Islam Is Speech, Action and Creed

This is a response by Imam Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah ibn Baz, may God have mercy on him, to the editor of al-Nadwah newspaper, issue 1590 of 17 December 1983, under the heading “These Islamic Pages”. The editor criticised those who call people to Islam by teaching them the pillars of their religion, explaining its merits and wisdom and urging adherence to it. His argument was that people are already Muslims who pray, give zakat and perform Hajj, and their countries are Islamic, so there is no need or point in calling or teaching them. He instead held that the call to Islam should rest on conceiving it as a system and rules for organising economic, educational and moral life, with these pillars merely means of consolidating that system.

We at the Center for Studies in the Interpretation of Islam publish this article because it refutes those who belittle calling people to Islam, particularly its four pillars, placing them below what they claim is the desired end: “organising life”. As the shaykh says, this amounts to “calling Muslims to turn away from their religion, not publicise its merits, not call people to it and not warn against opposing it”, while advocates of atheistic doctrines and missionary religions energetically promote their ideas and beliefs. It also exposes confusion over reform, presented as though confined to improving worldly life in its economic, educational and moral systems, without any regard for reform concerning the Hereafter, which is the sought end and objective.

It is worth observing that activists follow a similar path in their call to Islam, making the wisdom of creating creatures, revealing scriptures and prescribing rulings and worship nothing more than achieving social justice, developing the earth and advancing humanity.

The centre has written several articles criticising this approach and demonstrating its falsity through evidence and scholarly statements. See, for example:

The article by Shaykh Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah ibn Baz, may God have mercy on him

Praise belongs to God alone, and blessings and peace be upon the one after whom there is no prophet, our Prophet and imam Muhammad, and his family and Companions.

To proceed: al-Nadwah newspaper, in issue 1590 dated 17 December 1983, published the following editorial under the heading “These Islamic Pages”:

“Almost all newspapers here, and in most Muslim countries, take care from time to time to devote pages or columns to discussing Islam. Why? Are people not Muslims who testify, at least verbally, that there is no deity but God and that Muhammad is God’s Messenger? Do they not bear Islamic names, and do their birth certificates or identity documents not say they are Muslims? Indeed, do the constitutions of almost all their countries not say their religion is Islam? Why, then, so much discussion of Islam, and what do these newspapers or pages seek? Are they calling people to prayer? God willing, the mosques are full of worshippers adept at straightening rows and responding to the imam, ‘We have straightened them.’ Or are they calling people to Hajj? Most Muslims compete to perform it, and God knows their intentions. Or to zakat? Many pay it willingly or unwillingly. The Islam people discuss so much includes all these pillars, but includes them as foundations upon which a complete system of life rests: all life, with all its activities, values and conceptions. These show that Islam is essentially a system of life, based on a particular conception of life and all its values. On this correct conception rest government, economics, education and morals, as well as international relations between Muslim states and everyone else. The call to Islam should proceed on this conception alone. God willing, we shall try to conduct this page accordingly, and invite readers to write to us on this basis and from this perspective.”

All of this, dear reader, is the editor’s statement in al-Nadwah.

I say, seeking God’s help: it is strange and endlessly astonishing that a prominent writer in the Mother of Cities, the place of revelation and dawn of the prophetic message, should let his pen write for a widely circulated newspaper an article whose substance is calling Muslims to turn away from their religion, not publicise its merits, not call people to it and not warn against opposing it. He asks with disapproving surprise, “Are people not Muslims?”, and so on, inviting people to be satisfied with mere verbal profession, or even less: Islamic names such as Muhammad, Abd Allah or Abd al-Rahman, a birth certificate or identity document, or less still, affiliation with a state claiming Islam as its constitution.

Glory be to God! How has this man’s ignorance, or wilful disregard of Islam, reached the point of writing such an article? He knows how actively missionaries promote their false religions, and how advocates of destructive doctrines such as Ba‘thism, socialism and communism devote their efforts to commending them, displaying their alleged merits and spending enormous sums in this cause that leads its followers to the Fire.

Editor, where has your reason gone that you should write such an appalling statement about Islam, the best and most beloved religion to God? It is religion and state, worship and striving, sword and scripture, culture and governance. It encompasses the soundness of this world and the Hereafter, and the happiness of individuals and communities in this immediate life and the next. Does a religion with even some of these merits not deserve to be promoted and its virtues publicised in newspapers, magazines and bulletins, from pulpits and in every gathering and assembly? Does it not deserve that efforts and funds be devoted to calling people to it, encouraging its adoption, application and steadfast observance, and exposing the falsity of opposing religions and doctrines? Has the noble Qur’an, the greatest book and noblest constitution, not commanded calling to Islam and publicising its merits, confined true flourishing to those who call to it and declared its people the best community raised for humanity because they believe in it and call to it? If you have forgotten, hear God’s words: “Say: This is my way. I call to God upon clear insight, I and those who follow me.” [Yusuf: 108.] In this noble verse God explains that the Messenger’s true and complete followers are those who call to His path with insight. That path is Islam, to which you object to its people calling.

God also says: “Call to your Lord’s path with wisdom and good counsel, and debate with them in the best manner.” [al-Nahl: 125.] In this verse God commands His Prophet to call to Islam and defend it through the best form of discussion. You and other readers know that any religion or doctrine neglected, unpromoted and left without its merits being publicised, then ignored and forgotten, is destined to vanish. This indicates its adherents’ estrangement and lack of concern. How could your pen, or your honour and Arab identity if not concern for Islam, permit an article whose implication and essence are calling for Islam to be discarded, neglected and unmentioned in newspapers circulating among people? What value would a religion treated this way possess? Glory be to God; how great His majesty! God is greater, more exalted and more magnificent than for His religion to have the value you assign it, editor.

God says: “You are the best community raised for humanity: you command right, forbid wrong and believe in God.” [Al ‘Imran: 110.] He says: “Let there be among you a community calling to good, commanding right and forbidding wrong. Those are the ones who flourish.” (104) [Al ‘Imran.] And: “Who is better in speech than one who calls to God, acts righteously and says: I am among the Muslims?” (33) [Fussilat.]

Reflect, editor, and reflect, readers, on these verses: the Lord declares those who call to God successful, the best of communities, with none better in speech. Yet this writer warns against their path, criticises their way and regards them with disapproving surprise.

Let us all then reflect: has God accepted from Muslims mere verbal profession, Islamic names or affiliation with an Islamic state? Or has He required faith and action bringing flourishing, goodness and happiness in this world and the Hereafter? The matter is utterly clear, clearer than the midday sun. Yet, as God says: “It is not eyes that become blind, but the hearts within the breasts.” [al-Hajj: 46.]

Were it not for fear that some ignorant people might be deceived by the article and its writer, it would not deserve a response. Its falsity is apparent to any ordinary Muslim who reads it, let alone the educated. We ask God to guide its author and return us and him to sincere repentance.

As for his concluding words, after mentioning prayer, zakat and Hajj: “Islam includes all these pillars, but includes them as foundations upon which a complete system of life rests: all life, with all its activities, values and conceptions. Islam is essentially a system of life, based on a particular conception of life and all its values. On this correct conception rest government, economics, education and morals”, and so forth,

the answer is to ask the writer: if Islam includes these foundations and can organise life in all its affairs, how can you object to its people calling to it and publicising its merits, saying that people are Muslims even if only verbally? If mere verbal profession suffices, how could the objectives and foundations you ultimately mentioned be realised? This is astonishing and strangely contradictory, or else deliberate confusion and deception. Why did you not mention that it is a religion bringing soundness to this world and the Hereafter and happiness to its followers in both? Why restrict it to this life alone? Do you imagine this religion came only to improve worldly life and has no connection with the Hereafter, or what? The matter is clear and needs no elaboration. Anyone with the least knowledge of Islam knows it is a sound, comprehensive system encompassing all that brings humanity happiness in this world and the Hereafter. The shortcomings of some adherents arise from ignorance of it or failure to implement its rulings. Past and present reality testify to this for anyone considering Muslim conditions in early Islam and afterwards.

Fear God, writer, examine yourself, repent to your Lord and retract your errors. Returning to truth is a virtue, indeed an indispensable duty, and better for you in this world and the Hereafter than persisting in falsehood.

I ask God to guide me, you and all Muslims to what pleases Him and to His path. He is the best One to ask, and His help is sought. There is no power or strength except through Him. God suffices us and is the best trustee. May God bless and grant peace to His servant and Messenger Muhammad, his family and Companions.

Source

Majmu‘ Fatawa wa-Maqalat Mutanawwi‘ah, 3/88–92.