Tariq Ramadan – Ramadan Chronicles #21 Unjust Power

Among all these resistance that we have to

indulge in, that we have to understand that

are they are part of what we understand,

being a Muslim, being a man and a

woman of faith and with principles

is to resist the oppressor, is to resist

the unjust power. And this is essential in

Islam. We know, as it is said in

the Quran, that the the the the the

good governance,

the the right governance is based on shura,

amuruhum shura baynahum. Muslims are those who, when

it comes to take decision, political decision, they

discuss it. They have this kind of consultation,

which is essential in our understanding of Islam.

Knowing this, anything which has to do with

oppression

or injustice of power

should be resisted. And this is the very

essence of what we have even in the

Quran when,

Allah is sending Musa alaihis salaam to Harun,

to Firaun

and asking him to to to tell him

a word of truth. And he sent,

Musa alaihis salamu harun saying,

Go to Firaun because he transgressed, and he

is an unjust,

a leader. You have to resist.

And it is said to them,

Tell him soft words. Maybe he might come

to remember

the essence or being scared that there is

something, there is power beyond his power, but

you have to go. And we have in

the hadith of the prophet, peace be upon

him, the very essence of this,

Avdolul Jihad, kalimato haprin, amem sorter in general.

The best jihad is a word of truth

before in front of a transgressor.

This is what we need to understand. It's

part of our understanding

that if we are promoting good governance and

justice, what we have to do on the

other side is to resist

with our words, so to speak the truth,

with our action to resist. Of course, peacefully,

when we have a rule of law, we

have to be,

involved when sometimes we have to resist by,

and through our actions to be able to

say, no. It's not possible for Muslims. It's

not possible for human beings to accept anything

which has to do with

unjust

power,

dictatorships,

and

despots

that are mistreating the people. On the other

side, we have some of our brothers and

sisters from, the literalist

Salafiqran saying, no. When somebody

in just power than to spread around fitna

and

saying,

All you who believe, you have to, obey

God and obey the prophet, peace be upon

him, the messenger, and those who have power.

And to the point that they are saying

it's better to respect an unjust

leader

than to spread fit. That couldn't be the

answer.

We are talking here in the verse about

somebody who has the authority coming through a

shura and coming through the right way as

Muslims

in a democratic process, in a process which

is respecting the principles

of a shura.

This is the answer that we have. But,

respecting

unjust leader, oppressors,

everything in the Quran, everything in our tradition

is saying, no. You have to resist injustice.

You have to resist, resist,

leader. And this is where you, as a

Muslims, are playing the role that is expected

from any,

believer.

Resist injustice and promote justice. Remember, don't forget

to tell the people you love that you

love them. Life is fragile.