1. Funding of election campaigns: As presidential, parliamentarian, or congressional campaigns are costly, candidates end up having to rely on donations and contributions from corporations, individuals, or even countries. In return, politicians have to give something back even as a token of gratitude; and to ensure the financial support in the next round of elections. Needless to say, this makes these corporations, individuals, or countries the biggest benefactors.

2. Buying voters’ votes: Voters vary in eduction and knowledge of the political and economic situation. Therefore, voters will find it nearly impossible to differentiate amongst candidates objectively. As a result, they end up voting for the candidate who pays them or their districts more.

3. The concept of majority: The Democratic system is based on the notion of “majority rules”. However, the majority’s opinion is not necessarily the right one. The Qur’an alludes to this fact when Allah says, “but most of them comprehend not”, “Most of them are ignorant”, etc.

4. Seeking the pleasure of the people, even if they’re incorrect: This is seen by candidates who always claim that they’re representatives of the “mainstream”. The political position is thus tailored by the politician to fit the “mainstream”, rendering the politician opinion-less, and dependent on focus groups and polls. Such practices surely weaken the statesmanship and leadership of the politician, even if they only pretend they’re statesmen and leaders.

5. The administration and the opposition: In Democratic systems, there is always a government and an opposition. Those who support the government will support it regardless, and those who are in the opposition will oppose it regardless. This renders peoples welfare secondary at best.

6. False promises and lies during elections: Candidates will include in their programs what they think the masses want. It matters not whether what people want is actually needed, important, just, or can be carried out. The reality is simply that once they get to power, they can circumvent these demands, interpret numbers and present them in the way that pleases them.

7. Contradiction between “ideals” and interests: Western countries implement democracy in their lands, but support and backup dictators and non-democratic practices worldwide as their interests require it.

* The above was very loosely translated from Dr. Rafeeq Al-Masri’s website.

Just before the beginning of this honorable month, a message from Zaytuna was sent out indicating it “decided to change its position on moon-sighting from the minority opinion of a regional sighting to the majority opinion of a global sighting.” There is never a problem for anyone changing their position when new or stronger Daleel is found, but it is a problem when the original position was reached on the wrong basis and changed for the wrong reasons. The original position was reached to create an American-Muslim identity, and the new one has been endorsed because the regional sighting “has contributed to a lot of heartache and pain at a time when Muslims should be joyful. It has also led to an abandonment of the Sunnah of moon-sighting by growing numbers of Muslims and Islamic organizations.” With this type of approach to reaching rules, the doors are opened to make, change, remove whatever rules there are as there are no texts involved and no method of understanding is used.

On another related note to Ramadan, some Muslims have been arguing to use astronomical calculations to determine the beginning and end of the months, especially the month of Ramadan. They stretched the meaning of “Ru’ya” and ignored the texts of the honorable Hadiths. They have consistently stated that calculations are certain whilst visual moon-sighting is not and therefore to unite the Muslim Ummah, we should all follow calculations. What they fail to understand is that ‘Ibaadaat are Tawqeefeyyah, meaning acts of worship are taken as they are. Thus, they are not rationalized nor can they be changed. And if Islam put sighting the moon as the “sabab” or trigger to start and end the fast, then we should follow that regardless of the advancement of science. The point is not to be certain but to follow the Islamic text to perform the act of worship properly.

Moreover, and yet again, reality this year shows that astronomical calculations in fact do not yield certainty. Today, 09/08/10, AlJazeera.net published that Egypt declared few days ago that Eid, based on calculations, is to be Friday 09/10/10. On the other hand, Libya as well as the Shi’a of Lebanon, joined by the European Council for Fatwa And Research,are following scientific calculations and announced that Thursday 09/09/10 is the first day of Eid al-Fitr. So this poses the question… which scientific opinion is correct? And how will such a method unify the Muslim Ummah?

The unity of the Muslim Ummah is political, not Fiqhi. When the Muslim Ummah follows the opinion of one man, the Khaleefah, then it is unified, even if his adopted opinion is regional-sighting, not global. Muslims would be following an illusion thinking that they can achieve unity without such leadership. Our problem is not scientific or Fiqhi based, but rather a political one. And until this leadership is present, misery and confusion will continue to reign.

May Allah accept our Siyaam and Salah and May Allah spare us the foolishness of shallow opinions, and may He (subhanahu wa Ta’ala ) make our next Eid take place under the shade of the righteous khilafah . Ameen!

Capitalism, especially in the U.S., promised people a better and more comfortable life than their parents. People are told that if they work hard and play by the rules, they will live comfortable and secure lives. As a matter of fact, this comfortable life has become what is referred to as The American Dream. Wikipedia describes The American Dream as “the phrase “Chasing the American Dream,” is a national ethos of the United States in which freedom includes a promise of prosperity and success.”

The current economic crisis has demonstrated that this dream is nothing but an illusion. Most people (even before the economic collapse) are financially worse off than their parents. Most people are in more debt than their parents had ever been in. Most seniors have to choose between buying food and medicine. Even if one can turn an eye away from this fact, one cannot but see how people’s lives have been devastated by the crisis. People have lost their jobs, homes, possessions, and even their dignity. It is a human disaster. Yet the system that talks the most about the value of the individual and human being, debates whether to extend unemployment which in itself is not enough to gurantee the basic needs of and individual let alone a family.

An inhumane system that cares nothing about the human affair is not worthy of running the lives of human beings. Where are we Muslims to present the Islamic system to mankind?!

“Allâh burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. “Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us; our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maulâ (Patron, Supporter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people.”

Allah Ta’ala revealed the message of Islam to Muhammad (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) as a message to govern all aspects of life. He (subhanahu wa ta’la) made the adherence to the message, after believing in it, an act of worship. There is no difference in asking Allah for forgiveness and praying, or giving zakah and ruling by Islam, or seeking the help of Allah and the supremacy of Islam.

Some of the things the above honorable Ayah teaches us are:

- The mercy of Allah Ta’la that He accepted the Du’aa’ of not punishing us for matters which we’ve forgotten or committed in error. At-Tabarani and Ibn Hibban reported from the report of Ibn Abbas that the Messenger (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said,
“Allah will not hold responsible my Ummah for what they commit in error, forgetfulness, ad what they do under duress”.

- Victory over non-believers is not for worldly gains or mere domination, but rather to establish justice and care for humanity, all humanity. This is found in the link between the Du’aa’ and victory i.e. servitude and humility to Allah and rulership and domination. There exist many Ayaat that address this point. For example, Allah says in surat-ul-Hajj [22:41]:

{الَّذِينَ إِنْ مَكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الْأُمُور}

“Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them power in the land, (they) enjoin Iqamat-as-Salât to pay the Zakât and they enjoin Al-Ma‘rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism and all that Islâm has forbidden) [i.e. they make the Qur’ân as the law in all spheres of life]. And with Allâh rests the end of (all) matters (of creatures).”

The Du’aa’ is for political success, not exclusively for matters of Akhirah. Also, it can be made in Salah as well as outside of it.

Bukhari reported from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah that the prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) used to say in Qunoot, after saying ‘sami’a Allahu liman hamidah, in the last Rak’ah in Ishaa’ Salah, ” O Allah, save ‘Ayyaash bin Abi Rabee’ah, O Allah save Al-Waleed bin Al-Waleed, O Allah save Salamah bin Hishaam, O Allah save the weak believers, O Allah be hard on Mudhar, O Allah, make these years for them [as hard] as the years of Yusuf [years of famine].

Also, Abu Dawood reported from the Hadith of Ibn Abbas that “The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) performed Qunoot for an entire month during salah of Thuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Ishaa’ and Fajr after saying ‘sami’a Allahu liman hamidah in the last Rak’ah making Du’aa’ against neigborhoods from bani Salim, Ra’l, and Thikwan, and ‘Asiyyah saying Ameen behind him”.

This integral relationship between worship and politics i.e. the inseparable view of the world brings fear to those in power as they know that Islam is not a mere religion that is limited to certain rituals. If they only knew that what they have is but falsehood and that it will surely not last, then they would look at Islam in a different light. If only Muslims can understand their Deen in the light of the above Ayah, then they will realize that only the Muslim Ummah can replace the fear the world is living in with the peace and justice of Islam.