لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ

"You have an excellent model in the Messenger of Allah, for all who put their hope in Allah and the Last Day and remember Allah much."

(Al-Ahzab: 21)

The Islamic State has a flag (Alam); whether it is a Liwaa' or Rayah, as deduced from the flags (Alwiyah) and banners (Rayat) of the first Islamic State, which the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم in al-Medina al-Munawwarah. The flag (Liwaa) is white, on which it is written "La Ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad Rasul Allah" with black script. It is tied to the leader (Amir) of the army and is used as a sign ('alam) to him. The evidence for this is what was narrated by Ibn Majah:

«أن النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ دخل مكة يوم الفتح ولواؤه أبيض»

"That the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم entered Makkah on the day of its conquest while raising a white flag."

Al-Nasaa'i also narrated that:

«أنه صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حين أمَّر أسامة بن زيد على الجيش ليغزو الروم عقد لواءه بيده»

"When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم appointed Usama ibn Zayd as amir to the army for invading the Romans, he tied his flag with his own hands".

The banner (Rayah) is black, on which it is written "La Ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad Rasul Allah" with white script. It is carried by the leaders of the army divisions, battalions, detachments, and other army units. The evidence for this is that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, while being the leader of the army in Khaybar, he said:

«لأعطين الراية غداً رجلاً يحب الله ورسوله، ويحبه الله ورسوله، فأعطاها علياً»

"I will give the Raya tomorrow to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him; and he gave it to Ali." (Hadith is agreed upon)

Thus, Ali, may Allah bless him, was considered then a leader of a division or a battalion in the Army. As for the evidence for the color, it is narrated by al-Tirmidhi, that Albaraa ibn 'Aazib said when he was asked about the banner of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم:

«كَانَتْ سَوْدَاءَ مُرَبَّعَةً مِنْ نَمِرَةٍ»

"It was black squared from Namira".

It is spread amongst the soldiers and the people when the soldiers return back victorious. The evidence for that is narrated by Bukhari in the Great History "At-Tareekh Al-Kabeer" who said Abu Bakr told me, said Thana Salam Bin Sulaiman Abu Mundhir told me Asim Abu Wael from Al-Harith ibn Hassan ibn Kaladah Al-Bakri said:

«دَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَرَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَائِمًا عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يَخْطُبُ وَفُلانٌ قَائِمٌ مُتَقَلِّدٌ السَّيْفَ فَإِذَا رَايَاتٌ سُودٌ تَخْفِقُ! قُلْتُ: مَا هَذَا؟ قالوا: عَمْرُو بْنُ الْعَاصِ قَدِمَ مِنْ جَيْشِ ذَاتِ السَّلاسِلِ»

"We came to Medina and we saw the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم on the Mimbar, with someone standing in front of him wearing his sword. There were black banners (rayaat) in front of the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. I asked 'what are these banners?' They said, 'It is Amr ibn al-Aas who has just arrived from an expedition".

They had returned victorious and the banners were many to celebrate the victory...

Moreover, the adoption of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم of a black banner which he tied it to the brigades and a white flag which he tied it to the armies' leaders is an act of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that we must follow his example. It is not exceptional to the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, because just as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم entered Makkah with the flag (Liwaa), he also tied a flag to Osama, and also recognized the banner (Rayah) of Jafar and his brothers in Mu'ta. The Messenger Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said mourning to the people the death of Zayd, Ja'far and Ibn Ruwahah before the soldiers brought the news

«أَخَذَ الرَّايَةَ زَيْدٌ فَأُصِيبَ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَهَا جَعْفَرٌ فَأُصِيبَ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَهَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ رَوَاحَةَ فَأُصِيبَ»

"Zayd took the banner (raya) but he was hit; and then Ja'far took it and he was hit; and then Ibn Ruwahah took it and he was hit" (Reported by Bukhari from Anas ibn Malik (ra)).

The banner is of great significance in Islam, it was taken as a motto of Muslims to gather under it, and by it their ranks are distinguished. It is chosen for it the brave forefront in their people and in the army to keep it lifted apparent for the people to see it, and if it falls they lift it and show extreme courage to prevent it falling, as the Sahaba, may Allah be pleased with them, did in Mu'ta...

This is in regards to the flag and banner in the era of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and by his approval. Muslims should follow the example of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم and make this flag their flag, and this banner their banner in the Islamic State, the Khilafah Rashidah that they will establish soon, Allah willing, and if they do not follow the example of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم there will be sedition (Fitnah)... And this is what is perceived and evident in the torn Ummah's body; as a result of multiple flags for the ripped states and factions!

This is the approved official flag of the state in Islam, as well as its banner... This is what is tied to the army leaders, lifted by the leaders in the wars and spread out amongst the soldiers... It is raised in the state institutions and departments... and is spread out amongst people in their festivals and in victory processions... This is the banner and the flag of the Islamic State following the example of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم.

As to the fact that some tribes used to take a flag with a special color in their wars to distinguish themselves, this is permissible. For example in war, the army of al-Sham can take a flag with a different color in addition to the black flag, and the army of Egypt can take also a flag with a different color in addition to the black flag... And this is from the permissible (Mubah). It was narrated in at-Tabarani in al-Kabeer on authority of Mazeeda al-Abdi' saying

«إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَقَدَ رَايَاتِ الْأَنْصَارِ فَجَعَلَهُنَّ صُفَرًا»

"The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has knotted the flags of al-Ansar and made them yellow."

And it was narrated from Ibn Abi Asem in al-Aahad and al-Mathani on the authority of Kurz bin Sama who said:

«...وَإِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَقَدَ رَايَةَ بَنِي سُلَيْمٍ حَمْرَاءَ»

"....And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم knotted the flag of Bani Suleim red".

So this is from the permissible (mubah). Army brigades nowadays use badges to differentiate themselves other than the official flag of the state, and it is permissible also to differentiate the armies by their names, as if numbering each army of its armies, so it is called: the first army, the third army for example, or naming it by its wilayah from the wilayat, or a province from its provinces, so it is called: Al-Sham Army or the Aleppo Army for example, and it is permissible for these divisions to have a special flag that distinguishes them administratively, raised in addition to the state's flag.

Thus, the banner of the Islamic state has specific descriptions, which is the legitimate (Shari') banner, which under which Dar al-Islam is sheltered, and by which the armies of Islam are shielded, so you escape from the death of ignorance that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم described in his Hadith which was narrated by Muslim:

«... وَمَنْ قَاتلَ تَحْتَ رَايَةٍ عِمِّيَّةٍ، يَغْضَبُ لِعَصَبَةٍ، أو يَدْعُو إِلى عَصبَةٍ، أو يَنْصُرُ عَصَبَة، فَقُتِلَ فَقِتْلَةٌ جَاهِليَّةٌ»

"...and whoever is killed while under a banner of ignorance, getting angry for the sake of tribalism or fighting for the sake of tribalism or calling to tribalism then his death is that of jahiliyya".

In this case, he صلى الله عليه وسلم called it the banner of ignorance (Amiyah), "from the word "Ta'miyah" meaning blinding, which is disguising and is interpreted as misguiding (Dhalal)". The rest of the Hadith interpreted it as the one fighting for the sake of tribalism, without knowledge or guidance or an enlightening Book, for people or for a class or a tyrant or any issue other than for Allah, like the fighting of ignorance. Or fighting not in order to support the Deen and establish the rule of Allah or for Jihad to uphold the word of Allah, but fighting under the banner of ignorance as the Hadith mentioned, and then if he is killed, then his death is that of Jahiliyya. This Hadith had related the banner to the meaning and not to the form only. What supports this meaning is what came of the meaning of the flag as the purpose for the fighting. It was narrated from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about the Romans, where he said:

«... هُدْنَةٌ تَكُونُ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ بَنِي الأَصْفَرِ، فَيَغْدِرُونَ فَيَأْتُونَكُمْ تَحْتَ ثَمَانِينَ غَايَةً»

"....a treaty will be between you and the Romans, then they will betray you and march against you with eighty aims....", i.e. eighty banners. Hence the flag carries the idea and the purpose of which the fighting is for.

It is well known that states usually adopt flags to symbolize them and include slogans, drawings or words expressing their ideas and beliefs. They give them a kind of sanctity, and request from their citizens to have the symbol of loyalty to their homeland as their loyalty symbol. This is one of the international norms. From this aspect, the wrath of the West and their agents, the rulers of the damage, were provoked when the Muslims in Syria Ash-Sham adopted the flag; "Rayah or Liwaa", of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Some scholars embarked on issuing Fatwa to some factions on the doctrine of the rulers that it is permissible to take any form of banner or flag, and not necessary to commit to the banner of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and that it can be multiple. Thus, they were justifying for them to take the flags of Sykes-Picot, "Al-Amiaya" (ignorance), that was developed by the French and the British to entrench the concept of nationalism. So they made for each country of the Islamic countries a flag to be symbolized by. Thus these flags became a symbol of fragmentation and division, and a substitute for Al-Okab; the banner of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. As these Kaffir colonists, the enemies of Islam have asked their agents, the Muslim rulers, to maintain the banners of division; because they know that the loyalty of these flags mean loyalty to the Kaffir colonists. And since the flag is a symbol of what it is put for; they are particularly keen to ensure that they are not touched except by their will. Thus, the fundamental problem with the West is that it rejects the Islamic flag; because it means that it was the flag of the State of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and because of it is afraid that it will be the flag of the promised Khilafah Rashidah State which brings together Muslims under its rule. The root of the problem with these scholars is that their thought was not built on dissociation (Bara) from these rulers, and missed their minds that the Khilafah State is a state that gathers Muslims under its presidency, and where loyalty is to Allah alone...

O Muslims: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم has taken for the first Islamic State a banner and flag with clear and specific descriptions indicated by the text, and that Hizb ut Tahrir invites you to follow the example of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم so that you would succeed...

فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ أَنْ تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

"Those who oppose his command should beware of a testing trial coming to them or a painful punishment striking them."

(An-Nur: 63)

Yvonne Ridley (born 23 April 1958) is a British journalist and former Respect Party activist. She was captured by the Taliban in 2001, and converted to Islam after release, later becoming an outspoken opponent of Zionism and vocal critic of Western mediaportrayals of the War on Terror.

النسخة العربية

Politicians and journalists just love to write about the oppression of women in Islam … without even talking to the females beneath the veil.

They simply have no idea how Muslim women are protected and respected within the Islamic framework which was built more than 1400 years ago.

Yet, by writing about cultural issues like child brides, female circumcision, honor killings and forced marriages they wrongly believe they are coming from a point of knowledge.

And I am sick of Saudi Arabia being cited as an example of how women are subjigated in a country where they are banned from driving.

The issues above have simply nothing to do with Islam yet they still write and talk about them with an arrogant air of authority while wrongly blaming Islam. Please do not confuse cultural behavior with Islam.

I was asked to write about how Islam allows men to beat their wives. Sorry, not true. Yes, I’m sure critics of Islam will quote random Qur’anic verses or ahadith but all are usually taken out of context. If a man does raise a finger to his wife, he is not allowed to leave a mark on her body … this is another way of the Qur’an saying; “Don’t beat your wife, stupid”.

Now let’s take a glance at some really interesting statistics, hmm. I can almost hear the words pot, kettle, black. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, four million American women experience a serious assault by a partner during an average 12-month period.

On the average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands and boyfriends every day . . . that is nearly 5,500 women battered to death since 9/11.

Some might say that is a shocking indictment on such a civilized society, but before I sound too smug, I would say that violence against women is a global issue. Violent men do not come in any particular religious or cultural category. The reality is that one out of three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Violence against women transcends religion, wealth, class, skin color and culture.

However, until Islam came on the scene women were treated as inferior beings. In fact we women still have a problem in the West where men think they are superior. This is reflected in our promotion and wages structure right across the spectrum from cleaners to career women who make it into the boardroom.

Western women are still treated as commodities, where sexual slavery is on the rise, disguised under marketing euphemisms, where womens’ bodies are traded throughout the advertising world. As mentioned before, this is a society where rape, sexual assault, and violence on women is commonplace, a society where the equality between men and women is an illusion, a society where a womens’ power or influence is usually only related to the size of her breasts.

I used to look at veiled women as quiet, oppressed creatures and now I look at them as multi-skilled, multi-talented, resilient women whose brand of sisterhood makes Western feminism pale into insignificance. My views changed after the truly terrifying experience of being arrested by the Taleban for sneaking into Afghanistan in September 2001 wearing the bhurka.

During my 10-day captivity I struck a deal that if they let me go I would read the Quran and study Islam. Against all the odds, it worked and I was released. In return I kept my word but as a journalist covering the Middle East I realized I needed to expand my knowledge of a religion which was clearly a way of life.

And no. I’m not a victim of Stockholm Syndrome. To be a victim you have to bond with your captors. During my imprisonment I spat, swore, cursed and abused my jailers as well as refusing their food and going on hunger strike. I don’t know who was happier when I was released – them or me!

Reading the Quran was, I thought, going to be a very simple academic exercise. I was stunned to discover that ut clearly stated women are equal in spirituality, education and worth. A woman’s gift for child birth and child-rearing is very much recognised as a quality and attribute. Muslim women say with pride they are homemakers and housewives.

Furthermore The Prophet (pbuh) said that the most important person in the home was The Mother, The Mother, The Mother. In fact he also said that heaven lies at the feet of the mother. How many women make it into the top 100 power lists for simply being a “great mother”?

With Islam choosing to remain at home and raise children takes on a new dignity and respect in my eyes, similar to those sisters among us who choose to go out to work and have careers and professions.

I then began looking at inheritance, tax, property and divorce laws. This is where Hollywood divorce lawyers probably get their inspiration from. For instance the woman gets to keep what she earns and owns while the man has to stump up half his worth.

Isn’t it funny the way the tabloid media gets very excited over the prospect of some pop or film stars pre-nuptial wedding agreement? Muslim women have had wedding contracts from day one. They can choose if they want to work or not and anything they earn is theirs to spend while the husband has to pay for all the household bills and the upkeep of his family.

Just about everything that feminists strived for in the 70s was already available to Muslim women 1400 years ago.

As I said, Islam dignifies and brings respect to motherhood and being a wife. If you want to stay at home, stay at home. It is a great honor to be a home maker and the first educater of your children

But equally, the Quran states if you want to work, then work. Be a career woman, learn a profession become a politician. Be what you want to be and excel in what you do as a Muslim because everything you do is in praise of Allah (swt).

There is an excessive, almost irritating concentration or focus on the issue of Muslim womens’ dress particularly by men (both Muslim and non-Muslim).

Yes, it is an obligation for Muslim women to dress modestly but, in addition, there are many other important issues which concern Muslim women today.

And yet everyone obsesses over the hijab. Look, it is part of my business suit. This tells you I am a Muslim and therefore I expect to be treated with respect.

Can you imagine if someone told a Wall Street executive or Washington banker to put on a t-shirt and jeans? He would tell you his business suit defines him during work hours, marks him out to be treated seriously.

And yet in Britain we have had the former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw describing the nikab – the face veil revealing only the eyes – as an unwelcome barrier. When, oh when, will men learn to keep their mouths shut over a woman’s wardrobe?

We also had Government Ministers Gordon Brown and John Reid express disparaging remarks about the nikab – both these men come from over the Scottish Borders where men wear skirts!!

Then we had a series of other parliamentarians enter the fray describing the nikab as a barrier for communication. What a load of nonsense. If this was the case can anyone explain to me why cell phones, landlines, emails, text messaging and fax machines are in daily use? Who listens to the radio? No one switches off the wireless because they can not see the face of the presenter.

The majority of sisters I know who choose to wear the nikab are actually white, Western reverts who no longer want the unwelcome attention of those few leering men who will try and confront females and launch into inappropriate behavior. Mind you, there are a couple of London sisters I know who say they wear the nikab at anti-war marches because they can’t stand the smell of spliffs.

I am afraid Islamophobia has become the last refuge of the racist scoundrel. But the cowardly, chauvinistic attacks launched – largely by men – is unacceptable to Muslimahs as well as their secular, female sisters from the left.

I was a feminist for many years and now, as an Islamic feminist, I still promote womens’ rights. The only difference is Muslim feminists are more radical than their secular counterparts. We all hate those ghastly beauty pageants, and tried to stop laughing when the emergence of Miss Afghanistan in bikini was hailed as a giant leap for women’s liberation in Afghanistan.

I’ve been back to Afghanistan many times and I can tell you there are no career women emerging from the rubble in Kabul. My Afghan sisters say they wish the West would drop its obsession with the bhurka. “Don’t try turning me into a career woman, get my husband a job first. Show me how I can send my children to school without fear of them being kidnapped. Give me security and bread on the table,” one sister told me.

Young feminist Muslimahs see the hijab and the nikab as political symbols as well as a religious requirement. Some say it is their way of showing the world they reject the excesses of Western lifestyles such as binge drinking, casual sex, drug-taking etc.

Superiority in Islam is accomplished through piety, not beauty, wealth, power, position or sex.

Now you tell me what is more liberating. Being judged on the length of your skirt and the size of your cosmetically enhanced breasts, or being judged on your character, mind and intelligence?

Glossy magazines tell us as women that unless we are tall, slim and beautiful we will be unloved and unwanted. The pressure on teenage magazine readers to have a boyfriend is almost obscene.

Islam tells me that I have a right to an education and it is my duty to go out and seek knowledge whether I am single or married.

No where in the framework of Islam are we told as women that we must do washing, cleaning or cooking for men – but it is not just Muslim men who need to re-evaluate women in their home. Check out this 1992 exert from a Pat Robertson speech revealing his views on empowered women. And then you tell me who is civilized and who is not.

He said: “FEMINISM ENCOURAGES WOMEN TO LEAVE THEIR HUSBANDS, KILL THEIR CHILDREN, PRACTICE WITCHCRAFT, DESTROY CAPITALISM AND BECOME LESBIANS”.

Here is an American man living in a pre-Islamic age who needs to modernize and civilize. People like him are wearing a veil and we need to tear that veil of bigotry away so people can see Islam for what it is.

The slogan ”Islamic democracy” has been coined and attributed to Umar ibnul Khattab (ra), the second Khaleefah, and even to Muhammad (saw). It is said that consultation, or ”Shura,” is a fundamental aspect of Islamic governance, and that it is, in reality, democratic. However, those who describe democracy as being Shura, have dressed the proverbial ”wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Once some light has been cast onto the reality of Shura and democracy, the wolf will be unmasked. Firstly, let us look at the similarities.Similarities between Shura and DemocracyDemocracy entails ruling by the majority opinion. This is in terms of legislation through the parliament and the execution of ruling through a government, which acts (in theory at least) for the majority.

Shura is the verbal noun of the verb ‘’shawara,” or consulted. It means seeking an opinion from the one who is consulted. The Khaleefah or any lawful authority can undertake the Shura. Allah (swt) said to His Prophet (saw) in the Qur’an:

”And do consult them in the matter…” [ Ale-Imran: 159].

Abu Hurairah (ra) said, ”I have not seen anyone more willing to consult others then the Messenger of Allah (saw) in the consultation of his companions.”

Both Shura and democracy involve seeking an opinion from people. This is the only similarity.Can we now say that democracy is Shura ? Could we even say that democracy is Islamic? The answer to both these questions is no. If the wolf has four legs just like the sheep, then are they the same? If the wolf is a warm-blooded mammal like the sheep, should they be kept together? Again, the answer is no! The wolf pup goes to its own mother for milk. Now imagine a newborn lamb that also drinks milk. Would it be wise to view any source of milk as its loving mother? The wolf and the sheep are proof that a similarity between any two things does not prove that these two things are the same.

To say that democracy is Shura, or that it is not Shura, requires a comprehensive understanding of both realities. Then we can see if they are indeed the same. We will see, in fact, that they differ in some fundamental issues. The differences are of such a nature that for the Muslims to drink from the milk of democracy would entail deviation from Islam.

In democracy, the majority opinion is always binding. However, in reality, opinions are of three types. Islam’s verdict on Shura is different for each of these three types of opinion.

1) Shura is never considered in matters of legislation.

2) The expert opinion is taken, regardless of the majority or minority, in matters where an intellectual judgement is required about some subject.

3) The majority opinion is taken for matters of action only.

Let us examine the first point:

1) Shura is never considered in matters of legislation.

The opinions of people hold no value in the matters of halal and haram because it is Allah (swt) who has decided these matters for us in the Book and the Sunnah. Allah (swt) warned about deviation from His Book:”Therefore fear not men but fear me and sell not my verses for a miserable price. And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the disbelievers” [ Al-Ma'idah: 44].

The ruler is specifically warned not to follow people’s opinions in matters of revelation:”Rule between them by that which Allah has revealed to you, and do not follow their vain desires” [ Al-Ma'idah: 49].

Democracy is built upon following man’s vain desires, without any restriction from the Creator. Democracy gives man the right to decide that sodomy is a crime, or that it is a respectable activity that our children should be encouraged to respect and practice. Democracy, therefore, is not simply a Western name for the Islamic principle of Shura!

The Prophet (saw) clearly refused to consider the people sovereign. On one occasion, the noble Sahabah were concerned about the treaty of Hudaybiyah, before Allah’s (swt) word on the matter had been clarified to them. They expressed their opinions very strongly to the Prophet (saw), because they thought that this treaty would humiliate the Muslims. Nevertheless, he (saw) rejected the opinions of all the Sahabah in order to sign the treaty of Hudaybiyah in obedience to the command of Allah (swt).

Sometimes the Khaleefah may not be certain what Allah’s (swt) rule is on a matter, and Ijtihad may be required. In such a situation, the Khaleefah may consult people of knowledge. This type of consultation is considered next.

2) The expert opinion is taken, regardless of the majority or minority, in matters where an intellectual judgement is required about some subject.

Umar b. Al-Khattab (ra) consulted the Muslims regarding the newly conquered lands of Iraq, whether they should be divided amongst the Muslims as booty, or left in the hands of its people subject to payment of Kharaj. Bilal (ra), Abdur Rahman (ra) and Az-Zubayr (ra) thought that the land should be divided in the same way that the Prophet (saw) divided the land of Khaybar as booty. Umar, however, made Ijtihad upon some ayat in Surah al Hashr to deduce that the land should be Kharaji land. Once Umar heard the views and was convinced with his own Ijtihad in preference to that of the majority, he rejected all other opinions and followed his own expert understanding of the text. During Umar’s Khilafah, he consulted the Sahabah on many issues related to understanding the rules of Islam for new situations, and he adopted the strongest opinion and never the majority opinion. The general consensus of the Sahabah upon this makes it clear that the Khaleefah can consult until he finds the strongest opinion. It is the Khaleefah who decides which is correct and no one else.

The Prophet (saw) followed the opinion of a single expert, Habab bin Munthir (ra), over the selection of the place of the Battle of Badr. It was narrated in the Seerah of Ibnu Hisham that, ”when he (saw) camped at the near side of the water of Badr, Al-Habab b. Al-Munthir was not happy with this place. He said to the Messenger (saw), ‘O Messenger of Allah! Did Allah make you camp in this place where we can’t depart from it, or is it the opinion of war and strategy?’ He (saw) said, ‘It is rather the opinion of war and strategy.’ Al Habab b. al-Munthir said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, this is not the (right) place. Move the people till we come to the side of the water near to the people (enemy), we camp there..’ The Messenger (saw) said, ‘You gave the right opinion.”’ Here, the Prophet (saw) followed the opinion of a single expert without asking for the majority view.

When a correct judgement on a subject, whether technical or Shari’ah, is required it is the correct opinion and not the majority that is followed. Only one man, the Khaleefah, has the right to decide which is correct. The ayah of consultation continues:

”…When you decided (azamta), put your trust in Allah” [ Al-'Imran: 159].

This indicates that the final decision is with ruler and not with the people. This is because the verb ”to decide” used in the text is ”azamta” which means you (singular) decided. If the decision had been for the people then the verb would have been in the form ”azamtum” meaning you (plural). Again, it is seen that Shura and democracy are not the same.

3) The majority opinion is taken for matters of action only.

There are many choices the Khaleefah can make between actions that are Mubah (permissible). To invest in schools or hospitals, to appoint this man or that man, to build a motorway through cornfields on the east side of a town or to build it through pastureland to the west, are some examples. It is natural for people to differ when faced with a simple choice between two actions. A technical study would not come up with a judgement that leads to only one right course of action. In such a case, a choice needs to be made which will be subjective to each person. The Khaleefah can consult the people, and this is recommended but not obligatory according to Islam. The Prophet (saw) decided many matters like this himself, but he also consulted the people such as in the consultation before the Battle of Uhud. The Mushrikeen came to attack the Muslims that day, and the Prophet (saw) and the more prominent Sahabah wanted to fight from inside the city of Madina. However, the majority of the people wanted to go outside to fight the enemy. The Prophet (saw) led the army out from Madinah into the battle in accordance with the wishes of the majority.Conclusion

In the democratic system of ruling, man has the absolute right to do as he pleases. This is decided by the majority opinion. Democracy is Kufr because that would be to place man above his Creator! Shura ”consultation” is not an absolute right of the people. The Khaleefah can consult with the people only in permissible matters (”Mubaah”). We have seen that the majority is accepted only if the matter is one of action and not some specialist subject. If an opinion, such as a strategy of war is needed, then the experts in this field are consulted, even if only one. This is because the ”correct” opinion is sought, and the majority opinion has no worth here.The difference between democracy and Shura is like the difference between water and fire. We should remember the words of the Prophet (saw) narrated by Muslim and Bukhari about the final hour, ”When Dajjal will appear he will have water and fire with him. The thing which the people may consider as water will actually be fire; and the thing which the people may consider as fire, will be the cool and sweet water.”

May Allah (swt) protect us from the fire.

Question:

My question is of the three parts, please pardon me:

First, the latest meeting between Obama and Modi has received intensive media coverage, but it did not result in any real decision, it seems that there is still a problem between the United States and between India and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Can you point out the disputed issues between the two parties?

Second, given that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India and Nawaz's party in Pakistan, are both loyal to the United States, and that the issue of Kashmir is draining India, then why is India stalling in resolving the Kashmir problem?

Third, China will meet with the Taliban to conduct mediation talks, did the United States permit this, or is it conducted independent of it? What is China's purpose behind this mediation?

Jazak Allah Khair

---

Answer:

First, to understand the relations between America and India, led by Modi, the following points should be taken into account:

1. Modi has inherited a heavy legacy of problems in relations between America and the Congress party during their ruling period of ten years, before that during the years of the rule of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) relations between New Delhi and Washington were unprecedentedly rejuvenated, but that all changed when the BJP lost in the general election in 2004 and the Congress party - pro-Britain – took over power. In 2010, the Indian Parliament passed the Nuclear Responsibility Law, which put excessive restrictions on suppliers for nuclear power plants; this is to deter the United States and its firms from entering into the Indian market, the implementation of the law made the conclusion of the civil nuclear deal with the United States in 2005 impossible. On the other hand New Delhi strongly rejected the US attempts to start a dialogue on Kashmir, and called on Washington to take tough action against Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai attacks in 2008, as well as its difference with Washington over its role against the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), and regarding many trade disputes. It was expected that the two countries have many common trade relations, which originated during the years of the rule of the Congress Party, but the United States objected, for example, to use the seal "Made in India" in solar panels, describing it as a violation of the laws of the WTO, India remains busy in defending itself against the complaint submitted to the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organization by the United States in 2013

2. During the rule of the Congress party, the Indian public held a negative image of America, this worsened because of the contemptuous treatment of Washington to Indian diplomats. As a result, Modi's first mission was to improve America's image among Indians, especially among the political center. Modi polished the image of America in front of the Indian public, through Obama's visit to India as the chief guest of the Indian Republic, along with the signing of the nuclear deal.

3. President Obama now, before the general elections to be held in the United States in the fall of 2016, is like a lame duck, all his focus is on the Democratic Party's election victory. Whatever the case, Obama has to split his time between participation in local election campaigns, and focus on the many crises abroad, so it is unlikely that Obama could do much to overcome 10 years of rule by the Congress Party of India.

In light of these factors, it is difficult to see any tangible progress on the declarations made at the Obama and Modi Summit. At best, there will be close cooperation on issues that unite the American and Indian interests in the region, such as the fight against "terrorism" emanating from Pakistan, and reduce the influence of China. However, there are several obstacles that created a bit of a gap as a result of the ruling of the Congress party, it will take some time for Modi and Obama to overcome them and remove them. The Former US Ambassador to India, Robert Blackwell, said while he during a speech on the relations between America and India under the rule of Modi in New Delhi on January 2015, "... with respect to the United States strategy towards India during the next two years, in my view, at best our expectations should be modest, contrary to what it was at the beginning of the last decade, neither this prime minister or this president will be able to make a strategic shift in relations between the United States and India, so in my opinion there will be no real strategic partnership between the two in the next two years." ["The Atmosphere of the Relationship between the United States and India and Common Trade", January 24, 2015].

In other words, Blackwell expected the relations between the two countries to catch their breath and regain full strength during the time of Obama's successor and not before.

Second: As for the issue of Kashmir, it was surrounded by many complications during the rule of the Congress party making Modi in need of some time to be able to put the Kashmir issue on the table:

1. Since the rise of the Congress Party to power in 2004, and the issue of Kashmir has mainly been put on the shelf, despite the fact that Pakistan, under Musharraf's rule, made numerous concessions to start the stalled dialogue process between the two countries. However the Congress Party rejected any initiative by Musharraf and insisted that the Kashmir issue is an internal matter.

2. The situation remained as it is until the Mumbai attacks in November 2008 CE, after that all prospects of a resumption of dialogue on the issue of Kashmir were completely frozen, the Indian government changed its tone, and pressed Pakistan to recognize that it is guilty in the attacks, and must work to rein in all the armed groups operating inside Pakistan, especially the group "Lashkar-e-Tayba" ... The Indian government in October 2010 accused the ISI (Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Agency) for being responsible for the planning of the attacks, and said in a statement, "The ISI was involved in planning an attack in 2008 on the Mumbai terrorist ... " ["The Indian government: Pakistan agents are behind the Mumbai Attacks", The Hindustan Times, October 19, 2010].

3. In the wake of the Mumbai attacks, there was a strain in relations between Islamabad and New Delhi, and any attempt on the part of Pakistan or America to push for the resumption of dialogue on Kashmir was rejected by India.

4. At the time, America has been pressing India to ease tensions along the border with Pakistan, especially on the Line of Control, so as to allow Pakistan to re-deploy its troops on the border with Afghanistan to help the United States in the fight against the resistance in Afghanistan. But India did not shift from its position on Kashmir, and forced both Pakistan and America to accept the new reality.

5. During the rule of the Congress Party in India, public opinion about any concessions on the issue of Kashmir to Pakistan froze. Thus, when Modi took over the Prime Minister's Office on 26 May 2014 CE, he was in front of a 10-year challenge of the Congress Party's obstinacy to abandon its non-negotiable position on Kashmir.

6. America has tried to pave the way for the rapprochement between India and Pakistan as a step for the negotiation in order to find a solution to Kashmir, and therefore Nawaz defying the feelings of Muslims visited India, congratulating Modi and attended his inauguration ceremony, despite that he is known for his animosity to Muslims ... by such a step it made them further apart rather than closer.

7. Then there is another issue: all Indian political parties are committed to Kashmir as a part of them, so even if the BJP and Nawaz are loyal to America, it is not easy to solve the Kashmir issue as a negotiated solution, but the correct and fair solution is to end its occupation by the Hindus by force, which is an easy matter by the will of Allah if there was a sincere state in Pakistan to Allah (swt) and His Messenger (saw), we pray that it will be soon, by the permission of Allah.

With all this, it is not unlikely that America will gather the two parties together, but this may take time.

Third: the relationship of China and Afghanistan ... and the Taliban:

1. China has focused considerable attention in the development of trade relations with Afghanistan, and the Mineral Group's state-owned company have spent $3 billion on a copper mine in Aynak Mine "about 50 kilometers south of Kabul." China National Petroleum Corporation (the largest oil company in the country) agreed in 2011 to develop the Amu Darya Basin in Afghanistan, which is a project that will generate $7 billion in profits. China National Petroleum Corporation has helped to create the first site for the production of oil in Afghanistan, with an annual energy estimated at 1.5 million barrels ["China and its presence in Afghanistan," The National Newspaper, November 1, 2014]. Moreover, China has recently announced the New Silk Road project costing billions of dollars, the project consists of three parts, the first part starts from Xi'an in China and passes through Pakistan and ends in Turkey. The second part extends from Bangladesh to Myanmar, while the third connects the Fujian coast of China with the rest of the world. And the revival of economic Silk Road belt was one of President Jean Ping's ideas, which is being implemented, developed and expedited in its implementation since the last quarter of 2013. Thus, Afghanistan is an important piece in this great project. Also, China's large appetite for resources will increase in Afghanistan, with the presence of more than $1 trillion in potential mineral wealth.

Thus it was not surprising that as soon as Ashraf Ghani became president of Afghanistan his first foreign visit was to China, where he was rewarded with new commitments from Beijing, and China has pledged to give Afghanistan 2 billion yuan ($ 327 million) in aid during 2017, in addition to the 250 million dollars that it contributed to Afghanistan since 2001. In addition, China has promised to provide training for 3,000 Afghan professional staff, as well as assisting in the development of the Afghan agriculture, hydropower, and infrastructure.

From the above, it is clear that China has a strong commercial interest in developing strong relationships with Afghanistan in the near future.

2. China cannot exploit its trade relations with Afghanistan, unless the country is stable ... and stability requires a strong government in Afghanistan, and that is why China is keen to support the Ghani's government as much as possible. Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, said during his visit to Kabul on 22 of February 2014, "The peace and stability in this country has an impact on the security of west China, and most importantly, it affects the peace and the development throughout the region, and we hope to see political reconciliation broad-based and inclusive in Afghanistan as soon as possible, and China will play a constructive role to facilitate this ... The country that is divided has no future." [Reuters, February 22, 2014].

Hence, the interest in the stability of Afghanistan by China. There is also another matter, China is afraid of the threat that emanates from the Afghan border with China, known as the Wakhan Corridor, it is a narrow strip of land in the northeast of Afghanistan, and extends from China and Tajikistan, and it separates between Pakistan and Kashmir region in Pakistan, and is located between the Pamir to the north and the Hindu Kush to the south, and its length is about 350 km, and of a width between 13-65 km. It forms a channel to facilitate the movement of Uighur Islamic fighters, who cause an internal security issue for China, where the Taliban are harboring and training militants from "East Turkistan Islamic Movement" of Uighurs in Afghanistan and the tribal areas in Pakistan, the Uighur fighters are fighting for an independent homeland free of Chinese domination. This has been clearly shown by the Chinese Foreign Minister during his visit to Kabul last year, in a statement published by the People's Republic of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the purpose of the visit, he said: "... to promote cooperation in the field of security, and cooperation in other areas such as counter-terrorism, and combating the East Turkestan Islamic movement Islamic" ["Wang Yi will hold talks with Afghan Foreign Minister", the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Czech Republic, February 23, 2014].

In light of the points mentioned above, China supports the continued US presence in Afghanistan after December 2014 to maintain stability. This has been highlighted clearly i.e. the public encouragement of China for Hamid Karzai to sign a bilateral security agreement. In September 2013, the spokesman for President Hamid Karzai, Aimal Faizi, said that the president of China provides support for Afghan foreign relations with regional and foreign countries, specifically with the United States, in an attempt to bring peace and stability in the region, and that China supports the conclusion of a security agreement between the Afghanistan and the United States, [China supports the security agreement between Afghanistan and the United States," Kama Newspaper, 28 September 2013]. The newspaper added that China also announced that it supports the peace process led by Afghanistan, and it is ready to play a role in the Afghan peace talks, i.e. peace talks with the Taliban ... from these statements, which are all in the same context, and other similar statements, it is clear that China supports America for the stability in Afghanistan, as well as it supports peace talks with the Taliban with the full knowledge of the Americans.

Also, China has set up in November 2014, a "forum of peace and reconciliation," as reported by Reuters, in an effort to play a greater role in Afghanistan in order to push the peace talks, [Reuters, November 11, 2014] and find ways to mediate in a peace agreement between the Government of Ghani and the Taliban. Thus, recently the Taliban has visited Beijing, and China is supporting Pakistan to put pressure on the Afghan Taliban movement to achieve reconciliation with Ghani's government. This cannot be interpreted as China wanting to take America's place in Afghanistan, but on the contrary, the interests of Beijing and Washington are in harmony with the issue of stability in Afghanistan. In this regard, a US official said, "The United States and China have agreed to work together to support the Government of Afghanistan, and national unity, and the security forces, and economic development; to ensure that Afghanistan is not used once again as a safe haven for terrorists." ["China progressing to mediate in the stalled peace talks with the Afghan Taliban," Economic Times, February 13, 2015].

All this shows that China is interested in stability in Afghanistan due to the development of its large economic interests there, which is consistent with the United States on the subject of the stability of Afghanistan ... and it is also interested in reconciliation between Afghanistan and the Taliban so that China benefits in tightening of the supply line of the fighters of East Turkistan, and this was the reason for communications by China with both parties, Afghanistan and the Taliban.

We hope that the Taliban is aware of this matter and repels the plots of China back to its land, and the brotherhood of Islam continues between them and the rebels of East Turkistan.

19 Jumada I 1436 AH

10/3/2015 CE

আজকাল আমাদের সমাজে এমন লোক খুঁজে পাওয়া মুশকিল যে কোন না কোন ধান্ধার পেছনে ঘুরছে না? উঠতি বয়সের তরুণ থেকে শুরু করে বয়সী কর্মজীবি মানুষ, সবাই একটার পর একটা ধান্ধায় সমস্ত জীবন পার করে দিচ্ছে। নিজের ধান্ধা ছাড়া অন্য কোন কিছু নিয়ে চিন্তা করার সময় কারো নেই। সবার মুখে একই কথা “ভাই আমি খুবই ব্যস্ত, আমার কোন সময় নেই।” আসুন আমরা দেখি কোন ধান্ধার পেছনে আমরা পাগলের মত ছুটে চলেছি আর কি নিয়েই বা সমাজের তরুণ বৃদ্ধ সবাই এত ব্যস্ত।

এখনকার দিনে তরুণদের একমাত্র ধান্ধা হচ্ছে যত বেশী পারা যায় ফুর্তি করা, আনন্দে থাকা, জীবনের স্বাদ উপভোগ করা। সবার মধ্যে একই চিন্তা কিভাবে একটা ‘অ্যাফেয়ার’ করা যায়। একটা বয়ফ্রেন্ড বা গার্লফ্রেন্ড খুবই প্রয়োজন - “তা না হলে জীবনটাই বৃথা” এরকম একটা মানসিকতা সবার মধ্যে। হলিউড-বলিউড সংস্কৃতির তীব্র আগ্রাসন তাদের চিন্তার জগতকে এতটাই দখল করে নিয়েছে যে এসব ছাড়া অন্য কোন কিছু তারা ভাবতেই পারে না। বিয়ের আগে প্রেম, সেক্স এগুলো এখনকার দিনের ফ্যাশন। লেকের পাড়ে, পার্কে, লাইব্রেরীর বারান্দায় সর্বত্র যুগলদের সদাসর্বদা ব্যাপক উপস্থিতি এখন আর কারোরই চোখ এড়ায় না। আজকাল ছেলে মেয়ে সম্পর্ক শুধু ‘নির্দোষ প্রেম’ কিংবা বিয়ের সম্পর্ক নয় - এসব ক্ষেত্রে এমন অনেক কিছুই ঘটে যা এখন ওপেন সিক্রেট। ছেলেরা একটা ‘মেয়ে’ খুজঁছে সর্বত্র, সর্বক্ষণ। কলেজ, বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়, হিন্দি ছবি, মিউজিক ভিডিও, সিনে ম্যাগাজিন কিংবা সাইবার ক্যাফেতে ডাউনলোড করা পর্নোছবি সব কিছুতেই ছেলেদের একটাই ধান্ধা - একটা মেয়ে। ছেলেদের এই ধান্ধা পূরণের জন্য সমস্ত নগর জুড়ে চলছে আরো নানা আয়োজন - কনসার্ট, ফ্যাশন শো, সুন্দরী প্রতিযোগিতা ইত্যাদি।

বারে গিয়ে দামী বিদেশী মদ, বিয়ার ইত্যাদি সম্ভব না হলেও অন্ততপক্ষে ‘ডাইল’ কিংবা ‘ইয়াবা’ এর ফিলিংস নেয়া বর্তমান প্রজন্মের অনেক তরুণের কাছে আরেকটি ধান্ধা। আর এই ধান্ধার পেছনে ছুটতে গিয়ে তারা চুরি, ছিনতাই, মাদক ব্যবসা ইত্যাদি নানা অপকর্মে জড়িয়ে পড়ছে।

বয়সের সাথে সাথে আমাদের ধান্ধাও পাল্টায়। শিক্ষা জীবনের শেষে যুবকদের মাথায় ঢোকে ক্যারিয়ারের ধান্ধা। এখন তার মাথায় একটাই চিন্তা কিভাবে, কাকে ধরে, ঘুষ কিংবা তোষামোদ করে জীবনে প্রতিষ্ঠিত হওয়া যায়। সহসাই সে বুঝতে পারে চাকুরীর বাজারে তার প্রতিদ্বন্দ্বীর সংখ্যা অনেক, তাই তাকে ‘জ্যাক’ ধরতে হবে। শুরু হয় ‘মামা’ খোঁজার ধান্ধা।

বয়স যখন পঁয়ত্রিশ কোঠা পেরোয় আর সংসার জীবন শুরু হয় তখন তার ধান্ধাও পাল্টে যায়। এখন তার আসল ধান্ধা কিভাবে ধন সম্পদ আরো বাড়ানো যায়। এজন্য বৈধ অবৈধ যেকোন পন্থা অবলম্বন করতে সে রাজি। এখন এটাই তার একমাত্র ‘মাথাব্যাথা’। একটা ধান্ধা পূরণ হলে তাকে আরেকটা ধান্ধার নেশায় পেয়ে বসে। টাকাই হচ্ছে চূড়ান্ত ধান্ধা। যেন এটা একটা ড্রাগ যা ছাড়া সে বাঁচতে পারেনা।তার সমস্ত চিন্তা, কথা ও কাজের পেছনে একটাই উদ্দেশ্য - টাকা উপার্জন। একটাই মাপকাঠি - আর্থিক লাভক্ষতি। লাভ হলে সে কোন কিছু নিয়ে চিন্তা করে বা কথা বলে আর লাভের সম্ভাবনা না থাকলে তা করে না। যত টাকা আর সম্পদ তত ‘সম্মান, ‘গুরুত্ব’,

‘স্ট্যাটাস’, আর ‘নিরাপত্তা’ - এটাই আজকের সমাজের প্রচলিত ধারণা জীবনের সফলতার।

এবার থামুন এবং চিন্তা করুন

প্রকৃতপক্ষে আমরা যারা এই ধান্ধা কালচারের মধ্যে পুরোপুরি ডুবে আছি তারা কিন্তু খুব বেশী চিন্তা-ভাবনা করে এটা গ্রহণ করিনি। জীবনের সফলতার এই ধারণাকে আমরা অন্ধভাবে গ্রহণ করেছি। কখনও প্রশ্ন করিনি এই ধারণাটি কি ঠিক না ভুল? বরং আমরা সমাজে আগে থেকেই যে সব ধান্ধা প্রচলিত আছে সেগুলোকে অন্ধভাবে অনুকরণ করছি মাত্র। আমরা সব সময় সমাজের বাকী লোকদের সাথে নিজেকে তুলনা করি এবং তাদের সাথে ধন সম্পদ উপার্জন আর ভোগ বিলাসের প্রতিযোগিতায় লিপ্ত হই। কিন্তু কখনও জানতেও চেষ্টা

করিনা আমাদের সমাজের লোকদের এই চিন্তা ও কাজ কতটুকু যুক্তিযুক্ত?

জীবন ধরে শুধুমাত্র বস্তুগত ও ইন্দ্রিয় সুখের(organic need and instinctual pleasure) জন্য একটার পর একটা ধান্ধার পেছনে ছুটে চলবে, একজন বিবেকবান মানুষের কাছে এটা কখনই গ্রহণযোগ্য হতে পারে না। আমরা দেখি মানুষের চেয়ে অনেক বড় এবং শক্তিশালী প্রাণীদেরকেও মানুষ পোষ মানায় এবং নিজের কাজে ব্যবহার করে। ফলে মানুষ পৃথিবীতে শাসন করে, প্রাণীরা নয়। মানুষের মধ্যে একটি বিশেষ গুণ থাকার কারণেই মানুষ এটা করতে পারে আর তা হলো তার নিজ ও তার চারপাশের জগতকে নিয়ে চিন্তা করার ক্ষমতা।

মানুষকে অবশ্যই এই ক্ষমতাকে ব্যবহার করতে হবে এবং তার চারপাশের জগত, তার নিজের জীবন এবং অস্তিত্ব নিয়ে চিন্তা-ভাবনা করতে হবে। শুধুমাত্র খাওয়া দাওয়া ভোগ বিলাস আর সন্তান জন্ম দিয়ে পশুর মত সমস্ত জীবন কাটিয়ে দেয়া মানুষের কাজ হতে পারেনা। তাকে অবশ্যই জীবনের মৌলিক প্রশ্নগুলোর ব্যাপারে সঠিক জ্ঞান লাভ করতে হবে।

সে কিভাবে কোথা থেকে এ পৃথিবীতে এসেছে? তার জীবনের উদ্দেশ্য কি? এই জীবনের পরে কি ঘটবে?

ইসলাম মানুষকে তার জীবনের মৌলিক প্রশ্নাবলী নিয়ে চিন্তা-ভাবনা করার তাগিদ দেয়। পবিত্র কোরআনের শত শত আয়াতে মানুষকে তার চারপাশের বাস্তব জগতকে মনোযোগের সাথে পর্যবেক্ষণ করার জন্য উপদেশ দেয়া হয়েছে। বিশ্বজগত তথা সূর্য, গ্রহ, নক্ষত্র, দিনরাত্রির আবর্তন, প্রাণীকূল, বৃক্ষরাজি, বিভিন্ন বর্ণের মানুষ ও তাদের মুখের ভাষা ইত্যাদি হাজারো বিষয় নিয়ে চিন্তা-গবেষণা করে এদের মধ্যেকার জটিল সুনিপুণ ব্যবস্থাপনাকে বিবেচনা করে আল্লাহ মানুষকে চরম সত্যে উপনীত হবার জন্য আহবান করছেন।

কোরআনে আয়াতের পর আয়াতে আল্লাহ সুবহানাহু ওয়া তা’আলা মানুষকে মূক, বধির ও অন্ধের মত নিজের চারপাশে ঘটমান বাস্তবতাকে উপেক্ষা না করার জন্য সতর্ক করে দিয়েছেন।

“নিশ্চয়ই আকাশ ও পৃথিবীর সৃষ্টিতে, দিবারাত্রির আবর্তনে নিদর্শন রয়েছে সেই সব মানুষদের জন্য যারা চিন্তাশীল।” (সূরা আলি ইমরান:১৯০)

“এবং তার নিদর্শনের মধ্যে রয়েছে আকাশ ও পৃথিবী, তোমাদের ভাষা ও বর্ণের বৈচিত্র; অবশ্যই এসব কিছুই নিদর্শন সেই সব লোকদের জন্য যারা জ্ঞানী।” (সূরা আর রূম:২২)

ইসলাম পৌরাণিক কল্পকাহিনী কিংবা মানুষের চিন্তাপ্রসূত কুসংস্কারের উপর গড়ে ওঠা কোন জীবনব্যবস্থা নয়। অনুমান অথবা অন্ধ ধারণা নির্ভর তত্ত্বের কোন স্থান ইসলামে নেই। মহান স্রষ্টা আল্লাহর অস্তিত্ব এবং তার সর্বশেষ পয়গম্বর হিসাবে হযরত মুহাম্মদ (সা:) এর নবুওয়তের বুদ্ধিগ্রাহ্য সুনিশ্চিত প্রমাণসহই ইসলামকে পরিপূর্ণ জীবনব্যবস্থা হিসাবে মানব জাতির সামনে উপস্থাপন করা হয়েছে। আল্লাহ সুবহানাহু ওয়া তা’আলা আমাদেরকে সতর্ক করেছেন যে আমাদের এই জীবনটাই সবকিছু নয়। মৃত্যুর পর আরও একটি জীবন আছে যেখানে আমাদেরকে এই জীবনের সকল কাজের জবাবদিহি করতে হবে। এটা একটা সুনিশ্চিত বিষয়।

আজকের দিনে আমাদের পছন্দ-অপছন্দ, যা আমরা করি এবং করিনা আর যে সব ধান্ধায় আমরা দিনরাত ডুবে থাকি এসবই এসেছে আমাদের সমাজের প্রচলিত চিন্তাহীন প্রবৃত্তি(instinct) নিয়ন্ত্রিত সংস্কৃতি থেকে। আমাদের পরিণতি শেষ পর্যন্ত কি হবে, আমরা যা নিয়ে ব্যস্ত তা আমাদেরকে বাস্তবে কতটা রক্ষা করতে পারে এবং পারবে এসব নিয়ে সুস্থ মস্তিষ্কে চিন্তা-ভাবনা করিনা বলেই আজকে আমরা এসব তুচ্ছ ধান্ধার পেছনে অন্ধ উম্মাদের মত ছুটে চলেছি। দাসত্ব করছি আমাদের নিজের খেয়াল খুশী কিংবা অন্য মানুষের চিন্তা ও ইচ্ছার।

ইসলাম এসেছে মানুষকে মানুষের দাসত্ব থেকে মুক্ত করে শুধুমাত্র আল্লাহর দাসত্বে নিয়োজিত করার জন্য। আল্লাহ সুবহানাহু ওয়া তা’আলা মানুষের জীবনের প্রকৃত উদ্দেশ্য সম্পর্কে বলেন,

“পার্থিব জীবনতো ক্রিড়া-কৌতুক ব্যতিত কিছুই নয়, যারা সাবধানতা অবলম্বন করে (আল্লাহর ব্যাপারে) তাদের জন্য রয়েছে পরকালে উত্তম প্রতিদান। তবুও কি তোমরা বুঝবে না।” (আল কোরআন-০৬:৩২)

ইসলামে যদিও বা আল্লাহর দাসত্ব করে মহান স্রষ্টার সন্তুষ্টি অর্জনকেই মানব জীবনের একমাত্র উদ্দেশ্য হিসাবে নির্দিষ্ট করা হয়েছে তারপরেও মানুষের মৌলিক চাহিদা এবং প্রবৃত্তিকে কখনও অস্বীকার করা হয়নি। কিন্তু তাই বলে সব ধরণের কামনা বাসনার যথেচ্ছা পূরণই মানবজীবনের উদ্দেশ্য(objective of life) হতে পারেনা।

আজকের সমাজে ইসলামকে বিশেষ কিছু আচার অনুষ্ঠানের সমষ্টি বলে মনে করা হচ্ছে । আমরা যে বিশ্বাস লালন করি তা আমাদের মধ্যে কোন চিন্তা-ভাবনা, বিচার-বিবেচনার মাধ্যমে আসেনি, আমরা আমাদের পূর্বপুরুষদের অনুকরণ করছি মাত্র। ফলে সারাদিনে বা সারা সপ্তাহে দু’একবার কিছু শব্দ উচ্চারণের মধ্যেই সীমাবদ্ধ থাকছে আমাদের ইসলাম যার সাথে আমাদের দৈনন্দিন কার্যাবলীর কোন সম্পর্ক নেই। আল্লাহ, রাসূল (সা:), আখিরাত, জান্নাত, জাহান্নাম - এ বিষয় গুলো আমাদের সমাজের লোকদের কাছে অনেক দূরব বিষয়। কারও কারও কাছে দূর অতীতের ইতিহাস বা গল্প মাত্র। তারা মনে করে এগুলোকে গুরুত্ব দেয়া বা না দেয়া যার যার ব্যক্তিগত বিষয়; দৈনন্দিন, সামাজিক, অর্থনৈতিক কার্যাবলীর ক্ষেত্রে এসব বিষয় টেনে আনা অপ্রাসঙ্গিক। ফলে প্রতি শুক্রবারে (friday muslim)আমরা যে দলে দলে মসজিদে যাই কিংবা লক্ষ লক্ষ মানুষ রমজানে(ramadan muslim) রোযা রাখে তার কোন প্রভাব বা প্রতিক্রিয়া সমাজে প্রতিফলিত হয়না। অনেক ক্ষেত্রে আমরা জানিও না কিংবা প্রশ্নও করিনা বছরের পর বছর ধরে এসব আচার অনুষ্ঠান কেনইবা আমরা পালন করছি। যার ফলে আমরা পরিণত হয়েছি ‘মডারেট ফ্রাইডে মুসলিম’ এ। আসলে আমাদের জীবন চলে আমাদের নিজের ধান্ধা নিয়ন্ত্রণে, ইসলামের সাথে যার কোন সম্পর্কই নেই।

এখন সময় এসেছে আমাদের প্রকৃত অবস্থা নিয়ে চিন্তা-ভাবনা করার। আমাদের নিজেদেরকে প্রশ্ন করা উচিত কেন আমরা আমাদের ধান্ধাগুলোর পেছনে এরকম অন্ধ উম্মাদের মত ছুটে চলেছি। আমরা কি আমাদের জীবন ও মৃত্যুকে পাল্টে দিতে পারি? আমরা কি অমর হতে পারব? আমরা যদি আরও বেশী ধন সম্পদ জড়ো করি তাহলে কি মৃত্যুকে ঠেকাতে পারব? অবশ্যই উত্তর হচ্ছে - না। আল্লাহ সুবহানাহু ওয়া তা’আলা বলেন,

“অবশ্যই প্রত্যেক আত্মাকেই মৃত্যুর স্বাদ গ্রহন করতে হবে।” (সূরা আলি ইমরান:১৮৫)

আসুন আমরা এখন থেকেই ইসলামকে বুদ্ধি বিবেচনা ব্যবহার করে জানতে চেষ্টা করি এবং সে অনুযায়ী আমাদের জীবন ও সমাজকে পরিচালনা করতে শুরু করি। এটা আমাদের ব্যক্তিস্বত্ত্বার মধ্যে স্বাভাবিকতা ফিরিয়ে আনবে এবং সমাজের শান্তি ও নিরাপত্তা নিশ্চিত করবে। আল্লাহ সুবহানাহু ওয়া তা’আলা বলেন,

“হে মানুষ, কিসে তোমাকে তোমার মহামহিম পালনকর্তা সম্পর্কে বিভ্রান্ত করল?” (সূরা আল ইনফিতার:০৬)