Question:
According to the Islamic law, how would the leader of a Muslim state should act against an element or group of people also Muslim causing physical damage to the property of the state which is being used to generate revenues for the state.
The group of people also claim that they are being treated unfairly due to their racial background, and if the government doesn’t respond accordingly they will seek to liberate themselves from the state and make an independent country., even taking help from non Muslim foes of the Muslim state. The emphasis of the element causing damage to the state property is race and racial inequality.
How should the leader of the state tackle this Islamicaly What is the status of the people whoa are even willing to take help form non Muslims to further their cause based on racial inequality.
Jazakumullahu khairan
Answer:
With regards to government ship and leadership, it has been clearly emphasized in the teachings and laws of Islam that the Muslims should unite and choose one leader whom they must obey, even if they will suffer worldly losses due to his leadership. At no cost should they rebel against him and he must be obeyed at all times. By going against an oppressive Muslim leader, the Muslims will suffer globally and the benefit will be of a very less degree in comparison to the harm. It is for this very reason that the ruler has permission to wage war against any rebels and to suppress their power, materially and physically. Therefore, if the public property is destroyed by a rebel group they will liable for the damages
Under normal circumstances, it is incorrect to seek assistance from a Kaafir leader against an unjust Muslim leader, as experiences have proved that this results in more benefit for the disbelievers than the Muslims. The secret behind the disbelievers having the upper hand over Muslims is, that they created the greed for material entities amongst the Muslims. They also stirred the love of nationalism amongst them, thus causing them to fight amongst themselves due to different reason, sometimes even causing them to fight over minor differences in religion. As a result, the Muslims not only lacked strength but became mentally enslaved to the disbelievers.
Presently, there are a number of free Muslim countries and governments, but not a single government is free to act upon his own policy, despite the weaponry, material and physical strength. Therefore, if all the Muslim governments decide to form one force, they will not be able to do so. The disbelievers have a notion, that fire should be fought with fire; the enemy must be destroyed with an enemy. Muslims are advised to live in a careful and wise manner.
The period, in which differences of opinion arouse between Hazrat Ali (R.A.) and Hazrat Mu’awiyah (R.A.), the Roman emperor became anxious of attaining victory over the Muslims due to their internal conflict. When Hazrat Mu’awiyah (R.A.) learnt of this plot he wrote to the Roman emperor and instructed him to immediately cancel his plans and he cautioned him that if he did not act in accordance to his instructions then he would reconcile with his brother Ali R.A.) and together they would destroy Rome. Upon reading this letter, the Roman emperor had no choice but to act upon its contents. Hazrat Mu’awiyah (R.A.) did not assist the Romans against Hazrat Ali (R.A.), but instead he was prepared to stand together with Hazrat Ali (R.A.) as one united force.
Unfortunately, after the Sahabah, the Muslims forgot about this unity and became concerned with attaining their own material interests. The disbelievers took advantage of the situation and gained the upper hand.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Mufti Muhammad Ashraf
Darul Iftaa
Jameah Mahmoodiyah
Springs
18 May 2005
09 Rabee’uth Thaani 1426