Blame Ourselves or Blame the Rulers

[Fabregas]

Blame Ourselves or Blame the Rulers

By Imam Ibn Qayyim (rahimahullaah) Compiled by Dr. Saleh-As-Saleh (rahimahullaah)

 

 

 

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) talked about what people think is the fitnah of "our times", i.e. meaning his own times, but this applies just as well to the contemporary fitnah of our own times. About the ways of Allaah (I) in this creation vis-a-vis the rulers and the ruled, he said :

 

"And contemplate Allaah's (I) Wisdom when He made people of authority, making them a reflection of the ruled. It is as if the deeds of the ruled appear in the form and deeds of their rulers :

 

if the ruled are upright, then their rulers will be upright

if the ruled incline away from uprightness, then their rulers will do the same to them

if the ruled transgress and oppress, then their rulers will do the same to them

if there appears deception and plotting from the ruled, then it will be the same from their rulers

if the ruled take away the rights of the people and become miser as to the rights of others, then their rulers will do the same to them and deprive them of their rights if the ruled take away from the oppressed /weak among them that which they deserve not to take in their transactions with them, then their rulers will do that towards the ruled's wealth and take what they deserve not, and impose on the ruled taxes and assignments and whenever the ruled take from the oppressed and weak unjustly, then their rulers will do the same to them and take it by force so the actions of the ruled appear in the actions of the rulers and it is not in the Divine Wisdom that Allaah (I) assigns authority over the wicked and evils ones, EXCEPT to the ones who are of their own kind Since the first generation was of the best generation and of the most righteous, ... so were their leaders righteous It is not befitting Allaah's Wisdom that in "our times" (Ibnul Qayyim's times) that those assigned to authority over us be the like of Muawwiya and 'Umar bin 'Abdul 'Aziz, not to mention Abu Bakr and 'Umar. The leaders of those before us were in accordance with their own conditions and ranks. Our leaders are in accordance with our own condition and rank. In both cases, this is entailed by the Wisdom of Allaah (I)."

 

Such is the conclusion of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullah) concerning his times, i.e. the 8th century A.H., so what do you think about our own times?

The Wisdom of Allaah (I) pertains to His Attributes. He puts things in accordance with His Hikmah and puts them in their proper places with what fits. The Wisdom of Allaah (I) has a noble and most perfect objective.

As for those who hasten in making these roads for "deliverance" and see getting rid of the rulers as the solution to their problems, they confuse symptoms and disease.

The rulers are seen as being the causes when in reality they are only the symptoms. The true illness is within the ruled. Therefore, all endeavors towards finding a solution should focus on the ruled themselves.

The deeds of the ruled are reflected in the deeds of the people having authority over them. When the people are not ready and are away from the deen of Allaah, who would you expect them to deserve as rulers?

 

Contemplate this very carefully!

 

Saleh As-Saleh

transcript of audio file 29-11-1425

corresponding to Jan 10th 2005

www.understand-islam.net

[Nur]

Baarkallahu feek Brother Geel Gire.

 

A Timely topic.

 

Here are my thoughts!

 

 

The Messenger of Allah used to supplicate:

 

" Wa laa tusallit calayenaa bi dhunuubinaa man laa yakhaafuka wa laa yarxamunaa" , meaning, " O Allah, as a result of our sins, do not punish us by empowering over us (rulers) who neither fear you, nor have mercy for us.

 

It was reported that Ali Radiyallahu canhu was asked during the Fitna why is there so much more fitna ( Confusion-killing etc) than the times of Abu Bakar, Omar and Othman? his wise answer was:

 

" Kaanuu yaxkumuuna amthaalii, wa anaa axkumu amthaalukum" meaning ; "They used to rule over ( Citizenry) like me, and I rule over ( Citizenry) like you"

 

Brother Geel Jire, the problem we are facing now is a catch 22, there is no question that the Somali people want just to live and go about their life in peace, a great many of them think about their daily pasta and Camel Milk than their faith, however, our "rulers" in Somalia, are also remotely ruled from Addis Ababa, a "true Democracy" , a Government by the Tigre Ethiopians, for the Somali Warlords serving the Strategic Objectves of the USA. So, where should we start? do we make an effort in changing the mindset of the Somalis so they can demand a better leadership, or should we help remove the "rulers" aka warlords to change the people?

 

 

Nur

[Fabregas]

quote:if the ruled take away the rights of the people and become miser as to the rights of others, then their rulers will do the same to them and deprive them of their rights if the ruled take away from the oppressed

 

^^Nur Bro,

 

The above quote from Ibn Al Qayim reminds of one/some of the most shocking prejudices and racism perpetrated against the Somali minority clan, which I witnessed first hand in one particular Somali City. It's a shame that some minorities have been taken in by Christian groups of America and given visas to America,after SOmalis discriminated against them.

 

To answer your question;

 

I believe SOmalis(Islamists) shouldn't attempt to violently remove the two entities up north. I say that because they have ultimately been chosen by the local clans, it will probably create more of a fitnah, in attempting to remove them, as the Ulema of those regions have said. No Somalis have the resources to perform such a task, without attracting neighbouring countries and Uncle Sam. Giving naseeha to the rulers and changing society from within is more appropriate, given the state the Ummanh finds itself in.

 

 

As for the South: Walahi, I don't know what is going on in that place, it seems like war after war, division after division, suffering after suffering. But, after a long consideration, I am starting to lean towards a compromise between the wadaads and the secular entity, whereby the wadaad politicians perserve the right of the local clans to still use aShariah system, but conceed on their demands to rule SOmali from the center or to govern all of Somalia from Muqdisho, as happened in 2006.

 

That is, unless the wadaads groups can unite themselves and the SOmali people, have the proper resources to undertake such a fight and limit the suffering and fitna which is occuring. Just look at the amount of division within their own ranks.

 

 

Nur, do you believe that they should continue their dagaal without considering the suffering and the nature of theirs and the SOmali peoples weak, divided state?

[Malika]

Originally posted by Nur:

So, where should we start? do we make an effort in changing the mindset of the Somalis so they can demand a better leadership, or should we help remove the "rulers" aka warlords to change the people?

 

 

Nur

A good question!

 

I personally would say there aught to be a change in the mindset of the Somalis, “our Leaders” are products our own confused society. I see so called leaders confusing their ambitions with their visions; if they actually had a vision would have been something huh!

 

What is it that we are aspiring to now? An Islamic state, a clan based system with a twist of Islam or the democractic process of leading with a twist of clan affiliation..Anagii baa wareer saan..Ya Allah! :confused:

[Nur]

Malika sis

 

I think that the two processes should coexist, in other words, our efforts to change the mindset of Somalis should not become a pretext to leave the platform for the warlords alone to appoint a clown as a leader which we are expected to follow. Allah says in Quraan to Moses and his brother Aaron: " Your wish has been gratnted, so ( be grateful to Allah and) do not follow the way of those who know not "

 

Clan affiliation is good only if the clan is ruled by elders who accept Allah as their guide and Islam as the only way of life for their clan. Ha wareerin yaa ukhti, please read my past posts on Democracy and Sharia, I am sure it will help.

 

 

Nur