“Do not mix truth with falsehood or hide the truth knowingly.” (Qur’an 2:42)
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Why was I not surprised when reading the latest attacks upon those of us in the Muslim ummah who will speak out against injustice.
Now, it seems the Asha’ari have split into different political camps. Those of them who decry injustice and those of them who ally with power. Even if allying with power is to the detriment of their own souls.
In the former United States, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf has been fond to call such people Marxist. In traditional circles in the Middle East the pejorative term of choice is Khawarij.
Yet, the people do not sleep. We have a generation of people who are researching and looking into matters. The betrayal of our brothers and sisters in Palestine as caused a great deal of soul searching in the Muslim Ummah. Those who wish to shape the present and the future how honest have they been about the past?
Thus, especially eye opening was Shaykh Ahmed El Azhary’s statement:
“They cherry-pick quotes from history, rip them from their contexts, and apply them recklessly to modern-day situations as if geopolitics were a simple matter of medieval textbooks rulings.”
That is quite the statement coming from someone who proceeds to do the exact same thing. Especially in regards to selective quotes from the past and his own political spin.
So what has happened is that the Ummah has began to research about the Khawarij and they have come to places like primaquran.com and they started to research. They started to see that the picture is not as what has been painted to them. So what do we do when we are told that the Khawarij were blood thirsty savages and yet we come across a group that were quietist and did not want to wet their swords with the blood of the believers?
What we do is we make them the worst of the lot!
So now a people are to be faulted for following the advise of none other than the Blessed Messenger (saw)?
It was narrated that Abu Burdah said:
“I entered upon Muhammed bin Maslamah and he said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: ‘There will be tribulation, division and dissension. When that comes, take your sword to Uhud and strike it until it breaks, then sit in your house until there comes to you the hand of the evildoer (to kill you) or a predestined (natural) death.’” “And that came to pass, and I did as the Messenger of Allah (saw) said.”
Source: (https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:3962)
At this juncture in history a group of the believers saw that the Ummah was beset by injustice on all fronts. The situation had become murky and mired in corruption.
Yet, what else did the Blessed Messenger (saw) instruct us?
Abu sa’Id al-Khudri said:
I head the Messenger of Allah (saw) say: If any one you sees something objectionable, he should change it with his hand if he can change it with his hand. (The narrator Hammad broke the rest of the tradition which was completed by Ibn al-‘Ala’.) But if he cannot (do so), he should do it with his tongue, and if he cannot (do so with) his tongue he should do it in his heart, that being the weakest form of faith.
Source: (https://sunnah.com/abudawud:4340)
So remember,
According to Shaykh Ahmed El Azhary we cannot even give vocal support to the oppressed, or we are Marxist and Khawarij!
Indeed many of those whom Shaykh Ahmed El Azhary call as ‘armchair’ warriors would be warriors on the battlefield. Yet, the very governments that people like Shaykh Ahmed El Azhary defend prevent the people from fighting in the cause of Allah!
“And what is it with you? You do not fight in the cause of Allah and for oppressed men, women, and children who cry out, “Our Lord! Deliver us from this land of oppressors! Appoint for us a saviour; appoint for us a helper—all by Your grace.” (Qur’an 4:75)
” But those ˹believers˺ who were certain they would meet Allah reasoned, “How many times has a small force vanquished a mighty army by the Will of Allah! And Allah is ˹always˺ with the steadfast.” (Qur’an 2:249)
No, rather people like Shaykh Ahmed El Azhary he would take the hadith of the munkar and if they had their way not only would you not change evil with your hands or your tongue but if they could silence your conscience they would do so. “He should do it in his heart, that being the weakest form of faith.” If they could even remove from your heart the pain and anger and sorrow you feel towards the suffering of the Ummah they would! If that is the weakest form of faith and it is removed what would we have left?
May Allah (swt) guide the Ummah.
May Allah (swt) forgive the Ummah.
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