The victory for Mohammed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt’s presidential election is a milestone in the history of modern Arab countries. After having been imprisoned by the ex-president Husni Mubarak, one of the most corrupt dictators of the Middle East, he will now replace him as the president. This is not a victory for the Brotherhood or even political Islam, but a victory of truth over falsehood and a manifestation of the real colour of Muslims, whether they are educated, lay people, men, women, young or old. Allah says,
“He sends down water (rain) from the sky, and the valleys flow according to their measure, but the flood bears away the foam that mounts up to the surface, and (also) from that (ore) which they heat in the fire in order to make ornaments or utensils, rises a foam like unto it, thus does Allah (by parables) show forth truth and falsehood. Then, as for the foam it passes away as scum upon the banks, while that which is for the good of mankind remains in the earth. Thus Allah sets forth parables.”[1]
Beyond the many reservations we have of democracy, we always believed that had Muslims been given a genuine choice to choose between Islam and complete secularism, they would chose Islam. This has been manifested in countries where Muslims were subjected to staunch efforts to hijack their Islamic identity. Accordingly, I believe that the imperial powers will always be the first to oppose any actual democratic process in the Muslim world as they know that the result will be favourable to Islam and Muslims.
The first thing we should do is thank Allah for His blessings that He has bestowed upon us after the long wait for political change across the Arab world. The new leadership should, even more than before, refer to the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) methodology of establishing the first Islamic state. The manifesto of the Prophet was very simple; “O people, exchange greetings of peace; feed people, strengthen the ties of kinship, and be in prayer when others are asleep, you will enter paradise in peace.”[2] Similarly, the manifesto of the Prophet Abraham in establishing his first Islamic state, the most significant state in history – the Islamic state of Makkah, was reflected in his supplication (the first mentioned in the Qur’an):
“And [mention] when Abraham said, “My Lord, make this a secure city and provide its people with fruits – whoever of them believes in Allah and the Last Day.” [Allah] said: “And whoever disbelieves – I will grant him enjoyment for a little; then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination.”[3]
While peace is at the top of the list of priorities, food and basic economic needs are the next priority. However, the main goal of the Islamic state is to facilitate entry into paradise in peace. The new Egyptian authorities should realize that they face a very challenging situation whereby many will work to cause failure which will then be attributed to the Muslims of Egypt. They must work hard in all spheres.
We also advise all Muslims in Egypt to cooperate with the new leadership, irrespective of their differences with them, in order not to destroy the initial success of attaining leadership. Allah says in the Quran,
“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.”[4]
Everyone should realize that a successful Egyptian model means success for all Muslims around the world. It will open the doors to real change in all Arab and Muslim countries. We also appeal to Muslims outside of Egypt to support their brothers in Egypt in this regards. There are many ways to support them which cannot be covered in this short article.
We advise the new Egyptian government to start a new page in Egypt’s history and to avoid any act of revenge against parties or individuals, including those who used to persecute them. Their model should be our Prophet (peace be upon him); he pardoned all the people of Quraish when assuming overarching leadership.
The new Egyptian government should not repeat the momentous mistakes of the Sudanese leadership (who were also part of the Brotherhood). The Sudanese government over-compromised in regards to Islamic laws out of fear of external powers and anti-Islamic groups within Sudan. We have seen what they achieved after all of their compromise; they neither pleased their Lord nor the powers. Instead they lost almost one third of Sudan as well as destroying the economy. They forgot the fundamental divine law:
“Whoever has the Hereafter as his main concern, Allah will fill his heart with a feeling of richness and independence; he will be focused and feel content, and this world will come to him in spite of it. Whoever has this world as his main concern, Allah will cause him to feel constant fear of poverty; he will be distracted and unfocused, and he will have nothing of this world except what was already predestined for him.”[5]
We should all remember the main divine code regarding establishing Islam on earth:
“Allah has promised those who have believed amongst you and performed righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that – then those are the defiantly disobedient.”[6]
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:Notes
Sources:www.islam21c.com Islam21c requests all the readers of this article, and others, to share it on your facebook, twitter, and other platforms to further spread our efforts.
[1] 13:17
[2] Al-Tirmidhi, narrated by Abdullah ibn Salaam.
[3] 2:126
[4] 5:2
[5] Al-Tirmidhi: authentic hadith reported by Anas ibn Malik
Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad is a jurist who seeks to contextualise classical Islamic knowledge for the modern era. He is a firm believer that Islam is uniquely qualified — more than any other system — to build a divine civilisation capable of helping humanity to enjoy a better life in all spheres by maintaining the correct balance between the rights of the Creator and the rights of the creation. He believes Islam is the only viable alternative to the failing unjust and oppressive contemporary world systems, as Allah says: "You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind: you enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and believe in Allah." (al-Qur'ān, 3:110) According to this verse, Shaykh Haitham identifies the pillars of Islamic reform as īmān (faith), unity of the Ummah, impactful action, and knowledge. Drawing from his expertise in Islamic principles — Usūl al-Fiqh, Maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah, ‘Aqīdah, and other Islamic sciences — he promotes these foundational pillars to guide the Ummah’s revival. He is known for developing advanced theories that explore the role of Islamic jurisprudence in obtaining solutions for the contemporary challenges facing humanity, and he critically re-evaluates how Islamic legal rulings (fatāwa) can be formulated in light of modern sociopolitical realities. Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad earned his PhD from SOAS, University of London, with a doctoral thesis on Islamic jurisprudence concerning Muslim minorities. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Sharī‘ah and Law from the University of Omdurman, Sudan, and a degree in engineering from the renowned King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia. He has undertaken intensive studies in management, becoming a certified ISO 9000 auditor. In addition, he has studied various Islamic sciences under leading scholars of the Muslim world, including the former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Aziz ibn Baz, among many others. He has obtained many classical ijāzāt in various Islamic sciences, including Qur'ān and Hadīth. Shaykh Haitham has served as an Islamic judge for several UK-based arbitration and legal bodies for over 20 years; he is a judge at Islamic Council. He has delivered hundreds of courses on topics such as Fiqh, ‘Aqīdah, Usūl al-Fiqh, Maqāsid al-Sharī‘ah, Tafsīr, Sīrah, Islamic Thought, Islamic Leadership and Management, Da'wah, Reform, and Political Engagement. Shaykh Haitham has also submitted many academic papers in many universities around the world. He is frequently consulted by numerous Islamic organisations across Europe and beyond, and serves as a senior scholar at Islam21c. Shaykh Haitham has lectured in various universities around the Muslim world, provided counsel to Islamic institutions, authored several books and textbooks for different institutions, and travelled extensively to advocate for the reform and unity of the Ummah.
Let’s be realistic … The military-industrial complex in Egypt is simply too well-established and organised for any real power to be allocated to the incumbent. Brother Mohammad’s biggest challenge is to get them onside (so to speak) if he’s to wield the sort of power he needs to effect change. Let us pray that he achieves this crucial aim – however impossible it may seem – bi’ithnilLah.
Also, Sudan’s government has not failed because it didn’t go far enough in its implementation of Islam, it has failed because it did not possess in the first place the fundamental quality of any righteous Islamic leadership, namely justice. How can any ruler realistically expect co-operation in the establishment of a successful Islamic state when they plunder, loot and pillage resources after the people have denied them, forcibly eject/displace people from their homes/villages and even kill their own citizens? Those are the acts of tyrants, not Muslims. It should therefore come as no surprise that Allah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim has withheld success from them.
Article of hope I think this is an article which has much needed hope and also provides a sense of direction for the Ummah as a whole, whether politically or otherwise.
However, let us also wait patiently to see exactly how this pans out over time. Subhan’Allah we want nothing more than an Islamic state, but we also need to define what that means. If we are talking about nothing more than a legal maxim, like Saudi Arabia – then it wont make a real difference in the Islamic world at all. If we are talking about an Islamic state in its fullest sense, then we are talking about propogating real justice, assimilating western knowledge and integrating it into the state (islamically of course), building an islamic economy, freedom in worship, intellect and thought etc. This would be an Islamic state.
Secondly, this has to do with the people as much as the leadership. If, like Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries, the people will not ‘work’ for Allah swt or the state and continously count their pennies then no matter how great the leadership is, it can still fall due to the people. Iran is a very good example where the people work hard for the state and I know Shi’as here who regularly go back to volunteer their skills for the economy in Iran. This is something that Egypt should consider and eventually import skills which would be of benefit Insha’Allah.
Either way, it is a very complex scenario to deconstruct. I pray that Allah swt brings this Ummah back, as strong as the first generation of Muslims and with the comprehensio and understanding of real Islam – one that is non-compromising yet balanced, modern yet classical, wealthy yet considerate, educated yet humble, superior yet modest, hard yet soft, working for Allah swt yet reaching out to the people Insha’Allah!
No hope “Their model should be our Prophet” – agreed. When the Prophet (saw) assumed overarching leadership, he (saw) did not wait for the election commission to give him permission to lead. He took complete control of Madinah – to the extent that the people had to ask his permission before they left the town for any reason! Anyone who thinks Mursi is something other than a puppet is sadly politically naive.
We have seen many governments with an Islamic veneer – Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan. Wake up, people! What has it given us other than confusion, conflict and rape of the Ummah?
The lesser Evil! I am not an Egyptian but I am a Muslim in Nigeria. This article is Ok. Those who are against the MB constituting a govt do not quite understand the terrain in Egypt and the general polity currently facing Muslim countries. If MB had not taking this opportunity they would have been on the sideline criticizing and perhaps instigating violence. This would have thus fit the current Islamic label. President Morsi will have to first grab the office before engaging the necessary, with the support of all and sundry. Or would you have been satisfied if a kafir was voted or the Algeria episode was replayed in Egypt? All Egypt needs now is the support off all Muslims in the world in prayers and other moral contributions and cynic criticism!
MB is not good at politics, they are just licensed charity. I just wanted to clarify that MB is a pragmatic party and their manifesto is not to bring islam but to bring democracy. A proof is that the old system is still there and has not changed. Corrupt military commanders are still in charge, kufr parliement is still there, old constituition is still in forse. All that is changing is that the unislamic constituition will have some islamic laws. Is just a compimise again! Our Prophet s.a.w never compimised on matter that displeases Allah s.w.t, but these people seems to compimise in everything and risking the anger of Allah to fall on all of us. Ihwanul muslimin will fail eventually with their weak leadership and then finger will be pointed on ISLAM, not on them. It is very dangerous to let them into politics as they do not have a clear idea what to do. We should not be silent and call for 100% islam and to change those in authority that do not adhere to shariah. Would Prophet s.a.w accepted Quraish’s conditions that are unislamic, NO. So why should we??
MB I just wanted to clarify that MB is a pragmatic party and their manifesto is not to bring islam but to bring democracy. A proof is that the old system is still there and has not changed. Corrupt military commanders are still in charge, kufr parliement is still there, old constituition is still in forse. All that is changing is that the unislamic constituition will have some islamic laws. Is just a compimise again! Our Prophet s.a.w never compimised on matter that displeases Allah s.w.t, but these people seems to compimise in everything and risking the anger of Allah to fall on all of us. Ihwanul muslimin will fail eventually with their weak leadership and then finger will be pointed on ISLAM, not on them. It is very dangerous to let them into politics as they do not have a clear idea what to do. We should not be silent and call for 100% islam and to change those in authority that do not adhere to shariah. Would Prophet s.a.w accepted Quraish’s conditions that are unislamic, NO. So why should we??
M.B will not be successful without Allah. I just wanted to clarify that MB is a pragmatic party and their manifesto is not to bring islam but to bring democracy. A proof is that the old system is still there and has not changed. Corrupt military commanders are still in charge, kufr parliement is still there, old constituition is still in forse. All that is changing is that the unislamic constituition will have some islamic laws. Is just a compimise again! Our Prophet s.a.w never compimised on matter that displeases Allah s.w.t, but these people seems to compimise in everything and risking the anger of Allah to fall on all of us. Ihwanul muslimin will fail eventually with their weak leadership and then finger will be pointed on ISLAM, not on them. It is very dangerous to let them into politics as they do not have a clear idea what to do. We should not be silent and call for 100% islam and to change those in authority that do not adhere to shariah. Would Prophet s.a.w accepted Quraish’s conditions that are unislamic, NO. So why should we???
Let’s be realistic … The military-industrial complex in Egypt is simply too well-established and organised for any real power to be allocated to the incumbent. Brother Mohammad’s biggest challenge is to get them onside (so to speak) if he’s to wield the sort of power he needs to effect change. Let us pray that he achieves this crucial aim – however impossible it may seem – bi’ithnilLah.
And please; Sudan’s government has not failed because it didn’t go far enough in its implementation of Islam, it has failed because it did not possess in the first place the fundamental quality of any righteous Islamic leadership, namely justice. How can any ruler realistically expect co-operation in the establishment of a successful Islamic state when they plunder, loot and pillage resources (after the people have denied them), forcibly eject/displace people from their homes/villages and even kill their own citizens? Those are the acts of tyrants, not Muslims. It should therefore come as no surprise that Allah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim has withheld success from them.
Although we know the natural sentiment of the Muslims is for Islam the Egyptian elections are nothing but a facade to maintain the American backed generals control over egypt with an Islamic face.
The MB have shown themselves as caring more for power than the ideals they claim to espouse.
When abu hazen from hizbu nur was disqualified by the military junta of Egypt because his mother holds dual citizenship of US/egypt the MB pacified their own support base and that of the people by announcing the same day their own candidates.
What abu hazens disqualification showed is that those seen as too Islamic cannot run within the rigged elections.
However the military junta isn’t content with just handpicking whom they believe will conform to their agenda but they also cancelled the parliamentary elections, then granted themselves widespread legislative powers and then decided they’d have the right to write the constitution.
The MB has now collaborated in this rigged system that justifies the military junta. However what is worse is that the inevitable failure of mursi and MB maybe perceived as a failure of Islam, while it was far from being implemented.
That’s why scholars like sh. Haitham should be guiding the ummah to greater political awareness rather than just simply going along with all the hype.
In fact the salafi groups in Egypt have become fed up with the process and are calling their ppl back to engaging in dawah rather than the corrupt political process.
“Have you seen those who claim to believe in the revelation revealed to you and the revelation revealed earlier? They seek the ruling of taghoot (non-Islam) although they have been ordered to disbelieve in it.” [An-Nisa, 4:60]
Mr(rtd air-line capt) Excellent article.Mohammed Morsi must establish good strong and sincere relationship with Islamic Iran,who were guided to success and total selfdependence and soverenity by the guidelines of religion.This will also bring solidarity amoung the muslim sects.It is time for mainstream Muslims to realise their enemy is not only within themselves-but also zionism/colonialism/imperialism.Join hands with Iran
Let’s be realistic …
The military-industrial complex in Egypt is simply too well-established and organised for any real power to be allocated to the incumbent. Brother Mohammad’s biggest challenge is to get them onside (so to speak) if he’s to wield the sort of power he needs to effect change. Let us pray that he achieves this crucial aim – however impossible it may seem – bi’ithnilLah.
Also, Sudan’s government has not failed because it didn’t go far enough in its implementation of Islam, it has failed because it did not possess in the first place the fundamental quality of any righteous Islamic leadership, namely justice. How can any ruler realistically expect co-operation in the establishment of a successful Islamic state when they plunder, loot and pillage resources after the people have denied them, forcibly eject/displace people from their homes/villages and even kill their own citizens? Those are the acts of tyrants, not Muslims. It should therefore come as no surprise that Allah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim has withheld success from them.
Article of hope
I think this is an article which has much needed hope and also provides a sense of direction for the Ummah as a whole, whether politically or otherwise.
However, let us also wait patiently to see exactly how this pans out over time. Subhan’Allah we want nothing more than an Islamic state, but we also need to define what that means. If we are talking about nothing more than a legal maxim, like Saudi Arabia – then it wont make a real difference in the Islamic world at all. If we are talking about an Islamic state in its fullest sense, then we are talking about propogating real justice, assimilating western knowledge and integrating it into the state (islamically of course), building an islamic economy, freedom in worship, intellect and thought etc. This would be an Islamic state.
Secondly, this has to do with the people as much as the leadership. If, like Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries, the people will not ‘work’ for Allah swt or the state and continously count their pennies then no matter how great the leadership is, it can still fall due to the people. Iran is a very good example where the people work hard for the state and I know Shi’as here who regularly go back to volunteer their skills for the economy in Iran. This is something that Egypt should consider and eventually import skills which would be of benefit Insha’Allah.
Either way, it is a very complex scenario to deconstruct. I pray that Allah swt brings this Ummah back, as strong as the first generation of Muslims and with the comprehensio and understanding of real Islam – one that is non-compromising yet balanced, modern yet classical, wealthy yet considerate, educated yet humble, superior yet modest, hard yet soft, working for Allah swt yet reaching out to the people Insha’Allah!
No hope
“Their model should be our Prophet” – agreed. When the Prophet (saw) assumed overarching leadership, he (saw) did not wait for the election commission to give him permission to lead. He took complete control of Madinah – to the extent that the people had to ask his permission before they left the town for any reason! Anyone who thinks Mursi is something other than a puppet is sadly politically naive.
We have seen many governments with an Islamic veneer – Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan. Wake up, people! What has it given us other than confusion, conflict and rape of the Ummah?
The lesser Evil!
I am not an Egyptian but I am a Muslim in Nigeria. This article is Ok. Those who are against the MB constituting a govt do not quite understand the terrain in Egypt and the general polity currently facing Muslim countries. If MB had not taking this opportunity they would have been on the sideline criticizing and perhaps instigating violence. This would have thus fit the current Islamic label. President Morsi will have to first grab the office before engaging the necessary, with the support of all and sundry. Or would you have been satisfied if a kafir was voted or the Algeria episode was replayed in Egypt? All Egypt needs now is the support off all Muslims in the world in prayers and other moral contributions and cynic criticism!
Whoa!
Eye-raaan you say, Nisar? Eye-raan?!
MB is not good at politics, they are just licensed charity.
I just wanted to clarify that MB is a pragmatic party and their manifesto is not to bring islam but to bring democracy. A proof is that the old system is still there and has not changed. Corrupt military commanders are still in charge, kufr parliement is still there, old constituition is still in forse. All that is changing is that the unislamic constituition will have some islamic laws. Is just a compimise again! Our Prophet s.a.w never compimised on matter that displeases Allah s.w.t, but these people seems to compimise in everything and risking the anger of Allah to fall on all of us. Ihwanul muslimin will fail eventually with their weak leadership and then finger will be pointed on ISLAM, not on them. It is very dangerous to let them into politics as they do not have a clear idea what to do. We should not be silent and call for 100% islam and to change those in authority that do not adhere to shariah. Would Prophet s.a.w accepted Quraish’s conditions that are unislamic, NO. So why should we??
MB
I just wanted to clarify that MB is a pragmatic party and their manifesto is not to bring islam but to bring democracy. A proof is that the old system is still there and has not changed. Corrupt military commanders are still in charge, kufr parliement is still there, old constituition is still in forse. All that is changing is that the unislamic constituition will have some islamic laws. Is just a compimise again! Our Prophet s.a.w never compimised on matter that displeases Allah s.w.t, but these people seems to compimise in everything and risking the anger of Allah to fall on all of us. Ihwanul muslimin will fail eventually with their weak leadership and then finger will be pointed on ISLAM, not on them. It is very dangerous to let them into politics as they do not have a clear idea what to do. We should not be silent and call for 100% islam and to change those in authority that do not adhere to shariah. Would Prophet s.a.w accepted Quraish’s conditions that are unislamic, NO. So why should we??
M.B will not be successful without Allah.
I just wanted to clarify that MB is a pragmatic party and their manifesto is not to bring islam but to bring democracy. A proof is that the old system is still there and has not changed. Corrupt military commanders are still in charge, kufr parliement is still there, old constituition is still in forse. All that is changing is that the unislamic constituition will have some islamic laws. Is just a compimise again! Our Prophet s.a.w never compimised on matter that displeases Allah s.w.t, but these people seems to compimise in everything and risking the anger of Allah to fall on all of us. Ihwanul muslimin will fail eventually with their weak leadership and then finger will be pointed on ISLAM, not on them. It is very dangerous to let them into politics as they do not have a clear idea what to do. We should not be silent and call for 100% islam and to change those in authority that do not adhere to shariah. Would Prophet s.a.w accepted Quraish’s conditions that are unislamic, NO. So why should we???
Let’s be realistic …
The military-industrial complex in Egypt is simply too well-established and organised for any real power to be allocated to the incumbent. Brother Mohammad’s biggest challenge is to get them onside (so to speak) if he’s to wield the sort of power he needs to effect change. Let us pray that he achieves this crucial aim – however impossible it may seem – bi’ithnilLah.
And please; Sudan’s government has not failed because it didn’t go far enough in its implementation of Islam, it has failed because it did not possess in the first place the fundamental quality of any righteous Islamic leadership, namely justice. How can any ruler realistically expect co-operation in the establishment of a successful Islamic state when they plunder, loot and pillage resources (after the people have denied them), forcibly eject/displace people from their homes/villages and even kill their own citizens? Those are the acts of tyrants, not Muslims. It should therefore come as no surprise that Allah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim has withheld success from them.
Although we know the natural sentiment of the Muslims is for Islam the Egyptian elections are nothing but a facade to maintain the American backed generals control over egypt with an Islamic face.
The MB have shown themselves as caring more for power than the ideals they claim to espouse.
When abu hazen from hizbu nur was disqualified by the military junta of Egypt because his mother holds dual citizenship of US/egypt the MB pacified their own support base and that of the people by announcing the same day their own candidates.
What abu hazens disqualification showed is that those seen as too Islamic cannot run within the rigged elections.
However the military junta isn’t content with just handpicking whom they believe will conform to their agenda but they also cancelled the parliamentary elections, then granted themselves widespread legislative powers and then decided they’d have the right to write the constitution.
The MB has now collaborated in this rigged system that justifies the military junta. However what is worse is that the inevitable failure of mursi and MB maybe perceived as a failure of Islam, while it was far from being implemented.
That’s why scholars like sh. Haitham should be guiding the ummah to greater political awareness rather than just simply going along with all the hype.
In fact the salafi groups in Egypt have become fed up with the process and are calling their ppl back to engaging in dawah rather than the corrupt political process.
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَتَحَاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوا أَنْ يَكْفُرُوا بِهِ وَيُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا
“Have you seen those who claim to believe in the revelation revealed to you and the revelation revealed earlier? They seek the ruling of taghoot (non-Islam) although they have been ordered to disbelieve in it.” [An-Nisa, 4:60]
Another excellent article.
MashaAllah, good advice on the eve of a new dawn.
Mr(rtd air-line capt)
Excellent article.Mohammed Morsi must establish good strong and sincere relationship with Islamic Iran,who were guided to success and total selfdependence and soverenity by the guidelines of religion.This will also bring solidarity amoung the muslim sects.It is time for mainstream Muslims to realise their enemy is not only within themselves-but also zionism/colonialism/imperialism.Join hands with Iran