Assalam alaikum,
I as soon as heard Imam Siraj Wahaj describe his personal actions throughout a speech held at Regents Park Mosque, London. He certified himself as being the least educated speaker on the panel. Whereas explaining his place he made a profound assertion, the depth of which I’ve not forgot – (very loosely paraphrased):
“I’m the least certified amongst these audio system of eloquence however that has by no means been my concern nor my concern. What issues me is that I’ve positive data on what I converse of and after I know one thing to be undeniably true then that turns into my true place and I maintain agency to that place, unmovable within the face of views on the contrary. That’s the reason why I’m up right here and in a position to maintain your consideration and join with you, I am captivated with this”.
I feel that assertion resonated with me as a result of at that time I may see a person who neither feared his friends nor was afraid to belief his personal judgment and was captivated with what he believed in. He additionally struck me as a person not afraid to undertake the contrarian view. I intend to undertake the identical place in an try to talk my thoughts and add to the dialogue on a monetary problem which has remained at midnight for much too lengthy regardless of the honest efforts of extra clever souls to convey the difficulty out of the darkness and into the sunshine.
I’ve heard it mentioned that almost all aren’t all the time proper and I feel at occasions there’s some reality to this assertion, many are the messengers who introduced intelligence which contradicted the frequent considered the time however have been ultimately proved proper. Loads of issues which crept into the scripture of the Judaic and Christian religions got here by willful altering of the unique textual content. Modifications additionally appeared on account of sure authorities both enslaving the custodians of the scripture and stripping them of their recorded textual content or by manipulation of personnel into positions of authority who then steered the faith onto an alternate path away from the unique. Islam and the Quran has by no means been unlucky to have suffered the precise destiny of Judaism and Christianity, our textual content has remained intact however the bodily expression of the textual content has not been immune from neglect and it’s this very level which I want to handle.
Folks all the time make comparable observations as to what makes the perfect in artwork, music, meals or cinema and so on. however relating to an entire faith, I am going to take Islam each time. Is Islam not excellent? It actually is an ideal faith however it clearly doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It materializes by way of the actions of imperfect males and we attempt to do our greatest regardless of our flaws. It is very important acknowledge that we’re not flawless however in our try to be, or be seen as righteous we should always not turn into blind to our personal failures, or worst nonetheless, blame them on anyone else, that may be undeniably flawed. Now when anyone tells me that training Islam in a non Islamic nation makes excellent sense, I do know they’re mendacity. By this reasoning our beloved and greatest instance of the embodiment of this faith, Prophet Muhammad pbuh, would have caught it out in Mecca and never left to begin an Islamic State in Medina. He would have, needed to compromise on the primary political and economical points of his message and as an alternative focus extra on the non secular and ceremonial components however at the least he may have stayed in Mecca.
However there have been a few points which flew within the face of the Meccan authorities which they might not tolerate. One downside which they detested was the Islamic name that ‘there isn’t a God however Allah’, for them this introduced an enormous problem, for if there have been no God however Allah, who have been all these different created deities which they prayed to, what have been they alleged to do with all of them and who would ever want to go to Mecca if all these numerous gods have been gone? In the event that they agreed to this faith they knew they must undergo the legal guidelines of this deen. They imagined the large affect that these adjustments would have on their very own lives, their cities significance and potential incomes energy.
The opposite main downside they’d was that Mohammed pbuh was as sincere as they got here. He not solely dealt and traded with individuals in a sincere manor however he would brazenly warn of the Meccans dishonesty in commerce with the visiting pilgrims. He confirmed Islam’s stance on sincere cash, sincere commerce and charitable works. Suffice to say Mohammed pbuh refused to compromise.
Islam with out regulation is imperfect. Comparably the Western Civilization wouldn’t be the place it’s at the moment void of regulation. Inside Islam there are legal guidelines which shield basic society, legal guidelines that are punishable. There are additionally legal guidelines which enchantment to the people thought of self regulation, which assessments the believers testimony of submitting his or her will to the need of Allah swt. When individuals discuss of simply training their faith in a non Islamic nation a distinction ought to be made. It’s true that in some instances they could have extra freedom of speech, motion and political expression than in some so referred to as Islamic international locations however to be content material with that place is a big mistake as a result of it’s based mostly on compromises which our beloved Prophet wouldn’t make.
They need to be sincere and admit to the compromise that they should undertake with the intention to make because it have been, a sq. peg match right into a spherical gap. The regulation of self regulation is practiced solely, by Muslims in these international lands and turns into separated from the Islamic State legal guidelines which can’t be imported into the brand new land. And so the believer is confronted with a compromise, to undertake the present regulation of the land which he finds himself in after which declare it to be so identically near Islam that its doesn’t matter that he abandons the concept of Islamic regulation, or to dwell below the international regulation however on the very least, attempt to set up the revival of the Islamic State in a suitably accommodating a part of the earth. Each are compromises one higher than the opposite.
Sound cash is a medium of trade and a retailer of worth. With out these two fundamental ideas anything is a pale imitation, pretend, counterfeit, fraudulent. Query: what would your motion be should you offered a particularly worthwhile merchandise to me and after the commerce had been accomplished you realized that I had paid you with pretend cash. No have to reply, your response can be apparent. However maintain onto the mindset of that response and apply it to what comes subsequent. If we return to the philosophy of figuring out the perfect issues in life, then it’s straightforward to imagine that gold and silver occur to be the perfect examples of cash used all through historical past, a retailer of worth and a medium of trade. Every steel will not be worthless till somebody prints an exterior worth on it, the worth is intrinsic to the steel. You can not flood them into existence at little or no price, this can be very expensive in each labor and finance to dig the steel out of the bottom after which fabricate it.
The provision is finite and tough to achieve which is one other attribute of actual cash i.e. everybody desires it however can by no means get sufficient of it. If at any time, there’s not sufficient gold and silver out there then different items are used to trade in commerce. This was acceptable to our beloved Prophet pbuh. Now to the controversial half. How is it that we now settle for as cash nugatory paper one indistinguishable from one other save for a small distinction in measurement and print and every costing a few cents at most to supply. Paper cash got here into existence as an alternative choice to carrying across the items that the receipt symbolize. That is what they have been, a receipt, testimony that the unique proprietor did in reality maintain the quantity of gold proven on the paper inside the safe premises of the Goldsmiths. A lazy however handy methodology of passing on the receipt to a different to settle a commerce developed however the brand new holder of the receipt would go and redeem the gold as cost and thus, the transaction can be full. This labored for some time till the receipts turned handed round a lot so that only a few have been ever redeemed.
The Goldsmiths, later to be often known as Banks turned wealthy particularly as they might then mortgage the unclaimed cash out at curiosity. Now I hope you didn’t merely set free all that pent up response on the first incidence of the phrase curiosity. We as Muslims have been brainwashed into pondering that as long as we refuse curiosity on our financial institution accounts now we have accomplished our obligation and averted Riba or Usury however who advised us this?. Contemplate the cash in your purse or pockets, it’s irredeemable, doesn’t maintain its worth, its so referred to as worth will not be intrinsic however printed on its exterior and with out the brainwashing holds little actual worth aside from that of some pennies value. Our currencies at the moment are nothing greater than I.O.U’s which can be at current irredeemable so mainly have little or no worth. What s worse is that every invoice tells you that it’s an I.O.U and that is written on high of each notice, it’s a message from the Financial institution of England, a promise to pay you the bearer the sum of £5,10,20 or 50 on presentation of that notice, however precisely what can be the aim in presenting £5 to the financial institution with the intention to obtain the identical £5 again in return, that may be utterly insane.
However you will have carried this message round with you for many of your grownup life and have you ever not mirrored on its true that means? After all they’re alleged to pay you again with REAL MONEY, gold or silver!!! I problem anybody to attempt to prize what they’re owed from a bankers fingers, getting blood from a stone could be simpler. However a query arises, can one pay ones Zakat with an I.O.U.? I feel not however in fact since we would not have an Islamic State, Zakat will not be wajib or so I have been advised. So what am I doing right here, am I truly paying my Zakat or not? That is how combined up and loopy issues have turn into. After I as soon as tried to pay my Zakat with actual cash within the type of treasured steel on the mosque (the identify of which [mosque] shall stay anonymous to guard the harmless and confused) they tracked me down inside the mosque and advised me to take it again and pay with actual cash as an alternative! My fault I assume for being so provocative.
So we now have a merely private Islamic existence devoid of a house, devoid of an Islamic structured framework during which to appropriately observe our deen, utilizing pretend cash in every single place and but we are saying issues are excellent, God give me energy. We’re in a lot hassle and do not see, to understand it. Take a look at the Muslim world. We’re in hassle. I hope we are able to now look across the Muslim world and particularly at those that maintain energy and look at the kind of foreign money which they supply and drive their individuals to make use of below the phrases of ‘Authorized Tender’. How dangerous does it should get earlier than we understand the state of affairs. Let me backtrack for a second right here, in case a few of us haven’t guessed it but and because of the cash we fortunately use with out a second thought one can solely come to the conclusion that we’re critically enjoying with usury and simply in case a few of us are nonetheless scratching our heads, let me state it plainly, we’re as much as our necks in Riba. I feel at this level we should always remind ourselves of the recommendation of our Messenger pbuh.
Abu Mentioned al-Khudri, might Allah be happy with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) had mentioned:
“Whoever amongst you sees something objectionable, let him change it together with his hand, if he’s not in a position, then together with his tongue and if he’s not even in a position to take action, then together with his coronary heart and the latter is the weakest type of religion”
Now lets be sincere right here and on the subject of our cash, one must ask as to when have we ever taken the assertion above into consideration?
Regarding our situation as Muslims on this planet, you must admit we’re on our knees right here and contemplating that Allah swt typically begins with these he offers the belief to ought to we not then take into account the next verses from the Quran and query whether or not they’re additionally relevant to us.
Al-Baqarah Surah 2. The Cow
275. Those that devour usury won’t stand besides as stand one whom the Evil one by his contact Hath pushed to insanity. That’s as a result of they are saying: “Commerce is like usury,” however Allah hath permitted commerce and forbidden usury. Those that after receiving route from their Lord, desist, shall be pardoned for the previous; their case is for Allah (to guage); however those that repeat (The offense) are companions of the Hearth: They’ll abide therein (for ever).
276. Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, however will give improve for deeds of charity: For He loveth not creatures ungrateful and depraved.
277. Those that consider, and do deeds of righteousness, and set up common prayers and common charity, could have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no concern, nor shall they grieve.
278. O ye who consider! Worry Allah, and quit what stays of your demand for usury, if ye are certainly believers.
279. If ye do it not, Take discover of battle from Allah and His Messenger. But when ye flip again, ye shall have your capital sums: Deal not unjustly, and ye shall not be handled unjustly.
280. If the debtor is in an issue, grant him time Until it’s straightforward for him to repay. But when ye remit it by means of charity, that’s greatest for you if ye solely knew.
281. And concern the Day when ye shall be introduced again to Allah. Then shall each soul be paid what it earned, and none shall be handled unjustly.
Now after studying these verses, one is unquestionably pressured to confess that now we have an enormous downside for even should you wished to free your self from this example the place on this planet may you use free from riba.
You understand there was a time after I would hear a specific group of Muslims converse endlessly in regards to the want for an Islamic State and ashamedly I like most thought it vital however not on the high of the to do listing. However after I take a look at the financial, not to mention the political state of affairs of the Muslim world, it appears as if the best way we’re progressing or extra precisely drifting, provides extra questions than offers options. I overlook how the true faith, the final nice establishment left on this earth to face for sincere cash and good governance can presumably function unprotected when its very honesty might be seen as a risk to people who compete with it. Quite the opposite, it could be naive to think about that people who oppose would simply sit idly by and watch while their very own world deteriorates. I as soon as thought that our greatest concern was the difficulty in Palestine however failed to acknowledge the direct hyperlink and significance between the shortage of Islamic safety and the eventual state of affairs in that nation, surrounded as it’s, by Muslim lands. I knew western politics was the enemy to an answer however by no means stopped to assume the place an Islamic resolution would come from. I now revise my view and see the necessity for something we are able to do to convey that umbrella of safety into being, as shortly as attainable for the political, economical and bodily security of all Muslims all over the world and people who would search our safety.
My journey in the direction of the world of Islam flew within the face of every thing and everybody I had recognized as much as that time, I had no bodily information to paved the way, but the journey nonetheless needed to be made and within the face of fears of the hardships I’d expertise alongside the best way, from each outdoors the faith and inside, of which most proved to be true. However I’ve discovered to belief my very own judgment. My preliminary confidence in my selection got here from the truth that I had learn the Quran greater than as soon as earlier than accepting Islam as a lifestyle and I consider that gave me logic at that specific time.
My judgment of the details in entrance of me convey me to a miserable conclusion. As Muslims we supply an monumental accountability that a few of us concern ever a lot. I feel we secretly know the concern of this accountability down to the deepest, darkest core of our very existence as a result of we all know what it represents and what it asks of us, it haunts us to the very level of distraction – “O Lordy, please let this cup move us by, not by our will however by yours!”. If the entire world salvation, whether or not they knew it or not, relied on us getting it proper because the vicegerent, because the Khalifah right here on earth, then solely God may also help us. And there is the rub. How can we be helped.
After we as Muslims, and I rise up right here to be counted, progressively abandon our objective and draw nearer to the hole success of the unbelievers, how can we then be those to be helped? Helped to do what? Are we not those to bear the burden of accountability? If we’re not those to be relied on on account of our belief in Allah – then who’s?
The non believers brazenly declare their ignorance and don’t have any clue as to their true objective in life so how can they be relied on. From whom do they search steering and assist and what can they be helped with and to what objective? I discovered myself asking this query lately – ‘has our weak point and dependency on non believers simply been uncovered once more? When the ‘credit score crunch’ turned the mainstream information problem the affect filtered belatedly onto the Muslim radar. The problems and the failures of an insatiable capitalistic urge for food have been raised by us for instance as to why we have been experiencing such issues however our radar failed to choose up one level, the query as to our response to the check we confronted at that second. I feel our weak point turned obvious once we prematurely breathed a sigh of aid, when in accordance with the media, the issue of recession had handed by with little or virtually minimal harm, saved by these trendy occasions of monetary alchemy.
Its as if subconsciously we believed within the dribble spouted from personalities comparable to Greenspan, Bernanke, Darling or Brown of their proclaimed potential to drag off the unattainable. This was our mistake and I concern we could also be about to pay a depressing worth for it. Have you ever observed how quiet now we have turn into on the topic.
How is it attainable that we don’t belief our personal judgement however as an alternative select to defer and go away our welfare to crooks and criminals. What number of failed banks have collapsed in the united statesalone for the reason that first monetary disaster occurred in 2008 – 185 and nonetheless counting and what number of different failures exist all over the world that now we have did not hold monitor of. Who would be the subsequent Dubai or the subsequent Iceland. How shut is the UK or Greece, Eire or Spain or certainly the mighty U.S to a monetary Armageddon. Certainly we’re the ones being examined. Certainly the wheat is being separated from the chaff, those who need to dwell by the reality and people who couldn’t care much less about reality.
The stupidity of individuals confronted with a disaster of such magnitude is much like that of the information anchors who current such dismal data beaming from ear to ear as if someway their explicit bubble has immunity from bursting. They fail to think about what this holds for them individually. When the good occasion overtakes us and once we name upon Allah swt to assist us we higher ensure we all know what we’re asking for and what half we performed within the disaster. For if a hen have been to take a seat up within the tree on that lazy department beaming down on a fats juicy worm and easily believed that when hunger ultimately threatened to overhaul him all he needed to do was to hope to Allah and someway that worm would float proper on up there into his mouth and fulfill his starvation, effectively I received information for him, positive it may occur something is feasible however I would not rely on it, would you?
He has to place within the work to qualify for Allah’s swt help in the identical means as all different creatures put in work particularly in preparation for a harsh winter. And certainly, with out query, I consider that this is what we probably could also be going through within the close to time period, a particularly harsh and devastating monetary winter, the like of which the world has by no means recognized earlier than. Occasions as they’ve unfolded have proved themselves to be predictable, have they not? Then how is it that we nonetheless fail to belief our personal judgment and see the sport for what it truly is? What number of extra international locations and monetary establishments should collapse earlier than we lastly concern ourselves?
This disaster got here as no accident, the errors being made by politicians, economists and mental assume tanks aren’t made as a result of they’re uneducated or clumsy it’s introduced on by design. Discover how they repeatedly invent methods of pouring gas on the hearth when anybody of their proper thoughts confronted with monetary embarrassment would get some management over their spending. Suffice to say we at the moment are between a rock and a tough place.
We’re advised all method of causes as to the causes however it boils down to 2 fundamental ideas, sound and unsound cash.
On this doc I’ve touched on a attainable monetary meltdown that the majority assume is behind us, I am afraid to inform you that what handed may presumably be simply the opening salvo and if we remained unscathed in that fracas and was not caught up within the cross hearth we should always take into account ourselves lucky. What probably follows might begin the cycle of progressive economical failures and market meltdowns the ache of which might be onerous to keep away from and Allah swt is aware of greatest.
It doesn’t matter what the precise date could also be when the primary cracks begin to seem, these keen to check the waters with an early baptism into the ‘recovering housing market’ you have been publicly warned. I too desperately await the arrival of an Islamic chief to rectify the state of affairs however within the meantime I concern the issues might materialize faster than the answer and apart from it’s us who should put together the best way for such a pacesetter to come back. The close to time period resolution and the answer that may be acted on instantly, on a person foundation and within the absence of an authoritative protect to hunt safety from is to hunt it within the God given foreign money prescribed for us lengthy earlier than we strayed from the trail of financial knowledge and that’s – Gold.
Let me provide a worst case state of affairs and let me exclaim that is merely an image of what may occur solely in a worst case state of affairs. Envisage a time when the writing might be so clear on the wall that people on a worldwide scale search safety from monetary destruction. Many will flip to gold as an answer as is already proving to be the case now. They search its historic monetary benefit in an effort to guard their households from hardship at the moment. The worth by then will most likely not be inexpensive to many. Folks could have given up hope of their governments potential to guard them and concern might be changed by anger. Astronomically excessive unemployment numbers will exist. Taxes will sky rocket. And if power costs soar then the price of meals and important items goes by way of the roof whereas individuals understand the hazard and clear the cabinets. Social advantages pressure below the demand and ultimately fails.
Governments pursue the coverage of transferring the wealth of the prosperous into authorities coffers while the general public applaud. Then it turns into the center courses flip to be the subsequent goal on the authorities monetary hit listing, adopted by the working class as they slowly realise the total guile and inventiveness of the governments intentions. The Financial institution of England in addition to Central Banks all over the world print excessive ranges of their very own foreign money to keep away from melancholy, cash shortly loses its worth consequently. Unexpected monetary occasions not flagged up by the industries laptop modeling forecasters start to emerge. Big overhangs of debt from spinoff markets explode one inflicting one other, bringing down main monetary establishments. Anticipate to see offended Muslims operating with the offended protesting crowds at the moment complaining of the failure of governments sympathy to their wants. As shops really feel the pinch and might now not justify the prices of sustaining an outlet in impoverished areas they’re left with no selection however to close up retailers for good.
These retailers that stay open in struggling areas will continuously have barely dressed shelf’s brought on by the failures of provide distribution and the inconsistency of their clients to supply money. Some individuals might even flip to their very own allotments and backyards to develop something to feed the household. Need and starvation might stop rationality and motive and borderline civilized society confronted with mounting money owed see little motive to stay civilized and should resort to acts of selfishness and legal conduct. Now attempt to think about reasoning with individuals at the moment and providing them the identical resolution now we have provided them for years however but it’s nonetheless intangible, even to us, a tough promote certainly. Which is why we want sensible options on the bottom now and upfront of any difficulties earlier than its too late. The individuals who may maintain the general public consideration at the moment could be the individuals who can provide actual sensible options which have each instant impact in addition to being the start of a long run resolution. A world division may ensue during which the western economies burdened with debt slowly descend right into a pit of failure while the remainder of the world capitalize on low cost labor and a wealthy industrialized future however with an ever growing and really actual risk of imminent battle from the west.
If anybody nonetheless beckons the oncoming of such occasions as a result of they solely consider within the complete breakdown of society earlier than individuals might be prepared to simply accept Islam please rise up in order that we are able to all get a good suggestion of what silly seems to be like in all its glory. Reckless and harmful conduct typically takes much less mind energy than that of design and constructive conduct. I for one assist all constructive efforts to construct an Islamic future based mostly on the divinely guided blueprint first proven to us by Prophet Mohammed pbuh. Which was the one time till now when an Islamic state needed to be carried out from scratch.
Except you will have been dwelling on planet Mars lately you can not have failed to note golds worth worth appear to extend for the reason that 12 months 2001 and sadly for all these concerned immediately after the terrorist assaults on the U.S. when the value of gold was roughly $260. In keeping with the press its worth has reached new all time highs when it penetrated the $1200 per ounce mark. Have you learnt why? I’ve information for you the worth of gold has gone no the place it has remained as static because it all the time was. The worth of the greenback has collapsed at a extra intense fee since 2001 and extra lately as predicted, the worth of all world currencies have begun to comply with swimsuit in a race to search out new lows. Folks of wealth are discovering it more and more tough to search out autos to protect their wealth and the sensible cash have turned their consideration to gold the previous barbarous relic, probably the most hated funding class of so referred to as western monetary masters of the universe. Main information media have begun sounding the alarm to mark the highest of the gold market. Mark my phrases, I’d not pay any consideration to them and should you nonetheless scour the pages of the Instances or the Guardian and god forbid the Solar newspaper to be rightly guided, ask your self one query, if they might not see these occasions approaching when others may, how are they now those to teach us out of the difficulties. That pondering additionally applies to our flesh pressers.
Please don’t take any of my phrases as truth however take the chance to show the difficulty true or false by your personal analysis and reasoning.