** (Series of Answers by the Scholar Ata Bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah, Ameer of Hizb ut-Tahrir, to the Questions of the Visitors to His Facebook Page)**
To Abu Yala Natshe
Question:
Assalamu Alaikum,
We long for you; may the shade of the Khilafah shelter us soon, if Allah wills.
I have a question: What is the difference between a bloc (Kutlah) or grouping (Takatul) and an ideological party (Hizb Mabda’i)?
Answer:
Wa Alaikum Assalam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,
A bloc (Kutlah) and a grouping (Takatul) do not differ in their general application to a gathering of people who are joined by a specific bond for a specific goal. It is permissible to call such a gathering a Takatul or a Kutlah.
The term "Takatul" is stronger in its indication than the term "Kutlah." it conveys a sense of movement more than the word "Kutlah." This is because an "increase in the structure of a word indicates an increase in its meaning." Therefore, the term Takatul is more suited to a large, active gathering than the term Kutlah.
As for the ideological party (Hizb Mabda’i), it depends on what the grouping adopts. If it is established upon an ideology (Mabda)—meaning a creed (Aqeedah) and a system (Nizam) emanating from it—then it is an ideological party. It may be a correct ideological party if the creed and the system emanating from it are correct, and it may be a wrong, misguided ideological party if the creed and the system emanating from it are wrong and misguided.
Your brother, Ata Bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah
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