Heroic Stands by Shiekh Abu Nizhar Ash Shaami: Shiekh ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah... The Political Muhajid Aalim

Our lives are a collection of stands taken. These stands are what will decide our status and value before Allah (swt) on the Day of Judgement. Heroic stands, which changed the course of history, produced events, and greatly influenced all who witnessed them or heard of them. Heroic stands, which we mention while living at a time when most stands we see are those of humiliation and shame. Heroic stands, we mention them whose heroes are mentioned in the Quran, and the pages of the Seerah and our Ummah's past and recent history are overflowing with them. Heroic stands, which we mention in order to take lessons from. We mention them in order to receive flames of glory, optimism, and expecting good from Allah (swt), and to prove that our Ummah, by the permission of Allah (swt), is capable of bringing back the dignified stands which will fill the world with justice and light after it was filled with injustice and tyranny.

When an Alim can combine in himself depth in Fiqh, strength in argumentation, boldness in accounting and ferocity in Jihad, then that is heroic, by Allah (swt). How similar the age Sheikh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyya lived in is to ours today. For, he witnessed the crusaders invade the land and witnessed agents working for the invaders. He lived through a period of intra-Muslim wars. Sheikh ul-Islam lived through wars of a more dangerous kind against the Ummah. Since, in his time, atheists, philosophers and deviants had increased. Unfortunately, however, this also coincided with a recession in Ijtihad - rather a cessation of Ijtihad. Taqleed became more widespread and a Madhabist way of thinking dominated the issue of Fatwas. Also widespread was partisanship and narrow-mindedness in the face of the wave of new issues and risks. Additionally, governing became spiritless and was overtaken by tyranny and repression.

In the face of this dark reality, the Alim Ibn Taymiyya didn't decide to leave his injured Ummah and isolate himself from the people using the excuse of avoiding Fitna and reforming the self. He didn't decide to leave the traitor rulers alone using the excuse of obeying Wali ul-Amr like the worshippers of rulers do today. Rather, he decided to revolt against the entire status quo. His life was full of heroic stands. He fell upon 'Ilm (Islamic knowledge) and drank from it profusely. He then began publishing and teaching early, and reviving 'Ilm. He detailed the Hukm Shar'i on many new issues of his time. He would go out to the desert to write and if he got stuck on something, he would pray, putting his face on the dirt and make Du'a to Allah: "O Allah, Teacher of Ibrahim, teach me. Explainer to Sulayman, explain to me."

He responded to the scholars of Kalam and the philosophers and debated them intellectually. He also ended many deviations and innovations which became widespread during his time while the Ulema were oblivious. He then paid attention to the occupiers. So, he authored on Shar'i politics, Jihad and the duties of the ruler and state. His publications became intellectual and Fiqhi references to this day. He joined his Ummah in Jihad against the invaders. He travelled to Cairo in order to call upon the Mamluk Sultan to send an army to Ash-Shaam. The people of Ash-Shaam themselves appointed him to negotiate with the Tartar Sultan on their behalf. So, he boldly met him and made him listen to what leaders and commanders wouldn't dare to say, as he said to him: "Your father and grandfather were Kafir and you are claiming to be Muslim today, yet they were more faithful to their pacts."

He also motivated the Ummah on Jihad. He passed a Fatwa on the obligation of repelling the invader. He encouraged the Muslims in Ash-Shaam, Egypt as well as the Arab Bedouins to fight. He also undertook Jihad with them until Allah (swt) gave them victory and the Tartars collapsed. Sheikh ul-Islam was not safe from his enemies. His opponents conspired against him and got support from some Sultans, so he was imprisoned 7 times in Ash-Shaam and Egypt. He used to make use of his time in prisons to write and teach. In prison, he wrote a letter to the ruler about reforming the prisons and the state's duties.

It included the need to teach the imprisoned. The surprise was that the ruler implemented Ibn Taymiyya's suggestions. The mountain of knowledge, Ibn Taymiyya, died in prison among his students such as Ibn Al-Qayyim and Al-Ghayyani and others. Of the pearls that he said which was passed on for generations: "What can my enemies do to me? My garden and paradise are within my chest, killing me is Shahadah, imprisoning me is Khulwa (with Allah (swt)), and exiling me is travel." May Allah be pleased with him.

Sheikh ul-Islam departed, leaving behind a massive heritage of over 500 books and thousands of letters and Fatwas. He undertook Jihad with his life, wealth and pen, and he refused to submit to the tyrant nor stay silent on deviation nor accepting bribery in the Deen. Brothers and sisters, the fields of Dawah are open today for the determined. The greatest weapon Sheikh ul-Islam had was 'Ilm and Islamic thought, with which he scattered the darkness of ignorance and repelled the impurities of fabricators - and how many they are today. We learn from him the role of the courageous Alim who adopts the concerns of the people and is the radar who picks up on any threat to their thinking or anything that muddies their concepts. We learn about the political role of the Alim who accounts the ruler and condemns their evils. Unfortunately, the majority of Ulema today have resigned from and left the Ummah to the waves of Fitna. Today, we live in the time of misconceptions, the shaking of fundamentals and attacks on sanctities. So where are the determined ones who will defend their Deen, account their oppressors, awaken their Ummah to make the change that pleases Allah (swt), and exonerates us before Allah (swt). O Allah we ask of You Ulema of Khair who will lead the Ummah to the Khair and are not afraid of repercussions for Your sake.

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