RELIGION AND RULE

by Idris Ahmed Osman
Sunday, July 06, 2008

57:27 Then, in their wake, We followed them up with (others of) Our apostles: We sent after them Jesus the son of Mary, and bestowed on him the Gospel; and We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him Compassion and Mercy. But the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them: (We commanded) only the seeking for the Good Pleasure of Allah. But that they did not foster as they should have done. Yet We bestowed, on those among them who believed, their (due) reward, but many of them are rebellious transgressors.

5:44 It was We who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah's will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah's book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers.

15:9 We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).

Br. Dhool’s article: Is separation of religion and state important?, is a good start and lead to reinstate and emphasise my previous article: Silencing the secularists.

The hadith which Dhool quoted below, as good and famous, (HASAN, MASHHUR) has certain serious defects which may be hidden from the innocent brother: Quote:

In the Hadith HASAN MASHHÛR – the Prophet impressed upon Muslims to seek knowledge no matter how far the distant — even as far as China: "Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim." Unquote.

Imam al-Shawkani included it in his book: “the collected benefits of the fabricated hadiths”. Ibn Haban said: This hadith is severely weak and baseless. In its chain of narration there is a man called Ateka who reports extremely weak ahadith. While the wording of the hadith is famous, nevertheless all the chains of its narration are very weak such that Ibn Al Jawzi included it in his list of fabricated hadiths.

There is conspicuously every historic reason as to why we are short-sighted with respect to the ideal application of the Islamic Shariah, religion and rule or Islamic state. Careful reading of the above verses from the noble Quran discerns the truth from the falsehood and removes all doubts. The Church indulged in a superstition and monasticism, the Jews and Christians were assigned the duty to protect Allah’s book, judge by it, keep it unaltered and intact. Through the course of time, they changed and distorted it, of course then the people rebelled against religion and sought refuge elsewhere. This shall never happen in Islam because Allah says: (We will assuredly guard it from corruption). It is not angels who would do the job; it is men like you and me, ordinary men (In contrary to the Rabbis, Bishops and Pastors who claimed inspiration to revise the word of Allah) but so much different to us, blessed with piety, deep understanding and knowledge of the religion. It should be noted that while the word “The Message” –“Al-Dhikra” refers to the Quran, Allah protected even the tradition of the prophet sallalahu alaihi wasallam. So many scholars of hadith like Imam Al Bukahri, Imam Muslim, At-tirmadhi, Annasai, Ibnu Majah, Al Beihaqi, Abu Daud, Imam Ahmad,  Imam Abdullah Ibnal Mubarak Imam al-Shawkani, Al-Saghani, Ibn Al Jawzi, Imam Sufyan Al-Thawri, in the past to current day, Sh. A/Qadir Al-Arnaudh, Sh. Muhammad Shakir, Sh. Muhsen Al-Abbad, Sh. Al-AlBani etc, sorted the hadith and classified it into Sahih (authentic or sound), Hasan (good), Dha’ef (weak), Maudhu or Badhil (Fabricated or forged), Munkar (denounced), Mudraj (interpolated), Mauquf (stopped), Muttasel (continuous), Munqadhe’ (broken), Marfu’ (elevated), Maqdhu’ (severed), Ghareb

(Scarce or strange), Mursal (hurried), Mutawater (consecutive), Mash-hur (famous), Musalsal (uniformly-linked), Mu’alal (defective), Maqlub (overturned), Muddhareb (shaky), and Shadh (irregular).

Apart from the central infallible noble figure Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wasallam, 53:3-4 Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him; there is none else who is entitled to have unlimited, unreserved, total obedience to his statements. Imam Malik is quoted saying in this context: Everyone’s statements maybe accepted and rejected except the dweller of this graveyard, pointing to the sepulchre of the prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam. The four Imams of the four schools of thought used to issue disclaimer saying: If my statement, opinion, (say interpretation, for the sake of Br. Dhool), contradicts that of the prophet salallhu alaihi wasallam then cast mine against the wall, meaning ignore me. In Islam, there is no such central figure as a Rabbi or a Bishop who monopolises the religion, sitting on his pulpit in the Church or the Synagogue, to whom followers resort as a medium through which to have access to God. In Islam, even the leaders of the believers had been challenged and reckoned by the public. It is really inconvenient and shame to say religion and politics are lethal mix. If by any means Man should be the interpreter of religious teachings according to the relevant conditions and status, whereby few men may temporarily misinterpret , err or fail to achieve the idealistic nature of its application; should we, Allah forbid, desert all religion and follow foot steps of the Church?!. Is that what leads to progress and Development?!. Dhool said in his article, quote: In the 16th century, the churches used to rule in Europe. It is now many centuries since religion and politics have been separated in the West. We must ask, why? The reason is because religion and politics are lethal mix. Again we must ask, why? The problem is not religion. The problem is man. Unquote.

Emotional aspect against sound reasoning of our mentality and mindset already jumped to the conclusion that Dhool is advocating for the separation of religion from state or holds the opinion that religion and state are incompatible. It is extremely dangerous as it is sounds like the secularists’ blasphemous stigma in their parroting the enemies of Islam. I am sure this is not the case with brother Dhool. However Dhool’s vague message, if misunderstood, might precipitate so many harsh criticisms, if not a religious edict (Fatwa) against him. Where blindfold emotions supersede the faculty of reasoning or allegorical deduction (Qiyas), anyone who tries to have his say, but in a wrong way, might be accused of being an antagonist who is antipathetic against Islam. Quite simply, I do lay the blame on Br. Dhool and the likes who have not acquired a thorough concept of what the overall application of religious tenets and principles into all walks of life means, yet try to speak about the separation of religion from state. Before he despatches his next piece let me offer him, in the following lines, some points to ponder in order for him to rectify the misunderstanding.

Basically our imagination can not extend beyond what we never experienced but only read in history. Generally, the whole Muslim world has been suffering since the decline of the Ottoman Empire in an epoch of colonialism followed by dictatorships. It is nearly a century since the tide of the Ottoman Empire ebbed in the territories under its rule. Regarding our part of the world, Somalia has constantly been kept under darkness of colonialism, communism, and now bloody civil wars. I am quite sure that Dhool like many other intellectuals, with whom I had an encounter, are being braced with an illusion in terms of religion and rule, the imagination of irrevocable religious interpretation by clerics where there would be no room for any further discussion, debate and discourse, etc. I am very sorry to say but this misleading concept emanates from their abated grasp of the collectiveness of the religious injunction and divine law (Shariah). This religion” Islam” is a constitution; a judiciary system, a complete way of life which penetrates into the individual and society’s aspects, family structure, economics, business transaction, international relations and politics, peace and war, the military and the defence system, the education system and the media, the public services, the social relations, etc. The prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam is being described by friends and foes alike, as the greatest leader of all time. He would saunter in the bazaars, dig his hand deep into the heap of barley for sale, feel wet and ask the merchandiser: Why did you conceal the wet part underneath?, the seller would say, O’ messenger of Allah, it rained on it. He would say: He who cheats is not of us (Muslims). He used to sketch a strategic plan of military defence, lead the army, forge international and national relations and sign treaties with monarchs and chiefs of the tribes in Arabia. One of the beauties of Islam is that it lays general guidelines under whose framework there is abundant freedom to act accordingly. There are limitations on extreme ends as lawful (halal) and unlawful (haram), where the end points terminate seem to be very slightly touching or intermingling hence doubtful matters (shubuhaat) arise.  In a sahih hadith narrated by At-tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Al Baihaqi, the flexibility to set conditions and parameters for the benefit of mankind is clearly indicated as: Muslims are accountable to the binding conditions they set for themselves except a condition which contradicts the divine law by making lawful what is unlawful and vice versa. For instance, as a Muslim, one is accountable to abide by the man made law of traffic system. Stopping strictly at red and moving on green. There are many issues today where Mankind is compelled to seek ethical guidance (Religion), such as clinical phases of drug trials and testing on animals, human cloning, organ donation and transplant, abortion, etc. In economics and business, Islamic banking, interest-free loan, mortgage, savings, interest free trading system, Shariah-compliant business transaction is becoming a booming subject in the modern world.

Once we agree unanimously that excellent governance can only be achieved by the ideal application of the Islamic Shariah, in other words religion involved in regulating the state. We can now move to the clerics who might interpret the law with respect to the prevalent issues such as politics. Sadly, Br. Dhool says, quote: it is hard to criticize clerics who use religion to rule.  They will not tolerate dissent as they are likely to believe their verdicts are divinely inspired. Unquote.  Umar Ibnul Khattab whose longer duration of rule is characterised as the most remarkable and par excellence governance had been questioned by one of the audience regarding the extra length of his garment. Umar amazed the questioner that he did not have financial means so he borrowed part of it from his son. (For your information, he was ruling the most civilised nations on earth). He could easily turn to the social fund, the welfare trust, the national bank, his personal account in Swiss banks and order ships load of the latest fashion suits. Besides it was Ameerul Mu’meneen Umar who used to carry the sacks of grain and barley on his back, in the darkness of the night, to deliver it to the elderly and the widows with orphans. Had only Br. Dhool known that the leader of the believers Umar Ibn Al-Khattab during his sermon on the pulpit was criticised and refuted by a woman among the audience.  

Furthermore, to relieve Br. Dhool and many other’s anxiety, the complete application of religion in all affairs of the state does not mean that the politician, the pilot, the surgeon, the medical or veterinary doctor, the farmer and the fisherman would be dictated how to do their job by clerics who may not have experience in it. The prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam said: You know better your worldly matters. In Sahih Muslim. It was an occasion when he told date farmers to employ whatever method (traditional cross fertilization) they could use. In the battle of the trench (Khandaq), the prophet salallhu alaihi wasallam approved and supported the opinion of Salman AlFarsi who had an experience to the Persian war strategy to dig the trench around the inlets to Medina. Br. Dhool’s words resonate from a source of utter agitation with personalities whose dual character and mischief abuse the ideal application of the noble Quran. Values come from one’s environment and upbringing. Values (qiyam) are cherished things such as land, flag, nation etc. If one’s parent(s) were clannish, one is likely to be clannish. Anyone can learn the entire Holy book by heart. One’s fairness (fair-mindedness) and judiciousness does not come by the mere reading of the holy book — they stem from other factors.

Dhool should appreciate that the other factors through which they could acquire a positive concept, without it being a logic excuse, has been barred and blocked by years of colonialism, communism, conflicts and chaos. Yet, Islam teaches the basics of love of the country or locality (patriotism), the prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam would say, pointing to mount Uhud: This is a mountain which loves us and we love it. He was so attached to Mecca that at his last ditch of bidding it farewell, he said: Had your people not evicted me by force, I would never have left you. The pilgrim is given intuitive lessons to interact with the nature such as not to uproot or cut any tree, plant, neither harm nor kill an animal for game. In fact it is the religion which teaches the minute details of discipline and etiquette in life. Unfortunately it is being negligently ignored as trivial matters. Neighbourhood, for example, is one of the most important rights which Islam emphasises till the prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam said: Jibril kept on advising me about the rights of the neighbours so much that I started thinking, they will be given a share in inheritance. Bukahri and Muslim.

These are the real values ( Qiyam ) of the land and people. Yet about the national anthem, the flag, and other national emblems and anniversaries, the matter of the fact is that principally and ideally the whole Muslim world should be one Ummah under one banner and ruled by one leader of the believers (Ameerul Mu’meneen). The current synthetic geographical borders between the Muslim nations, which most of us think natural due to lack of historical knowledge, is the handiwork of the colonists. Britain and France as two major colonists of the Muslim world have had pivotal influence on the demarcation of the territories under its mandate in the so called protectorates. The psychological negative impact of the colonial and other system’s ideologies have had on our lives is clearly manifested in our debased coveting of other’s way of life. Histories of revolutionary godless communist figures such as Lenin, Marx and Engels or events of World Wars had been attached more importance and taught in our schools. While ignoring our far and near past history, the autobiography of the prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam, his struggle to implement the nucleus of the Islamic state in Medina, the heroic history of the rightly guided caliphs both in peace and war as well as our blessed and gallant freedom fighters, martyrs who expelled the Italian and British colonists from our land on these days in history. Our problem lies in our comparison of the bad, the worse and the worst where we have never experienced the best. Of course, in view of the worst, the bad would be seen as the good. In other words, while among patients gloating headache is better than cancer is understandable, it may appear contemptuous to the completely healthy person. In a nutshell, we are still freely roaming around in a vast and spacious prison in which we can not perceive our hindered limitations and the real freedom beyond the fences and barriers. Br. Dhool continues and says, quote:

The question is: will the use of religion bring a good government for Somalia? It is true, according to the Holy Qur’an we are required to rule ourselves by the word of the Almighty. Unfortunately, many Muslims confuse Sharia (the judiciary) with public administration (political matters). Unquote. For the importance thereof, the consequence of failing to rule and judge by what Allah revealed (Al-hukmu bema Anzala Allah) has been reiterated as a rebellious, blasphemer and wrong doer thrice in the same chapter of the Quran:

5:47 Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel.

5:44 It was We who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah's will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah's book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) Unbelievers.

5:45 We ordained therein for them: "Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal." But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (No better than) wrong-doers.

Unfortunately, Dhool’s and many other’s frustration arises from the very fact that there might be a group of clerics who may not have an insight and deep  experience into international relations and politics, yet because they have raised a religious banner amalgamated with their own interpretation; criticising or opposing them could be very difficult. Worse enough, if some or one of the elite clerics were pursuing a different agenda or personal interest whereby the religious pattern and slogan were employed as a sacred immunity. In Dhool’s case, it would better if he simply focused to exert an emphasis on the importance of strictly applying or judging by the light of what Allah revealed, to oneself first and foremost, to be entitled to handle the noble cause. The ideal application, judging by (the light of) what Allah revealed shall insha Allah one day be implemented, it is the solution to all the problems of Mankind, In modern history all over the Muslim world, men stood up for this noble cause but were met with severe blows from the enemies of Islam. It will definitely be men with unique spirit, inspired by the noble prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam’s tradition, as humble in accepting criticisms and refutations and as strong in establishing justice, as Umar, who will face the challenges on the way to realising this great dream of ours.

Idris Ahmed Osman
E-mail: [email protected]