The Importance of Bai‘yah
Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) has said that whosoever dies in a state that there is no bond of
bai‘yah around his neck, he dies a death of jahiliyyah, i.e., truly speaking,
he does not die as a true Muslim.
This hadith is very categorical, but most of us are under the erroneous impression that if we are attached with a pious person with regard to bai‘yah al-irshad, then we are fulfilling the requirement of this hadith. Not at all! What is meant by the term bai‘yah in the hadith quoted above refers to the collective system of the Ummah, and this type of bai‘yah can exist only in two forms: either there is an Islamic state or the system of Khilafah in existence, in which case we have to pledge allegiance to the khalifah; if not, then we have to strive in an organized manner to establish such a state. For this, there must be a Hizbullah, or the Party of Almighty Allah (SWT), and we must give our pledge of allegiance or bai‘yah to the ameer of that party.
This hadith is very categorical, but most of us are under the erroneous impression that if we are attached with a pious person with regard to bai‘yah al-irshad, then we are fulfilling the requirement of this hadith. Not at all! What is meant by the term bai‘yah in the hadith quoted above refers to the collective system of the Ummah, and this type of bai‘yah can exist only in two forms: either there is an Islamic state or the system of Khilafah in existence, in which case we have to pledge allegiance to the khalifah; if not, then we have to strive in an organized manner to establish such a state. For this, there must be a Hizbullah, or the Party of Almighty Allah (SWT), and we must give our pledge of allegiance or bai‘yah to the ameer of that party.
The
system of Khilafah won’t come about easily. It won’t drop out of the heavens.
It won’t be offered to us on a silver platter. We would have to strive and
struggle for it. We will have to exert ourselves to the utmost. We will have to
sacrifice our time and resources and energies and capabilities to make this
dream a reality. There are no shortcuts.
We
must also realize that nothing worthwhile and nothing substantial can ever be
accomplished in this world without a collective effort. If there is no Islamic
state in existence, then we have to try and establish it, and this cannot be
done without a cohesive and disciplined party. Hence the need to revive the
institution of bai‘yah.
There
is only one possibility where we are exempted from having the bond of bai‘yah
around our necks. This is the situation
of extreme turmoil and chaos, when every one is bewildered, confused, and
perplexed. No one knows what to do, where to go, whom to follow.
But if you think that you are living in this condition of extreme turmoil and chaos, and therefore you are excused from having the bond of bai‘yah around your neck, think again. You are not allowed to live in a civilized society if there is extreme fitnah. You are not allowed to avail and enjoy the facilities and amenities of modern civic life if there is extreme fitnah. Instead, you are required to give up everything and go to the wilderness. Thus, if a person is living a normal life with his family, and enjoying every facility and comfort that technology and civic life has brought to his door step, and he still claims that there is extreme fitnah, then this attitude is nothing short of self-deception. If there is really unbearable chaos, then remember that you are not allowed to live a comfortable life in that condition.
But if you think that you are living in this condition of extreme turmoil and chaos, and therefore you are excused from having the bond of bai‘yah around your neck, think again. You are not allowed to live in a civilized society if there is extreme fitnah. You are not allowed to avail and enjoy the facilities and amenities of modern civic life if there is extreme fitnah. Instead, you are required to give up everything and go to the wilderness. Thus, if a person is living a normal life with his family, and enjoying every facility and comfort that technology and civic life has brought to his door step, and he still claims that there is extreme fitnah, then this attitude is nothing short of self-deception. If there is really unbearable chaos, then remember that you are not allowed to live a comfortable life in that condition.
May
Allah give us the courage to accept the truth wherever we may find it, and
enable us to live as Muslims and to die as Muslims. May Allah (SWT) inspire us
to do whatever pleases Him.
Aameen!
To be continued....
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