Response to comments on “The Islâmic View Concerning Canada Day”

[Aboo Taaloot]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

I received some comments on “The Islâmic View Concerning Canada Day” article and have responded to them here. I have included the comments here in red and my responses in black. I have not changed or omitted any of the comments.

I don’t have enough knowledge about all the quotes he is making

As any person should know, if one does not have knowledge on a topic, one should refrain from judgement before researching it.

- but if I agree with this e-mail, then…

As is known to Muslims, our rulings in every matter are taken from the Qur’ân and Sunnah. We do not accept and reject rulings based upon what it might necessitate that we have to perform or abandon. Allâh, تعالى, said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ
O you who Believe! Do not put (yourselves) forward before Allâh and His Messenger [1]

Imâm al-Qurtubî said, “In other words, do not put any action nor any statement forward before Allâh and the statements of His Messenger, صلى الله عليه وسلم, and his actions, in that which taking from him is possible in matters of the Dunyâ and the Religion.” And he said also: “(Do not put (yourselves) forward before Allâh), is a basis for abandoning any opposition to the statements of the Prophet, صلى الله عليه وسلم, and the obligation of following him and taking him as a leader.” [2]

And Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “(Do not put (yourselves) forward …) In other words do not say (anything) until he says, and do not order (anything) until he orders, and do not give Religious verdicts until he gives religious verdicts, and do not state any matter for certain until he is the one who ruled concerning it and concluded it…” – until he said – “…and the all-inclusive opinion concerning the meaning of the Âyah: Do not be hasty with a saying nor with an action before the Messenger of Allâh, صلى الله عليه وسلم, says or acts.” [3]

And he said: “The origin of every Fitnah is from nothing except putting opinion ahead of the Shara’ and the desires ahead of the intellect.” [4]

I should not mix with any non-believers,

Nowhere in the article was this explicitly or even implicitly stated. We need to discuss issues with facts and with clarity, not based upon emotional responses to things we may not have heard before or find difficult to accept.

I should not have any socio-cultural celebrations in my life

If a celebration falls within the laws of Islâm, we may celebrate it. If it does not comply with the laws of Islâm, we do not celebrate it. Again, we do not judge a ruling based upon what it might obligate us to do or prevent us from doing.

and there should not be any nationhoods or countries in the world other than faith based countries.

My question here is, “Should there be nations and countries that aren’t based upon Islâm?”

Allâh, تعالى, said:

وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
And whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed, such are the Kâfirûn (i.e. disbelievers of a lesser degree as they do not act on Allâh’s Laws). [5]

And He said:

وَكَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِيهَا أَنَّ النَّفْسَ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالْعَيْنَ بِالْعَيْنِ وَالأَنفَ بِالأَنفِ وَالأُذُنَ بِالأُذُنِ وَالسِّنَّ بِالسِّنِّ وَالْجُرُوحَ قِصَاصٌ فَمَن تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ فَهُوَ كَفَّارَةٌ لَّهُ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
And We ordained therein for them: “Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal.” But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it shall be for him an expiation. And whosoever does not judge by that which Allâh has revealed, such are the Thâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers - of a lesser degree). [6]

And He said:

وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ الإِنجِيلِ بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فِيهِ وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ
Let the people of the Injîl (Gospel) judge by what Allâh has revealed therein. And whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed (then) such (people) are the Fâsiqûn [the rebellious i.e. disobedient (of a lesser degree)] to Allâh. [7]

And He said:

وَأَنِ احْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءهُمْ وَاحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَن بَعْضِ مَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ إِلَيْكَ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللّهُ أَن يُصِيبَهُم بِبَعْضِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ وَإِنَّ كَثِيراً مِّنَ النَّاسِ لَفَاسِقُونَ
And so judge (you O Muhammad, صلى الله عليه وسلم) among them by what Allâh has revealed and follow not their vain desires, but beware of them lest they turn you (O Muhammad, صلى الله عليه وسلم) far away from some of that which Allâh has sent down to you. And if they turn away, then know that Allâh’s Will is to punish them for some sins of theirs. And truly, most of men are Fâsiqûn (rebellious and disobedient to Allâh). [8]

And He said:

أَفَحُكْمَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللّهِ حُكْمًا لِّقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
Do they then seek the judgement of (the days of) Ignorance? And who is better in judgement than Allâh for a people who have firm Faith. [9]

Hammâm said: “We were with Huthayfah , then they mentioned “And whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed, such are the Kâfirûn” So a man from the people said: ‘Verily this is regarding Banî Isrâ’îl.’ So Huthayfah (sarcastically) said: ‘What good brethren the Children of Israel are. All of what is bitter is for them and all that is sweet is for you. No, By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, until you follow the tradition with the tradition and the arrow feather by the arrow feather” [10]

So again I ask if there should be nations other than ones based upon Islâm.

There are too many scholarly articles refuting this idea.

If there are discussions from legitimate scholars, please provide them. And by “legitimate scholars”, I mean ones that will discuss this topic in the same manner it has been discussed and refute the arguments put forth already; not merely state that whatever a culture does is fine to follow. I would expect that this should be easy for you to find, since we have over 1400 years of scholarly works. And I would expect more than a few current day people.

I think this is an e-mail that takes Islamic ruling too far

I don’t know what is meant by “takes Islamic ruling too far”, as Islâmic rulings are the be all and end all of what Muslims strive to follow.

Allâh, تعالى, said:

فَلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىَ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ يَجِدُواْ فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيمًا
But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) a judge in that which is disputed between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission [11]

And He said:

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُّبِينًا
And it is not for a Believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger have decreed a matter, that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error. [12]

And He said:

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاَتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَاْ أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
Say (O Muhammad): “Verily, my Salât, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, Jinns and all that exists). He has no partner. And with that I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.” [13]

and will create fitna in the society.

Discussing the truth and propagating it amongst the people is something that leads to division, as this is the tradition that Allâh has legislated in the universe. However, this is never a reason to stop spreading what is true nor a reason to reject it.

Allâh, تعالى, stated,

وَلَوْ شَاء رَبُّكَ لَجَعَلَ النَّاسَ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلاَ يَزَالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ إِلاَّ مَن رَّحِمَ رَبُّكَ وَلِذَلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ لأَمْلأنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ
And if your Lord had so willed, He could surely have made mankind one Ummah [nation or community (following one religion only i.e. Islâm)], but they will not cease to disagree- Except him on whom your Lord has bestowed His Mercy (the follower of truth - Islâmic Monotheism) and for that did He create them. And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled (i.e. His Saying): “Surely, I shall fill Hell with Jinn and Men all together.” [14]

And He, تعالى, stated,

...وَلَوْ يَشَاء اللَّهُ لَانتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَكِن لِّيَبْلُوَ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍ
...but if it had been Allâh’s Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight), in order to test you, some with others. [15]

And Allâh, تعالى, stated,

وَجَعَلْنَا بَعْضَكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فِتْنَةً أَتَصْبِرُونَ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ بَصِيرًا
And We have made some of you as a trial for others: will you have patience? And your Lord is Ever All-Seer (of everything). [16]

And in the Hadîth of Jâbir, رضي الله عنه, that the Angels said when talking about the Prophet, صلى الله عليه وسلم, “And Muhammad divided between the people.” [17]

And in the Qudsî Hadîth, on the authority of ‘Iyâdh Ibn Himâr, Allâh, عز وجل, said to His Prophet, صلى الله عليه وسلم, “I only sent you to test you and to test (others) with you.” And later in the Hadîth, “And fight with those who obeyed you those who disobeyed you.” [18]

If you have any reply to these points, please let me know, as I would appreciate any advice on the matter.

Jazâk Allâhu Khayran.

Haytham Sayfaddîn,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
halsayfedine@hotmail.com


[1] Sûrat Al-Hujurât, 1
[2] “Tafsîr Al-Qurtubî”: 16/300, 302
[3] “I’lâm Al-Muwaqqi’în”, Vol. 1/51
[4] “Ighâthat Al-Lahfân”, Vol. 2/178
[5] Surat al-Mâ’idah, 44
[6] Surat al-Mâ’idah, 45
[7] Surat al-Mâ’idah, 47
[8] Surat al-Mâ’idah, 49
[9] Surat al-Mâ’idah, 50
[10] Narrated by Al-Hâkim in “Al-Mustadrak”, Vol. 2/342 who said, “It is Sahîh according to the conditions of the two Shaykhs (i.e. Al-Bukhârî and Muslim) but they did not narrate it.” And Ath-Thahabî said in “At-Talkhîs”, “It is upon the conditions of Al-Bukhârî and Muslim.” And Shaykh Sulaymân Ibn Nâsir al-‘Ulwân agreed with that. Also, a similar narration can be found in “Tafsîr Ibn Jarîr” from Huthayfah Ibn Al-Yamân also.
[11] Sûrat An-Nisâ’, 65
[12] Sûrat Al-Ahzâb, 36
[13] Sûrat Al-An’âm, 162-163
[14] Sûrat Hûd, 118-119
[15] Sûrat Muhammad, 4
[16] Sûrat Al-Furqân, 20
[17] Narrated by Al-Bukhârî (#7,281)
[18] Narrated by Muslim (#2,865)