Repercussions of Destroying the Khilafah

The month of Rajab gives us an opportunity to reflect on the obligation (fardiyah) of the Khilafah. Recent events - such as the Chinese persecution of Uighurs, France's attack on the Islamic dress code, America's assault on Afghanistan/Pakistan, and the siege of Palestine - point to the dire need of the Khilafah Rashida: the Islamic State that will rule by what Allah سبحانه وتعالى has revealed and bring peace, justice, and security to the Ummah and all of humanity.


Next week on the 28th of Rajab, the Ummah will mark the 88th anniversary of the Khilafah's destruction. Since the abolishment of the Khilafah in 1342/1924, the Ummah has been subject to the dictates of the disbelieving colonial powers. These powers continue to rule the Muslim lands through their proxies and agent rulers. Also, many European states have increasingly shown their open hostility to the Muslims who reside there. In this issue, we explore some current news items and remind the Ummah that we are under constant threat. The only solution for the Ummah is to re-establish the Khilafah Rashida based on the political and intellectual method of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم.

Somalia: 3.5 Million Muslims on the Edge
As reported in the Irish Times, "At least 3.5 million Somalians [sic] are now on the edge of a precipice, without access to food, health services or basic security". The author also noted that under the Union of Islamic Courts, the country enjoyed "rule of law and a good level of general security for the ordinary population". However, that changed when America sent in Ethiopia to overthrow the Islamic Courts. Since then, fighting has continued between the current "transitional federal government" led by Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and "Al-Shabab" who are fighting to restore Islamic rule in Somalia. In response, to the continued pressure from the Muslims, the US has sent weapons to the weakening Sharif's regime to thwart a takeover by those Muslims that seek to rule by what Allah سبحانه وتعالى has revealed. An unnamed US official told the Washington Post that "A decision was made at the highest level to ensure the government does not fall and that everything is done to strengthen government security forces to counter the rebels". The official also noted that the shipment of weapons and ammunition arrived this month in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

Muslims in France and Germany under Assault
In Europe, the Muslim Ummah saw the move to ban the burqa and witnessed the brutal murder of a pregnant Muslim sister in a German courtroom. In France, President Sarkozy stated that "The burka is not a sign of religion, it is a sign of subservience," he told members of both parliamentary houses gathered for his speech. He went on to say that "It will not be welcome on the territory of the French republic." His comments followed an appeal last week by 65 French MPs for a parliamentary commission to examine whether Muslim women who cover themselves fully in public undermine women's rights and France's secular tradition. These MPs included representatives from a number of parties, including the Communists and Sarkozy's own UMP. The call won instant support from members of Mr Sarkozy's centre-Right government, but was opposed by the Socialists (the main opposition party). This is not the first time the French government has lamented over the Muslimah's dress code. In 2004, the country passed a controversial law forbidding women from wearing of the hijab (head scarf) in state schools and government offices. It is ironic that France claims to be the "champion" of religious freedom and tolerance, and yet this very notion is forgotten when applied to Muslims living in France.

In Germany, Marwa al-Sherbini was brutally stabbed in a German courtroom 18 times. Instead of the police intervening to protect her, they shot and critically wounded her husband who was trying to defend her! In Germany - as in France and other European countries - the anti-Muslim sentiment has been on the rise in the last decade. Therefore, it is not surprising that such a murder would happen; given that such a climate of hatred exists.

China: Muslim riot in response to June killings
In June, a mob of Han Chinese singled out and killed two Muslim (Uighur) workers in the city of Shaoguan in southern Guangdong province. The incident resulted in clashes between Uighur Muslims and the Han Chinese, including Chinese security forces in Urumqi, the capital of occupied East Turkistan (known by the Chinese as "Xinjiang").

Chinese officials claim 156 people - mostly ethnic Han Chinese - died in Sunday's violence. Uighur groups state many more died and that most of the dead were Uighurs. On Tuesday about 200 Uighur women faced off against riot police to appeal for more than 1,400 people arrested over Sunday's violence to be freed. Later, hundreds of Han Chinese marched through the streets of Urumqi smashing shops and stalls belonging to the Muslims.

Since April 1996, some 57,000 Uighur Muslims had been arrested and about 1,700 of them executed. The Chinese government also stepped up a crackdown on ‘unauthorized' religious activity. China's summary execution of 30 Muslims in February 1997 was particularly brutal. Such arrests are only one tool out of many that the Chinese authorities have been using to suppress Muslims and Islam. They have also publicly burned and banned the Quran. They specifically call for the abolition of Islamic practices and prohibit Muslims from learning the Uighur language (which uses the Arabic script). The Chinese authorities continue to pursue a policy of resettlement to dilute the Muslim population in East Turkistan by populating the region with Han Chinese. Back in 1949 the Han Chinese constituted a mere 2-3% of the total population. Now they represent around 50% of the population and control most businesses.

Pakistan & Afghanistan: American Operations Intensify
In Afghanistan, the US occupying forces launched a large ground operation involving attack helicopters, tanks and 4,000 US Marines. The assault was launched in coordination with 2 unmanned drone attacks - that took off from Pakistan - which killed 115 people. Furthermore, the Pakistani government authorized air strikes that killed 24 people in northwest Swat region and South Waziristan. This is in addition to the Pakistani government using its army to do America's dirty work, which has resulted in the displacement of 2 million people. The coordination between America and the Pakistani government is working to squeeze the Muslims resisting the US led occupation. What is clear from the situation in Afghanistan is that America cannot subjugate Muslims without the assistance of the traitor Muslim governments, such as the Zardari regime in Pakistan. The pattern that America has used in Pakistan is of course no different than what she did in Iraq - relying on the neighboring countries (e.g. Iran, Syria, etc) to undermine the resistance.

The Siege of Palestine: A Slow Excruciating Death
Eight months have passed since Israel started its latest round of massacring Muslims in Gaza. Although the bombs have stopped falling - and the media has stopped paying attention - the Massacre in Gaza continues. However, instead of bombs, Israel is using a deadly siege to squeeze the life out of the people of the area. For example, as the people cannot access building materials, they must use tents as makeshift shelters. As filmed in a documentary aired by the UK's Guardian, fathers must stay up all night to protect their family and children from being eaten by wild animals! As any objective observer would clearly see, the true brutality in Palestine lies in the day-to-day reality of being occupied by Israel, which includes waiting hours upon hours at checkpoints, watching helplessly as Israel comes in and bulldozes one's homes, watching in horror as the Israeli army uproots olive trees (which is often the only source of sustenance one has), or being subject to house raids in the middle of the night. As was documented by in the news show "60 Minutes", Israeli troops can arbitrarily take up residence in a Muslim's house and use it as a temporary post of operation.

The situation of Muslims in Palestine is particularly apt in highlighting the absence of the Khilafah. Muslims ruled the land continuously from the time of Umar bin Al-Khattab (ra) until the crusaders occupied it. The call to liberate Al-Quds was received by Salahuddin Ayubbi (rh) who fought bravely and, by Allah's سبحانه وتعالى leave, liberated the land once again. Then Islamic rule continued under the Uthmanis. However, the Uthmani Khilafah declined in power to a point where it was encumbered by debt. The Zionist movement attempted to take advantage of the Khilafah's weak situation by offering to buy the land. But what was the response of our Khaleefah, Sultan Abdul Hamid (rh)? Did he get on the next train to London and engorge himself on the coffers of Europe as the rulers do today? No, he most certainly did not! Instead, he refused to even meet with the head of the Zionist movement and told them that the land was soaked with the blood of the mujahideen and shuhuda and therefore was too precious to be traded for the wealth of this world. Such leadership, unfortunately, cannot be found in any of the 50+ governments that rule the Muslim Ummah today.

May Allah سبحانه وتعالى help us resume the Islamic way of life through the re-establishment of the Khilafah Rashidah according to the intellectual and political method of RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم. May Allah سبحانه وتعالى allow the future generations to grow under its shade, protected from occupation and oppression.

وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُم فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّن بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا
"Allah has promised such of you who believe and do good deeds that He will surely make them to succeed (the present rulers) in the earth even as He caused those before them to succeed (others); and He will surely establish for them their religion which He has approved for them, and will give in exchange safety after their fear". [An-Nur24:55]