Questions For Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt

The following questions and answers were posted on an Islamic Internet forum between 3 Shaban 1427 and 16 Ramadan 1427

Q: We have this perception about the police that most of them racists and in fact it has been claimed by an official body that they are institutionaly racist. On the other hand, we hear from the far right that the police force are pro-Zionists who victimise the 'white majority'. Is this true?

I mean, how were you treated when you were raided by the police?

A: To answer the last question first - on the last occasion, a raid by officers from SO12 Scotland Yard, I and my family were treated very well, after the initial "barging through the door" was over. They were polite, and acted in a very professional way. After I was arrested and put in a cell, they were also professional during that first interrogation, and during later interrogations. Subsequently, I was questioned by officers from the "anti-terrorism" branch - who visited my home - and they were also professional and polite.

This does seem rather in contrast to the treatment of Muslims like our brother Babar Ahmad (May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala free him from the prisons of the kuffar). But it could be that the difference in these two cases derives from the attitude of the individual officers involved rather than from an innate bias in the Police in general.

Having had some personal experience of the Police over some thirty or so years, my experience is that yes, there was some racism in the Police decades ago, but things have improved, and probably could still be improved. In my time, I have come across some dishonourable Police officers - for example, one lied under oath in one of my trials - and some decent individuals who are trying to do what they sincerely believe is right and who try to deal with people in a fair way. I have also come across one or two who acted like bullies. I realized long ago that Police officers are individuals; they are good ones, and bad ones. They are human, and sometimes make mistakes. When dealing with them - before I reverted to Islam, Alhamdulillah - I tried to treat each one as an individual and tried to behave in an honourable way toward them, believing that personal honour, when dealing with people, was the most important virtue.

Some people on the "far Right", in contrast, just have a rather prejudiced view about the Police, and tend to view individual officers in a stereotyped way.

Q: You are probably aware of the increasing Islamists-Socialist cooperation after 9/11. Coming from a far-right background, how do you see this cooperation?

A: I strive to consider it now according to our Deen, and not according to the ways of Jahiliyyah - not according to the Tawagheet - that I once believed in and upheld, before my reversion to Islam, Alhamdulillah.

According to those ignorant ways, it would most certainly be viewed as co-operation between people determined to destroy the "British way of life" (whatever that is these days) and as one more step toward the "destruction of the White race" (whatever this White race is supposed to be). Yet again, many who adhere to "extreme right-wing" views would react according to their innate prejudice, according to their hawaah, and not according to any set of ethics or according to any philosophical principle or principles.

It is interesting for me to look-back in this respect and to compare the simple sublime perfect guidance of Deen Al-Islam with the ignorance and prejudice of Jahiliyyah, and with the following of one's hawaah which is such a trait of the kuffar.

As Muslims, we have - Alhamdulillah - everything we need, from guides to how to behave, in public and in private (Adab Al-Islam) to what is truth and what is falsehood, to what rules and laws we need to live together in order to achieve the aim of this mortal life. We have all these things, a blessing from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, while the kuffar continue to flounder around in their dishonour, arrogance and ignorance.

I have to say that I do not like the term "Islamist" in the question, which I consider to be a kaffir term, based on their ignorant ideas and concepts, and devoid of meaning for us, if we consider things only in terms of Quran and Sunnah, in terms of obedience to only Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala.

Considering such co-operation now, as a Muslim, am I correct in saying that we have to be careful not to go beyond the due limits in associating with the kuffar and in co-operating with them?

According to my understanding - and please correct me if I am in error - associating with the kuffar is allowed only if such association by its nature is not haram and does not lead to kufr - so that we can act honourably toward them if they have a good opinion of us and of our Deen.

"Allah does not forbid you from treating honourably those who do not act against you because of your Deen, or who have not driven you from your dwellings, for Allah loves those who act with honour. But Allah forbids you from treating with respect, or befriending, those who act against you because of your Deen, or have driven you from your dwellings or aided others to do this - for those of you who do this are without honour." 60: 8-9 Interpretation of Meaning

Co-operating with them - if they are not aiding our enemies in any way - is allowed providing such co-operation does not involve aiding anything which is against the Muslims or aids the Tawagheet of the kuffar or does not involve us in doing anything haram or which amounts to Tawalli, and again providing the kuffar have a good opinion of us and respect our Deen.

Q: Many still claim that despite your conversion to Islam, you still hold racist viewes. We would like to know from you frankly, what are your views about race seperation, and how do you view the Jews as a race? I hope that the response should ones and for all put all the absurd claims to rest.

A: All Praise and All Thanks are for Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala to whom we shall all return to be judged on The Last Day.

Since reverting to Deen Al-Islam, Alhamdulillah, I accept that all Muslims, whatever "race" they may be deemed to be, are my brothers and sisters and that the only distinction we Muslims should make is between Muslims and the kuffar.

Our aim is to obey and submit to only Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala - racial separation is a Taghut which many of the kuffar, in their ignorance, see as a worthy cause, a worthy goal, just as many of these kuffar judge people according to their alleged or presumed "ethnic origin" and give their loyalty and allegiance and obedience to a cause, or some organization, or some person, who seeks to separate and judge people according to their alleged or presumed "ethnic origin".

As Muslims we must reject the idols, the concepts, the ideas, the theories, the ways of the kuffar - which they in their ignorance of Tawheed bow down and obey and follow and give their allegiance to, and which they thus set up as partners beside Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. The idea of racial separation, the racism of dishonour and prejudice, the concept of the "nation-State" are manifestations of the Tawagheet of the kuffar.

"In truth We have sent Messengers to every people with a warning for them to submit only to Allah and so reject the Taghut." 16:36 Interpretation of Meaning

Therefore, as a Muslim, I reject such things. The criteria we use to judge someone - the criteria we should use, for example, to find a good wife or husband, the criteria for friendship - is the criteria of Taqwa, of obedience to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, of being Muslim. The assumed or presumed "ethnic origin" of the person is irrelevant, as is the culture of their ancestors, as is the place of their birth.

That is - to make things perfectly clear - I reject nationalism, racism, racial separation and the ideas and concepts which underlie them and the behaviour and attitudes which accompanies a belief in them, regarding these things as incompatible with Deen Al-Islam.

In respect of the Jews, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala has informed us of their true nature, in the Quran, just as in our Muslim history we have fine examples to guide us as to how we, in Dar al-Islam, can live honourably with a people such as the Jews, as, for example, in Al-Andalus.

Thus, when I consider the Jews, I turn to the Quran and the Sunnah, and to the examples of our Muslim history. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says:

"The Jews and Nazarenes will never be satisfied with you until they have changed your Way of Life." 2: 120 Interpretation of Meaning

"You who believe, do not take the Jews and Nazarenes as allies. They are allies of each other. If any of you takes them as allies, then he is one of them." 5:51 Interpretation of Meaning

One of the greatest problems of our times is the problem of Zionism - of Jewish influence, in the West and especially in Amerika, used to support the Zionist entity that occupies Palestine, and used to support the war against Islam which the Zionist-Crusader alliance has launched. Another problem is the truth that Dar al-Islam no longer exists, with the Zionist-Crusade alliance determined that we shall not have a land of our own where we as Muslims can be secure, where there is bayah to a Khalifah and where Shariah is the only law. Instead, the Zionist-Crusader alliance demand that we live according to their laws, in "nation-States" created according to the Taghut of the kuffar, and subservient to the mandate and international kaffir laws of their so-called "United Nations".

This is why we need to affirm, support and partake in Jihad - to defend our brothers and sisters who are under occupation by the kuffar and their apostate lackeys, or, as in the case of Palestine, by the Zionists themselves, and to strive in the Way of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala to have a land or lands of our own where the Zionists, the kuffar and their apostate lackeys have no influence and where we can be secure, as Muslims, and live according to Shariah alone.

It has been narrated by 'Umar b. al-Khattib that he heard the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) say: "I will expel the Jews and Nazarenes from the Arabian Peninsula and will leave only Muslims there". Muslim: Book 19, Number 4366

Q: Assalamu Alikum. I have a question for brother bn Myatt. We've had an example here on this forum of someone claiming (twice!) you're only pretending to be a Muslim and I've read elsewhere some making the claim that you're murtad. Can you please tell us your reply to these people here so these rumors will be put to rest at last? jazakallahu khayran

A: Walaikum Salaam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu

All Praise and All Thanks are for Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala to whom we shall all return to be judged on The Last Day.

As I wrote in a recent item which I also posted here:

[These rumours] are not correct. I am a Muslim, Alhamdulillah, and I shall remain a Muslim, InshaAllah

What else can I say or write to those who persist in spreading such rumours and making such allegations, and to those who believe they are true? In the past seven months alone I have affirmed, in public, many, many times that I am a Muslim, and that I have remained a Muslim since my reversion, Alhamdulillah. Some Muslims who do not know me, in person, have sent me e-mails asking the same question, and to them I have given the same reply. The public affirmations of my Islam have included an on-line dialogue on 13 Safar of this year when I answered questions from Muslims all over the world, courtesy of Islam-Online; an article, quoting from an interview I gave, in The Times newspaper, and several articles on various Muslim Internet forums.

As I have mentioned several times over the years in reply to a certain Zionist who persists for some reason in pedalling these rumours - started by the Zionist Searchlight organization - I made my Shahadah in a Mosque, before several Muslims, one of whom was a Qadi, and that I understand Kalimaah Tayyibah as a binding, sacred, life-long, oath: a declaration of loyalty to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and His Messenger (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) which declaration I made on my honour. This declaration, this oath, has consequences in this life, and in the Next Life.

"Be loyal and do your duty to Allah; fear Him and always speak with honour. He will direct you to do honourable deeds and will forgive your mis-deeds. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will achieve the greatest achievement of all." 33:70-71 Interpretation of Meaning

However, I am no longer naive enough to believe that this additional declaration of mine, here, or any such declarations by me, will silence such Zionists or prevent others from believing what such people say or write. One thing I do know is that we shall all one day be judged by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala for what we have done, said, and believed - and not done, not said or not believed - and we have only this brief, fleeting, mortal life to earn the reward of Jannah, to prove that we are worthy of such a reward. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala - The Merciful, He Who Often Forgives - has shown us the path, the Way: but we have to follow it.

"Every soul shall taste death. We shall try you in good and bad ordeals, and to the Unity you shall return." 21:35 Interpretation of Meaning

"One who believes in his heart but does not give voice his belief is not considered as a believer either in this life or the Next... For such outward affirmation is a part of Eeman, and the Muslims in general and the scholars are agreed that anyone who does not make such a confession of belief, although they have the ability to do so, is a disbeliever." [Sheikh Ibn Taymiyyah (Rahimullah): Kitaab al-Eeman, 126]

Q: as-Salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullaah wa barakatuh, Brother Abdul Aziz ibn Myatt, I had some interaction with you before on the former MuslimCreed.com forum and the late RevivingIslam.com forum (I used the same username). So I wanted to say it is good to read your commentary on various issues once again. My question for you is related to the da'wah in Britain and your role in it. What is your views of the Islamic da'wah in Britain, its strengths and weakness, where do you see it headed, and what is your role in it?

Furthermore what are your views of some of the more controversial figures in the British Muslim community such as Shaykh Abu Qatadah (fakahullaah asra), Shaykh Abu Hamza al-Misri (fakahullaah asra), and Shaykh Abu Baseer at-Tartusi (hafdhahullaah) chief among them?

A: Walaikum Salaam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu

Regarding Dawah in this part of Dar al-Harb, it is my understanding that we should view this in a global context, in terms of the Ummah and not in terms of the kaffir Taghut of one particular nation-State, as we have the accept that the government of this particular kaffir nation-State is at war with the Muslims, whatever they themselves might say to excuse their invasion and occupation of the Land of the Two Rivers and the land of Afghanistan, and whatever they might say to excuse their support for the Zionist-entity and for that arrogant bully, Amerika. In addition, this kaffir government is engaged - like the other members of the Zionist- Crusader alliance - in a propaganda war against us, part of which us to convince Muslims to accept a so-called "moderate Islam" which the kuffar and their apostate lackeys have manufactured and which is based upon an acceptance of the falsehood that kaffir, Western, values are "universal" and apply to Deen Al-Islam.

Thus, an important question in relation to Dawah is: what is it that we present to those who do not believe? That is, what exactly is Deen Al-Islam? Is it just a "religion" as the kuffar want us to believe and accept? Is it just "beautiful preaching", accepting la ilaha illa llahu; muhammadun rasulu-llahi and praying five times a day, fasting in Ramadan, giving Zakat, undertaking Hajj? Or is it also practical Jihad Fee Sabilillah - and supporting the Mujahideen? Is it also a striving to establish a Muslim community where Shariah is the only law and where there is an Ameer to whom we give bayah? Is it also a striving to make the word of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala supreme, and humbling the arrogant kuffar who are at war with us and who have invaded our lands?

We can only present, only propagate, only invite others to, that which we ourselves uphold and sincerely believe in and accept, even if this is "unpopular" among the kuffar and even if many people react to it in a biased, prejudice, bigoted way, often because of the intense propaganda by the Zionist-Crusader alliance and their lackeys.

As for me, all I can do, InshaAllah, is strive Fee Sabilillah to do my duty to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and His Messenger (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) by refuting as best I can the propaganda of the kuffar, by exposing their attempt to change Deen Al-Islam, and by striving to explain the simple beauty of Deen Al-Islam, our duty of Jihad and our duty to establish a Muslim community where Shariah is the only law, where there is an Ameer to whom we give bayah, and where the kuffar have no influence whatsoever.

Our strength is that there are many brothers and sisters - Alhamdulillah - who refuse to imitate the kuffar, who refuse to accept the tame, modernized, moderate "Islam" propagated by the kuffar and their apostate lackeys, and who humbly seek to obey only Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. It is such Muslims as these who by their very life, by their very words, by their very example, are the Dawah we need.

Our weakness is essentially two-fold. First, that some Muslims seem content to side with the kuffar on important issues, such as in relation to spying on their brothers and sisters, in relation to martyrdom operations and especially in relation to propagating the kaffir lie and myth that those who oppose the Zionist-Crusader alliance, and their actions and schemes, are "extremists" and "unrepresentative of Muslims." Second, that some Muslims have forgotten Adab Al-Islam - and have especially forgotten that we are one Ummah, so that the humiliation of even one of our brothers, or one of our sisters, anywhere is our humiliation, our dishonour. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says:

"The believers are as one family." 49:10 Interpretation of Meaning

It seems that some Muslims have lost the perspective of Deen Al-Islam - which is Jannah - and are more concerned about the rewards of this earthly life, more concerned about their own feelings, their hawah, more concerned about pleasing and obeying the kuffar, than they are about obeying Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, who says:

"You are the best of people among all peoples, for you command Al-Maruf and forbid Al-Munkar, and you submit [in belief] to Allah." 3: 110 Interpretation of Meaning

"Allah is the Wali of those who believe: from darkness, He leads them into the light, while those do not believe have, as their Wali, their Taghut so that they are led from light into darkness. For them, there is the Fire, where they shall dwell forever." 2: 257 Interpretation of Meaning

In respect of Sheikh Abu Qatadah and Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Misri (May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala hasten their release from the prisons of the kuffar) they nobly saught to do their duty to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and His Messenger (salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and have guided many, Alhamdulillah, to a true understanding of Deen Al-Islam.

In respect of Sheikh Abu Baseer at-Tartusi, I incline toward the view that he might be mistaken in some of the things he has said, especially in relation to martyrdom operations in Dar al-Harb. For instance, he has spoken about some such operations being haram because they can or might or have resulted in the death of "innocent" people, and involve the Mujahid in "suicide". I have written several articles striving to express the view that I myself incline toward - such as "Thinking Like a Muslim" and "Are Martyrdom Operations Lawful According to Quran and Sunnah?" (the publication of which on the muslimcreed website was, I believe, one of causes which led the kuffar to close down that site) - which view of mine is that such operations are legitimate, according to Quran and Sunnah, and that it is an error to apply the terms and concepts of the kuffar, such as "innocent" and "civilian", to Deen Al-Islam, and that using such terms amounts to an imitation of the kuffar.

We should make Dua for them - and for our brothers and sisters in the lands invaded and occupied by the kuffar, and especially make Dua for our brothers and sisters held in the prisons and torture camps of the kuffar.

May Allaah reward you akhee Abdul Aziz ibn Myatt for your response.

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