“You are the Best Ummah ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin the ma’roof and forbid the munkar and you believe in Allah” [TMQ Al-Imran: 110]

“We have made you the leading nation that you may be witnesses over the affairs of mankind” [TMQ Al-Baqarah: 143]

“But honour, power and glory belongs to Allah, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.” [TMQ Al-Munafiqun: 8]

O the Noble Ummah of Muhammad (saw)!

In the above ayat of the noble Qur’an, Allah (swt) gives the description of the true status of the Muslim Ummah, the honourable Ummah of Muhammad (saw). And indeed for almost 1300 years Muslims all over the globe lived a life fitting this description; a life of honour, might and glory under the banner of the Khilafah government which governed their affairs by what Allah (swt) revealed. The Islamic Aqeedah acted as the basis upon which the previous generations of Muslims were united instead of the primitive bonds of nationalism, tribalism and patriotism and the Islamic Ummah was the leading power in the international arena. No nation on earth could compete with the Islamic Ummah and she achieved historic victories against her enemies. At the start of our call to you, we provide you a glimpse of the honour, might and glory which belonged to the Ummah of Muhammad (saw).  

In 802 CE when the Roman emperor Nicephoras refused to pay the yearly tribute (which the Romans had previously agreed with the Muslims in return for sparing Constantinople from conquest) the Khaleefah at the time, Harun ar-Rashid dictated a letter to Nicephoras, in which he said: "Hārūn ar-Rashīd, Commander of the Faithful to Nicephoras, the Roman dog: I have read your letter. You shall not hear but you will see my reply." The Khaleefah then set out with a large army to punish the emperor. He laid siege to Heraclea, a Roman city on the shores of the Black Sea and in a week forced it to surrender. And Nicephorus was forced to agree to pay the tribute.  

At the time of Khaleefah Mu’tasim Billah in 838 CE one Muslim woman was attacked by the Romans in Roman land and she shouted, “Ya Mu’tasim”. And that was all she shouted. When these words reached Khaleefah Mu’tasim in Baghdad, at that time he had a cup of water in his hand. He left the cup immediately and said: “Wallahi, I will send an army so large that when it reaches them it will still be leaving our base. And tell me which is the strongest city of these Romans and I will send the army to that city?” This was the decisive response of the Khaleefah and as a result the Roman city of Ammuriyyah (present day Ankara) where the Muslim woman was held was conquered.

In 1795 CE, during the time of Khaleefah Sultan Selim III, the USA was forced to sign a treaty with the Wali of Algeria Gazi Hasan Pasha. According to the terms of the treaty America was made to pay a yearly tribute in gold worth 642 thousand dollars and 12 thousand Uthmani liras in return for the safety of her vessels in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and for freeing more than 100 Americans captive in Algeria. It was the first time America signed a treaty in a language other than her own, the language of the Uthmani Khilafah. The treaty was signed on 5 September 1795 and it was known as the Treaty of Amity and Peace.   

O Muslims!

This was the might of the Muslim Ummah under the leadership of Khilafah. This was the state of Europe and America who were humbled time and again by the Khulafah of the Muslims. We have cited here only a few examples but do not be mistaken by this, the history of the Islamic Ummah is filled with such examples. Not surprising that the enemies of the Ummah rejoiced at the destruction of the Khilafah on 28th Rajab 1342 AH (3rd March 1924 CE) at the hands of colonialist Britain and her agent Mustafa Kamal, may Allah (swt) curse him.

After the signing of the Lausanne Treaty on 24th July 1924, the British Foreign Secretary Lord Curzon announced arrogantly in the House of Commons, "The point at issue is that Turkey has been destroyed and shall never rise again, because we have destroyed her spiritual power, the Khilafah and Islam." And when the British General, Allenby, invaded al-Quds, he announced: “Today the Crusades have ended.” And after the invasion of Damascus the French General Gourou swiftly headed towards the grave of Salah Uddin Ayyubi and kicked it saying: “Wake up, here we are back, O, Salah Uddin!”

This is how the colonialists expressed their joy and happiness. And their rejoicing at the destruction of the Khilafah was not unfounded. When we consider our situation today without the Khilafah, what state do we find ourselves in? Today we live in a state of decline even though Allah (SWT) describes us in the Qur’an as the Best Nation. Our children die of hunger despite the fact that we possess most of the world’s resources while our lands are the most fertile. Today we are witnessing the murder of our sons and brothers and the violation of the honour of our mothers, daughters and sisters. The disbelieving imperialists are occupying Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Chechnya, Kashmir and the Ummah is humiliated and defeated, unable to mount any response to the enemy’s attacks and resist the imperialist aggression despite having a huge army of around five million soldiers.

Our humiliation and defeat started from the moment we lost the Khilafah government and the colonialists imposed over us their agents – the spineless kings, presidents and prime ministers ruling over us. These rulers have colluded to keep the Ummah divided and disintegrated into more than 50 so-called independent statelets, and therefore we are unable to pull our resources together despite the fact that if our resources were united we would become an economic giant. These rulers – democrats, dictators and monarchs – take the disbelievers as their masters and make our armies subservient to the enemies. In over more than 80 years they have failed to produce a single general like Salah Uddin Ayyubi whom the disbelievers continue to fear and envy long after his death.

O Muslims!

We no longer enjoy our status as the Best Nation because our current rulers do not rule by the noble Qur’an and the Sunnah which gave us the most elevated system to govern life’s affairs. Not only have these rulers brought upon the Ummah humiliation and defeat, they went further by implementing over us systems of disbelief which are rotten and corrupt. These systems contradict Islam from the basis and in the details – whether democracies or dictatorships, monarchies or republics.

We want to discuss here in brief the case of democracy because it is the system which the colonialists deliver to you through missiles and bombs as did Bush Jr or through the cunning of Obama using empty words of ‘mending relations.’ Also because it is the system which the agent rulers claim will improve the situation of the Ummah and bring progress and development. It is the system through which the government of Awami League alliance wants to create ‘digital Bangladesh’ without electricity! It is the system which the opposition BNP alliance says the government is failing to implement although when they themselves were in power democracy only bettered the lives of their leaders, MPs and ministers.

Firstly, the Aqeedah of democracy is secularism. The first qaleema of democracy states: ‘Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s’. Accordingly the deen must be separated from the state; the rule in this world belongs to Caesar (the kings, presidents and prime ministers) and the rule in the heavens belongs to Allah (swt). Whereas the Aqeedah of Islam is Tawheed and according to the first qaleema of Islam – ‘La ilaha illallahu Muhammadur RasulAllah’ – the heavens and the earth and all that is between them including Caesar and his kingdom belong to Allah (swt). Allah (swt) says,

“And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allah has power over all things.” [TMQ Al-Imran: 189]

Secondly, in democracy the people rule themselves by themselves or as they say it is the rule of the people, by the people, for the people. This bestows sovereignty to the people who elect representatives to legislate for the people and these representatives act as gods making the halal into haraam and the haraam into halal. Islam did not give this right to the people nor their representatives. A Muslim does not have sovereignty nor does he legislate according to his whims and desires. If the whole of the Muslims decided to legalize what Allah (swt) forbade such as riba or monopolies, or homosexuality, their consensus would be of no value. In Islam sovereignty belongs to the Shari’ah revealed by Allah (swt) which does not give any consideration to the views of the majority. Legislation is the right of Allah (swt) alone. He (swt) says,

“Indeed, the Hukm is only for Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him, that is the (true) straight religion, but most men know not.” [TMQ Yusuf: 40]

Finally, democracy gives the ruler the right to rule by whatever he deems good for the people or national interests without giving consideration to the Shari’ah even though in reality the so-called democratic ruler does well for himself and his cronies only and does not have an iota of concern about the interests of the people. Islam has categorically denied this right for the ruler and obliged him to rule solely by what Allah (swt) has revealed. The ruler who does not rule by whatever has been revealed by Allah (swt) even if it is one rule, indeed stands to deny Islam and the noble Qur’an termed him with kufr, for Allah (swt) says:

“And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the Kafirun” [TMQ al-Mai’dah: 44]

On the other hand, the ruler who does not rule by whatever Allah (swt) has revealed, but at the same time does not refute Islam, is described in the following Qur’anic Ayat as a fasiq or zalim, when Allah (swt) says:

“And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the Zalimun” [TMQ al-Mai’dah: 45]

“And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the Fasiqun” [TMQ al-Mai’dah: 47]

This is the case of democracy. It is clear that the democratic system contradicts with Islam from the basis. Thus it is forbidden for the Muslims to adopt democracy, call for it and implement it and it is obligatory to reject it, to challenge those who advocate it and to remove the rulers who rule by it.  

O Muslims!

The current systems in your lands are systems of disbelief. These systems have devastated your lives. Your salvation does not lie in the hands of the rulers who implement kufr over you, forsaking the Qur’an and the Sunnah. You will not re-gain your honour and might in the hands of the traitors who have divided your land and wealth. Your liberation does not lie in the hands of the cowards who have surrendered you to the enemy. It is time you overthrow the current government system along with the traitors and cowards, and re-establish the Khilafah government and appoint the Khulafah who will rule by what Allah (swt) has revealed, unite the whole Ummah on the basis of the Qur’an and Sunnah, protect the Ummah with bravery from the enemy’s aggression and carry the message of Islam to the world through Daw’ah and Jihad.   

The Khilafah government is the only correct form of leadership over the Muslims through which the Islamic shari’ah is implemented in society and the Islamic daw’ah is carried to mankind. The Khilafah system is unique and distinguished from all the ruling systems in the world. It is not a theocratic state opposed to science, technology and society's quest for progress. Rather it is an ideological state in which the people will elect the Khaleefah of their choice who is constitutionally obligated to ensure the basic needs of the people (food, clothing, shelter, education and health care) and provide security for all citizens regardless of race or religion. The Khaleefah has clear obligations defined by the Qur’an and the Sunnah and he will rule the people based on his fear of accountability to Allah (swt). The Majlis al-Ummah and the Court of Unjust Acts (the highest court of the Islamic state) will account the Khaleefah to ensure that he is guaranteeing the basic needs of the people and running the government according to the Qur’an and Sunnah.

The Khilafah state will make proper use of the natural resources possessed by the Ummah in order to build a strong industrialized economy, thus secure progress, technological advancement and military superiority for the Muslim Ummah as a result of which she will free herself from the clutches of the imperialist nations and restore her former glory. The Khilafah state will adopt the policy of becoming a leading state within the region as well as internationally. The leaders of the Khilafah state will be enlightened statesmen possessing sound understanding of the international situation able to guide the Muslim Ummah to establish herself in the position of the world's leading nation.

The Khilafah state will build a powerful military in order to protect the Ummah and carry the message of Islam to the world through Daw’ah and Jihad. It will culture the military with the vision of establishing Islam as the dominant ideology. The Muslim army is not an army of peace keepers nor are the Muslim soldiers mercenaries for the imperialists fighting their own brothers in their own lands. Rather, they are carriers of Islam like their forefathers, Khalid bin Walid (ra), Salah Uddin Ayyubi, Muhammad bin Qasim and Bakhtiar Khalji. Allah (swt) says,

“And make ready against them all you can of forces, including steeds of war in order to strike fear into the hearts of the enemy of Allah and your enemy” [TMQ Al-Anfal: 60]

The Khilafah state is not a state for the Muslims of one country alone, rather it is a global state for the entire Ummah. Allah (SWT) declared the Muslim Ummah as a brotherhood,

“The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic deen). So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah that you may receive mercy.” [TMQ Al-Hujurat: 10]

Muhammad (saw) has forbidden the Muslims from having more than one Khaleefah. He (saw) made the unity of the State a vital issue, prohibited the plurality of the Khulafaa, and ordered the killing of the one who attempts to establish plurality in the Khilafah, unless he retracts. It has been reported on the authority of Abu Said Al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah said: "If a bay’ah has been taken for two Khaleefah, kill the latter of them." It has also been reported on the authority of Ajrafa who said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah say: He who comes to you while your affair has been united under one man, intending to drive a wedge between you or fragment your group, then kill him."

Therefore when the Khilafah state emerges in one country, it will be the starting point for the re-unification of the entire Muslim World through a policy of progressive re-annexation as well as liberation of all occupied Islamic Lands. Thus the people, land, resources and armies of all the Muslim countries from Morocco to Indonesia will be united under the leadership of one state and one ruler – the Khaleefah. Once united, the Ummah will successfully compete with the US, Russia, Europe and the emerging powers like China.

O Muslims in Bangladesh!

In remembrance of the destruction of the Khilafah, Hizb ut-Tahrir in Bangladesh calls upon you to engage in the work for re-establishing the Khilafah with utmost effort and speed so as to abolish the rule by kufr and resume the rule by what Allah (swt) has revealed. As long as we continue to live by the man made kufr systems and neglect our duty to establish the Islamic ruling, we will be accumulating sins on our necks. After embracing the Aqeedah of Islam, working for establishing the rule by what Allah (swt) has revealed is one of the most important obligations upon the neck of a Muslim. Allah (swt) says,

“But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions and accept (them) with full submission.” [TMQ An-Nisa: 65]

The Messenger of Allah (saw) has informed us that the Khilafah is the only legitimate government system for the Muslims. Muslim reported on the authority of Abu Hazim, who said: “I accompanied Abu Hurayrah for five years and heard him talking of the saying of the Prophet (saw): The Prophets ruled over the children of Israel, whenever one Prophet died another succeeded him, but there will be no Prophet after me. There will be Khulafaa’ and they will number many. They asked: What then do you order us? He (saw) said: Fulfill the bay’ah to them one after the other and give them their due. Verily Allah will ask them about what He entrusted them with.”

Moreover every Muslim is required to have the bay’ah to the Khaleefah upon his neck. The authentic evidences have clearly rendered the death of the person who neglects this duty to establish the Khilafah as ‘death of Jahiliyyah’ or ‘death in ignorance’. This is clearly supported by the Hadith narrated in Sahih Muslim on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “And whosoever dies without having the bay’ah upon his neck (i.e. without a system of bay’ah existing), he dies the death of Jahiliyyah.” This Hadith emphasizes the importance of the work to establish the Khilafah and it is the highest form of criminal negligence for the one who ignores this duty and does not strive for this noble cause.   

O the people of influence and power in Bangladesh!

You are the influential force in society and you have the power in your hand. Stop protecting the kufr system and withdraw your allegiance to the current rulers. If you do not do so, this will only increase the wrath of the Allah (swt) against you in this life, and in the Hereafter awaits a painful torment. And remember the example of Fir’aun, whose entourage and army was punished along with him for siding with him and not preventing his tyranny. It is an obligation upon you like the rest of the Muslims to re-establish the Khilafah and have the bay’ah to the Khaleefah on your neck. Islam obliges you to side with the Ummah and her sincere sons, and provide your support to them for establishing the Khilafah. The global leadership of Hizb ut-Tahrir headed by the Amir of the party (Sheikh Ata ibn Khalil Abu Rashta) have the correct drive, the enlightened thinking, proper vision and the sound strategy to lead the Khilafah state and guide the Muslim Ummah towards unity, strength and glory.   

Know that Khilafah is not merely a dream or an imagination of a few people; it is a reality and it’s return is inevitable Insha’Allah. Allah (swt) Himself has promised authority to those who believe in Him and accomplish good deeds as He (swt) had bestowed authority to those earlier. He (swt) says:

“Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).” [TMQ an-Noor: 55]

The Messenger of Allah (saw) has given glad tidings of the return of al-Khilafah ar-Rashidah on the method of Prophethood after the period of oppressive rule that we are currently under. The Messenger of Allah (saw) says in an authentic Hadith narrated in Musnad Ahmad on the authority of Hudhayfah bin al-Yamman (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

“Prophethood will last with you for as long as Allah wants it to last. Then there will be Khilafah according to the Method of Prophethood, and things will be as Allah wishes them to be. Then Allah will end it if He wishes to end it. Then there will be hereditary rule, and things will be as Allah wishes them to be. Then Allah will end it if He wishes to end it. Then there will be an oppressive rule, and things will be as Allah wishes them to be. Then Allah will end it if He wishes to end it. Then there will be a Khilafah according to the method of Prophethood.” Then he (saw) fell silent.”

Furthermore, the global work for Khilafah has gained momentum all over the Muslim lands. Hizb ut-Tahrir is leading this movement in more than 40 countries and the Muslims are rallying behind and overwhelmingly supporting the cause of the Khilafah in their hundreds of thousands. The Ummah is looking towards you to support their aspirations for the Khilafah state. Be assured that after its formation the Ummah will nurture and guard the Khilafah in their millions. The rulers you currently protect will not remain around when the Khilafah is established. These rulers will disappear from the scene, either by themselves, or they will be forced to do so by the Ummah. So rush forward to join the Ummah in the work for re-establishing the Khilafah by providing your support in removing the current rulers and rescue the Ummah from the tyrants and the disbelieving-polytheist enemies.

“O you who believe! Answer the call of Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life.” [TMQ Al-Anfal: 24]  

Hizb ut-Tahrir in Bangladesh

28 Rajab, 1430 AH
21 July, 2009 CE