This is the transcript of the speech delivered by the Ameer of Hizb ut-Tahrir, Sheikh Ata ibn Khalil Abu Rashta, at the international ulema Khilafah "Caliphate" conference held in Jakarta, Indonesia in Rajab 1430 Hijri:
Allah سبحانه وتعالى says:
{إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ}
"Verily those who fear Allah from His servants are the Ulama" [Surah Fatir 35: 28].
It is reported in Abu Dawood and Tirmizi on the authority of Abu Darda' that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
«العلماء ورثة الأنبياء»
"The Ulama are the inheritors of the Prophets"
Respected learned Ulema!
Assalmu alikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,
All praise be to Allah سبحانه وتعالى and blessings upon His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and his family and his companions.
It pleases me to begin my address with this ayah and hadith which define the status of the Ulema who benefit others with their knowledge and is sincere in their deeds, Allah سبحانه وتعالى says:
{قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ}
"Say: "Are those who know equal to those who know not?" It is only men of understanding who will remember (i.e. get a lesson from Allâh's Signs and Verses)." [Surah Az-Zamar 39: 09].
Respected Ulema!
You are aware that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was sent with the great Islam, which is not meant to be given merely lip-service, rather it was sent down to be implemented and applied over people in the world, to have a state where Allah's hudood would be applied, His laws implemented, jihad carried out in His path and justice would be established which would spread goodness in every nook and corner of the world. This is clearly evident from the seerah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: He صلى الله عليه وسلم called to the path of Allah whist in Makkah al Mukarramah and sought the Nussrah from the various tribes and people of strength several times repeatedly until Allah سبحانه وتعالى blessed His Messenger with Nussrah through the Ansar of Madeenah al Munawwarah. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم established the Islamic State, after which other lands were opened and Islam was spread through Da'wah and Jihad.
The Khulafah al Rashidoon succeeded the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم who followed his path, fought in the way of Allah until people came to Iman and the Islamic State or the Khilafah "Caliphate" was firmly established in the Umawi and the Abbasi period, until the colonialist Kafir led by Britain and in cohort with certain Arab and Turk traitors, was able to destroy the Khilafah "Caliphate" on this day 88 years ago on 28th Rajab, 1342 A.H i.e. on 3rd March, 1924 C.E.
Respected Ulema!
During the entire period of Khilafah "Caliphate", the Muslims were strong and were attached to their honoured deen, when they uttered a word, it would echo throughout the world, and when they accomplished an action, the hearts of the kafir would be overwhelmed by it.
The Khaleefah of the Muslims would address the cloud to rain wherever it wanted and wherever it rained, the banner of the Khilafah "Caliphate" would be there. The ruler of Rome became hostile to the Muslim lands and sent a letter warning them. But the Khaleefah did not even consider it necessary to reply to him on a separate sheet of paper, rather he wrote on the back of the same paper saying: "You will not hear the reply; you will see it with your eyes." He mobilised the troops himself and terrified the ruler of Rome who bore the consequences of the act. A woman who cried for help when a Roman army commander oppressed her, called out for Mu'tasim and the Khaleefah answered back with an army defeating the enemy and liberating her from oppression and restoring her honour and pride to safety and removing the threat of that oppressor, who oppressed women and children. Qutaibah, the commander of the Muslim army captured him and forced him to pay ransom for his release. This ransom was so large that some Muslim army officers thought to free his other prisoners with the same ransom to which Qutaibah replied: "No, by Allah, after this no Muslim woman would ever be intimidated..." The King of France was taken prisoner and France had no one to turn to for help to free her king, except the Muslim Khaleefah Sulayman al Qanooni, may Allah have His mercy on him.
This was the strength and position of the Muslims throughout the reign of Khilafah "Caliphate" which ruled over the world and guided it to goodness. In fact the Khilafah "Caliphate" played a pioneering role in every field; it was the pioneer in industry, so it produced the first catapult (manjaneeq) which was a heavy industry of its age with which they blasted the walls of the Tai'f fort during the period of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم when the Islamic State was in its early stage during the 8th year of Hijrah. The Khilafah "Caliphate" State produced the great canon during the reign of Sultan Mohammad al-Fateh, may Allah have His mercy on him. The Muslims used this canon to pound the walls of the fortress of Constantinople.
The Khilafah "Caliphate" State was also the pioneer in sciences, it lead the world in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Astronomy and this fact is testified by the enemies of Islam themselves, more than its friends. Just one example of the Muslims great advances in science and industry bears sufficient evidence of their prowess. The Muslims presented a mechanical clock to Charlemagne, a European emperor and the king of kings of Europe at that time. When the clock opened its door to strike the hour, his courtiers who were their respected ones, were scared and thought it to be the work of some spirits which were inside the clock!
They were the first to elect the ruler at the time when the rulers of the world were acting without regard for the people, they didn't even ask their subjects about their rulers, so how would they ask them regarding who should rule?! In contrast Abdul Rahman ibn Auf (ra) went around the whole of Madina asking the men and women regarding the election of the Khaleefah in the run up to the election of Uthman (ra).
The Muslims were the first to restore the rights to the rightful people, man or woman. This was at a time when women were ‘owned' by men and they could be bought and sold in open markets; they had no honour or value, they were merely a commodity, as in today's markets where they are seen as a commodity and advertising embellishment. It was Islam which gave them a position of pride and liberated them. Islam gave woman independent financial rights and entitled her to her opinion, she could become a scholar or even a faqeeh of distinction.
Even in the field of economics, the Muslims held the pioneering position. They enjoyed economic security, benefits from public property were distributed to them and their affairs were conducted from the state wealth. Their private properties were protected, zakat was paid out to those deserving and sometimes no one could be found to pay zakat to! In contrast, now we have people who are condemned to live by collecting garbage, even in those countries which are considered to be economically advanced...
This was our position of pride and honour during the era of Khilafah "Caliphate", and where are we after the Khilafah "Caliphate" was destroyed?
We are now scattered like leaves in autumn, our single Khilafah "Caliphate" has been sliced into over fifty parts and each part is called a country, our wealth is being pillaged. We are the lands of energy - petrol and gas, which are sucked by the kafir colonialists, which they use to power their countries and run their factories, while in the Muslim lands electricity is cut-off more than once each day and the people have to live by candle light. There is not enough power for our own factories, as the West has!
"Like the thirsty camel in the deep desert. Though its back is laden with water!"
Our lands are seized, occupied and susceptible to be pillaged by any of the greedy, our lands are surrounded not only from all sides, but it's very heart is under occupation, Palestine, the land of Isra' wal Me'raj, the land of the first qiblah and the third Haram al Shareef. The blessed land is occupied and usurped by Jews, who are corrupting every inch of it. Then we have Kashmir occupied by Hindus who are spilling blood of the innocent and committing barbarous crimes. Then we have Cyprus which has been snatched away from its mother Turkey and the kafir Greeks have extended their long hand of oppression over most of the island, and East Timor cut away from its mother Indonesia. The Caucasus region of Chechnya and Ingushetia remains occupied by Russians, who are slaughtering people and spilling their blood, and of course we have Iraq and Afghanistan under American occupation, as well as Pakistan where the US has extended its hostilities. The list of such lands is indeed long...yet the Muslim rulers are amusing themselves as if this is not the blood of Muslims in Muslim lands! This is because they have abandoned Islam behind their backs and have been rewarded with authority by the Kafir colonialists. These rulers are simply enemy agents who not only are weakening and humiliating us but are also hostile towards us...
As far as ruling and leadership is concerned, the Muslims have not only surrendered the position of world's leadership, they have come to the lowest grades among the nations, where our rulers are stooping and kneeling before Obama and begging him to put pressure on Jews to stop constructing more settlements, while it was the duty of the rulers to eliminate the Jewish Entity by fighting it on the battlefields.
This is how we were, and this where we are now. Then is there a way to salvage ourselves now?
Respected Ulema!
This situation can only be amended and rectified on exactly the same lines as that of the first generation of Muslims, i.e. by restoring the Khilafah "Caliphate" al-Rashidah on the model of the Prophethood in the Muslim lands. This is the vital and critical issue of the Muslims and a matter of their pride and honour- it is on this path that lies the success in both the worlds inshaAllah, but without this, we will be like orphans ready to be eaten up by the enemy. The betterment and redemption of this Ummah is only in re-establishing the Khilafah "Caliphate" al-Rashidah and giving pledge of allegiance (bai'ah) to a rightly guided Khaleefah who will restore the unity of Muslims, establish justice and spread goodness so that Muslims- men and women live in peace and prosperity and enjoy fulfilment as servants of Allah, strong and holding steadfastly to their deen, not scared of any blame in the path of Allah. This is when the Muslims will attain goodness on earth and achieve blessings from heavens, the earth will give-out its treasures and the heavens will send down its best:
{ وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَى آَمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَرَكَاتٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ}
"And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwâ (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they denied (the Messengers). So, We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn." [Surah Ar-Ra'af 7: 96]
Respected Ulema!
Furthermore, the establishment of the Khilafah "Caliphate" being the vital issue is not only because it will restore their pride and honour or it is the secret of their strength, this is not the only reason. It is firstly and lastly, an obligation, an obligation of the highest order, this alone ensures their redemption from the death of jahiliyyah, it is reported by Muslim on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Omar (r.a) that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
« مَنْ خَلَعَ يَدًا مِنْ طَاعَةٍ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَا حُجَّةَ لَهُ وَمَنْ مَاتَ وَلَيْسَ فِي عُنُقِهِ بَيْعَةٌ مَاتَ مِيتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةً»
"Whosoever takes off his hands from allegiance to Allah سبحانه وتعالى will meet Him on the day of Resurrection without having any proof for him, and whosoever dies whilst there was no bay'ah on his neck (to a Khaleefah), dies the death of Jahiliyyah (ignorance)."
Now, whoever does not give bay'ah to the Khaleefah when there is one, and one who does not work to reestablish the Khilafah "Caliphate" when it ceases to exist, is deemed to die the death of Jahiliyyah. This is because the hadith of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم covers without exception all those "who die" and mentions the word "bay'ah", this is general not specific, it includes all Muslims until the ‘Qiyamah'. Moreover the word ‘bay'ah' is mentioned negatively i.e., in the context of ‘not giving bay'ah' which implies command to all Muslims to give bay'ah to the Khaleefah if he exists and working to establish him if he is not present. Therefore in all such conditions if a Muslims dies without the bay'ah being on neck, then he dies the death of Jahiliyyah, and this signifies the great sin in this matter.
The Companions of the Prophet (r.a) realised the importance of this matter and this is why they engaged themselves in the process of bay'ah to the successor (Khaleefah) of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم before taking up the task of his burial. This was despite the fact that burial of the dead is obligatory, but the Sahabah realised that the obligation of establishing the Khilafah "Caliphate" is paramount over the obligation of the burial. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم died on the morning of Monday; he was not buried during the day, the following night, the next day (Tuesday) and the following night as well. This was to enable the Muslims to give the bay'ah of in'iqad (Pledge of contract) to Syeddina Abu Bakr (r.a) at the Saqeefah Bani Sa'idah on the day of the Prophet's death and the bay'ah ita'ah (Pledge of allegiance) on Tuesday at the Prophet's mosque. Only then was the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم buried during the night, preceding Wednesday. In other words, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم's burial was delayed until after Abu Bakr (r.a) was given the bay'ah (pledge) of contracting (in'iqad) and obedience (ta'ah). This clearly demonstrates the great importance of establishing the Khaleefah and the bay'ah to him.
Respected Ulema!
It is not possible to implement Islam fully except under the state, because Islam's laws can only be applied by a Khaleefah, without him, there can be no Hudood applied, nor new lands can be opened and nor the crown of Islam can be protected, truly the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم observed:
«وَإِنَّمَا الْإِمَامُ جُنَّةٌ يُقَاتَلُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ وَيُتَّقَى بِهِ »
"Behold, the Imam is but a shield from behind whom people fight and by whom they protect themselves." [Agreed upon]
The Companions had such understanding of the significance of the Islamic State. When Ameeral Mu'mineen (The leader of the believers) ‘Omar (r.a) called them to discuss the issue of Islamic calendar, they had three important events to be taken as base year for the new Islamic calendar; the year of Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم's birth, the year of his Prophethood and the year of hijrah. ‘Ali (ra) said, "We shall have the year of the hijrah as the base, for it then that the Islamic State was established and it is the year of our pride." All the companions agreed to this despite the fact that the year of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم's birth in itself was a year of greatest significance and so was the year of his Prophethood, yet the companions selected the year of hijrah, the year of establishment of the Islamic State as the base year for the Muslims.
Respected Ulema!
Hizb ut Tahrir realises that the Khilafah "Caliphate" is the vital issue of Muslims and that it's reestablishment is a mandatory obligation upon us, an obligation which is paramount. Hence the Hizb has been working to establish the Khilafah "Caliphate" since the last fifty years. During this period it has been subjected to harm, arrests and torture and in certain Muslim countries its shabab have also been martyred. Yet it has remained steadfast on the path and continues to be committed to its objective, it is not afraid of the blame of blamers, it bears complete conviction and belief in Allah سبحانه وتعالى and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and remains sincere and dedicated to the vital issue of re-establishing the Khilafah "Caliphate". All praise be to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, it has been successful in making the banner of Khilafah "Caliphate" as the banner of all Muslims who are now demanding that this flag be unfurled where it belongs- right at the top! This has been achieved despite the misleading kuffar, their agents and their evil scheming:
{وَقَدْ مَكَرُوا مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ الْجِبَالُ}
"Indeed, they plotted their plot, and their plot was with Allâh, though their plot was not such as to remove the mountains." [Surah Ibraheem 14: 46]
And now the Khilafah "Caliphate" is visible to us as a reality soon and we pray Allah سبحانه وتعالى to bless us as being soldiers of Khilafah "Caliphate" and its establishers with His سبحانه وتعالى permission, and that will be a great victory.
Respected Ulema!
We wish and mean goodness for us and for you; it has been reported by Bukhari on the authority of Anas (r.a) that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
«لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ»
"No one of you will be a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself."
We will be pleased if you participate in this great and blessed task which is the reestablishment of the Khilafah "Caliphate", and who is better to take the initiative for this blessed task than the ‘Ulama? A learned scholar, who is afraid and mindful of Allah, has a pure and pristine heart deserve this task and is the right person to undertake such a task and his position is right in the forefront of this blessed struggle. This is why we do not simply ask you to only assist and help us, rather, we ask you for more; work with us and take your part in this great and blessed task. We are convinced of Allah سبحانه وتعالى's help and are seeing the re-emergence of Khilafah "Caliphate" soon inshaAllah. The days of honour and pride being restored to the Muslims are not far. This is pre-destined inshaAllah and His سبحانه وتعالى's promise to His servants will certainly be fulfilled:
{وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُون}
"Allâh has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islâm). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh)." [Surah An-Noor 24: 55]
This promise of Allah سبحانه وتعالى will fulfill the good news given by Allah سبحانه وتعالى's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم which is reported in Musnad Ahmad on the authority of Huzayfah bin al-Yaman (r.a) that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
« تَكُونُ النُّبُوَّةُ فِيكُمْ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَكُونَ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُهَا إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ خِلَافَةٌ عَلَى مِنْهَاجِ النُّبُوَّةِ فَتَكُونُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَكُونَ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُهَا إِذَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَرْفَعَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ مُلْكًا عَاضًّا فَيَكُونُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُهَا إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ مُلْكًا جَبْرِيَّةً فَتَكُونُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَكُونَ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُهَا إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ خِلَافَةً عَلَى مِنْهَاجِ النُّبُوَّةِ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ»
"Prophethood will last with you for as long as Allah wants it to last. Then He will end it if He wishes to end it. Then there will be Khilafah "Caliphate" according to the method of Prophethood and things will be as wishes them to be. Then He will end it if He wishes to end it. Then there will be a hereditary rule and things will be as wishes them to be. Then He will end it if He wishes to end it. Then there will be an oppressive rule and things will be as wishes them to be. Then He will end it if He wishes to end it. Then there will be Khilafah "Caliphate" according to the method of Prophethood. Then he صلى الله عليه وسلم remained silent."
And to conclude, I pray Allah سبحانه وتعالى for the success of your conference that it takes the front position in the struggle to bring back the Khilafah "Caliphate" which will restore the pride, prestige and power to the Muslims and make the Ummah as the best Ummah raised for the good of all people. This struggle will reestablish the Khilafah "Caliphate" State which will be the greatest nation on earth spreading goodness and justice, industry and the sciences and it will be safe, secure, strong and stable, this will be day:
{وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ * بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ يَنْصُرُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ}
"And on that day, the believers (i.e. Muslims) will rejoice With the Help of Allâh. He helps whom He wills, and He is the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful." [Surah Ar-Rum 30:04]
Wa Asalam ‘Alaikum wa Rahmatu Allah wa Barakatuhu
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