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Khilafah Callers Behaving Badly

By Hasan Abdullah

It was all going extremely well.  A prominent Muslim lecturer had just delivered a powerful and moving presentation explaining why the US and Britain were so keen to attack Iraq and why we should oppose it.  The lecture theatre at university was jam-packed with a significant number of non-Muslims who seemed equally impressed by his in-depth analysis.

“Iraq could be attacked within a few months” was the thought resonating in my mind.  However I was confident that the excellent presentation would have won many hearts and minds.  I could sense an atmosphere of mutual agreement.  I felt that some of the supporters of this impending war had changed their minds.  The Question & Answers session commences.  Some excellent questions are raised and equally well answered by the experienced and charismatic lecturer.  It was all going very well.

A Muslim from the audience raises a good question regarding ways in which we could oppose this war.  The lecturer gives an intelligent answer highlighting different ways in which we could stand up against this impending war.  The lecturer also emphasises the importance of political participation.  People seem content with the answer.  All is going well.  Suddenly, an ill-mannered youngster stands up with a few sheets of paper and starts delivering a speech to the astonishment of the audience.  His long speech could be summed up as an objection to the answer regarding political participation. 

The lecturer brilliantly counters his arguments and points out how he is seriously mistaken by completely ignoring the context of the verses he read out.

The shocked audience applauses the answer by the lecturer.

I feel slightly better and try to convince myself that insha’Allah not too much harm has been done in regards to negative dawa, etc.  I have not yet fully recovered from the state of shock when another individual stands up and starts shouting “…HARAM…”, “…KUFR…”, “…KHILAFAH…”

This amazing and highly effective session turns into a rather messy affair.  The speaker begins to loose patience with the utterly bizarre comments by these individuals.  It becomes quite obvious that everyone, especially non-Muslims are feeling uncomfortable.  But wait, its not over yet.  These irrational youth continue to shout across the floor despite various calls to calm down.  Eventually they are shown the way out.  People are shocked and confused.  I doubt many of them; especially the non-Muslims, would remember how effective the presentation had been and how impressed they were until this episode.  Many left the lecture theatre discussing the distasteful end and not the actual content of the lecture.  An amazing opportunity had been blown apart by a few individuals.

This certainly was not the first time nor was this the last time.  Two fringe groups operate amongst the Muslims in this country.  They have very similar isolationist ideologies.  As a matter of fact one is an offshoot of the other.  Their stated aim is to re-establish the Khilafah (Islamic state).  The aims are well and good.  I cannot imagine a Muslim who would not want the Khilafah.  The problem lies with parts of their ideology and some of the most ridiculous ideas they harbour.  The problem lies with the way they wish to pursue their goals.  While the overwhelming majority of the country was shouting “Stop the war”, this group plastered stickers around the country which read “DON’T stop the war” in a large font and “except through Islamic politics” in a small print.  Most people of course did not read the small print.

They go around targeting young, unsuspecting Muslims who are not very knowledgeable about Islam - particularly on college and university campuses.  They make suggestions such as “engaging in politics in this country is Kufr” and quote Quranic verses terribly out of context to “prove” their point.

I do not in any way doubt their sincerity since I know many of them extremely well.  However they must realise the immense damage they are inflicting on Islam and Muslims through some of their actions. 

It is essential for Muslims to realise the importance of social and political activism and engage in it for the sake of a better society.  This is not an option, it is a necessity. 

On a very positive note, as many members of these groups become more knowledgeable about Islam, they drop out – just like the author of this article.

The author is the Director of Public Relations at IACN and is a Software Engineering student at the Nottingham Trent University.  Click here to comment on this article.