AsSalam O Alaikkum, On the April 20th, Muslims all over the US gathered in Washington to protest the US poilicies towards Middle East. Millions of dollars have been spent to organize and to support this rally. First of all, do these kinds of rallies have any Islamic importance? Does ever Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his Shaba (RA) protested this way? We all know about the US policies and I’ve failed to understand the logic of telling an aggressor that you are an aggressor. Such kinds of rallies had been organised in the past with zero-impact. Secondly, lots of unislamic acts happen in these kinds of rallies, music, dances, un-hijab women etc. It appears to be a big picnic day with families doing the sight seeing than really doing any protest. As far as I know these protests, walks, day of gatherings etc were invented by non-muslims and have no islamic importance. Islam has defined its own day of gatherings that are Eids and a friday gathering every week. Mimber is the place to raise your voice against injustice. How can Muslims change a system by becoming part of that system??? Allah knows the best.
Allah Ta’ala says in the noble Qur’aan, ‘Hold firm to the rope of Allah Ta’ala all together, and do not disunite.’ (Aali Imraan Aayat103).
Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said, ‘A Muslim is a
brother to his next Muslim, he neither oppresses him, nor does he abandon
him to be attacked by the enemy. He who becomes of assistance to his needy
Muslim brother, Allah Ta’ala will assist him with his needs.’ (Riyaadhus
saaliheen pg.123;Darul Fikr)
The abovementioned quotations clearly indicate that brotherhood and unity is
the actual spirit of Islam. It is, therefore, the duty of every Muslim to
strive to his level best to revive this unity and brotherhood. When Muslims
in our own country and abroad are being oppressed and suffering at the hands
of the non-believers, it becomes the duty of every Muslim to assist these
Muslims. It is incumbent upon every Muslim to show and express his worry,
concern, cry and support for his fellow oppressed Muslims.
The object and purpose of hosting marches and rallies is to create
confidence within our Muslims to join hands together, bringing all our
thoughts together and, in doing so, creating pressure from our side onto
those who are oppressing the Muslims abroad. The purpose of these marches is
to express our support and assistance for our Muslims who are suffering
abroad. As long as these marches and rallies stay within the confines of
Shari’ah, there is no prohibition for this. Any un-Islamic factor, such as
Music, intermingling of sexes, photography, women in public without proper
Shar’ee attire, etc. that are prevalent at these marches will render the
march not permissible.
However, if these marches are carried out in a proper Shar’ee manner without
any un-Islamic activities, then this could become a leeway for the
assistance of our oppressed Muslims who are suffering at the hands of the
non-believers. We must, however, remember that since the hosting of such
marches is a very delicate issue. It is important to form a Shura committee
under the guidance of the Ulama specially dedicated for these types of
issues. Together with such a committee and guidance from the Ulama, the
necessary aspects and requirements about how to organize these marches may
be discussed.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai