Hizb ut Tahrir / Wilayah Pakistan Campaign:

Refute Western Civilization and Invite to Islam

[ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَٰدِلْهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ]

“Invite to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and kind advice, and only debate with them in the best manner.” [TMQ Surah an-Nahl 16:125]

Hizb ut Tahrir / Wilayah Pakistan is organizing a campaign entitled "Refute Western Civilization and Invite to Islam" on social media.

Oh Allah return our shield to us, the Rightly Guided Caliphate on the method of Prophethood... Oh Allah, Ameen.

#RefuteWesternCivilization

Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - June 2022 CE

1. Western Rationalism

Western rationalism abandons religion to rely on human reason, and reason alone, as a legislator, judge and guide. Rationalism puts the limited human mind, prone to error, bias and contradictions, as the reference to judge upon things and actions. However, the human mind may decide something as good, whilst it is in fact bad. Conversely, the mind may judge something as bad, whilst it is in fact good. Islam leaves the judgement of what is permitted and what is forbidden to Allah ﷻ, whose Knowledge has no limitations. Allah ﷻ said,]وَعَسَى أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ وَعَسَى أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ[ “But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.” [TMQ Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 216]. Thus, the Islamic community and society adheres to the commands and prohibitions of Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ.

11 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 10 June 2022 CE

2. Scientific Thinking

Scientific thinking has limitations. It is useful for material progress, but cannot explain the purpose of human existence. It cannot conclude things with certainty, being subject to error. Its vision is limited to material and not beyond it. It explains what is apparent, the how, but does not explain why. Allah ﷻ says,]يَعْلَمُونَ ظَاهِرًا مِّنَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ الْآخِرَةِ هُمْ غَافِلُونَ ]“They know what is apparent of the worldly life, but they, of the Hereafter, are unaware.” [TMQ Surah Ar-Rum 30:7]. Islamic civilization makes rational thinking the fundamental human thinking. Islamic society is thus built on the certain conclusion that the universe has a Creator, Allah ﷻ to Whom humankind will return for accounting regarding their conduct in life. Thus, the era of the Khilafah saw great scientific advances, alongside tranquility, prosperity, justice and well-being for all of its citizens, regardless of their race, gender or religion.

12 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 11 June 2022 CE

3. Truth and Falsehood

The Western civilization claims that, “There is no such thing as absolute truth and absolute falsehood” (Henry Augustus Rowland­­­). The concept of truth is straightforward for any person, unlike the convolutions manufactured by the modern Western theories, such as utilitarianism, correlationism, dualism and relativism. If rational judgment is related to the existence of a thing, then there is no doubt that it is certain. As for the judgment related to the essence or characterization of a thing, the judgment is indecisive, that is, susceptible to error. However, the existence of the possibility of indecisiveness, in some judgments, does not negate the existence of any decisive truth. As for the Islamic ‘aqeedah, the existence of Allah ﷻ is a truth, as is the inimitable Miracle of the Quran. As for the indecisive matters, such as opinions within Fiqh, its principle is, رأيي صواب يحتمل الخطأ، ورأيك خطأ يحتمل الصواب “my opinion is correct with the possibility of error, whilst your opinion is wrong with the possibility of correctness.”

13 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 12 June 2022 CE

4. Secularism

The Western creed of secularism emerged from conflict between the Church and the thinkers. It was a reaction to the severe oppression of the Church, in the name of religion. Secularism asserts, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s (Greek: Ἀπόδοτε οὖν τὰ Καίσαρος Καίσαρι καὶ τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ τῷ Θεῷ).” However, the Western experience of religion does not justify the separation of religion from public life for Muslims. Islam submits the ruler, his soul, property and honor, before Allah ﷻ, in complete submission. If the Khaleefah does not rule by all that Allah ﷻ has revealed, the Islamic judiciary is obliged to remove him from ruling. Also, far from oppression, the Khilafah ensured the justice, security, material progress and prosperity for both Muslim and non-Muslim citizens, for centuries. So, secularism is not a creed that is fit for the Muslims to adopt, neither from a Shariah legal stance, nor from practical, historical experience.

14 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 13 June 2022 CE

5. Separation of Religion from Life

Secularism, the separation of religion from life, has contradictions within itself. Secularism affirms religion, but confines religion to personal worship alone. Secularism affirms the Creator, but restricts the relationship to private affairs alone. Secularism affirms accountability before the Creator, but obstructs public deeds necessary for it. Secularism affirms man is a limited and incapable creation, but still makes him a law-maker for other men, as a deity on earth. Secularism acknowledges the temporary nature of this worldly life, but nurtures a firm attachment to the mortal, worldly life, almost as if it will not end. It is no surprise that the West faces a deep spiritual crisis, stumbling over the bounds of religion in public life. In Islam, both the private and public life is for the pleasure of Allah ﷻ. Allah ﷻ said وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ “And We did not create humans and Jinn, but for worship.” [TMQ Surah ad-Dhaariyat 51:56]

15 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 14 June 2022 CE

6. Utilitarianism

Secularism gives rise to utilitarianism, the seeking of bodily pleasure, seeing only happiness in this short life, and not in the eternal Hereafter. Devoid of spiritual, moral or humanitarian values, secularism has drowned humankind in materialism and hedonism. Under secularism, there have been destructive world wars, concentration camps, organized crime, severe poverty and starvation. Pornography resulted in the breakup of family ties, producing a culture of rape and violence against women. Secularism has led to rises in psychological illness, including depression and anxiety, as well as suicide and euthanasia. It is time for Islam to rise as a global state and civilization, which will focus humanity upon seeking the pleasure of Allah ﷻ, whilst giving humanitarian, moral and spiritual values, their due weight. Allah ﷻ said,  وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ “The life of this world is no more than the delusion of enjoyment.” [TMQ Surah al-Hadid 57:20]

16 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 15 June 2022 CE

7. Nation State

The Western claim that the nation state system ensures global peace is false. In fact, it gave rise to a new form of oppression, colonialism. Western states initially used military force to invade every non-European continent. Even after nominal independence, Western states maintain control through economic pacts, military alliances and sponsorship of local, corrupt ruling factions. Colonialized nations export their raw materials and labour at unjustly low costs, whilst importing Western goods and services at extortionately high prices. As for war, the Western states readily mount destructive military campaigns, and assist others in doing so, to secure material gains. Indeed, the world is in need of the Ummah to establish the state of Islam, the Khilafah, which for centuries ensured peace and prosperity for much of Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia and South-East Asia.

17 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 16 June 2022 CE

8. Public Property

A huge gap between the rich and the poor is witnessed in all capitalist economies. Erroneously, capitalism asserts that each and every economic resource, including public utilities, must be privatized. However, economic equity necessitates differentiation in types of ownership, to distribute wealth and prevent its concentration. Guardianship of the public, as a sharing community, mandates a distinct type of ownership for public utilities, such as minerals, water, feeding pastures and energy. The divinely revealed Islam alone has the Shariah legal ruling of ‘public property,’ uniquely applied upon public utilities. The Khilafah must spend the wealth and revenues of public utilities on the needs of the public alone, whilst preventing their privatization. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, الْمُسْلِمُونَ شُرَكَاءُ فِي ثَلَاثٍ الْمَاءِ وَالْكَلَإِ وَالنَّارِ “The Muslims are partners in three things, waters, feeding pastures and fire.” (Ahmad)

18 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 17 June 2022 CE

9. Productivity

According to Capitalism, productivity is the creation of benefit (utility) alone, restricted to the materialistic and tradable. So, a woman’s work for family is considered productive only if she sells it as a service to others. From a capitalist microeconomic point of view, in relation to ‘opportunity cost,’ a housewife is considered a loss to the labor market. Capitalism thus grossly undervalued the instinctive role of being a mother. Thus, the woman felt compelled to enter into the labor market with full commitment, unable to devote fully to her family, giving rise to many grave social and psychological losses. Islam does not evaluate matters on economic benefit alone. Islamic civilization gave great value to both the wife and the mother, reflected in its Shariah rulings. Indeed, the stable Islamic family is the foundation of the Muslim community and the fortress of Islamic society.

19 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 18 June 2022 CE

10. Distribution of Wealth

Capitalism falsely claims the economic problem is that of relative scarcity, with limited resources, but unlimited needs. In fact, there are enough goods and services to fully meet everyone’s basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter, as these primary needs are limited, not unlimited. In contrast, the luxuries that arise from material progress are indeed ever increasing. Humans naturally strive for such secondary needs, but if they are not met, there is no hunger, nakedness and homelessness. So, the economic problem is in fact the distribution of wealth and efforts, so that all the basic needs are met, whilst helping people strive for luxuries. The Khilafah will end the extreme concentration of wealth in the hands of the few, granting relief for humanity. Allah ﷻ said, كَيْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ مِنكُمْ “So that wealth may not merely circulate among your rich.” [TMQ Surah Al-Hashr 59:7].

20 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 19 June 2022 CE

11. Pluralism

Democracy claims pluralism for itself exclusively, in an absolute manner. However, Western pluralism is strictly confined to its liberal ideology. So, the West fought with communism before, whilst it now fights so-called political Islam, policing Muslims, in both thinking and behavior. As for pluralism in the sense of different opinions within the same ideology, it is not unique to Democracy. Such pluralism is also found in Islam. Differences of opinion on legal rulings and political stances are well-documented, whilst the Khaleefah has the right to make a binding adoption, when needed. In Islam, there are protected non-Muslim citizens, which is superior to Democracy’s concept of minorities. In Democracy, law making is by majority voting, which deprives minorities. However, in Islam the right that Allah ﷻ gave the non-Muslim citizen can never be taken away, even by the vote of the entire Ummah.

21 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 20 June 2022 CE

12. Authority and Sovereignty

The West claims Democracy gives authority and sovereignty to the people. However, both are for the powerful elite alone. The owners of immense wealth shape public opinion during elections. They alone can fund the expensive electoral campaigns. The powerful elite enslaves the people, making laws to increase its wealth. In Islam, authority is for the people, who elect representatives for the Council of the Ummah. The Khaleefah is elected by the Council of the Ummah and appointed through a Bay’ah of choice and consent. If he comes to power by other than a Shariah Bay’ah, he is considered an illegitimate usurper of authority. As for sovereignty, it is neither for the Khaleefah nor the Council of the Ummah nor the Ummah itself. It is for the Shariah Law of Allah ﷻ Alone. Indeed, if the Khaleefah were to rule by other than all that Allah ﷻ has revealed, he will be removed by the judiciary.

22 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 21 June 2022 CE

13. Consultation

Democracy’s claim of collective ruling is false. Practically, both the US President and the British Prime Minister make the final decision. Practically, leadership is individualistic, in both parliamentary and presidential democracy. Ruling is seeking opinion and then making a binding decision. Opinion will have multiple views, which will be subject to study and research. Some views are mandatorily binding, whilst others are for consideration alone. In the Islamic ruling system, seeking opinion is known as Shura (consultation). As for decision, it is an individual matter, made by a single man as the competent authority, the Khaleefah. Allah ﷻ says, وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ “And consult with them in the matter. When you have decided, then rely upon Allah.” [TMQ Surah Aali Imran 3:156]. Thus, the Khilafah is neither dictatorship nor democracy.

23 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 22 June 2022 CE

14. Gender

The Western civilization adopted gender equality, which is invalid. Equating woman with man meant holding man as the model for woman. In Islam, there are Shariah rulings for all humans, men and women, whilst there are also Shariah rulings that are gender specific. So, Islam gave duties to both man and woman regarding Salah, Fasting, Hajj and Zakah. Then Islam gave Shariah rulings for the woman alone, regarding menstruation, pregnancy and child birth. Islam also gave woman the right of the custodianship of children, to the exclusion of man. Islam gave woman the right to earn, where her husband has no right on her property, whilst it obliged man to provide for his wife and children. Fighting is not obliged upon women, whilst it is obliged upon men. Allah ﷻ says, وَلَيْسَ الذَّكَرُ كَالْأُنثَىٰ “And the male is not like the female.” [TMQ Surah Aali Imran 3:36].

24 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 23 June 2022 CE

15. Marriage

Reacting to sexual repression under the Church, Western society plunged into unleashed, sexual freedom, creating problems. Pornography and eroticism reduced women to objects for male pleasure. Men were made free of the duty to protect and financially maintain women, whilst violence against women rose. Marriage, motherhood, family and birthrates were all undermined, whilst adultery, fornication, fatherless children and abortion became prevalent. Islam neither suppresses the sexual instinct, nor unleashes it. Shariah rulings generate a society of honor, chastity and privacy in intimate relations, whilst encouraging early marriage. In the Islamic community, the pleasure and enjoyment of intimate relations are an inevitable consequence of marriage, whilst marriage ensures continuity of the human species.

25 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 24 June 2022 CE

16. Individualism

Reacting to the denial of rights of individuals under the Church, Western society settled upon individualism, prioritizing the individual over the community and state. However, individualism generated isolation, introversion, selfishness, dysfunctional family relations, loss of family values and loss of sense of community. In contrast, in Islam, Shariah rulings ensure the individual’s rights, whilst preventing his harming the community, as well as commanding the individual with duties towards preserving the community. Shariah rulings also are directly applied upon the community as a collective entity, inevitably looking after its individuals. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, الْمُسْلِمُونَ كَرَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ، إِنِ اشْتَكَى عَيْنُهُ اشْتَكَى كُلُّهُ، وَإِنِ اشْتَكَى رَأْسُهُ اشْتَكَى كُلُّهُ “Muslims are like one body of a person; if the eye is sore, the whole body aches, and if the head aches, the whole body aches.” [Muslim].

26 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 25 June 2022 CE

17. Freedom

The Western concept of freedom is an illusion. Both ancient and modern man are found to be in a state of discipline, subject to laws, viewpoints and authorities. The Western free man adopts secularism, whilst restricted by laws made to secure the interests of owners of finance, capital intensive industry and mass media. The Western man is limited by hundreds of laws, of which the harshest are tax laws. However, to prevent search for an alternative, he is kept distracted by a vast entertainment industry. Islam liberates man from servitude to human legislators, by granting him submission to the Sovereignty of Allah ﷻ. So servitude and obedience is only to the Creator and not to creations. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, لَا طَاعَةَ لِمَخْلُوقٍ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ‏ “There is no obedience to creation, entailing disobedience to Allah, the Glorified and Exalted.” (Bukhari).

27 Dhul Qi’dah 1443 AH - 26 June 2022 CE