بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The True Meaning of Independence
News:
On this upcoming 31st of August 2023, Malaysia will be celebrating its 66th year of independence from the British. Every year a theme will be chosen and this year it is ‘Tekad Perpaduan Penuhi Harapan' (Determination in Unity, Fulfilling Hope). As usual, every independence day celebration will not be complete without a parade. This year the parade will be held in Putrajaya where more than 19,000 participants will be involved. It will be a momentous event. But is it worth the momentous event knowing that Malaysia has not really achieved true independence?
Comment:
Islam came as a noble message freeing and liberating humankind from all forms of colonization, exploitation, oppression, tyranny and enslavement of humans by other humans in general. The true meaning of independence can only be realized with Islam. The Arabs who initially worshiped idols, lived in several social classes consisting of nobles, commoners and slaves, eventually turned into a monotheistic people with the unity of the Islamic faith, abandoning the rules of jahiliyyah. During the time of jahiliyyah, rules were created by the dignitaries, kings and monks. The laws they create often make human life miserable, such as killing baby girls, prostitution of female slaves, usury, and many other atrocities. It is the dignitaries, kings and monks who determine what is halal and what is haram, what can and cannot be done by humankind. Allah (swt) said:
[اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ]
“They make their priests and their monks gods besides Allah” [At-Taubah (9): 31]. This verse was explained by Rasulullah (saw) when faced with Adi bin Hatim, who at that time was still a Christian. Adi bin Hatim said, "O Rasulullah, we do not worship them (monks)." Rasulullah (saw) said:«أَلَيْسَ يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا اَحَلَّ اللَّهُ فَتُحَرِّمُونَهُ وَيُحِلُّونَ مَا حَرَمَ اللَّهُ, فَتَسْتَحِلُّونَهُ»“Didn't they forbid what Allah (swt) made lawful, and you followed them; they also legalize what Allah (swt) has forbidden, and you follow them?” Adi bin Hatim said, "True." Then Rasulullah (saw) said: «فَتِلْكَ عِبَادَتُهُمْ»“That is a form of worship to them.”
In today’s democratic system, those who have the right to make laws are members of the Parliament. They can make any law even if it is against Allah (swt)’s law. In this country, the law-making process is no different from what is done in Britain, because the system is inherited from the colonial country. Even though the British are gone physically, the system left behind by the colonial power is still used and maintained. The people are forced to accept whatever laws are made by members of Parliament even though the laws make lawful what Allah has forbidden, and forbid what Allah (swt) makes lawful. It doesn't matter who holds the power, who sits in the parliament, they are all working within the same mould under the democratic system, a legacy left by the British.
Henceforth, true independence can only be gained through the total implementation of Islam in all aspects of life under the umbrella of the Khilafah (Caliphate) State. What better way can this be expressed but through the conversation of Rustum, the Persian general and Rabi’ bin Amir during the Battle of Qadisiyyah…
General Rustum asked Rab'i bin 'Amir, "What brought you here?" Rab'i bin 'Amir replied: "Allah has sent us. By Allah, He has sent us so that we can bring people out of slavery to fellow humans to slavery to Him alone, from the narrowness of the world to its spaciousness and from the tyranny of religions (other than Islam) to the justice of Islam."
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Dr. Mohammad – Malaysia