Hilf al-Fudul (حلف الفضول) which means ‘Alliance of Excellence’ was instituted by the Quraish in Makkah before the advent of Islam. Ibn Hisham describes this pact, “They (Quraish) promised and pledged that they would not find any wronged person among their people, or anyone else who entered Mecca, but that they would support him. They would stand against whoever oppressed them until the rights of the oppressed were restored.”[1] The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ consented to this multilateral treaty after he received revelation and became a prophet. This means such a treaty or alliance becomes permitted (halal) based upon a sharia daleel (legal evidence) from the sunnah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, لَقَدْ شَهِدْتُ فِي دَارِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جُدْعَانَ حِلْفًا مَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ لِيَ بِهِ حُمْرَ النَّعَمِ وَلَوْ أُدْعَى بِهِ فِي الإِسْلامِ لأَجَبْتُ “I witnessed a pact of justice in the house of Abdullah ibn Jud’an that was more beloved to me than a herd of expensive red camels. If I were called to it now in the time of Islam, I would respond.”[2] In another narration, the …

The caliphate is not an isolationist state. It will deal with other countries based upon a strict criteria set by the sharia which allows friendly relations, trade and multilateral treaties with other nations based upon cooperation and justice. This can be seen throughout Islamic history where the high values of the Islamic state gained international respect, and whose armies had a reputation for the rule of law at the height of war. The currency of the caliphate spread globally just a few decades after it was first minted by the Umayyad caliph Abdul-Malik ibn Marwan (r.692-705CE). A copy of a gold dinar minted by the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mansur (r. 745-775CE) even found its way to England during the reign of King Offa of Mercia (r. 757–796CE).[1] The sharia however, prohibits relations with those countries who are actively at war with Muslims like Israel, and limits relations with countries who have a history of occupation and interference in the Muslim world like America, Britain and France. No Occupation and foreign influence If the state is under occupation of a foreign …

Al-Mawardi says, “If the territorial authority of this type of amir (Wali Khass) lies adjacent to a border he may not initiate a jihad except with the Caliph’s permission, although he must wage war on them and repulse them if they initiate the attack, without the Caliph’s permission, as this forms part of his duty to protect and defend what is inviolable.”[1] In a unitary state, the armed forces are all unified under the caliph who is the Commander-in-Chief. He has the sole power to declare war and despatch the military. Philip Hitti (d.1978) says, “The army was the ummah, the whole nation, in action. Its amir or commander in chief was the caliph in al-Madinah, who delegated the authority to his lieutenants or generals.”[2] Muhammad Haykal says, “For the management and disposal to belong to the Imam represents the ‘Asl (original position) in relation to the Qitaal (fighting) of the enemies, when he exists, and it is obligatory to obey him in accordance to the speech of Allah ta’ala: يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ …

Recently, a curious message has been doing the rounds on social media requesting Muslims to recite Surah al-Fil in order to help the Muslims of Kashmir. The message states: Assalamualaykum  Insha Allah  we are doing a round of 20 million recitations of Surah al FilL for the safety & security of all Muslims in occupied Muslim state of Kashmir, , and all Muslims around the world. Kindly recite 5 times and forward to your Friends and Family Jazak Allah Khairun