The Promise of the Quran vs. The Present Muslim World

Are We True Mu’mins?

Rakib Al Hasan Lihi

History bears witness that the nation which once ruled half the world, illuminating it with the light of knowledge, science, civilization, and humanity, today evokes only despair and sighs when looked upon. In the current world order, 'Muslim' has become the name of the most backward, humiliated, and deprived population. Yet, the religious text of this nation, the Holy Quran, is filled with countless, clear, and absolute promises from Allah for the Mu’mins, both in this world and the Hereafter. As we turn the pages of the Quran, the eternal declarations of victory for the Mu’mins that we see have no correlation with the humiliating reality of the present Muslim world. This contradiction gives rise to a profound question in the mind of every thoughtful person today: where did those promises vanish, or have we lost our true identity?

Allah’s Eternal Promises to the Mu’mins:

In the Holy Quran, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala has given the Mu’mins a clear promise of honor, victory, and leadership on earth. In verse 55 of Surah An-Nur, Allah declares, “Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them.” In verse 139 of Surah Ali 'Imran, He said, “So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.”

Furthermore, in verse 11 of Surah Muhammad, Allah declares Himself as the 'Wali' or guardian of the Mu’mins. In verses 10-12 of Surah As-Saff, Allah gives the Mu’mins the glad tidings of forgiveness of sins, imminent victory, and Paradise in the Hereafter. For those who emigrate in the cause of Allah, there is also a promise in the Quran—in verse 41 of Surah An-Nahl—to give them a good home in this world. In other words, Allah has given the Mu’mins all the guarantees of a nation's overall security, honor, state power, and victory.

The Current Reality: An Oppressed and Fractured Nation of Slaves

Looking at today's world in contrast to these Quranic promises reveals a terrifying picture. All over the world, this nation claiming to be 'Muslim' is today being beaten, humiliated, and oppressed more than any other nation.

The besieged valley of Kashmir, the concentration camps of Kashgar or Xinjiang province in China, the bloodstained plains of Palestine, the ethnic cleansing in Rakhine, Myanmar, the brutal genocide in Bosnia-Chechnya, or the history of wiping out Muslims in Kampuchea (Cambodia)—everywhere there seems to be a stream of Muslim blood and tears. One independent territory after another of this nation is being destroyed by the aggression of Judeo-Christian and imperialist forces. Prosperous lands like Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, and Afghanistan have today turned into valleys of death and ruins.

In addition to external attacks, they are today internally hollow as well. They are engaged in infighting, sectarian violence, and bloodshed among themselves. The society of the nation that was supposed to be the greatest ideal in the world is today submerged in theft, robbery, murder, terrorism, extortion, oppression of women, drugs, interest-bribery, and extreme corruption.

The Conflict Between Promise and Reality: A Logical Analysis

This is where the biggest logical and theological question arises. The promise of victory for the Mu’mins in the Quran, and the extreme defeat of Muslims in reality—how can these two be reconciled? Is Allah's promise then false? (Na’uzubillah - we seek refuge in Allah). Any believer knows that Allah never breaks a promise. Allah has said in the Quran, “Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise.” (In many verses including Surah Ali 'Imran-9, Surah Ar-Ra'd-31). Therefore, simple logic and calculation say—since Allah's promise is true, it means there is a flaw in the claim of those of us who claim to be Mu’mins. That is, in the eyes of the Quran, we are not actually 'Mu’mins'.

Why Are We Not Mu’mins? The Definition of a Mu’min in the Light of the Quran:

Allah Himself has given the answer in the Quran as to why we are not Mu’mins. In verse 15 of Surah Al-Hujurat, Allah defines the true Mu’min, saying: “The believers are only the ones who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is those who are the truthful.”

Here, 'believing in Allah' does not just mean verbally acknowledging Him as the Creator. Rather, it refers to believing in Allah's 'Uluhiyyah', or His absolute sovereignty as the Ilah (Deity). Ilah or the ultimate Lawgiver is only Allah—the state, society, economy, and judicial system will all be governed by the commands of Allah and according to the Sunnah (methodology) of His Messenger (PBUH).

But looking at today's Muslim society, we see that although we pray and fast in our personal lives, we have exiled Allah's commands or laws from our society, economy, and judicial system. We have pushed away the balanced way of life given by Allah and established in our lives the materialistic and man-made way of life created by Judeo-Christian and Western civilizations. We have gladly embraced the interest-based economy, secular social system, and obscene Western culture. Since we have practically denied Allah's Uluhiyyah and accepted other laws, and instead of striving in the way of Allah with our lives and wealth, we are intoxicated by the illusions and luxuries of the world; therefore, according to the Quranic definition, we are no longer 'true Mu’mins'. And when we have not met the condition to be a Mu’min, there is no logical reason left for Allah's promise of victory and Khilafah to be fulfilled.

If We Are Not Mu’mins, Then What Are We?

Almighty Allah has said, “It is He who created you, and among you is the disbeliever, and among you is the believer.” That is, in the eyes of Allah, people are of 2 types—Mu’min (believer) and Kafir (disbeliever). So according to this statement of the Quran, if you are not a Mu’min according to the definition given by Allah, then you are definitely a Kafir. Besides, Allah has also given the definition of Kafir clearly in the Holy Quran. He has said, “And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers.” (Surah Al-Ma'idah-44). According to this definition given by Allah, those who abandon Allah's commands, rulings, and laws and accept a man-made way of life are Kafirs. Therefore, from both sides, it is proven that we are not Mu’mins, and not being a Mu’min means we are Kafirs.

So What Should We Do Now?

The tragic fate of the current Muslim world is not a cruel mockery of destiny, but rather the inevitable consequence of drifting away from the laws of Allah. We suffer from the complacency of thinking of ourselves as Mu’mins just by having Muslim titles at the end of our names and by being born Muslims. However, being a Mu’min is an achievement that must be proven through absolute obedience and Jihad with one's life and wealth. Until this nation abandons the flawed way of life created by foreigners and once again accepts Allah as the ultimate Lawgiver, and struggles with life and wealth based on the methodology shown by the Messenger (PBUH), there is no way out of this humiliation and disgrace. Allah's promise remains intact even today, only waiting for those promised true Mu’mins.

No one is highlighting this great truth; instead, our Ulama class is making a living by handing us certificates of being Mu’min-Muslims. So where did we get this great truth? This great truth has been highlighted by the founder of Hezbut Tawheed, Emamuz Zaman Mr. Mohammad Bayazeed Khan Panni. Almighty Allah made him understand this great truth. After he departed from this world, Honorable Emam Hossain Mohammad Salim has been fulfilling the responsibility of the highest leadership of this movement. On his behalf, we are calling people to this Tawheed. To those whose heartstrings will resonate with this call of Tawheed, whose minds will yearn for guidance, this is our call on behalf of Hezbut Tawheed to the path of unity.