2013 Miss World Contest will be held in Indonesia next September. The committee affirmed that the competition is not only woman beauty contest, 3B (Beauty, Brain and Behavior) but there is new concept called beauty with purpose.

Following Assad's murderous attack in the suburbs of Damascus, killing hundreds of innocent men, women and children, Western governments have adopted the language of military intervention in Syrian conflict.

Question:

Assalamu alaikum to my brother, Sheikh and Ameer.

1. In a discussion I had with one of the Shabab, we disagreed in regards to the women in the situation of war. Does the Hukm (ruling) of the women that go out to the battle field to encourage the army apply upon them or does the Hukm of Asraa' (captives/prisoners of war) apply to them whilst acknowledging that today there are women fighters like men in terms of carrying weapons, using aircraft, artillery or participate in naval warfare....

2) The following was stated in the publication of Introduction to the Constitution of the Khilafah "Caliphate" State, (Mashroo' Dustoor Dawlat ul-Khilafah "Caliphate") in the fourth point of Article 188: "(In regards to) the actual warring states like Israel for example it is obligatory to take with it the state of war as the basis for all actions and dealings just as if we are in an actual war with it and this is whether a Hudnah (truce) exists between them or not, and all of its subjects are forbidden from entering the lands..." I referred to this article in the book Introduction to the Constitution, and I did not find any details explaining this article and its four points. The question here is: Is it permitted for the Khilafah "Caliphate" State to have a Hudnah (treaty) with the Jewish entity whilst it is usurping our lands?

Answer:

Wa alaikum assalam wa Rahmat Allahu wa Barakatahu,

Firstly: Yes, the Hukm (ruling) in respect to the women who go out to the battle field whether to encourage the troops or fight alongside them, is the same Hukm. However it is not permitted to kill the women who have come out to the battle scene to encourage the soldiers whereas it is permitted to kill those who are fighting. This is in accordance to the Hadith that is agreed upon on the authority of Naafi' that Abdullah Ibn 'Umar (ra) informed him: "That a woman had been found killed in one of the battles of the Prophet (saw): فَأَنْكَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَتْلَ النِّسَاءِ وَالصِّبْيَانِ "So the Messenger of Allah (saw) condemned the killing of women and children." This is in addition to a Saheeh Hadeeth collected by Abu Dawood from 'Umar Bin Al-Muraqqa' Bin Saifi Bin Rabaah who said: My father narrated that his grandfather Rabaah Bin Rabee' said: "We were with the Messenger of Allah (saw) in a military expedition and saw the people gathering around something so he sent for a man and said: «انْظُرْ عَلَامَ اجْتَمَعَ هَؤُلَاءِ؟» "Go and look at what they are gathering around?" He returned and said: Around a woman who has been killed. So he (saw) said:«مَا كَانَتْ هَذِهِ لِتُقَاتِلَ» "This one did not participate in the fighting." The Mafhoom (understanding) from this statement is that had she been fighting then it would have been permissible to kill her.

This is the difference; however in all other Ahkam, there is no difference between women who go to the battlefield to encourage the troops and those who fight alongside the troops.

This all applies to the case when women go out to the battlefield. However if the women remain in their houses without exiting to the battlefields then there is nothing in that regards to them.

And in all circumstances, the application of the Shariah rulings is referred to the Khaleefah and not to the leaders of the battlefields. And the action of the Khaleefah proceeds in accordance to the requirements of the war policy in dealing with the enemies. Since it is from the war-related dealings, which is at the discretion of the Khaleefah's command. He acts according to what he deems fit in regards to the enemy in agreement with the Ahkam Shari'.

As for the Hukm (legal ruling) of the Asraa (captives/prisoners of war), this applies to the male fighters because the word 'Aseer' (captive) when it is mentioned refers to the male fighter. The Hukm of the Asraa is mentioned in Surah Muhammad (saw) in the following Aayah:

فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَضَرْبَ الرِّقَابِ حَتَّى إِذَا أَثْخَنْتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا الْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَاءً حَتَّى تَضَعَ الْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ذَلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ لَانْتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَكِنْ لِيَبْلُوَ بَعْضَكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ وَالَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَلَنْ يُضِلَّ أَعْمَالَهُمْ

"So, when you meet (in fight Jihaad In Allah's Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, Then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom, until the war lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered] but if it had been Allah's will, He himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets You fight), in order to test you, some with others. But those who are killed In the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost." [Muhammad: 4]

Therefore they are either released (Mannan) or they are ransomed by money or a prisoner exchange with Muslims captives or captives from the Ahl al-Dhimmah. Other than these two options is not permitted.

Secondly: The relationship of the Islamic State with belligerent countries (that are in an actual state of war) (Muharabah Fi'lan).

It appears that you still have an older version of the book, Introduction to the Constitution, as you mentioned that this is Article 188 whilst in the official version of 1431 AH (2010) it is Article 189. And secondly in the older version the subject of truce (hudnah) in the case of the actual war was not explained in detail whilst in the new official adopted version it has been detailed. We explain in it that the permanent truce (hudnah) is not permitted as it means the abandoning of Jihad. However, a temporary truce may be held with the disbelieving (kufr) countries by the entity on the land have not yet opened by Muslims. The Daleel (evidence) for this is the Truce of Al-Hudhaibiyah with the Quraish who were upon land that Muslims had yet to conquer.

As for the entity that is established entirely upon usurped Islamic land then it is not permitted to contract a Hudnah (truce) with it albeit permanent or temporary. The reality of the Truce of Al-Hudhaibiyah with the Quraish does not apply upon it because the reality is different. This is because the Quraish were established upon land which had not previously been conquered by the Muslims whereas the Jewish entity is established upon land which it has usurped from the Muslims. So the reality is different and as such the Treaty of Al-Hudhaibiyah is not applied upon it. Rather it is obligatory for the state of actual war to maintain this state of actual war whether or not a Hudnah has been convened between it and the illegitimate rulers in the Muslim lands. This continues until the usurping entity is removed and the land that has been usurped is returned to its rightful people.

((وَأَخْرِجُوهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَخْرَجُوكُمْ))

"And expel them from where they have expelled you."

This is because the Hudnah (truce) with the usurping entity means its recognition, its surrender of the land to the usurpers. This is forbidden in accordance to the Shariah and indeed it is a major crime and the one who does this will carry its sin.

The subject is discussed in full detail in Introduction to the Constitution.

Your brother,

Ata Bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah

The link to the answer from the Ameer's Facebook Page:

Headlines:

• Mosques Declared Terrorism Organisations by NYPD: Report
• Britain Suspends 49 Export Licences to Egypt
• Iranian Officials: Israel will be First Victim of a Syria Attack
• Pakistani Public Opinion on the US Hits Low Point

Details:

Mosques Declared Terrorism Organisations by NYPD: Report

The New York Police Department (NYPD) has secretly labelled entire mosques as terrorism organisations, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday. The label has allowed the department to spy on imams and record sermons without having specific evidence of criminal activities. This means that anyone attending the prayer service is part of organisation and can potentially be investigated and go under surveillance. As per confidential police documents and interviews, NYPD has initiated more than a dozen "terrorism enterprise investigations" into mosques following the terror attacks on World Trade Centers (WTC) in New York. Although mosques have never been charged for a criminal activity in New York, many TEIs have expanded to continue the on-going surveillance. The TEI, as it is known, is a police tool intended to help investigate terrorist cells and the like. The confidential document also reveals that NYPD investigated numerous innocent Muslims and kept their information in secret files. According to interviews with federal law enforcement officials, as NYPD conducts at least a dozen enterprise investigations, FBI never did one. Following the strategy, NYPD has also sent numerous undercover officers into mosques in order to plant informants in the Islamic institutions. The documents were disclosed in a lawsuit against NYPD accusing the department over racial profiling while combating crime. Earlier this month, a judge ruled that the department's use of the stop-and-frisk tactic was unconstitutional. [Source: The Express Tribune]

Britain Suspends 49 Export Licences to Egypt

Britain suspended 49 export licences to Egypt on Wednesday, saying it wanted to prevent British goods being used in unrest that has led to civilian deaths in the Arab country. London has already taken action to restrict exports to Egypt, last month withdrawing five licences for goods such as components for armoured fighting infantry vehicles, communication equipment for tanks and machine gun parts. Wednesday's suspension, which applies to licences for the Egyptian army, air force and internal security forces, covers a range of equipment, including spares for helicopters and aircraft, specialist software and communications equipment. "As a result of the developing situation in Egypt, we have agreed with EU partners in this instance to go further and suspend all export licences for goods which might be used for internal repression," Business Secretary Vince Cable said in a statement. "By acting together, we want to send a clear signal that we condemn all violence in Egypt." More than 1,000 people, including about 100 police and soldiers, have been killed since the army deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi on July 3 in the worst internal violence in the Egyptian republic's history. Most died when the security forces dispersed two pro-Mursi protest camps on August 14. The suspension will be kept under review until "conditions in Egypt indicate that it is appropriate to lift these restrictions," Cable's statement added. Last week, the European Union stopped short of agreeing immediate cuts in financial or military assistance to Cairo when the bloc's foreign ministers held emergency talks to find ways to help bring an end to violence in Egypt.[Source: Reuters]

Iranian Officials: Israel Will Be First Victim of a Syria Attack

Iranian officials have issued warnings that if a U.S.-led coalition attacks Syria Israel could find itself in the line of fire. "If such an incident takes place, which is impossible, the Zionist regime will be the first victim of a military attack on Syria," Iran's Fars new agency quoted senior parliamentary official Hossein Sheikholeslam as saying on Monday. Iranian officials often refer to Israel as the "Zionist regime" or "Zionist entity".) Sheikholeslam's warning follows a similar one from a senior Syrian official on Monday: Khalaf Muftah, a former assistant information minister in Syria, claimed that Damscus would hold Israel as being "behind the (Western) aggression and (it) will therefore come under fire," reports the Times of Israel. On Tuesday another Iranian parliamentarian, Mansur Haqiqatpur, also emphasized the threat of retaliation against Israel in the event of a military strike on Syria. If it were to occur, "the flames of outrage of the region's revolutionaries will point toward the Zionist regime," said Haqiqatpur. The series of threats come in the wake of increased momentum towards military intervention in Syria from Western governments. The Obama administration, as well as Britain and France, says that there is "undeniable" evidence that President Bashar Assad's regime used chemical weapons on civilians last week, leaving hundreds dead. As the U.K. works on a draft resolution it will put to the UN Security Council on Wednesday "authorizing necessary measures to protect civilians" in Syria, UN weapons inspectors have resumed their investigation into the alleged chemical weapons attack last week. Meanwhile, reports have emerged over the weekend that Israelis are ramping up gas mask distribution. The Israel Postal Company has seen a fourfold rise in gas masks requests across the country since news broke of the suspected use of nerve agents by Assad.[Source: Time World]

Pakistani Public Opinion on the US Hits Low Point

Pakistanis' perception of the United States has fallen to a new low, placing Pakistan at the top of the list of countries with unfavourable views of the United States, a survey released by the Pew Research Center indicates. The United States was viewed positively by only 11 percent of 1,201 adults interviewed in Pakistan. The latest findings, released last month, mark a decline in the U.S. image in Pakistan. Last year, 12 percent of respondents had a favourable opinion of the United States, while in 2000, 23 percent of Pakistanis surveyed had a positive perception, the Washington research organization said. Michael Kugelman, South Asia associate at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars in Washington, said an anti-American narrative among Pakistani opinion leaders portrayed the United States as a meddling superpower. "What makes things worse is that this narrative -- and the conspiracy theories that fuel it -- has been proven true in certain cases," Kugelman told UPI Next in an email interview. "For example, take the contention that the CIA wreaks havoc throughout Pakistan. Several years back, a CIA contractor shot and killed two Pakistani civilians in broad daylight," he said, referring to CIA contractor Raymond Davis' killing of two men in Pakistan's second-largest city, Lahore, in January 2011. Experts also cited U.S. drone strikes on suspected militant hideouts in tribal areas along the Afghan border as one of the major reasons for a decline in public perception of the United States. "Pakistani leadership, politicians of all political parties have roundly condemned the use of drones, citing violation of sovereignty and collateral damage of innocent lives," Ispahani said. "The Pakistani media, mostly urban, has been vehemently anti-drone and therefore anti-U.S. in their reports, articles and talk shows."  Between 2004 and 2013, the United States mounted 371 drone strikes killing more than 3,000 people, including 195 children, statistics from the United Kingdom's Bureau of Investigative Journalism show. The drone strikes are controversial among Pakistanis who say it is a violation of the country's sovereignty. However, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, during his visit to Pakistan this month, told Pakistan state television that terrorists such as al-Qaida members violate Pakistan's sovereignty.[Source: UPI.COM]

Abu Hashim