(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 Okab Alhak
Question:
Assalamu Alaikum,
It was mentioned in the book The Structuring of a Party (At-Taktul) that the stage of taking authority is through the Ummah and the actions of seeking Nusrah. So, is seeking Nusrah part of the Interaction Phase (Tafā'ul) or the Taking of Power phase? Please provide clarification and detail as we have come to expect from you.
Answer:
Wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,
Seeking Nusrah occurs in the late stages of the Interaction Phase. If the people of power (Ahl al-Quwwah) respond and are capable of bringing about change, the third stage has approached, by Allah's permission. We have detailed this matter in our books, particularly in The Methodology (Al-Manhaj). Here are some clarifying points:
1- The Messenger of Allah (saw) began seeking Nusrah during the Interaction Phase. When Abu Talib died, the society of Mecca was frozen and closed off to the Messenger (saw). With the death of Abu Talib, the harm inflicted by Quraish upon the Messenger intensified to a degree they did not dare during his uncle's lifetime; thus, the protection of the Messenger became weaker than it was during the days of Abu Talib. Allah then inspired him to present himself to the Arab tribes to seek their protection and support (Nusrah), so that he could convey what Allah had sent him with while being safe and protected. Ibn Kathir mentioned in As-Sira from Ali bin Abi Talib, who said: "When Allah commanded His Messenger to present himself to the Arab tribes, he went out, and I was with him along with Abu Bakr, to Mina until we reached a gathering of the Arabs." Ibn Kathir also narrated from Ibn Abbas from Al-Abbas, who said: The Messenger of Allah (saw) said to me:
«لا أرى لي عندك ولا عند أخـيك مَنَعَة، فهل أنت مخـرجي إلى السوق غداً حتى نقرّ في منازل قبائل النـاس -وكانت مجمع العرب- قال: فقلت هذه كِنْدَة وَلَفُّها، وهي أفضل من يَحُجُّ من اليمن، وهذه منازل بكر بن وائل، وهذه منازل بني عامر بن صعصعة، فاختر لنفسك، قال: فبدأ بكندة فأتاهم»
"I do not see for myself any protection with you or your brother. Will you take me out to the market tomorrow so that we may visit the dwellings of the tribes?" – and it was the gathering place of the Arabs. He said: I said, "These are the Kinda and those with them, and they are the best of those who perform Hajj from Yemen; these are the dwellings of Bakr bin Wael, and these are the dwellings of Banu Amir bin Sa’sa’ah. Choose for yourself." He said: "He started with Kinda and went to them."
2- It was clear to the people of power (the tribes) at that time from whom the Messenger (saw) sought support, that what was required was for them to protect the Messenger (saw) and enable him to establish an entity among them in which the rules of Allah (swt) would be applied. That is, they clearly and explicitly realized that the Nusrah was for the establishment of a state that governs and carries out Jihad... Therefore, Banu Amir bin Sa’sa’ah said when the Messenger (saw) sought their support:
«أرأيتَ إنْ نَحْنُ بَايَعْنَاكَ عَلَى أَمْرِكَ، ثُمَّ أَظْهَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَنْ خَالَفَكَ، أَيَكُونُ لَنَا الْأَمْرُ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ؟ قَالَ: الْأَمْرُ إلَى اللَّهِ يَضَعُهُ حَيْثُ يَشَاءُ. قَالَ: فَقَالَ لَهُ: أفَتُهدَف نحورُنا لِلْعَرَبِ دُونَكَ، فَإِذَا أَظْهَرَكَ اللَّهُ كَانَ الْأَمْرُ لِغَيْرِنَا! لَا حَاجَةَ لَنَا بِأَمْرِكَ؛ فَأَبَوْا عَلَيْهِ»
"Do you think if we pledge allegiance to you on your matter, then Allah grants you victory over those who oppose you, shall the authority be for us after you?" He said: "The authority belongs to Allah; He places it where He wills." He said to him: "Should we expose our necks to the Arabs for you, and then if Allah grants you victory, the authority goes to someone else? We have no need for your matter," and they refused him.
This means they knew the Nusrah was for the establishment of a state, so they wanted to be its rulers after the Messenger of Allah (saw). Similarly, Banu Shayban said to the Messenger (saw) when he sought their Nusrah:
«وإنما نزلنا بين ضرتين، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «ما هاتان الضرتان»؟ قال: أنهار كسرى ومياه العرب، وإنما نزلنا على عهد أخذه علينا كسرى لا نحدث حدثا ولا نؤوي محدثا، وإني أرى هذا الأمر الذي تدعو إليه مما تكرهه الملوك، فإن أحببت أن نؤويك وننصرك مما يلي مياه العرب فعلنا، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «ما أسأتم في الرد إذ أفصحتم بالصدق، وإن دين الله لن ينصره إلا من أحاطه من جميع جوانبه»»
"We have settled between two harms." The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "What are these two harms?" He said: "The rivers of Khosrow and the waters of the Arabs. We have settled upon a covenant taken from us by Khosrow that we shall not initiate any matter nor harbor any innovator. I see that this matter you invite us to is something that kings dislike. If you wish for us to harbor you and support you regarding what is adjacent to the waters of the Arabs, we shall do so." The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "You have not responded poorly since you spoke the truth frankly. Indeed, the Deen of Allah will only be supported by those who encompass it from all its sides."
They realized that Nusrah meant governance and Jihad against both Arabs and non-Arabs; they agreed to fight the Arabs but not the Persians.
3- Then, when Allah (swt) decreed the matter, the Second Pledge of Aqaba took place, which was the Nusrah for establishing the state in Medina. After that, the third stage began, which is the establishment of the state.
4- It is clear from all of this that seeking Nusrah was before the third stage, i.e., in the Interaction Phase.
5- This is what the Party did when it began the work of seeking Nusrah in the 1960s, and it continues to do so. We ask Allah (swt) to honor this Ummah with supporters (Ansar) who revive the legacy of the first Ansar, so the Islamic State, the Rightly Guided Khilafah, is established, and the banner of Al-Uqab—the banner of the Messenger of Allah (saw)—flutters on high. On 그날, the believers will rejoice in the victory of Allah.
Your brother, Ata bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah
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