In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
“And do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart.”
(وَلَا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ) (Surah Al-Anfal, 8:46)
Amid the ongoing events in Palestine and Lebanon, and the destruction and brutal massacres being inflicted upon the Muslims by the Israelis with the support of America and the West, we hear discordant voices rejoicing over the killing and destruction happening in Lebanon. Some have even gone so far as to celebrate and distribute sweets over the killing of leaders of the Iranian Party by the hands of the criminal Israelis. They forget that this killing, destruction, and extermination happening in Palestine and Lebanon is nothing but a war against the entire Muslim Ummah, not just a war against a particular group, faction, or sect of Muslims. The missile that falls on the people of Lebanon does not differentiate between Shia and Sunni, or between Lebanese and Palestinian. Rather, it targets the entire Muslim Ummah, and it matters not to the Israelis which sect they exterminate or which group they kill, for all Muslims are their enemies.
It is true that Iran, its Lebanese party, Bashar, and his thugs have committed horrific killings and brutality against the people of Syria, a barbaric extermination that is unforgivable and will never be erased from the memory of the people. The bereaved mothers and the afflicted will never forget it. It is also true that Iran has its own agenda and treacherous projects in the Levant, Yemen, and Iraq, which no sensible person can overlook. And it is true that Iran does not genuinely support the causes of Muslims, only backing the resistance when it serves its own interests and agenda. However, for people to celebrate, drum, and rejoice over the killing of Muslims at the hands of the fiercest enemies of the Ummah, those who have usurped their land and expelled their people, is sheer ignorance and confusion in understanding Islamic law. Such behavior does not please Allah Almighty in any way, nor does it serve the Muslim cause in their war against their enemy. In fact, this is exactly what the enemies of Islam want. Allah says: “And do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart.”
(وَلَا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ) (Surah Al-Anfal, 8:46)
It is reported in the hadith narrated by Abu Huraira that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
”…And whoever rebels against my Ummah, striking both its righteous and its sinful members, and does not respect the believer nor honor the one with a covenant, he is not of me and I am not of him.”
«…وَمَنْ خَرَجَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي؛ يَضْرِبُ بَرَّهَا وَفَاجِرَهَا، وَلَا يَتَحَاشَى مِنْ مُؤْمِنِهَا، وَلَا يَفِي لِذِي عَهْدٍ عَهْدَهُ، فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَلَسْتُ مِنْهُ»
(Reported by Muslim).
Indeed, this brutal assault on Islam should unite the Ummah against its enemy. Just as the West has united in striking at the Muslims and has rushed to attack them like diners rushing to their meal, it is more fitting for the Ummah to unite its banner, unify its stance, support the mujahideen against their enemy, and remove the filth of traitors and agents from among the rulers who have conspired against the Ummah and stood with its enemy. This attack on the Ummah is a precious opportunity to rally its material and moral resources, close ranks, and reject division, standing as one solid structure in the face of the West’s hatred towards it.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), when he was informed of the statement of the leader of the hypocrites, Abdullah bin Ubayy, who said: “If we return to Madinah, the more honorable will expel the meaner (i.e., the Prophet ﷺ),” Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said, “O Messenger of Allah, allow me to strike the neck of this hypocrite.” But the Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
“Leave him, so that people do not say that Muhammad kills his companions.”
«دَعْهُ، لَا يَتَحَدَّثُ النَّاسُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً يَقْتُلُ أَصْحَابَهُ»
(Reported by Bukhari).
The Prophet (ﷺ) refrained from punishing the hypocrites to bring the hearts of the Muslims together, extinguish strife, and prevent people from turning away from Islam. All of Arabia at that time was observing this newly established state in Madinah with caution and anticipation, waiting for an opportunity to pounce on it. However, the wisdom of the Prophet (ﷺ) and his awareness of the importance of unity prevented this from happening. Imam Al-Nawawi commented on this, saying: “His (the Prophet’s) statement reflects forbearance, abandoning some preferable actions, and showing patience over certain harms to avoid a greater evil. The Prophet (ﷺ) would win people over and endure the rudeness of the Bedouins and hypocrites, among others, to strengthen the Muslim ranks and complete the spread of Islam.”
In the Constitution of Madinah, which the Prophet (ﷺ) drafted when establishing the first Islamic state, it is stated: “They (the Muslims) are one nation to the exclusion of others… and the peace of the believers is one.”
«إِنَّهُمْ أُمَّةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْ دُونِ النَّاسِ… وَإِنَّ سِلْمَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَاحِدَةٌ…»
It is also narrated by Ahmad: “The blood of the believers is equal, and they are united against others.”
«الْمُؤْمِنُونَ تَتَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ، وَيَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ، وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ».
In Ibn Kathir’s Al-Bidaya wa’l-Nihaya (Vol. 8, p. 127), it is mentioned: “When the Roman emperor saw that Muawiyah was preoccupied with the war against Ali, he advanced towards some lands with a great army, hoping to seize them. But Muawiyah wrote to him, saying: ‘By Allah, if you do not cease and return to your lands, I will reconcile with my cousin (Ali) and will turn against you, driving you out of all your lands and making the earth narrow for you despite its vastness.’”
This was the way of the Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions in maintaining unity, which is both a religious duty and a political necessity. The Muslims cannot free themselves from the yoke of Western colonialism and its fierce attacks unless they unite their word, join hands to remove borders, close ranks, and raise the banner of Tawheed under the leadership of a sincere, righteous leadership that will lead the Ummah to honor and victory. This is the opportunity that the Ummah has today to achieve that.
As for the ignorant calls, they serve only the enemies of Islam and will only increase the division among Muslims. They will not push the Ummah forward but will take it many steps back. May Allah unite the hearts of the believers and grant us victory and empowerment under a sincere leadership that will unite this scattered Ummah under the banner of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.”
(وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللهِ جَمِيعاً وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَاناً وَكُنتُمْ عَلَى شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ)
(Surah Aal-E-Imran, 3:103)
Khaled Ali – America
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut-Tahrir
11th of Rabi’ Al-Thani 1446 AH
Monday, 14th of October 2024 CE
