TREASURY OF BLESSED KNOWLEDGE
TREASURY OF BLESSED KNOWLEDGE
Is it possible to use someone else’s land without the permission of its owner?
Everyone sees disagreements between Muslims in Dagestan. It seems that each group of Muslims, for its part, is not against unification. However, everyone wants to be a winner and to unite the rest under their leadership. I say that my goal is to unite all Muslims under the leadership of the group that really stands on the true path. Whoever turns out to be wrong, be it I or someone else, may the Almighty ﷻ, suppressing untruth, lead all Muslims on the path of truth! I believe that I have done everything in my power to effect reconcilation and that the Almighty ﷻ, when I appear before Him for an answer, will not ask me why I sowed discord. We will see.
I do not see the need to summarise here the results of my conversations at meetings with young people, because I do not think they will be useful. At the same time, even if there is no detailed narrative, I would like to talk about individual instances in order to know who is working for what and for what purpose. Be that as it may, however, the main role in the unity of Muslims is played by the coordination in the work between the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Dagestan and state structures. Many criticise the Spiritual Administration and accuse its workers of passivity. I will not say that this is wrong but at the same time it is necessary to take into account the fact that today there are not sufficient conditions for advancement in this work. In order for a cart to roll forward, it must have two wheels. In our case, one wheel is spiritual governance and the other is government bodies. Undoubtedly, if both wheels rotate at the same time, then the cart will roll forward. It is no secret that in the era of Soviet power, there was enmity in relations between believers and the party, similar to that which happens between a wolf and a dog. Nowadays, such relations should not exist among Dagestanis, be they leaders or ordinary people.
The Soviet Union and the Communist Party collapsed and today we ourselves are able to determine our own condition. If the source becomes muddy, the water in the spring will not be clean. Today, the sources for us are the Spiritual Administration and government bodies. Brotherhood and the unity of all Dagestanis depend on how quickly they react and take action. May Allah ﷻ direct them to do good deeds! Otherwise, if they do not work in this direction, there is a danger of what we are seeing happening in other places today. Soon we will be able to see it with our own eyes and in our own Dagestan. Until today, nothing has touched us, and the Almighty ﷻ has kept us in peace, for which we should all give Him praise. May Allah ﷻ keep us from strife and troubles from now on! It would be good for all Muslims to constantly turn to the Almighty ﷻ with such a prayer!
Dear Muslim brothers! Look, do not listen to the speeches of those people who talk about the need to overthrow the state system and call for military action (ghazavat). War for worldly power and wealth is not a true ghazavat. This is discord and the Sharia forbids the perpetration of discord. Now is not the time for a ghazavat. If such a time comes, it will make itself felt.
Everyone should think about what the controversy around us is leading to. Are we all not in the same place? It is easier to endure the present situation than to endure the fruits of strife. Dear brothers, we have developed a habit of criticising officials. Do not think that I stand up for them. Never in my life have I had to be friends with any of the officials. But we must also see our shortcomings. Does not Allah ﷻ send bad rulers when the people themselves become bad? If Muslims live according to the Sharia, the Almighty ﷻ Himself will deliver them from bad leaders.
During the Soviet era, ‘Abdul-Hamid-afandi from the village of Inkho went to Astrakhan, having heard that a visiting Arab was studying there. At that time, to get to see an Arab was harder than seeing angels. If it happened, then they would not even be allowed to talk to him. The Arab himself, seeing that they wanted to talk to him, immediately disappeared, fearing that if he was caught in contact with the locals, he would immediately be sent home. ‘Abdul-Hamid-afandi joked when talking to the Arab, “Before returning home, hide me and take me with you.” The Arab, smiling, said, "You cannot hide, even needles cannot be taken out of this state!"
Now pay attention to what is happening today: does anyone today control where and how many Dagestani youth go to study or work, who teaches them and what and with what they return? Also, does anyone control those who come to Dagestan, why they came, from whence and who are they from? First of all, it is necessary that the Spiritual Administration be in charge of questions regarding those who go on Hajj and on ‘Umrah and study; this should be within the competence of the Spiritual Administration. For this, one cannot do without a connection between the structures of the state and the Spiritual Administration.
For example, would it be right for the Spiritual Administration to interfere in the political and economic issues of the state? No, it would not, because this is not a matter of spiritual governance. Also, state structures need not intervene in issues in the resolution of which only representatives of the Spiritual Administration are competent. But at the same time, they must have a connection with each other. Two siblings may manage their farms separately but at the same time should maintain fraternal relations. Thus, if the Spiritual Administration and the leadership of the state work together, in sha’Allah, there is hope that peace, unity and brotherhood will continue to prevail in Dagestan.
Think seriously, brothers in faith, if our order led to the fact that even in the villages the community (jama’at) were divided, then where would we end up? This is a question, over the resolution of which the hearts of scientists and non-scientists, officials and the entire Dagestani people should ache. What is the use of bandaging your head after it hurts? We must hold onto it even before the illness. All that has been said here are my thoughts and maybe I am not right. If there is a better alternative to solving this problem, then I, too, am just a person who needs to find a compromise.
One could speak for a very long time on this issue but drawing out the conversation is not commendable, therefore I will conclude it with this.
