Unity and Khilafah

Source: www.khilafah.org

Like a baby craves for it's mothers milk and the comfort of her embrace because it instinctively knows that such milk and protection represents the survival of it's very life; so we, the Muslim Ummah, crave unity. We know that if we were unified we would not feel like a helpless and vulnerable baby separated from the embrace of it's mother. Rather we would be shielded by the protection that such unity represents. Unity is the question which preys on the minds of the Ummah - we instinctively know it will lead to our salvation. However, whilst no one disagrees as to the importance and necessity of unity some have misunderstood how that unity should be manifested.

Some, spread the seeds of doubt and mistrust amongst Muslims about each others belief/aqeedah somewhat paradoxically under the banner of unity. Others accept the Muslims to be divided into over 50 nations and naively think that such a situation can lead to unified action. You will see those type of people putting their hopes in nation-states like Sudan or Iran, not realising that by doing so they help continue the division of the Ummah. More recently a few individuals have followed the style of spreading mistrust amongst each other by questioning the meat we eat and other such fruitless and negative calls. In this article we look into the issue from an Islamic perspective, which reveals that unity is linked with leadership, like a mother is linked with her suckling baby.

Unity as a Qur'anic Necessity

Allah (SWT) says: " O you who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam. And hold fast all together by the rope of Allah and be not divided among yourselves " [TMQ 3: 102-103]

" And obey Allah and His Messenger and do not dispute amongst yourselves, lest you lose heart and your power depart and be patient and persevering for Allah is with those who patiently persevere " [TMQ 8:46]

It was narrated by Qatada that Ibnul Munthir and Ibnu Abi Hatim said that in the verses quoted above Allah (SWT) has ordered us to hold fast to the Book of Allah, His Deen i.e. Islam, and to His covenant; and He has forbidden us to be divided and to dispute with each other, as this would lead us to lose our power. Qatada said: It means do not dispute among yourselves lest you become fearful and lose your power, your protection and your state. In the Arabic language, power is a term used to refer to the state.

Imam Al-Shawkani wrote in his book entitled "Tafseer Al-Qur'an Al-Atheem" (Commentary of the Mighty Qur'an) - volume 2, page 215 - the following: " It is known from the Deen by necessity that Islam has forbidden division among Muslims and the segregation of their land. " Therefore, we note that the learned scholars in Islam have all agreed that it would be forbidden for the Muslims all over the world to have more than one Islamic state, no matter how far apart their households became and no matter how great the provinces between them stretched, and no matter how many seas, rivers and mountains divided these provinces. This state is the Islamic Khilafah, which is the general leadership of all the Muslims worldwide.

Unity Under One Man: A Necessity

The Islamic State (Al-Khilafah) represents the unity of the Muslims, and the unity of their land and their wealth. This unity cannot be achieved except by the unity of their Khilafah and their Khaleefah. Therefore, the scholars are in agreement about the fact that it would be forbidden to have more than one Khaleefah in the world. This is so because Imam Ahmad reported in his Musnad - chapter 2 page 176 & 177 - on the authority of Abdullah Ibnu Amru that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: It would be unlawful for three people to be in any part of the world without appointing one of them as Amir. " One of them " means one from among them.

This indicates that it should be one and no more. This is deduced from the opposite understanding of the word "one", and it is well known in the science of "Usul-ul-Fiqh" (the foundations of jurisprudence) that the opposite understanding applies and that its indication carries the same weight as that of the "pronounced" (Al-Mantuq) as far as the evidence is concerned; the opposite understanding cannot be suspended except in one case, that is if there were a text to abrogate it. And here, there has been no text to abrogate it, therefore it should apply, and the understanding of the Hadith would be that they should appoint one of them as Amir and no more. This is why the leadership of the Muslim Ummah is given to one Muslim man, and it is forbidden to have more than one leader; Islam has even ordered the killing of the second if the oath of allegiance (Baya'a) had already been taken for the first one. This is so because Muslim reported in his Sahih on the authority of Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri who said: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: If an oath of allegiance has been taken for two Khaleefahs kill the latter of them.

Islam has also ordered the killing of any who work towards dividing the Muslims or towards rebelling against them or against their Khaleefah. Muslim reported on the authority of Arfaja who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (SAW) say: Whoso comes to you while your affair has been united under one man, intending to divide your staff or dissolve your unity, kill him.

Muslim also reported on the authority of Abdullah Ibnu Amru Ibnul A'as that he heard the Messenger of Allah (SAW) say: Whoever gave his Baya'a to an Imam giving him the clasp of his hand and the fruit of his heart shall obey him as long as he can. If another comes to dispute with him, you must strike the neck of that man.

These Ahadith are Sahih and explicit, and they clearly indicate the unity of the Khilafah. It is therefore forbidden for Muslims to have more than one state. Therefore, we find that the learned scholars have agreed on this matter.

What the Scholars Say

Imam Al-Nawawi: who died in 676 hijri, wrote in his book entitled Sharhu (Explanation of) Sahih Muslim - chapter 12, page 231 - the following: If a Baya'a were taken for two Khaleefahs one after the other, the Baya'a of the first one would be valid and it should be fulfilled and honoured, whereas the Baya'a of the second would be invalid, and it would be forbidden to honour it. This is the right opinion which the majority of the scholars follow, and they agree that it would be forbidden to appoint two Khaleefahs at one given time, no matter how great and extended the Islamic lands became.

Imam Ibnu Hazm: who died in 456 hijri wrote the following in his book entitled Al-Muhalla -chapter 4, page 360: And it is unlawful to have more than one Imam in the whole world.

Imam Al-Sha'arani: wrote in his book Al-Meezan - chapter 2 page 157 - the following: It is forbidden for the Muslims to have two Imams in office at the same time whether they were in agreement or in disagreement.

Imam Ibnu Qudama Al-Maqdisi: who died in 620 hijri, wrote in his book entitled Al-Mughni - chapter 5 page 243 - the following: It is forbidden to contract it (i.e. the Khilafah) for more than one.

Imam Al-Mawardi: who died in 450 hijri wrote in his book entitled Al-Ahkam Al-Sultaniyya - page 9 - the following: If the Imama were contracted for two Imams in two countries, their Imama would not be valid for it is forbidden for the Ummah to have two Imams at the same time.

Division is Prohibited

O Muslims! Division is one of the prohibitions stated in the Book of Allah. He (SWT) says: " Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputes after receiving clear signs, for them is a dreadful penalty " [TMQ 3:105]

O Muslims! Allah (SWT) commands you to obey Him, to obey His Messenger and to obey the Khaleefah. He (SWT) says: " O you who believe, obey Allah, obey the Messenger and those in authority amongst you " [TMQ 4:59]

Allah (SWT) does not command you to obey someone who does not exist, and this indicates that working towards establishing the Khilafahh and giving the Baya'a (i.e. an oath of allegiance) to a Khaleefah is the mother of obligations, because the obedience of the Khaleefah comes after the obedience of Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAW). The Khaleefah means the Khilafah, and the Khilafah is of high authority and a leadership for you. This authority has been taken away from you by unislamic ruling regimes who have imposed themselves upon you by force, betrayal, oppression and deception. The current ruling authorities are working for their paymasters, the disbelievers, executing their orders. They obey their kafir masters by killing those who campaign for Islam from among your sons and daughters, by dividing your land and squandering your wealth by spending it on their masters in the west to help the kuffar build huge arsenals, strengthen their economies, and even spend it on their zoos and amusement parks as has happened in recent times.

Working for Unity, Working for Khilafah

O Muslims! No matter how big in number this Ummah of ours became, no matter how numerous her groups became, no matter how large the number of her scholars became, no matter how rich she became, and no matter how abundant her oil flowed and her masajid spread, she would not be able to gain a platform upon the world stage until she resumes the work to establish the ruling system that Islam has brought; the Ummah would not be ruled by Islam unless she reclaimed back her authority from the collaborating treacherous ruling authorities, and unless she gave the Baya'a to a Khaleefah to rule by the Book of her Lord and the Sunnah of her Messenger, and to implement Islam over her land and convey its Message to the world. This is so because Allah (SWT) says:

"It is He Who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and the Deen of Truth, to dominate over all other deens though the Mushrikeen detest it" [9:33]

O Muslims, we invite you to work with us to revive the Khilafah, to put it back on track, and to work towards bringing it back to temporal life and to the realm of reality. And remember that the Book of Allah calls you, and that the Ummah is pleading with you, and the ailing world needs you and that heaven is awaiting you, so won't you respond?

" O you who believe! Respond to the call of Allah and the Messenger if He calls you to that which gives you life " [TMQ 8:24]