The correct political activism for Muslims in the West

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The correct political activism for Muslims in the West

Indeed so obsessed are the Western Governments in ramming their western political culture down the throats of everyone that new immigrants to Britain will now have to sing the national anthem (even though most British footballers don't know the actual words) and swear allegiance to key western values, before they can get to use a British passport. In their view a common culture is required which should bind everyone Muslim or Non Muslim, and what should this common and magnificent culture be, it is that schools should transmit British identity through the teaching of British political history, English language and literature and an understanding of the Christian values on which western democracy is based. Clearly this is an unambiguous stance to demonstrate their quest to indoctrinate the masses.

So where does this leave Muslims in the West and in Britain, should we adopt western political values and fully integrate into western society as the recent right wing British think-tank Civitas recommends while remaining Muslims in the spiritual and personal arena. Or is there another way, a strategy that ensures Muslims don't compromise, but remain true to their own political values and culture while at the same time propagating an alternative view to the wider society.

WHY ARE WESTERN POLITICAL VALUES NOT A MODEL FOR US?

1. The Western viewpoint in life divorces societal actions in this life from the hereafter and therefore ignores any accountability after death. Therefore Western politicians judge actions they do in this life according to their own criteria usually the pursuit of material benefit, i.e. utilitarianism. Consequently pursuing Machiavellian methods if they are deemed necessary are considered valid political ruses or strategies, the ends justifies the means, politics isn't for the faint hearted and it's a man's game, are all used as justifications for this type of behaviour.

However in contrast the Islamic politician is shaped by Islamic values and considers that all their actions will be judged in the after life and so he acts accordingly, the importance therefore of taqwa (piety) is not to be underestimated as it shapes the Islamic leadership and colours its rule. An absence of taqwa or even worse the belief in western values would soon bring corruption, which is exactly what we see day in day out in the western world. This is why the second Khalifah Umar was attributed to having said ‘that if a donkey falls on the road in Damascus, I fear Allah will account me'. Yet Western societies are characterised by a total absence of accountability in their politics

2. The second reason is the analysis of whom the western politicians really serve. Though they boast that they work night and day for their citizens all the realities of their policies suggests otherwise. It is clear when we examine the relationships between the corporations and the politicians that the politicians have no other role than to do the bidding of the corporations who are the financiers of them and who in return receive tax cuts, and lucrative government contracts. The military is therefore no more than a resource used to further corporate interests both in the short term and longer term, which when deployed as it was in Iraq is dressed up in code words such as the ‘national interest' or we are doing this to bring ‘security to the American and British people'. Consequently is it any wonder that lies were told to justify the real reason for the war, not to liberate Iraq but to liberate the Profit and Loss accounts of Western companies. These are the entities with the real power within capitalist societies and who demand long term stability in key markets to further their corporate agendas. The Bush administration's close marriage with the US Oil industry is a bare exposition of this reality.

3. The third issue is to highlight the fact that it is not simply politicians from one party that are involved, but it is across the entire spectrum. Contrary to popular belief there is no pluralism within western societies as all political parties broadly agree on the same fundamental values. The differences that exist are in the details not about values and like competing capitalist nations in international markets, they differ according to competing interests. In addition far from the media being a check on the system it is actually a check on individual government not on the capitalist system. This is clearly seen when we examine that the values of the media themselves are the same as those of the society in which they exist, apart from the fact they are owned by the very capitalists that also have the power within the society. It was therefore sad to see some Muslims who naively rushed to support anti war politicians like Robin Cook and Clare Short despite the fact that both of them were in the same Blair cabinet that attacked Iraq in 1998 and which supported the death of thousands of Iraqis under UN sanctions since 1990. Both politicians continue to support the very ‘democratic' system that not only allowed this war but has allowed countless others in the past. Even some non Muslims have exposed the current political system as being a farce.

"The more you read and observe about this Politics thing you got to admit that each party is worse than the other." - Will Rogers

"Saying we should keep the two-party system simply because it is working is like saying the
Titanic voyage was a success because a few people survived on life rafts." - Eugene McCarthy

4. The final point to make is that corruption in capitalist societies within the political arena is made easier by the fact that most people do not follow politics. The minority that do are largely ignored and are satisfied with their letters being published now and then in the broadsheet letters pages. Others are cleverly pushed by the regime into a cheap struggle in which they chase around for crumbs and loose sight of the real agenda. While the vast majority, are content to be blinded by the ‘dumb down' society obsessed with entertainment, pop stars, fashion and sex. There is more debate and discussion that takes place about David Beckham's hairstyle than say the economic policy that the state is following. Millions are disenfranchised from politics and this is clearly a deliberate strategy so that the ‘great and the good' can on the one hand earn billions on the back of these pursuits but secondly they can then run the state without too much rebellion or criticism. A country where the best selling newspapers are the Sun and the News of the World and where the Mirror has seen a loss in circulation since its attempt at promoting a more ‘serious news agenda' hardly espouses a nation which hold their leaders and system to account. In America the situation is even worse where most people don't even know where the countries their armed forces are attacking are on the map, let alone accounting them on detailed foreign policy.

There is no comparison to Islam where the state and the media actively promote politics where the people are told that accounting the ruler and critiquing his policies is an obligation, equal to prayer and fasting.

WHY POLITICS IS INSEPARABLE FROM ISLAM

There are still some who argue that religion and politics should not mix, that religion is for the individual and should therefore not be imposed into society. However dig a bit deeper and the individuals who advocate ‘secularism' (the detachment of religion from life) as a political doctrine have no problem imposing their rule over everyone else irregardless of whether the person is secular or not.

What is also not fully understood by Muslims and Non-Muslims alike is that Politics can not be stripped from the Islamic belief, it is inherent within the Islamic ideology that it came to solve all problems and came to address the people's affairs. Bukhari narrated from Ibn Umar: The Prophet (salAllahu alaihi wasallam) said; "The Imam is in charge and he is responsible for his citizens". Consequently there is no separation of the spiritual and the temporal within Islam, there is no separation of religion from politics or economics or foreign policy. Consequently the Islamic ideology by its nature cannot co-exists alongside other ideologies such as communism or capitalism within the same society, Muslims may live in these societies but will find that their key political values will inevitably clash with the political culture of the host society e.g. Muslims belief that the source of legislation emanates exclusively from the creator completely contradicts with liberal capitalism's view that man is the source of legislation The Qur'an in Surah Ma'idah where Allah (subhanahu wa ta'aala) says;

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"Today I have perfected your Deen and have called it Islam" [TMQ Al-Ma'idah: 3]

CAN A MUSLIM ADOPT WESTERN POLITICAL VALUES?

The simple answer to this is no. Muslims have a unique political culture as can be seen from the Prophet's life as a ruler in Medina and his successors who all governed as political leaders. Therefore the clear criteria for any action we as Muslims do whether it is in prayer, hajj, or politics is to find the divine rule.

The lamentable position today is that Muslims for a variety of reasons (ignorance, personal benefit, fear of losing face, cowardice, dazzled by western civilisation) have adopted western political values without asking for any Islamic evidence. So joining of any political parties is encouraged, despite their manifestos and constitutions violating the Islamic aqeedah, voting for MP's is propagated, and standing for election is obviously the pinnacle.

The results of Muslim attempts to participate in British politics are clear, despite decades of Muslims being present in this country; we have mastered all of two MP's. At the current rate of two new MP's at each election we should have a comfortable majority in the House of Commons by the 27th century.

WHAT SHOULD BE THE SOURCE OF OUR POLITICS?

The Prophet (salAllahu alaihi wasallam) in Makka should be the clear and unambiguous example, not what the Zionists do or the lesser of two evils, or personal benefit or the western political culture. He (salAllahu alaihi wasallam) was offered more than what Muslim politicians are offered today, he was not just offered a seat at the table (akin to a MP), he was offered the table when the Quraysh offered him the Kingship of Mecca. In fact the Quraysh also offered him a form of coalition Government, which some Muslims today in Britain would break their arms for when the leaders in Mecca offered to worship Islam for one year in return for the Muslims worshipping the idols for one year. The Prophet could have been opportunistic, he could have sought power to help the suffering of his companions in Mecca (akin to the mosques, schools and halal meat argument we here today as being the prizes on offer if Muslims join the democratic system), he could have deduced that the Quraysh would not return to their idols after worshipping Islam for one year. Indeed some may argue that he could have taken the deal as it was the lesser of two evils, his companions were being tortured and his acceptance of the deal would have protected them from further torture. Some may argue that he could have accepted the plan, and tried to deceive the Quraysh (like the Zionists did in their political advance, which many Muslims marvel at), by faking belief in their idols as indeed how can one's real belief be really audited. The answer to the deal was unambiguous, clear and is an example to any Muslim contemplating entering the western political system or adopting western political values. Allah (subhanahu wa ta'aala) said;

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‘Say: ,O disbelievers. I do not worship that which you worship. Nor will you worship that which I worship. And I shall not worship that you are worshipping. Nor will you worship that which I worship. To you be your religion, and to me my religion.' [TMQ Al- Kafiroon]

ISLAMIC ACTIVISM IN THE WEST - SOME KEY POINTS

So what should Muslims do in the West? Muslims by the grace of Allah constitute many within the Western world; they have significant opportunities to engage in many activities, which are within the Islamic Shari'ah.

1. We are all aware that Islam provides the only plausible alternative to Western capitalism, Western societies are now characterised by so much corruption in every sector of society and public life that it is the ideal time to present Islam as a comprehensive ideology. This requires all of us to contact western thinkers, intellectuals, think tanks and influentials so that the Islamic ideas in politics, economics, within the social system or judiciary are presented to them as the comprehensive solution for the many problems mankind faces today. This should be done in an intellectual manner with a firm and composed style i.e. with wisdom (hikmah) and beautiful speech (maw'izah hasanah). We should not underestimate the powerful effect the propagation of the Islamic thought will have amongst these people, who at present see nothing beyond the system they have. Muslims wherever they are should therefore not be satisfied with simply satisfying their own interests but must be ambassadors of Islam abiding in their own lives by the Shari'ah as well as carrying Islam to others around them. Indeed this is how Islam spread to places like Indonesia; Muslims went there and propagated Islam unapologetically obviously refusing to integrate within the host Indonesian society. Compare that approach to what we see today from those who demand integration for the Muslims living here.

2. As Muslims living here, we should not forget that we are linked to the global Islamic Ummah by our 'aqeedah. The Prophet (salAllahu alaihi wasallam) said; "The Muslims are like one body, when one of its limbs hurts the entire body responds to that part with sleeplessness and fever"

This requires us to constantly raise the oppression that Muslims face all around the world as well as highlighting the oppression that all people including non-Muslims, face as a result of global capitalism. It is imperative Muslims in Britain help their brothers and sisters in the Islamic world in any actions that will help facilitate the replacement of the corrupt oppressive governments in the Muslim world with the Islamic state, the Khilafah. Muslims should not feel intimidated in calling for the Khilafah or raising the issue of oppression and colonialism, as it is their duty to do so. Muslims should not fear a loss of funding from these governments as calling them to account is a divine duty and Allah (subhanahu wa ta'aala) is the one who is the real source of our rizq. Also Muslims should be aware that judgements and solutions with respect to the oppression in Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq or Africa should be made using the Islamic Shari'ah and not from values such as human rights, international law or UN resolutions. This is because these values are the very same that have caused thee problems in the first place and they have no place in the Muslim's political vocabulary.

3. In terms of human resources, Muslims constitute many skills and professions living in the West. We need to use this talent whether it is in finance, law, science, journalism, photography or IT to not just help ourselves but to strengthen the Muslims as a whole. We should prepare ourselves not just to study these topics for our material advancement but also to use them to help Muslims achieve their political objectives in the Islamic world as well as in the west. At the moment our skills base is so dissipated and disparate, that we lose political and ideological leverage. Today's Muslim professionals should see their skills as powerful vehicles to understand, promote and carry the Islamic ideology to Western professionals as well as providing the brains, research and skills base for the future Islamic state.

These are just some of the alternatives that Muslims can turn to and this is in many ways a full time agenda if done diligently. All these actions are consistent with the Islamic Shari'ah and should be acted upon instead of participating in the democratic system, ruling and other prohibited areas like taking out membership of non-Muslim political parties.

Finally we would like to say the following, the correct Islamic behaviour is always to study any political reality deeply and if the Islamic hukm is that any action is considered forbidden, that we accept it willingly and not with a heavy heart. This is our strength but our dedication to Islam will constantly be challenged and sometimes sacrifice for the Deen is and will be required. If we hold Islam dear, then we must hold to it, even if it proves to be inconvenient or difficult or else what is the meaning of us claiming to be proud of our Islamic beliefs and principles. We must constantly support the truth, repel oppression even if it is on Non Muslims, understanding that removing injustice can only take place according to the Shari'ah rule and by holding on to the path of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'aala). It is wrong to think that victory and success can come for Muslims by committing haram. He (subhanahu wa ta'aala) said;

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"So stand (ask Allah to make) you (Muhammad) firm and straight (on the Deen) as you are commanded and those who turn in repentance (unto Allah) with you and transgress not (Allah's limits). Verily, he is All-Seer of what you do." [TMQ Hud: 112]

Sajjad Khan