Question: What are the means, which the west uses in order to spread their
ideas and thoughts?
Answer: The means that the west employs in order to spread their thoughts and
ideas are many; they include:
1– They attempt to conquer the minds of the Muslim children. They do this by
infusing in them western values and concepts, so that they believe that the
best way to adopt in any matter is that of the west – whether it is with
regards to what religion or sect they believe, or with regards to the
languages that they speak, or the manners, customs and values with which they
adorn themselves.
2– Custody of a large group of the children of the Muslims in every country,
concern for them and bringing them up, such that when they have absorbed
western thoughts, they return to their countries with a halo of praise and
respect. They then acquire position and authority in their countries, by
which they begin to circulate the western ideologies, establishing learning
centers that conform to western curricula, or are at least directly
influenced by them.
3– Their active drive towards promoting the learning of western languages in
the Muslim lands, making them compete with the Muslims’ languages, especially
the Arabic language, which is the language of the Qur’ân – in which this
Book was sent and by which the Muslims worship their Lord; in their Prayer,
their rites of Pilgrimage, their forms of remembrances and glorifications,
etc. From this is the encouragement of destructive propaganda that fights
against [the usage and learning] of the Arabic language and attempts to
weaken the conformity to it in the Muslim lands. They do this by calling to
using colloquialism, and by arranging numerous studies that intend to
“develop” grammar in order to corrupt it, as well as formalizing folk
literature and matters of national heritage.
4 – Development of western universities and missionary schools in Muslim
countries and also initiating the role of kindergarten and playschools,
hospitals and clinics which serve as dens and nests for their evil aims. They
encourage the higher classes to study in them, after which they help them to
acquire posts of leadership and high position, until they become an aid for
their teachers in following their plots and plans in the Muslim lands.
5– The attempt to control education curriculae in Muslim lands and drawing
out their politics, either directly, as occurred in some Muslim countries
when the priest Dunlop undertook that task there, or by indirect methods.
When the task was undertaken, most of the successful students who studied in
Dunlop’s schools and graduated from them, arose as a destructive pickaxe in
their country, or as one of the enemies’ most lethal weapons. [Such students]
strive hard to influence the educational curriculum and steer it towards
secularism, an ideology that does not center on having faith (îmân) in
Allâh and His Messenger, but rather steers towards aetheism, or towards
immorality and corruption.
6– The large number of individuals amongst the jews and christians who have
undertaken the study of Islâm, Arabic language, compiling books, and taking
positions of teaching in universities, until they created an ideological
turmoil and confusion amongst the educated Muslims – which they hurl at those
they are teaching, or with which they fill their books. This happened to such
an extent that some of those books became source-works which later writers
and researchers refer to in matters of ideology or history. Many people who
were responsible for creating some of these [ideological] turmoil in the
Muslim countries, were actually Muslims who graduated at the hands of such
people. The praise and awe, which surrounded such graduates, helped them to
achieve this, as well as achieve their posts and positions, such as important
posts in teaching and leadership. So they completed what their teachers had
initiated [of corruption] and fulfilled what they [the teachers] could not
achieve, because these students were offspring of Muslims; from the same
skin, ascribing themselves to them and speaking their tongue -and Allâh’s
help is sought.
7– A large number of missionary workers, calling to christianity, have gone
forth amongst the Muslims performing their work upon them. [Such missionary
activities are based upon] well studied principles, and upon a large scale,
employing hundreds of thousands of men and women. Huge financial budgets are
set aside for this task, and [they are aided in such a way that] their task
is made easier and obstacles are removed for them.
| “They want to extinguish the Light [the Religion] of Allâh with their mouths, but Allâh will bring His Light to perfection and completion, even though the disbelievers hate it.” [Sûrah as-Saff 61:8] |
Just as the efforts of the missionaries are set up and aimed mostly at the
common levels, then the efforts of the orientalist are drected at the
educated – as I previously mentioned. The missionaries take on huge hardships
in their work in the African countries, and in the remote villages of the far
extreme Muslim lands, in eastern Asia. After that, every so often, they hold
conferences in order to review their accounts and their plans; then they
analyse, adjust and implement. They met in Cairo in 1906, in Edinburgh in
1910, in Lucknow (India) in 1911, and in Jurusalam in 1935, and they continue
to hold such assemblies, seminars and conferences – so glory be to Allâh,
the One in Whose Hand is the sole sovereignty of the heavens and the earth,
and to Him return all affairs.
8– Spreading corruption in the Muslim societies; belittling the status of
women as regards their role in life, making her transgress the limits that
Allâh has set for her, causing her to be satisfaction with abstaining from
the [correct] Path. They do this by spreading propaganda amongst the Muslims
in various ways and manners, so that women [are encouraged to] freely mix
with men, and so that women [are encouraged to] work in the places of men. By
this, they aim to corrupt the Muslim society, and to put an end to the
chastity and purity, which is found therein. Additionally, they bring up
imaginary issues and false propaganda – claiming that Islâm oppresses women,
and that Muslim women have very little rights. They want to take her out of
her home and put her wherever they may want, even though the limits that
Allâh has set are clear, as are His commands [concerning these matters], and
as is the Sunnah of His Messenger sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Allâh the
Most High said:
| “O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the believing women to draw their over-garment over their entire body. That will be better, that they should be known, so as not to be harassed. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful” [Sûrah al-Ahzâb 33:59] |
Allâh the Exalted said:
| “And let the Believing women draw their head-scarves over their chests, and not to display their beauty, except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons…” [Sûrah an-Nûr 24:31] |
And He says:
| “And when you ask them for something, ask them from behind a screen; that is purer for your hearts and their hearts” [Sûrah al-Ahzâb 33:53] |
And Allâh the Exalted said:
| “And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of pre-Islamic ignorance.” [Sûrah al-Ahzâb 33:33] |
The Prophet sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Beware of entering into the company of women.”A man from the Ansâr said: “O Messenger of Allâh, what about the husband’s brothers and relatives?” He replied: “The husband’s brothers and relatives are death!”
He sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said: “A man is not alone in the company of a woman, except that the third of them is shaytân.”
9– The building of churches and temples in the Muslim lands and spending great amounts of wealth on them: beautifying them, making them very conspicuous and noticeable, and building them in the largest and the best locations.
10– Radio stations set up solely for the purpose of calling to christianity and communism, spreading their [false] objectives.
They intend to misguide, through such false ideas, the children of the
innocent and naive Muslims – who neither understand, nor did they receive a
sufficient Islamic education. This is the case, in particular, in Africa
where the Bible is published and distributed in many hotels, etc. [They also]
send missionary and other publications containing falsehood to many of the
Muslim children.
These are some of the means utilized by the enemies of Islâm today – from
the east and the west – in waging war against the Muslim’s thought, in order
to put an end to correct and righteous thought, so that they are replaced by
[false and] foreign ideas; whether eastern or western. And – O noble reader –
as you can see, these means involve tremendous efforts, enormous amounts of
money and a multitude of soldiers. All of this is done in order to take the
Muslims away from Islâm, even if they do not actually embrace christianity,
judaism or socialism. Since their primary goal in doing this is to take the
Muslims away from Islâm, so that when this stage is achieved, whatever
[misguidance] follows becomes far easier to implement.
However, despite all this, we say that Allâh will frustrate them in their
hopes and will nullify their plans, but only if the Muslims are sincere in
their fight against them, alert to their plans and obedient and upright upon
their Religion. Allâh said:
| “But if you remain patient and become pious and obedient to Allâh, their plots will not harm you in the least. Indeed Allâh encompasses all that they do” [Sûrah Âl-Imrân 3:120] |
Since they are spreaders of corruption, Allâh will not give total facilitation to their actions. Rather Allâh the Most High said:
| “They plot and plan, and Allâh plans, and indeed Allâh is the best of planners” [Sûrah al-Anfâl 8:30] |
Allâh the Most Perfect said:
| “Indeed they are planning a plan, but I am planning a plan, but give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while.” [Sûrah at-Târiq 86:15-17] |
Allâh the Mighty and Majestic said:
| “O you who Believe! If you help the cause of Allâh, He will help you and plant your feet firmly.” [Sûrah Muhammad 47:7][21] |
Allâh, the One free from every imperfection, said:
| “And indeed Allâh will help those who help His Cause. Truly, Allâh is Most-Powerful, Most-Mighty. Those who, if We give them power and authority in the land, establish the salâh (Prayer), give the zakâh, command the good and forbid the evil. And with Allâh rests the end of all affairs.” [Sûrah al-Hajj 22:40-41][22]. |
And there are many verses carrying this same meaning. Thus, without a doubt,
the matter requires the Muslims to have some sense of awareness and
contemplation [23] . There should be some study about the course of action that
should be undertaken and about the most suitable stance they should take.
They should be heedful and have some awareness that will make them capable of
understanding the schemes of their enemies, and have an active program for
rendering them futile.24 This shall not be accomplished for them except
byadhering to Allâh, adherence to His guidance, returning to Him, repenting
to Him and seeking His aid. Additionally, we should bear in mind His guidance
in everything, especially His guidance with regard to the relationship that
the Believers should have with the unbelievers, and we should understand [the
sûrah]:
| “Say O unbelievers!…” [Sûrah al-Kâfirûn] |
Also what Allâh, the Most High, mentions in His statements:
| “Never will the jews and the christians be pleased with you until you follow their way of life” [Sûrah al-Baqarah 2:120] |
| “And they will not stop fighting you, until they turn you back from your Religion, if they are able.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah 2:217] |
I ask Allâh, the Most High, that He grants right guidance to this ummah with
regards their affairs, that He grants protection to it from the plots of its
enemies, and that He grants it firmness and obedience, both in speech and
action, so that there can be for them might, strength and honor as Allâh
desires for them. Indeed He is the One having power over this. And may Allâh
extol and send His blessings of peace upon our Prophet Muhammad; and upon his
Family, his Companions, and those who follow them.
Footnotes
19 Related by al-Bukhârî (9/289) and Muslim (no.2172), from Uqbah ibn Âmir
radiallâhu anhu
20 Sahîh: Related by at-Tirmidhî (no.1181) and Ibn Hibbân (no.282), from
Jâbir radiallahu anhu. It was declared to be sahîh by al-Albânî in as-Sahîhah (no.430).
21 Imâm as-Sam’ânî said whilst explaining this verse in his Tafsîr
(5/170):
| “If you help the Prophet of Allâh, or the Religion of Allâh, then Allâh will help you.” |
And the help (nusrah) from Allâh implies His protection and guidance.
Qatâdah said: Whoever helps Allâh, He will help him; and whoever asks
Allâh, He will give him. And it is said [that it means]: He will help you by
giving you victory and dominance over your enemies.”
22 Commenting upon this verse, Imâm ash-Shanqîtî said in Adwâ ul-Bayân
(7/104-105): “So in the saying of Allâh, the Exalted:
“Those who, if We give them power and authority in the earth, there is a
proof that there is no promise of Allâh’s help, except by establishing the
Salâh (Prayer), paying the Zakâh, enjoining what is good and forbidding
what is evil. So it is these whom Allâh will establish upon the earth and by
whom He will strengthen His Word. However, those who do not establish the
Salâh (Prayer), nor pay the Zakâh, nor
enjoin the good, nor forbid the evil, then there is no promise that Allâh
will aid them or grant them victory. They are not from His party, nor are
they His friends; those who have the promise of His help and victory. Rather,
they are the party of Shaytân and his friends. So if they were to expect the
help of Allâh and the fulfillment of His promise upon them, then their
example would be like that of a hired worker who refuses to do the job that
he was hired for, yet he still expects to be rewarded. So whosoever is like
this, then he has no intellect!”
23 Shaykh Muhammad ibn Sâlih al-‘Uthaymîn said in an interview recorded in
Makkah, on Friday the 16 th of Dhul-Hijjah; 1416H:
“In reality, understanding the state of affairs (fiqhul-wâqi’) is something
essential, and judgment about the affairs cannot be passed except by
understanding it and understanding the current situation…. But making this
means, which is fiqhul-wâqi’ (understanding the state of affairs), the
actual foundation, reducing the importance of gaining understanding (fiqh) of
the Religion, about which he sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever
Allâh intends to show goodness to, He grants him the understanding of the
Religion” [Reported by al-Bukhârî] then this is a mistake …
So we hold that pre-occupying the youths away from seeking knowledge of
Allâh’s Religion and replacing this with fiqhul-wâqi’ and a careful study
of magazines, newspapers, news broadcasts, and their like, we hold that this
is an error in the methodology (manhaj), not an error in intentions. Yet you
must know the situation, and a person cannot be removed from what occurs in
the Islamic ummah and the plots that are made against it.
The Shaykh, rahimahuullah, further said: “As I have said, there must be an
understanding of the present state of affairs, each individual according to
his level. The level of the young is not like that of the elders, since the
young may behave rashly and their strength and enthusiasm is something that
may not be safe, or properly channeled. But there must be an understanding of
the situation. What is wrong, however, is that fiqhul-wâqi’ is given
precedence over gaining fiqh of knowledge; this is what is meant. Thus, if
the youths turned towards attaining knowledge and gaining fiqh of Allâh’s
Religion – such as explanation (tafsîr) of Allâh’s Speech, explanation of
the ahâdîth of the Messenger sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and an
understanding of the words of the scholars in elucidation of them – then this
would be good.
24 So all of this is an essential part of being concerned with the affairs of
the Muslims, about which the following hadîth is often quoted:
“Whoever does not have concern for the affairs of the Muslims, is not from
them.”
This, as well as other hadîth with similar wordings, have been reported by
al-Hâkim (4/317), at-Tabarânî in as-Saghîr (p.188), and others.
However, these narrations are all either weak (da’îf), as is the case above,
or fabricated (mawdû’). A detailed discussion of their weakness has been
furnished by Shaykh al-Albânî in ad-Da’îfah (nos.309-312).
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymîn, hafidhahullâh. said when asked about the authenticity
of the above hadîth, in Sahwatul-Islâmiyyah (pp.104-105; no.4):
“This is from those ahâdîth that are well known amongst the people. But I
do not know whether its wording is authentically related from the Prophet
sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, or not. However, its meaning is correct. Since
if a person does not have concern for the affairs of the Muslims, he is in
reality, deficient in Islâm. Indeed the Prophet sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa
sallam said, in that which is authentically related from him:
“The example of the Believers in their mutual love, mercy and compassion is
like the example of a single body; when one part of the body feels pain, the
rest of it suffers in sleeplessness and fever.”
And he sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The Believer to another Believer
is like a single building, one part supporting the other.”
So these two ahâdîth are similar in meaning to this well-known hadîth
(NOTE: If you want to build a strong and powerful relationship with Allah, check out Islamia TV, where you can watch Islamic speakers from across the globe deliver inspiring and motivational courses. Learn more at www.islamia.tv.)
