The Messengers Will be Asked About Their Nations

In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

"On the Day when Allah will gather the Messengers together and say to them: "What was the response you received (from men to your teaching)? They will say: "We have no knowledge, verily, only You are the All-Knower of all that is hidden (or unseen, etc.)." ( Qur'an 5 : 109)

Allah states that on the Day of Resurrection, He will ask the Messengers about how their nations, to whom He sent them, answered and responded to their teachings. Allah said in other Ayat,

(Then surely, We shall question those (people) to whom it (the Book) was sent and verily, We shall question the Messengers.) (7:6), and,

(So, by your Lord, We shall certainly call all of them to account. For all that they used to do.) (15:92-93). The statement of the Messengers here,

(We have no knowledge) is the result of the horror of that Day, according to Mujahid, Al-Hasan Al-Basri and As-Suddi. `Abdur-Razzaq narrated that Ath-Thawri said that Al-A`mash said that Mujahid said about the Ayah,

(On the Day when Allah will gather the Messengers together and say to them: "What was the response you received'') They will become afraid and reply,

(We have no knowledge. ..) Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim also recorded this explanation. `Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn `Abbas commented on the Ayah,

(On the Day when Allah will gather the Messengers together and say to them: "What was the response you received (from men to your teaching)'' They will say: "We have no knowledge, verily, only You are the Knower of all that is hidden.'') "They will say to the Lord, Most Honored, `We have no knowledge beyond what we know, and even that, You have more knowledge of them than us.'' This response is out of respect before the Lord, Most Honored, and it means, we have no knowledge compared to Your encompassing knowledge. Therefore, our knowledge only grasped the visible behavior of these people, not the secrets of their hearts. You are the Knower of everything, Who has encompassing knowledge of all things, and our knowledge compared to Your knowledge is similar to not having any knowledge at all, for

(only You are the Knower of all that is hidden.)

Scholars cannot permit what Allah has forbidden

In The Name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful

In Response to an Article Published In the Trinidad Express 17th May 2010, Entitled 'StayAway From The Polls' Pt. 2.

Scholars cannot permit what Allah has forbidden

One of the main excuses some people use today in attempt to justify the evil act of voting for a person to make law on one’s behalf is that the majority of Muslim scholars say it is allowed to vote, and some even go further saying it is a religious duty.

This, like every other so-called argument used to justify voting for man to play the role of God and make law, is entirely flawed and can never be used as an excuse to associate partners with Allah by choosing a lawmaker besides Him. There are many places in the Qur’aan in which Allah (SWT) informs us of individuals in the past who were favoured by Him and were given knowledge, yet they abused the knowledge they were given, started to follow their own desires and misled the people.

For example, the Jews and Christians (People of the Book) were accused by Allah of worshipping their rabbis and priests by obeying and following their religious edicts which clearly went against the commands of Allah. Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’aan:

“They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah).” (EMQ at-Tawbah, 9:31)

‘Uday bin Haatim used to be a Christian. When he heard the Messenger of Allah (SAW) recite the above verse he tried to deny this and responded: “We did not worship them (rabbis and priests).” The Prophet (SAW) replied: “Did they (rabbis and priests) not forbid what Allah permitted and hence you forbade it; and they permitted what Allah forbade and thus you permitted it?” ‘Uday replied “Yes.” The Prophet (SAW) said, “That is how you worshipped them.” After this incident ‘Uday (RA) embraced Islam.

So it can be argued that any Muslim who blindly follows a scholar when he permits what Allah forbids has taken him as a lord and false god besides Allah. Any matter which is clearly forbidden by Allah – such as alcohol, committing shirk (in this case, voting for man to make law), adultery, interest (ribaa), and so forth – cannot be made lawful by scholars. Moreover, one cannot claim on the Day of Judgement that they were merely following their scholars or the majority of people and therefore cannot be blamed for their actions. Allah (SWT) says:

“And those who followed (blindly) will say: “If only we had one more chance to return (to the worldly life), we would disown (declare ourselves as innocent from) them as they have disowned (declared themselves as innocent from) us.” Thus Allah will show them their deeds as regrets for them. And they will never get out of the Fire.” (EMQ al-Baqarah, 2:167)

Furthermore, it is reported in the Sunan of Ibn Maajah that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: “Verily, what I fear most for my Ummah is misguided Imaams.” There can be no doubt that the misguided Imaams (or scholars) of today are those who allow voting for man-made law by twisting the verses of Allah and Shari’ah principles in order to achieve popularity, maintain their career and please the masses, tyrannical governments and disbelievers.

What makes someone an ‘aalim?

What makes someone an ‘aalim is not the level of knowledge they have, the length of their beard or their credentials. The Sahaabah, for example, did not study at a “renowned” institution and nor did they achieve any certificates, credentials, degrees, PhDs, and so forth. Despite this, they were the greatest ‘ulamaa (scholars) the Ummah has ever seen.

What makes someone an ‘aalim, besides having knowledge, is when they engage in the duties of the Anbiyaa (Prophets). Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, “The ‘ulamaa are the inheritors of the Prophets.” Therefore, in order for one to be considered an ‘aalim, they must engage in the duties of the Prophets. The mission of the previous Prophets was to call people away from shirk (associating partners with Allah) and taaghout (false gods, such as lawmakers or MPs). They called society to Tawheed and to reject man-made laws as well as kufr (un-Islamic) ideals, ways of life and values such as freedom, democracy, liberalism and so forth.

It is for the above reasons that the previous Messengers and Prophets were attacked by the disbelievers, vilified, ridiculed, boycotted, imprisoned and some were even murdered or assassinated. This is how we recognise the people of truth: they are tested by Allah and vilified by the disbelievers. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was labelled a lunatic; Ibraaheem (or Abraham) was thrown into fire; Yoosuf (Joseph) was incarcerated for a crime he did not commit; the disbelievers plotted to crucify ‘Eesa (Jesus); Shu’aib (AS) was threatened with extradition; Nooh (Noah) was ridiculed; and the list goes on.

Allah (SWT) has destined, as part of His Almighty Traditions (Sunnatullah), that any person who desires to be with the Prophets, Messengers and their Companions in the Hereafter must struggle in this life the way they did and endure the tests they were made to endure. Allah (SWT) says:

“Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, “When (will come) the Help of Allah?” Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!” (EMQ al-Baqarah, 2:214)

In what way have those so-called scholars (who try to justify voting for kufr law) suffered for the sake of Allah and the Deen of Islam? Rather than calling people away from shirk and to shun taaghout (false gods), we find them calling us to commit shirk for their personal interests and benefit (maslahah) and to obey taaghout (those who rule by other than what Allah has revealed). What excuse do these sad individuals (particularly in Trinidad and Tobago) have for not speaking out against this great evil? Unlike scholars in the Middle East, they are not being threatened with torture, imprisonment or death yet they are still afraid of upsetting the masses, gaining notoriety or being labelled an extremist.

There is a famous principle in Islam: “The haq (truth) is known by the daleel (divine evidence), not by men.” Therefore, the haq is not established by the number of people that agree with it or the number of “renowned” or celebrity-like scholars who state it. Rather, the haq is known by the daleel (Qur’aan and Sunnah, by the understanding of the Sahaabah). But if it is names you are after and not daleel, below is a brief list (in no particular order) of scholars from across the world that say democracy opposes Islam and that voting and participating in democratic elections is forbidden (haraam):

·        Sheikh Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi (Jordan)

·        Sheikh Feiz Mohammad (lived in Australia, originally Lebanon)

·        Sheikh Anwar al-Awlaki (lived in USA, originally Yemen)

·        Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Misri (UK, originally Egypt)

·        Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman (USA, originally Egypt)

·        Sheikh Abdullah el-Faisal (lived in UK, originally Jamaica)

·        Sheikh Abdul-Qaadir bin Abdil-Azeez (Egypt)

·        Sheikh Naasir al-Fahd (Saudi Arabia)

·        Sheikh Ahmad Fadeel an-Nazal al-Khalayleh (Jordan)

·        Sheikh Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden (Saudi Arabia)

·        Sheikh Ayman Muhammad Rabee’ al-Zawaahiri (Egypt)

·        Sheikh Sayyid Qutb (Egypt)

·        Sheikh Humood bin Uqla Ash-Shu’aibi (Saudi Arabia)

·        Sheikh Ali bin al-Khudayr (Saudi Arabia)

·        Sheikh Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaani (Saudi Arabia, originally Albania)

·        Sheikh Muhammad Ameen al-Shanqeeti (Saudi Arabia, originally Mauritania)

·        Sheikh Ahmad Hamood al-Khaalidi (Saudi Arabia)

·        Sheikh Yusuf al-Uyayri (Saudi Arabia)

·        Sheikh Abdullah al-Ghunaymaan (Saudi Arabia)

·        Sheikh Muhammad al-Fazaazy (Morocco)

·        Sheikh Hani al-Siba’i (UK, originally Egypt)

·        Sheikh Saalih al-Awfi (Saudi Arabia)

·        Sheikh Ziyaad Qattaan (UAE)

·        Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad (lived in UK, Lebanon)

·        Sheikh Abu Qataadah al-Filasteeni (UK, originally Palestine)

German Consulate's Response to Press Release

Peace and Guidance to all;

Early today I was informed by the German Consulate of the sentence handed down by the German court on Alex A. Veinz via the following email:


Dear Mr. Abdullah,
I just received the information that Alex W., who attacked and killed Marwa El-Sherbini and severely injured her husband, was today sentenced to life imprisonment. The court decided further that a premature release because of good conduct is ruled out. The court therewith followed the call of the prosecution. It was the hardest sentence possible.
Kind regards,
Christoph Peleikis

Ständiger Vertreter / Deputy Head of Mission and Consul
Botschaft der Bundesrepublik Deutschland / Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
7-9 Marli Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad W.I.
Tel.: (+1 868) 628-1630-2 Ext. 24; Fax: (+1 868) 628-5278
E-Mail: v@ports.auswaertiges-amt.de


I immediately responded by issuing a Press Release indicating our dissatisfaction a copy of which you would have gotten earlier. I then later received a correspondence from the German Consulate indicating the following:


Dear Mr. Abdullah,
unfortunately, I have no idea what the monitory equivalent of 100 camels is. However, please be advised that Mrs. El-Sherbini's husband as well as her son already received compensation by the Federal Republic of Germany, further support is currently under examination. Furthermore, husband and son will receive a monthly widower's pension and orphan's pension respectively. At the same time, we all know that this cannot bring back their wife and mother, who died through this horrible crime.
Kind regards,
Christoph Peleikis


This new bit of information did make a lot of difference so I responded with the following:


Peace and Guidance Mr. Peleikis;
If only you had mentioned these things to me before... Anyways PLEASE be advised I will make every effort to inform all Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago of this commendable effort by your Government. I apologise for any scar I may have caused you with my Press Release. As I have mentioned to you before my word is my honour. PLEASE disregard my Press Release and may God Almighty continue to guide us all and mend our differences for the better of all humanity... Ameen. By-the-way 100 Camels is equivalent to approx. $500,000.00 TT Dollars...
Peace and Guidance
Umar Abdullah


N.B.: Next time I travel to Trinidad I will be paying you a courtesy visit that is if you don't mind.


They then responded by the following:


Dear Mr. Abdullah,
thank you very much for your kind email and for the information. I thought you would be living in Trinidad. Is this not the case?
Kind regards,
Christoph Peleikis


Ständiger Vertreter / Deputy Head of Mission and Consul
Botschaft der Bundesrepublik Deutschland / Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
7-9 Marli Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad W.I.
Tel.: (+1 868) 628-1630-2 Ext. 24; Fax: (+1 868) 628-5278
E-Mail: v@ports.auswaertiges-amt.de


It is with great enthusiasm and concern I Share this chain of communication with you all. PLEASE convey the same to the rest of your community. Thank You....
Peace and Guidance
Umar Abdullah