Ruling on cooperation among Muslims, and different aspects of that, and how to achieve that

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly:

Allah has created man weak,
and he needs to cooperate continuously with others throughout his life. This
is clear in worldly affairs. Man needs someone to sow for him and harvest
for him, and he needs someone to make tools, and market goods, and buy
things. To sum up, people cannot live unless they cooperate with one
another.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn
Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Tis’eeniyyah
(1/125):

The sons of Adam cannot
live in this world unless they help one another in word and deed. End quote.

With regard to matters of
religion and sharee’ah, this is also the case. No Prophet could call people
without needing others to help him to convey the message of Tawheed and
defeat shirk. The effects of that are particularly clear in the case of
jihad, and the same may be said with regard to teaching, looking after the
poor and taking care of widows and orphans.

Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):

“And many a Prophet
(i.e. many from amongst the Prophets) fought (in Allaah’s Cause) and along
with him (fought) large bands of religious learned men. But they never lost
heart for that which did befall them in Allaah’s way, nor did they weaken
nor degrade themselves. And Allaah loves As-Saabiroon (the patient)”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:146]

In Saheeh Muslim
(86) it is narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood that the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no
Prophet whom Allaah sent to any nation before me, but he had disciples and
companions from among his nation who followed his path and obeyed his
commands…”

The Muslims need one
another with regard to both worldly and religious affairs, hence cooperation
among Muslims is something important that Allaah has enjoined and He has
made cooperation the basis for religious and worldly well being. The Muslims
– if they achieve this cooperation – are described as a strong, integrated
structure, and as a single body. All of that confirms that cooperation and
mutual support among them is something essential. That includes many aspects
in the lives of Muslims, which are summed up in the words birr
(righteousness) and taqwa (piety) , as Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning): “Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue,
righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and
transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”
[al-Maa’idah 5:2]. These are two words that sum up all the attributes of
goodness, such as belief, conduct, rulings and so on. Allaah says,
explaining the meaning of birr (righteousness) (interpretation of the
meaning):

“It is not Al-Birr
(piety, righteousness, and each and every act of obedience to Allaah) that
you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but Al-Birr is
(the quality of) the one who believes in Allaah, the Last Day, the Angels,
the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to the
kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to Al-Masaakeen (the poor), and to the
wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs As-Salaah
(Iqaamat-as-Salaah), and gives the Zakât, and who fulfil their covenant when
they make it, and who are patient in extreme poverty and ailment (disease)
and at the time of fighting (during the battles). Such are the people of the
truth and they are Al‑Muttaqoon (the pious)”

[al-Baqarah 2:177]

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn
Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

It is well known that
people’s interactions cannot be sound, and their interests cannot be
achieved and they cannot be united and their enemies cannot feel any awe of
them except by means of Islamic solidarity, the reality of which is
cooperation in righteousness and piety, and mutual support, love, sincerity,
and urging one another to follow the truth and be steadfast and patient.
Undoubtedly this is among the most important of Islamic duties and
obligations. The verses of the Qur’aan and the ahaadeeth of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) state that Islamic solidarity
among the Muslims – individuals, societies, governments and peoples – is one
of the most important of ideas, and one of the duties which are essential to
the welfare of society and the well being of their religious affairs and the
soundness of their interactions and to united them against their common foe.
There are many verses and ahaadeeth which speak of this, if not in these
exact words then in similar meanings. Islamic solidarity means helping one
another, standing shoulder to shoulder, supporting and advising one another
and other such phrases. That includes enjoining what is good and forbidding
what is evil, calling others to Allaah, and guiding people to that which
will lead to their happiness and salvation, in this world and the Hereafter.
That also includes teaching the ignorant, helping the destitute, supporting
the one who is wronged, stopping the wrongdoer from wronging others,
establishing the law of Allaah, maintaining security, stopping miscreants
and mischief-makers, protecting roads, providing means of transportation by
land, sea and air, and providing means of communication both land-based and
wireless, so that their common worldly and religious interests may be
achieved, and so as to facilitate cooperation between Muslims in everything
that may protect the truth, establish justice and spread peace and security
in all regions.

Mutual support also
includes reconciling between Muslims, resolving armed conflicts between them
and fighting the offending party until it complies with the command of
Allaah, in accordance with the words of Allaah (interpretation of the
meaning):

“So fear Allaah and
adjust all matters of difference among you”

[al-Anfaal 8:1]

“And if two parties (or
groups) among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them
both. But if one of them outrages against the other, then fight you (all)
against the one that which outrages till it complies with the Command of
Allaah. Then if it complies, then make reconciliation between them justly,
and be equitable. Verily, Allaah loves those who are the equitable.

10. The believers are
nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion). So make reconciliation
between your brothers, and fear Allaah, that you may receive mercy”

[al-Hujuraat 49:9-10].

Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn
Baaz (2/192, 193)

He (may Allaah have mercy
on him) also said:

Among the things that are
mentioned in the ahaadeeth about solidarity as enjoined in Islam, which
means cooperating in righteousness and piety, are the words of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Religion is sincerity”
They said, “To whom, O Messenger of Allaah?” He said, “To Allaah and to His
Book, to His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common
folk.” Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh. And he (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The relationship between one
believer and another is like a structure, parts of which support other
parts,” and he interlaced his fingers. Agreed upon. And he (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The likeness of the believers in
their mutual love, mercy and compassion is that of the body; if one part of
it complains, the rest of the body joins it in staying awake and suffering
fever.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim in their Saheehs.

These ahaadeeth and others
like them clearly indicate that mutual support, compassion and care among
Muslims, and cooperation in doing good, are obligatory. Likening them to a
single structure or a single body indicates that by supporting and helping
one another and showing compassion to one another, they will become united
and integrated, and they will be saved from the evil of their enemies.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Let there arise out of
you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining
Al-Ma‘roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and
forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has
forbidden). And it is they who are the successful”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:104]

The leader of them all in
this call and their example on this path is their Prophet and greatest
leader, our Prophet Muhammad the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him). He was the first one to call this ummah
to affirm the Oneness of its Lord (Tawheed) and hold fast to His rope, and
to unite in truth and form a single rank against the common enemy and to
achieve its interests and serve its just causes, in accordance with the
words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning):

“Invite (mankind, O
Muhammad صلىالله عليه وسلم) to the way
of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and
the Qur’aan) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is
better”

[al-Nahl 16:125]

“Say (O Muhammad
صلى الله عليه وسلم): This is my way; I
invite unto Allaah (i.e. to the Oneness of Allaah — Islamic Monotheism) with
sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to
Allaah, i.e. to the Oneness of Allaah — Islamic Monotheism with sure
knowledge)”

[Yoosuf 12:108]

This straight path was also
followed by his noble Companions and those who followed them in truth (may
Allaah be pleased with them all), and they attained the ultimate success,
and Allaah granted them the honour and victory that He had promised them.

Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn
Baaz (200, 201).

This may all be summed up
by noting that it is essential for the Muslims to cooperate in righteousness
and piety, and the Muslims must do all that they can in order to achieve
this cooperation, such as founding charitable organizations, da’wah centres,
Qur’aan study circles, and so on, which will help to unite and organize
their efforts. The Muslims must help them and devote their energy and wealth
to establish true cooperation in righteousness and piety. The Muslim should
not fail to offer something to his brothers and help them with what they
need in worldly or religious terms.

Secondly:

The Muslim can serve Islam
and strive so that the Word of Allaah will become supreme without joining a
party or group. Our scholars and imams nowadays are doing a great service
for Islam and there is hardly any spot on earth that their knowledge has not
reached, and they are not doing organized activities, nor do they belong to
groups and parties.

If you want to serve Islam
and work for it, then do that yourself in whatever way you are able, such as
delivering speeches, teaching, calling people in villages and provinces,
distributing books and tapes, or giving financial support to those who do
these things. You can work with Sunni groups and organizations who are
serving Islam.

As for sects, groups and
parties that adopt beliefs other than the belief (‘aqeedah) of the Salaf, or
a way that is other than the way of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah, there is
nothing good in them, and a Muslim should not cooperate with them in
anything that will support their beliefs and ways. As for groups which call
people to Islam, but they have some things that go against sharee’ah, the
Muslim may cooperate with them in matters that are in accordance with
sharee’ah.

The scholars of the
Standing Committee said:

Each of these groups have
things that are wrong and things that are right. So you should cooperate
with them in matters in which they are right, and avoid the matters in which
they are in error, whilst advising them and cooperating with them in
righteousness and piety.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn
Baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Razzaaq ‘Afeefi, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ghadyaan,
Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Qa’ood

Fataawa al-Lajnah
al-Daa’imah (2/237, 238).

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn
Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:

Do you regard establishing
Islamic organizations in Islamic countries to guide the youth and teach them
about Islam as something good in this day and age?

He replied:

Establishing these Islamic
organizations is good for the Muslims, but they must strive to explain the
truth with evidence and not fight one another. They should strive to
cooperate with one another and love one another, advising sincerely and
speaking of the good points of the others, and overlooking matters that may
disrupt their relationships with one another. There is no reason why there
should not be such groups if they call people to the Book of Allaah and the
Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn
Baaz (5/272).

But if there is no
organized effort at all, or there is no effort in which the good outweighs
the bad, and a person cannot cooperate with any organization, that does not
mean that a person cannot cooperate with others around him, of his own
choosing, to advise one another and remind one another to seek beneficial
knowledge and do righteous deeds, and spread good among the Muslims. All of
these are among the greatest aims of cooperating with Islamic groups. This
is how the command to cooperate in righteousness and piety should be
understood, not just belonging to some organization or party, because the
command to cooperate is more general in meaning than that.

If a person cannot do that,
which is unlikely to be the case, then he himself can be a caller to good
and a leader of guidance to the people around him. This is how the calls of
many reformers and daa’iyahs began, so let him adhere to that. If he cannot
find anyone to help him, then he should remember that some of the Prophets
will come on the Day of Resurrection with no followers.

And Allaah knows best.