Press Release
Hizb ut Tahrir Calls for the Liberation of the Lands of Muslims from Colonialism

Hizb ut Tahrir has become the subject of societal debate within the influential circles of Pakistan. The debate includes whether the Shariah treatments to the problems that Hizb ut Tahrir presents should be implemented to escape the many crises that Pakistan faces. There is active discussion about Hizb ut Tahrir itself, including its ban in Pakistan and the harsh stance against it in terms of persecution, harassment and imprisonment. In the interest of productive debate, the following points are for consideration by the influential in general and the policy makers, journalists, human rights organizations and the legal fraternity in particular.

Firstly: Hizb ut Tahrir (the Liberation Party) calls for the liberation (tahrir) of the lands of Muslims from colonialism. The word ‘tahrir’ in Arabic denotes liberation or emancipation from slavery. Hizb ut Tahrir calls for the liberation (tahrir) of Muslim Lands from the thoughts, systems and rulings of the colonialists, as well as liberation from the dominance and influence of colonialist states.

The Hizb works for the liberation and revival of Muslims is by raising the Muslims intellectually. This is by generating the correct thoughts and concepts of Islam within the Muslims. As such, Hizb ut Tahrir is a political party, whose ideology is Islam. Hizb ut Tahrir was established in response to the following verse of the Noble Quran,

[وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ]

“There must arise from among you a group (or groups) that invites to all that is good (al-khair), commands all that is right (al-ma’roof) and forbids all that is evil (al-munkar). Those are the successful ones.” [TMQ Surah Aali Imran 3:104]. So why should Hizb ut Tahrir not be allowed to call for the liberation of Muslim lands from colonialism?

Secondly, Hizb ut Tahrir rejects the economic colonialization of the lands of Muslims. The Hizb asserts that the method of taking foreign loans for financing is dangerous for any country. In the past, loans were a means for the direct colonialization of a country. Today, loans are a key method for extending influence and dominance over countries. The loans are on interest, throwing the country into a deep debt trap. Then colonialist financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, impose conditions which worsen the economic conditions. The conditions allow foreign companies to exploit raw materials and dominate the local markets with their high value goods. The conditions restrict industry to producing low value goods for foreign markets. The conditions enforce the privatization of state industry and public property like oil and electricity, depriving the state treasury of funds.

Organizations like the International Monetary Fund are tools in the hands of major powers, especially America, which exploit them to achieve their own interests. They are a means to generate the influence of the colonialists over the Muslims and their lands. This is not allowed according to Shariah law, because the Shariah principle states الوَسِيْلَةُ إِلَى الحَرَامِ مُحَرَّمَةٌ “the means to what is forbidden is forbidden.” Hizb ut Tahrir calls for the implementation of the Islamic Shariah rulings regarding economy in order to end economic colonialization. So why should Hizb ut Tahrir not be allowed to call for the end of economic colonialization in the lands of Muslims?

Thirdly, Hizb ut Tahrir rejects the military colonialization of the lands of Muslims. The Hizb asserts that it is not allowed to conclude military agreements with colonialist states, such as mutual defense agreements, mutual security agreements, and any military facilitation related to that, such as leasing military bases, airports, or ports. It is also not permitted to seek assistance (isti’aanah) from colonialist states, and their armies.

Hizb ut Tahrir politically opposes military colonialization on the basis of Islam. The Messenger (saw) forbade Muslims from seeking assistance (isti’aanah) from kafir states, since he forbade seeking light from the fire of the mushrikeen, as he said, «لاَ تَسْـتَضِـيئُوا بـِنَارِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ» “Do not seek light from the fire of the mushrikeen.” [Narrated by Ahmad]. Fire is a kinayah (metonym) for war. The Messenger (saw) also said,

«فَإِنَّا لاَ نَسْـتَعِينُ بـِمُـشْـرِكٍ»

“We do not seek assistance from a mushrik.” [Sahih Ibn Hibban]. So why should Hizb ut-Tahrir not be allowed to call for the end of the military colonialization in the lands of Muslims?

Fourthly, Hizb ut Tahrir rejects the political colonialization of the lands of Muslims. After the destruction of the Khilafah at the hands of the colonialist powers, the lands of Muslims were divided into over fifty small states, as part of a divide and rule policy. The Hizb asserts Muslims are a distinct Ummah apart from other people. It is obligatory that the Muslims are as a single unit, in a single state, as a single entity. It is obligatory that work is done for the unification of all of the lands of Muslims within a single state, under the Khilafah state.

Hizb ut Tahrir calls for the political unification of the lands of Muslims on the basis of Islam. It is stated in the Noble Quran,

[وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا]

“Hold fast to the rope of Allah and do not be divided.” [TMQ Surah Aali Imran 3: 103]. The Prophet (saw) stated,

«يَا أَيُّها النَّاسُ أَلا إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ وَاحِدٌ، وَإِنَّ أَباكُمْ وَاحِدٌ، أَلا لا فَضْلَ لِعَرَبِيٍّ على عَجَمِيٍّ، وَلا لِعَجَمِيٍّ عَلَى عَرَبِيٍّ، وَلَا أَحْمَرَ عَلَى أَسْوَدَ، ولا أَسْوَدَ على أَحْمَرَ، إِلَّا بِالتَّقْوَى»

“O humankind, indeed your Lord is one, and your original forefather is one. Indeed, neither the Arab has superiority over the non-Arab, nor the non-Arab over the Arab, nor the white over the black, nor the black over the white, except by piety.” [Ahmad]. So why should Hizb ut-Tahrir not be allowed to call for the political unification of the lands of Muslims?

Fifthly, Hizb ut Tahrir rejects the cultural colonialization of the lands of the Muslims. After the destruction of the Khilafah (Caliphate), the colonialists designed the curriculums and syllabuses for education from the view point of their ideology, capitalism. It is the ideology of separating religion from the state, and separating religion from life, as per “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” Based on that, the human being is the one who establishes his own system for life.

Hizb ut Tahrir’s rejection of the cultural colonialization of the lands of the Muslims is based on the viewpoint of Islam. In Islam, Allah (swt) is the Legislator and He alone established the system for humans, and made the state part of the Shariah rulings of Islam. In Shariah, a Muslim is required to perform all actions according to the Shariah rulings. The Noble Quran states,

[فَلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ]

“So, no, by your Lord, they will not believe (in truth) until they make you the judge in all disputes between them.” [TMQ Surah An-Nisaa 4:65]. So why should Hizb ut-Tahrir not be allowed to call for the end of cultural colonialization in the lands of Muslims?

In conclusion, Hizb ut Tahrir is a political party whose ideology is Islam. It confines its work to political and intellectual actions, in adherence of the method with which the Prophet (saw) carried the Dawah in Makkah. All of its political and intellectual stances are upon the basis of Islam. It works to end all forms of colonialism in the lands of Muslims. It works for the unification of the lands of the Muslims under the Islamic ruling system, the Khilafah. In the interest of an honest and productive debate, the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Pakistan extends a warm invitation to anyone who would like further information about Hizb ut Tahrir.

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Wilayah Pakistan