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REFLECT!!

Allah gave us as our responsibility the role of kalifah in this world. The primary role of the kalifah is to fight against the influence of shaitan. This obligation has three parts; we are to perfect ourselves according to the Will of Allah, we are to perfect all society according to the Will of Allah, and we are to perfect the physical environment according to the Will of Allah. Right now the Muslim ummah is not fulfilling this obligation.

In Islam there are obligations upon the individual and there are obligations upon the ummah. Every Muslim is responsible for fulfilling his or her own individual obligations. Responsibilities upon the ummah are usually fulfilled by only those among the ummah who specifically take on that responsibility. If those within the ummah who take on the responsibility successfully fulfill that obligation then it fulfills the requirement for all members of the ummah. If an obligation upon the whole ummah is not being fulfilled by those within the ummah who take on the responsibility then that obligation falls upon every member of the ummah until the obligation is successfully fulfilled.

You must know deeply in your heart that the influence of western secular materialism is the influence of shaitan. Western secular materialism takes us from our prayers, takes us from our Islamic culture, takes us from our Islamic economic system, takes us from our Islamic educational system, takes us from our Islamic values, turns our minds from Allah, and robs our children of an Islamic future. Western secular materialism gives us a society of crime, violence, drug abuse, alcoholism, prostitution, pornography, homosexuality, exploitation of people and resources, and reduces life to a meaningless exercise in futility. Western secular materialism creates in the minds of our children atheistic thought, disrespect for parents and elders, hopelessness, disregard for knowledge, and love of a debased animalistic lifestyle focused on only the crudest pleasures of the flesh. Do you not know this is exactly what shaitan most desires?

Thursday, June 30, 2016





DIVINE GIFTS IN THE LAST TEN DAYS OF RAMADAN




We are in a month of munificent goodness, great righteousness and abundant blessings. It is praised abundantly in the Noble Book of Allah The Almighty and the Hadeeths of His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). It is the month of the Quran and goodness, and the month when people return to their Lord in a unique and matchless manifestation of faith.

This month is granted a privilege that is not granted to any other month, which is ten blessed days – the last ten days when Allah The Almighty sends His bounty upon His slaves by saving them from Hell. Thus, we should make the best use of them by means of the following:
- Observing I’tikaaf (staying in seclusion for worship) in one of the two Holy Mosques or any other mosque if you cannot observe I’tikaaf in the two Holy Mosques. I’tikaaf is very important for those who devote themselves to the Lord and get rid of many endless worldly engagements. When someone observes I’tikaaf, he refrains from many issues in which he usually indulges. This is witnessed and widely known. If one cannot observe complete I’tikaaf, he should stay in one of the two mosques or spend long hours in it or in any other mosque.

- Reviving all or most of the night by prayers and Thikr (remembrance of Allah The Almighty). With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), used to keep his family awake for the prayers, pray all night and tighten his waist belt (i.e. did not approach women). Praying at night is a great opportunity for whoever is engaged in worldly affairs –the majority of people– and cannot perform Qiyaam (voluntary night prayer); so the least thing people can offer in the last ten days of Ramadan is increasing Qiyaam and reviving the night. It is very strange that some righteous people are in one of the two Holy Mosques but they do not pray except eight Rak‘ahs (units of prayer) depending upon some proofs. They have forgotten that the Companions and the predecessors performed long prayers with many Rak‘ahs and they were the first generation which knew Islam and applied its rulings in the best way. The state of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), was known to them, along with the interpretation and understanding of his noble Hadeeths in the nearest possible meanings and the best interpretations.

- We should not forget that the last ten days include a night that is the greatest night in the whole year namely the Night of Al-Qadr (Night of Divine Decree), which is better than a thousand months. How great is this divine bounty! The one who wastes it has wasted something great. The majority of Muslim scholars agree that this night is one of the odd nights in the last ten nights of Ramadan. Some scholars adopt the opinion that it is the night of the twenty-seventh day. Ubayy ibn Ka‘b, may Allah be pleased with him, swore that it is the night of the twenty-seventh day as mentioned in Saheeh Muslim.

- Increasing reading, reflecting on and understanding the Quran along with increasing Thikr. There is no doubt that these days are the right time for this.

- It is very strange that in spite of the great virtues and ample rewards, some people like to spend their vacations that coincide with the last ten days, abroad. Hence, they are deprived of great benefits. What they will do abroad except spending their time in picnics and recreation at a time when recreation is pointless? Rather, this time should be devoted to worship. A wise person is he who directs his capacities and time to benefit the most from these days of happiness.

- We should not forget in these ten days that we have brothers in the trenches of Jihaad (striving in the cause of Allah The Almighty). The enemies have surrounded them and they are suffering from great calamities. We should not forget them, even if the least we can do is to make sincere supplication from a heart devoted to Allah The Exalted and charity. In this way, we will be the first to win its reward. Lastly, we should not forget the poor and the needy, especially when ‘Eed is approaching

Friday, June 17, 2016




REPENTANCE IN RAMADAN




Allah Says (what means): “And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers that you might succeed” [Quran 24:31]
And also (what means): “O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance” [Quran 66:8] Therefore, repentance is not only requested from one who has committed a sin, but rather it is demanded from all people including the believers who wish to win the great prize of Paradise as well as being prosperous in this life.

One of the great blessings of Allah upon His slaves is that He left the door for repentance open for those who wish to repent and return to Him. Allah made repentance the new dawn that indicates the start of a new day for the journey towards the Hereafter.

Abu Moosaa Al-Ash`ari, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Allah, the Exalted, will continue to stretch out His Hand in the night so that the sinners of the day may repent, and continue to stretch His Hand in the daytime so that the sinners of the night may repent, until the sun rises from the west”. [Muslim].

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “He who repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will forgive him”. [Muslim].

`Abdullaah Ibn `Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, reported that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Allah accepts a slave's repentance as long as the latter is not on his death bed (that is, before the soul of the dying person reaches the throat)”. [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi].

Know that the month of Ramadan is a great opportunity to repent and return to Allah, and it is a chance to renew the pledge with Allah. On the other hand, one must be careful lest Ramadan passes him by without him utilizing the season and without being one of those whom Allah forgave their sins. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with them, reported that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “May Allah humble the one who lives long enough to witness Ramadan and passes the month without being forgiven”. [At-Tirmithi].

Beloved brothers! This blessed month is the month of the Qur’aan, kindness, repentance, expiation of sins, the descent of mercy and elevation of ranks … So let us rush in repentance to Allah, because the believers will not find comfort except in Paradise … let us take refuge from Allah with Allah and repent to Him before our sins destroy us … let us wake up from our deep sleep as the days pass by very rapidly … let us strive not to be of the deprived ones by undermining the pleasure of Paradise … let us rush and repent and make up for what we have missed out on.

The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) whose sins have been forgiven repents to Allah and asked for forgiveness multiple times in a single day. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) saying: “I swear by Allah that I seek Allah's Pardon and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.” [Al-Bukhari].

Al-Agharr Ibn Yasaar Al-Muzani, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Turn you people in repentance to Allah and beg pardon of Him. I turn to Him in repentance a hundred times a day". [Muslim].

Let us follow the example of our beloved Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and let us not delay our repentance and let us abandon using the term: “I will do it later on”, and remember that life is nothing but an illusion.

O you who has wasted yesterday and is waiting today … you are killing yourself with sins … repent to your Lord and regret your shortcomings … if you cry and humble yourself before your Lord and ask Him to forgive you, He will accept you and be happy with your repentance.

Indeed Allah is pleased with the repentance of His slaves. Anas Ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, the servant of the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) narrated: The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Verily, Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than a person who has his camel in a waterless desert carrying his provision of food and drink and it is lost. He, having lost all hopes (to get that back), lies down in shade and is disappointed about his camel; when all of a sudden he finds that camel standing before him. He takes hold of its reins and then out of boundless joy blurts out: 'O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your Lord'. He commits this mistake out of extreme joy" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Do you see how Allah is pleased with the person when he turns to Him in repentance? Who are we for Allah to rejoice for our repentance? We are nothing but weak creatures of His who possess no power. On the other hand, He is The All Powerful, Almighty, The King and The One Who controls the Heavens and the earth.

Let us not give up on the mercy of Allah … we must know that there is no sin too great for Allah to forgive, and that a slave never turns to Him in repentance sincerely, but He will accept and forgive him, as He is The Oft Forgiving and His mercy has encompassed everything.

Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Allah, the Exalted, has said: `O son of Aadam! I forgive you as long as you pray to Me and hope for My forgiveness, whatever sins you have committed. O son of Aadam! I do not care if your sins reach the height of the heaven, then you ask for my forgiveness, I would forgive you. O son of Aadam! If you come to Me with an earth load of sins, and meet Me associating nothing to Me, I would match it with an earth-load of forgiveness`” [At-Tirmithi].

When you turn to Allah repentance, never go back to committing the same sins again, as this is one of the most destructive disasters. Never go back after having been blessed and rescued by Allah, because returning to sins after having been rescued has severe consequences. Remember that fasting is not merely refraining from eating and drinking, and that you must shun all sins ands rush to Allah in repentance.



GETTING AHEAD IN THE RACE FOR FORGIVENESS




Getting Ahead in the Race for Forgiveness
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Allah The Almighty exhorts the believers to seek forgiveness and race each other on the road leading to repentance and rewards, so that one does not despair and give up on the mercy of Allah The Almighty. He Says (what means): {“And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the pious.”} [Quran, 3: 133].

The following are some means leading to forgiveness of sins and gaining the closeness and mercy of Allah The Almighty based on evidence from the Quran and Hadeeths (Prophetic narrations):
Accepting Islam
Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {“Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven. But if they return (thereto), then the examples of those (punished) before them have already preceded (as a warning).”} [Quran, 8: 38].
‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Did you not know that one's [acceptance of] Islam obliterates whatever he did before it?” [Muslim].
Migration
This means to relocate from the land of disbelief to the land of Islam. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {“Then, verily, your Lord for those who emigrated after they had been put to trials and thereafter strove hard and fought (for the Cause of Allah) and were patient, verily, your Lord afterward is, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”} [Quran, 16: 110].
'Amr ibn Al-‘Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Migration expiates whatever was before it.” [Muslim].
An accepted Hajj
'Amr ibn Al-‘Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “An accepted Hajj removes whatever was before it [of sins].” [Muslim]
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “He who performs Hajj and does not involve (himself) in sexual relations or a sin (during the Hajj), will return from Hajj in a state just like the one his mother gave birth to him in (i.e., free from sins).” [Al-Bukhari]
Supplication upon hearing the Athaan (call to prayer)
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqaas,may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “He who says upon hearing the person calling the Athaan, ‘I also bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone without a partner, and that Muhammad is His slave and messenger. I accept Allah as a Lord, Muhammad as a messenger, and Islam as a religion’ -- all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Muslim].
Coinciding with the angels when saying 'Aameen'
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “When the Imaam says 'Aameen', say 'Aameen', because he who coincides with the angels when saying Aameen will have all his previous sins forgiven.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Coinciding with the angels when saying ‘Our lord for you is all the praise’
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “When the Imaam says ‘Allah hears he who praises Him’, say, ‘Our Lord for You is all the praise’, because he who coincides with the angels when saying so will have all his previous sins forgiven.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Praying two Rak’ah (units) of prayer attentively
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “He who properly performs ablution, then prays any two Rak’ah (of Salaah) without being heedless, will get all his previous sins forgiven.” [Ahmad].
Gathering in circles of Thikr (mentioning Allah The Almighty)
Sahl ibn Hanthalah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “It never happens that a group of people gather to mention Allah, but they will be told upon leaving the circle (after finishing): 'Your sins have been forgiven.'” [Ahmad].
Being afflicted by sickness
The Mother of the Believers, ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Whenever a believer becomes sick, he will be purified from his sins, just as fire purifies steel.” [Al-Bukhari].

Friday, April 15, 2016




THE MEDIA BIAS AGAINST MUSLIMS:


Those in power have always sought to “label” and “target” a specific group as a means of oppression brought about simply by insecurity that is baseless. In this instance today it is Muslims, as if we are responsible for the actions of a small segment and that we are all “guilty by association”; this association being a shared faith.

All Christians are not painted with the same brush and deemed fanactics destined to kill innocent people although the likes of the Timothy McVeigh’s of this world committed horrible acts that killed many innocent people. All Christians are not painted with the same brush and labeled rapists, pedophiles or homosexuals although it has been revealed that a number of priests have sexually assaulted young boys/men. All Christians are not held accountable for the high incidence of out-of-wedlock teen pregnancies or high divorce and adultery rates although it is quite evident that such exists in churches.

All Jews are not labeled heartless killers or power hungry people who lust after land and money, etc. although the actions of the Jews in Israel speak volumes. All Jews are not labeled whiners although there are some that will forever claim to be the victim.

So it pains to know that all Muslims are held accountable for the actions of a few and our communities are targetted under the guise of “getting to know us”. The anti-Jewish sentiments come from perhaps a small segment of so-called Muslims but is not the foundation of mainstream/orthodox Islam.

The perceived problems arise when people realize that Islam is the fastest growing religion, that Islam is the only one that is not on a wholesale scale sold out its values in favor of secularism, that on the larger scale Islam/Muslims still believe in helping one another, have family values and hasn’t tried to alter the faith to suit “man’s” needs and desires and doesn’t have the hierachial structure as found in other religions (this even troubles the current Pope because he apparently believes that he should speak only with someone who is at his level, but who put him there but a group of men in a room).

The media is far from unbiased and focuses unnecessary attention on small incidences where anyone claiming to be Muslim is the so-called aggressor and paints it as a negative and when Muslims are the victims it is painted as being self-defense and those innocents killed deemed “collateral damage” or “necessary sacrifices” and then the media forgets.

I recently viewed the documentary “Ghosts of Abu Ghraib” and let me tell you “shock” is putting it mildly, yet the ones in power were not held accountable for these cruel and inhumane acts, something that Muslims on the whole would simply not do to those whom they were holding, but it was done to them and still not all Christians or Jews (as they were among the US troops) are labled and heartless monsters who place little value on human life and human decency.

The US was founded on the belief of religious tolerance and freedom from the imposition of a certain set of religious beliefs, yet what we find is just the opposite. While Muslims are free to practice, that freedom is now beginning to come with a heavy price. You may be monitored and followed as you enter/leave a masjid, you may find “plants” inside investigating the imam and other attendees, you may be followed, have your home entered (with or without your presence or consent), have your phone and e-mail communications monitored, your financial records checked more carefully than non-Muslims, etc. Why?

Just because you are a Muslim and if you want to “freely practice” you must be willing to sacrifice some freedoms. Those who are are friends and stand with us to speak against the injustice are similarly targetted. All of this has led to Muslims not enjoying the sense of community and sharing spirit we should, has fueled distrust and fear amongst the ummah, has turned Muslims against one another who are willing to lie against one another in order to “save themselves”. All of this serves no purpose except to aid those who fight against us as the internal strive ultimately destoys us.

All people of conscience need to stand up and say “Enough is enough” before it is too late.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016


RESPONSIBILITIES OF A MUSLIM


By Dr Israr Ahmed



The long standing political and moral decline of the Muslim Ummah has reslted, among other things, in a serious distortion of our very concept of Islam itself. We have grown accustomed to viewing Islam as a mere “religion,” instead of using the original Qur’anic term “Deen.” This apparently minor change in semantics is actually a huge leap backwards. This is because the word religion is commonly used in a rather narrow sense, its scope being limited to a set of dogmas, some rituals for worship, and a number of social customs to celebrate important life-events. Deen, on the other hand, is a system of life in which human beings consciously surrender to the sovereignty of a higher authority, and live a life of total obedience to that higher authority. In this sense, the term Deen can be applied to monarchy, where the king is accepted as the final authority, or to democracy, where the people as a whole act as sovereign. Thus, when the term Deen is used for Islam, it obviously means a system of life where the Almighty God is worshipped and obeyed, not just in the narrow religious sense, but in a manner that includes all aspects of human of life.

A well-integrated set of beliefs describing the nature of existence as it really is (Iman), modes of worship including Salat, Zakat, Saum, and Hajj, as well as social customs and ceremonies — all comprise indispensable and integral parts of Islam. However, in addition to these “religious” features, we are also provided by the Almighty God all the relevant instructions regarding our social, economic, and political existence (generally considered to be the “secular” elements of life), and this is what really distinguishes Islam from other religions, say, Christianity or Buddhism. Unfortunately, the majority of our masses are simply, and perhaps blissfully, unaware of what it really means to be a Muslim; thus, their concept of religious duties is usually very narrow and limited. But, as Allama Iqbal has so correctly observed, you begin to shudder with the fear of accountability once you realize the tremendous responsibilities that come with being a Muslim.

When Islam loses its political authority, it is relegated and dethroned to the status of a mere religion — a private affair of the individual; and if any particular generation is to revive the teachings of Islam in the social, economic, and political spheres, then this is impossible without adopting the same methodology as was adopted by Prophet Muhammad (SAW). After the independence of the Muslim lands from direct subjugation of Western Imperialism, it was naively believed that since political authority now belongs to the Muslims, the next step, that of implementing the Islamic values, won’t be all that difficult. However, it has been proved during the last half century or so that the ideal Islamic State is still very much a dream, and since no short-cuts are available, we have no alternative except to start at the very beginning. We must remind the Muslims of their responsibilities. The significance of this subject is quite clear: We cannot hope to achieve salvation in the Hereafter without fulfilling all our obligations. Moreover, we cannot even think about the revival of the Muslim Ummah and the Renaissance of Islam without first inculcating the true concept of our Divinely ordained obligations in a significant portion of the Ummah.

OUR FIRST OBLIGATION as a Muslim is to develop real faith and true conviction (or Iman) in the teachings of the Qur’an as explained by to us by Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The faith must not be a mere dogma which has little or nothing to do with the practical aspects of one’s life, but it must be a deeply-felt certitude that changes the whole system of values, ambitions, and behavior in favor of Islam. Iman can be gained by reading, comprehending, and pondering over the meaning of Holy Qur’an with a genuine search for truth. The knowledge of Arabic language is indispensable for this purpose.

OUR SECOND OBLIGATION is to live a life of total obedience to the Almighty God. This duty is described in the Holy Qur’an as Ibadah, which is often inaccurately translated as worship or prayers. However, the true meaning of the term Ibadah can only be understood if we combine two apparently unrelated concepts: one is surrender, obedience, submission; the other is love, adoration, devotion. Total and unconditional compliance to all Divine injunctions is obviously required; at the same time, this compliance ought to be with a spirit of wholehearted devotion and love for the Creator.

All of us need someone or something to love, admire, and adore. Usually, our lack of knowledge of the one Being worthy of all our love, admiration, and adoration lead us towards other, less than perfect, ideals. We start loving various ideologies, like Socialism, or Liberalism, or Humanism; we sometimes start loving our tribe, our nation, or our race as the ultimate ideal. The Holy Qur’an teaches us that the faithful are those who love the Almighty God over everyone and everything else. When we love our Lord, we find it easy to obey Him. Sometimes we slip and forget, committing a sin; the point is to immediately turn back towards the Almighty God with genuine remorse, and to repent; if we can do this, Divine forgiveness is guaranteed.

OUR THIRD OBLIGATION as a Muslim is to preach and disseminate the word of Almighty Allah (SWT) — the Holy Qur’an — and the teachings of his last messenger Muhammad (SAW) to the whole humanity. What does it involve? Calling people towards the light of Islam and Iman; enjoining and encouraging all that is good and just and moral, forbidding all that is evil and unjust and sinful; exhorting the common people, explaining the philosophy and wisdom of Islam to the educated and intelligent classes, debating with the stubborn and the rigid; testifying to the truthfulness of the message with our behavior and conduct, our character and morals.

It is significant to note that communicating and explaining the teachings of Islam to others is not, as we have erroneously come to believe, the “profession” of the Mulla alone, but this is actually a duty of anyone who claims to be a Muslim. As Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has ordered, “Convey on my behalf, even if it is only a single verse (of the Qur’an that you know).”

This is because preaching and delivering the message of God to the entire humanity is actually the responsibility of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), but now, after his departure and due to the termination of Prophethood, that sacred obligation has been transferred on to the shoulders of the Ummah as a whole. This, incidentally, is the purpose for which the entire Muslim Ummah was created in the first place, as mentioned in a most emphatic fashion in the Holy Qur’an: “You are the best of people raised for the (guidance of) mankind; You enjoin the good, forbid the evil, and believe in Allah” (3:110).

Of course, you cannot convince anyone unless you understand yourself the message you are trying to preach. Thus, according to another saying of the Prophet, “The best among you are those who learn (and comprehend) the Qur’an, and then teach (and propagate) its message.”

OUR FOURTH OBLIGATION as Muslims is to try our utmost in establishing a polity based on Qur’an and Sunnah and the Islamic System of Collective Justice, initially in our own homeland and then, ultimately, over the entire globe. The teachings of Islam vis-à-vis human society, law, economics, and politics cannot be implemented without a true and ideal Islamic state in existence. There are numerous terms to describe this highest of all our duties: establishing the Deen of Allah, achieving the domination of Islam, creating on earth the kingdom of God, bringing about an Islamic Revolution; different phrases, same meaning. Unless we succeed in creating a real model of what an ideal Islamic state should look like, all our adulations and glorifications of Islam would continue to be dismissed by the world as mere Utopian claims.

What are we talking about in practical terms? An ideal Islamic state is neither a monarchy nor a theocracy. Instead, we have a vision of a democratic welfare state, where the sovereignty of the Almighty God is accepted and enforced at all levels of the state — executive, judiciary, and legislature; where no law can be formulated repugnant to the Qur’an and the Sunnah; and where the elimination of all forms of injustice, exploitation, and repression is the primary aim of the government.

The process of an Islamic Revolution will start from a single country, and then it would spread to the rest of the globe. Muslims are obliged to struggle tirelessly in establishing the de facto soverignty of Almighty God, first in the country where they live, and ultimately all over the world.

This comprehensive view of the duties of a Muslim can be very easily understood by a simple analogy. Consider a three-storied building which is supported by four pillars. The underground foundation represents faith or Iman, which remains hidden from the spectators; the plinth of the building represents Shahadah, or the testimony of faith on a legal level; the four pillars of the building are obviously Salat, Zakat, Saum, and Hajj. The first floor represents our first level of obligation as a Muslim, i.e., to live a life of total obedience to Almighty God; the second floor is a symbol for our second level of obligation, i.e., to preach and disseminate the teachings of Islam; and, finally, the third floor represents our third level of obligation, to try our very best in establishing the Deen of Allah in its entirety on a socio-political level.