Having been sent a recent podcast with an American scholar Dr. Yasir Qadhi called “Let’s be Real” – while there are longer responses that could be written*, I would agree with the sentiment of being real.
And in that vein – here is a brief reality check.
So, “Let’s be Real”, and recognise that working within the current world order, and under the auspices of nation states – there will never be an Islamic solution for Palestine. And not just Palestine which is occupied by a Zionist bridgehead for the US and UK, but also for the question of Kashmir, for the Uyghur problem and the denial of Muslim and Islamic identity in countries across the World, for the interferences in Sudan funded by the UAE leading to such bloodshed, for the sectarianism promoted deliberately to further the national interests of regimes in Iran and the Gulf and so on.
Let’s be real – the current world order constructed to protect Western interests and the nation state model will not resolve any of these issues, and they will continue in one form or another so long as this model remains in place.
If after 9 months of Gaza, and
- the exposure (again) of international law as being a tool utilised when convenient and ignored when convenient
- the exposure (again) of Arab and Muslim regimes being self-concerned and protecting their own national interests or those of their backers
- the exposure (again) that the current world order is constructed to maintain and uphold the interests of the major powers at the expense of others,
doesn’t make someone realise that there is no solution through the current status quo, then, let’s be real, nothing will.
So, when YQ says Let’s be Real – lets get real and recognise that the only way we can begin to solve these problems according to Islam, is to use the tool that Allah instructed us with. Which is the Khilafa, the Islamic state. It is the state’s responsibility to represent Islam and defend Muslims on the international stage, through Jihad and other political means at its disposal.
YQ admits that the establishment of such a state is an obligation. But not a high priority one. So, it’s an obligation, but one that he doesn’t feel he or many others are obliged to work for. How that works from a normative Islamic perspective – especially given the importance and priority to the establishment of a caliphate holds in Islamic scholarship – is not addressed convincingly. Classically, scholars put its priority the other way around – at the top of the list – since without it there is no implementation of Islamic law, foreign policy and so on. Given the critical situations we continue to face as an umma, this de-prioritisation of the tool to unite Muslims and represent them in the international political arena including where required to wage Jihad to defend Muslims is an abdication of responsibility.
He then claims it’s an ideal, some far off dream that requires a lot of other work before it becomes a priority or a reality. This is as though the Khilafa is some kind of utopia that will only be established once the Muslims have already unified, have already resolved their other issues, and then as a reward this State appears.
Let’s be real, the establishment of the Khilafa is only the first step to resolving the massive political problems we face as an ummah. Once established, the work begins to unify the Muslims, to build our power, to establish ourselves to then work to liberate our lands and so on.
This is analogous to the Prophet peace be upon him, who established his leadership in Madina after almost being assassinated by the Quraish and having his companions tortured and starved for years. The establishment of the state in Madina was not some utopian ideal achieved on day one (or ever – the Islamic state is the political entity that implements Islam domestically and internationally, ran by and lived under by humans – not angels).
The Muslims had to strengthen themselves, to work against internal enemies such as the hypocrites, to fight wars against those who were trying to extinguish the light of Islam before it could spread. It took a further 10 years before Makka was opened. And then after the death of the Prophet peace be upon him, it faced internal divisions and political machinations which amounted to 3 of the first 4 khulafa being killed internally.
Numerous catastrophes, internal conflicts and invasions occurred during the various era of Islamic states, with the unity of the Muslims waxing and waning. But at least the Muslims at the time had the tools to deal with these catastrophes, rather than relying on foreign entities other than Islam.
So, let’s be real – the establishment of the Khilafa is not the end, it’s the beginning of work, and that work continues until each person meets their Lord.
Without the presence of an Islamic state – you don’t even have the necessary tool in your hand to do the work required in this case and are badly handicapped.
You are off the field, largely irrelevant politically and at the whims and desires of the politics of others – gathering around the Muslim umma like wolves on a flock of sheep.
As the Prophet, peace be upon, said – Verily only the Imam is a shield, you are defended by him and you fight from behind him.
YQ also talks about the sacrifices required – and how he doesn’t want to sacrifice blood to establish this Khilafa.
Let’s be real – Muslims are currently being slaughtered in Palestine, we are in the throes of civil war inflamed by mischief makers in Sudan, we have regimes killing Muslims on a sectarian basis in Syria to maintain their grip on power. We have had decades of imprisonment and torture of Muslims.
The ummah is suffering on many fronts, and the roots of this suffering can in large part be attributed to the absence of a state that stands for the interests and rights of Muslim and Islam internationally.
The presence of the Islamic state will not change everything, and it’s unrealistic to suggest otherwise – but without its presence you do not have any Islamic entity or mechanism to make real change internationally. Instead, you are wishfully thinking that referring to the goodwill and better nature of the Western nations and their agents will lessen issues for the Muslim ummah. It is this which is the true fairy tale as contemporary history is showing us again and again.
A last comment on the question of pragmatism, and defeatism. When presented with the options:
- Work to change the reality to suit Islam
- Try to make Islam work within the modern context, since the reality is too difficult to change
YQ agreed that the second point is representative of his approach. Any approach that is unwilling to challenge the status quo, aids in the perpetuation of that status quo. Such a view is not encapsulated by the words “Let’s be Real” but is more representative of the phrase “Let’s be defeatist.” The helplessness that we cannot change the current reality, and so we resign ourselves to it.
Allah and the Book He sent down to His Prophet, peace be upon him, enjoins upon Muslims to change the reality to suit Islam. This point is so fundamental to the Quran and the stories of the Prophets, it should not require elaboration for any thinking Muslim.
The work to establish a politic entity that rules by Islam, representing the interests of the umma and the Islamic rules domestically and internationally is not easy. It has faced and will continue to face several obstacles in its path until Allah brings about His Victory. It requires seriousness, thought, preparation, effort and sacrifice. And importantly, it requires people to be clear about the reality, and their Islamic priorities.
“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, ‘When (will come) the Help of Allah?’ Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!”
Dr. Reza Pankhurst is the author of The Inevitable Caliphate (Oxford University Press, 2012) and The Untold History of the Liberation Party (C Hurst & Co, 2016)
*Other relevant posts to some of the issues raised in the podcast: