Saturday, 3 January 2009

Street demonstrations for Palestine

In the name of Allaah, most merciful, bestower of mercy.

As-Salaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullaah,

My respected Muslim brothers and sisters, may Allaah shower you with His mercy. We advise all of you to avoid any form of street demonstrations taking place anywhere. They are not from the means of rectification of the hardships that befall the Ummah. Rather, as Shaikh Muhammad ibn Umar al-Bazmool stated, demonstrations are not from the means of rectification, not from the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wassallam) and nor from the sunnah of the righteous predecessors. The major scholars have spoken against partaking in demonstrations – the likes of Shaikhs Ibn Baaz, Ibn al-Uthaimeen, al-Albaanee and al-Fawzaan. Demonstrations are not considered as being from the means of da'wah nor jihaad as the scholars have explained. So beware and warn the muslims from participating in this futile act that is not from the Islamic religion.



As for what you can and should do, then please read this advice of Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan:


Question: Noble Shaikh, there have come many questions asking about the position a Muslim should take with regard to what is going on with our brothers in Palestine, with respect to supplicating (for them), giving them money or making Jihad with them.

Answer: What is obligatory for the Muslim is that he make du'aa (supplicate) for his Muslim brothers, and assist them with money. He should aid them with money and supplication. This is what is obligatory on them and this is what will benefit them (i.e. the Palestinians).

Question: May Allaah reward you O Shaikh, the next questioner is asking: What is the ruling on demonstrating. Is it considered Jihad in the Cause of Allaah?

Answer: There is no benefit in demonstrations – it is just commotion. It is from the types of disorder. How will it cause harm to the enemy if the people go out and demonstrate in one of the streets, raising their voices? Rather, this is from the things that will only make the enemy pleased and happy. Thus he will say: "This has harmed and hurt them." So the enemy will rejoice.

Islaam is a religion of tranquility and calmness; it is a religion of knowledge. It is not a religion of clamor and commotion. It is a religion that strives to achieve tranquility and calmness, while at the same time, (encourages) doing deeds that are of benefit and praise, such as providing support for the Muslims, supplicating for them and providing them with money and weapons. This is praiseworthy. And also (what is beneficial is) arguing on their behalf to the various countries that the oppression they are in be uplifted and requesting from these countries, which claim to have democracy, that these Muslims be given their due rights. And the humanitarian rights is what these people boast so much about. However, according to them the only human is the disbeliever, whereas the Muslim in their eyes is not a human being – he is a terrorist! They call the Muslims terrorists! And the human being that has (humanitarian) rights, to them, is the disbeliever!

So the Muslims must follow and adhere to the methodology Islaam has prescribed with regard to these occurrences and other situations. Islaam did not come with demonstrations and shouting and raising the voices out loud. It did not prescribe destroying property or committing violations. All of this is not part of Islaam. Yes… Nor does this bring about any benefit. This only causes harm to the Muslims and it does not harm the enemy. This only harms the Muslims and it does not harm their enemy. In fact, their enemy rejoices at this and says (to himself): "I have affected them", "I have made them angry" and "I have influenced them." Question and Answer session on Paltalk

Also please go to this very beneficial article from our brothers at Troid.org


Abu Khadijah Abdul-Waahid

Portal site:
www.salaf.com

9 comments:

Empress Anisa said...

Sister, you've been tagged:
http://thebarefootempress.blogspot.com/2009/01/10-random-things-about-me-oh-boy.html

julaybiba said...

interesting point....unfortunately i do disagree..for reasons only known to myself...in any case, the Masjid here in Chicago actually helps organize the demonstrations. All buses leave from its location and under its supervision. The Sheiks here encourage us to attend, and they also attend themselves and with their families.

Inspired Muslimah said...

Nice post sis, I will check this website insha'allah.

Anonymous said...

ASA. I disagree too. Because we have scholars who are encouraging us to attend and it is our duty to put our voice against injustice. I do believe that is one of the Prophet's sayings. To just not voice or do action is frowned upon I believe from what I read in the hadith. Like my hubby says there are sheikhs and than there are satanic sheikhs.

Anonymous said...

i think sometimes ppl think they are helping with demonstrations otherwise feel helpless. I used to go on them, but dont now, purely for the fact I dont think it makes any difference and would rather donate and do duas. But it does bring ppl together muslim and non muslim and makes them more united...

Naimah said...

Assalamu 'alaykum sister, Thanks for the comment.

The situation in Palestine right now is devestating, I find when I watch the news or read about what's going on I feel so emotional and frustrated that the palestinian people are being treated in this way. You want to help sooo bad, but there's only so much we can do. First should be to make du', and also to give aid.

Myself I prefer to stay away from protests etc.. my reasons being, that this is not something the prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam and his companions(may Allaah have mercy upon them)used to do, also scholars such as sh.ibn baz, sh al-albani etc..(may Allaah have mercy upon them) have spoken out about participating in them for good reasons.
Allaah knows best if these protests have any effect on situations like this, and in them there will be mixing of the sexes, and at times people get hurt.

Allaah knows best.

Naimah said...

Gem - Wa alaykum assalam, Thanks for dropping by, with regards to the protesting people are always going to differ on whether we are allowed to participate or not.
As this is something not done by our prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallaam, and his companions may Allaah have mercy upon them,ameen, then I would prefer to stay away from it, and be clear of doubt insha Allaaah. Besides I don't think it's the best environment for a muslim woman to be in, with the mixing, and the risk of trouble also. And Allaah knows best.

Inspired Muslimah - Jazakillaahu khairan sis. Masha'Allaah it's a good website.

Anonymous- Welcome to my blog. I know what you mean, when things like this happen, you can feel so helpless, and don't want to seem as though your just sitting watching and doing nothing. It is nice though to see muslims and non-muslims come together and feel so passionate about a certain cause, and the want for peace.

SalafiMujahid said...

Muslims demonstrating in support of their Palestinian brothers

The Muslim community here in southern Sweden has decided to hold a demonstration of solidarity with the Palestinian people. The demonstration will be peaceful, aimed at conveying the voice of the Muslims to the Swedish government, to put pressure on them to stop the massacres of the children of the Palestinian people. What is the ruling on such demonstrations? We would like to inform you that these demonstrations will play a great role and be very effective in conveying the views of the Muslims to the politicians, to put pressure on the Zionist government to put a stop to the massacres of the children in Palestine. Please advise us, may Allaah reward you with good.

Praise be to Allaah.

There is nothing wrong with the Muslim community in Sweden protesting in order to reduce the pressure on the Muslims in Palestine and to draw the attention of the Swedish people and government to the crimes which the Jews are committing against the Muslims in Palestine, and using all effective and Islamically-acceptable means of doing so.
But demonstrations may involve a number of things which are forbidden in sharee’ah, so it is essential to guard against them. These include:

women going out wearing adornment and make-up; using music in the demonstration; shouting slogans that are incorrect, such as “al-Quds (Jerusalem) is Arab and will remain Arab” (in fact, al-Quds is Islamic and is not for the Arabs only); stopping the demonstration in front of a kaafir’s tomb and placing bouquets of flowers on his grave; begging the kaafirs for help by using phrases that are humiliating to the Muslims; holding up pictures or effigies of people; doing wrong to others such as blocking the road or preventing people from passing by; using slanderous and insulting words that are not permitted in sharee’ah; men and women mixing during the demonstration; imitating the kuffaar in any of their unique characteristics such as clothing or symbols that the demonstrators may wear; committing acts of aggression against the property of innocent people, such as destroying their shops or breaking their windows, or starting fires in public facilities, and other haraam actions. And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
Fatwa: 11469

Naimah said...

Allaah knows best.