Depiction of the Prophet عليه السلام

 بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Rahman, the Merciful

سبوحٌ قدوسٌ

Holy Holy

A major scandal has broken out in Pakistan related to the depiction of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, as aired on a program broadcast by Geo News.

This media outlet is a significant force for evil in Pakistan; part of the diabolical conspiracy to secularize and liberalize Pakistan.

The media in Pakistan for many decades has been working to normalize indecency and nudity, by regularly exposing unveiled women to the public and presenting views that challenge the conservative orthodoxy of Islam and its “patriarchal” teachings.

Any Islamic government of Pakistan would be expected to put an end to such immoral media, as the Taliban have put an end to it in Afghanistan by the grace of Allah.

Returning to the sacrilege committed by Geo News in attempting to depict the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, those who defend it argue that the depiction is not intended to be derogatory or blasphemous, unlike the insulting caricatures of the Holy Prophet published in Europe.

Additionally, they argue that depiction of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, is permitted in Shi’ism.

Indeed, this is one of the fundamental differences between orthodox Sunni Islam and the heresy of Twelver Shi’ism. The latter enthusiastically make and display art that depicts the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, and the twelve Imams, including Ali, Hasan and Husain, may Allah be pleased with them all.

The most authoritative living Shi'ite cleric today is Ali al-Sistani, whose fatwa allows for the depiction of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him.

Hence, if one sees an image of a religious figure, usually wearing a green turban, it is likely that it is an example of Shi’ite religious iconography which is strictly forbidden in orthodox Sunni Islam.

All Sunni Muslims must be educated in this issue to know that this, the depiction of Prophets especially the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is an extremely sensitive matter for us.

Tragically, Muslims have become negligent of observing this prohibition in modern times. Films have and continue to be produced, both animated and live action, which depict the Prophet, peace be upon him, other Prophets, and the Sahabah. All of this is wrong and evil.

Most such productions are by the heretical Shi’ites but even some otherwise ordinary Sunni Muslims might be ignorant of the orthodox Islamic teaching and ruling on this matter and out of ignorance produce a depiction or image of the Prophet, peace be upon him.

The hanging of portraits and images of the Prophets and Imams, a common practice of the Shi’ites, is forbidden in Islam because, among other reasons, it is the gateway to idolatry. 

Another reason is that it is disrespectful to the Prophet, because any manmade depiction of him could never even come close to matching his perfect beauty. Since the depiction is objectively not the Prophet, peace be upon him, to consider it is a a representation of him is to consider someone or something else to be the Prophet, which is bordering on unbelief.

Apart from these damned Shi’ites, Muslims have by and large avoided depictions of our most important religious figure, unlike Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Sikhs.

If one walks into the house of a Hindu, one is likely to see a portrait or idol of one of their false gods, such as Ram, Krishna, Ganesh, Hanuman, Durga, etc. If one walks into a Sikh home, one is likely to see a portrait of Nanak and the other Gurus. If one walks into a Zoroastrian home, one will likely see a portrait of Zoroaster. If one walks into a Buddhist home, a portrait or idol of Buddha. If one walks into a Christian home, one may see a portrait of Jesus Christ.

But Muslim homes will not have a portrait of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. This in fact demonstrates that Muslims have more respect for our most important religious figure than the adherents of the other major world religions have for theirs. It says that we consider our Prophet so holy that to even depict him with the intention of reverence is forbidden, because no depiction can match his perfect beauty or express his true glory. Any attempt to do so is vain and futile, and will only serve to diminish in one’s mind that perfect beauty and glory of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Imam Husain's Offer To Pledge Allegiance to Yazid

 بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Rahman, the Merciful

سبوحٌ قدوسٌ

Holy Holy

Those misguided people who argue that revolution and armed uprising against the government is allowed in Islam most frequently cite as evidence for their position the martyrdom of Imam Husain, may Allah be pleased with him, at Karbala.

According to this narrative, Imam Husain, may Allah be pleased with him, launched an armed revolt against the government of Yazid bin Mu’awiyah, and was subsequently killed by the forces of Yazid which intercepted him at Karbala.

However, the truth is that Imam Husain, may Allah be pleased with him, refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid, due to the corrupt and wicked character of the latter, at the time when Yazid’s establishment over the throne was still incomplete or uncertain.

But when Imam Husain, may Allah be pleased with him, reached Iraq and witnessed for himself that the people of Kufah had betrayed him and had been won over to Yazid, he had a change of heart.

Yazid’s governor in Iraq, the cursed Ibn Ziyad, dispatched Umar bin Sa’d to fight Imam Husain, may Allah be pleased with him.

But Umar bin Sa’d was a somewhat reasonable man who was willing to negotiate with Imam Husain, whom he was reluctant to fight due to his status as a great Imam and the Prophet’s grandson.

It was during those negotiations that Imam Husain, may Allah be pleased with him, made the following offer:

اختاروا مني خصالا ثلاثا إما أن أرجع إِلَى المكان الَّذِي أقبلت مِنْهُ وإما أن أضع يدي فِي يد يَزِيد بن مُعَاوِيَة فيرى فِيمَا بيني وبينه رأيه وإما أن تسيروني إِلَى أي ثغر من ثغور الْمُسْلِمِينَ شئتم فأكون رجلا من أهله لي مَا لَهُمْ وعلي مَا عَلَيْهِم

“Choose one of three options for me: either I return to the place from which I came [Mecca], or I place my hand in the hand of Yazid bin Mu’awiyah and he decides what is between us, or you send me to any of the frontier posts of the Muslims you wish, and I will be one of its people, with the same rights and obligations as them.” (Tarikh al-Tabari, Dar al-Mu’arif, v.5, pp.413-414)

Umar bin Sa’d conveyed Imam Husain’s offer to Ibn Ziyad in a letter, but Ibn Ziyad, counseled by the cursed Shimr bin Dhi il-Jawshan, rejected the proposal. These damned criminals were thirsty for the blood of Imam Husain and were committed to killing him at all costs.

Yet, the offer of Imam Husain, may Allah be pleased with him, disproves the narrative of those who sanction rebellion against a corrupt or tyrannical government.

Once Imam Husain, may Allah be pleased with him, realized that the people had gathered upon Yazid and accepted him as their ruler, he abandoned any intention of establishing his own Imamate in Kufah, to avoid dissension and bloodshed. 

Along with the options of peacefully returning back to Mecca, or accepting exile to one of the far off frontiers of the empire, Imam Husain even offered to pledge allegiance to Yazid!

This fact totally demolishes the narrative of those misguided groups and individuals, especially the Shi’ites, that Imam Husain was committed to a political revolution against the central government in Damascus.

And Allah and His Apostle know best!

We Do Not Rebel Against Our Rulers

 بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Rahman, the Merciful

سبوحٌ قدوسٌ

Holy Holy

Allah says:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اَطِیۡعُوا اللّٰہَ وَاَطِیۡعُوا الرَّسُوۡلَ وَاُولِی الۡاَمۡرِ مِنۡکُمۡ

O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Apostle, and those in authority among you

(Surah 4, Ayah 59)

Obedience to the government and the ruler is one of the fundamental teachings of Islam.

Sunni orthodoxy highly emphasizes obedience to the Muslim government, even if that government is corrupt or tyrannical. This is because anarchy is worse than tyranny.

The political philosophy of Islam may indeed be characterized as Hobbesian if we want to use modern terminology.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:

تَسْمَعُ وَتُطِيعُ لِلأَمِيرِ وَإِنْ ضُرِبَ ظَهْرُكَ وَأُخِذَ مَالُكَ فَاسْمَعْ وَأَطِعْ

“You are to hear and obey the Emir [ruler], even if he beats your back and takes your wealth; hear and obey!”

(Sahih Muslim)

The Sunni Muslims are in consensus on this point that the Believers are required to hear and obey the government, and never raise the sword against it—meaning not to rise up in armed revolt—even if the government is tyrannical.

This point has been enshrined in the text of Al-Tahawiyyah, which is the most authoritative text of creed in Sunni Islam upon which all Sunnis are in agreement:

وَلَا نَرَى الْخُرُوجَ عَلَى أَئِمَّتِنَا وَوُلَاةِ أُمُورِنَا وَإِنْ جَارُوا وَلَا نَدْعُو عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا نَنْزِعُ يَدًا مِنْ طَاعَتِهِمْ وَنَرَى طَاعَتَهُمْ مِنْ طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَرِيضَةً مَا لَمْ يَأْمُرُوا بِمَعْصِيَةٍ وَنَدْعُو لَهُمْ بِالصَّلَاحِ وَالْمُعَافَاةِ

“We do not rebel against our leaders or those in charge of our affairs, even if they are tyrannical.

We do not supplicate against them, nor withdraw from obedience to them. We view obedience to them as from obedience to Allah glorified, an obligation, as long as they do not order disobedience to Allah. We supplicate on their behalf for righteousness and wellness.”

This is a point that plainly distinguishes orthodox Sunni Islam from most of the schismatic factions and sects that broke away, such as the Kharijites, Shi’ites, Murji’ites, Qadarites, Mu’tazilites, Zaydis, Ibadis, Isma’ilis, Wahhabis, Takfiris, and the modern so-called “Islamist” parties.

All of these disparate sects and parties share the common denominator of holding it permissible and at times obligatory to raise the sword against a tyrannical government.

The modern day terrorism, civil wars, and chaos that is witnessed around much of the Muslim world is due to the activity and propaganda of these non-Sunni sects and parties. Only orthodox Sunni Islam, if understood and practiced correctly, can be a force for stability and order in the Ummah.

Sammaniyyah and the Mahdist Movement of Sudan

 بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Rahman, the Merciful

سبوحٌ قدوسٌ

Holy Holy

We previously discussed reformist “Sufis” like Ahmad bin Idris al-Fasi, who influenced subsequent reformist orders like the Khatmiyyah in Sudan, the Sanusiyyah in Libya and the Salihiyyah in Somalia.

Another reformist order is the Sammaniyyah attributed to Muhammad bin Abd al-Karim al-Samman (1718-1775). A descendant of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and born in Medina, he was initially in the Khalwatiyyah Sufi order and a disciple of the eminent Shaykh Mustafa Kamal al-Din al-Bakri of Syria.

Regrettably, despite his noble pedigree and background, al-Samman left the traditional Sunni way and founded a Sufi new order—Sammaniyyah—which is somewhat problematic. 

The researcher Abdulgalil Abd Allah Salih has written a paper on the Sammaniyyah entitled “The Sammaniyya: Doctrine, History and Future”. I have relied on this paper extensively to acquire a deeper understanding of al-Samman and the Sammaniyyah order.

According to it, al-Samman was “opposed to the traditional veneration of saints.” Regarding the practice of taqlid, that is confining oneself to a single Madhhab in fiqh, “Al-Samman did not confine himself to only one Madhab. He put more emphasis on ijtihad.”

According to the research paper, one of Samman’s teachers was “Muhammad Higat al-Sindi” but this is probably a reference to Muhammad Hayat al-Sindi. The latter was also the initial influence on Ibn Abd al-Wahhab of Najd in rejecting veneration of Saints, and the practice of intercession. It is quite plausible that the “reformist” streak within the Sammaniyyah in this regard originates in the influence of al-Sindi on al-Samman.

Now the false Mahdi of Sudan, who was initiated into the Sammaniyyah order, was encouraged and supported by some of the elders and members of this order, particularly Shaykh al-Qurashi, “Shaykh al-Qurashi sat on the carpet of the Sammaniyya tariqa in Sudan, for more than forty years, as a true guide and instructor, after the passing away of Shaykh Ahmad al-Tayyib bin al-Bashir. He had played a vital role in the emergence of the Mahdiya in Sudan, when he joined the Mahdi and his disciples into the Sammaniyya, and hinted to him that he is the awaited Mahdi.”

One can now clearly discern a pattern. These reformist “Sufi” orders, characterized by a rejection of taqlid and traditional veneration of saints, are often embraced by delusional militants as a springboard to launch a violent insurrection, usually against a colonial power. The “Mad Mulla” of Somalia and the “Mahdi” of Sudan are examples of this phenomenon.

Sunni Muslims should beware of so-called “reformist” Sufism, such as the Idrisiyyah, Khatmiyyah, Sanusiyyah, Salihiyyah and Sammaniyyah orders, and instead stick to the traditional Sufi orders, like the Naqshbandiyyah, Qadiriyyah, Suhrawardiyyah, Chishtiyyah, Rifa’iyyah, Shadhiliyyah, Khalwatiyyah and Kubrawiyyah orders.

In Sudan, the Mahdist movement persists in the form of the so-called Ansar and the Umma Party. But there is no doubt that Muhammad Ahmad of Sudan was a false Mahdi, who was deluded by some of the Sammani elders teaching that the Mahdi would emerge from their order. One should not join any movement, organization or party that is associated with this false Mahdi of Sudan. 

Black Clothing and Shi'ism

 بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Rahman, the Merciful

والصلاة والسلام عليك يا سيدي يا رسول الله

Mirza of Jhelum, one of the hideous barking dogs and squealing pigs of our time makes it a point to regularly wear black clothing and teaches a new doctrine that wearing black is a Sunnah and it is the most preferable color with regard to clothing. 

This donkey from Jhelum combines in his rhetoric a strange mixture of Wahhabism and Rafidi Shi’ism. Because wearing all black is generally associated with the Shi’ites, the pig from Jhelum is eager to promote this trend as a way of annoying Sunni Muslims, especially the pious thereof who generally wear all white.

Yet, the verdict of the Holy Quran is that white is certainly superior to black, as Allah Most High says:

یَّوۡمَ تَبۡیَضُّ وُجُوۡہٌ وَّتَسۡوَدُّ وُجُوۡہٌ ۚ فَاَمَّا الَّذِیۡنَ اسۡوَدَّتۡ وُجُوۡہُہُمۡ ۟ اَکَفَرۡتُمۡ بَعۡدَ اِیۡمَانِکُمۡ فَذُوۡقُوا الۡعَذَابَ بِمَا کُنۡتُمۡ تَکۡفُرُوۡنَ

وَاَمَّا الَّذِیۡنَ ابۡیَضَّتۡ وُجُوۡہُہُمۡ فَفِیۡ رَحۡمَۃِ اللّٰہِ ؕ ہُمۡ فِیۡہَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ

The Day some faces will be whitened and some faces will be blackened. So as for those whose faces will be blackened, “Did you disbelieve after your Faith? Now taste the punishment because of your disbelieving!”

And as for those whose faces will be whitened, so they are in the mercy of Allah. In it they will abide eternally

(Surah 3, Ayah 106 & 107)

Some of the Sahabah, may Allah be pleased with them, with regard to this passage in the Holy Quran, rightly interpreted the white faces as a reference to the Sunnis and the black faces as a reference to the people of innovation and misguidance—such as the Shi’ites, Kharijites, etc.

Now the pig of Jhelum, in arrogantly declaring that black clothes are preferable to white, blatantly contradicts the Hadith of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him:

الْبَسُوا الْبَيَاضَ فَإِنَّهَا أَطْهَرُ وَأَطْيَبُ وَكَفِّنُوا فِيهَا مَوْتَاكُمْ

“Wear white, for indeed it is purer and cleaner, and shroud your deceased in it.” (Jami al-Tirmidhi)

Engineer Mirza, the hideous, black barking dog from Jhelum, shamelessly slanders the Sunni Ulama by alleging that they discourage the laity from wearing black clothing by saying it is the clothing of the inhabitants of Hell.

The irony is that such narrations to the effect that black clothing is associated with the cursed Pharaoh and the inhabitants of Hell is derived from Shi’ite literature, not Sunni. Hence, it is reported in Yaqub al-Kulayni’s book Furu al-Kafi, under the chapter heading:

لبس السواد

Wearing Black

قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام أما إني ألبسه وأنا أعلم أنه لباس أهل النار

Abu Abdullah [Imam Ja’far], peace be upon him, “I am wearing it and I know that it is the clothing of the people of the Fire.” (Furu al-Kafi, v.6, p.282)

It is similarly narrated from Amir ul-Mu’minin, Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, according to the Twelver Shi’ite scholar Shaykh al-Saduq, that he said:

لا تلبسوا السواد فإنه لباس فرعون

“Do not wear black for indeed it is the clothing of Pharaoh.”

(Man La Yahdarah ul-Faqih, v.1, p.251)

Keep in mind we Sunni Muslims rejects these narrations from the Shi’ite literature, and regard it as completely permissible to wear black for both men and women.

I only quote these narrations to point out the irony and the hypocrisy of the Shi’ites who frequently wear black from head to toe, such that is has become a symbol of their religion, and to repudiate the donkey Mirza of Jhelum who falsely accuses the Sunnis of spreading the idea that black clothing is associated with the inhabitants of Hell.

So while it is permissible to wear black, and other colors, Sunni Muslims are highly encouraged to prefer all white clothing, as that is the true Sunnah, and the wearing of all white is especially today almost exclusively associated with Muslims. This is one of the wonders of Allah that out of so many different cultures, religions and populations, the wearing of all white is almost universally recognized as exclusively Islamic.

It is lamentable that Muslims today are abandoning the wearing of all white flowing garments for the European style coat and pants which tend to be black or other dark colors. The immoral celebrities and influencers of the Kuffar who wear all black are being copied by our stupid, senseless youth. All of this is taking them away from the Religion. They should instead emulate the style of our pious saints, scholars and elders who wear flowing white garments, and cover their heads with white skullcaps or turbans.

One of the reasons Twelver Shi’ites wear all black is to symbolize their mourning, especially in the sacred month of Muharram (the month in which this article is written). But the association between mourning and the color black has no basis in Islam. The custom of wearing black to funerals comes from European Christians, itself originating in the custom of Pagan Rome. It is totally alien to us Muslims, who are encouraged to frequently wear white, and shroud our deceased in it. We should make it a point to wear white to funerals as a symbolic rejection of the vain European custom. Even the Bible does not associate wearing black with mourning, but instead wearing sackcloth and ashes.

Till this day, wearing all black is not only associated with Twelver Shi’ites, especially their clergy, but also the Christian clergy, especially Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Assyrian clergy. It is also strongly associated with the Haredi and Hasidic Jewish sects.

But as for wearing all white, the Sunnah of my Master the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and the Angels, it is till this day universally associated with the Muslims and may it continue to be so till the end of time. Amin!

Now some people might question why I have used such harsh language in this article against Engineer Mirza of Jhelum. This is an individual who has committed blasphemy against the Saints of Allah, and rude, disrespectful language and tone of voice against my Master the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and many of his Companions. This is an individual who day and night seeks to destroy Islam with his heretical ideas and notions, and deceives the youth with his anti-clerical narrative, and his rabid hostility to Sufism. Simultaneously, he glazes the enemies of Islam, both external and internal, including heretics and innovators like Ghamidi. The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

مَنْ وَقَّرَ صَاحِبَ بِدْعَةٍ فَقَدْ أَعَانَ عَلَى هَدْمِ الْإِسْلَامِ

“Whoever honors an innovator has surely aided in the destruction of Islam!” (Shu’b al-Iman, #9018)