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Prof. Gamal Abdel Sattar

Prof. Gamal Abdel Sattar

Islamic Project... Merits and Prospects
Islam and life

Islamic Project... Merits and Prospects

June 03, 2024

It is clear to any fair-minded person that the Islamic movement is not just about well-known figures, organizational ranks, or famous titles. It is not solely about the contentious symbols here and there, the different or split, absent or present figures, neither the old and venerable nor the new and emerging ones.

Likewise, the Islamic movement is not merely a specific group and its affiliated members, or other currents operating in the Islamic arena. Instead, it is a broad current within the nation, comprising individuals who may not belong to a specific current or group, but are genuinely passionate about their religion. They long for the day of its victory and the moment of empowerment for its principles and values. They consider themselves soldiers for this cause, looking for someone to guide them in realizing their hopes, and to harness their energies and capabilities for giving and working.

Among them are men unknown to people, but certainly known to the Lord of people. Among them are sincere, blessed women who do not appear in public forums, nor are known in clubs and social media, but are precious to God Almighty. He has granted them a love for His religion, a connection to His book, and adherence to the guidance of His Prophet, peace be upon him.

Future of Islamic Project is Bright, and Success Factors Surround All Its Aspects

The Islamic movement, or if you prefer, the Islamic project, is a spirit that permeates the body of the Ummah. It is embodied in the youth who yearn for the authority of Islam, to be judged by the law of the Merciful, to achieve the unity of the Ummah, to cleanse its holy sites, and to raise its flag. They are prepared to give their lives for this lofty goal. The movement is also embodied in righteous and pure women who carry the passion of Islam, work for its victory, dream of its elevation, and spare no effort in raising its banner.

The Islamic movement consists of those kind hearts filled with affection for Islam and its people, who long for the day when the flag of Islam, the word of monotheism, and the light of divine guidance will be exalted. The movement is personified in a blessed group of men and women of the Ummah, united by a deep bond of faith-based brotherhood, regardless of language differences and varying interests. They aspire to establish the religion and spread its message to the world.

The Future of the Islamic Project

Therefore, the future of the Islamic project is bright, and the factors for success surround all its aspects. Contrary to what many researchers and observers believe, the current circumstances and the prevailing Islamic situation open unprecedented doors for the Islamic project, presenting an opportunity for a new beginning and unexplored fields of work.

Many masks have fallen from regimes that once contended with the Islamic project, attempting to compete by claiming to carry the message of Islam, guarding the creed, and embodying its values. These regimes have become nothing but mirages, or rather, ruins! Their hypocrisy was exposed when they turned against all manifestations of Islam, fought its values, attacked its scholars and preachers, closed its institutions, and aligned themselves with its enemies. Thus, their falsehood became evident to the people, and they lost their standing in the world. This has widened the field, calling upon the faithful to unite and show God the best of themselves.

Achieved Through a Revolution Against Outdated Methods, Empty Labels, and Failing Approaches

International organizations have also fallen, those that filled the air with talk about freedom, democracy, Western values, human and animal rights, and the rights of children and women. Many of the Ummah's youth were enamoured by them, influenced by their propaganda and calls, thinking that this was the model to follow and the methodology to adhere to. However, the 'Al-Aqsa Flood' stripped all these regimes and international and local institutions naked, revealing to all that they are far from these values, the greatest threat to humanity, and the most criminal regarding women and children. As a result, even non-Muslim youth began to inquire once again about Islamic values, the breadth of its laws, the sincerity of its call, and the extent of its mercy, presenting the Islamic project with a new tide, a wondrous opening, and a golden opportunity for constructive effort and remarkable success in establishing the religion and carrying the message of Islam.

Furthermore, those movements that claimed to be the guardians of understanding the Qur'an and Sunnah, professing to follow the beloved Prophet in every aspect of their lives, have fallen. With unfolding events, they retreated, even collapsing and deteriorating, siding with falsehood under various names, abandoning many of their slogans, contradicting their principles, issuing fatwas contrary to their beliefs and proclamations, and focusing on attacking the Islamic project—its values, methodologies, and symbols—attempting to impede its progress by engaging in trivial intellectual battles, meaningless religious displays, or fruitless political disputes. It became evident to everyone how much these groups were creations of oppressive and tyrannical regimes, betraying principles and ethics, deeply connected and loyal to systems of tyranny, debauchery, and atheism.

Thus, the field is wide open for the Islamic project, calling the sincere and opening its doors to the truthful.

People often perceive the abundance and prominence of froth as a sign of the emergence and dominance of falsehood and the absence and delay of truth. However, the Qur'anic truth confirms that the appearance of froth indicates a high level of goodness. The more the valleys of goodness fill, the froth rises to the surface, ready to disappear, while the truth is prepared to launch, expand, and bring widespread benefit and elevation. Allah Almighty said: "As for the foam, it vanishes, [being] cast off; but as for that which benefits the people, it remains on the earth." (Surah Ar-Ra'd, 17).

Ummah's Need to Define the Islamic Project: Its Scope, Goals, and Methodology

Trust in official religious institutions has also declined, most of which often opposed the Islamic project, claiming to be its custodians and representatives, deeming themselves more worthy of carrying the message of Islam. Simultaneously, they saw the efforts of the Islamic movement as diminishing their influence, undermining their position, and restricting their activities. They harboured animosity, openly displaying hostility, scheming against it with all means possible, and collaborating with oppressors and transgressors to eliminate the Islamic project. However, the laws of the Quran refuse to grant success to the efforts of the wrongdoers. Allah says in one of the laws of the Quran: "And say, 'Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, [by nature], ever bound to depart.' " (Surah Al-Isra, 17:81). Falsehood is not destined for permanence. Instead, Allah swiftly exposes the deceitful souls and the diseased hearts. Allah says: "Or do those in whose hearts is disease think that Allah would never expose their [feelings of] hatred?" (Surah Muhammad, 47:29), and Allah says: "Allah would not leave the believers in that [state] you are in [presently] until He separates the evil from the good. Nor would Allah reveal to you the unseen." (Surah Al-Imran, 3:179).

Stage Requirements

Therefore, it becomes evident that the Islamic project possesses a golden opportunity to reclaim leadership in the field and propel the Ummah towards the promised empowerment under its Lord. However, this can only be achieved if those affiliated with the Islamic project initiate a revolution against many outdated methodologies, antiquated approaches, empty titles, and failed strategies.

There is a need for sincere introspection and real change in attitudes, systems, realities, and objectives. The Ummah needs to redefine the concept of the Islamic project, its boundaries, scope, objectives, and methodology. All of this can only be achieved through a robust Sharia-based reconsideration of constants and variables, with a firmly established Quranic methodology.

Allah's laws do not favour anyone, and the Quran has clearly laid out the law of change, which requires no extensive explanation. Allah says: "Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves." (Surah Ar-Rad, 13:11).

The religion of Allah does not depend on anyone from among the people, but rather it is us who are in need of it. If we do not take advantage of the available means, adhere to divine norms, and believe in Allah's trust in carrying His message and establishing His religion, then Allah's immutable laws are present and ready, and they will neither be delayed nor hastened. Allah says: "And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you." (Surah Muhammad, 47:38).

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The Islamic Project is at a Crossroad
Islam and life

The Islamic Project is at a Crossroad

May 02, 2024

 

The Islamic project did not emerge from a void on its first day, nor was its inception mere rhetoric or an act of luxury. Rather, its birth was a genuine response to an urgent need, a remedy for a chronic illness, and a soothing balm for acute pain.

The birth of the Islamic movement was a response to the call for Islamic unity at a time when the signs of division were eroding it, and hopes for the restoration of the lost Islamic caliphate had faded away. The launch of the Islamic project then was like a beacon of hope for those whose paths had diverged, oxygen for those struggling to breathe, and a lifeline for those on the verge of drowning. Unity of the nation was the most prominent feature of the Islamic project, its highest banner, and its clearest title.

The Need For Law

Furthermore, the birth of the movement was also a response to the nation's need for Islamic law specifically, and Islamic reference in general, in all aspects of life. Many of the nation's youth and leaders rallied around the Islamic project because they found in it their long-awaited guidance and their hopes pinned on a comprehensive Islamic reference and a unifying Islamic unity.

The Path to Advancement Requires Sincerity, Self-Reflection, Future Vision, Determination, and Taking Practical Steps 

And indeed, the Islamic idea began to shine brightly, seeking unity for its nation, and a reference point to preserve its identity, protect its constants, and strengthen its bonds.

The methodology to achieve these goals was meticulously divided into educational and intellectual stages, aimed at identifying the qualified individual according to varied criteria of faith, intellect, psychology, ethics, and skills.

Then, the focus shifted to establishing the family on a solid Islamic foundation in its formation, path, means of protection, and the integrity of its productions and fruits.

Subsequently, the methodology progressed to the third stage, represented by the establishment of the Muslim community, realized through the adherence to Islamic principles in all aspects of life—its joys and sorrows, times of ease and hardship, in its markets, factories, shops, and streets, as well as in its mosques, schools, and research centres.

Then came the aspiration for the Islamic state, which is considered a natural outcome of the successful completion of the stage of the Muslim community. The state is seen as a natural product of the society's choices and its alignment to the methodology of Islam to the best of its ability.

Relative deviation

However, with the passage of time and the influence of geographical, climatic, and human factors, there occurred a relative deviation from those desired goals. They became faint in their clarity, intertwined in their means of achievement, while their supply of intellectual renewal and cognitive development weakened. There was also a failure to readjust correctly after the storms and upheavals it faced.

Restoring Islamic values to be the hallmark of the Islamic project owners is one of the foremost means for its continuity and success

After a century since its inception, the Islamic movement found itself at a strange crossroads, with bewildering paths, relentless winds, and countless losses in lives, ideas, resources, and spaces. What is the way out of this crisis? How do we envision the future of the Islamic project? Or, to be more precise, how do we see the future of the Islamic movement?

The path to revival is not impossible, but it requires sincerity, commitment, honest self-reflection, scientific foresight, genuine determination, and utilization of available means.

First and foremost, the Islamic movement must redefine itself anew, based on the realities of the present and the prospects of the future, benefiting from the experiences of success and failure.

It must realize above all that it is a movement of principles; its value lies in the principles it upholds. Its wealth lies in the message it proudly adheres to. Its guidance and salvation come from these principles, which are rooted in the divine reference—the Quran and the Sunnah—and their application to ourselves before seeking to apply them to others. Those who do not accept accountability will not succeed in empowerment, and those who disdain evaluation will inevitably become misguided. The principles are the carriers of the message and the establishment of the faith, they are the deep spiritual upbringing, the adherence to the rope of Allah, the source of guidance, mercy, and dignity, they are the abode of healing. The principles are embodied in the divine scholars, the sincere preachers, and in the magnification of the legal reference—beliefs, understanding, behaviour, and movement.

The crisis deepened fundamentally when the principles were scattered. “And he threw down the tablets and seized his brother by [the hair of] his head, pulling him toward him.” (AL-A’RAF, 150). The key to the solution lay in reclaiming the source of guidance and elevation. “He took up the Tablets whose text contained guidance and mercy for those who stand in awe of their Lord.” (AL-A’RAF, 150). No matter what resources the Islamic movement possesses, no matter what institutions it builds, and no matter how many energies and individuals it mobilizes, its success is measured by conveying the message in the most complete manner. Without that, there is no success. “if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message.” (AL-MA’IDAH, 67)

Reviving the Brotherhood of the Islamic Ummah on a Faithful Basis: A Brilliant Launch for the Movement in its New Awakening

Re-defining Self

In this way, every individual affiliated with the Islamic project redefines themselves as bearers of guidance for humanity, leading them from darkness into light, without seeking dominance over them or exploiting them for personal interests, benefits, or successes. Their enduring motto is: "What my Lord has provided for me is far better" (Quran, 18:95).

People's need for guidance lies in their need to regulate their concepts, ensure the soundness of their ideas, and make clear distinctions between constants and variables. Put simply, it's about presenting constants and variables in a more effective, appropriate, and exemplary manner.

People's need for guidance also lies in their need for values that go beyond mere names, titles, and forms. The field of action is still lacking in exemplary models and authentic role models.

The Islamic movement has been casting these guiding principles since political action, with all its noise, turned from a means of advocacy into an end. Advocacy became a means for political action, evidenced by the fact that when the two conflicted, advocacy was abandoned, and when politics suffered losses, advocacy receded. Advocacy is not merely a routine activity; it is the legacy of prophethood and the trust of carrying the message.

Despite Successes and Failures, the Islamic Movement Possesses a Surplus of Values to Propel It into a New Awakening

A true Hallmark
Therefore, the re-establishment of Islamic values as a true hallmark for the owners and supporters of the Islamic project is among the foremost means for its continuity and the keys to its success.

Moreover, the consolidation of the Islamic movement in light of the constants of Islam and its standing up to protect its principles stands out as one of the most significant strategies, especially in circumstances where nations challenge the fundamentals of our creed and infringe upon our sanctities, identity, and values.

Furthermore, the revival of the brotherhood of the Islamic Ummah on a firm basis of faith, regardless of titles, colours, flags, or ethnicities, also serves as a brilliant launch for the movement in its new awakening.

Despite all the successes and failures, the Islamic movement possesses a surplus of values that can be built upon and propelled into a new awakening. In fact, it may not be an exaggeration to say that any revival in the nation in the current stage cannot commence without benefiting from the vast reservoir of values and human resources that the movement has left in various regions and lands.

Returning to the Islamic brotherhood in its divine faith-based bond, pledging allegiance anew to Allah, becoming soldiers for His call, bearers of His religion's message, heirs to the banner of His Prophet, and repositioning to safeguard the constants, preserve the creed, and cultivate generations whose behaviour, appearance, and knowledge embody Islam, all qualify the movement to lead the new awakening. This is a certainty by the permission of Allah, and all we have to do is prepare ourselves for utilization so that He, glorified is He, may open the doors of utilization for us.

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