Download `Topple The Government` Rally…Can Rallies and Demonstrations

‫بسم اهلل الرحمن الرحيم‬
News and Comment
‘Topple The Government’ Rally…Can Rallies and Demonstrations Really Bring
About True Change?
News:
A few weeks before the end of 2013, posters were distributed all over Malaysia coaxing people to
attend a rally to ‘Topple the Government’ which is to be held on the New Year’s Eve of 2014.
Hundreds of police reports were lodged by various NGOs who think that the call for the ‘Topple the
Government’ rally was atrocious. On the New Year’s Eve there was indeed a huge rally but it had
nothing much to do with toppling the government, rather, it was more a demonstration by groups of
people on the issue of the current price hikes. To make things worse, in a burst of irrational
exuberance, the mufti of the state of Perak made comments that stirred the Muslim public. Tan Sri
Harussani Zakaria likened the rally to the act of ‘bughah’ (rebellion) and that it was thus permissible to
spill the blood of those who attended it.
Comments:
‘Bughah’ has a shar’ii connotation and cannot be used outside its shar’ii meaning. In a statement
released by the mufti after criticisms were hurled at him for making the comments, he mentioned that
‘bughah’ is not just restricted to resistance against a just ruler but also extends to rulers who are
elected under the current democratic system. Obviously this does not in any way clear the air but in
fact cause further confusion! In truth, according to Islam, a group is considered to be committing
‘bughah’ if it carries out armed rebellion and revolt against the Islamic State (the just state) while
manifesting strength and power and openly declares war against the state. This is far from what is
observed. Harussani had clearly misunderstood the reality of the situation and consequently attached
a wrong opinion on the issue.
What transpired on the New Year’s eve is in reality a manifestation of hatred for the current
government which could no longer be contained. However as Muslims, this hatred should be
channeled correctly in the way of Islam. The people who joined the rally would probably be delighted to
see a change in the leadership of the country. However, if what is involved is just a change in
leadership, yet the system stays the same, in reality, nothing has changed! From observation, calls for
change in Malaysia, in rallies not unlike this and in other platforms, are of this nature. Clearly, with calls
of this nature, the root cause of all the evils that pushed the people to participate in this rally in the first
place still exists, even if the leaders have changed! The democratic capitalistic system still stands!
True change can only be achieved when non-Islamic ruling is totally replaced by Islam. If this is
sought, then our Prophet (saw) had shown the way for us. Efforts of change by street demonstrations,
sit in’s and violence is not the way of our beloved Prophet (saw). Peaceful demonstration (Masirah)
can only be held to express our protest against the rulers, but it is not the shar’ie methodology for real
change. Masirah is just a means to account and introspect the rulers (Muhasabah) and it is permitted
by Islam. However, we should keep in mind that to carry out Muhasabah is to rebuke or criticize the
ruler in the context of enjoining good and forbidding evil according to what is required by Islam, not
according to what is required by democracy. Muhasabah is done on the grounds that the government
did not follow Islam and we criticize/advice the government to return to Islam. The connotation of
Muhasabah does not exist in the context of democracy, when the government is criticized for having
strayed from democracy and demands are made for the government to get back to the path of
democracy! Clearly those who organized and participated in this rally missed these points.
True change according to Islam can only be achieved through the process of Thalabun Nusrah
(seeking help from those with authority). Rasulullah (saw) obtained the nusrah from the tribes of Aus
and Khazraj and established the Islamic State in Madinah. May Allah grant victory for those who work
consistently in the way of His Messenger (saw) to re-establish the Rule of Islam on this earth.
Written for The Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Dr. Muhammad / Malaysia