A War with Allah (SWT) and His Prophet (SAAW)

Raza ul Haq

It has been narrated by Abu Saeed Khudri (RA) that he heard the Messenger of Allah (SAAW) say, “Whoever of you sees an evil must then change it with his hand. If he does not possess the means and ability to do so, then [he must change it] with his tongue. And if he is not able to do so, then he must despise it in his heart [maintain persistent and genuine annoyance and displeasure against it]. And that is the slightest [effect of] faith.” (Recorded in Sahih Muslim).

The hadith thus establishes that it is a primary responsibility of the faithful believers, in particular their rulers, in an Islamic Society to check and prevent the evils and Munkarat prevalent in that society. The second part of the hadith enunciates that if the state is unwilling or unable to play its role in eradicating evils and Munkarat from the country, then the onus falls on the knowledgeable individuals, particularly the religious scholars and men of faith to wage a Jihad in order to inform and educate the general public of the ills prevalent in the society through their talks, speeches and writings. The hadith further elaborates that Muslims in general are required to at least maintain a persistent and genuine annoyance and displeasure against the evils and Munkarat in their hearts that are rampant in their country, when faced with such oppressive circumstances created by a brutal regime. It has been referred to as, ‘…the slightest [effect of] faith in the hadith.

The bitter truth remains that our society at large is engaged in all of the evils and Munkarat. Of these ills, some are of an individual nature that occur due to the character flaws of a person, while others are ‘collective’ and are enforced upon the oppressed masses by the ruling elite. It is the religious and moral obligation of our incumbent rulers to eradicate the latter kind of ills with immediate effect or else they will be considered disloyal to the religion of Allah (SWT). As far as the former category of ills is concerned, i.e., the sinful deeds done by people on an individual level, it is again the responsibility of a genuine Islamic State to arrange for the positive education and religious edification of the general public.

In fact, apart from polytheism, which is based on the personal belief system of an individual, the most heinous sin and the worst possible Munkar in the sight of Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAAW) is the consumption of Riba and all other forms of Riba-based transactions, which, unfortunately has pervaded in various shapes and forms in our economic system. The truth is that riba has become the cornerstone of the entire economic system of Pakistan. The degree of Allah’s (SWT) displeasure and disapproval of an economy based on riba can be understood by reading those verses of Surah Al-Baqarah which were revealed after the outright prohibition of riba, thus, “O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of riba, if you should be believers. And if you do not (stop engaging in transactions of riba), then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger…” (Al-Baqarah, 2:278-279 part) Is it not clear that these verses decree those involved in transaction of riba as rebels against Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAAW), thus Allah (SWT) has declared a clearly manifested war against such rebels? Is it not worth pondering that Pakistan, since the day of its birth, has constantly been engaged in a war with Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAAW)? Are we not refusing to embrace Allah’s (SWT) mercy, on purpose, by being engaged in an economic system based on riba? Does it need rocket science to understand that the benevolence of Allah (SWT) would never surround those who are rebelling against Him (SWT)? For what possible reason would Allah (SWT) help those who have rebelled against Him (SWT) and His beloved Messenger (SAAW)? Would those who have rebelled against Him (SWT) be treated the same as those who have submitted to Him (SWT)? Would He (SWT) not make his rebels an example of His (SWT) wrath for everyone to behold?

Let us now turn to the sayings of Allah’s Messenger (SAAW) [Ahadith] regarding riba. The Prophet (SAAW) is reported to have said, “The sin of riba constitutes seventy (70) parts, the slightest of which is equivalent to a (depraved) man marrying his own mother.” (Recorded in Ibn e Majah) Is there any more heinous and wicked of a sin that could be imagined?! In another hadith, Jabir (RA) narrates that “The Messenger of Allah (SAAW) cursed the one who consumes riba and the one who pays it, the one who writes it down (records the transaction of riba) and the two who (sign/act as) witnesses to it (the transaction of riba), and he added: they are all the same (in sin).” (Recorded in Sahih Muslim)

It is, indeed, a sorry truth of Pakistan’s history that the System of riba is being kept up and running, rather arrogantly, even today, despite the fact that the founder of our nation, had stated while inaugurating the building of the State Bank of Pakistan in 1948 that, “I shall watch with keenness the work of your Research Organization in evolving banking practices compatible with Islamic ideas of social and economic life. The economic system of the West has created almost insoluble problems for humanity and to many of us it appears that only a miracle can save it from disaster that is now facing the world…” (Source: http://www.sbp.org.pk/about/history/h_moments.htm) Apart from rebelling against Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAAW), we have also dismissed this instruction given by the father of our nation and state officials adamantly declare that ‘an economy based on riba is inevitable for Pakistan.’

It is only due to this blind adherence to the System of riba that Pakistan today has become a slave of the IMF and the World Bank and we have to accept and submit to every order that they give and make it part of our economic policy. Consequently, more than half of the population of Pakistan is forced to live below the poverty line. Poverty, hunger, unemployment and scarcity of resources to fulfill needs has become the fate of this nation. Inflation is rampant and every person living in Pakistan is indebted to International Money-lending institutions. During the last two decades alone, the per capita debt has risen from PKR 35,000 to more than PKR 320,000. Every new ruler of our country starts off by taking further loans from the bloodsucking international donor institutions, thus putting the nation further into grind and after lavishly ‘spending’ a major proportion of the borrowed money on personal luxury, considers it a ‘great success story’. This vicious and satanic cycle of borrowing debt and repaying on interest continues on and the economic situation of the country has now become worse than ever.

Many a religious scholars and other religious elements of the country have constantly been ringing the alarm bells against this evil and made efforts to direct the attention of our rulers towards this issue. However, the result has not been encouraging yet. Have our rulers decided that they would continue this war against Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAAW) and keep fueling it even further? Have they not considered the dreadful fate that awaits them in this world and in the Hereafter? Will they stop short of nothing but making the future of Pakistan as bleak and ominous as possible?

We pray to Allah (SWT) for saving us from such dreadful fate. Aameen!