Satan brings models of Taghut and promotes them within the Muslim societies, where the model of Allah used to be the governing model. When these victim societies allows these taghuts to seat on the driving seat, then Allah and His commands carries very minimum weight. This new Taghut does not come alone, rather with a set of lucrative ideologies, heart-actions, celebrities, language, culture, festivals, rituals, objects of venerations, objects of love, objects of hatred, etc. A complete set that spans all the faculty of worship needs. This article focuses on one form of this Taghut, which is Nationalism, and explains the idea taking Bangladesh as a state.
Nationalism as a New Religion: Bangladesh as a Case Study
Islam was spread by the virtue of its monotheistic ideology and practical moral behavior which it promotes. Allah says in three places in Quran [Tawbah 33, al-Fath 28 and as-Saff 9]:
It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad (peace be upon him)) with guidance and the religion of truth to make it superior over all religions.
In the previous verse, the word guidance is the ideology and knowledge that satisfies one’s heart, and the religion of truth is the acts of worship which is based on justice and mercy to the mankind. These were the ingredients of Muslim’s success. With this ideology they opened the hearts of millions of mankind before they opened their land. Once they accepted this religion and tasted the sweetness of worshipping one Allah alone and enjoyed the justice of Islam, no one –if give option- wanted to seek any alternative ideology.
Islam has turned the mindset of the converted nations. They become submissive to one supreme power (i.e., Allah), after they have suffered a lot when they gave their submission to entities that had no power, like some men like them, or stones or trees, etc. Islam came to occupy all the needs of submission, which the weak mankind searches for, and was created for. Islam was the default ideology and practice that the early mankind followed since the descent of Adam and Eve on this Earth. Satan tried since then, to change this monotheistic ideology of Islam 100%, and if not possible then 99% and if not possible then –for sure- 1% is better than 0%. Today, Satan has nations and communities who oppose Islam 100% and has those who oppose it 1% and has all the greyscale in between.
Mankind was created by its Lord to Worship Him alone. Allah says:
And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). [51: 56]
So, Mankind by nature is made to worship, and it feels like a fish-out-of-water when either tries not to worship, or worships the wrong God.
Essence of Worshipping in Islam
Worshipping is often thought of going to a place of worship on a particular day and offering some kind of rituals. This is an incomplete–yet the common- form of worship. Worship spans a complete set of ideology and associated practice. So, it boils down to ideology and action. Ideology sits in the heart, and actions start in the heart and flows out to appear on physical actions.
So, when a Muslim today knows Allah and knows His beautiful names and attributes, he automatically starts to love Him, and respect Him inside the heart. So, these are heart actions. He starts to fear him, and he starts to ask him for help, and he starts to place his trust and hope in Him. These are all acts of worship that resides in the heart. Islam has the ritual of prayer that allows all organs of the body to follow the heart in giving proper tribute to Allah. Islam asks a Muslim to do that five times but not alone rather with a group of similar people. Islam does not allow these heart actions of worship to be given –even 1%- to anyone else. Thus, Islam occupies all worshipping needs that humankind requires. Islam has two occasions of celebration after two important rituals: the celebration of fasting and the celebration of Hajj. Since Man is a social beast, Islam has established all social ties that create a Muslim society. It made brotherhood relationship between Muslims. It made no racial grades among Muslims. It granted rights to be exercised and respected among Muslims. It came with rulings based on just and mercy in marital as well as monetary contracts. Islam knows that there will be non-Muslims and Islam haters who hate Allah and His messenger. Based on this fact, Islam has the concept of enmity and amity. This is never based on whims or lusts, rather it is purely based on the relationship with Allah. We hate those who hate Allah, and love those who love Allah, in the way that Allah wants. Jihad is the concept whereby Muslims prove their love and dedication to Allah. Through Jihad Muslims show that they check the anti-Allah forces and ideologies with Islamic forces and ideologies. They are –in reality- the Hezbollah or party of Allah. Islam has it’s ideology well preserved through Quran and the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad –peace be upon him. Quran was revealed in Arabic and is the pure words of Allah. It is somehow possible to translate the meaning of these words to a different language, but it is impossible to guarantee that no linguistic beauty was lost during the translation process. Knowing this fact, the companions –when opened foreign lands- they made those foreigners learn the Arabic language, so they will be able to taste the beauty of the words of Allah by themselves purely without any translation. This is why Egypt, Syria, Morocco, etc are Arab countries today.
Satan’s Attempts
Above, I have attempted to explain the essence of Worshipping in Islam. Now, Satan wants to affect this model of worship with his own model of worship. He wants to create another model that resembles the Islamic model, and then markets his model, and calls people to come to it. Satan can never invent a new model of worship, rather he uses the same model that Allah created for humankind, but only changes the main focus from being for Allah to some other entities. If Islam wants the heart-actions of worship (like love, fear, hope, trust, sincerity, reverence, etc) to be dedicated 100% to Allah, then Satan in his model wants these same things to be 0% for Allah. Now, if Satan stands in front of the mankind and calls publicly to deprive the heart from these actions, then he will be asking for impossible. It is so because, these acts of worship are hardwired in mankind, and living without them is live living without oxygen. Therefore, Satan will call to have all these acts of worship but to divert them to some new entity other than Allah. Satan will call to have love, reverence, respect, fear, hope, trust but to something new other than Allah. If Satan fails in that, then he is –at least- satisfied if 50% of –for example- love is given to Allah and the other 50% to something else. In essence, Satan wants someone other that Allah to seat in the driving seat of the heart. He does not mind, however, if Allah sits somewhere in the back seat or in the middle seat or even in the front seat, but never in the driving seat!
Have you seen those (hypocrites) who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Tâghût (false judges) while they have been ordered to reject them. But Shaitân (Satan) wishes to lead them far astray. [an-Nisa 60]
So, these Taghuts are those drivers who occupy the driving seats of mankind’s heart. They are those who drag the mankind to follow them away from the commands and directions and path of Allah. If Allah would drive towards west, they would take east. Satan brings models of Taghut and promotes them within the Muslim societies, where the model of Allah used to be the governing model. When these victim societies allows these taghuts to seat on the driving seat, then Allah and His commands carries very minimum weight. This new Taghut does not come alone, rather with a set of lucrative ideologies, heart-actions, celebrities, language, culture, festivals, rituals, objects of venerations, objects of love, objects of hatred, etc. A complete set that spans all the faculty of worship needs. This article focuses on one form of this Taghut, which is Nationalism, and explains the idea taking Bangladesh as a state.
Nationalism as a Taghut
When Islam explored the hearts and lands of millions of people on this globe, Satan became frustrated. It is almost impossible to bring a Muslim back to Christianity, Hinduism or Pagan religion. Satan took another option by keeping these Muslims in a traditional non-Practicing Islam, and cultivates the icons of various Taguts into their heart, so their worship ‘unconsciously’ is diverted to this tagut while they are thinking that they are Muslims.
Satan comes to a nation and starts to question them about their source of Unity. Satan says, “Think about your unique nature in your state. Islam is NOT what makes you united. Think about other than Islam. What makes you as one nation? It is the LAND, the language, the culture and NOT Islam.” Satan then needs to bring all articles of worship so the mass population can slowly and gradually shift the Islamic pillars of heart-worship to this new Icon.
Bangladesh as a Case Study
Bangladesh was created initially as East Pakistan based on Islam. Before Islam the mass population of Bangladesh were Hindus, pagans, Buddhist and else. They were divided into casts and oppressed by kings and other groups. Islam gave them heart and mind “liberation” and satisfaction. Islam became their culture and went deeply rooted in their blood. The British made few attempts to touch the religion, but became convinced that mass conversion of Muslims to Christianity is impossible. The British colony was very clever. It knew that dividing Muslims in the Indo-Pak subcontinent into two different cultural based nations with one unifying religion separated by thousands of miles would naturally cause division and will results Muslims being divided and weakened. On the other hand, there were people using the same Bangla language, but not following the religion of Islam, and were kept outside in India. That is exactly what happened. The Pakistanis –because of their weak practice of Islam- oppressed the Bangladeshis and deprived them from their rights. Bangladesh is a land of resources with green land, water and human resources. Any proper utilization of these resources will yield riches. So the British -and later- the Pakistanis raped the country and took its richness away to build their own country. No nation will close its eyes on such a clear injustice. The Bangladeshis revolted. Pakistanis tried to impose Urdu language on Bengali speaking people, many Bangladeshis fought against and there were dead. The clash continued, and finally the Bangladeshis got independent through continuous fighting. It happened so that many Muslims were favoring being under Islamic Pakistani rule rather that being alone under the mercy of the neighboring Hindu state of India. As a result, they joined the oppressing Pakistani army against the Bangladeshis. Eventually Pakistan loose and these helping Bangladeshis became the clear hypocrites and against the freedom of Bangladesh.
All these unique historical background helped Satan to create a very suitable playground to install “Nationalism” as a new religion in Bangladesh. Now Satan has historical events of victory to mimic the Islamic celebration of two Eids. Now Satan has very solid ground to place “Islam” to be an enemy of Bangladesh, because this culprit Islam was the driving force for the “Rajakars” to stand in support for Pakistan. As if, in 1971 Bangladeshis got independence from Pakistan as well as from Islam.
Symptoms of Islamism
Under the umbrella of Islam, following are some of the symptoms of Islamism:
Belonging, love and hatred is based only on Islamic causes. Brotherhood is based on Islam, not on geographic land, or language or ethnic race, etc.
Celebration is only allowed for Islamic causes (i.e., the two eids), no other historical event of pre-Islamic cultural event is allowed to celebrate in Islam. This will bring the days of ignorance in the fore, and make heart-attachment with things that has been at the days of “Jaheliyyah” (ignorance).
Islam does not allow mourning for the dead, even if he were the Prophet of Islam, nor any event for the birthday even if he were the Prophet of Islam.
Islam does not agree to sit in the rear seat of a Muslim Bus (country). If the Muslims in that country do not allow Islam to drive them, then Islam simply leaves that Bus. What remains in the Bus is a customized man-made Islam which the people of the Bus still kept to get a self-satisfaction that they are still Muslims.
Symptoms of Nationalism
The religion of “Nationalism” came with the same set of requirements:
Love, hatred and belonging are based only on Bangladesh as a nation. A good non-Bangladeshi Muslim is not our brothers in Bangladesh. A good Pakistani Muslim is an enemy of Bangladesh and we ought to hate him, because his father or grandfather might have raped some girls in Bangladesh. A “rajakar” is a pure hypocrite and can never be Bangladesh loving, even if all his 14 past generations were born and brought-up in Bangladesh. How can we Bangladeshis befriend some one who wanted us to be ruled by Muslim foreigners! Lately when the elders of this new religion (Nationalism) saw that the number of actual “rajakars” are dying or being aged, then they have expanded this term – as Bush expanded the term “terrorism”- to include any one who practices Islam and wants the ruling of Quran over the ruling of non-Quran in the land of Bangladesh. So, it is very common to brand a young chap as “rajakar” even if he was not even born in 1971. I myself -by writing about the seldom-spoken fundamentals of Islam in this article- will be –for sure- considered as “rajakar” even if I was born in 1973 and have all my 14 generations deeply rooted in Bangladesh.
Nationalism came with its own set of icons and events to revere. These sacred icons and events occupy that portion of the heart, which has been emptied from the reverence to the previous Islamic icons and events. If Muslims celebrate the eid of Hajj with slaughtering beasts and going for eid prayer, then Nationalists has their own version of celebrating 21 February and doing same “qurbani” at the “Shaheed Minar” and give flowers as tribute. They will stand silent one minute, whereas in this 60 seconds they could have asked the forgiveness from Allah for these martyrs and sincerely asked Allah to make their martyrdom for the sake of Islam and the sake of standing with the oppressed against the oppressor. According to Islam if someone fights only for nation, language, land, tribe etc, then he is never a martyr.
Nationalism and its elders know very well that deeply rooted Islam in the hearts of Bangladeshis can never be rooted out. This is why they knew that any attempt to move forward could not be possible without taking Islam with but in the back seat! So, you will see the Nationalism agenda appearing in Islamic guise. You will see Nationalism agenda in the day of “Miladun Nabi”, at “Ashora” days, on the days of Eids, in Tongi Ejtema, etc. You will find those who will combine Nationalism rites with Islamic rites in mourning for the Shaheeds on 21 February.
If Islam teaches Muslims to place Allah and His Prophet first in the list, even before one’s own parents, then Nationalism has different slogans. “Joy Bangla” becomes the “Allahu Akbar” for adherents of Nationalism Religion.
There is a simple acid test which helps to know precisely to which religion some one belongs: Praise my anti-ideology and I will get angry. Praise Judaism in front of me, and I will get angry. Praising AL will never make a BNP supporter happy. Praising the land, people or language of Bangladesh will never make me angry, because I am a pure Bangladeshi, and I know that if tomorrow Islam sits in the driving seat of Bangladesh will never cause harm to the land, people and language of Bangladesh, rather it will take it in advanced direction. On the other hand, if praising Islam and promoting it to be in the driving seat of Bangladesh irritates you and makes you angry, then be sure that you are an adherent to this new religion called “Nationalism”, whether you admit it or not. Islam mandates that its instructions be followed totally with heart satisfaction. If someone considered wearing “Hijab” as backdated, then he/she is not a Muslim. Also, he is not a Moamen who agrees on wearing Hijab, but has problem in getting heart satisfaction.
When Dr. Yunus launched his own party named “Nagorik Shokti”, he had to set the ideology and objective of the party. To this end, he could not find any objective more powerful that the objective of “Nationalism”: “to realize the dream of freedom fighters” and to be “secular” state.
Historical Survey of Nationalism
Historically the Jews were -and are- the most Nationalist group. Allah says: “And (both) the Jews and the Christians say: "We are the children of Allâh and His loved ones." Say: "Why then does He punish you for your sins?" Nay, you are but human beings, of those He has created.” [5:18] This nationalist tendency came to the Jews because of them deviating their Torah, and designing the sacred book to them –which they revere more than Torah: the Talmud.
An example of their extreme nationalist attitude is their belief that no Prophet can come outside the house of Israel. This is why they got furious when Prophet Muhammad –peace be upon him- came from the house of Ishmael. They consider non-Jews inferior and should be used like donkeys by the Jews. Talmud was written when the Jews where in the Babylonian exile, and were under persecution and torment. This hard time helped to create a revenge mentality and the Talmud was written with the mentality of inferiority complex. Later these Jews had to face same kind of torture and persecution under the Christian Europe for being the killer of Jesus – their son of God. This torture made the Jews more attached to the extreme instructions of Talmud. In fact, this extreme nationalism and racism by Jews created later -as a reaction-Nazism and fascism.
Middle Age Europe was unified under Christianity, until this unity was broken because of the revolution against Christianity led by Martin Luther and Calvin. Later with the French revolution, Europe broke up into three rival Nationalist groups: French, England and Germany. These nations went into years of war, and could see the pain of nationalism.
When these European nations went to colonize the Muslim world, they clearly identified the power source of Muslims: their unity. Immediately they could see –from their experience-, that Nationalism could be an effective tool to break the Muslim unity. They were successful!
Nationalism Conflicts with Islamism
For the following reasons:
ONE
Calling the population to gather under the banner of “Nationalism” necessitates breaking the Muslim Unity by depriving many good Muslims out of this Banner, and bringing many non-Muslims under this banner.
And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allâh (i.e. this Qur'ân), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allâh's Favor on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islâmic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allâh makes His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may be guided. [03:103]
He it is Who has supported you with His Help and with the believers. And He has united their (i.e. believers') hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allâh has united them. Certainly He is All-Mighty, All-Wise. [8:62,63]
(And remain always) turning in repentance to Him (only), and be afraid and dutiful to Him; and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) and be not of Al-Mushrikûn (the polytheists, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah). Of those who split up their religion (i.e. who left the true Islâmic Monotheism), and became sects, (i.e. they invented new things in the religion (Bid'ah), and followed their vain desires), each sect rejoicing in that which is with it. [30:31,32]
The above verses clearly shows the power and importance of Muslim unity. In fact the west realized this power of Muslim unity and tried hard to weaken this power by the idea of “Nationalism”. Western colonies were the first who tried to decentralise the Muslims from the Ottoman Islamic Caliphate and called for Arab Nationalism.
TWO
Islam prohibits all forms of call towards the days of Ignorance. Islam prohibits slogans, morals, actions and ideologies of the days of ignorance (Jaheliyyah).
One day a dispute raised between the Muhajereen (migrants of Makkah) and the Ansar (the host of Medinah), so some of the Muhajereen called loudly “O Muhajereens” and some of the Ansar called loudly “O Ansar”. Upon hearing this the Prophet came rushing and said: “Are you using the Banners of Jaheliyyah, while I am still within you!”
The above Hadith clearly shows that Muslim division –even if it is under Islamic Names (like Muhajereen or Ansar)- is a clear symptom of Jaheliyyah.
In another hadeeth –narrated by Muslim – the Prophet –peace be upon him – said:
“Allah has revealed to me that you should be humble, so no one oppresses other, and no one feels prejudiced over other”.
No doubt, that marching under the banner of “Nationalism” necessitates echoing the slogans of the nation and feeling prejudice about events, icons and men of that nationregardless of their adherence to Islam.
In another Hadith –narrated by at-Tirmidhi:
“Allah has eradicated the pride and haughtiness of Jaheliyyah, and the superior feeling of the forefathers. In reality, it is either a righteous Momen or a sinner dissolute, all humankind are sons of Adam, and Adam was created from Mud, there is no preference of an Arab over a foreigner, or a foreigner over an Arab except on the basis of Taqwa (righteousness).”
In another Hadith:
“The analogy of Momens in their love, mercy, and affection is like a single body, when one part of it gets ill, the whole body suffers and shares the pain through fever and staying awake all night”.
In another Hadith:
“Allah commanded Yahya the son of Zakariayyah to preach five commandments to the Israelites and to abide by them..” the hadith continues till the Prophet –peace be upon him said: “and I myself will command you five commandments which Allah commanded me to preach: Listen, Obey, Jihad, Hijra (Migration) and Jamat (being as one group), for he who separates –one Shibr (few inches)- from Jamat then he takes out the covenant of Islam from his neck, until be renews his Islam. And he who calls for Jaheliyyah slogans, then he is among the deposits of hell-fire” some said “O Prophet, even if this person (who calls the slogans of Jaheliyyah) performs prayers and fasts Ramadan?”. In reply the Prophet said “Even if he prays and fasts and claims to be a Muslim, so call only by the name of Islam and Imaan, O the slaves of Allah”. [authentic Hadith]
What a true hadith that exposes the “Nationalists” of today, who prays and fasts and yet calls themselves Muslims!
THREE
The religion of “Nationalism” drags the Muslims gradually to befriend the non-Muslims, and seek their consultancy and expose the secrets to them. It is possible that a Hindu gets in the top of the hierarchy in a Nationalist Muslim country, starts to issues commands, and sends all the secrets to other Hindus.
O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliyâ' (friends, protectors, helpers), they are but Auliyâ' of one another. And if any amongst you takes them (as Auliyâ'), then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allâh guides not those people who are the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers and unjust). And you see those in whose hearts there is a disease (of hypocrisy), they hurry to their friendship, saying: "We fear lest some misfortune of a disaster may befall us." Perhaps Allâh may bring a victory or a decision according to His Will. Then they will become regretful for what they have been keeping as a secret in themselves. [5:51,52]
See how truly the above verses exposes the mindset of Nationalist who gather under the banner of saving the Nation from external power. To achieve this objective they do not mind to befriend the non-Muslims. These verses comes to remind them that the real source of protection and honour lies in adhering to Islam.
Read the following hadith from Sahih Muslims:
The Prophet –peace be upon him- started to march towards Badr (battle field), when he reached a placed called Harratul Wabarah, a man well known for bravery and support approached the Prophet. The companions of the Prophet –peace be upon him- became pleased (to have such a courageous person join them).
He came and said to the Prophet –peace be upon him- “I came to join you (in this battle) and gain from the war booty.”
The Prophet replied: “Do you believe in Allah and His Messenger?”,
He answered “No”.
Then the Prophet said: “Go back, for I do not seek support of an infidel”.
The Prophet –peace be upon him- then proceeded, when he reached to a tree, the same man came back and requested the same thing, and the Prophet asked him the same question. Still the man said: “No”, and the Prophet said: “Go back, for I do not seek support of an infidel.” Then the Prophet proceeded further until he reached a place called al-Baira’a, where the same man came with the same request. “Do you believe in Allah and His Messenger?”. Now came the answer: “Yes”. Hearing this Prophet finally said: “Come and join us”.
The above Hadith clearly declares the Prohibition to include the Mushrekeen among the Muslim army.
O you who believe! Take not as (your) Bitânah (advisors, consultants, protectors, helpers, friends) those outside your religion (pagans, Jews, Christians, and hypocrites) since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you severely. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse. Indeed We have made plain to you the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses) if you understand. [3:118]
FOUR
Another reason why Islam opposes Nationalism is that being under Nationalism necessitates rejecting the rulings of Quran, because there will be lots of non-Muslims within the Nationalism religion, and Quran can not be a common platform for all of them. Thus, they need to bring some other authoritative book or legislation (like British, or French ruling) instead of Quran.
But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.[4:65]
Do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers. [Quran aal-Imran (3):139]
