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A few weeks before the end of 2013, posters were distributed all over Malaysia coaxing people to attend a rally to ‘Topple the Government' which is to be held on the New Year's Eve of 2014. Hundreds of police reports were lodged by various NGOs who think that the call for the ‘Topple the Government' rally was atrocious. On the New Year's Eve there was indeed a huge rally but it had nothing much to do with toppling the government, rather, it was more a demonstration by groups of people on the issue of the current price hikes. To make things worse, in a burst of irrational exuberance, the mufti of the state of Perak made comments that stirred the Muslim public. Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria likened the rally to the act of ‘bughah' (rebellion) and that it was thus permissible to spill the blood of those who attended it.

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‘Bughah' has a shar'ii connotation and cannot be used outside its shar'ii meaning. In a statement released by the mufti after criticisms were hurled at him for making the comments, he mentioned that ‘bughah' is not just restricted to resistance against a just ruler but also extends to rulers who are elected under the current democratic system. Obviously this does not in any way clear the air but in fact cause further confusion! In truth, according to Islam, a group is considered to be committing ‘bughah' if it carries out armed rebellion and revolt against the Islamic State (the just state) while manifesting strength and power and openly declares war against the state. This is far from what is observed. Harussani had clearly misunderstood the reality of the situation and consequently attached a wrong opinion on the issue.

What transpired on the New Year's eve is in reality a manifestation of hatred for the current government which could no longer be contained. However as Muslims, this hatred should be channeled correctly in the way of Islam. The people who joined the rally would probably be delighted to see a change in the leadership of the country. However, if what is involved is just a change in leadership, yet the system stays the same, in reality, nothing has changed! From observation, calls for change in Malaysia, in rallies not unlike this and in other platforms, are of this nature. Clearly, with calls of this nature, the root cause of all the evils that pushed the people to participate in this rally in the first place still exists, even if the leaders have changed! The democratic capitalistic system still stands!

True change can only be achieved when non-Islamic ruling is totally replaced by Islam. If this is sought, then our Prophet (saw) had shown the way for us. Efforts of change by street demonstrations, sit in's and violence is not the way of our beloved Prophet (saw). Peaceful demonstration (Masirah) can only be held to express our protest against the rulers, but it is not the shar'ie methodology for real change. Masirah is just a means to account and introspect the rulers (Muhasabah) and it is permitted by Islam. However, we should keep in mind that to carry out Muhasabah is to rebuke or criticize the ruler in the context of enjoining good and forbidding evil according to what is required by Islam, not according to what is required by democracy. Muhasabah is done on the grounds that the government did not follow Islam and we criticize/advice the government to return to Islam. The connotation of Muhasabah does not exist in the context of democracy, when the government is criticized for having strayed from democracy and demands are made for the government to get back to the path of democracy! Clearly those who organized and participated in this rally missed these points.

True change according to Islam can only be achieved through the process of Thalabun Nusrah (seeking help from those with authority). Rasulullah (saw) obtained the nusrah from the tribes of Aus and Khazraj and established the Islamic State in Madinah. May Allah grant victory for those who work consistently in the way of His Messenger (saw) to re-establish the Rule of Islam on this earth.

Written for The Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Dr. Muhammad / Malaysia