British Jews – a brief dialogue with Michael Starr
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah, The Exalted, said:
وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالْجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالًا فَخُورًا
Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor), the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and boastful. [An-Nisaa 36]
The seal of the Prophets, Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and all the Prophets, stated: “He will not enter Paradise whose neighbour is not safe from his evil”. [1]
Shaikh Muhamad Bin Abdillah As-Subayyil, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: There are other narrations that demonstrate the greatness of a neighbour’s rights. Neighbours are three types: the neighbour with three rights, the neighbour with two rights and the neighbour with one. The neighbour with three rights is the one who is a relative, therefore, they are owed the rights of a relative, the rights of a Muslim and the rights of a neighbour. The neighbour with two rights is a Muslim neighbour, therefore, they are owed the rights of a a neighbour and the rights of a Muslim. As for neighbour with one right, he (or she) is a non-Muslim neighbour and has the rights of a neighbour. [2]
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: He is not a (true) beloever whose stomach is filled while his neighbour is hungry”.
Al-Allamah Zayd Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: This hadith shows that the one whose stomach is filled while his neighbour is hungry is not a believer of complete Iman. A person of complete Iman is the one who checks on his neighbour if the neighbour is in need of him. It is not possible for a neighbour to be enjoying himself with foods and drinks while his (other) neighbour cannot find anything and he does not give him anything. This does not reflect the manners of a believer with complete Iman. Because of this, the Prophet negated the completeness (of the Iman of one who behaves in such a manner); rather a believer of complete Iman is the one who is generous to his neighbour as much as he is able, especially when in need of a necessity such as food and drink. [3]
A Sheep was slaughtered for Abdullah Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, so he said to his slave, “Have you given to our Jewish neighbour? Have you given to our Jewish neighbour? I heard the Messenger of Alla, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saying, ‘Jibreel did not cease advising me (about the rights of) a neighbour until I thought that he (a neighbour) would inherit from me'”. [4]
In the above article, Michael emphasizes findings from research indicating that British Jews are experiencing a sense of uncertainty about their future in the United Kingdom. Regardless of the accuracy or potential exaggeration of this research, our foremost obligation as Muslims remains clear: we are commanded to safeguard the lives, dignity, and property of all individuals within our community, including Jews, Christians, and others residing in the UK. True believers hold dear the teachings and narratives found within the pure Islamic Shariah, and we pray that Allah counts us among them, Amin. It is a grave matter that individuals face the threat of hellfire for mistreating their neighbous, then what about adding antisemitism to this evil. We want to reiterate that antisemitism, like any form of racism, is a despicable and profoundly wrong act. For further insights, please read here:
https://abuiyaad.com/sn/muslims-antisemitism
https://abuiyaad.com/w/antisemitism-ernest-renan
https://abuiyaad.com/a/muhammad-semitic-prophet
Antisemitism must be met with unwavering condemnation, irrespective of the identity of the offender, whether they be Muslim or otherwise. We inhabit nations that are predominantly non-Muslim, bound by agreements that ensure the protection and safety of all citizens. Many among us are either born in the UK or have been granted indefinite leave to remain, just as Jews and others share this status. Thus, it is our collective responsibility to uphold the principles that safeguard everyone in the West. As the Senior Salafi Scholar, Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymin, may Allah bestow His mercy upon him, wisely counseled us in the UK on July 28, 2000, as follows:
Likewise I invite you to have respect for those people who have the right that they should be respected, from those between you and whom there is and agreement (of protection) [i.e. Non-Muslims]. For the land which you are living is such that there is an agreement between you and them. If this were not the case they would have killed you or expelled you. So preserve this agreement, and do not prove treacherous to it, since treachery is a sign of the hypocrites, and it is not from the way of the Believers.
And know that it is authentically reported from the Prophet that he said, “Whoever kills one who is under and agreement of protection will not smell the fragrance of Paradise.”
Do not be fooled by those sayings of the foolish people : those who say : ‘Those people are Non-Muslims, so their wealth is lawful for us [i.e. to misappropriate or take by way of murder and killing].’ For by Allah – this is a lie. A lie about Allah’s Religion, and a lie in Islamic societies.
So we may not say that it is lawful to be treacherous towards people whom we have an agreement with. O my brothers. O youth. O Muslims. Be truthful in your buying and selling, and renting, and leasing, and in all mutual transactions. Because truthfulness is from the characteristics of the Believers, and Allah – the Most High – has commanded truthfulness – in the saying of Allah – the Most High – “O you who believe – fear and keep you duty to Allah and be with the truthful”.
And the Prophet encouraged truthfulness and said : “Adhere to truthfulness, because truthfulness leads to goodness, and goodness leads to Paradise; and a person will continue to be truthful, and strive to be truthful until he will be written down with Allah as a truthful person“.
And he warned against falsehood, and said : “Beware of falsehood, because falsehood leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. And a person will continue lying, and striving to lie until he is written down with Allah as a great liar.”
O my brother Muslims. O youth. Be true in your sayings with your brothers, and with those Non-Muslims whom you live along with – so that you will be inviters to the Religion of Islam, by your actions and in reality. So how many people there are who first entered into Islam because of the behaviour and manners of the Muslims, and their truthfulness, and their being true in their dealings. [5] [end of quote]
The upright and god-fearing scholars of Islam approach all matters with fairness, ensuring that their judgments are grounded in careful consideration rather than negligence or extremism. They faithfully articulate the principles of pure Shariah without bias or favoritism. Imam Muhammad’s counsel extends to every individual in the UK, emphasisng the importance of protecting the lives, physical wellbeing and property of our fellow citizens.
As for the Zionists in Palestine, their behaviour stands in stark contrast to the principles of justice and humanity. For more than seven decades, they have engaged in acts of violence, displacement, and the appropriation of land, all while portraying themselves as victims. This dissonance is particularly striking as the global community observes the relentless brutality inflicted upon the Palestinian people.
The Zionists exhibit numerous detrimental characteristics, notably their persistent inability to partake in substantive dialogues that would acknowledge the rights of the Palestinians, all while they relentlessly strive to assert their moral superiority. This sentiment has been articulated with remarkable clarity by Prince Turki Al-Faisal. Listen below:
They perpetually voice their grievances, immersing themselves in a relentless cycle of victimhood that fosters a profoundly detrimental mindset. Their toxic blend of obstinacy and arrogance not only impacts those around them but also fuels an insatiable quest for validation and attention. Over time, this behavior has reshaped their neural pathways, becoming ingrained in their very identity, rendering interactions increasingly challenging. One is faced with a dilemma: either acquiesce to their excessive conduct under the guise of self-defense and retaliation, or risk being branded as an antisemite. Consequently, regardless of the sympathy or solutions extended to them, a transformation in their behavior appears highly improbable. Those who articulate the truth are often dismissed as mere purveyors of negativity, leading others to feel unjustly accused for their own historical transgressions of theft and violence against the Palestinian people over the past seven decades. This dynamic arises from a deep-seated guilt that compels them to continuously exploit and oppress, while simultaneously voicing grievances that serve to elevate their own self-image and assert their dominance. In this context, they seek not counsel but rather affirmation, as addressing their issues would undermine the very foundation of their complaints.
Netanyahu and his associates are motivated largely by a desire for personal gain and recognition. This mindset plays a significant role in their strategy to exert control over the Palestinian people. They intentionally target various aspects of Palestinian identity and mental health, such as self-confidence, self-esteem, self-image, emotions, thoughts, dignity, psychological resilience, and overall mental well-being. Their goal is to destabilise their victims, attacking them at their core to establish a psychological hold. However, a devout Muslim, rooted in the true creed and Sunnah of the Prophet, remains resilient against these harmful tactics.
When they engage in their transgressions, there is an expectation for lavish and unanticipated accolades, affection, attention, gratitude, gifts, and expressions of love, all cloaked in the narrative of the Holocaust. It is as if the suffering of the Palestinians can perpetually be justified by the suffering endured by Jews at the hands of the Nazis. This is precisely why Netanyahu and his allies continuously evoke guilt regarding the historical injustices faced by Jews during the Nazi regime. Their aim is to forge a profound emotional connection that compels swift allegiance and significant commitments from European nations with a legacy of antisemitism. They elevate certain Western demagogues, ideologues, and provocateurs, thereby cultivating a sense of obligation and reciprocity among them, which in turn fuels the relentless demands and assertions of the Zionist agenda. Furthermore, they endeavor to manipulate perceptions and impose a distorted narrative upon the Palestinians. They unleash bombardments upon them, intentionally stripping away their sleep, peace, and sense of security. Subsequently, they refute the heinous acts or invoke their opponents as a justification, manipulating the very repercussions of the violence they have orchestrated against the Palestinians for the past seventy decades to undermine their image, portraying them as aggressive, erratic, and violent. Once again, listen to Prince Turki Al-Faisal.
It is essential to recognize that while Muslims may encounter Islamophobia in certain European nations and Jews may experience antisemitism in others, these challenges cannot be equated with the relentless violence endured by Palestinians under successive Zionist administrations in the occupied territories. Nonetheless, both Islamophobia and antisemitism, along with all forms of racism, are unequivocally condemned, irrespective of their geographical context. Indeed, the wisdom shared by Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymin serves as a guiding principle for Muslims who are committed to the truth and understand their duty to protect the lives, dignity, and property of all their fellow citizens. We unequivocally dissociate ourselves from the actions of any group that perpetrates excesses and injustices against non-combatants and unarmed civilians, or that incites violence towards them. Read:
https://abuiyaad.com/a/amalekite-genocide-doctrine-gaza
https://abuiyaad.com/a/slaughtering-children-holy-war/print
https://www.abuiyaad.com/a/pharoah-slaughtering-babies
[1] Sahih Muslim 46
[2] Fadaa’il Al A’maal pages 15-16
[3] Awnul Ahadis Samad Sharhul Adabul Mufrad’ 1/137
[4] Sahih Adab Al-Mufrad. Number 105
[5] Salafipublications.com