the likes of al-Qaradaawee,
al-‘Awdah, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ‘Abdul-Khaaliq, and other than them
from the callers to misguidance.
What has transpired over
the past few days in the lands of the Muslims and other than them as a reaction
to the film attacking Islaam and insulting our beloved Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) - contradicts the guidance and Sunnah of
Allaah’s Messenger (صلى
الله عليه وسلم). One
should remember that these types of attacks are not something
new. Indeed Allaah mentions throughout the Qur’aan that His
messengers (عليهم
الصلاة و السلام) were constantly mocked and defamed, that
their people called them crazy, mad, and even labeled them as sorcerers,
etc. Allaah تعالى said:
“Likewise, no Messenger
came to those before them except that they said: "A sorcerer or a
madman!" [2]
And this happened with
the Prophets and Messengers from Nooh (عليه السلام) up to His final Messenger, Muhammad
(صلى
الله عليه وسلم).
In the lifetime of
Allaah’s Messenger (صلى
الله عليه وسلم)
there were those who cursed and insulted him openly. Ka’b bin
al-Ashraf al-Yahoodee, in al-Madeenah, used to recite defamatory poetry about
him and made explicit poetry about the women of the Muslims. And
there was ‘Abdullaah bin Khatal in Makkah, who had two
female singers who he had sing songs making fun of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
As for Ka’b bin
al-Ashraf, when he returned from Makkah to al-Madeenah and began reciting his
poetry insulting him, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked his Companions, “Who will deal with Ka’b bin
al-Ashraf? For indeed he has harmed Allaah and His Messenger.” And
this was when the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was in his dawlah in al-Madeenah and he was
the ruler, and Ka’b bin al-Ashraf was living under his authority in
al-Madeenah. But the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) didn’t ask his Companions to punish his neighbors, companions,
or even his family members for what Ka’b bin al-Ashraf did. Nor did
he punish the representatives of his tribe, Banu an-Nadeer, or randomly
target the Jews of al-Madeenah nor did he boycott their
businesses. Any person of sound intellect would agree that
this would be unjust and defies logic, not to mention the texts of the Book and
the Sunnah. Instead he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) -as the ruler - dealt with Ka’b bin al-Ashraf, the one who
caused that harm specifically.
‘Abdullaah bin Khatal
was in Makkah, and he had two female singers who he taught to sing songs making
fun of the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وسلم). And
at that time, the Prophet was in al-Madeenah, and was the ruler (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and never did he attack anyone from
the kuffaar in al-Madeenah or any other town or village as
retribution for the defamation and insults of ‘Abdullaah bin Khatal
towards him. Nor did he command his Companions to attack Makkah or
its people because of him. Rather he was patient (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and did not oppress, and did not
transgress. He was patient and he was just (صلى الله عليه وسلم). So when the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) conquered Makkah, and he entered Makkah
with his armies, he ordered them not to harm anyone who did not fight them,
except for a small group of people who he named by name (صلى الله عليه وسلم). From them – and here the
Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وسلم) had
conquered Makkah, and had might and capability (qudrah) – from them was
‘Abdullaah bin Khatal and his two
songstresses. He didn’t tell them to kill Ibn Khatal’s
neighbors or his family members. He didn’t destroy the property of
the members of his tribe. Rather he ordered them to kill ‘Abdullaah
bin Khatal and his two songstresses.
These are just two
examples of how the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) dealt with those who abused him in his
lifetime. He wasaadil (just), and was saabir (patient)
- (صلى
الله عليه وسلم). He
did not oppress and was not unjust, and these people cursed him, abused him,
mocked him, and insulted him during his lifetime - (صلى الله عليه وسلم)!! So where are the
actions of the jamaa’aat(political groups and parties) and the
ignorant folk who’ve been affected by them from the actions and example of
Allaah’s Messenger (صلى
الله عليه وسلم)?!
Where do you find that
the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his Companions went to another town and protested, or that
they murdered the innocent, or destroyed or burnt their property to the ground
because of what the likes of Ibn al-Ashraf and Ibn Khatal
did in Makkah and al-Madeenah?!
Rather he was patient
and just (صلى
الله عليه وسلم)!! And ‘adl (justice)
is to put everything in it’s proper place. And what we see from
these people in Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and other places in the Middle East, is
oppression, injustice, and deviation from his Sunnah. And Allaah
said:
“So warn those who
oppose his command, lest some fitnah befall him or they
afflicted with a painful punishment.” [3]
And what further
elucidates the distinction between the guidance of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and those Muslims who have been overtaken
by emotion and misguidance, is the narration of ‘Aa’ishah (رضى الله عنها), collected by al-Bukhaaree, Muslim,
Ahmad and others, when a group of Jews entered upon the Messenger of
Allaah (صلى
الله عليه وسلم) and
said “as-saamu ‘alaykum” (death be upon you). So ‘Aa’ishah (رضى الله عنها) understood what they said, so she
responded: “wa ‘alaykum as-saam wal-la’nah” (and death and
curses be upon you). So the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Take it easy, O
‘Aa’ishah! Verily Allaah loves rifq (gentleness and leniency) in all
matters.” So ‘Aa’ishah said: “O Messenger of Allaah! Didn’t
you hear what they said?” So he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “I already responded to them (by saying) ‘wa
‘alaykum’ (and upon you, too).”
Our Deen is
not based on emotion. Rather the Muslim who truly and sincerely
loves Allaah and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) will stick to his guidance and his Sunnah:
“Say: if you
truly love Allaah, then follow me. (If you do) Allaah will love you and forgive
you for your sins. And Allaah is all-forgiving, most
merciful.” [4]
Here are some points to
consider and reflect upon:
- These protests which have spread
throughout the Muslim lands, even to our beloved Kuwait, are a bid’ah,
as the ‘Ulamaa’of Ahlus-Sunnah like Shaykh Ibn
Baaz, Shaykh al-Albaanee, and Shaykh Ibn
‘Uthaymeen have clarified. [5] They
are an act of opposing and contending with the Muslim ruler and are from the
way of the Khawaarij. Of course the jamaa’aat
as-siyaasiyyah allow them and promote them as they are means for them
to contend with the Muslim rulers and reach rulership itself.
- We’ve seen how the emotionally charged
youth have taken to the streets in these protests and clashed with the police,
and caused damage to property - not just the property of the American Embassies
- which is in itself an act of oppression - but the property of the Muslims as
well! And this is supposed to be defense of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)??! It cannot be
that the Muslims defend the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) with oppression when Allaah has commanded us with justice (‘adl):
“O you who believe!
Stand out firmly for Allaah and
be just witnesses and
don’t let the enmity and hatred
of a people keep you
from being just. Be just! That is
al-Haafith Ibn Katheer said: “Don’t let
hatred for a people cause you to abandon justice towards
them. Rather exercise justice with everyone, whether it be a close
friend or an enemy.”
Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah: “for indeed the
people did not dispute in the fact that the end result of thulm (oppression
and injustice) is evil and harmful, and the end result of ‘adl (justice)
is good and noble. And for this it has been said: Allaah
will aid the nation that is just, even if it is a disbelieving nation, and He
will not aid the nation that is unjust and oppressive, even if it is a
believing nation.” [Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa (28/63)]
Then know that punishing
others for the crimes and offenses of another is not justice! Allaah
says:
“No person earns any
(sin) except against himself (only), and no bearer of burdens shall bear the
burden of another.”[7]
- The jamaa’aat as-siyaasiyyah use
these protests and these types of events as a forum and a podium to spread
their doubts and their conspiracy theories amongst the people and to turn them
against their rulers. They spout out anti-American, anti-western,
and anti-Israeli rhetoric and place the blame for the destruction we’ve seen
over the past few days on everyone but themselves. ‘Ali
al-Deqbas, head of the Arab Parliament, actually
blamed “international Zionism of being behind the unrest and inciting
sedition and hatred of Islam and Muslims in the Middle East in favor of the
Zionist entity”. And the misguided statements like this are many.
- These protests – which as the ‘Ulamaa’ have
said is a bid’ah – were used as a cover for those upon
the manhaj of theKhawaarij to murder a U.S. ambassador
and three other members of his staff, the murder of non-Muslims who were givenamn (an
assurance of safety and protection) and were from a country that has treaties
and agreements with the government ofLibya.
The Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Whoever –
from the Muslims - kills a person who is under an agreement or
treaty (with the Muslims), he will not smell the Fragrance of Jannah, even
though it’s fragrance can be smelled from the distance of 40 years away.” [al-Bukhaaree]
And in another narration
he said: "The assurance of protection of the Muslims is
one, so whoever betrays the assurance of protection and safety of another
Muslim, then upon him is the curse of Allaah, and (the curse) of the Angels,
and (the curse) of all the people."
al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr (رحمه الله) explained: "His saying 'The
assurance of protection of the Muslims is one', means that their giving
an assurance of safety and security is correct (and binding). So if
one of them gives amn to a kaafir, then it
is haraamupon anyone else to harm him…"
Those non-Muslims who
live and work in the Muslim countries have been given amn (an
assurance of safety and protection), so by attacking them is contending with
and opposing the Muslim ruler, and is an act of treachery and oppression.
Shaykh Taariq as-Subay’ee explained that
if even one of the Muslims gives amn to a non-Muslim, even if
that Muslim is a man or a woman, a free man or a slave, and even if that is by
a gesture, or if a person is given amn by the authorities of a
Muslim land through diplomatic agreements or by giving him a visa to enter that
land – that person has an assurance of safety and protection from every Muslim. It
is totally haraam for any Muslim
to harm him. And the person, - the Muslim -, who does, falls
under the curse of Allaah, the Angels, and all of the people.
- Look to those at the head of these
protests and you’ll see that all of them are from the heads and supporters of
the jamaa’aat as-siyaasiyyah. And the fact that none of
the ‘Ulamaa’ of Ahlus-Sunnah have anything to do with this
should be another sign for the person of intellect, just as Ibn ‘Abbaas (رضى الله تعالى عنهما) brought as a proof against the Khawaarij
the fact that none of the Companions were with them, when he said (رضى الله عنهما): Indeed I’ve come to you from the
Companions of Allaah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and there is not a single one of them with you!
- We see the Muslims protesting,
fighting with the police, destroying property and other than that, all in the
name of defending the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) from this film produced by a man living in
America. What is amazing is that no one is upset over the masaajid that
have graves in them where other than Allaah are worshipped besides Allaah, like
the masjid of al-Badawee, Zaynab, or al-Hussayn?! The
greatest sin that one can commit is committed in the lands of the Muslims, and
the people are tearing down the American embassy over something they don’t have
the authority or ability to do anything about?!
Allaah said:
“Verily, Allaah does not
forgive that partners should be set up with him in worship (shirk), but
He forgives what is less than that (from sins) for whomever He wills, and
whoever sets up partners with Allaah in worship, he has indeed invented a
tremendous sin.” [8]
So these Muslims and
these jamaa’aat want to defend Prophet Muhammad(صلى الله عليه وسلم) – by committing oppression and injustice
– but where is the defense of Allaah and His Tawheed from
the shirk committed by muslims in
the lands of the muslims themselves?!
So know that Allaah (تبارك
و تعالى) has commanded us with
patience and justice, and forbidden us from injustice and
oppression. And there is no justice in the actions we see from our
brothers and sisters in Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Sudan, and the other
countries that this is happening in. Rather what we see is
ignorance, oppression, misguidance, and deviation from the Sunnah of Allaah’s
Messenger (صلى
الله عليه وسلم).
And what benefit have
they brought about?
The producer of this
shoddy film lives in America, and America is a country that has it’s own laws
that it governs it’s citizens by. And America also has treaties and
agreements with almost all of these lands that their embassies are being
attacked in, proven by the fact that they have embassies there to begin
with. So then this affair is not in the hands of us common folk, and
we don’t have the capability to do anything about it. What is upon
us then is to be patient and cling to the Sunnah of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). And this is a better defense
of the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وسلم) than
what we see from the jamaa’aat and those infected by them!
And it is important to
note that our patience and our clinging to the Sunnah during situations like
this, when we don’t have the ability to change them, is not a sign of weakness
or deficiency. Rather it is the people of misguidance from the jamaa’aat
as-siyaasiyyah that have duped our youth into thinking that not having
the ability to act is the same as not acting, and this is misguidance and
deception.
Ibn Mas’ood narrated
that the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وسلم) was
praying by the Ka’bah, and when he went into sajdah, one of the
companions of Aboo Jahl put the entrails of a camel on the Prophet’s back (صلى الله عليه وسلم) while Ibn Mas’ood looked
on. And Ibn Mas’ood said: “I was watching but couldn’t do
anything about it. If only I had the strength and ability (to stop them).”
[al-Bukhaaree]
This shows us that in
situations when we don’t have the capability to act, due to physical weakness,
lack of strength or capability, or there being something else that prevents us
from doing that, there is no shame or deficiency in that, just as the Messenger
of Allaah (صلى
الله عليه وسلم)
himself could not aid Yaasir, ‘Ammaar, and Umm ‘Ammaar (رضى
الله تعالى عنهم) when
he saw them being tortured for their Eemaan in
Allaah. So he said to them (صلى الله عليه وسلم): “Patience, O Aal-Yaasir (O family of
Yaasir)! For indeed you’ve been promised Jannah.” [9]
What we’ve written here
is not a defense of this film. We find it just as offensive,
appalling, and insulting as everyone else. Nor is it a defense of America,
Israel, or any other country. Rather it is meant to be a defense of
the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and our Deen from those who go beyond the
bounds, and those who play on the emotions of the Muslims and the emotional,
disenfranchised youth, and call them to deviation and
misguidance. It is a call to patience, justice, and sticking to the
Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم). And this what was needed to be said and
clarified. And Allaah knows best.
‘Ubaadah bin as-Saamit narrated: “The
Messenger of Allaah (صلى
الله عليه وسلم) took
an oath of allegiance from us to listen and obey (the ruler) in adversity and
prosperity, in pleasure and displeasure (and even) when somebody is given
preference over us, and to not dispute or contend the authority of those it
belongs to, and that we speak the truth wherever we may be without
fearing in the matter of Allaah the blame of the blamer.” [10]
May peace and blessings
be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions,
one and all. And All praise and thanks are due to Allaah, Lord of
al-'Aalameen.
Aboo Sufyaan
[2] adh-Dhaariyaat (51):52
[5] Ash-Shaykh, al-‘Allaamah Ibn
‘Uthaymeen said: “so indeed protests are a newly-invented affair. It
was not known during the time of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), nor in the era of the Khulafaa’
ar-Raashideen, nor in the era of the Companions (رضى
الله عنهم). Then
there is in them from anarchy and disorder what makes them a matter that is
prohibited.” الجواب الأبهر ص 75
[9] al-Mastadrak of al-Haakim
(3/383), al-Hilyah (1/140), and others. See Saheeh seeratun-Nabawiyyah of Shaykh al-Albaanee
(pg.154-155)
http://salafiyyah-kuwait.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-prophet-cannot-by-defended-by.html?m=1
