Some Islamic parties, including Hizb ut Tahrir, face numerous accusations aimed at tarnishing their image and undermining their Islamic project. This is particularly so with Hizb ut Tahrir, which seeks to resume the Islamic way of life by establishing the Khilafah Rashidah (rightly-guided Caliphate). As one of the members (Shabab) of this esteemed Hizb, I would like to clarify to the sons of this great Ummah, with personal insight. If I am correct, it is from Allah (swt). If I am wrong, it is from myself and Shaytan. I aim to clarify what may be ambiguous to them, and what the sinful hands fabricate against the Hizb and the pure, unadulterated thoughts of Islam.

Among the most prominent accusations is that the Hizb relies on “philosophical ideas devoid of Shariah evidence,” that it sows discord amongst its followers, or that it follows a distorted methodology of Islam that deviates from the Aqeedah of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah. The Hizb is also accused of engaging in “Taqiyya” (deception) and rejecting clarity in its beliefs, even to the extent of being accused of denying some matters such as the punishment of the grave, or casting doubt over the Attributes of Allah (swt).

However, are these accusations based on legitimate evidence, or are they mere fabrications aimed at weakening the project of the Hizb? Does Hizb ut Tahrir deviate from the framework of Islam, as some claim? This is what we will discuss in detail, relying on Shariah evidence from the Noble Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah, while reviewing the methodology of the Hizb and approach, to achieving its Islamic goals.

To respond to the accusations against Hizb ut Tahrir, we must follow a clear methodology based on Shariah evidence from the Noble Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah, focusing on refuting each point mentioned accurately, in accordance with the methodology of the Hizb and thoughts as presented in its books and publications.

1. The accusation that Hizb ut Tahrir is “based on philosophical ideas devoid of Shariah evidence.”

Hizb ut Tahrir relies on all its thoughts and rulings on Shariah evidence derived from the Noble Quran, the Sunnah, the Unanimous Consensus (Ijmaa) of the Companions (ra), and Qiyas (Shariah Analogy). It rejects any thought or ruling not based on Shariah evidence.

Allah (swt) says,

[وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ وَمَن يَعْصِ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُّبِينًا]

“It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should thereafter have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.” [TMQ Surah Al-Ahzab 36].

The Prophet (saw) said, «مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلاً لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ» “Whoever does an action that is not in accordance with this matter of ours, it is rejected.” (Sahih Muslim)

Hizb ut Tahrir applies this rule strictly and does not accept any thought or system unless it is derived from Islamic Shariah Law. Therefore, the accusation that it relies on “philosophical ideas devoid of Shariah evidence” is false.

2. The accusation that the Hizb promotes “blind fanaticism” and claims “their methodology is infallible regardless of circumstances”

Hizb ut Tahrir does not claim infallibility for any human being. It affirms that infallibility belongs to the Messenger of Allah (saw) in matters of Shariah rulings. Instead, the Hizb adheres to Shariah evidence and takes it without hesitation, or false interpretation.

Allah (swt) says,

[وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا]

“And whatever the Messenger has given you, take. Whatever he has forbidden you, refrain from.” [TMQ Surah Al-Hashr 7].

The Prophet (saw) said, «تَرَكْتُ فِيكُمْ مَا إِنْ تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِهِ لَنْ تَضِلُّوا بَعْدِي أَبَداً: كِتَابَ اللهِ وَسُنَّتِي» “I have left among you two things which, if you hold fast to them, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.” (Al-Hakim)

The Hizb calls Muslims to adhere to Shariah evidence, not blind fanaticism. Blind fanaticism is adherence to an opinion or a thought without evidence, which the Hizb completely rejects.

3. The accusation that the Hizb practices “Taqiyya” (deception)

Taqiyya is a concept used by some groups to justify lying and deceit to achieve political or religious goals. Whereas, Hizb ut Tahrir completely rejects any form of lying or deceit.

Allah (swt) says,

[يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ]

“O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.” [TMQ Surah At-Tawbah 119].

The Prophet (saw) said, «إِنَّ الصِّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ، وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ» “Truthfulness leads to righteousness. Righteousness leads to Paradise.” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)

The Hizb calls for clarity and transparency in all its steps and does not engage in any form of deceit or lying. If there is any misunderstanding about some issues, it is due to a lack of awareness of its thoughts, or reliance on information from those who criticize it without evidence, or learn about its ideas from others, such as books published by the Intelligence Agencies in Muslim countries.

4. The accusation that the Hizb is unclear in its beliefs

Hizb ut Tahrir is completely clear in its beliefs. It has explained with definitive (qat'ee) evidence how it builds its creed, which is based on certainty and conviction, not built on uncertain (zhann).

Allah (swt) says,

[لَّيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ]

“Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but true righteousness is in one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, and the Prophets.” [TMQ Surah Al-Baqarah 177].

The Prophet (saw) said, «بُنِىَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَالْحَجِّ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ» “Islam is built on five pillars: the testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, paying Zakat, Hajj, and fasting Ramadan.” (Sahih Bukhari)

The Hizb has detailed matters of Aqeedah (doctrine) in its books, such as the book “The Islamic Personality” by its founder, the great aalim Taqiuddin al-Nabhani (may Allah have mercy on him).

5. The accusation that the Hizb denies the punishment of the grave

Hizb ut Tahrir attests the punishment of the grave because its evidence is zhanni. It attests definitively believes, in Paradise, Hell, Resurrection, and Accountability because their evidence is definitive (qat’ee).

Allah (swt) says,

[ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ لَمَيِّتُونَ * ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ تُبْعَثُونَ]

“Then indeed, after that you are to die. Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, will be resurrected.” [TMQ Surah Al-Mu'minun 15-16].

The Prophet (saw) said, «إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا مَاتَ عُرِضَ عَلَيْهِ مَقْعَدُهُ بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِىِّ؛ إِنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَمِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ فَمِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، فَيُقَالُ هَذَا مَقْعَدُكَ حَتَّى يَبْعَثَكَ اللهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ» “When one of you dies, his place is presented to him morning and evening. If he is among the people of Paradise, he will be shown his place in Paradise. If he is among the people of Hell, he will be shown his place in Hell. It will be said, ‘This is your place until Allah resurrects you on the Day of Resurrection.’” (Sahih Bukhari)

The Hizb does not deny the punishment of the grave but attests the punishment of the grave, because matters of Aqeedah require evidence that is definitive in both transmission and meaning. Aqeedah is not built on uncertain evidence, which is the position of the majority of the classical ulema.

6. The accusation that the Hizb follows the Mu'tazila in denying the Attributes (Sifaat) of Allah (swt)

Hizb ut Tahrir believes in the Attributes of Allah (swt) as mentioned in the Noble Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah and does not deny any of His Attributes. These accusations are baseless and come without evidence.

Allah (swt) says,

[لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ]

“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.” [TMQ Surah Ash-Shura 11].

The Hizb rejects false interpretations that lead to denying Allah's Attributes, likening Him to Creation, or nullifying His Attributes. It understands the Deen as the Companions (ra) understood it, believing in Allah’s Attributes without likening Him to creation, or nullifying His Attributes.

7. Accusation that the Hizb considers Shia, Ba’athists, and the Muslim Brotherhood as the same

Hizb ut Tahrir distinguishes between Muslims and non-Muslims, and between Muslims who adhere to Islamic Shariah Law and those who violate it. It does not declare anyone a disbeliever, except those whom Allah (swt) has explicitly declared as disbelievers in a clear text. It is not a takfiri party.

Allah (swt) says,

[إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ]

“The believers are but brothers.” [TMQ Surah Al-Hujurat 10].

And He (swt) says,

  [هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ فَمِنكُمْ كَافِرٌ وَمِنكُم مُّؤْمِنٌ]

“It is He who created you, and among you is the disbeliever, and among you is the believer.” [TMQ Surah At-Taghabun 2].

And He says,

[وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ]

“And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers.” [TMQ Surah Al-Ma'idah 44].

The Prophet (saw) said, «الْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ» “A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim.” (Sahih Bukhari)

The Hizb calls all Muslims to work together to restore the Khilafah Rashidah (rightly-guided Caliphate), but it warns against deviations in Aqeedah and thought. It engages in intellectual and political struggle, which is part of enjoining righteousness (ma'roof) and forbidding evil (munkar).

8. The accusation that the Hizb rejects singularly narrated ahadith (Ahaad) in matters of Aqeedah

Hizb ut Tahrir does not reject Ahaad hadiths, as most Shariah rulings are based on Ahaad hadiths, such as the sighting of the Hilal crescent of the moon for fasting, the prohibition of alcohol, and the change of the Qiblah. However, these hadiths are considered uncertain in their transmission, and matters of Aqeedah are only built on evidence that is definitive in both transmission and meaning, as found in the Noble Quran and mutawatir (multiply, concurrently narrated) ahadith.

Conclusion: Hizb ut Tahrir relies on Shariah evidence in all its thought and rulings and does not accept any idea or system unless it is derived from Islamic law. The accusations against it are incorrect and based on misunderstanding or misinformation. Therefore, those who wish to know the Hizb should study its ideas from its books or discuss them with its members and obtain information from its reliable and official sources. If they find anything contrary to Islamic law, they should argue with legal evidence, not with accusations and lies. Allah (swt) says,

[يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا أَن تُصِيبُوا قَوْماً بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَى مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِينَ]

“O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.” [TMQ Surah Al-Hujurat 6].