Islamic Ethics

Sayyid Qutb said:

“God makes the fulfillment of obligations to people an act of worship addressed to Him and an aspect of the righteousness He loves. This is the basis of Islamic ethics.

Islam does not act on the basis of gain and interest, or on the basis of constantly changing traditions. All Islamic ethics are based on worshipping God and fearing Him, which is the essence of righteousness.

A Muslim brings his behaviour in line with that which he knows to please God. His aim is to win God’s pleasure and to ensure that He is not displeased with him. This is the essence of the strong hold Islamic ethics have on Muslims. These ethics also serve people’s interests and work for their benefit. They establish a society in which friction and contradiction are reduced as much as possible. They also help human beings in their continuous march to a higher standard of humanity.”

[Fee Dhilaal Al-Quraan, 8/15-16]

The Reason Behind The Kuffaar’s Hatred Against The Believer

Shaheed Sayyid Qutb said:

“Their grudge is against every believer, and their evil deeds shall always be levelled against every Muslim. It as an animosity directed at the very Duality of faith, or indeed against faith itself. This has always been the case with the enemies of faith, in all periods of history. Thus said the sorcerers to Pharaoh when he threatened them with torture, vengeance and a woeful doom: “You want to take vengeance on us because we have believed in the signs of our Lord when they were shown to us.” [7:126]

The same was said by the Prophet (saw), on God’s instructions, to the people of earlier revelations who opposed him: “Say, O People of the Book, do you find fault with us for any reason other than we believe in God alone.” [5:59]

In reference to the People of the Pit who in former times burned the believers with their women and children, God says: “They took vengeance on them for no reason other than that they believed in God, the Almighty, the Praised One.” [85:8}

Faith is then the cause of all their hatred for the believers. Hence their ill-will and atrocities are directed against every believer. “They respect neither agreement nor obligation of honor with regard to any believer. Those indeed are the transgressors.” [9:10]

It is their nature that they are aggressors. Their aggression begins with their hatred of the divine faith and their rejection of its message. It is their aggression that leads them to stand in opposition to faith and adopt a hostile attitude to the believers…”

[Fee Dhilaal Al-Quraan, by Sayyid Qutb, 8/61]

Understanding The verse Of the Sword (Soorah Tawbah, Verse 5)

Sayyid Qutb said:

“God’s instructions to the Muslims were clear; when the four months were over, they were to kill any idolater wherever he was found, or they were to take him captive, or besiege him if he was in a fortified place, or lie in wait for him so that he could not escape without punishment, except for those to whom obligations were to be observed for as long as their treaties remained in force. Indeed the idolaters were given enough notice, which meant that they were not taken by surprise. Nor did they fall victim to any treachery. Their treaties were terminated publicly and they were made fully aware of what was to be done with them.

Moreover, this was not meant as a campaign of vengeance or extermination,  but rather as a warning which provided a motive for them to accept Islam. “If they should repent, take to prayer and pay the zakah, let them go their way, for God is much-Forgiving, Merciful.” [9:5]

For 22 years they had been listening to the message of Islam put to them in the clearest possible way. For 22 years they were, nevertheless, trying to suppress the message of Islam by persecution, open warfare and forging alliances to destroy the Islamic state. This was a long history that contrasted with the never failing tolerance of Islam,  as demonstrated by God’s Mesenger and his companions.

Nevertheless, Islam was now opening its arms to them. Instructions are here issued to the Prophet and the Muslims, the very victims of persecution who were driven out of their homeland and suffered a war of aggression, to extend a hand of welcome to those idolators should they turn to hod in repentance. Such repentance should be genuine, confirmed by their observance of the main duties of Islam. That is because God never judges anyone who turns to Him in simcere repentance, no matter how great his sins are, “For god is much Forgiving, Merciful. ” [9:5]

[Fee Dhilaal Al-Quraan, 8/54-55]

Peaceful Co-Existence

Regarding the words of Allaah: “But if they incline to peace, you also incline to it, and (put your) trust in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” [8:61], Sayyid Qutb said:

“These verses make it clear that it is perfectly appropriate to conclude agreements of peaceful co-existence with other communities and groups, as long as such agreements are certain to be taken seriously, respected and honoured. If the other camp manipulates these agreements and uses them as a shield to cover up its treacherous designs, taking steps to launch an assault against the Muslims, then the Muslim leadership is fully entitled to terminate these agreements, making the other side fully aware of that termination.

Once this is done, the Muslim leadership is free to choose the time when to attack, making sure that any such attack is powerful enough to strike fear in the heart of all who contemplate a hostile attitude towards the Muslim society, whether openly or in secret.

On the other hand, those who are interested in a genuine peace with the Muslim camp, have no intention of opposing the Islamic message or stopping its advocacy, and demonstrate their inclination to peace, may enjoy such a relationship of real peace.”

[Fee Zhilaal Al-Quraan [English trans.], 7/178]

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The Need For A Powerful Ummah [2/2]

“Islam certainly needs physical might which is kept ready to use for the fulfilment of its mission of liberating mankind throughout the world.

The first purpose that this power serves is to establish peace and security for those who choose to accept the Islamic faith so that they do not suffer any persecution as a result of their choice.

Secondly, it deters the enemies of Islaam from contemplating aggression against the land of Islaam.

Thirdly, such enemies should also be intimidated that they do not ever entertain any thought of trying to check the tide of Islaam as it goes about the fulfilment of its mission of liberation.

Lastly, this power is to be used to break any force that claims the attributes of God and enforces its laws and legislation on human beings and refuses to accept that all sovereignty belongs to Allaah alone.”

[Fee Zhilaal Al-Quraan [English trans.], 7/185]

Disclaimer: This blog is for information purposes only. The views expressed in these articles may not necessarily be those shared by the blog owner.

The Need For A Powerful Ummah [1/2]

“The Muslim community, which represents the camp following Allaah’s guidance, must always be prepared, maintain a position of strength, be as well equipped as possible, so that it is always held in awe by other communities.

This will ensure better security for the land of Islaam, as hostile forces will think twice before launching an attack on it. It will also make forces submit to the requirement of allowing the advocates of the faith to fulfil their task of making Allaah’s message known to people and calling on them to accept it.

They will also refrain from trying to prevent anyone in their land from accepting the faith if he wishes to do so. Sovereignty will thus be acknowledged to belong to Allaah alone, and no one other than Him may lay claim to it.”

[Fee Zhilaal Al-Quraan [English trans.], 7/176]

Disclaimer: This blog is for information purposes only. The views expressed in these articles may not necessarily be those shared by the blog owner.

Abolishing The Jaahiliyyah Society [2/2]

“It is necessary that the theoretical foundation of Islaam, i.e. the belief, should take in practice the form of an organised and active group right at the outset.

It is also necessary that this group should separate itself from jaahiliyyah society and remain independent of, and distinct from it.

After all, Islaam aims to dismantle jaahiliyyah society altogether. At the centre of this new group there should be a new leadership. Such leadership first came in the person of the prophet (saw) himself. In later generations, it has been delegated to those who strive for bringing people back to believing in Allaah as the only God (one worthy of worship) in the universe and who accept His sovereignty, authority and laws. Every person who bears witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is Allaah’s Messenger should cut off relations of loyalty to jaahiliyyah society, which he has forsaken, and its ignorant leadership, whether it takes the guise of priests, magicians or astrologers, or in the form of political, social or economical leadership, as was the case with the Quraysh at the time of the prophet (saw).

Full and complete loyalty must be given to the new Islamic movement and the new Muslim leadership.

This decisive step must be taken at the very moment when a person makes his verbal declaration bearing witness that ‘there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and Muhammad is Allaah’s Messenger.’ A Muslim society cannot come into existence without this. It does not become a reality when it is no more than a belief held by individual Muslims, numerous as they may be. They must form themselves into an active, harmonious and cooperative group with a separate and distinct existence. Like the limbs of a human body, all individuals in this group work together to strengthen its foundation, and to enable it to expand and defend itself against any external attack which threatens its existence.

In all this, they must work under a leadership that is independent of that of jaahiliyyah society. The role of this leadership is to regulate, harmonize and direct their efforts to the strengthening of their Islamic character and to resist and abolish the hostile jaahiliyyah set-up.

It was in this way that Islaam was established for the first time. It was founded on a creed which, though concise, encompassed all life. This creed immediately brought into action a viable and dynamic group of people who had become independent and separate from the jaahiliyyah society that rose to challenge it. It never came as an abstract theory devoid of practical existence. Similarly, it can be brought about in the future only in the same manner. There is no other way for the survival of Islaam, in any area or period of time, unless it wants to remain under the yoke of jaahiliyyah. Effort to bring about a revival of Islaam must always be equipped with a thorough understanding of its character which tries to be represented in a movement and in an organic system.”

[Fee Zhilaal Al-Quraan, by Sayyid Qutb, 7/209-210]

Disclaimer: This blog is for information purposes only. The views expressed in these articles may not necessarily be those shared by the blog owner.

Abolishing The Jaahiliyyah Society [1/2]

“Jaahiliyyah, which may be defined as a state of ignorance based on giving sovereignty to human beings, is bound to bring about a clash between the natural and the free-will aspects of human life. To counter Jaahiliyyah in human life all Prophets, including Muhammad (saw), Allaah’s final Messenger, advocated submission to Allaah alone. It must be said that ignorance is not represented by an abstract theory.

In certain periods of history, ignorance had no theoretical representation whatsoever. However, it always takes the form of a living movement in society which has its own leadership, its own concepts and values, and its own traditions, habits and feelings. It is an organised society and there is close co-operation and loyalty between its individuals. It is always ready to defend its existence consciously or unconsciously. It crushes all elements which seem to be dangerous to its personality.

Since jaahiliyyah takes the form of an active movement in this fashion, rather than of a theory, then any attempt to abolish jaahiliyyah and bring people back to Allaah through representing Islaam merely as a theory is both useless and ineffective.

Jaahiliyyah controls the practical world, and for its support there is a living and active organisation. In this situation, mere theoretical efforts cannot be a match for it. When the purpose is to abolish the existing system and to replace it with a new one that is different in character, principles, as well as in all general and particular aspects, it stands to reason that this new system should come into the battlefield as an organised movement and a viable community. It must also have the advantage of a more powerful strategy, social organisation and firmer ties between its individuals. Only then can it hope to replace the existing system.”

[Fee Zhilaal Al-Quraan, by Sayyid Qutb, 7/207-208]

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“Islaam Does Not Allow Its Followers To Sit Idle…”

Ash-Shaheed Sayyid Qutb said:

“When a community does not stand up to wrongdoers, when it does not take any positive steps to punish transgressors, it deserves to share in the punishment of those wrongdoers and transgressors.

It should be said that the worst type of wrongdoing is to abandon Allaah’s law which He has laid down to be implemented in human life. As a system, Islaam has a serious outlook based on mutual help and solidarity within the community.

Islaam does not allow its followers to sit idle when injustice, corruption and wrongdoing continue on the rampage, let alone sees Allaah’s faith abandoned and His Godhead denied in order to be substituted by false claims.

Such people cannot hope to be spared trial and temptation simple because they are good within themselves.”

[Fee Zhilaal Al-Quraan [English trans.], 7/111]

Disclaimer: This blog is for information purposes only. The views expressed in these articles may not necessarily be those shared by the blog owner. To combat injustice one cannot do injustice in return. Extremism and causing terror to innocent civilian is strictly prohibited in Islaam.

Running Away From The Battlefield, By Sayyid Qutb

Sayyid Qutb said:

“To flee from battle deserves such condemnation because of the magnitude of its serious consequences on the one hand, and because it has a bearing on the very question of having faith. A believer should be firm and resolute, able to resist any force on earth, since he believes that Allaah’s power can overcome all powers.

If a believer’s heart experiences a tremor at a moment of danger, such a tremor should not go as far as making him flee from battle. The moment of anyone’s death is determined by Allaah alone.

Hence, no believer may flee from battle fearing for his life. This should not constitute too much of a burden for anyone. A believer is a human being who encounters an enemy, who, in turn, is a human being. hence, they are of the same nature. The believer, however, has the advantage of relying on the overpowering might of Allaah Himself. Moreover, he is under Allaah’s care while he is alive, and he entrusts himself to Allaah’s care if he attains martyrdom.

This means that in all situations he is stronger than his enemy who defies Allaah and His Messenger. Hence this absolute ruling: “And whoever turns his back to them on such a day – unless it be a stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop (of his own), – he indeed has drawn upon himself wrath from Allah. And his abode is Hell, and worst indeed is that destination!“

[Fee Zhilaal Al-Quraan [English trans.], 7/101]

Disclaimer: This blog is for information purposes only. The views expressed in these articles may not necessarily be those shared by the blog owner.