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Introduction
Islam is the perfect ideology for mankind, as it was designed by Allah (swt),
the Creator. The Islamic ideology is meant for and sent to all of humanity.
Thus, it must be conveyed in a manner that illustrates, and clarifies its
nature, thus leaving no doubt in the minds of the people that Islam is the
correct ideology for them.
Therefore, it becomes an objective for all Muslims to carry and convey the
Islamic ideology to all people. Conveying the Message of Islam means
inviting people to Islam, acculturating them with its concepts and rules,
and removing any material obstacles that impede the delivery and
implementation of the Message (with a force capable of doing so). Islam has
a specific way of life derived from its concepts. These specific concepts
concern life and they are uniquely Islamic. They constitute the Islamic
culture which differs from all others. It is characterized by three points:
first, it is founded on the basis of the Islamic Aqeedah; second, the
criterion of actions in life is based on Allah’s commands and prohibitions,
i.e. life is based on Halal and Haram; third, the meaning of happiness is to
gain Allah’s pleasure, i.e. permanent peace of mind can not be achieved
without first gaining Allah’s pleasure. This is the Islamic way of life.
This was very clearly understood by the Sahabah (raa). They knew that they
had upon their shoulders the responsibility of taking care of the affairs of
the world. Allah (swt) gave them thelofty role of global security. The
Prophet (saaw) created a unique group, incomparable to any in the history of
mankind, let alone the history of Islam. This group was created from a
society dominated by thoughts, values, laws and behavior which were in
contradiction to the Islamic call. Yet the Islamic call was clear and
pristine in their hearts and minds.
Within a decade of the death of the Prophet (saaw), they had made Islam the
dominant power on the world’s stage. The Sahabah (raa) strode out of the
obscurity of the Arabian desert, laying waste to the Roman and Persian
Empires. Upon the ruins of these nations they extended Al Dawlah Alliyya,
the Islamic State, and continued to spread its Message through invitation
and Jihad that the Prophet (saaw) had commenced from Medinah.
The fact that the death of the Prophet (saaw) did not hinder, nor detract
from the implementation and spreading of the Islamic call is testimony to
the mentality he (saaw) instilled in his party, the Sahabah (raa), and the
culture he (saaw) nurtured in them. The Muslims today, as did the Sahabah (raa),
face the same challenge of bringing Islam back into the world arena.
However, the questions remain: How did the Prophet (saaw) create such an
amazing group? How can we motivate ourselves to tread the honored footsteps
of the Prophet (saaw)?
Muhammad (saaw) initially invited the people of Mecca to Islam in
discriminately. As for the individuals who responded to his (saaw) call, he
(saaw) invited them to meet, forming them into a group or party. One of the
places that this party would meet was the home of Al-Arqam ibn Abi Al-Arqam.
There, he (saaw) would mold their thinking and their behavior, developing
their personalities, solidifying their conviction in Islam. This new Islamic
personality was formulated by addressing their thinking about the purpose of
life. The need for and belief in the Creator was explained, as was the
belief in the Messengership of the Prophet (saaw). Such concepts led to the
complete abandonment of the previous concepts they held, since what the
Prophet (saaw) was bringing to them appealed to their rationale, convincing
their minds, and thus leading to satisfaction of the heart. In short, he (saaw)
built within them the Islamic Aqeedah, from which they extracted all their
thoughts and concepts, and upon which they based all their actions
The Prophet (saaw) ensured that the Sahabah (raa) accepted Islam through an
intellectual manner. This meant applying their intellect in arriving at the
solid conclusion that there is one and only one Creator who is Allah (swt),
and that any communication between Allah (swt) and man would have to come
from Allah (swt), thus arising the need for Messengers. Consequently, they
realized that there is no valid authority other than Allah (swt), no true
ideology other than Islam, and no valid rituals or laws other than those
commanded by Allah (swt). Nothing could influence their lives other than
that which emanated directly from the Islamic ideology. They were able to
conquer and overcome Kufr thoughts, concepts and ideas, as well as armies
and military powers.
Once the Aqeedah was thoroughly embedded in the minds and hearts of the
Sahabah (raa), they had no hesitation in obeying the Islamic rulings. They
did not discriminate between the rulings related to Wulu’ and those related
to ruling by the Laws of Allah (swt). All were commandments form their Lord,
the Creator and Regulator of the universe. Furthermore, the Islamic Aqeedah
completely removed any fear of the created, and suspended that fear such
that it was channeled for Allah (swt) alone. Allah (swt) says:
“So do not fear the people, but fear Me, and do not
sell My Ayat for a cheap price ...“ (Al-Ma ‘ida 5:44)
This eliminated the roots of a defeated and apologetic mentality, easily
dominated by outside factors. In this light, the mission of the Prophet (saaw)
and the adherence of the Sahabah (raa) to it is much more clearly
understood. For example, the Prophet’s (saaw) Companions (raa) came together
one day and remarked that the Quraysh had never heard the Qur’an read to
them, and who among the Sahabah (raa) could make the Quraysh listen to it
was discussed. When ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud (ra) said that he would, they [the
Sahabah] replied that they were afraid on his behalf and they only wanted a
man of a powerful family who would protect him from the populace if they
attacked him. He replied, “Leave me alone, for Allah will protect me.” (Ibn
Hisham)
In another example, when ‘Uthman B. Maz’un (ra) saw the misery in which the
Prophet (saaw) and his Companions were living under while he (saaw) was
under the protection of his uncle, he (saaw) said: “It is more than I can
bear that I should be perfectly safe under the protection of an idol
worshipper while my friends are afflicted and distressed for Allahs’s sake.”
So he went to his uncle, Al-Walid, and renounced his protection saying to
him that he wanted to be only under the protection of Allah (swt). Al-Walid
asked for this renouncement in public where ‘Uthman (ra) told everyone: “I
don’t want to ask anyone but Allah for protection” Shortly, after this, in a
gathering of the Quraysh a poet was reciting the following verse:
“Everything but God is vain.” At this point ‘Uthman b. Maz’un (ra) said:
“True.” The poet continued and said: “And everything lovely must inevitably
cease.” Upon this ‘Uthman cried, “You lie! The joy of Paradise will never
cease.” This enraged the Quraysh and the gathering resulted in one man
hitting ‘Uthman b. Maz’un in the eye so it became black. Al-Walid said: “0
nephew, your eye need not have suffered this had you been under my sure
protection.” ‘Uthman b. Mazun answered: “No, by Allah, my good eye needs
what happened to its fellow eye for Allah’s sake, and I am under the
protection of One who is stronger and more powerful than you.” (lbn Ishaq)
lbn Mas’ud (ra) narrates that in the early years of the Da’wah, when the
Sahabah (raa) were few in number, they would contemplate on how they were
going to rule the world. Certainly, if they had doubt in their belief, or if
it was based on whims and emotions, or if it was anything less than crystal
clear, it wouldn’t have driven them to achieve that aim. When this group of
Muslims became strong and capable enough to face the society, then he (saaw)
led his group to confront the Quraysh when Allah (swt) ordered him to do so.
“Therefore expound openly what you are commanded
and turn away from those who join false gods with Allah. For sufficient are
We unto you against those who scoff, those who adopt with Allah another god.
But soon will they come to know.” (Al-Hijr 15: 94-96)
Allah’s Messenger (saaw) duly obeyed Allah’s (swt) command and presented his
group to the whole of Mecca. He (saaw) emerged with this group in a manner
never witnessed by the Arabs, and together they circumambulated the Ka’aba
in declaring the Message. From that time on, the Messenger of Allah (saaw)
campaigned in Mecca openly and defiantly. With their understanding grounded
deep into their hearts and minds, the Sahabah (raa) took the clear message
of Islam to the society. Even with this small group of people and the
intense societal backlash, the Prophet (saaw) persisted in criticizing the
thoughts, emotions and systems of the non-
Islamic society of Mecca. The Prophet (saaw) and his group started engaging
and interacting with the society to expose its falsehood.The Sahabah (raa)
questioned the ideas carried by the society. They questioned their concept
of gods, cheating in the scales of trade, their family values and ideals,
etc.
It was through the help of a political party- known to us as the Sahabah (raa)
- that the Prophet (saaw) was able to establish the Islamic State. This
crucial role played by the Sahabah (raa) had a lasting effect on the Ummah.
The Ummah became thoroughly acculturated with Islam from all
aspects. The Ummah was imbued with the political understanding based on
Islam. They would be aware of what their rights are, would oversee the
actions of the ruling authority, and served as a source of checks and
balances to ensure the proper administration of the Ummah’s affairs by the
Khalifah and his Assistants (Mu’aween).
In pursuit of this objective that Islam obligated us to attain, the Sahabah
(raa), performed the following set of vital functions:
1. They carried the Da’wah as outlined by the Prophet (saaw).
2. They worked with the Prophet (saaw) by helping him (saaw) take care of
the Ummah’s
affairs and thereby strengthening the newly formed State.
3. They helped the Ummah confront the critical events that followed the
death of the Rasool (saaw) by ensuring the selection of the Khalifah.
4. They played a major role in quelling the rebellion of certain tribes
against the Islamic Khilafah State. These tribes included the Murtadeen (who
committed apostasy).The Sahabah (raa), handled these and other situations by
their unwavering insistence to enforce the Rules of Allah (swt). The staunch
stand by Khalifah Abu Bakr (ra) and the Sahabah (raa) saved the Ummah from
crumbling into fragments.
5. Their role in deftly handling the assassination of Khalifah “Umar bin
Khattab (ra), which sent ripples throughout the Khilafah, maintained the
internal and external security of the Ummah from being endangered.
After the death of the Prophet (saaw), the Muslims elected Abu Bakr (ra) as
the Khalifah. One of the first issues he faced was a disagreement with
Fatimah az Zahrah (ra), beloved daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (saaw). The
argument centered on Fatimah’s inheritance of land which was owned by the
Prophet (saaw). Abu Bakr (ra) quoted a Hadith by the Prophet (saaw), which
stated
that “We Prophets do not leave things for inheritance. Whatever we leave is
for charity.” (Bukhari).
Thus, the matter was firmly resolved. Fatimah (ra) then suggested to Abu
Bakr (ra), “Why don’t you give this property under my supervision and I will
distribute it in the way the Prophet (saaw) used to?” Abu Bakr (ra)
categorically rejected this proposition, saying, “If I give you this
authority,then where is the Khalifah? It is not up to you to act on behalf
of the Ummah. This is my duty.” When the Sahabah (raa) were beginning to
depart for the newly conquered lands, Abu Bakr (ra) gathered them and asked,
“Where are you going? Why are you leaving me? If you want me to be the
Khalifah, you cannot just leave me and depart.” Thus, Abu Bakr (ra) kept the
Sahabah (raa) around him.When “Umar (ra) became the Khalifah, he also kept
this group around him that had sought to trek to the conquered lands. On
occasion, he would grant a person to go to those liberated lands, but only
on the condition that they would return after an agreed upon and specified
period of time. When “Uthman (ra) became the Khalifah, he allowed the
Sahabah (raa) to disperse. Subsequently,
lbn Mas’ud (ra) traveled to Kufah, while Ibn “Umar (ra) stayed in Medinah.
As a result, the two main groups of the Sahabah (raa) were based in either
Kufah or Medinah. The absence of the core of the group caused the Ummah to
fall into chaos and they became exposed to the peril that followed. This
peril presented itself in the form of the roving mobs and the fitnah they
created, which eventually lead to the assassinations of Khalifahs “Uthman (ra)
and ‘Ali (ra). Of the various groups and peoples which entered Islam, none
was more crucial to the success of the Prophet’s mission than the Ansar. It
was their support and allegiance which made the Message of Islam a
reality.Their unwavering support and absolute dedication to the Prophet (saaw)
and his Message formed the shield which protected the Da’wah as it took on
the shape of the call to all nations. Among the many incidents which
exemplify the dedication of the Sahabah (raa) to the Da’wah, the incident
following the campaign of Hunayn shines the brightest.
The Prophet (saaw) chose to distribute the wealth of the Anfal amongst the
Quraysh and some Bedouin tribes, leaving no wealth for the Ansar. This
caused some to question whether the Prophet (saaw) favoring his own tribe in
the distribution of wealth. On hearing these rumors, the Prophet (saaw)
summoned the Ansar to assemble before him. Ibn Ishaq narrates the event:
“O men of Ansar, what is this I hear of you? Do you
think ill of me in your hearts? Did I not come to you erring and Allah
guided you: poor and Allah made you rich: Enemies and Allah softened your
hearts?” They answered; “Yes, indeed
Allah and his Messenger are most kind and generous.” He (saaw)
continued “Why don’t you answer me, O Ansar ?“
They said “How shall we answer you? Kindness and
generosity belongs to Allah and his Messenger.”
Prophet (saaw) said “Had you wished you could have
said - and you would have spoken the truth and believed - You came to us
discredited and we believed you; a fugitive and we took you in; Poor and we
comforted you. Are you disturbed in mind because of the good things in this
life by which I win over a people that they may further in their Islam while
I entrust you to your Islam? Are you not satisfied that men should take away
flocks and herds while you take back with you the Messenger of Allah? By Him
in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, But for the Migration, I should be
one of the Ansar myself. If all men went one way and the Ansar another, I
would take the way of the Ansar. Allah have mercy on the Ansar, their sons,
and their son’s sons.” The people wept until their tears ran down
their beards as they said; “We are satisfied with the Messenger of Allah as
our lot and portion.”
At the second pledge of Aqabah, before the pledge was made, Al Abbas bin
Ubada interjected with the following; “O men of
Khazraj (referring to Aws and Khazraj), do you realize what you are
committing yourselves to in pledging your support to this man? It is to war
against all (the red and the black of men). If you think that you will lose
your property and your nobles are killed and you will abandon him, then do
so now, for it will bring you shame in this world and the next (if you did
so later); but if you think you will be loyal to your undertaking if you
lose your property and your nobles are killed, then take him, for by Allah
it will profit you in this world and the next.” They said they
would accept the Messenger on these conditions. But they inquired about what
they would get in return for their loyalty, and the Prophet (saaw) promised
them Jannah. They said: “stretch forth your hand,” and when he (saaw) did,
they pledged their word. Here, the Ansar demonstrated their unwavering
dedication by ac knowledging that they would sacrifice their nobles and
their wealth for no reward in this world, but for paradise in the Akhira. It
was due to this level of dedication at the pledge of Aqaba that the Prophet
(saaw) was able to rule smoothly without having a gap between the State and
its citizens and carry the policy of the State in an effective manner and
even in crucial times, such as battle of Hunayn. Even after the death of
Muhammad (saaw) the Ansars stand in giving the Bayah to Abu Bakr (ra) was
outstanding.
He reminded them of their pledge, and their reward which would be the Jannah,
and so, once reminded, the Muslims returned to the Prophet’s (saaw) side in
order to continue the fight. While the Sahabah (raa) clearly understood this
objective, we are nowhere close to it. So Why and How has our education
failed to create such personalities? We have many schools and universities
that teach the memorization of the Qur’an. Many Mosques are filled with
shelves upon shelves of the Qur’an.
Today, we must use the intellect as a way of entering into Islam. The
Muslims cannot be reluctant to carry their Da’wah outside theological
circles, fearing the same fears that the Christians and Jews have in
presenting their beliefs to the educated world, namely the challenge ‘prove
it.’ It is essential that the Muslims understand that Islam never accept the
defeat that the Christians and Jews accepted at the dawn of the
enlightenment, when they conceded that their beliefs were irrational and
founded on ‘faith.’
The Aqeedah of Islam is very rational and should be treated and taught as
such. We must move out of the sphere of theological argument and discussion,
and engage in Ideological discussion. We don’t need ‘comparative religion’,
studying the finer points of Christianity and Judaism, in order to uncover
inconsistencies therein. Rather we need to discuss Islam in the sphere of
Ideology in which we move beyond Islam vs. Christianity to Islam Vs
Capitalism, and Islam Vs Socialism. These are the new Ideological threats to
the Ummah. These are the concepts which the Islamic Aqeedah must defeat. We
have been sedated and inoculated in the same manner that the hunter
tranquilizes the Lion before capturing him. The only difference being that
while the Lion is held captive by the bars of the Iron cage, the Ummah has
been mentally imprisoned by the western definitions of pragmatism and
reality, failing to see that it is the venom of the western culture, its
thoughts, its concepts, its ideas and values which have contaminated the
Islamic Aqeedah.
For example, the Ummah today is told that we have to wait for political
evolution to run its course, before we can expect a politically stable
middle east. From this perspective, the idea of Khilafah and the return to
the system of Islam as a way of political life is regarded as impossible and
imaginary. In fact, many Muslims regard the return of Islam and the Khilafah
in exactly the opposite manner that the Sahabah (raa) regarded the mission
of Muhammad (saaw), while the domination of the world by those who were
formerly desert reared shepherds is far more unfeasible, logically, than the
domination of the world today by the Islamic State.
In fact, even the Kuffar saw the potential of the Prophet (saaw) when he (saaw)
was emigrating to Medinah. In one incident, the Quraish commissioned a
bounty hunter named Surakha to bring Muhammad (saaw) back to Mecca while he
(saaw) was on the Hijra. Surakha came upon the Prophet (saaw) and Abu Bakr (ra)
and drew his sword. The Prophet’s (saaw) victorious mentality was shining
through his eyes and looking back to Surakha, he (saaw) offered him the
Golden Bracelets of Kisra, the emperor of Persia, in exchange for Surakha’s
unaccomplished return to Mecca. Surakha accepted the offer and on the
Muslims’ conquest of Persia, ‘Umar (ra) presented those bracelets to him.
In contrast, many Muslims refuse to call for Islam and to work for the
reestablishment of the Khilafah because, they believe, it’s not a realistic
goal or that it detracts from other activities and causes. Today, we must
enthusiastically abandon the defeated and apologetic mentality that has been
fed to us. We must identify and extract the ideas and concepts which the
Kuffar have injected into our minds. We must break the chains that bind us
to pieces of land, and liberate ourselves from the domination of the Muslim
lands by the physical and ideological occupation by the Kuffar and their
puppets. We
can no longer allow others to dictate to us what is achievable and
practical. Rather, we must follow the method of Muhammad (saaw) which is
part and parcel of our Islamic belief. If we strive for Allah’s (swt) cause
in the way that the Sahabah (raa) strove to support Muhammad (saaw), then
surely we will achieve our promised victory, as Allah (swt) says in the
Qur’an:
“O you who believe! if you help Allah, He will help
you, and make your foothold firm.”(Muhammad 47:7)
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