The Islamic bond is the best means for uniting Muslims
Praise be to Allah. May Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon
the Messenger of Allah, his family, Companions, and those who follow his
guidance!
The religious brotherhood among the Muslim people is the strongest tie that unites the Muslim Ummah (nation based on one creed) and strengthens it in the face of its lurking enemies of the Kafirs (disbelievers/non-Muslims) and hypocrites. This is the grace of harmony among Muslims, which Allah (Glorified be He) bestows upon His Prophet Muhammad, and reminds him of it in His Saying:
{He it is Who has supported you with His Help and with the believers.} [Surah al-Anfal 8:62]
{And He has united their (i.e. believers’) hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allâh has united them. Certainly He is All-Mighty, All-Wise.} [Surah al-Anfal 8:63]
Allah reminds all Muslims, male and female, of this grace bestowed upon them when He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
{The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma‘rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden); they perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give the Zakât, and obey Allâh and His Messenger. Allâh will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise.} [Surah at-Tawbah 9:71]
He (Exalted be He) says:
{The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islâmic religion). So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allâh, that you may receive mercy.} [Surah al-Hujurat 49:10]
Besides, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices by overbidding against one another; do not hate one another; do not harbor malice against one another; and do not enter into commercial transaction when others have entered into that (transaction); but be you, O slaves of Allah, as brothers. A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he neither oppresses him nor does he look down upon him, nor does he belie him, nor does he humiliate him. Piety is here, (and he pointed to his chest three times). It is enough evil for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother-in-faith: his blood, his property and his honor."[1] (Related by Imam Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith). There are so many Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) and Hadiths to the same effect.
This great grace incites the hatred of the enemies of Islam and they work hard to disunite the Ummah and sow dissention and dispute to make the Ummah lose strength and to easily humiliate and overpower it. As they put it, divide and rule.
The most efficient means that the enemies make use of are the readable, audio and visual media which provide false and distorted news that sow evil, sedition, hatred and dissention among Muslims.
The foremost obligations upon all Muslims, particularly scholars and fair media officials is to face such malignant campaigns that exploit any event to throw doubts and undermine confidence among all Muslims, individuals, groups, rulers and subjects.
It is noteworthy, particularly, this year that many world news agencies that serve the schemes of the enemies of Islam and follow the Christian and Masonic centers plan cunningly to provoke the whole world against the so-called fundamentalists. They intend to dispraise and cast aspersions on the committed Muslims who adhere to the true fundamentals of Islam and object to coping with the inclination toward rapprochement among cultures and false religions.
Some Muslim media professionals have fallen into the trap of enemies, and began to circulate such anti-Islamic news unaware of the intentions of the enemies or for achieving personal ends. In this way, they support the enemies against Islam and Muslims, instead of carrying out their obligation to confront the enemies of Islam and abort their plots by stressing the importance of the religious bond and Muslim brotherhood among Muslim countries. The inescapable individual errors should not be an excuse for justifying the slander on Islam and Muslims to disunite them.
Therefore, I would like to provide some advice for all Muslims including media professionals and others in the Islamic countries and elsewhere to warn everyone against the plots of enemies among the Kafirs, hypocrites and those who follow their way. They should protect the Islamic text, audio and visual media from being a means for throwing doubts on Islam and the callers to it, sowing dissention among the scholars of the Ummah and dispute among rulers and subjects; scholars and laypeople. They should exert their utmost efforts to bring Muslims together and unite them, calling upon the rulers and subjects to adhere to their religion and seek the judgments of the Shari`ah (Islamic law). They should recommend each other to cooperate on this in proper ways, sincere advice, righteous deed and good conduct. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
{Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment.} [Surah al-Ma’idah 5:2]
Allah (Glorified be He) also says:
{By Al-‘Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss, Except those who believe (in Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth [i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma‘ruf) which Allâh has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar which Allâh has forbidden], and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allâh’s Cause during preaching His religion of Islâmic Monotheism or Jihâd).} [Surah al-‘Asr 103:1-3]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Religion is based on advising one another. Upon this we said: For whom, Messenger of Allah? He replied: For Allah, His Book, His Messenger and for the leaders and the general Muslims.”[2] (Related by Muslim in his Sahih Book of Hadith)
It was reported that Jarir ibn `Abdullah Al-Bajaly (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I gave the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to offer Salah (Prayer), pay the Zakah (obligatory charity) and to give sincere advice to every Muslim.”[3] (Agreed upon by Imams Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
I advise scholars and callers to Al-Haqq (the Truth) to avoid the demonstrations and marches that harm the Da`wah (calling to Islam) and sow dissention among Muslims and sedition between rulers and subjects.
It is an obligation to follow the way leading to Al-Haqq (the Truth) and adopt the means that benefit rather than harm, unite rather than divide, and spread Da`wah (calling to Islam) and show Muslims the obligations they have to do through useful books, tapes, lectures and Friday Khutbah (sermon) that manifest and call to Al-Haqq and clarify and warn against falsehood, along with purposeful visits to rulers and officials and providing written or spoken advice with compassion, wisdom and proper style. Describing the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
{And by the Mercy of Allâh, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you} [Surah Aal ‘Imraan 3:159]
He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says to Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) and Harun (Aaron, peace be upon him) when He sends them to Fir`aun (Pharaoh):
{"And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allâh)."} [Surah Ta-Ha 22:44]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Give people good tidings and do not fill them with aversion; treat them with ease and do not be hard on them; love each other, and do not differ.”[4]
The Prophet (may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him) also says: “Kindness is not to be found in anything but that it adds to its beauty and it is not withdrawn from anything but it makes it defective.”[5]
The Prophet (may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him) also says: “He who is deprived of forbearance is, in fact, deprived of all good.”[6] All such Hadiths are Sahih and authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
It is narrated in the Sahih Book of Hadith by Muslim on the authority of `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “O Allah, who (happens to) acquire some kind of control over the affairs of my people and is kind to them - be kind to him, and (who happens to) acquire some kind of control over the affairs of my people and is hard upon them, be hard upon him.”[7] There so many Hadiths to the same effect.
We ask Allah to set right the affairs of all Muslims, unite them on Al-Haqq, guide their leaders and direct them to apply His Shari`ah, abide by it and prefer it to what opposes it. We also ask Allah to grant victory to His Religion through them and help them set right their religious and worldly affairs, grant them happiness, and rescue them in this life and the Hereafter. May Allah guide the Muslim scholars to carry out their obligations in the way that pleases Him, bless their efforts, enable them to support Al-Haqq, and guide them to all that benefits the people and countries! Indeed, He alone is Able to do so. May Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions! As-salamu `alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!)
[1] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on marriage, no. 5144; Muslim, Sahih, Book on righteousness, upholding ties of kinship, and good manners, no. 2564; Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, Book on marriage, no. 3239; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 2, p. 394; and Malik, Al-Muwatta', Book on transactions, no. 1391.
[2] Muslim, Sahih, Book on faith, no. 55; Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, Book on Al-Bay`ah, no. 4198; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on manners, no. 4944; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 102.
[3] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Zakah, no. 1401; Muslim, Sahih, Book on faith, no. 56; Al-Tirmidhy, Sunan, Book on righteousness and upholding ties of kinship, no. 1925; Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, Book on Al-Bay`ah, no. 4175; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 364; and Al-Darimy, Sunan, Book on transactions, no. 2540.
[4] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Jihad and military expeditions, no. 3038; Muslim, Sahih, Book on Jihad and military expeditions, no. 1732; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on manners, no. 4835; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 412.
[5] Muslim, Sahih, Book on righteousness, upholding ties of kinship, and good manners, no. 2594; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on manners, no. 4808; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 6, no. 125.
[6] Muslim, Sahih, righteousness, upholding ties of kinship, and good manners, no. 2592; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on manners, no. 4809; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Book on manners, no. 3687; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 366.
[7] Muslim, Sahih, Book on rulership, no. 1828; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 6, p. 93.
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him.
Source: www.alifta.net – Fatwas of Ibn Baz, volume 7.
Reference: This was published in some daily newspapers, including Al-Bilad and Al-Nadwah, on Thursday 19/2/1412 A.H., and in others, including Al-Riyadh and Al-Masa'iyah newspapers, on Wednesday 18/2/1412 A.H.
The religious brotherhood among the Muslim people is the strongest tie that unites the Muslim Ummah (nation based on one creed) and strengthens it in the face of its lurking enemies of the Kafirs (disbelievers/non-Muslims) and hypocrites. This is the grace of harmony among Muslims, which Allah (Glorified be He) bestows upon His Prophet Muhammad, and reminds him of it in His Saying:
{He it is Who has supported you with His Help and with the believers.} [Surah al-Anfal 8:62]
{And He has united their (i.e. believers’) hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allâh has united them. Certainly He is All-Mighty, All-Wise.} [Surah al-Anfal 8:63]
Allah reminds all Muslims, male and female, of this grace bestowed upon them when He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
{The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma‘rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden); they perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give the Zakât, and obey Allâh and His Messenger. Allâh will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise.} [Surah at-Tawbah 9:71]
He (Exalted be He) says:
{The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islâmic religion). So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allâh, that you may receive mercy.} [Surah al-Hujurat 49:10]
Besides, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices by overbidding against one another; do not hate one another; do not harbor malice against one another; and do not enter into commercial transaction when others have entered into that (transaction); but be you, O slaves of Allah, as brothers. A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he neither oppresses him nor does he look down upon him, nor does he belie him, nor does he humiliate him. Piety is here, (and he pointed to his chest three times). It is enough evil for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother-in-faith: his blood, his property and his honor."[1] (Related by Imam Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith). There are so many Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) and Hadiths to the same effect.
This great grace incites the hatred of the enemies of Islam and they work hard to disunite the Ummah and sow dissention and dispute to make the Ummah lose strength and to easily humiliate and overpower it. As they put it, divide and rule.
The most efficient means that the enemies make use of are the readable, audio and visual media which provide false and distorted news that sow evil, sedition, hatred and dissention among Muslims.
The foremost obligations upon all Muslims, particularly scholars and fair media officials is to face such malignant campaigns that exploit any event to throw doubts and undermine confidence among all Muslims, individuals, groups, rulers and subjects.
It is noteworthy, particularly, this year that many world news agencies that serve the schemes of the enemies of Islam and follow the Christian and Masonic centers plan cunningly to provoke the whole world against the so-called fundamentalists. They intend to dispraise and cast aspersions on the committed Muslims who adhere to the true fundamentals of Islam and object to coping with the inclination toward rapprochement among cultures and false religions.
Some Muslim media professionals have fallen into the trap of enemies, and began to circulate such anti-Islamic news unaware of the intentions of the enemies or for achieving personal ends. In this way, they support the enemies against Islam and Muslims, instead of carrying out their obligation to confront the enemies of Islam and abort their plots by stressing the importance of the religious bond and Muslim brotherhood among Muslim countries. The inescapable individual errors should not be an excuse for justifying the slander on Islam and Muslims to disunite them.
Therefore, I would like to provide some advice for all Muslims including media professionals and others in the Islamic countries and elsewhere to warn everyone against the plots of enemies among the Kafirs, hypocrites and those who follow their way. They should protect the Islamic text, audio and visual media from being a means for throwing doubts on Islam and the callers to it, sowing dissention among the scholars of the Ummah and dispute among rulers and subjects; scholars and laypeople. They should exert their utmost efforts to bring Muslims together and unite them, calling upon the rulers and subjects to adhere to their religion and seek the judgments of the Shari`ah (Islamic law). They should recommend each other to cooperate on this in proper ways, sincere advice, righteous deed and good conduct. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
{Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwâ (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment.} [Surah al-Ma’idah 5:2]
Allah (Glorified be He) also says:
{By Al-‘Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss, Except those who believe (in Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth [i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma‘ruf) which Allâh has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar which Allâh has forbidden], and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allâh’s Cause during preaching His religion of Islâmic Monotheism or Jihâd).} [Surah al-‘Asr 103:1-3]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Religion is based on advising one another. Upon this we said: For whom, Messenger of Allah? He replied: For Allah, His Book, His Messenger and for the leaders and the general Muslims.”[2] (Related by Muslim in his Sahih Book of Hadith)
It was reported that Jarir ibn `Abdullah Al-Bajaly (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I gave the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to offer Salah (Prayer), pay the Zakah (obligatory charity) and to give sincere advice to every Muslim.”[3] (Agreed upon by Imams Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
I advise scholars and callers to Al-Haqq (the Truth) to avoid the demonstrations and marches that harm the Da`wah (calling to Islam) and sow dissention among Muslims and sedition between rulers and subjects.
It is an obligation to follow the way leading to Al-Haqq (the Truth) and adopt the means that benefit rather than harm, unite rather than divide, and spread Da`wah (calling to Islam) and show Muslims the obligations they have to do through useful books, tapes, lectures and Friday Khutbah (sermon) that manifest and call to Al-Haqq and clarify and warn against falsehood, along with purposeful visits to rulers and officials and providing written or spoken advice with compassion, wisdom and proper style. Describing the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
{And by the Mercy of Allâh, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you} [Surah Aal ‘Imraan 3:159]
He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says to Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) and Harun (Aaron, peace be upon him) when He sends them to Fir`aun (Pharaoh):
{"And speak to him mildly, perhaps he may accept admonition or fear (Allâh)."} [Surah Ta-Ha 22:44]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Give people good tidings and do not fill them with aversion; treat them with ease and do not be hard on them; love each other, and do not differ.”[4]
The Prophet (may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him) also says: “Kindness is not to be found in anything but that it adds to its beauty and it is not withdrawn from anything but it makes it defective.”[5]
The Prophet (may Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him) also says: “He who is deprived of forbearance is, in fact, deprived of all good.”[6] All such Hadiths are Sahih and authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
It is narrated in the Sahih Book of Hadith by Muslim on the authority of `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “O Allah, who (happens to) acquire some kind of control over the affairs of my people and is kind to them - be kind to him, and (who happens to) acquire some kind of control over the affairs of my people and is hard upon them, be hard upon him.”[7] There so many Hadiths to the same effect.
We ask Allah to set right the affairs of all Muslims, unite them on Al-Haqq, guide their leaders and direct them to apply His Shari`ah, abide by it and prefer it to what opposes it. We also ask Allah to grant victory to His Religion through them and help them set right their religious and worldly affairs, grant them happiness, and rescue them in this life and the Hereafter. May Allah guide the Muslim scholars to carry out their obligations in the way that pleases Him, bless their efforts, enable them to support Al-Haqq, and guide them to all that benefits the people and countries! Indeed, He alone is Able to do so. May Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions! As-salamu `alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!)
[1] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on marriage, no. 5144; Muslim, Sahih, Book on righteousness, upholding ties of kinship, and good manners, no. 2564; Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, Book on marriage, no. 3239; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 2, p. 394; and Malik, Al-Muwatta', Book on transactions, no. 1391.
[2] Muslim, Sahih, Book on faith, no. 55; Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, Book on Al-Bay`ah, no. 4198; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on manners, no. 4944; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 102.
[3] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Zakah, no. 1401; Muslim, Sahih, Book on faith, no. 56; Al-Tirmidhy, Sunan, Book on righteousness and upholding ties of kinship, no. 1925; Al-Nasa'y, Sunan, Book on Al-Bay`ah, no. 4175; Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 364; and Al-Darimy, Sunan, Book on transactions, no. 2540.
[4] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Jihad and military expeditions, no. 3038; Muslim, Sahih, Book on Jihad and military expeditions, no. 1732; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on manners, no. 4835; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 412.
[5] Muslim, Sahih, Book on righteousness, upholding ties of kinship, and good manners, no. 2594; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on manners, no. 4808; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 6, no. 125.
[6] Muslim, Sahih, righteousness, upholding ties of kinship, and good manners, no. 2592; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on manners, no. 4809; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Book on manners, no. 3687; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 366.
[7] Muslim, Sahih, Book on rulership, no. 1828; and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 6, p. 93.
Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin 'Abdullah bin Baaz, may Allah have mercy upon him.
Source: www.alifta.net – Fatwas of Ibn Baz, volume 7.
Reference: This was published in some daily newspapers, including Al-Bilad and Al-Nadwah, on Thursday 19/2/1412 A.H., and in others, including Al-Riyadh and Al-Masa'iyah newspapers, on Wednesday 18/2/1412 A.H.