We Cannot Allow Any Obstacles to Keep Us from Succeeding in Our True Vision for Change

What is becoming clearer as the days, months, and years pass us by, is that the current political structure–secular capitalism–is not built to take care of people, or create a society in which there is tranquility and security. In the West, we see the outcomes of its laws–racism, misogyny, rape, internal manufactured violence, poverty, huge income disparities, depravity, etc. We all know very well the outcome of the West’s foreign policies–endless wars, rape, poverty, stolen resources, divisions, and political interference and absolutely no political autonomy.

The Epstein files, even though not fully released and heavily redacted, shines a light on just how abhorrent and hypocritical Western civilization is. In every facet–liberal and conservative politicians, royalty, academics, and business giants–the moral degradation of the elite has been exposed. While they project the so-called liberal values on the rest of the world, often times as an excuse to violently enter the country, or impose harsh laws that financially bind it, they are committing the same heinous crimes at home. While we have known for decades that they starve, sexually abuse, torture, and kill the populations abroad with impunity, we are just now finding out that the elite have a very well managed routine process where children and women are trafficked, abused, and silenced. There are institutions, lawyers, and networks that manage risks to protect reputations–which expose how Western systems often contain scandal and sustain control rather than ensure justice and protection, especially of societies that are most vulnerable. The swamp is bigger and deeper than anyone could have imagined. Western civilization is morally, economically, and politically corrupt.

The question now might be how can we still have obstacles standing in our way when it comes to delivering the vision for change?  While it should be a catalyst for the ummah to move towards establishing the only system that can bring true change–the Islamic Khilafah–we still find ourselves believing that the vision is too radical, too frightening, or it is better to work within the current political framework.

These thoughts are still permeating the minds of the Muslims, maybe more so Muslims living in the West, even though we are currently witnessing the decline of the American Empire and the cries of the oppressed are heard from every corner of the world.

Let us take a look at why we should change the way we view the world and how that will assist in realizing the true vision for a successful change, like looking at how the Prophet (saw) led the Sahaba (ra) to success without compromising on Islam until they were able to establish the state in Madinah with full conviction in Allah (swt). If we compare the society at that time to the time we are currently living in, we can see that it is pretty similar. There was a lot of fitna happening in the society, Muslims were being harshly and unfairly treated, they were expected to compromise in order to fit in with the status quo, and there were super powers of the day that had much more in terms of money, technology and human resources. The Prophet (saw), though, never accepted to become a politician, or leader in the political system of the Quraysh, or any of the other empires at the time. In fact, when he was offered the role of being a leader within the Quraysh that along with it would come power, money, and women if he gave up the path of Islam, the Prophet (saw) replied,

«والله لو وضعوا الشمس في يميني، والقمر في يساري، على أن أترك هذا الأمر، ما تركته حتى يُظهره الله أو أهلك دونه»

“By Allah, if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left on condition that I abandon this course, until Allah has made me victorious, or I perish therein, I would not abandon it.”

He (saw) did not for a moment think that by being a part of or sending a Sahabi (ra) to join a political structure that was not Islam would in some way change the society. Instead, he (saw) and the Sahaba (ra) remained steadfast and tolerated much abuse spreading the message of Allah (swt) until the day the nusrah (victory) came from the tribes of the Aws and the Khazraj. Once this happened, the foundation of the state of Islam, that fully implemented the shariah of Allah (swt), was established for the first time. Imagine now, the radical change that took place in the society where tribal affiliation once surpassed justice and the abuse of women and the poor was rife to one where women and the poor were treated with respect and dignity and the justice of Allah (swt) surpassed anyone's tribal affiliation. It is in a manner such as this, that radical change can happen today, where the oppressed across the world will cry out in relief instead of pain.

With the political state of Islam fully rooted in Madinah, the Prophet Muhammed (saw), the Ansar, and the Muhajireen looked towards spreading the state through Arabia and beyond. Despite their small numbers compared to the Quraysh, the Romans and the Persians, they did not stop for fear of losing their lives or wealth, or that they could not open those lands to Islam because the enemies of Islam were just too powerful. Instead, they held firm on their belief in Allah (swt) and were sincere in their cause to spread Allah's (swt) message and rule over the world. It was with that sincerity and conviction that Allah (swt) gave them victory over the Quarysh in the Battle of Badr, the Persians in the Battle of Al-Qadisiyyah, and the Romans in the Battle of Yarmuk. Allah (swt) tells us in the Quran,

[أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَكَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُ مِن شَيْءٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَلِيمًا قَدِيرًا]

“Have they not travelled in the land and seen how was the end of those before them while they were stronger than these in power? And Allah is not such that any thing in the heavens or in the earth should escape Him; surely He is Knowing, Powerful.” [TMQ: Surah Al-Fatir: 44].

Surely this is a reminder for us, just as it was for the Sahaba (ra), Salahudeen Ayyubi when his militaries defeated the Crusaders, and Saifudeen Qutuz who led the military to defeat the once thought to be undefeatable Mongols, that there is no power mightier than Allah (swt). That no matter how advanced and dominant a country is, when Allah (swt) decrees its end, it can happen quickly. On the other hand, it is a reminder that when He (swt) decrees the victory of the believers over their enemy, there is no amount of political, economic, military or technological strength that can prevent it.

This includes the treacherous rulers of the Muslim lands and the wicked rulers of America, Europe, and beyond today. The viewpoint at which our beloved Prophet (saw), the Sahaba (ra), and the scholars and rulers of our honored past looked at the world through was that of Islam and only Islam. They did not fear the loss of their wealth, lives, or status, even though they may have felt frightened, they did not allow it to stop them because Allah (swt) reminds the believers,

[يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ انفِرُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ اثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى الأَرْضِ أَرَضِيتُم بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الآخِرَةِ فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الآخِرَةِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ]

“O believers! What is the matter with you that when you are asked to march forth in the cause of Allah, you cling firmly to ˹your˺ land?1 Do you prefer the life of this world over the Hereafter? The enjoyment of this worldly life is insignificant compared to that of the Hereafter.” [TMQ: Surah At-Tawba: 38]. And

[انْفِرُواْ خِفَافًا وَثِقَالاً وَجَاهِدُواْ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ]

“˹O believers!˺ March forth whether it is easy or difficult for you, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. That is best for you, if only you knew.” [TMQ: Surah At-Tawba:41].

The obstacles in our way are manufactured by Western propaganda and a vision that has been skewed by it. The truth is the ummah today has the manpower, military expertise, the intelligence, the material resources, and wealth. Now, we have to ensure that our Iman and Tawakkul in Allah (swt) is firmly in place as we take the lead to call out all the ills in the world that are a direct result of man-made political systems.

We need to remind our brothers in the Muslim armies that their duty and allegiance is to Allah (swt) and not the rulers that are subservient to America. They are obligated to Allah (swt) and the Ummah to free the oppressed and the occupied lands and establish His (swt) Shariah. We need to remind our scholars, community leaders, and bureaucrats in the West, as well as, those with positions of authority in the Muslim lands to pay close attention to what is happening in the world on the political front, view it from the lens of Islam, and seek to find solutions that emanate from the Quran and the Sunnah because they are the ones who have the influence over the ummah to guide them in the correct direction, so that, by the will of Allah (swt), Allah (swt) will grant us victory over the evil doers, so that we can replace the corrupt man-made system with the just system of Islam.