This video (goo.gl/Ukok8q) of Sh. Abdal Hakim Murad - Allah increase him and us in all that good - answering the question, What can we do for Palestine and basically saying, Nothing, so focus locally (thats my summary, but watch the answer for yourself) is doing the rounds, though from 2011. My comments on the answer from another thread: Theres two fundamental problems with the premises by which the shaykh arrives at the conclusion that we cant do anything so should focus locally: 1. This idea that we should only speak out/protest when it makes a practical (material) difference (protest wont change US foreign policy, therefore its pointless) does not accord with Prophetic instruction to speak out against evil *when unable to change it physically*. The hadith explicitly says that when you can not change the evil with your hand, speak out against it. The entire concept of forbidding the evil speaks to this as well. So to render the speaking out as pointless and say that it should not be done because it wont lead to change contravenes this and renders the concept of forbidding evil void. In origin, we dont speak out against a munkar because it will change it. We do so because Allah instructs us to. Note the case of those who forbade the sabbath-breakers. When asked why they first allude to the duty to Allah (madhiratan ila rabbikum) and then that perchance they will change. If they used the criteria of will it make them stop? they wont not have said anything, which the Quran emphatically declares as a wrong. Further, speaking out does make a difference, even if not direct change: it keeps the correct idea alive and prevents the evil act from being accepted as norm in the minds of people. This is critical for the change that will later ensue. 2. The assumption is that Palestine will be helped when the US/Europe decides to change its policy in responding to an influential Muslim community, hence we need to see how we can influence their policy. But theres another way: the Muslim world gets its house in order, unifies under a sincere Islamic leadership (Khilafah) and repels all the remnants of colonialism from its lands, including Israel. This is an obligation on the Ummah as it is! So we should look to this path, and here Muslims from all over the world can play a role, particularly in the realm of public opinion, which is critical. Finally, I would note that doing any of this is not mutually exclusive to doing what needs to be done by Muslim communities in the west locally.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 03:56:46 +0000