Islam's Reformers .pdf

The hearts will not be as pure and clear as they were in theinitial days. I’tiqâd’s being sahîh, a’mâl’s being sâlih and theleaders’ justice will not be the same as those in the first century[of Islam]. Vices and bid’a will spread everywhere. The bad willgo among the good, and bid’a will take place among the Sunna.I asked what ‘blurred’ meant. He declared, “They are thosewho do not adapt my sunna and follow my path. They bothperform ’ibâda and commit sins.” They do goodness andwickedness. They commit bid’a. I asked, “Will there come a badtime again after that good period?” He declared, “Yes. Therewill be those who will call [people] to the doors of Hell.Those who will listen to them will be thrown into Hell.” Iinquired, “O Rasûl-Allah! How will these people look like?”“They, too, are human like us. They speak as we do,” hesaid. That is, they will speak Arabic. Quoting âyats and hadîths,they will preach and give advice, but there will be no goodnessor goodwill in their hearts. I said, “What do you command us todo if we reach their time?” He declared, “Adhere to theMuslims’ jamâ’a (community) and government.” I asked,“What shall we do if there is not a Muslim jamâ’a andgovernment?” He declared, “Get yourself into a corner.Never go among them. Live alone till you die!” ’ He declaredin a hadîth sherîf, “After me, there will be such governmentsthat will leave my path. Their hearts are the home of theSatan. Obey them, too! Do not revolt against them! Do notrevolt even if you are beaten and your property isexpropriated!” That is, do not rise against the cruelgovernment that attacks your property and lives; do not causefitna; be patient and busy with your ’ibâdât; if you cannot protectyourselves against fitna in the town, take refuge in the forest; ifyou go into the forest and have to eat grass and leaves in ordernot to be among the holders of fitna, stay in the forest so youshould not join them! He declared, ‘Listen well and obey.’ Thislast command means that we should be very careful not to riseagainst the government and not to cause fitna.” As it isunderstood from these hadîths and from the explanations of the’ulamâ’ of Islam, men of religious post should not get involved inthe formation of the State and in law-making; they should not gointo politics; they should not become tools in the hands ofpoliticians; they should not advocate this or that form of regime.The ’ulamâ’ of Ahl as-Sunna obeyed this prohibition strictly and- 220 -