living islam _ Islamic tradition

 

LivingIslam.org presents here Murabitun's Umar Vadillo's second response referring to the criticism of their deplorable book, so everyone may learn from it and see the workings of this group. As muslims we have to stick to the highest good manners, not name-calling, not takfīr, but ever turning to Allah (swt) and striving to do good, according to the Sunnah of our Master the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ .

Yes - ribah is haram, but from that does not follow that the establishment of an Islamic financial system is anywhere a priority. Islam came as a preparation for man in this life for his standing before his Lord in the Hereafter, not as an economic blueprint or financial system, these are some of its elements, but not its main focus. We have to take care of our priorities.

 

Second Reply to Mr Haddad
by Umar Vadillo

Mr Haddad has replied with insults to my denunciation on his teacher's (Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani) writings, but his insults do not remedy the concerns raised in our denunciation of him, but on the contrary it highlights the deviated nature of this sect.

Two elements seem to be recurring in Mr Haddad's replies:

- First his endorsement of his teacher's attitude in respect to the Mahdi

- Second his condemnation of our effort to re-establish the Gold Dinar and to fight against usury.

We shall proof that these two elements complement each other and expose the corrupt nature of their teaching under the pretended cloak of the noble of Tasawwuf, with which these people have nothing in common except in the surface.

1] The interesting questions in this debate are the simple ones that Mr Haddad wishes to avoid. Why should Mr Haqqani categorically affirm that the Mahdi is coming before 2000? What sources does he have to impose such affirmation on other people? Why are his murids so panicked by the fear of asking these questions? Why do they feel obliged to flee so erratically into the future?

There is little difference between the Jehova's Witnessess moralistic millennialism, constructed by a secretive epistemology that hides from public debate, and that of the Haqqanis. For example, every week their members are regularly reminded that the world is degenerating further into chaos and darkness through contact with various satanic forces at play. 365 days a year, catastrophic daily TV news offer a perfect confirmation of their argument. Wars, genocides, corruption, etc., are presented as living proofs that the forces of Satan are in command in the world. This overwhelming satanic activity offers an all-encompassing interpretation of the causes all sort of calamities that requires no further analysis. The year 2000 with its gloomy character of the end of a Christian millennium, offered an unparallel appeal to exalt and join apocalyptic paranoia. More than one thousand books appeared in bookshops portraying a cataclysmic end to the world following a colourful variety of themes and designs: cybernetic meltdown, alien invasion, meteorite annihilation and an overdose of messianic predictions of every kind. In certain parts of the world these premonitions drove people to the mountains in desperate attempt to avoid extermination or catastrophe of some kind. These motives were the side effect of an advance programming that had taken years in the making. This social paranoia did not come about without an implicit benefit to the promoters whether it was in the form of selling of computer software or books or simply through the recruitment of new membership.

Some independent studies have identified a sharp increase in recent years of superstitious and bizarre fantasy beliefs. In my book "The Esoteric Deviation in Islam" I examined how millennialist tendencies within Islam focus on the messianic predictions of 'the coming of the Mahdi' which paralyses activism and renders political apathy and docility. For example, in several occasions throughout the turn of the century, from 1986 to 2000, Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani predicted the coming of the Mahdi. In 2000 the prediction was final. In part this had been a necessary conclusive outcome to the overdose of Mahdi expectations which had been building up into the membership through years of indoctrination. In examining the contents of the Haqqani's literature that preceded the year 2000's prediction we can see that the problem comes back to the bulk of his teachings due to his peculiar approach to Islam that prevents any real confrontation with the political/economic status quo. Eighty-five percent of his lectures involved a direct or indirect mentioning of the Mahdi as the redeeming resolution to the mass of present wretchedness so crucial to the Haqqani's world view.

In the phenomenon called "messianism", a figure is 'about to come' to resolve the present state of gloom and despair in which humans are found. He will display an unprecedented use of powers superior to any other human being. Before such 'imminent' event, the possible accomplishment of ordinary people at present is depicted as being helplessly irrelevant. The political victory achieved by the messianic figure is so overwhelming and total, that eliminates the need of any tactical alternative, and therefore it renders the matter of victory as a monopoly of his. The monopoly of victory in the hands of the messianic figure is threaded tacitly in the formulation of a pseudo political discourse deprived of outcome. The political discourse centred on present affairs is in fact made immaterial.

The danger of putting dates to the messianic event is the inescapable passing of time. As time crosses the prediction date, the need to recapture the attention forces a painful recalculation of the event. The most accomplished messianic movements, after several attempts, they prefer to leave the matter of timing suspended in the 'imminent' but 'unknown'. Thus there is no need of further and excruciating recalculation. This conclusion was reached by the Jehova's Witnesses hierarchy after some traumatic failures, which forced the resignation of some of their senior leaders in the past.

Shaykh Nazim's lastest failure does not seem to have disencouraged him for further predictions. We now understand that the new date set for year 2006. These random figures are relatively straightforward. The refusal of most other organisations to admit the prediction, let alone by rejecting the whole hocus-pocus altogether, is simply stamped out by the Haqqanis to their selfish and corrupt interests. Nothing is easier than to blame human greed. However, most of the Muslims are knowledgeable of their deen. Most have an understanding of what is obligatory and what is not. And beyond us, there is a gigantic fountain of knowledge in our fiqh and our tradition. The vast majority of the honourable Muslims do not partake with this Mahdi-prediction process or simply remain oblivious to it. We seem unable to be driven by this messianic ethos which captures large numbers of Christians, Jews and Shiah.

Thus the corruption of this messianic or mahdist movements does not affect except a small portion of Muslims. Much more important this mahdist contamination cannot be specifically linked to Sufism. When, in January of 2007, we are continuing with our business we will find ourselves in the state that Allah ta'ala has already commanded. He is the only Master of our destinies. The matter of "the end" is not our business. When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked when is the Hour? He replied in the famous hadith:

"The one asked does not in any way know more about it than the questioner?"

And also Allah says in the Qur'an (7, 187)
"They will ask you about the Hour: when is it due?
Say: "Knowledge of it is with my Lord alone.
He alone will reveal it at its proper time
It hangs heavy in the heavens and the earth.
It will not come to you except for suddenly."
They will ask you as if you had full knowledge of it.
Say: "Knowledge of it is with Allah alone."
But most people do not know."

For us, this matter is settled for ever. It is not our concern to say when, but to know indeed that the time is near, like death is near to us. And while there is wisdom in knowing that our death is near, it is an utter non-sense to predict when. Because the when and the where of our death is not our business but Allah's business. Life will not be the same if we knew when we are going to die. There is wisdom and mercy in not knowing it.

We have to therefore deny those people who have come with predictions on these issues. And their insistence and insults against the people who deny their frauds, is only a proof of their deviated nature. They have separated from us. It is our obligation to be firm with them and to call them to the rightly guided protection of the Shariah.

2] The second issue with the Haqqanis is the denounciation of our efforts to establishes the Dinar and the Dirham. My first encounter with their deviating path was back in 1990. When visiting Germany I had the opportunity to meet with the Haqqani muqaddim in the city of Freiburg. After a warm initial encounter in which we covered many topics. When I brought the matter of the Dinar I was shocked to hear what he said: "we cannot do anything about the Dinar, until the coming of the Mahdi. He will do the Dinar". This is when I first realise that there was something wrong. But at that time I never could imagine that this was the position of the group, and I thought is was only the position of a confused individual.

When years later I came across Mr Haddad a similar Mahdist case and similar rejection of the Dinar was offered to me. I realised that the matter was more serious than just the mere individuals. When I investigated the core of their teachings I recognised that this was the established position of an extreme Mahdist group.

Their categorical assault on the implementation of the Dinar is a clear symptom. Shaykh Nazim wrote in his book Star from Heaven:

"There can be no Jihad until Imam Mahdi comes. Those who are proclaiming the right to declare Jihad now, are liars. First we have to have a Sultan, then Jihad can be permitted [...] Whoever does so now is sinning by going against the Holy Laws of Allah"

The statement carries three elements:
1.- There can be no Jihad until Imam Mahdi comes
2.- There can be no Sultan until Imam Mahdi comes
3.- To establish Khalifate and declare Jihad before the coming of the Mahdi is against the Shariah

This is not an isolated statement. Even Mr Haddad has publicaly affirmed: "there is no Khilafa before al-Mahdi.Ó This position is not only inconsistent with our beliefs but it is against the establishment of Islam.[fn1]  It is an extreme version of Mahdism as its worse that needs to be denied.

The discourse of the Mr Haqqani dwells in a world-view of misery, darkness and satanic activity. A full compilation of his sayings in this respect can be found in pages 460-466 of "The Esoteric Deviation" in a climate of fatalism, political apathy and 'overpowering' play of satanic forces. What I want to focus on here is his denial of political responsibility regarding the matters of economics which will allow us to understand why they see fruitless the reintroduction of the Dinar.

Shaykh Nazim wrote:

"From day to day, more chaos and darkness is coming. Problems, miseries and sufferings are increasing and governments are more and more shocked. They think that it is an economic problem to be solved. But the real problem is satan. ... It is not an economic problem it is something which belongs to our souls .... There are some groups of secret devils who what to cheat whole nations. They are succeeding by putting blinkers in the eyes and making them only concentrate on the economic situation. This is such a great lie. The real reason for the crisis is that there is no justice among the people. That is causing trouble. ... People want to blame economics, but that is a lie. With that they are hiding the real source. It is not economical. It is a problem of our characteristics."

What transpires from this speech is a typical puritanic aversion to confront present issues. Morality is suspended in a psychological and personal ground separated from social responsibility. This is, in a characteristic puritanic fashion, particularly applicable to economics. Such view must be exposed that is contrary to Islam.

The application of the Shariah includes every aspect of life, including our economic behaviour. The Shariah cannot be separated from it without an implicit denunciation of it and an unspoken vindication of the capitalist status quo.

Allah in the Qur'an (2, 274) says:

Those who practise usury will not rise from the grave
except as someone driven mad by Shaytan's touch.
That is because they say, "Trade is the same as usury."
But Allah has permitted trade and He has forbidden usury.
Anyone who receives a warning from his Lord and then desists,
can keep what he received in the past and his affair is up to Allah.
But any who return to it will be the Companions of the Fire,
remaining in it timelessly, forever.

And also (2, 277-278)

O you who believe! Show fear of Allah
and forgo any remaining usury
if you are believers.

If you do not, know it means war from Allah and His Messenger.
If you turn in repentance you may have your capital,
without wronging and without being wronged.

It follows that we are obliged to eliminate usury, not just mentally, but physically. It implies that we have to "do" our maximum to eradicate this crime. No one could deny that the present economic system is based on usury. Therefore there is an economic problem. To deny that there is an economic problem is equivalent to deny the obligation to eliminate usury.

In the Mahdist approach all such obligations are reserved to the coming Mahdi. Such view is another religion which has nothing to do with Islam.

This is how these two arguments come together. Waiting on the Mahdi redeems any political responsibility for the individual and guarantees the continuation of the present status quo.

Conclusion

The philosophy of Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani regarding the Mahdi is not Islam. He and his followers have deviated beyond the boundaries and they must be publically denounced.

Final Remarks

The establishment of Islam, with the ultimate goal place on the restoration of the Khalifate is the task of our generation. We will achieve this goal, by the authority conferred to us by Allah ta'ala. He has ordered us to do it and our obligation is to discover the means from His bounty that will allow us to accomplish His Command. We have trust in Him and we will endure our due with responsibility and believe that victory belongs to Him. Submission to Him is our means of victory. The elimination of usury stands out as our first priority since is the means by which the kuffar have gained control of our way of life. The establishment of what is halal is our means to eliminate what is prohibited. Therefore the restoration of Islamic trading and its means including the Gold Dinar and Silver Dirham are on the top of the list of our priorities. We will not be fooled by false fears and apocalyptic illusions, since we only submit to one Master, Allah ta'ala. In Him we put our trust and to Him belongs our praises.

Addendum

Only recently, -after I had published by book- I came across the content of the speech that Shaykh Nazim delivered in the house of evil which is the United Nations on the occasion of the UN Millennium World Peace Summit for Religious and Spiritual Leaders. I analyzed in my book, first the perennialist nature [fn2] of this reunion, and second the underlying esoteric themes of "the brotherhood of mankind" and the "unity of belief in god of all religions" which these esoteric high priests are propagating world-wide. This speech deserves to be presented as "a quintessence" of esoteric deviation. Here it is:

Title: Seeking God's Light in the Children of Adam

Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Haqqani al-Muhammadi's speech for the occasion of the UN Millennium World Peace Summit for Religious and Spiritual Leaders

New York City, August 28-31, 2000

Our Lord Almighty said, "O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Allah in Whom ye claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bare you). Lo! Allah hath been a watcher over you." [Quran, 4: 1]

To believers, men, women, and all of humanity, I greet you with the Islamic words of greeting, "peace be upon you."

We are gathered here today, at the prestigious United Nations, to address humanity with the issue of World Peace. This is indeed a holy day, for even the name of this place, the United Nations, symbolizes our unity as members of the human race. Almighty Allah, our Creator, our Sustainer, our Lord is looking upon us seeing human beings of all ages, races, nations, and religions gathered together on this day.

When we arrived at this auspicious event, we were each granted a tag with a very dignified title: Shaykh, Bishop, Cardinal, Grand Imam, Grand Rabbi. These are very respectable titles that we are quite happy to append to ourselves. I am quite happy also, to have such a tag.

It is an honor to be given an earthly title. Yet consider how much more of an honor it would be to receive a heavenly one. Every individual has been assigned a heavenly position, but there is one that is far better than and exemplify the levels granted to us by God. If we, as spiritual and religious figures, can leave this meeting having fortified our efforts with awareness of our roles in the Divine Plan, we will become like beacons of peace, like great lights walking on earth. all the others. It is "Servant," `Abd, which means to be servant to the Lord. Whoever seeks to be servant to the Lord will be granted a reward far greater than a man-made title.

Servant-hood and humility are the keys to achieving unity and contentment for our race. Indeed, if we were servants to one another, showing respect and humility before one another, there would be no need for such a gathering. Yet many abandon humility and respect for their fellows, allowing trouble to develop between them and spread all over the world.

The human tendency to behave this way is by no means new. The son of the first man on earth, Cain son of Adam, killed his own brother. His act marked the beginning of a dangerous tradition that has been carried from generation to generation, steadily growing worse. Knowing this, Allah Almighty said in the Holy Quran, the Last Testament:

For that cause, We decreed for the Children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind. [Quran: 5, 32]

This is the story of the last century, a century filled with death, murder, war, destruction, savagery and tyranny. In the last century, it was as if we saw the death of all humankind, for recent wars have led to the death of more people than populated the entire earth, in earlier times one hundred million, two hundred million, half a billion. Yet still there is the hope and life that exists in remembering God.

We are gathered here today priests, rabbis, imams, shaykhs, leaders of our spiritual and religious communities to pray that the new century, and the new millennium, will bring the fulfillment of the following verse:

And whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. [Quran: 5, 33]

For this reason we hope this meeting will be blessed.

Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"Whoever relieves his brother of a trial or a difficulty in this life, God will relieve him of a trial in the next life."

Helping each other is the true essence of brotherhood. When Cain killed his blood brother Abel, he replaced brotherhood with hatred and enmity. If we can leave this enmity and hatred and replace it with love for the common good, we will return to the original state of brotherhood, regardless of blood ties, and achieve unity and harmony.

This is a part of the message of Islam. It is not a new message, but one that has been repeated for thousands of years. Just as your television receives a regular transmission, broadcasting information on every channel, so God's message is a delivered again and again. The transmission permeates all channels, all aspects of life, all periods of time, stopping only when the receiver, the television, the person, is turned off.

Let us leave the television on and listen for the message our Creator is repeating for us to hear and obey. If we do not obey, it is indeed dangerous for us. For example, cigarette packages around the world prominently display messages such as, "smoking is dangerous to your health." It is repeated on every carton, so everyone reads the message, but few care to heed it. Many thousands die from smoking every year.

It is now as if the entire world is smoking, and the health of the entire planet is suffering. Species are disappearing, forests, jungles, and whole habitats are vanishing. The ice at the north and south poles is dissolving, and the infamous hole in the ozone is causing numerous tragedies to occur. The message is being repeated, again and again, but no one cares, continuing to smoke and causing harm throughout the world.

Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings upon him said, "laa darar wa laa diraar fil-Islam," 'neither harm nor reciprocation of harm is permitted in Islam'. Causing harm is forbidden, and everything harmful is prohibited. He also said, "al-Muslim man salima an-muslimoon min yadihi wa lisanihi," 'the Muslim is a person from whose hand and tongue Muslims are safe.' This is the definition of a Muslim, or anyone who submits to the Way of God. It is of no benefit for a person who does not meet this description to say that he or she follows in the Way of God. It is therefore not in the Way of God to commit acts of terror. Anyone who claims that terrorism is a part of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, or any religion is mistaken; no one can demonstrate this to be true. Once again, if we would leave terror and obey our religion, the message sent by God, we would attain peace, safety and harmony.

To all of humanity, I urge you to seek out the essence of your religion, then obey it, as it will be your vehicle to safety. Obey your Lord, because your Lord and our Lord are One God. If we all obey as we have been taught, there will be no more suffering, no fighting, no hatred and no killing.

Furthermore, we must reconcile with one another. Last year, a group of Christians came to the Holy Land to seek reconciliation. They said, "We came to apologize. Our forefathers killed your forefathers, calling it a crusade in the name of Jesus, but we know that was wrong. We apologize for their actions." This is the way of Jesus, peace be upon him. If we followed the ways of our holy ones, we would find a peace such as no one has ever believed could exist. For there to be peace, all people must also apologize and emphasize that anyone who killed using the name of God was by no means justified in doing so.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) returned to his hometown of Mecca after its people had tortured him and his followers, cast him out, and made war against him. When he returned he came with a great army of 124,000 soldiers. He addressed the chief of Makka and the people who were gathered, asking, "O people of Quraish, what do you expect from me today?" They replied, "Only the best from a noble brother and the son of a noble brother." The Prophet said, "Depart, for today you are all free!" That is our principle: no revenge, no harm, no retribution. For despite the persecution and torture his followers had suffered, and despite the law providing for retribution of injury, the Prophet held to a higher moral standard.

The Quran says:

And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and trust in Allah; surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing. [8, 61]

Therefore it is our duty to create the conditions for peace and to seek it out. World peace cannot be achieved unless humanity returns to the essence of all religions: mutual respect, forgiveness, and love.

Let us look at this century with new eyes, with eyes that see one another with love. Let us recall that God fashioned each and every one of us with His Hands, and blew into each and every one of us from His Spirit. Can anyone seek to harm the Spirit of God? They would be only harming themselves, for it is a reality that our world is one world and what happens to others affects us all. This is why the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

"Muslims are like one body, when one part becomes weak, the whole body suffers."

Only if nations look at each other as one body, each part strengthening the other, will we see a cure to our illnesses: spiritual, social, economic and political. If one country is weak, others will suffer, and global confusion and distress will be the result. Those nations with strong economies must support those that are weak, in order to build global strength. Those legions of unemployed and underpaid people, who have families dependent on them, must be helped. By feeding them, we prevent the creation of angry unemployed armies, ready for satan's service. This can only have a good result, where all nations of the world will feel strong together. For as Allah said:

O humankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may know and deal with one another in kindness ... Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you, and God is Knower, Aware. [Quran: 49,13]

I conclude by asking that each and every one of us seek to emulate the perfected character of the holy ones, Prophets and Messengers and Perfected ones who have gone before us. They attained perfection by holding to the reason of their creation: servanthood to the Lord, Allah, our Sovereign Creator through Eternity. In so doing, we will find not only peace, but love and brotherhood. Let us leave this gathering and return to our peoples saying, "I met many human beings. I forgave all of them and asked them to forgive me. I asked them what I could do for them, and they responded, "love us as your brothers and sisters, from the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve."

[emphasis is mine, U V]

 

2004-10-31

Some of our comments, webeditor at LivingIslam.org:

In this text there are many nice, soothing words to the Muslims, but in his deplorable book, the tone was quite different: arrogance for the general muslims, bad labelling against their leaders. These are but symptoms of the lack of true spirituality in this group, devoid of a sound and valid tariqa-initiation.
Below some comments which prove that they always reveal their true nature by reviling the muslims, labelling them as if the were Christians ('messianic': how dare they say: "little difference between the Jehova's Witnessess ... and that of the Haqqanis" ?) or otherwise ('perennial'). As if there were not a perennial element in Islam, when we do have the same main principles as other ahl-kitab-religions!
Don't they know that Islam came as a confirmation of what was before?! It's in the Quran.

fn1 But the establishment of Islam is happening every day within every muslim community, it is not something the muslims have to wait for the Murabitun to establish !

fn2 Now a reunion can have a perennialist nature, probably a perennialist wind or what not?!
But don't Murabitun know that the brotherhood of mankind is quranic and Islamic, that we are the children of Adam (puh) and of Ibrahim (puh), this is a blessing in this world of fitna and division, not at all to be ashamed of!
So there is nothing wrong to have a reunion with members of other religious communities, as long as one does not compromise one's religious tenets (doctrin), which normally is not an issue at all. There are many problems which may be discussed at such reunions. After all we - as Muslims - live together with Christians and Jews and with all kind of non-believers!



NB: The displayed text does not reflect the methology or the position of Islam or of Islamic Tradition as promoted by our site
* living islam - Islamic tradition * .

Sidi Gibril F Haddad's earlier response to the most of the above allegations is published at:
www.livingislam.org/o/hyem_e.html

Our overview-page (with respective links) referring to this controversy in which the main issues - also those again evoked in the above text - are taken up is at:
www.livingislam.org/o/dstm_e.html

 

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