Friday Sermon Archives Series, first delivered on 12th October 2001 and edited, 28th October 2023
Introduction
“They intend to put out the Light of Allah with their mouths. But Allah will bring His Light to perfection even though the disbelievers hate it.” Surah As-Saff (61:8)
Following the Hamas incursion into Israel on Saturday 7th October, the Muslim world was informed that the subsequent and overwhelmingly disproportionate response was not a war against Islam and/or Palestinians, but against terrorists. A few staunch allies of the state of Israel continue to support this assertion.
A. The Overt Military Attack
Know that the Muslims have been attacked on various fronts over the years, the worst of which has been ideological. Do not be fooled or dismayed at the open warfare witnessed against Muslims in Bosnia, Chechnya, Afghanistan, Iraq and most recently (again), Gaza. We shall, insha Allah, look first at the history of a few historical wars and recent memory.
US Crusade: ‘Infinite Justice’
Former president, George W Bush described his country’s campaign against Muslims as a crusade. He named the military campaign ‘Infinite Justice’ but withdrew it when uproar was caused in the Muslim world.
Identifying a bogeyman: Sermon of Mass Distraction
The first crusade was launched at Clermont in France on 27th November 1095. Pope Urban II told his audience of churchmen, knights and common people that the Turks, (Ottomans) who were “despicable, degenerate and enslaved by demons” had overrun the Holy Land and were massacring Christians. He called for all those to “…hasten to exterminate this vile race from our lands” and to liberate Jerusalem. At that time Christian Europe was at war with itself. In history it was referred to as the dark Ages. Pope Urban then found a common enemy and a cause.
The people were roused by Pope Urban’s call, volunteering on the spot to join the crusade. Look at how similar this is to the response of the western world to join and fight terrorism – a term that has become synonymous with Islam:
“Those who survived the march broke into the Holy City on 15th July 1099. What followed was no ordinary slaughter. The piles of Muslim dead were “almost as high as houses.” One crusader, known as Raymond of Toulouse wrote back to Pope Urban and reported that; “…our men rode in the blood of the Saracens up to the knees of their horses.”
Today, the onslaught in Gaza and other occupied territories is with sophisticated missiles and aircraft.
B. The Covert Ideological Attack
Know, O Muslims that, despite our pain and anguish over the current assault of Afghanistan, a greater more penetrating attack has been taking place under our noses for a number of years. We shall look at a question that was posed to sheikh Abdul Azeez ibn Baz over 15 years ago:
Question: What in your opinion is the definition of al – gahzwa al – fikree – the ideological attack?
The sheikh answered; “Ideological warfare is a modern term which refers to a set of efforts in which a nation engages in order to conquer or influence another nation, so that the attacked nation takes a particular course of direction. It is far more serious than military warfare, since it aims at secrecy, seeking to achieve subtle objectives initially; so that the attacked nation does not perceive it…. thereby falling victim to it.”
The eventual result of this onslaught is that this nation becomes sick in mind and sense; loving what the enemy wants it to love and hating what the enemy wants it to hate…”
We only have to look among ourselves to see the various effects of this onslaught upon us.
Sheikh Ibn Baz continued; “The nation which is struck in this way does not even feel what has hit it, or even what it is! that is why curing it becomes somewhat difficult.”
The sheikh was then asked whether the Arabs generally subject to this type of warfare. He responded;
“…the Muslims in general… are subject to a great ideological warfare from the nations of disbelief. The most severe and most serious of these onslaughts is; i. The war of the Christian crusaders, ii. the Zionist war and, iii. the communistic and atheistic war.”
The ideological attack is far more devastating than military warfare as, “…conquering the hearts and minds of a people is far more permanent than conquering lands.”
Knowledge of the religion.
If one has knowledge of the deen – the Sunnah etc. s/he could not be confused or enticed by the subtle onslaughts of the west. Those of us who have travelled to this land would be prepared for what is facing us and become stronger in our eeman after witnessing the extent of disbelief and polytheism prevalent among these societies.
The sheikh then describes some of the ways in which this ideological warfare is implemented;
- Infusing incompatible western values into our children. Our children are tomorrow’s Ummah. If they are corrupted and ignorant of the religion who will carry this faith forward?
- The drive of the west to promote western languages and colloqialise the Arabic language to the extent that the classical Arabic of the Qur’aan is rarely used or indeed understood today.
- The attempt to control the educational curricula, introducing secular concepts and infusing western ideas to erase religious precepts etc.
- The large number of orientalists studying the religion in order to distort the image of Islam and confuse the more ignorant Muslims
Allah warns us in Surah al Baqarah (2:217):
“And they will not stop fighting you, until they turn you back from your religion; if they are able.”
End of Part 1
Sheikul Islam Ibn Taymeeyah mentioned the condition of the people during his time when the Tartars had occupied Muslim lands. He considered fighting Jihad against the Tartars, however decided against it due to the poor condition of the Muslim society at the time. They were very similar to the Tartars, steeped in idolatory etc. Ibn Taymeeyah was aware that a battle could not be won against the enemy while the Muslims were in that condition. Note, the statement of the Prophet, narrated from Thawban, which remains applicable today as it was then:
“The nations are about to invite one another and come upon you just as those eating invite others to share in their dish / meal.” Someone asked; “Will that be because we are few in number that day?” He replied; “No, at that time you will be numerous! But you will be like froth, like the froth carried by the wave, and Allah will remove the fear of you from the hearts of your enemies, and Allah will indeed throw weakness (Wahn)into your hearts.” So someone asked; “What is Wahn?” He replied; “Love of the world and hatred of death.” (Abu Dawood)
There are accurate accounts of how subservient the Muslims had become by the time the Tartars arrived…. One account even describes the Muslims obediently waiting in their places for a female Tartar soldier to go and find a sharp enough sword to return and slaughter them. Ibn Taymeeyah waited another year until the Muslims would fight the Tartars. By that time they had become stronger in their deen, Ibaadah, Aqeedah etc. and were able to defeat the enemy.
A formula for success
“O you who believe! If you help Allah (by acting upon that which He has commanded you to do), He will help you against your enemies, and make your foothold firm.” Surah Muhammad (47:7)
Also:
“And indeed Allah will help those who help His Cause. truly, Allah is Most Powerful, Most-Mighty. Those who, if We give them power and authority in the land, establish the prayer, give Zakaah, enjoin the good and forbid the evil. And with Allaah rests the end of all affairs.” Surah al – Hajj (22:40)
We must also focus on changing our condition to earn Allah’s Pleasure and thereafter success;
“Verily, Allaah does not change the condition of a people unless they change what is in themselves.” Surah Ar-Ra’d (13:11)
This verse is pertaining to changing one’s favourable condition to one of sin, however, conversely, it also relates to the opposite context as well, i.e. changing from disobedience to obedience. If, upon changing we then remain patient, in line with what Allaah tells us;
“But if you remain patient and become pious and obedient to Allaah, their plots will not harm you in the least. Indeed, Allaah encompasses all that they do.” Surah Ali Imran (3:120)
Between two extremes
Over the past weeks we have witnessed the importance of being balanced and identifying those who are upon this way. Ibn al Qayyim said in this regard;
“Allah’s Deen is an intermediate course between neglectfulness and excessiveness. It is like a valley between mountains. The one who is lax is neglectful of it; similarly, the one who exceeds moderation is also neglectful of it. the first individual falls short of the limit and the other exceeds it.” Madarij us- Salikeen (2.496)
To further endorse this position Mutarrif ibn Abdillah (a Taabi’ee son of the Sahabah Abdullah ibn ash- Shikhir) said; “The best of affairs are the intermediate ones; a good deed falls between two sins. Therefore, you know that the one who avoids neglect and excessiveness is truly guided.”
Sheikh Rabee ibn Haadee also said; “We ask Allah to prepare for the Islamic Ummah, sensible young people who weigh the matters, thoughts individuals and organisations with scales deriving from the Truth that Muhammad came with and with firm minds. They would not be misled by blind emotions, nor deceived by empty slogans that have overwhelmed so many people….” (Excerpt from introduction of Kashf ul-Hijab by Khalid ar-Raddadee)
Conclusion
It is imperative that we return to the obedience of Allah and await the time for Islam’s ascendancy, which is coming insha Allah. Our salaf underwent hardship also. Sahabi Khabbab ibnul Aratt narrated;
“We complained to Allah’s Messenger of the persecution of the pagans, whilst he was sitting in the shade of the Ka’bah upon his cloak. We said to him; “Will you not seek help for us? Would you call upon Allah for us?” He replied; “Amongst those before you, a believing man would have a hole dug for him, and he would be placed in it. Then a saw would be brought and placed upon his head and it would be sawn in half, yet that would not make him abandon his religion, and his body would be torn with iron combs, the flesh from his bones and nerves being removed; yet that would not make him give up his religion. By Allah, this Deen will prevail until a rider will travel from San’aa to Hadramaut not fearing, except Allah and the wolf as regards his sheep, but you people are impatient.” (Sahih Bukhari)
This is in line with the verse;
“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise without such trials as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said; “When will come the Help of Allah?” Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allaah is near!” Suratul Baqarah (2:214)
Remember Allah has also informed us;
“They plot and plan, and Allah plans, and indeed Allah is the best of planners.” Surah Anfal (8:8)
