WORLD DAY OF DEMOCRACY —
Fa-Hal Antum Muslimoon?
Will You Submit?
May 23, 2013:
World Day of Democracy!
We call on the world – the entire world, Muslim as well as non-Muslim; in the East as well as in the West – to declare and celebrate Thursday, May 23, 2013, as WORLD DAY OF DEMOCRACY.
This year, May 23 falls in the blessed month of Rajab Al-Murajjab Al-Ahsab Al-Asamm.
For, democracy is Islam and Islam is from Allah! No matter how much the world refuses to see this and no matter how confused the Muslims are about it.
Last year, 23rd of May, 2012, was the first day of Presidential Elections in Egypt. A landmark event in the world – and in Muslim history.
These elections were the most free and fair in the entire history of the ancient nation of Egypt. And they marked the end of nearly 100 years of all kinds of tyrannical rules and governments, each more brutal than the other.
And these elections brought to the presidency of Egypt a man, Dr. Muhammad Morsi, who was not a puppet of foreign governments and forces, but a nationalist and a patriot – a true and a very humble lover of his own land and people.
First and foremost, Dr. Morsi was – and is – a democrat. And before and much more than all that he was – and continues to be – a simple Muslim, who made Islam the guiding element in his life – and in his politics and in his government and administration.
It is time again, this year, on May 23, 2013, for the world – Muslim and non-Muslim alike; in the East as well as in the West alike – to join hands to celebrate and commemorate this colossal turn of events toward democracy, independence and freedom in the land of the Pharaohs – both ancient and modern.
Hazrat Umar’s Words: Lodestar of Democracy Forever
Islam was sent into this world by the maker and master of the world, God Almighty, to guarantee basic freedoms and rights to all human beings, regardless of their race, gender or religion.
As sayyidina Umar, the second elected leader of the Muslim World, put it nearly 1400 years ago: “People are born free!”
And a most important part of People’s right to individual liberty and collective freedom is their inalienable right to choose their own governments and elect their own leaders and rulers – in every place and in every age.
This is the core principle of Islam that supersedes all else in human life on earth.
These clarion words of Hazrat Umar have been the lodestar of democracy through the ages – all these 1400 years. They have – over the past 1400 years – shaped the fight for freedom on the part of all oppressed peoples throughout the world.
And here they are, those earth-shattering words of Hazrat Umar, the way he said them in the original Arabic, blessed be his memory and may God Almighty be pleased with him:
Mata’asta’abadtumunnaasa, wa qad waladat-hum Ummhaatuhum Ahraaraa!
Paraphrase:
“How dare you enslave people – People: Annaas, as the Qur’an calls them– and take away their freedoms and rights, when their mothers gave them birth as free men and women?”
Egyptian Presidential Elections of 2012 – And Freedom-Loving People Everywhere
As I said earlier, this call for WORLD DAY OF DEMOCRACY on this day of May 23, 2013 – in the blessed month of Rajab, 1434 – commemorates the presidential elections in Egypt of 2012: the most free and fair in all of Egyptian history.
And the blessed month of Rajab is the month of Bi’athat – according to some – which is the unfolding of God’s plan on earth to send his messenger Muhammad, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, as a blessing, boon and embodiment of his divine grace to all the worlds – the worlds we know and the worlds we can’t even suspect exist.
As the Qur’an puts it:
Wa maa Arsalnaaka Illaa Rahmatan Lil-'Aalameen!
Paraphrase:
“We sent you not save as a blessing and mercy to all the worlds.”
The continuing fight of the Great People of Egypt for freedom and democracy is the Badr of our time. To support and participate in it is a Fard 'Ain – incumbent on all freedom-loving people everywhere, individually and personally.
No matter who we are, and no matter where we are, if we truly love freedom and democracy, and justice and equality, then it is our duty to throw into it everything we have – I mean the Great Egyptian People’s fight for freedom and democracy in this Egyptian presidential election cycle.
And by “everything” I mean our efforts and our energies and our resources and, if nothing else, our best wishes and our most ardent prayers.
For, the right to freedom and democracy is both an inalienable and an indivisible right. It cannot be denied, nor can it be controlled or rationed or doled out piecemeal according to preset specifications and measures.
It is humanity’s shared bounty from God Almighty himself.
When confronted with a similar life-or-death situation earlier for freedom and democracy in the history of Islam, Umar brought half of his entire worldly wealth and gave it to the public treasury.
Only to find out that Hazrat Abu Bakr had done even better: Abu Bakr had brought everything he had in this world at that time – leaving only Allah and his blessed Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, behind for himself and his family.
So, when humanity’s basic rights and freedoms are at stake, no treasure is too precious. Not even human life, as any true patriot will tell you, whether it is Patrick Henry or Thomas Jefferson or Mahatma Gandhi or Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela.
For, in the culture of patriotism, the best thing is to have both: life as well as liberty. But if a choice is called for, then it is not liberty that gives.
Ask Patrick Henry and see how his words ring true, immortal and crystal to this day: “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!”
So freedom lovers in Badr gave their life freely so Liberty and Freedom could live.
And so did the Great People of Egypt in the year 2011 when they finally rose up and put an end, at enormous cost to their own lives, to the 30-year most brutal military dictatorship of the foreign puppet Husni Mubarak.
In his place, the People of Egypt freely, fairly and with greatest transparency elected one of their own, Dr. Muhammad Morsi. It is an election worth celebrating and commemorating by all – forever.
Let Us Not Miss This Opportunity!
Muslim or non-Muslim, you and I were not at Badr, when Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, and his devoted Companions, may God bless them, battled incalculable odds in defense of their lives and liberties.
And in defense of life and liberty for all. For, that is what the Battle of Badr was: a fight to the finish between Right and Wrong, between Truth and Falsehood and between Freedom and Democracy on the one hand and Slavery and Bondage on the other hand.
For the entire world.
You and I were not with Moses, God Bless Him, when he and his followers crossed the sea to freedom. We were not with Washington when he crossed the Delaware. We were not at hand when Bastille fell.
Nor were we, you and I, privileged to be at Philadelphia when American Patriots signed the Declaration of Independence. Nor did we hear in person the golden words of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg celebrating a new birth of freedom in the form of the Government of the People by the People.
In other words, an Islamic Government.
But we saw on television Ronald Reagan thunder down in Berlin: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
And we were there, devouring every manner of media in January 2011, as Egypt chased down its tyrants and hoisted the banner of freedom aloft for the entire world to see.
And we are here now, again, this year, in the year 2013, coinciding with the Hijri year 1434, in time to bring back to our minds those happy memories and sweet thoughts of the great Egyptian victory that should never have left us in the first place.
And this right here is our opportunity: to commemorate Egypt’s glorious victory of the year 2011 over its tormentors, tyrants, exploiters and abusers.
The expression Hijri stands for Humanity’s March to Freedom – under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam.
A Noble and Patriotic Fight
The question is not who is on God’s side and who is not. That is always an open question, and it shall be finally decided by God on the Day of Judgment.
The real question, right here in this world, is who is a patriot and who is not. And the question is who truly loves Egypt and its land and its people and who has sold out to foreign agents and unscrupulous domestic interests.
Dr. Muhammad Morsi and the Ikhwan are fighting the fight the Sahabah – the noble companions of the Prophet, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam – fought: for justice, truth, equality, freedom and democracy – for all.
The Great People of Egypt – and Dr. Morsi and the Ikhwan – are also right now fighting the same great fight for freedom and democracy – for all.
Physically, you and I are separated by thousands of miles of sand, sea and air from them – and from the magic land of Egypt. But cognitively and emotionally – and spiritually – the Great Egyptian People and Dr. Morsi and Ikhwan are in our hearts and minds and souls, and in the hearts and minds of every true freedom-lover everywhere, as they ought to be.
For, their fight for freedom and democracy for the Great Egyptian People is the fight of every one of us everywhere for freedom and democracy for all the people of the world.
Therefore, just being where we are, we can still do a great deal to help the Great Egyptian People in their ongoing fight for freedom, for, the fight for freedom never ends. We can, thus, help keep the universal and divine flame of freedom, democracy and justice burning bright in Egypt – and for all.
We can, and we will, Bi-Idhnillah, by God’s will, command and mercy, change the world. And make it a better and freer place for all human beings, regardless of their race, religion, gender or nationality.
Ending Kingship and Restoring Democracy
For, the time has come, one more time, for the world to end tyranny in all its forms and manifestations and restore freedom and democracy to the people of the world – everywhere.
The way Umar bin Abdul Aziz, nearly 1300 years ago, ended kingship and restored democracy to the world – starting with the Muslim world.
The world today deserves another chance at freedom and democracy after Umar bin Abdul Aziz.
Wherever You Are, Do a Democracy Conference
Here is what I respectfully suggest we all do: Call a conference.
Don’t worry who will or will not attend.
Malaa-ikah (Angels) and their Rabb – Rabbul 'Aalameen – will be there, in such a conference. What more can you ask for?
The great Battle of Badr, during the life of Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, was not won by men – it was won by Malaa-ikah (Angels) and Rabbul Malaa-ikah.
Because it was, as I said above, a battle between Right and Wrong and between Truth and Falsehood – and between Oppression and Tyranny on the one hand and Freedom and Justice on the other hand.
And in this conference I am proposing, let us make Freedom the theme – freedom for you and for all the people of the world and freedom for your land and for all other places in the world.
So, set aside Saturday, May 18, 2013 this great big conference of yours in the service of Democracy and Freedom for the world.
Or make it Sunday, May 19, 2013, if that is more convenient for you.
Bi-Idhnillah – do so in the name and with the command of God.
The Battle of Badr Was Fought for Freedom for All
That is what Badr was. It was a primordial human struggle for basic human freedoms, democracy, justice, equality and dignity for all human beings everywhere.
Most of all, it was a fight to give all human beings on earth the right to worship the God of their choice, without hindrance or force or coercion or intimidation from anyone.
That is why the Qur’an calls it Yawumal Furqaan – the Day of Decision and Separation.
It was the day on which the fate of the world was decided with finality and certitude. It was the day in which the wheat was separated from the chaff – and boys were separated from the men.
It was a day on which Truth and Justice and Freedom and Democracy won a decisive and lasting victory.
A Special Democracy Conference for UK
UK has a special place in history – and in the hearts and minds of freedom-loving people everywhere – for its own relentless struggle for freedom and democracy for its people.
Whether it was the struggle of the Irish or the Scots for freedom, or whether it was the great effort that the Magna Carta embodied to limit the power of absolute kingship, the British march toward freedom and democracy has been relentless and inexorable.
Therefore, it is only fit and proper that at this particular juncture in history a new cry of support for freedom and democracy for Egypt – and for the rest of the world – should reverberate on the venerable soil of Britain.
It is, therefore, my respectful submission that this is what the people of UK – both Muslim and non-Muslim, Ikhwan and non-Ikhwan – must do: They must organize a conference on Saturday, May 18, or on Sunday, May 19, 2013, whichever date is most convenient for them, in support of the most noble and ongoing struggle of the Great Egyptian People for Freedom and Democracy in Egypt – and throughout the world.
UK Democracy Conference: Some Program Pointers
Below are some helpful hints and pointers on program planning for the proposed UK Democracy Conference. Call it, if you wish, a conference on Islam and Democracy.
Depending entirely on the convenience and discretion of the organizers, the UK Democracy Conference can get Dr. Muhammad Morsi, the President of Egypt, and Mr. Khairat Shatir, Ikhwan leader, to address the Conference over the phone or on Skype from Cairo – for 5 minutes or more each, knowing how busy they are.
- And, if they think it is appropriate, the conference organizers can get Shaikh Rachid Ghanouchi from Tunis to address the Conference over the phone or on Skype for 5-10 minutes. He is an old Londonite.
- And if they think it is appropriate, they can get Ken Livingstone, the former London Mayor, as well as the newly re-elected mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to attend and address the Conference for 5 minutes each.
-
If they come, Alhamdulillah. If they say no, again Alhamdulillah. As they say: Kullun min 'indillah – all is from Allah.
I have a feeling both these gentlemen will come.
- Invite Cherie Blair, but not her husband Tony Blair, to attend and speak for 5 minutes.
- Invite George Galloway to come and speak for 5 minutes.
- Invite Baroness Warsi to come and speak for 5 minutes.
- Have Dr. Abdul Barr from Al-Azhar, Cairo, to make a Du’a over the phone or on Skype.
- Have Dr. Badie from Cairo say a few words over the phone or Skype.
- Start working on it now, get your best people to hit the phones and make it happen.
Proposed UK Democracy Conference: Some Additional Program Pointers
Send out invitations to the following people, with the idea that whoever accepts, accepts; and whoever does not, does not.
If they accept that is from Allah. And if they don’t, that is also from Allah. Because Allah is Fa’aalul limaa yureed. He does precisely what he wants.
So, here is the suggested list:
- Prime Minister Cameron.
- Deputy Prime Minister Clegg.
- Labour Leader Miliband.
- Archbishop of Canterbury.
- Invite MPs from all parties
- Journalist Lauren Booth
- Former Geert Wilders Confidante and Former Far-Right Politician Arnoud Van Doorn
- Journalist Yvonne Ridley
- Invite the Press from UK.
- Invite the Press from European countries.
- Invite the News Agencies.
There! Voila!
Mashallah, there, you have a full day’s worth of programming, and a whole list of speakers and participants, for the proposed UK Islam and Democracy Conference of 2013 in support of Democracy in the Middle East and around the world.
Preparing to Meet the Press: Some Pointers
Here is a great big and most self-evident Islamic principle for all to learn and remember: A free press runs the free world, of which we are all a part. Those who want to support democracy and freedom in the world must become experts at interacting positively and creatively with a free press.
Here are some helpful pointers on what they can do in this regard:
- Thoroughly coach and prepare one or more of your best people – and I mean the very best of the best – to address the Press and answer their questions.
- Select that spokesperson carefully and train that person thoroughly. If you can, let that expert be a woman.
- Prepare a Press Kit or Media Package consisting of the best write-ups, photos and videos for distribution among the members of the press.
- Press the Social Media such as Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook and the rest in service.
- Organize a Press Conference in which Dr. Morsi will address the press over the phone or on Skype for a few minutes and then take a few questions from the floor.
- Get one of your best people to preside over that Press Conference. Make sure the person can speak English.
An Islam and Democracy Conference Everywhere
And then call an Islam and Democracy Conference everywhere – in all parts of the world, using the same broad guidelines as above.
Let Us Change the World
May Allah bless and help the wonderful brothers and sisters, Ikhwan and non-Ikhwan, Muslim and non-Muslim, in UK, and everywhere else, to accomplish this most noble goal of standing up for Democracy and Freedom in Egypt and the world over – through this proposed UK Democracy Conference for 18th or 19th of May, 2013 – and other conferences elsewhere.
This will change the world – Bi-Idhnillah.
Following Sayyidina Isa, Alaihis Salam, this proposed UK Democracy Conference will say to the world: Qum Bi-Idhnillah – Rise in the Name of God!
It will say: Rise from your death of slavery and bondage and be reborn in freedom and democracy.
And the world shall rise and the world “Shall Have a New Birth of Freedom” and Democracy, inshallah. How beautifully Abraham Lincoln spoke those words in his Gettysburg Address, borrowing from Islam.
A New Shower of Blessings from Above to Inundate the World
For, make no mistake, a new shower of the Rahmat of Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim on his earth is about to begin.
And it shall be through a new rebirth of the message of Nabiyyur Rahmah, Rahmatulil 'Aalameen, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, throughout this world.
And part of it shall be in the form of a new rise of hope and freedom and democracy in the whole world.
Let the UK Democracy Conference – and all the other democracy conferences around the world – being proposed here for 18th or 19th May, 2013, to celebrate the WORLD DAY OF DEMOCRACY, be the next big step in our time in that direction.
END
© 2013 Syed Husain Pasha
Dr. Pasha is an educator and scholar of exceptional
talent, training and experience. He can be reached at DrSyedPasha [at]
AOL [dot] com or www.IslamicSolutions.com.
