All posts filed under: Foreign Policy

Hilf al-Fudul is a model for international cooperation

Published by

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 must maintain an independent foreign policy

Published by

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 …

Liberation of Jerusalem: Salahudeen’s mercy towards the Crusaders

Published by

Salahudin Ayubi liberated Jerusalem (Al-Quds) on Friday 27 Rajab 583 AH/12 October 1187 CE after Lord Balian of Ibelin, the crusader commander in charge of Jerusalem, surrendered the city. This marked an end to nearly 100 years of crusader occupation and the liberation of Masjid Al-Aqsa. When the crusaders first entered Jerusalem in 1099, they massacred the Muslim and Jewish inhabitants, yet Salahudin on retaking the city never enacted revenge on them for this, nor the subsequent atrocities they had committed over the past century. He followed in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who on entering Makkah did not enact revenge on Quraish who had persecuted him and the Muslims for over 20 years. This was the because the character of the Prophet ﷺ was the Qur’an.[1] Allah ta’ala says, يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّٰمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَآءَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ ۚ ٱعْدِلُوا۟ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ O believers! Stand firm for Allah and bear true testimony. Do not let …

Islamic Conquest of Damascus: Rule of law at the height of war

Published by

ذِمَّةُ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَاحِدَةٌ يَسْعَى ِبهَا أَدْنَاهُمْ “The protection granted by one Muslim is like one given by them all, and this right is extended to the humblest of them.”[1] The Qur’anic character of the companions (sahaba) and early Muslims lead to their extraordinary restraint in the height of war, something virtually unheard of in modern warfare. The ‘civilised’ west, with all their talk of the rule of law, human rights and the Geneva convention have perpetrated according to Dr Gideon Polya a “Post-9/11 Muslim Holocaust & Muslim Genocide” where 30 million Muslims have been killed in avoidable deaths due to western, or western backed military intervention. There is no clearer example of this than the horrific ongoing genocide in Gaza, which America and its allies are actively financing, arming and providing cover for at the United Nations with their right of veto. As Samuel Huntington said, “The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion (to which few members of other civilizations converted) but rather by its superiority …

The Global Vision of the Early Muslims

Published by

BY ABU YUSUF الٓمٓ  غُلِبَتِ ٱلرُّومُ “Alif Lam Mim. The Romans have been defeated” (Ar-Rum, 30:1-2) Most commentators of the Qur’an when explaining this verse mention that the Muslims were hoping for the Romans to be victorious over the Persians, because the Romans were people of the Book whereas the Persians were mushrikeen like Quraish. Ibn Attiyah however, has an alternative explanation of this verse. In his Tafseer, Muharar al-Wajiz (المحرر الوجيز) he asserts that the main reason why the Muslims rejoiced on hearing of the Roman’s victory was not because the Romans were people of the book, or that their victory would prove the truthfulness of the Qur’an. It was rather from a strategic viewpoint that a victory for the Romans would be in the best interests of the Muslims. Ibn Attiyah writes, “what is closer to the truth in the matter is that Muslims wanted the weaker enemy to win, for if the greater and stronger enemy won, they would become a more formidable foe (for the Muslims in the future). Reflect on …

Conquest of Egypt: The Coptic Ruler’s daughter said: “I feel that my life and my honour are safe among the tents of the Arabs”

Published by

When Allah enabled the Muslims to conquer Bilbeis in Egypt, they found therein the daughter of the Egyptian ruler al-Muqawqis, whose name was Armanoosah. She was close to her father, but she was visiting the city of Bilbeis with her servant Barbara in an attempt to escape marriage to Constantine the son of Heraclius, whom she did not want to marry. When some of the Muslim army managed to capture Armanoosah, Amr ibn Al-As, the Amir of Jihad in Egypt, gathered the Sahabah together and reminded them of the words of Allah:

Islam was not spread by the Sword

Published by

BY SHEIKH ABU ISLAM YUSUF SHAQEERO. This article has been reproduced from Islamic Revival. The least that can be said regarding the statement that Islam was spread by the sword is that it is a statement that holds no credibility. The enemies of Islam have attempted to pass this off to non-thinking Muslims where they claim the objective of fighting is to make people enter Islam by way of force, even though the falseness of this view is as clear as the sun. This is because the way of entering into Islam which Islam has demanded, is the Islam which the person embraces by way of complete conviction and wilful consent. As such, there is no worth or value in the presence of something called Islam (i.e. belief in it), unless it came via complete conviction. The fact that it is not Islam (i.e. belief in it) unless it occurs via complete conviction, means that the matter of fighting for the purpose of making the people embrace Islam, represents an impossible matter. This is because …

Conquest of Egypt: Ubadah ibn as-Samit’s address to the Egyptian Ruler Al-Muqawqis

Published by

Amr ibn Al-‘As was commander of the army sent to conquer Egypt during the Caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab. After the conquest Amr became Egypt’s first Islamic governor (wali). The Muslim forces laid siege to the Babylon Fortress in 641CE (in the area known as Coptic Cairo today) where al-Muqawqis, the Egyptian Ruler was holed up. General Amr ibn Al-‘As sent a delegation of ten men, headed by Ubadah ibn as-Samit, to speak with al-Muqawqis. Ubadah was black, and when the delegation travelled by boat to al-Muqawqis and entered his place, Ubadah stepped forward and al-Muqawqis was alarmed because of his blackness. He said, “Take this black man away from me and let someone else come and speak to me!” They said, “This black man is the best of us in knowledge and wisdom. He is our leader and the best of us, and has been appointed over us. We all refer to his opinion, and our leader has appointed him over us and ordered us not to go against him.” Al-Muqawqis said to the delegation, “How could …