Tajdeed

How should Muslims govern their affairs according to Zaydi thought? Who are the true leaders who are deserving of authority?

The Call & Treatise of Imam Ahmad b. al-Husayn al-Haruni al-Mu’ayyed Billah

‘O servants of God I see that the purposes of justice are in disorder, and the hearts of the allies of God are taken by it, and the people of religion are oppressed on earth, they are afraid to be kidnapped by people, and I have seen that wealth is taken unlawfully, and is spent on the wrong people. I have found that the boundaries are no longer in place, and the rights are violated, and the traditions of the Messenger of God ( صلاة و سلام) are replaced and changed, and the ways of the pharaohs are re-established and used.

Those who enjoin the good are gone, and those who forbid evil have weakened and thus have been in humiliation.

The wealth is stolen, and they don’t care for any believer nor a person of protection (dhimma), they are the transgressors.

‘Truly those who consume the property of orphans unjustly only consume fire in their bellies, and they will burn in a blazing flame’. (Surah 4:10)

And I have found that the markets of lewdness are settled and there is no fear of God. It does not stop the people, but they are proud of the sins!

Instead they brag about their wrongdoings. They have forgotten the price they will pay, and they have left the mention of the end and the punishment, so I found no excuse to sit following their ruling, in the midst of their sins, whilst I comfort them and they comfort me, and I ask them and they ask me, so I went to call for God with insight, and glory be to God and I am not one of the unbelievers who associate partners with God.

O people I call you to the book of God and to the tradition of his Prophet (صلاة و سلام), and to the chosen one from the family of Muhammad, and to the struggle against the tyrants, and leaving the grave sinners.

I am like one of you, I have what you have, and you have what I have, only that God bestowed me with leadership upon you, O our people answer the caller to God and believe in him!

‘O our people! Answer God’s caller and believe in him, then He will forgive you some of your sins and protect you from a painful punishment’. (Surah 46:31)

End of the passage of al-Tabsira – Translated by Kendi

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In the name of God, the most Merciful, the most Beneficent

How similar is the current state of the Ummah to that of Imam Ahmad al-Haruni? Where are the true leaders of guidance? Those who strive, sacrifice and give for the sake of the cause.

The cause of God-consciousness, Truth and Justice not desire, selfishness and tyranny.

You would recognise them through their bravery and altruism, they do not need nor desire praise, glorification, wealth or deification (God forbid).

‘How many prophets were killed along with many religious authorities and they never lost conviction by what afflicted them in the way of Allah?’. (Surah 3:146)

The aim of Islam and the Imam of guidance is to connect humanity with the ultimate Truth (God Almighty) without any barrier.

The aim is to fulfil the rights and duties both on an individual and a collective level to reach closer to the Truth and manifest the Divine Will on Earth successfully.

The leaders and authorities do not deceive and numb the masses with symbols and rituals such as prayer, supplication and pilgrimage. Do you really think that God needs your rituals? In reality, these beautiful practices are the means to the path of completion and self-purification. The path of completion is the way towards God-consciousness, piety, righteousness and higher moral character.

The true leaders of guidance will never live selfish lives of comfort and luxury, whilst the people are suffering physically, intellectually, spiritually, morally and financially.

The leaders of guidance are not deaf nor mute to the hypocrisy, trickeries, and oppressions of the rulers, especially when it is done in the name of God and religion!

The objective is not to recite names and symbols of Qur’an and Sunnah, instead the aim is to comprehend and embody the will of God through practice and then successfully implement it in society.

Thus, in the Zaydi school (the school of the collective Prophetic progeny) the true Guide openly calls the people towards God, towards bravery, virtue, justice and honour against immorality, corruption and disorder.

Obedience only belongs to God

–By Abul Hasan al-Gabikani al-Shadi al-Shaddadi al-Hadhabani -al-Kurdi