Riots!

Bismillahirohmanirohim (In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful and the Most Compassionate)

This entry is based on the various hadith that you could find in this website The right way of dealing with rulers

What are the cause of riots? Firstly, it is because that people are not steadfast to the religion. They do not have any rope to hold on to give a good principle and concious towards themselves.

These riot are supposed to be a revolt towards the injustice behaviour of those who are in authority. The teachings of Islam has always been parallel with peace. Do riots symbolise peace? From my point of view riot is definitely nothing close to peace. How about the unjust ruler? Should they go unpunished? This has been explained in the hadith. "Prophet’s saying reported on the authority of Hudhayfa Ibn Al-Yamân رضي الله عنه: “There will be rulers who will not be led by my guidance and will not adopt my tradition. There will be among them men who will have the hearts of devils in the bodies ofhuman beings”. I said: “What should I do O Messenger of Allah, if such timeovertook me? He said: “You will listen to the commander and carry out his orders, and even if your back is lashed and your wealth is seized (by force),you should listen and obey”"
 

What are the role of the community? The community should always be helping, and advising the unjust ruler. Then, there is the question, why should opposition exists? This is usually because the 'oppositions' think that they are more capable in ruling the country. It is also normal that the 'oppositions' way of opposing is by pointing the injustices done by the ruler. They do this not necessarily to help, assist and advise the government, but they do this to gain the support of the community to oppose the ruler. After establishing this they will continue with movements with the support of the community by doing protests and riots.

Food for thought, if the opposition managed to over throw the government what will happen next? If the opposition becomes the ruling authority, they cannot afford to do any mistakes. If there are mistakes and injustice, the community will spark a new protest and new opposition will be established. This will then be a consistent cycle. It will go on continuously and will affect the community and its education as the government is always changing and there is no long term vision. When it affects the education, there will be a less brighter future. The perception of the community will now be too obsessed to monitor those who are in authority. Most of their time will be occupied eyeing every single action by the authority, hence peace will be a distant thing in our hearts.
 

If everyone can have their own say, who will be the one to listen? In my opinion these are the cause and effect of secularism. Secularism has caused the mass to be confused. It has created a barrier between the religion and the administration of the country. "Give Caesar what belongs to him, and give Jesus what belongs to him." This has been the method adopted today and have separated the morale teachings that a religion can contribute to the development and administration of the country. With this separation, it portrays that governments are greater than religion which will create a perception towards the community that religion means backwards. Therefore people will adopt this method/perception and may do what ever one wishes (I.e criminal acts). Anyway according to the teachings of Islam, everything belongs to Allah (not Caesar, not Jesus, not Muhammad salallahualaihiwasalam) therefore religion should always be observed in every aspect of our lives. We should firstly rely on religion and then rely on our intellect (this is part of the method that is adopted by the shari'ah). We should not just rely on our intellect (secular method) alone because this will cause the destruction of the community. "Nay but humanity transgresses all bounds when it looks upon itself as self-sufficient". (Surah al-Alaq verse 7). When we think we are self-sufficient and not use Allah's laws and words, Allah says "Those who turn from remembering Me shall live lives of misery; We shall raise him blind on the Day of Resurrection,". (Surah Ta Ha verse 124)

This link shows how one should react towards an unjust muslim ruler. Why are these hadith being neglected? Are the scholars not well versed enough? Scholars are actually well versed in this issue. This hadith is probably being neglected because of the weakness in the human hearts. We as the community could not be patient anymore and would like to see changes being made. We would rather follow our hearts than following the hadith so that we could see the unjust authority getting punished. Why are we too obsessed on seeing the unjust ruler getting punished now and putting matters in our own hands? Do we not believe in the punishment of the hereafter? Isn't patience considered as good deeds which will be beneficial in our hereafter? Why are we throwing away the opportunity in doing good deeds and good rewards? Sometimes, some of us muslims (including myself) would prefer to "follow" a hadith only when there are scientific proof! This should not be the method and we should change the attitude to have faith in Qur'an and hadith. We also need to educate ourselves on the authenticity and fabricated hadith. I will touch on this issue "attacks on the authenticity of hadith" in the near future, insha'allah.

Personally I have never liked the ways of the current government (Malaysia) but sometimes we have to try and put aside our feelings and hold fast onto the rope (Islam, refer to Surah al Imran verse 103). Opposing (by protest and riots) in my opinion is not a productive solution. I may not have the slightest idea for the solution, but from what I understand the teachings of Islam, things should be done or implemented in the roots. "Verily Allah does not change a people's condition unless they change their inner selves." (Surah ar-ra'd verse 11)

Political heirachy

Bismillahirohmanirohim

Politic is always a hot topic in Malaysia and there are always arguments on how the governance of the country should be implemented. Most of these arguments or discussions are usually based on logic and human intellectual. Rarely do we turn to our religion for guidance on this matter.

It is obvious that the political system that is currently being implemented are borrowed from the West, consequently we find ourselves partially at lost in East meets West. What benefit has the borrowed system contribute to the country? Does the system that seperates religion from its administration fruitful towards the community? This is one of the example why there are misunderstanding and conflict between the communities, the failure on the economy and business transactions. The purpose of a religion is to give guidance to mankind and most of us are taken back that religion is only for spiritual needs and not the way of life.

Is there a political system of Islam? Through my limited knowledge and research there is an ideal political hierachy in Islam. I beg for Allah's mercy and forgiveness if I have interpreted wrongly, Allah knows best!

1. Firstly, Tawhid, the absolute Oneness of Allah subahanawata'ala as Divine Entity and Lord (rabb). The absolute sovereignity of Allah and exclusiveness of revelation (wahy) as the source of legislation.
2. The importance of the unity in Ummah and the uniqueness in its character and meaning.  
3. The concept of vicegerency (khilafah), the dignity of humanity and that which distinguishes humanity from the rest of creation
4. Shari'ah scholars who are represented by a group of knowledgeable scholars to help and monitor the community that all the actions are within the permissible boundaries of Islam.

Although this model might be common, other models often projects that there is a leader who has absolute power to run the country and take the Almighty Allah out of the equation.  Though implementing this model, there are other issues that need to be addressed which is mainly on electing the khilafah. In a way there is no need for an opposition party because of the importance on realising the function of mankind (which is to serve Allah). Through this belief, individuals will not be selfish or prioritise themselves ahead of Allah. We have witnessed that having different parties often becomes chaotic and creates division within the community. When it comes to electing a leader, major campaigns are needed and riots are always thrown against each other. Surah al hujurat verse 9: " If two parties of the believers happen to fight, make peace between them. But then, if one of them transgresses against the other, fight the one that transgresses until it reverts to Allah's command. and if it does revert, make peace between them with justice, and be equitable for Allah loves the equitable." By doing campaigns, it requires a lot of money and energy which often needed very fast. This is where the corruption and oppression comes in order to gain more money fast and man are being used as forced labour. According to Ibn Khaldun when forced labour reaches its optimum level a dynasty or empire will crumble and fall. During campaigns a leader will usually tell what he could offer to the people and insults and mock at the opposition. This will break down the moral values and respect that we have for each other and will often spark a fight and division within the community. Does all this reflects the moral values and teachings of Islam?

Surah al-nisa' verse 135: "Believers! Be upholders of justice, and bearers of witness to Truth for the sake of Allah, even though it may be against yourselves or against your parents and kinsmen, or the rich or the poor, for Allah is more cconcerned with their well-being than you are."

The reason to put Allah at the top of the heirachy is because He is the absolute superior to us and also because of this verse "Nay surely man transgresses (7) for he believes himself to be self-sufficient." (surah al alaq verse 6-7) "Those who turn from remembering Me shall live lives of misery" (surah ta ha verse 124)


Since Malaysia is borrowing a system that belongs to the west, I would like to compare the religion of the west(which are commonly associated with Christianity) and the ruling of their country. This is however not an attack towards Christianity rather a criticism on secularism. The Malaysian system have been obstructing the nature of the religion Islam. The borrowed system views on religion treats Islam as any other religion, and therefore it shoud not differ in any significant way from the Christianity in Europe, in the sense that the church was duty-bound to stand in the way of progress. From this perspective, human development and progress only became possible after the split between church and state. Thus, it is inconceivable that a Westerner (western system) could imagine a link between knowledge and religion, to say nothing of accepting the concept of basing the humanities and social sciences on religion or giving them a religion perspective.


Surah al nisa verse 59: " Believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those invested with authority among you; and then if you were to dispute among yourselves about anything refer it to Allah and the Messenger if you indeed believe in Allah and the Last Day; that is better and more commendable in the end"

A verse that explains on the current topic/entry : "Have you not seen those who claim to believe in the Book which has been revealed to you and in the Books revealed before you, and yet desire to submit their disputes to the judgement of taghut (authorities who decide independently of the law of Allah), whereas they had been asked to reject it. Satan seeks to make them drift far away from the Right Path." (surah al nisa verse 60)

The main intention of this entry is to make it clear that Malaysia currently are not even close in representing themselves as a Muslim country. Therefore when a political person/leader makes a statement, it rarely seeks/consults the opinion of the Shari'ah scholars which consequently makes their statements contradicts and go against the teachings of Islam. When such statements are made, it gives a bad reputation to Islam which is against the hadith narrated Abu Musa that when Allah's Messenger salallahualaihiwasalam sent him and Mu'adh bin Jabal to Yemen, he said to them, "Make things easy for the people (treat the people in the most agreeable easy way), and do not make things difficult for them, and give them glad tidings, and do not repel them (i.e TO MAKE THE PEOPLE HATE GOOD DEEDS AND TO RUN AWAY FROM ISLAM), and you should both work in cooperation and mutual understanding, obey each other." [Sahih Bukhari]. Even though it is difficult to entirely change the system, there should at least be an effort to achieve the system that Islam prescribes us. My previous entry on how Islam derives its laws. Last but not least a hadith concerning leaders "All of you are leaders, and all leader will be questioned on their leadership." [Sahih Bukhari] Allah knows best!