In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Indeed, even though the French demagogues and ideologues seek to give the impression that they have no association with some type of devotion to a creed, however the cartoon affair – in reality – is becoming a contemporary belief and secular symbol of French militant secularists- freedom to belittle the leader of all the Prophets of Allaah, the noble Messenger Muhammad [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam].

Disobedience to the Creator – by belittling the noblest Messenger – has become a symbol of freedom of expression. The French demagogues and ideologues behind this mindless cartoon affair boast of a freedom that frees them from servitude to Allaah! Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said, “If a free person says that he is freed from slavery to the creation, then yes he is free from slavery to the creation. However, if he intends by this that he is freed from servitude to Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic], then indeed he has erred in his understanding of servitude and he does not understand the meaning of freedom. That is because servitude to other than Allaah is bondage. As for servitude to Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic], then this is real freedom because if he does not humble himself to Allaah, he will humble himself to other than Allaah. So he deceives himself when he says that he is free- meaning, he is liberated from obedience to Allaah”. [Ref 1]

Therefore, this freedom advocated by the immoral cartoonists is nothing else other than a path by way of which they are exalting one of secularism’s contemporary symbols of kufr – freedom to belittle Prophets of Allaah! According to many of these vile cartoonists, these images are a symbol of freedom of expression, but the reality is that it is a belief of theirs that they have the right to belittle a Prophet of Allaah. Indeed, changing names can neither change the reality of the person nor the thing! The affair is not about freedom of expression, rather it is secularism – freedom to reject the Creator, exalt kufr and belittle what the Creator has exalted. Al-Allaamah Muhammad Amaan Al-Jaami [rahimahullaah] said:

“Secularism is clear disbelief.  Its meaning is the advocacy to abandon all religions, whether Islam, Christianity or Judaism.  Secularism has two orientations-its political system is democracy and its economic system is socialism. Secularism is disbelief and the mother of all evil”.  [Ref 2]

This is the path of the militant secularists- those hiding behind freedom of expression in the various regions of the earth. They reject belief in their Creator, refuse to obey their Lord, exalt the symbols of Kufr, claim that there is no accountability in another life and that the purpose of this life is other than the purpose stated by the Creator.

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَا بَـٰطِلاً۬‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ ظَنُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ‌ۚ فَوَيۡلٌ۬ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ

And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the consideration of those who disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve (in Islamic Monotheism) from the Fire! [Surah Saad. Aayah 27]

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

وَقَالُواْ مَا هِىَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا ٱلدُّنۡيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحۡيَا وَمَا يُہۡلِكُنَآ إِلَّا ٱلدَّهۡرُ‌ۚ وَمَا لَهُم بِذَٲلِكَ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ‌ۖ إِنۡ هُمۡ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ

And they say: “There is nothing but our life of this world, we die and we live and nothing destroys us except Ad-Dahr (the time). And they have no knowledge of it, they only conjecture. [Surah Al-Jaathiyah. Aayah 24]

Allaah [The Exalted] said:

الٓر‌ۚ ڪِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ إِلَيۡكَ لِتُخۡرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٲطِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَمِيدِ

ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۗ وَوَيۡلٌ۬ لِّلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ۬ شَدِيدٍ

ٱلَّذِينَ يَسۡتَحِبُّونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَبۡغُونَہَا عِوَجًا‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلِۭ بَعِيدٍ۬

Alif-Laam-Raa. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’an, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]. (This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you (O Muhammad ) in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness by their Lord’s Leave to the Path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise.  Allah to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth!  And woe unto the disbelievers from a severe torment.  Those who prefer the life of this world instead of the Hereafter, and hinder (men) from the Path of Allah (i.e. Islam) and seek crookedness therein – They are far astray. [14:1-3]

Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah) said:

Allaah (The Most High) informed (us) that He revealed His Book unto His Messenger Muhammad (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) for the benefit of the creation (i.e. Mankind and Jinn); so that they might be removed from the darkness of ignorance, disbelief, evil manners and all types of disobedience, (and entered into) the light of knowledge, Imaan and good manners. And concerning the statement of Allaah: [بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِم – By their Lord’s Leave];  that is they cannot reach the goal of that which is pleasing to Allaah, except by Allaah’s Will and Help. So in this there is an exhortation for the slaves to seek help from their Lord. Then Allaah explained (the meaning of the) light to which this Book guides to, saying: [إِلَىٰ صِرَٲطِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَمِيد – To the Path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise]; that is the path that leads to (obedience to Allaah and His Messenger, success in this life and the next etc) and the abode of honour (i.e. paradise), which (is achieved by way) of having knowledge of the truth and acting upon it.  And with regards to the statement: [ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَمِيدِ  – The All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise] after the mention of the path leading to Him, in this is an indication that the one who follows the straight path is given might by Allaah and he is a strong person, even if there are no helpers for him except Allaah. He is praiseworthy in his affairs and will achieve a good end. This also indicates that Allaah’s path is the greatest proof that He (The Most High) possesses Perfect Attributes and Lofty Descriptions, and that what He has appointed for His slaves is mighty authority. He is praised in His Statements, Actions and Rulings (i.e. because He is the Bestower of all things and He is free from all imperfections). He alone is described with all the perfect Names and Attributes; He is the only one worthy of worship through those acts of worship (He has prescribed), which are the dignified signposts of the straight path.  And just as He is the owner of the kingdom of the heavens and the earth-The Creator, The Sustainer, The Controller of the affairs of the universe- likewise, He has religious rulings for His slaves because He is their Owner (i.e. the Owner of mankind and jinn), and it does not befit His (Wisdom, Majesty, Glory etc) that He leaves them Suda [neglected without being punished or rewarded for the obligatory duties enjoined by Him]

After Allaah clarified the evidences and proofs, He then made a promise to the one who does not pay attention to (such proofs and evidences), saying: [وَوَيۡلٌ۬ لِّلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ۬ شَدِيد – And woe unto the disbelievers from a severe torment].  Then Allaah described them, saying: [ٱلَّذِينَ يَسۡتَحِبُّونَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ – Those who prefer the life of this world instead of the Hereafter]. They make it a duty and are satisfied with it, whilst being heedless of the afterlife.  [وَيَصُدُّونَ  – And they hinder] mankind [ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ– From the Path of Allaah] which Allaah has appointed for His slaves, clarified in His Books and conveyed through the speech of His Messengers.  So, these people have indeed turned away from their Protector through enmity and waging war against Him. [وَيَبۡغُونَہَا عِوَجًا‌ۚ  – And seek crookedness therein (i.e. in Allaah’s Religion)]; that is: They are eager to ridicule and make it look repugnant, in order to make people flee from it; however Allaah will not allow that to happen, rather He made His religion uppermost even though the disbelievers may hate it. [Ref 3]

They desire that Allaah’s path should become crooked, swaying towards (corruption) and deviated from the right course, even though it is self-evident and neither can it be harmed by the one who opposes it nor by the one who forsakes it. [Ref 4]

So with this desire of theirs, they are in ignorance and straying far away from the truth and rectification. [Ref 5]

[أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلِۭ بَعِيدٍ  – They are far astray] because they are misguided and misguiding others. They oppose Allaah and His Messenger, and wage war against them; so what type of misguidance can be farther than this?  As for the people of Imaan, they are the opposite of these ones–they believe in Allaah and His Aayaat; they prefer the afterlife over the worldly life and call to the path of Allaah.  They perfect their actions to the best of their ability and manifest their steadfastness. [Ref 6]

Allaah [The Most High] said:

 وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا فِى كُلِّ قَرۡيَةٍ أَڪَـٰبِرَ مُجۡرِمِيهَا لِيَمۡڪُرُواْ فِيهَا‌ۖ وَمَا يَمۡڪُرُونَ إِلَّا بِأَنفُسِہِمۡ وَمَا يَشۡعُرُونَ

And thus We have set up in every town the greatest of its criminals to plot therein. But they plot not except against their ownselves, and they perceive (it) not]. [Soorah Al-An’aam: Ayah 123]

[وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا فِى كُلِّ قَرۡيَةٍ أَڪَـٰبِرَ مُجۡرِمِيهَا – And thus We have set up in every town the greatest of its criminals] – Meaning: Those figureheads whose crimes were great and whose transgressions were severe. [لِيَمۡڪُرُواْ فِيهَا‌ۖ -to plot therein]- Meaning: Through deception, calling to the path of shaytaan and waging war – through speech and deeds- against the Messengers and their followers.  However, their plots and machinations only backfired on them. That is because they plotted and Allah too was planning, and Allah is the Best of the planners.

Likewise Allaah set up great ones amongst the leaders of guidance and the most virtuous of them, who opposed those criminals, refuted their statements and strove against them in the path of Allaah. They followed the paths leading to the path (of Allaah) and Allaah aided them. Allaah gave them an acute discernment and kept them steadfast.  So the days of victory and defeat alternated between them and their enemies, until the affair came to its final end-victory and triumph (for the believers) and the good final end is for the Muttaqoon (i.e. the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]. [Ref 7]

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ

قُلۡ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونَ رَدِفَ لَكُم بَعۡضُ ٱلَّذِى تَسۡتَعۡجِلُونَ

And they (the disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) say: “When (will) this promise (be fulfilled), if you are truthful?” Say: “Perhaps that which you wish to hasten on, may be close behind you. [Surah An-Naml. Aayaat 70-72] – Meaning, O Muhammad! Do not be grieve regarding the affair of these beliers and their lack of belief, for indeed if you knew the evil that is within them and that they are not worthy of any good, then neither would you despair nor grieve, neither would your heart be straitened nor would your soul worry about their plotting, for indeed the outcomes of their plotting will return to them. [وَيَمۡكُرُونَ وَيَمۡكُرُ ٱللَّهُ‌ۖ وَٱللَّهُ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡمَـٰڪِرِينَ   – they were plotting and Allah too was planning, and Allah is the Best of the planners]. [Ref 8]

The Liars Are Always Exposed

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said: The fact that a statement regarding something is lies and falsehood is sometimes known based on the statement in and of itself, its contradictions, perplexity and the manifestation of those clear indications which shows that it is lies. Lies might be manifested based on what it is in reality, manifested based on what is apparent and what is being concealed. It is sometimes known based on the situation of the utterer of the lie, for indeed the one who is known for lying, wickedness and deception, his statements do not show anything else except a state of conformity with his deeds. He does not utter a statement or perform an action similar to that of a pious and truthful person – the one innocent of every evil, deception, lie and wicked behaviour; rather the heart, intention, statements and deeds of the truthful one have the same image; and the heart, statements, deeds and intentions of the liar have the same image. [Ref 9]

Allaah [The Most High] said:

قَدۡ مَڪَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنۡيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيۡہِمُ ٱلسَّقۡفُ مِن فَوۡقِهِمۡ وَأَتَٮٰهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ

ثُمَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يُخۡزِيهِمۡ وَيَقُولُ أَيۡنَ شُرَڪَآءِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمۡ تُشَـٰٓقُّونَ فِيہِمۡ‌ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ إِنَّ ٱلۡخِزۡىَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ وَٱلسُّوٓءَ عَلَى ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرِينَ

Those before them indeed plotted, but Allah struck at the foundation of their building, and then the roof fell down upon them, from above them, and the torment overtook them from directions they did not perceive. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will disgrace them and will say: “Where are My (so called) ‘partners’ concerning whom you used to disagree and dispute (with the believers, by defying and disobeying Allah)?” Those who have been given the knowledge (about the Torment of Allah for the disbelievers) will say: “Verily! Disgrace this Day and misery are upon the disbelievers. [Surah An-Nahl. Aayah 26-27]

[قَدۡ مَڪَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ   – Those before them indeed plotted]: The Mufassiroon say that this refers to Namrood who built a tall tower in order to climb – as he claimed – the heavens and fight its inhabitants.

[فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنۡيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيۡہِمُ ٱلسَّقۡفُ مِن فَوۡقِهِمۡ  – but Allah struck at the foundation of their building, and then the roof fell down upon them, from above them]: The Mufassiroon say: Allaah sent a wind which flung the top of the tower to the sea and the rest was destroyed. [وَأَتَٮٰهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ – and the torment overtook them from directions they did not perceive]: Meaning, from where they thought they were safe. [ثُمَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يُخۡزِيهِمۡ   – Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will disgrace]: Meaning, disgraced with punishment. [Ref 10]

[قَدۡ مَڪَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ   – Those before them indeed plotted]: Meaning plotted against their Messengers, employed various types of tricks in order to reject that which the messengers brought and established gigantic safeguards [by way of arguments, views etc] on their plots. [فَأَتَى ٱللَّهُ بُنۡيَـٰنَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡقَوَاعِدِ  – but Allah struck at the foundation of their building]– Meaning, an affair came to them from its basis and foundation [فَخَرَّ عَلَيۡہِمُ ٱلسَّقۡفُ مِن فَوۡقِهِمۡ  –  and then the roof fell down upon them, from above them] -Meaning, so what they built became a punishment for them. [وَأَتَٮٰهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ – and the torment overtook them from directions they did not perceive]: Meaning, that is because they thought that such a building will benefit and protect them from punishment, but their punishment occurred from that which they built and established.

This is one the best of parables regarding how Allaah nullifies the plots of his enemies, for indeed they pondered and reflected on that which the Messengers brought when they belied them, made up principles and rules for it based on falsehood, referred back to them to reject that which the Messengers came with, employed tricks to bring discomfort to the Messengers and inflict harm on them and those who followed them, but their plot became a source of evil against them, so their plan became their destruction, because their plot was evil as Allaah said: [َلَا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ – But the evil plot encompasses only him who makes it]. This is in this worldly life and the punishment in the afterlife would be more disgraceful, and due to this Allaah said: [ثُمَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يُخۡزِيهِمۡ   – Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will disgrace them]. [Ref 11]

Finally, despite the fact that the militant secularists – the cartoonists hiding behind freedom of expression – are an immoral people who harbour hatred in their hearts towards the noble Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam], however we deal with them justly, neither harm nor slander them, even though they commit one of the greatest harms. Therefore, choosing the path of violence and harming fellow citizens – those under an agreement of protection – is forbidden, rather this is the satanic path of the kharijites (terrorists) – ISIS, Jabhat An-Nusra and those influenced by them. This is why our Mashaayikh in this west constantly refute and condemn the un-Islamic actions of those who unlawfully murder the militant secularists in the name of Islaam. Indeed, the people of Sunnah are innocent of the misguidance of both groups – the militant secularists who belittle the noble Prophet of Allaah and the khaarijites (terrorists) who commit murder.  Refer to articles below:

The Salafi Response To The Terrorist Attacks In Paris, France: “Were they forbidding an evil?

https://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-salafi-response-to-the-terrorist-attacks-in-paris-france-were-they-forbidding-an-evil/

https://www.salafisounds.com/bbc-interview-abu-khadeejah-regarding-terrorist-attacks-in-paris-salafism-women-in-islam/

Living With Non-Muslims In The West

https://www.abukhadeejah.com/living-with-non-muslims-in-the-west-with-fine-conduct/

https://www.abukhadeejah.com/having-alliance-with-the-non-muslims-is-of-two-types-misunderstanding-this-affair-leads-people-astray/

https://www.abukhadeejah.com/treaties-with-the-non-muslims-do-they-necessitate-allegiance/

https://www.abukhadeejah.com/the-life-of-the-muhammad-in-madinah-treaties-conquests-and-his-death/

Informing The Authorities Of Terrorist Plots

http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/downloads/pdf/MNJ140008.pdf

http://www.islamagainstextremism.com/

Finally, we are free from the misguidance of the khaarijites terrorists and the Militant Secularists.

Must read this book

And Allaah knows best.

[Ref 1: Source: An Excerpt from ‘Al-Manaahiy al-Laf’dhiyyah: page: 117. slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 2: Asbaab Al-Ijaabah: Cassette 2]

Refs 3 Tafseer As-Sadi]

[Ref 4: Qurratul Ainayn Alaa Tafseer Al-Jalaalayn

[Ref 5: Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdheeb Tafseer Ibn Katheer

[Ref 6: Tafseer As-Sadi]

[Ref 7: Tafseer As-Sadi]

[Ref 8: Tafseer As-Sadi]

[Ref 9: An Excerpt from As-Sawaa’iq Al-Mursalah 2/469-470. Slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 10: An Excerpt from ‘Zaadul Maseer Fee Ilmit Tafseer’ By Imaam Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullaah). Slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 11: Tafseer as-Sadi]