Imam Luqman Ahmad Mosque Without Borders

“It is better to enbdure 100 years under a tyrannical ruler than to go one night without an amir (ruler)” – ibn Taymiyya.

A basic and necessary element in every society, group, congregation, cooperation, or little league baseball team that ever thrived on the planet earth is leadership and line of authority. Regardless of whether you are Muslim, Christian, atheist, political, extremist, or otherwise, is that they had leaders.

Without leaders, the only thing left is chaos. Black American Sunni Muslims are arguably the most leaderless religious group in the United States. Certainly the most chaotic in my view.

In the United States, if we didn’t pay taxes, there would be no trucks on the road today clearing the snow, or fixing power lines to restore power. There is a group of people in our (Black Muslim) community who are simply non-paying, non-contributing, uncommitted spectators. Not even committed to their own suggestions.

Such people are mentioned in numerous places in the Quran. “They are content that they should be with the useless and their hearts are sealed, so that they apprehend not.” 9:87, Generally such folks always seem to find excuses not to do something. Allah mentions them right here; “It is only those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day, and whose hearts are filled with doubt that seek exemption from striving (in the cause of Allah). They keep tossing to and fro in their doubt.” 9:45.

Sometimes a Muslim simply says he’s down with something, but when the time comes to actually do, it’s a different story; “O you who believed, why do you say that which you won’t do? It is a most hateful thing to Allah that you say that which you won’t do“? 61:1-2

We live during a time where a lot of Muslims say they want this or that, but are not willing to put forth any effort, or any sacrifice, not even good intentions towards building, maintaining, or even preserving the little we have left. The Prophet (SAWS) spoke about this state of affairs in the hadith of Hudhaifa ibn al-Yamaan about the end times. He said, “They will be many in those days, but they will be like the foam scum on the ocean“. [Bukhaari.

This is why the Prophet (SAWS) required a verbal commitment (bay’at) from every Muslim man and woman. He even further emphasized the importance and necessity of the bay’ah in the hadith, “whoever dies, and does not have a bay’ah tied to his neck, then he has died the death of jaahiliyyah“.

In the year 628, the Meccan tribe of Quraysh and the Muslims from Medina signed a 10-year truce called the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. In 630, this truce was broken when the Banu Bakr, an ally of the Quraysh, attacked the Banu Khuza’ah, who had recently become allies of the Muslims. However, before that, when the Muslims were negotiating the terms of the treaty, Uthmaan was the Prophet’s lead negotiator.

When rumors spread that Uthmaan ibn Aafaan was killed by the Meccans, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم swore to enter Mecca to avenge the death of Uthmaan, and the fourteen hundred Muslims who were present all gave bay’at to Rasoolillaah صلى الله عليه وسلم that they will follow him to Mecca in battle. Is is about them that Allah revealed the verses; “verily those who pledged with you under the tree, there pledge is to Allah. Allah’s hand is over their hands”

Incidentally, the tree at Hudaybiyya became a shrine for some Muslims, and people would visit there on their way to hajj or umrah, until the Caliph Umar cut in down.

Sincerity to another Muslim is part of the rights (huqooq) that Muslims have over one another. Sincerity to another Muslim is part of the Muslim public trust (امانة). In the hadith of Jarir ibn Abdullah, he said, “I pledged to the Prophet (SAWS) to establish prayer, pay the zakat, and have good intentions to every Muslim” [Bukhaari].

It is the nature of people that they expect things from their leaders. However, according to the laws of islamic governance, there is no valid leadership without oath, and there is no valid constuency without pledge. In the united states, you cannot become a citizen with making an oath to follow the constitution of the United States. And you cannot hold federal public office unless you pledge to defend the constitution. You cannot even join a gym, or get cable at your house without signing an agreement.

The Prophet’s approach to governance is the antithesis of the mob rule.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم never allowed the Muslims to embark on a military expedition, a diplomatic mission, or leave his presence by his command without having an Amir, an Imam, or chain of command. When the decision was made to make hijrah to Abyssinia, he placed Ja’far ibn Abi Taalib at the head of it. When the Negus, the king of Abbysinia questioned the Muslim who were seeking asylum on his country, it was Ja-far who spoke on the Muslims behalf.

The Prophet was specific when he ordered any action, that there be someone responsible for its execution. When surah tauba was revealed, he sent Ali ibn Abi Taalib to Mecca to inform them of the new terms. When the decision was made to wage avenge the death of Zayd ibn al- Haritha by the Byzantines, he delegated Usaama ibn Zayd, Zayd’s son, as general to lead an army to Syria in the battle of Maree’see’a.

When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم made hijrah from Mecca to al-Medina, he left Ali ibn Abi Taalib in charge of returning people’s property that was held in safekeeping. When Surah Rum was revealed, the Prophet (SAWS) sent Umar ibn al-Khattaab to make a wager with the Meccans that the Christian Romans would defeat the Persians in the next battle. This was before gambling was prohibited in Islam.

When the decision was made to write down the whole of the Quran for preservation, the caliph Abu Bakr made Zayd ibn Thaabit in charge of it. When the Muslims invaded Persia under the Caliph Umar, he made Abu in Hurraira charge of the monies and the spoils of war. When the angel Jib’reel (AS) gave the Prophet (SAWS) the names of the munaafieen (hypocrites), the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم after expelling most of them from the ranks, gave the remaining names to Hudhaifa ibn al-Yamaan for safe keeping.

The methodology of the Prophet (SAWS) and the Rightly guided Caliphs was to give people specific responsibilities. He placed people in charge of the affairs of the Muslims so there would be some to fulfill that obligation and to hold accountable. After the first meeting at aqaba, the Prophet (SAWS) made the new convert supporters from al-Madina,  pledge fealty to him, and he sent Mus’ab ibn Umair with them to teach them Islam in Medina.

During the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet (SAWS) made Abu Sufyaans house a designated safe haven. The Prophet (SAWS) was specific in his actions. He did not subscribe to mob rule, or to having essential affairs of the believers over which no one was responsible.

The people demanded and asked for things from the Prophet (SAWS) but he was assured of their commitment, and loyalty.  All of that is part of amaana (sacred trust). Between Imams and the people, that same reciprocal relationship is warranted during these times. You cannot lease a car, stay in a hotel, or rent a rug shampoower withoit signing on the dotted line. The Prophet (SAWS) said that amongst the first things to leave the people at the end of times, is amaana. – Imam Luqman Ahmad

And Allah knows best.

Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad is an writer, researcher, Islamic teacher and Imam at Large. He can be reached at imamabulaith@yahoo.com