All praises are due to Allah. We praise
Him, and seek His Assistance, and ask for His forgiveness. We seek refuge
in Allah from the evil in our souls and from our sinful deeds. Whoever
Allah guides, no one can deceive. And whoever Allah misguides, no one can
guide. I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah
(SWT). And I bear witness that Mohammed is His servant and messenger.
This letter is titled "From
Behind the Bars" . It is intended to those who are yearning
to know about Muslim activists performing Islamic Da'wah.
My beloved, as many of us have heard,
the campaign of arrests and detention of leading Muslim intellectuals,
sheikhs and doctors has intensified with the arrest of Dr. sheikh Safar
al-Hawali. Furthermore, there is a possibility that I will be joining this
select group of Muslims very soon .
Only Allah knows what is in the hearts
of His creation, but believe me when I say that I do not mind joining my
brothers in prison. This is because whenever a young citizen of this land
is detained for his beliefs while I roam the land freely, a feeling of
overwhelming shame descends over my soul and makes me wish I were in his
place.
And of course all of you know that
sometime ago, some oppressive and illegal measures were introduced in this
land to prevent the Muslims from making Da'wah. The authorities used these
measures to dismiss me and my colleagues from our jobs. They prevented us
from giving lessons, lecturing, giving Friday sermons and even recording
religious talks. There is no doubt in my mind that preventing people from
giving Da'wah is very dangerous and hence we should not keep silent unless
our rights are restored....
To all those honest and loyal Muslims
who advocate reform openly or secretly, we must admit that:
corruption has taken its roots in our society as well as in nearly all
other Muslim societies with varying degrees... It has engulfed all
aspects of our life, from the spiritual to the mundane. Today,
we find a deteriorated standard of morals in everything, from the world of
commerce and politics to the ministries of education and information. A
situation such as this calls for a sweeping reform.
It could be a grave mistake on our part
to think that such a reform can be realised with theories and intentions
only. This is a wishful thinking.... Reform will not come about until we
are ready to bear hardships for the sake of our beliefs ...
The existing decadence has become
apparent to everyone, yet there are people in position of power who
defend it since their very survival depends on its very existence. These
people in power are set dead against any kind of reform. They work days
and nights, secretly and publicly waging war and inciting others against
the reform movement.
Thus, there is an everlasting struggle
between right and wrong, between reform and corruption, between guidance
and deviation, between justice and oppression... That is why it is
an obligation upon every reformer to prove his loyalty and truthfulness to
Islam. He/She must make it clear on which side
he stands. He must prove that he is
ready to give and sacrifice for the sake of what he has been calling for.
It is essential for him to go to great pains as a proof to others of his
truthfulness.
In general, we have to bear in mind that
the masses may enjoy listening to our lectures about piety and
righteousness, but we have to set an example for them by physically
practicing what we preach. Otherwise, how can we prove that we are
loyal? How can we prove that we are not driven by our egos?
All of us know that cheating is
forbidden and illegal as stated clearly in the Qur'an and the Sunnah of
our prophet Mohammed p.b.u.h. . For example, the prophet questioned
severely the faith of a Muslim merchant who cheated others while selling
dates. If this was how our prophet handled a case of a single cheater, so what
should we do if our whole nation (Ummah) is engaged in the art of
deception and treachery? Therefore, our silence on these matters
is a reflection of our faith. Indeed our deafening silence is a testimony
to our weak faith. Believe me, we will not be spared the suffering and
punishment unless we declare publicly what is right. God says: (God would
not have unjustly destroyed the villages had their people been reformers).
So if we are truly reformers then we can
save ourselves from the punishment of God, otherwise his punishment
befalls us sooner or later.
Therefore, we are calling for a sweeping
reform in our people's affairs. We are calling for our rights to give
Da'wah. We are asking for freedom of expression to every scholar, caller,
journalist, writer, poet, and teacher or worker. We are calling for
freedom of expression which allows people to express their beliefs and
lets them participate in the reform process for this nation (Ummah), which
is surrounded by dangers from all sides. It is an open secret that our
society has become analogous to an island in the middle of a restless sea
waiting to devour it.
This reform is needed badly because the
existing corruption has many advocates who would like to make this area
(the Middle East) an open market for the Israelis, who will, consequently,
affect the ideology, culture and commerce in this region, not to mention
the military aspect. Hence, it is a plan to make us slaves in our
own land at the mercy of our enemies.
Meanwhile, no one is allowed to express
his/her opinion. We are simply told to agree to everything without
objection or risk facing punishment by the security forces. This strong
arm tactic is being used to prevent the reformers from continuing their
mission. It is meant to discourage anyone who thinks about making the
slightest positive change in our society.
Many of us talk among ourselves about
the absence of social justice from our society. The problem lies in our
failure to apply the rules of our religion (Shari'a) which was sent with a
comprehensive reform message that included the spreading of justice,
equality and abolishment of state and societal oppression. The
message was sent to address our needs and protect our dignity and rights. Under
Islamic law, no one will have a right to insult another fellow being,
oppress him in anyway, spy on him., arrest him without just reason or
invade his privacy ... All of these rights would be protected under the
Islamic Shari'a. Therefore, the issue here is not a
personal one. It is a universal matter
that concerns the whole Ummah. Hence, it is time the reformers declare
their message publicly.
We must declare it publicly, that we are
not asking for any materialistic reward for these efforts. If the public
sees us one day seeking worldly gains, then they have the right to throw
dust in our faces. I tell you here and now, that we are callers to the
truth where all are invited. We have also to make sure that this banner
stays upright no matter what adversity we may face.
So, where are the intellectual leaders
of this nation? Where are the thousands of doctors, professors and
university students on whom millions of dollars were spent to further
their education. These educated people today are being told to stop
thinking!. They are being told to follow the status quo and to refrain
from harbouring any political thoughts whatsoever. This is unacceptable.
It is every human's right to exercise
his intellect to improve the community surrounding him.
God has honoured human beings by
blessing them with the ability to think. So why not take advantage of this
blessing. Why do we presume that the masses have no opinions of
their own and they might want to express them? Who gave us this right to
deny the masses of their natural rights.
The prophet Mohammed p.b.u.h. used to
mount the pulpit and talk to the people about various matters. He
consulted them about the battles of Badr and Uhud and about other matters
such as the distribution of wealth.
Our religion was not meant to be only
confined to corners of a particular mosque. It came to teach us how to
structure our economy and how to invest our money. Furthermore, as
Muslims, we should exert our best efforts in whatever we do, so naturally
our industries, our educational and social systems should be governed by
the Islamic principle.
Brothers, I can not comprehend our
situation when I compare it with the other nations of the world. Now, of
course we know that due to the communication revolution, the whole world
is reduced to a small village and nothing can be hidden anymore. The east
knows what is happening in the west and vice versa. Today, as the rest of
the world is acquiring education, we the Muslims do not seem to want a
share in it. why we are acting in such a manner. We do not seem to be
benefiting from these radical and crucial changes that are shaping the
world.
Let us take the Soviet Union for
example. It had disintegrated because it was a one party system run by the
(KGB.) that ruled with an iron fist by spreading terror in the population.
Now we see that Communism is dead forever.
Nowadays, all countries in the world
take pride that their people are pleased to be governed by leaders who
respond to their needs and engage openly in discussion with them about all
affairs.... These people feel they have a right to know what is going on
in their lands.
So I ask you why do we have to stand in
the way of this historical change and against all other natural forces?
Why do we have to cover up our problems with obscure secrets that are not
understood by ordinary citizens?
When I and Dr. Safar al-Hawali were
called a year ago to go to the Ministry of Interior, we wrote a letter to
sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Baz, telling him what went on over at the Ministry.
We told him that we were questioned about some statements we said in the
past with regard to the illegality of interests and its dealings, our
disapproval of the Jewish-Arab peace process, our disclosure of some
existent social injustices, our displeasure of some wrongful practices and
measures committed against innocent people by the security forces, our
talk about the rights of Muslims for protection and the illegality of
terrorising and hurting them.... These were some of the things that we
were accused of committing at that time.
I believe that there is someone out
there devising a plan to keep this nation of ours in everlasting silence. And that is why if it happens that someone speaks up
against any form of oppression, he will be automatically labelled as a
power seeker. However, this accusation is a very old one since Pharaoh
said it before to Moses, and Quraish said it to our prophet Mohammed.
Thus, it becomes very easy indeed to accuse a Muslim activist of something
he/she did not commit because accusations are packed and ready for
distribution.... However, a question is left to be asked to those
who utter such claims.... Do you have proof for what you claim? Do you
have proof that our mission is other than reforming and correcting the
distortion and deviation that have befell this nation ?
Are we really one single nation? Do we
not know that many hands have been extended to make peace with the
Israelis? Do we not know that anybody who does not agree with this deal is
to be considered an extremist or fundamentalist who must be fought by
all means? Do we not know that hands are
being extended to the communists, secularists, and to all other groups?
The argument used to justify these gestures is that we should have some
dialogue and be in harmony with these groups? Simply, we are told to make
peace with these groups. So if this the case, why don't we make a dialogue
with ourselves before we move to make it with others? It does not make
sense to have a discussion with the far ones whereas our society has
failed to discuss its own matters and problems with its own people.
As for imprisoning us, I want to tell
you that it is not a concern of mine. If I end up there, at least I will
have a chance to be alone, to be with my Lord, to test my patience, my
worship, my closeness to God, my truthfulness, my readiness to bear some
hardships for the sake of delivering our message of reform.... this is the
road....
We are in need for huge numbers of
activists, reformers, mujahideen for this cause. We need those who are
pious and ready to take up their designated positions...
Our nation needs many of those who take
it upon themselves to deliver the right message, review and correct their
situations and try their utmost to deliver the message of reform.
Our aim and objective is to spread
reform in all fields, including the scientific (theoretical) and practical
ones. This is a mission that must be carried out by people from amongst
us. It must be carried out by people who are ready to endure some
hardships for the sake of their mission. We believe that part of our
responsibility is to address the important issues that concern our nation
(Ummah) from the east to the west. We have to stand beside our fellow
Muslims when disasters and hardships befall them... We have to
inform other Muslims about their brothers' problems...
We must work hard to revive the notion
of brotherhood among Muslims and try to make the necessary correction to
various things in their thoughts and lives. Hence, our objective includes
helping Islamic associations with everything we have at our disposal,
including spiritual, political, and economical support.
We live now with our fellow Muslims in
Bosnia, Somalia, Tajikistan, Egypt, Syria, Palestine... etc. We live with
them moment by moment and hour by hour. We consider this to be part of our
responsibility. Therefore, it is a betrayal on our part to neglect our
fellow Muslims and leave them as easy targets for their enemies.
If we cannot give them a hand, we should
at least shed some light at their situation and expose it to the public.
We can say a good word about them which may ease their pains and comfort
their feelings. We can make them feel that there are brothers out there
who are listening to their cries and are very saddened and hurt because of
their suffering....
So the issue we are addressing is not a
local one. In fact, it has no boundaries because it is an issue that
concerns all Muslims, whether they are in China, India, Kashmeer,
Bangladesh, Kurdistan, Iraq, Turkey, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Palestine,
Europe, America, Russia or any other place on earth. God says:
(The believing men and the believing
women are the protectors of each other, they enjoin good and forbid evil,
and hold their prayers, pay their Zakat and obey Allah and his prophet;
those are the blessed ones).