Question:

In a previous Fatwa you mentioned that Hizb at-Tahreer (a Muslim political group) is neglecting certain aspects of Islam i.e. the spiritual. How we can solve the problems of the Ummah?

Fatwa:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

No doubt, the Islamic system is a comprehensive, balanced system which meets the needs of soul, mind and body all at the same time. The Prophet's teachings address them all equally. The companions, may Allah be pleased with them, followed the same path.

In fact, the Prophet was busy with many wars and conquests against the Kuffar (disbelievers) but he did not neglect the subject of morals. In fact it was he who educated and purified his companions, may Allah be pleased with them, as Allah Says (what means): {He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves, reciting to them His verses, purifying them (from the filth of disbelief and polytheism), and teaching them the Book (this Qur’an, Islamic laws and Islamic jurisprudence) and Al-Hikmah (As-Sunnah: legal ways, orders, acts of worship, etc. of Prophet Muhammad). And verily, they had been before in manifest error.} [Quran 62: 2]. Indeed, the Prophet said: "I was sent to complete good morals."

If a person reads the history of many South Asian countries such as Java and Sumatra he will find out that the residents of these countries became Muslim through interactions with Muslim businessmen who strictly followed the Islamic teachings, and no Muslim army was ever sent to those places. There are many other examples, which show clearly that the Islamic morals and Islamic teachings have been major factors in the spread of Islam. If a community or a group neglects or does not concentrate on the morals and on watching the behavior of its members and does not educate them according to the Islamic teachings, (i.e. purifying them from all kinds of evil and habituating them to good acts), it deviates from the right path. Who dare saying that good morals and good behavior stand in the way of Dawah (call to Islam) and Jihad (struggle in the cause of Allah)?

As for the fact that Hizb at-Tahreer neglects the spiritual matters, we would like to mention here some points concerning such issue.

1. We mean by spiritual matters, purifying the people from bad faiths, practices etc. and raising them according to Shariah.

2. What the Prophet did to establish an Islamic government in the world was a tremendous Jihad since it included all kinds of Jihad i.e. Jihad against desires, Satan and evils, Jihad with the sword and the word, struggling to elevate the true religion and demolish the Kufr (disbelief).

3. As for the question what should we do to solve the problems of the Ummah (Nation)? The answer for this question is that we should make Dawah just as the Prophet did and we should follow the steps of our good ancestors in understanding and implementing the Shariah. This can not be done by just sitting. Dawah means making efforts to establish the Islamic rule in this world, spreading the truth, enjoining good and forbidding evil and guiding the Ummah according to the Shariah. This way is the way of the Prophet . Quran also treats both moral and physical diseases, just as it treats the diseases of intellect.

The Qur’an attributes disasters which took place in the battle of Uhud and Hunayn to being disobedient to Allah and His Prophet Muhammad . Allah Says (what means): {(What is the matter with you?) When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say: "From where does this come to us?" Say (to them), "It is from yourselves (because of your evil deeds). And Allah has power over all things.} [Quran 3:165]

In another place in the Quran Allah Says (what means): {Truly Allah has given you victory on many battlefields, and on the Day of Hunayn (battle of Hunayn) when you rejoiced at your great number but it availed you naught and the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for you, then you turned back in flight.} [Quran 9:25]

The most important act Allah demands from Mujahideen is to supplicate Him as much as possible. Allah Says (what means): {O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them and remember the Name of Allah much (both with tongue and mind), so that you may be successful.} [Quran 8:45]

But when a given group opts for arguing and using reason and logic in everything even in things that do not match the nature and characteristics of the mind prioritizing the latter over Shariah texts, it (this group) looses its ability to weigh things properly hence denying evident Shariah matters like the torment of the grave.

In addition neglecting the obligation of enjoining virtues and forbidding evil is a major sin. On the other hand, following the deviant groups such as Muatazilah and others is a disaster which is unsuitable for Muslims who follow the way of the Prophet and his companions, may Allah be pleased with them.

4. We advise our brother to be neutral, not to be partial for a person or a group. His aim should be to follow the truth regardless of where he finds it. May Allah Guide all of us to the right path.

Allah Knows best.

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb