A Reminder To The Leaders Of The Islāmic State

By Umm Hamzah Al-Muhājirah

 

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “The religion is nasīhah (sincere advice).” We (the companion) said, “To whom?” He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “To Allāh, His Book, His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.”[1]

Likewise, ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattāb (رضي الله عنه) said, “There is no goodness in people who don’t give advice, and there is no goodness in people who don’t like to be advised.”[2]

Based on the above two quotations, I give this small piece of advice to those who hold power within the Islāmic state. This is my sincere advice coming from my heart and it is hoped that is touches the hearts of those who are sincere from among the leaders of this blessed Caliphate.

I firstly advise you to beware of this trust Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) has bestowed upon you. Review your use of it and any injustices you may have done before it’s too late. For if you meet Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) with injustice in your scale, then your dream of becoming a martyr may not come true. You must realize that this power you hold can lead you to paradise or lead you to the lowest depths of hell. If you are just and upright with this power, then may Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) be pleased with you. But if you are mistreating some people and treating others well, then know that you have committed injustice, and may Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) forgive you.

Injustice on your behalf is not like the injustice of others. You are a leader and you can change the cards, by Allāh’s permission. Fear doing oppression on those under you as it is a cause of loss for the Islāmic State. Ibn Taymiyyah said, “Verily, Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) helps a just country, even if its people are disbelievers; and He does not help a wrongdoing oppressive country, even if its people are Muslims.”[3] So fear Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) and reconcile any oppression you may have done.

Imagine that you’ve helped a sister who requested zakāh two days ago, but you’ve ignored the sister who has been waiting since a month before. She cries every night, concerned about how to feed her children as her husband is martyred. The tears that roll down her cheeks and the pain she suffers will be something you will be asked about and accountable for. Every night she raises her hands and complains to none but Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) to rid this land from its greed.

You may not be aware of it, but that does not dissolve you from your duties. Everything that happens to your subjects is something that you will be questioned about on the Day of Judgement. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The leader of people is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects.”[4]

Her tears may go unnoticed, she may be unknown, you may not hear her cries, but by Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى), she is from your flock who you will be asked about. ‘Alī Ibn Abī Tālib (رضي الله عنه) said to one of his governors, “Check on those people who cannot meet you, people who are looked down on by others and to whom people show disrespect; allocate to these people a man whom you trust is pious and humble, and let him tell you about their needs.”[5] Where are the men of this Ummah who carry sacks of food on their backs to the outskirts of the city to cater for the sisters who go unnoticed as ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattāb done?

Every wife of a Shahīd from your battalion (Ar. Katībah) is under your care until she goes back to the Maqar. Fear Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) in the way you cater for her needs. She is your responsibility and all her needs now rest on your shoulder. You will be questioned, as you are from among the leaders of this Caliphate. This is your trust, she is under your care, so do not abandon her. Sayyid Qutb said: “To abandon the duties Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) has assigned to the Muslim community is betrayal of Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم).”  I[6] Is this the way the Ummah treats the widows of the martyrs? Is this the way you would want others to treat your wife once you become martyred?

We claim to be upon the Prophetic methodology, yet I ask you by Allāh, is this the case?! Is it from the Prophetic methodology to neglect the widows? Those pious Muslimāt who migrated alone away from their families to live under the shade of the Caliphate deserve our respect. They deserve much more than what he can even offer them.

Imagine that muhājir who has nothing but the clothes he wears and who has nowhere to stay. But you help your friend get the nicest home in the area and you wouldn’t let him wait another day. If you are doing your work ‘fī sabīlillāh’ then you would not put your friend or companion over and above a stranger whom you do not know. Both are your Muslim brothers and both should be treated equally. There is that muhājir brothers who sleeps in the masjid basement with his gun as his pillow. He is unknown to you but known to Allaah. He gives everyone their rights but no one gives him his. He eats simple bread with water while you eat cooked meat. He walks past brothers eating meat in anticipation they will invite him to join in with their meal. No doubt many among the muhājirīn are as described, so pay heed to your responsibilities. During the battle of Tābūk, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) enquired as to the whereabouts of Ka’b Ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) while they were on the journey to the battlefield. The absence of one man was noticed by the Prophet! Such was how well he knew his subjects. There are some who live comfortable lives and others who do not even have the bare minimum; you will be asked about this imbalance in your ranks.

Imagine that you have given your word to a sister or brother that you will take care of their needs tomorrow. Tomorrow comes and goes without a passing thought in your head. And when they come to remind you the only answer they get is another “tomorrow”. ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattāb (رضي الله عنه) said, “Do not put off today’s work until tomorrow, lest work accumulate and you achieve nothing.”[7] A month goes by and they still await day by day hoping that you will remember to stick by your word. By then you have forgotten your word, with nothing on your mind as you watch your children play. You can forget or brush aside their needs, but no doubt it will come back to haunt you on the Day of Judgement. Don’t think that you becoming a shahīd will mean you have a free pass to do as you please in this life. Nay, the only sins which are forgiven are those that are between you and Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى); that which you had between people will no doubt be accounted for!

Your children see their father come home with food and all they need while the brother or sister who humbly came to you requesting you for help is shunned away. How can such a leader sleep at night? How can a man enjoy the comforts of his home while others who rely on him for help are ignored and forgotten about. As you sit at home enjoying the comforts of your home with your wife, another brother sits in the cold due to the numerous broken promises of getting a heater or a gas. You told him to come back tomorrow due to you being lazy to finish the task at hand, knowing full well that it would not be ready tomorrow. The brother goes home, and informs his wife that he’ll be getting a heater the next day, only to return back home in disappointment and ashamed to even look at his wife’s face.

Do not neglect your duties for if you are upright you can be the source of much good, and if you are corrupt then you can be the source of much evil. Do not neglect doing that which will benefit the people as ‘Alī Ibn Abī Tālib (رضي الله عنه) said, “The best of people is someone who benefits the people.”[8]

Imagine that you work in Dīwān Al-Zakāh and in the next street down is a small child crying and hungry for warm food in the winter. His mother cannot afford the expenses and her shyness and dignity prevents her to come begging you for money. Your sister suffers in silence, hoping for the best from Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) while you go home every day filling your belly with warm food. Once ‘Amr Ibn Al-Ās (رضي الله عنه) presented some food to the Caliph ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattāb (رضي الله عنه), it was a sweet dish from Egypt which the Muslim army brought back after their conquest of those lands. ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattāb was about to eat the dish, but then asked, “Does everyone in Egypt eat this food?” When he was told that this was not the case, he pushed the dish aside and said, “How can I eat that which the average Muslims do not eat?”

Such was the leader in whose hands Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) opened up many lands. Such was a leader who set a high standard for all those who follow him. Know that you are in a position of authority and you will be questioned about every minor case under your care: the distribution of food, whether it was delivered on time or late, the people who work under you, how you chose them, etc. Nay, you will be held responsible for every baby that cries of hunger and every stress that each mother goes through due to this. The psychological pain of a mother as she hugs her baby and watches it cry in her arms while incapable to do anything is something no man knows. But no doubt you will know of it and be questioned about it on the Day of Judgement.

Imagine when you yelled at that sister in public rudely to cover her hands. Did you do it to show off your power, to feel yourself superior? Or did you do it to apply Allāh’s law in these lands? Instead you caused shame in her heart and created a dislike for the niqāb in this sister who is trying so hard to practice laws which she was previously unaware of. Making her do it for you instead of Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى). Would you shout at your own sister in public if she were to uncover her hands? Would you thank a brother for yelling at your wife and embarrassing her for showing her hands? Is this the characteristic if the sincere? Sisters require a gentle reminder with kind words. Believe it or not, it’s only a few who are rebellious.

Once Talhah came to ‘Abdul-Jabbār Ibn Wā’il while he was sitting with some people, so he whispered something to him and then left. He (Talhah) asked them, “Do you know what he just said to me? He said, ‘Yesterday I saw that you had looked around while you were performing the prayer.’”[9] Look at this sincerity. Look at the way our Salaf would forbid the evil without embarrassing the person nor causing a big scene. Women are soft creatures, fragile vessels who can easily break down. Sometimes a soft word can do more good than one can imagine. Yes she not be covering her hands, but compare her to 99% of the women elsewhere. She is a gem compared to majority of the women elsewhere.

Imagine oh brother or sister that because of your injustice Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) delays our victory. Imagine oh brother or sister that because of you our Ummah is not strong, for our Ummah should be free from all injustice.

Imagine the responsibility that will be on your shoulders in front of Allah and how many of his servants will be a witness against you. It isn’t a risk you should even take so please revaluate your use of this power which Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) has granted you. You were nothing prior to this position, a no body who no one obeyed and no one gave a second glance to. You didn’t even have control over your rebellious son, and now you are here with authority over so many people. So remember where you were and where you came from. Oppression and injustice are easy to commit and difficult to avoid. ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattāb (رضي الله عنه) said, “The one who is in a position of leadership is more likely to fall into temptation or sin, except those whom Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) protects, and they are few.”[10]

But you, my brother, must stay aware at all times. To do your best and judge yourself at the end of each day. Renew your intentions and only Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) you should obey.

Remember where you were yesterday, an unknown person wondering here and there with no purpose in your life, and here you are today a leader over the people. ‘Alī Ibn Abī Tālib (رضي الله عنه) said to one of his governors, “Your position is not a reward, rather it is a trust placed on your shoulders, and you are responsible to those above you.”[11] Do not let the Devil whisper any thoughts of pride or arrogance in you, for are only in this position by the permission of Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى), and no doubt this is a test for you. You were not selected due to your superiority over us, nay Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) put you in that position to test you. ‘Uthmān Ibn ‘Affān (رضي الله عنه) said, “If you find in the Book of Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) that you should put my leg in chains, then put my leg in chains.”[12] And by Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى), if we see open Kufr from you, we will topple you before you even know it. If the Qurān and Sunnah tell us to punish you due to your crimes, we will make sure you receive your punishment. You are also required to follow the Sharī’ah so do not think of yourself as superior to anyone else.

Do not become boastful or prideful due to your position, and if someone comes to you who is more fit to be a leader, then allow him to lead if you truly hate leadership and want the best for the Caliphate. Yahyā Ibn Mu’ādh Ar-Rāzi said, “He will never prosper from whom you sense any sign of aspiration to leadership positions.”[13] Many among the Companions (including Zubayr Ibn Al-‘Awām, Ibn ‘Abbās and others) would reject positions of leadership due to what they knew it entailed of responsibility.

This is what I have to say to our leaders. As a Muhājirah living here under the Caliphate it is my duty to remind you of the fear of Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى), and I do this purely out of my desire to gain the pleasure of Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى). ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattāb (رضي الله عنه) said, “I am afraid that I may do wrong and no one will stop me out of fear of me.”[14] By Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى) we do not fear you, for you are just human beings, if you do wrong we will correct you without fear of consequences for we know you are men of truth who will not get upset by being told to fulfil your duties.

Abū Bakr (رضي الله عنه) said, “If I do well, then help me. And if I do wrong, then set me straight.”[15] And this is simply that. A reminder to the sincere men who have taken up the position of leadership in this blessed Caliphate.

And the last of our call is, all praise due to Allāh (سبحانه وتعالى), Lord of all the worlds. 

 

Date: 12 Rabī' Al-Ākhir 1437 

 

Footnotes:

[1] Sahīh Muslim

[2] Risālat Al-Mustarshidīn, p.71

[3] As-Siyāsah Ash-Shar’īyah, p. 10

[4] Bukhārī & Muslim

[5] Nahj Al-Balāghah, p. 621

[6] Fī Zhilāl Al-Qurān [English trans.], 7/113

[7] Munāqib Amīr Al-Mu’minīn, by Ibn Al-Jawzī, p.129

[8] Manhaj ‘Alī Ibn Abī Tālib, p. 251

[9] Rawdatul ‘Uqālā, p. 197

[10] Futūh Ash-Shām, p.100

[11] Nahj Al-Balāghah, p. 525

[12] Musnad Ahmad, Al-Mawsū’ah Al-Headethiyyah, p. 524

[13] Sifat As-Safwah, 4/94

[14] Al-Baladhūrī, p 231

[15] Al-Bidāyah Wan-Nihāyah, 6/305