News right Now: Veiled Deception

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. Welcome to News Right Now - Veiled Deception.

On November 6th, 2018, Somali-born Ilhan Omar became the first hijabi Muslimah to be elected to the United States Congress. Muslims across the US celebrated her election victory and congratulated her to her new position as Representative of the 5th Congressional District of Minnesota.

Muslims in the US have been facing more and more challenges. From government entrapment plots, to heightened surveillance by local and federal law enforcement, to the president of the United States proposing the quote-unquote "Muslim ban."

Muslims feel singled-out and under unfair scrutiny. Add to that the "hijab ban", the "niqab ban", and other policies targeted at Muslims in the West at large, some Muslims feel the need to seek political power to protect themselves.

So many Muslims celebrated when they saw an openly Muslim, hijab wearing sister win a seat in the US House of Representatives, they felt it was a victory for them.

Sadly, those who think that political participation in the secular, democratic system will accomplish their objectives, equate participating in democratic elections, and even sitting on Congress to "Shura", or Islamic consultation. They believe that the US Constitution shares Islamic principles of justice. They believe that since the Constitution does not cite religions like Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, or Buddhism as sources of law, it is a neutral, Islamically accepted document.

But scrutinizing these claims sheds light on the reality crouching behind them. Democracy is not the same as the Islamic notion of shura because democracy involves legislating laws that govern human relationships, not mere consultation and advice.

Creating laws and ruling based on laws that emanate from any other creed, doctrine, belief, or constitution is a sin. Allah instructs us to refer all affairs to what He revealed: bimillah ir rahmaan nir raheem

فَلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىَ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ يَجِدُواْ فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيمًا

“But no, by your Lord, they can have no belief, until they make you (Muhammad ) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” (Surah an-Nisa: 65)

As for the US Constitution being a quote-unquote "neutral" document, devoid of religion, we as Muslims should remember that negating God and neglecting His role as al-Hakim (the Legislator) IS a religion. It's the religion of secular Capitalism that places "faith" in the personal sphere and "freedom" to run the public sphere.

Islam is the only Deen that contains rulings for both personal worship and organizing public affairs like economics, politics, and social life. Participating in the secular democratic system is not only counter to Islam, but is utterly futile because Muslims are forced to set aside the comprehensive nature of Islam, a fact the kuffar are keenly aware of, and embrace secular values.

In light of that, what good is an electoral victory when one has to compromise on the Deen? Allah reminds us sternly in Surah al Maida verse 49:

وَأَنِ احْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءهُمْ وَاحْذَرْهُمْ أَن يَفْتِنُوكَ عَن بَعْضِ مَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ إِلَيْكَ

"And judge, [O Muhammad], between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations and beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allah has revealed to you."

Muslims should NOT vote or seek power in un-Islamic political systems. Petty electoral victories integrate Muslims into the dominant kufr framework and dilute the Islamic identity.

Just like the Prophet (s) did in Makkah, Muslims in the West play a valiant and crucial role in this work by highlighting the ideological inconsistencies of Secularism, Democracy, and Capitalism. In an age where people are looking for alternatives to the current systems ruling them, Muslims have the unique opportunity to present Islam as the comprehensive, spiritual-political aqeedah that it is so that when it is re-established in the Muslim world, they have something to turn to.

Jazakum Allahu khairan for joining us. Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.