Tigani (cont.)
THE CRISIS OF RELIGIOUS FAITH AND RULING POLITICS
 
 

On Friday the 24th of May 2000, ninety persons signed a public call to Sudanese. The signers addressed themselves as being "Islam's ulama [scholars] and leaders of Islam's movement, in addition Islam's preachers and Islam's thinkers."

 The names of the signers included:

Al-Shaikh Mustafa Mashhoor, principal guide of the Muslim Brotherhood (Egypt), Al-Shaikh Yusuf Al-Garadawi (Egypt), Imam Mohamed Mahdi Shamseldeen, chairperson of the Supreme Shiite Council (Lebanon), Ayat Allah Al-Uzmi Al-Sayed Mohamed Hussain Fadl-Allah of the Hizb Allah (Lebanon), Al-Shaikh Ahmed Yasin the za'im of the Harakat Al-Muqawama Al-Falestiniya (Palestine), Dr. Abdel-Karim Al-Khateeb, leader of Hizb Al-Adalla wa Al-Tanmiya (Morocco), Al-Sayed Mohamed Bahr Al-Uloum, secretary general of Ahl Al-Bait Al-Islami (Iraq), Al-Shaikh Abd-Allah Ben Hussain Al-Ahmer, speaker of the Yemeni Parliament (Yemen), Al-Shaikh Rashid Al-Ghanoshi, leader of Harakat Al-Nahda (Tunisia),Ustaz Issam Alattar, Islamic thinker (Syria), Professor Qulam A'zam, prince of Al-Jama' Al-Islamiya (Bangladish), Ustaz Zuhair Al-Shawish, head of Al-Maktab Al-Islami (Lebanon), Dr. Ramadan Abd-Allah Shalh, secretary general of Harakat Al-Jihad Al-Islami (Palestine), Ustaz Ali Sadraldeen Albiyanoni, supervisor of The Muslim Brotherhood (Syria), Al-Shaikh Yasin Abdel-Aziz Hassan (Yemen), Dr. Ahmed Alrawi, chairperson of the Islamic Organizations' Union (Europe), Dr. Abdel-Latif Iraibat, secretary general of Hizb Jabhat Al-Amal Al-Islami (Jordan), Dr. Ahmed Alraisoani, leader of Harakat Al-Islah wal-Tagdid (Morocco), Dr. Usama Al-Takreeti, leader of Al-Hizb Al-Islami (Iraq), Al-Shaikh Fadil Nour, leader of Al-Hizb Al-Islami (Malaysia), Dr. Ahmed Azzam Abdel-Rahman, leader of Harakat Al-Shabab Al-Islami (Malaysia), Al-Shaikh Hussain Ahmed Algadi, prince of Al-Jama' Al-Islamiya (Pakistan), Al-Shaikh Abd-Allah Gab-Allah, leader of Harakat Altagdid Walislah (Algeria), Dr. Hassan Howaidi, deputy principal-guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, Ustaz Fathi Yakun, Islamic thinker (Lebanon), Dr. Ahmed Al-Twowaigri, member of the Saudi Shoura Council (Saudi Arabia), Al-Shaikh Abdel-Rahman Shiban, president of Jamiyat Al-Ulama (Algeria), Al-Shaikh Rabih Kabeer, head of the Executive Committee of Al-Lajna Al-Islamiya lil-Inqaz (Algeria), Al-Shaikh Abdel-Gadir Bukhamkham, Professor, Al-Jabha Al-Islamiya lil-Inqaz (Algeria), advocate Salih Al-Marmutti, chairperson of The Jodonian Bar Association (Jordan), Dr. Tariq Tahboub, chairperson of The Jordonian Doctors' Union (Jordan), Engineer Azzam Al-Hunaidi, chairperson of The Jodonian Engineers (Jordan), Dr. Hani Al-Khassaona, former minister of information (Jordon), Dr. Ibrahim Zaid Al-Kilani, Former Minister of Awqaf (Jordan), Dr. Mohamed Abu Faris, president of the Mjlis Al-Ta'lim Al-Islami (Jordan), Dr. Omar Al-Ashqar, Shari'a scholar (Jordan), Dr. Mohamed Saleem Al-Awa, Islamic thinker (Egypt), Judge Dr. Abdel-Wahab Al-Ibrahim, former prime minister (Algeria), Dr. Ishaq Al-Farhan, President of Maglis Shoura Hizb Jabhat Al-Amal Al-Islami (Jordan), Ustaz Abd-Allah Fahad Abdel-Aziz Al-Nifaisi, Islamic thinker (Kuwait), Dr. Azzam Al-Tamimi, director of Institute of Islamic Political Thought (Britain), Dr. Bashir Musa Nafi', Islamic thinker (Palestine), Ustaz Monir Shafiq, Islamic thinker (Palestine), Usaz Hamza Mansour, first deputy of the secretary Ggeneral of Hizb Jabhat Al-Amal Al-Islami (Jordon), Ustaz Tariq Altal, secretary general of Hizb Jabhat Al-Amal Islami (Jordon), Dr. Hammam Saeed, executive officer of Hizb Jabhat Al-Amal Al-Islami (Jordon), Ustaz Abdel-Latif Al-Hatmi, advocate of Jama'at Al-Adl Wa Al-Ihsan (Morocco), Dr. Mohamed Fwad
Al-Barazi, director of Al-Rabitta Al-Islamiya (Denmark), professor Saleem Al-Husni (Britain), Dr. Abdel-Mageed Al-Najar, professor (University of Qatar, Qatar), Dr. Adnan Zarzour, professor (Univeristy of Qatar, Qatar), Dr. Ali Mohyaldeen Al-Qurah Dagi, professor (University of Qatar, Qatar), Al-Shaikh Abdel-Gadir Al-Umarri, judge at Shari'a Courts (Qatar), Al-Shaikh Mohamed Ubaid Husna, director of research (Awqaf Ministry, Qatar), Dr. Abdel-Azim Al-Deeb, professor (University of Qatar, Qatar), Ustaz Abd-Allah Baha, deputy chairperson, Harakat Al-Tawheed wal-Islah (Morocco), Dr. Sa'adaldeen Al-Uthmani, deputy secretary general of Hizb Al-Adalat wa Al-Tanmiya (Morocco), Ustaz Ben Abd-Allah Al-Wakooti, chairperson of Al-Majlis Al-Watani li Hizb Al-Addalah wal-Tanmiya (Morocco), Ustaz Abd-Al-Hadi ben Al-Haj Adang, deputy chairperson of Al-Hizb Al-Islamik (Malaysia), Ustaz Nasraldeen Eissa, secretary general of Al-Hizb Al-Islami (Malaysia), Ustaz Mohamed Al-Hawari, Islamic thinker (Germany), Dr. Salahaldeen Al-Nakadali, director of Al-Marqaz Al-Islami in Akhin (Germany), Ustaz Mutawali Musa, chairperson of Al-Muassasa Al-Itihadiya li Amal Al-Islami (Germany), Dr. Ahmed Mirayatti, director of Al-Dar Al-Islamiya lil-I'lam (Germany), Al-Shaikh Mohamed Adeeb Qaisi (Lebanon), Al-Shaikh Mohamed Mahdi Zaraqit, the judge of Soor (Lebanon), Al-Shaikh Hassan Abd-Allah, the judge of Shar' Mashfara (Lebanon), Al-Shaikh Hassan Mahmoud Abd-Allah (Lebanon), Al-Shaikh Mohsin Atawi (Lebanon), Al-Shaikh Ali Al-Mukahal, Shari'a Judge of Al-Nabatiya (Lebanon), Al-Shaikh Abdel-Halim Sharara, Shari'a Judge (Lebanon), Al-Shaikh Salman Qasli (Lebanon), Dr. Mohamed Jihaid Yunisi, member of Parliament (Algeria), Ustaz Hamlawi Akoushi, member of Parliament (Algeria), Ustaz Rabih Mashhood, former state minister (Algeria), Dr. Ramadan Yakhluf, director of Ma'had Usul Al-Deen, Al-Amir Abdel-Gadir, University (Algeria), Ustaz Ahmed Al-Rifai' Sharfi, director of Mahad Al-Hadara, Islamic University (Algeria), Khalid ben Ismail, former secretary general of Almedia (Algeria), Dr. Abdel-Gadir Fidail, Ustaz Markaz Takween Itarat (Algeria), Ustaz Mohamed Abu Lihya, head of Majlis Al-Shoura Al-Watani (Algeria), Ustaz Bashir Khalfi, inspector of tarbiya and takween (Ministry of Education and Instruction, Algeria), Ustaz Abdel-Ghaffar Aziz, officer in charge of Foreign Relations (Pakistan), Al-Shaikh Amin Seragaldeen, scholar and director of Masjid Mohamed Al-Fatih (Turkey), Al-Shaikh Khalil Gotag, scholar and Mufti of Istabnbool (Turkey), Ustaz Orkhan Mohamed Ali, historian and journalist (Turkey), Ustaz Engineer Fatih Al-Rawi, researcher and journalist (Turkey), Ustaz Mohamed Adil, researcher and journalist (Turkey), Ustaz Abdel-Latif Al-Hatmi, advocate of Jamaat Al-Adl wa Al-Ihsan (Morocco), Ustaz Maghdi Ugail, member of Maglis Shoura Al-Rabita Al-Islamiya (Britain).

The call started with the Qur'an: "O ye who believe! Fear God as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam. And hold fast, all together, by the Rope which God (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude God's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren" (Al-Imran:102-103).

The events that gave rise to the call are expressed in this statement:

"While Muslims and supporters of freedom were auspiciously following up the development of the Islamic Application's experience in The Sudan in the direction of Political Infitah [openness] and Ta'adudiya [pluralism] in congruence with the values of Islamic justice and Shoura [consultation], the direction that puts an end to the exceptional case that might have been necessitated by the circumstances of the Revolution - events have sadly erupted one year ago to predict the occurrence of a broad violent confrontation amongst children of the Islamic Project themselves." The signers referred at this point to the Hadith of the Prophet of Islam, peace and prayers upon him, that says: "Never act after me as non-believers who kill one another."

The signers depicted the confrontation in these words: "Each side purposely used all the means it had to restrict the other side, pity themselves on one another, and rally supporters for a decisive day in mutual escalation that soon suspended the parliament and party institutions and a state of emergency was eventually promulgated."

The signers assessed: "The confrontation almost ended up what is more important of all: the brotherhood sentiment and the Shoura tradition. If this continues, it will explode with acts of sedition and disaster that would put to an end the whole Islamic Project which is against the Will of All that prohibited bloodshed and transgression against property. It will furthermore jeopardize the country's security with the danger of schism and subject it to foreign domination. It will destroy elements of the Arab Islamic Identity of the Islamic Project. It will stand out as evidence against the Project. It will incite fright of the Project and only pleases the enemies and conspirators of Sudan, let alone the continuous distortion of the image of Islam the Islamic Project is calling for."

Because of this serious situation and the drastic evils of Fitna [tumult and discord] it might bring about, the ulama meant their call for "their brothers the believers in The Sudan, leaders and youth, in all their positions in the State or in the Party [i.e., the ruling Congress party established by the National Islamic Front (NIF)] chief of whom was recognized by the signers as the "za'im [leader] of the Islamic movement, Dr. Hassan Al-Turabi, and president Hassan Al-Bashir."

To this ruling elite as composed of the individuals and groups earlier mentioned, the signatories selected the Qur'anic verse "ina ma al-moumineen ikhwa fa aslihuh bayana akhawaykum" [Believers are brothers you have to reconcile] to urge them all "to keep up the spirit of brotherhood regardless of the intensity of dispute, to avoid using material or verbal means to escalate the dispute or fuel the flames of Fitna [sedition] in full submission to the Will of Allah that prohibited bloodshed of Muslims or sequestration of their property."

The signers urged the believers of the Islamic movement in State and Party to only adhere to the method of Shoura [consultation with one another], dialogue, and the search for Wifaq [reconciliation], and finally appeal to
Ahl Al-Sudan [the People of Sudan] as a way to decide upon the Khilaf [dispute] and deem all kinds of escalation, angry reactions or rallying as preparatory acts of sedition that is known with that which takes as one of the greatest sins of which the Holy Book and Sunna cautioned believers not to fall unto it. God said: "And fear tumult or oppression, which affecteth not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong: and know that God is strict in punishment" (Al-Anfal: 25).

The call was then addressed to all Ahl Al-Sudan in all their locations to go for reconciliation and the unity of word and to reject any claim to tumult or oppression whatever status the claimant might have." The call cautioned believers of the Islamic movement who occupy positions in the State and Party not to lose their good work by any involvement in acts of sedition so as not to meet with the Lord guilty of a believer's bloodshed. They emphasized what the Holy Qur'an taught: "If a man kills a Believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein (for ever): and the wrath and the curse of God are upon him, and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him" (Al-Nisa: 93). It is discord that burns out religion, those sitting are better than those standing for it, and those standing for it are better than those marching to it. Be extinguishers of the Fitna [sedition], not a party increasing it."

The signers put forward their ideas on the occurrence of khilaf [dispute] between people. They explained: "God tests people with disputes. He made the path for the unity of word, cooperation, and support to achieve the mutual interests and preserve the homeland instead of hostilities and war by the adoption of Shoura, Samaha [good relations], acceptance of the other's opinion, and pluralism. If the people of the Islamic movement fail to coexist in one party, let them adopt more than one provided that they leave one another with goodness, honor, forgiveness. They must not forget to act with generosity towards one another."

Importantly, the ulama who signed the call theorized Asl Al-Da [the source of the crisis] "for which no uprooting solution has been recognized since the fall of the Wise Caliphate. The renewable source and the most jeopardizing weakness of the crisis was the non-sufficient origination of Shoura in our political epistemology, the surrender to the judgment of the Umma [Nation], and the consistent use of modalities to expose the position of the disputing parties before the masses to judge the matter. This non-sufficiency pre-emptied Shoura from its political context as a symbol of Umma [Nation] rule within the framework of the values of Islam. This shortcoming founded, entrenched, and supported the rule of coercion and patronage over the Umma."

The ninety persons who spoke for the Islamic movement concluded in the following measures to resolve the crisis:

"We call on Ahl Al-Sudan [People of The Sudan], the warring Islamic groups and the others whose warring practices exhausted the country and the population, vanquished their power, and has weakened the land and put it on the hands of enemies and the rule of coercion:

To return to the wisdom of Shoura that is the Rule of the Umma, the masses of people, to prevent their disputation before the masses within honest and pluralist elections, and to accept the judgment of the masses for this is the only path for the achievement of unity and prosperity away from all claims of patriarchy that only lead to more destitution, weakness, sedition,
and repression."

Qur'anic verses were cited: "Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving clear Signs: for them is a dreadful Penalty" (Al-Imran:105). The Prophet peace and prayers upon him said: "Do not divide in dispute. Those before you divided in dispute and they lost their power."

The ulama finally cited the Holy Qur'an: "Our Lord! Forgive us, and our brethren who came before us into the Faith, and leave not in our hearts, racour (or sense of injury) against those who have believed. Our Lord! Thou art indeed full of Kindness, Most Merciful" (Al-Hashr:10).

The ninety persons who spoke for the Islamic movement concluded in the following measures to resolve the crisis:

"We call on Ahl Al-Sudan [People of The Sudan], the warring Islamic groups and the others whose warring practices exhausted the country and the population, vanquished their power, and has weakened the land and put it on the hands of enemies and the rule of coercion: To return to the wisdom of Shoura that is the Rule of the Umma, the masses of people, to prevent their disputation before the masses within honest and pluralist elections, and to accept the judgment of the masses for this is the only path for the achievement of unity and prosperity away from all claims of patriarchy that only lead to more destitution, weakness, sedition, and repression."

Qur'anic verses were cited: "Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving clear Signs: for them is a dreadful Penalty" (Al-Imran:105). The Prophet peace and prayers upon him said: "Do not divide in dispute. Those before you divided in dispute and they lost their power."

The ulama finally cited the Holy Qur'an: "Our Lord! Forgive us, and our brethren who came before us into the Faith, and leave not in our hearts, racour (or sense of injury) against those who have believed. Our Lord! Thou art indeed full of Kindness, Most Merciful" (Al-Hashr:10).
 
 

Next: Part 2