[9] Fighting extremism with extreme negligence! Ed Husain’s Distractive Ruse
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
The Civilisation Mantra
What is Civilisation? It is said to be “human society with its well-developed social organizations, or the culture and way of life of a society or country at a particular period in time”.
Indeed, we frequently witness Ed Husain’s extreme exaggeration and negligence whenever he fights for the right to free speech that will allow him to make claims that are tantamount to shirk, bidah, kufr, and sin, just as we frequently witness the terrorists’ extremism and extreme misguidance when they attempt to confront those who disrespect the honour of the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him].
In the same way that terrorists misuse freedom of expression to incite murder, Ed Husain misuses it to advance his misguided views in the name of civilization, even going so far as to admire heretical philosophers like Aristotle. Indeed, a sensible person must pay attention to an important matter concerning civilisation and worldly achievements because such achievements mean nothing if its achievers deviate from the purpose of their existence in this worldly life, which is to worship Allah alone. Allah [The Most High] says: [ وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ – And I Allaah did not create Jinn and humankind, except that they should worship Me alone]. [Surah Adh-Dhaariyaat. Verse 56]
Allaah [The Exalted] says:
وَلَقَدۡ بَعَثۡنَا فِى ڪُلِّ أُمَّةٍ۬ رَّسُولاً أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَۖ فَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ حَقَّتۡ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةُۚ فَسِيرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (saying): “Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Taghut besides Allah).” Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). [Surah An-Nahl. Verse 36]
Allaah [The Exalted] says:
كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬ فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِيَحۡكُمَ بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فِيمَا ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ فِيهِۚ وَمَا ٱخۡتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَتۡهُمُ ٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتُ بَغۡيَۢا بَيۡنَهُمۡۖ فَهَدَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِمَا ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّ بِإِذۡنِهِۦۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَهۡدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ
Mankind were one community and Allah sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings, and with them He sent the Scripture in truth to judge between people in matters wherein they differed. And only those to whom (the Scripture) was given differed concerning it after clear proofs had come unto them through hatred, one to another. Then Allah by His Leave guided those who believed to the truth of that wherein they differed. And Allah guides whom He wills to a Straight Path. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Verse 213]
Allaah [The Exalted] says:
وَمَا كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ إِلَّآ أُمَّةً۬ وَٲحِدَةً۬ فَٱخۡتَلَفُواْۚ وَلَوۡلَا ڪَلِمَةٌ۬ سَبَقَتۡ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِىَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ فِيمَا فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَ
Mankind were but one community (i.e. on one religion – Islamic Monotheism), then they differed (later), and had not it been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord, it would have been settled between them regarding what they differed]. [Surah Yunus. Verse 19]
Ibn Abbaas [may Allah be pleased with him and his father] said, “There were ten generations between Nuh and Adam, and they were all on the true path [i.e. Islam – worshipping Allah alone] until they disagreed and began worshipping idols, false deities, and images, at which point Allah sent Messengers with clear proofs and evidences”. (1)
Shirk began among the people of Nuh when they overstated (the status) of the righteous and turned away from the call of their Prophet [Nuh] out of pride. Allah said that the people of Nuh said:
وَقَالُواْ لَا تَذَرُنَّ ءَالِهَتَكُمۡ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّ۬ا وَلَا سُوَاعً۬ا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسۡرً۬ا
And they have said: ‘You shall not leave your gods, nor shall you leave Wadd, nor Suwa’, nor Yaghuth, nor Ya’uq, nor Nasr] (2)
Al-Bukhaari [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “It has been narrated from Ibn Abbaas [may Allah be pleased with him and his father] that these were the names of pious people amongst the people of Nuh, and when they died, shaytaan inspired their people to (prepare) and place idols at the places where they used to sit and to call those idols by their names. They did so but did not worship them until those people (who initiated them) had died and the origin of the idols had become obscure, whereupon people began worshipping them. (3)
Therefore, a sensible individual would next enquire as to what happened to the arrogant and obstinate non-believers during the era of noble Prophet Nuh [peace be upon him]. Allah says:
قَالَ نُوحٌ رَّبِّ إِنَّهُمْ عَصَوْنِى وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ مَن لَّمْ يَزِدْهُ مَالُهُۥ وَوَلَدُهُۥٓ إِلَّا خَسَارًا
وَمَكَرُوا۟ مَكْرًا كُبَّارًا
وَقَالُوا۟ لَا تَذَرُنَّ ءَالِهَتَكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّا وَلَا سُوَاعًا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسْرًا
وَقَدْ أَضَلُّوا۟ كَثِيرًا وَلَا تَزِدِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا ضَلَٰلًا
مِّمَّا خَطِيٓـَٰٔتِهِمْ أُغْرِقُوا۟ فَأُدْخِلُوا۟ نَارًا فَلَمْ يَجِدُوا۟ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَنصَارًا
Nuh (Noah) said: “My Lord! They have disobeyed me, and followed one whose wealth and children give him no increase but only loss. And they have plotted a mighty plot. And they have said: ‘You shall not leave your gods, nor shall you leave Wadd, nor Suwa’, nor Yaghuth, nor Ya’uq, nor Nasr (names of the idols)’; and indeed they have led many astray. And (O Allah): ‘Grant no increase to the Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, and disbelievers, etc.) save error.” Because of their sins (i.e Shirk and unbelief, and they rejected Nuh the Messenger of Allah) they were drowned, then were made to enter the Fire, and they found none to help them instead of Allah. [Surah Nuh]
Therefore, people who reject the reason for our existence in this life are condemned if they die in that state, and their achievements in this life will not benefit them in the next.
What about Fir’awn and his people, whose accomplishments in this life are well-known, but they’ve lost everything in the afterlife? Do Ed and those of his ilk not consider their plight? “The Fire; they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon (i.e. whilst they are in their graves), and on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels): “Cause Fir’aun’s(Pharaoh) people to enter the severest torment!” [Surah Ghaafir. Aayah 46]
“How many gardens and springs did they [Fir’aun’s (Pharaoh) people] leave behind! And green crops (fields etc.) and goodly places, and comforts of life wherein they used to take delight! Thus (it was)! And We made other people inherit them (i.e. We made the Children of Israel to inherit the kingdom of Egypt). And the heavens and the earth wept not for them, nor were they given a respite. And indeed We saved the Children of Israel from the humiliating torment, from Fir’aun (Pharaoh); Verily! He was arrogant and was of the Musrifun (those who transgress beyond bound in spending and other things and commit great sins)”. [Surah Ad-Dukhan. Ayaat 25-31]
In the guise of civilization, Ed Husain frequently supports individuals who sought to pervert the sound Islamic Aqeedah, such as Ibn Sina and other heretics of a like mind. Therefore, pay special attention to this insightful observation provided by Al-Allaamah Shamsuddeen Al-Afghaanee As-Salafi [may Allah have mercy upon him]: “Greek philosophy texts that promoted idolatry and grave worship were translated into Arabic, so many people who identified as Muslims busied themselves with them. These people included Al-Faraabee, Ibn Sina Al-Hanafi, Naseer At-Toosee, a proponent of shirk and disbelief, as well as others who played religious tricks on Islam in a manner similar to how Paul played religious tricks on Christianity”. (4)
This is from the information that Ed Husain and those of his ilk will never divulge to the public since doing so will shatter the basis of their falsehood.
Ed Husain also stated, “Ibn Rushd’s greatest contribution to civilisation was not only that he refuted Ghazzali, but this great Arab philosopher found ways to reconcile reason and religion, two valid ways in which to seek truth. It was that method of reason and rational thought of Arabian philosophers that gave Andalusia eight hundred years of a booming civilisation, until 1492 when Jews and Muslims were expelled by Catholic monarchs Isabelle and Ferdinand. Ibn Rushd and the Muslims of Andalusia were descendants of Caliph Mu’awiya, the Umayyads. In the Muslim East, Arabs gave way to others to rule: ‘Abbasids, Seljuks, Mamlukes, Mughals, Ottomans. But in the Muslim West, Andalusia, Sicily and Portugal it was the Arabian spirit of Mecca that shone”. [End of quote]
One can see that Ed made every effort to disguise the truth in the aforementioned remark, which makes it simple for the gullible and naive reader to believe that Ibn Rushd was right and that those who challenged him were in error as well as guilty of trying to block the minds of Muslims.
Then Ed said that Ibn Rushd is well-known as Averroes in the Latin West as if his fame among Westerners would beautify his affair and hide his obvious faults. However, what he fails to grasp is that by mentioning Ibn Rushd’s fame among Westerners, he has exposed Ibn Rushd’s affair! These Westerners are nothing more than apologists for Ibn Rushd’s faults and they continue to thank him for upholding Aristotle’s fallacy for their benefit. Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “He (Ibn Rushd) was the one who most closely followed Aristotle’s statements.” (5) Read about corrupt Aristotle in this article by Shaikh Abu Iyaad [may Allaah preserve him]. http://www.asharis.com/creed/articles/lxtuo-ibn-taymiyyah-compared-with-the-philosophersexposing-abu-adam-al-naruijis-acade.cfm
Similarly, Ed added to the misguidance by claiming that Ibn Rushd regarded philosophy to be Waajib! Indeed, we seek refuge with Allah from Shaytaan’s whispering because neither Ibn Rushd nor Ed has a pious predecessor in this matter, as Imaam Maalik [may Allaah have mercy on him] stated, “If theological rhetoric were knowledge, the Messenger’s companions and the Taabi’een would have spoken about it just as they spoke about religious rulings and laws, but it is falsehood and leads to falsehood.” (6)
As for Ibn Rushd’s response to those who refuted his misguidance, Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said, “He (Ibn Rushd) responded to al-Ghazaali, but it was a response riddled with errors, and what was correct was with al-Ghazaali. He attributed several of his arguments to Ibn Sina rather than his predecessor (Aristotle), and he blamed the error on Ibn Sina. And in some of his arguments, he criticised Al-Ghazaali and accused him of being unjust because he (Ibn Rushd) views on corrupt speech.” (7)
Read on to see one of Ibn Rushd’s blunders as a result of his philosophy – a quote from Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah by Shaikh Abu Iyaadh. http://www.aboutatheism.net/articles/upniedg-the-universe-was-not-created-from-nothing-but-from-previously-existing-matter.cfm
Therefore, the believer ponders the plight of the destroyed nations in order to avoid following in the footsteps of their modern-day blind followers. Allah [The Exalted] says:
قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ سُنَنٌ فَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Many similar mishaps [troubles, problems] of life were faced by nations that have passed away before you, so travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who disbelieved]. [Surah Aal Imraan. Verse 137]
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allaah have mercy upon him] stated: “Indeed, nations like yours existed before you, so consider their evil end. You must understand that their eil end was due to their rejection of Allah’s revelations and Messengers. They were your ancestors, and you are their descendants. The main thing that links you together (about an evil end) is your disbelief, and the result of that disbelief is devastation.” (8)
Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “If it is asked, ‘What is the point of telling us the stories of the destroyed nations when this Ummah will not be completely destroyed in the same way that the previous nations were destroyed?”
The Answer: This has two benefits: The first benefit is a clarification of Allah’s blessings upon us, that the occurrence of total destruction is removed from us, and that we would have deserved it if it had not been for Allah’s Benevolence. not for Allaah’s Benevolence we would have been deserving of it. Second, if punishment was not meted out in this life, a similar penalty to the one they got may be meted out in the hereafter to the person who committed the same offense. This can be deduced from the verse: “Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the population of towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful and severe. Indeed in that (there) is a sure lesson for those who fear the torment of the Hereafter”. [Surah Hud. 102-103]
So what is clear from this Ayah is that what they received in punishment will happen in the Hereafter, and Allah knows best. (9)
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Footnotes:
[a] Al-Faraabee: Al-Faraabee said that Philosophy is more perfect than Prophet hood. Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [rahimahullaah] said about him: ‘’Misguided; a disbeliever’’ Ibn Sinaa adopted his books and ideas of disbelief. [For further details concerning Al- Faraabee, See Majmoo Al-Fataawaa 2/67—86] [Dar At-Ta’aarud 1/10] [Ighaathatul Luhfaan 2/372-373].
[b] Ibn Sinaa: Imaam Ibnu Salaah (rahimahullaah) said about him: ‘’He was a devil amongst the human devils.’’ [See Fataawaa Ibn Salaah 1/209] [Also see: ‘Ar-Radd Alal Mantaqiyyeen’ of Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah 278-279] [‘Ighaathatul Luhfaan’ of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim 2/373- 380] [Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah’ of Imaam Ibn Katheer 12/43]
[c] Naasir At-Toosee: He was a magician and a minister of the Tartars. He rejected the ‘resurrection’. For further details, see: As-Sawaa-iq Al-Mursalah of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim. 2/790; 3/1077-1078
Ref 1: Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Ta’dheeb Tafseer Ibn Katheer
Ref 2: Surah Nuh Ayah 23
Ref 3: Bukhaari 6/4920
Ref 4: Juhood Al-Ulamaa Al-Hanafiyyah Fee Ibtaal Aqaa’id Al-Qubooriyyeen. Vol 1. pages 19-25
Ref 5: Bayaan Talbees Al-Jahmiyyah 1/120
Ref 6: Dhammul Kalaam by Al-Harawi. 5/73
[Ref 7: Minhaaj as-Sunnah 1/255
Ref 8: I’laam Al-Muwaqqi’een: 1/181
Ref 9: Source: Al-Muntaqaa Min Fawaa’idil Fawaa’id 123-124