Imran Khan
We, Muslims, are involved in a characterization that is alien to us. It is the Israeli characterization.
There are many ayaat in the noble Qur’an to evidence this fact for which the space available here is insufficient. This article will concentrate on a leader and an obedient or disobedient constituency.
At the global level, the notions, feelings, thoughts and ideas that the Ummah share nowadays were shared by Bani Israel as well. They felt it necessary to go to the battle front and get rid of the misery.
When the order came from Allah there had to be a leader. That leader was Talut but they took issue with that choice.
“And their prophet said to those [prejudicial elites of the Children of Israel], ‘Behold, now Allah has raised up Talut to be your king [executive commander]’.” (The Ascendant Qur’an, Surah Al Baqarah, verse 247).
“They said, ‘How can he have sway over us when we have a better claim to rule than he, and he has not [even] been endowed with abundant wealth?’” (The Ascendant Qur’an, Surah Al Baqarah, verse 247)
This statement is not peculiar to Bani Israel. It is not a historical statement that we read in the Qur’an that belongs to thousands of years ago. It is an attitude that lives on.
If a legitimate, authentic and qualified Islamic leader comes to the Muslims then some of them say, “how can this person be our leader? He doesn’t have the wealth and the means that we have. He is not one of us!”
The undertones of nationalism, racism, ethnicism and sectarianism all play a part in their objection. This is a fact of life that plays a role when people oppose a qualified leader regarding military, social, political, ideological and economic affairs.
Then Bani Israel got rid of the squabble by some of them refusing to enlist as long as this person is the leader. Is this behavior exclusive to the Israelis or is it rehearsed among the Muslims as well? An objective mind would immediately identify it in us also. Hence, the spot light in the Qur’an is on this issue that is exemplified by the history of Bani Israel.
Then, as Talut became the leader and as a segment of society peeled away there is another segment that was left with him. What did some of them say when they came to a river?
“And [then] when Talut set out with his forces, he said, ‘Behold, Allah will now try you by a river: he who shall drink of it will not belong to me…’” (The Ascendant Qur’an, Surah Al Baqarah, verse 249).
This order does not make sense! On a military mission, to be able and capable of confronting the enemy one must be physically nourished! Some of them said “we’re going to drink from this river” and then they peeled away.
Do you see the objections as Allah tests the will of the people?
Our history is moving us towards a struggle for which we must prepare, organize and be ready. We are not at the frontlines but some of us are already peeling away and deserting!
If we try to raise the consciousness of Muslims regarding the responsibility to lead society according to Divine Will, the objections begin to surface. People think in materialistic terms. They say: “take a look at what the counter civilization has and at what we, the Muslims, have.” They think in terms of resources and numbers and conclude adamantly that Muslims cannot and should not rise up!
But their attempt to turn off Muslims is in accordance with the Divine filtering process underway. There are people who are faint- hearted and cowardly. If you show them a political struggle, they will run away or excuse themselves with the same excuses that were advanced by Bani Israel of yester-years.
“… [and] to that end He will set apart the malevolent from the benevolent... (The Ascendant Qur’an, Surah Aal Imran, verse 179)
And what does Allah say after this filtering process?
“How often has a small host overcome a great host by Allah’s leave! For Allah is with those who are patient in times of overwhelming [earthly] odds.” (The Ascendant Qur’an, Surah Al Baqarah, verse 249).
Allah is with those who are moving towards this political or military responsibility and don’t abandon their principles.
Observing the Muslims, we find that some of us behave like the Israelis. It doesn’t behoove us to make believe that this does not exist. Rather than commencing an ideological and intellectual struggle to win the hearts and minds of the oppressed people who are starving for justice, we encounter people who ask “why don’t we enter into arrangements with those in power?”
The clergy class, (incorrectly referred to as “Ulama” which is a much higher category of principled, muttaqi scholars), enlist with those in power. They are the chief culprits who have taken on this Israeli characterization. They claim to be “the people of God” and hence the de facto leaders.
Many Muslims are plugged into this scheme because of shallow political awareness. Truth be told, they don’t find much commonality with the Muslim masses and the oppressed people in general.
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