Boycott of Hajj Over Khashoggi's Case?
By
Ibn 'Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori
Recently (specifically on 13th October, 2018, when we were yet to know of Khashoggi's death) in a whatsapp group, a brother delve into Saudi/Khashoggi's saga calling for boycott of hajj with this post:
"When will you guys open a conversation about the disappearance of the Saudi Arabia journalist? If the story is finally confirmed, repeating pilgrims should try to boycott Hajj in protest of this act.
On the authority of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree (ra) who said:I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say, “Whoso- ever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.”[Muslim]"
Reacting to the post, my brother, Saheed Muhammadul Awwal Toyin Alege (a Common and Islamic Law Lawyer based in Portharcourt) said:
"I do not know what you stand to correct by opening such busybody discussions other than inciting people to displaying hatred towards the government.
May Allāh guide you to what He loves, it's obligatory that you do not open the door to tribulations by opening such conversations, especially in the absence of the accused as doing that will not give them fair hearing. If you are convinced of the real situation and they are liable, advise them. If they take it, all praise is due to Allāh and if they do not, you have discharged your responsibility.
May Allāh increase you in guidance. It's important you also know that government can be corrected publicly as long as the officials are present and safety from tribulations is guaranteed. If you cannot do this, advise the government secretly. But do not display and spread their faults to the people as you will not change any evil but rather propagate evil.
Be careful in your suggestions and strive towards knowing and practising the obligatory things upon you. May Allāh grant us success."
After reading Ustadh Alege's post, I wrote:
"I felt bad when I first saw the post. It promotes khuruuj 'alal hukkaam. Then, the hadith cited is not to be used in that manner. How can someone correct evil by leaving what is obligatory upon him in the deen, and in fact a pillar of Islaam? Hajj is a pillar of Islaam and it is obligatory upon those who have the capacity to fulfil all the conditions precedent. In correcting evils, we must be sure that it would not lead to greater evils.
No one is happy when there is leadership failure and injustice in the land because Muslims are brothers. What affect a Muslim affect other Muslims no matter where we are. But we have been taught how to relate with leaders (the good or bad). This is what my brother (Alege) has explained here. There are several hadiths on it. That is the stand of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah. I read similar thing recently in the explanation of Sharh us Sunnah by Sheikh Fawzan حفظه الله. Upon us is to follow the sunnah in dealing with leaders, no matter how wicked they are. We must learn to control our emotions in order not to open gates of more tribulations for this ummah. The best thing we can do is to always pray to Allaah to rectify them and advise them secretly, except where advising them publicly would not cause fitnah. We can't be better than the companions in dealing with leaders. It is hard thing to do, but we must do it and avoid following our desires against clear texts.
It is only an ignorant that would not know that Saudi is tried with leadership. But the trial is not peculiar them. We have this problem all over the world. Their own (Saudi Arabia's) case is even far better than our case back home in Nigeria. We have not seen anyone call for boycott of NYSC scheme on the account of numerous lives lost in Nigeria on daily basis. Yet, we see some Nigerians calling for boycott of hajj on account of Khashoggi's death.
We can't use our emotion or personal view in dealing with this fitnah. We must submit to texts, no matter how pained we are. That is why we are Muslims. That is what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told Hudhayfah Ibn Al-yamaani رضي الله عنه. The solution is not in revolting against leaders. Our solution is strict adherence to the Sunnah, true repentance and lot of prayers for Allaah to rectify our affairs. If revolt is the answer, why has it not worked in all the cases of the Arab Spring? The situations are getting worse day by day in the affected countries. Would they have been in this situation if they had followed the Sunnah of dealing with leaders? No. I wrote an article on this matter. In sha Allaah i will post it for us to understand more.
We can't use our emotion or personal view in dealing with this fitnah. We must submit to texts, no matter how pained we are. That is why we are Muslims. That is what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told Hudhayfah Ibn Al-yamaani رضي الله عنه. The solution is not in revolting against leaders. Our solution is strict adherence to the Sunnah, true repentance and lot of prayers for Allaah to rectify our affairs. If revolt is the answer, why has it not worked in all the cases of the Arab Spring? The situations are getting worse day by day in the affected countries. Would they have been in this situation if they had followed the Sunnah of dealing with leaders? No. I wrote an article on this matter. In sha Allaah i will post it for us to understand more.
May Allaah guide us aright"
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