Eminent Scholar of Islamic Jurisprudence 

Sheikh Ata Bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah

The Current Ameer of Hizb ut Tahrir

On 11 Safar 1424 Hijri or April 13, 2003 CE, the head of Deewan al Mazaalim of Hizb ut Tahrir announced the appointment of a renowned jurist, scholar and engineer Ata Abu Rashtah Abu Yaseen as the Ameer of Hizb ut Tahrir at whose hands, we hope, that Allah (swt) will bring victory for the Muslims under his leadership. Dawah has certainly climaxed to its peak and the work has been well organized administratively. He has capitalized greatly on the capabilities of Shabab.

Some aspects of the life of Sheikh Ata Bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah

Ata Bin Khalil bin Ahmad bin Abdul Qadir Alkhateeb was born in 1362 Hijri corresponding to 1943 CE in a village Ra'ana of the city of Al Khalil in Palestine. He belonged to a very religious family. In his childhood, he saw with his own eyes the pain of Palestinian people and occupation of Palestine by Jews with the help of Britain and treacherous Arab leaders. This occupation forced his family to move to a refugee camp near Al Khalil.

He acquired his basic and middle level education in the same camp. Then he obtained his matriculation degree from the school named Al Hussain Bin Ali in Al Khalil in 1959 CE. Then he cleared the examination of Al Saniya al ‘Ama (as per Egyptian syllabus) in 1960 CE from the institute Al Ibrahimi of Al Quds Shareef. After that he attained admission into the Engineering College of Cairo University in the academic year of 1960/61 and graduated in the year of 1966. He served as an engineer in many Arab countries after completing his education. He has authored a book about Civil Engineering titled Al Wast Fi Hisab Al Kimiyat O Maraqabatal Mabani wat Taraq.

He joined Hizb ut Tahrir whilst he was a middle school student during the mid 1950's. He suffered persecution and imprisonment in the dungeons of the oppressor as punishment for raising the words of truth. He performed all the organizational and institutional duties in the administrative structure. He served as a Daris, Mushrif, Naqeeb of Mahliyya, Member of Wilayah, Mo'atamad, Member of the Office of the Representative of Ameer. On Safar 11, 1424 Hjri corresponding to April 13, 2003 he took charge as the Ameer of the party. He is ever praying to Allah (swt) that He may help him in discharging his duties graciously.

The following is a list of the Islamic books written by him:

Tafseer of Surah e Baqarah ‘Al Teeseer Fi Asool at Tafseer'

Drasat Fi Asool ul Fiqha - Taiyser at Wusool Ilal Asool

And following are the booklets authored by him:

Economic Crisis, Its Reality and Its Solution from the Islamic Perspective

The New Crusades in the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf

Industrial Policy and Industrialization of the State

During his time, the following books have been published by the Hizb

The Essential Elements of the Islamic Nafsiyya

Political Issues - Occupied Islamic Lands

Addition to the book: Islamic Concepts

The Basis of the Education Policy of Khilafah "Caliphate" State

Institutions of the Khilafah "Caliphate" State

He is ever praying to Allah Almighty that He grant him the courage to discharge his duties in a manner that Allah (swt) and His Prophet (saw) would be pleased with; he is ever praying that Allah (swt) bestow upon the Ummah the state of Khilafah "Caliphate" through his hands; our Lord is All Hearing and will answer our prayers.

The steps taken by him during his time include the warm call made to Muslims on Rajab 28, 1426 Hijri corresponding to September 2, 2005 CE with relevance to the painful incident of abolition of Khilafah "Caliphate" 84 years ago. This appeal was initiated in Indonesia, and then it was made on the shores of Pacific Ocean in the East as well as on the shores of Atlantic Ocean in the West at the Friday prayers. This call affected the Ummah greatly. Additionally, he has been actively raising his voice for the Truth continuously at various conferences, seminars and conventions of Hizb ut Tahrir.

The early years of his leadership are full of khair and we pray to Allah (swt) that He may increase His barakah in his leadership. There are clear signs of imminent Nussrah under his leadership with the Will of Allah (swt). We look to him hopefully and we pray that Allah (swt) decrees His victory during his time, Ameen.

The piety of this exalted Ameer is exemplary. He is passionate about his mission and always concerned about fulfilling his obligations in a gracious manner. He has proved his capabilities while he held many offices in the administration of Hizb and fulfilled his obligations in the best possible manner. Some of the noteworthy services rendered by him include the ones that he did when held the offices of Representative, Mo'atamad and Assistant to the previous Ameer. This is the reason why he is fully aware of the responsibilities that he carries as the Ameer and perceives them rightly. He monitors all the activities actively, therefore, the Shabab feel his presence in everything that they do; no matter how small or huge the task. This is the way how he is utilizing the full potential of Shabab.

This is the summary of the journey Hizb ut Tahrir that departed from the Al Aqsa Mosque in the mid 1950's; the caravan had just one basic goal in their mind i.e. the re-establishment of Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashida. The leader of this caravan was the great scholar Sheikh Taqiuddin Nabahani who continued to lead this caravan till his death. He remained the leader of the party for 25 years. The renowned scholar Sheikh Abdul Qadeem Zallum took charge of the leadership of the party in 1977 after the death of the founding Ameer. During his time, the Dawah of Hizb ut Tahrir flourished greatly. The number of the members of the party increased. The party reached many countries of the world. Thus, Hizb ut Tahrir succeeded in making thousands of people a part of the party. This great scholar left us at the age of 80 after serving as the Ameer of the party for 25 years. After him, another esteemed and qualified scholar, an established expert of jurisprudence, Ata Abu al-Rashtah became the global leader of the caravan of Hizb ut Tahrir. He is working diligently to harvest the benefits sowed during the time of his predecessors.

Such beautiful words have been spoken by a Shab about these three great personalities:

They were three individuals, Allah (swt) chose them for three different purposes:

The first one laid the foundation and organized.

The second one motivated and Dawah flourished.

The third one has prayed for the Nussrah and Allah (swt) will answer his prayers, Ameen.

[Source: el-Waie Magazine - August & September 2006  Issue 234+235 ]