Ramadan Series Heroic Stance: Izz al-Din ibn Abdul Salaam

Ramadan Mubarak to the best Ummah brought forth for humankind. The Islamic Ummah that Allah has honored with His obedience... The Ummah Voice Podcast is pleased to present during the month of Ramadan Heroic Stances. Individuals who had a positive impact in changing the course of events, and set an example for many members of the Islamic Ummah.

One individual that can be truly attributed for his heroic stance is Izz al-Din ibn Abdul Salam, known as Sultanu l-Ulama (the king of scholars) and Bai’i Al-Umara (the authority over the rulers). He was nicknamed Izz al-Din and was known as the Sultan of Scholars and the authority over the rulers. He was born in Damascus in 577 Hijri. He was a courageous scholar of Islamic law and wrote many books as well as playing a key role in giving firm advice to divided Muslim rulers during a time when the Islamic world was under attack from Tartars and Crusaders.

A king named Salih Ismaeel, of Syria started to make alliances with the Crusaders in order to stop Egypt from taking their states. Salih Ismaeel began to collaborate with the Crusaders in order to strengthen his position against his rivals, particularly the king of Egypt. He went further than that and gave up some cities to the Crusaders. Izz al-Din was very angry at this realignment, and he expressed his opposition in the clearest way, stopping the traditional prayer for the king during the Friday sermon, and even invoked Allah’s (swt) wrath on the enemies of Islam, clearly implying that the king was one of them. Izz al-Din was later imprisoned because of his stance.

His courage and humility was shown when Izz al-Din was imprisoned and the king sent a counselor to Izz al- Din and told him “I only want the best for you, the king and the people. Your presence by the side of the king will only be for the benefit of the people and will strengthen the Muslim community, particularly at this time of imminent danger. I am sure if you will only moderate your stance a little, everything will be set right. You will be restored to all your positions, and even given higher ones. All that you have to do is to kiss the hand of the king and show courtesy to him.”

The Counsellor looked up to Izz al - Din waiting for a reply, but of all the replies he hoped for, or feared, he could not have expected what he actually heard: “How ill you think of me! You are suggesting that I kiss the king’s hand? I do not accept that the King kisses my hand. You people live in a world totally different from mine.”

Izzu-din later migrated to Egypt. He was then appointed judge, and continued to give sermons in the Masjids, was a teacher of Fiqh, and continued to stand up against oppression. He participated in the war of the Tatars with his tongue and his sword, despite his old age. He rekindled the love of Jihad for his people to fight against the Tatars and to fear only Allah (swt). The princes said that they needed more finances to support their army so some of the notables suggested to raise taxes among the people to help finance the army. However, Izz al-Din took a bold stance and spoke to the notables and princes and stated, “You want this coming battle to be for the sake of Allah, and you know that you cannot win it unless you have Allah’s support. That is sure to come when the whole community, rulers and ruled, princes and commoners, nobility and ordinary people show their dedication to the cause. If you ask the people, already heavily taxed as they are, to pay more taxes when they see the princes and the nobility leading a luxurious style of life, with their women adorned with expensive jewelry, they will not feel that they are fairly treated. Before you can raise taxes and have popular support for your measures, you need to take away what the princes, the nobility and the rich have in excess of their needs. When they are brought to the level of the general public, you may increase taxes if needed. The new taxes will then be shared by all, as all will be at the same level. The people will then pay willingly.” A true thinker and resolver all for Allah (swt) sake.

Izz al-Din lived during a time of oppression like we see today that the Ummah faces. We see the tyranny, unfair imprisonment, the crippling taxes among the poor where the rich spend and live freely, miserable living conditions for the unemployed and low paid workers.

Today, we see scholars manipulate the rulings of Allah (swt) in order to gain money, political power, avoid imprisonment, or for him to keep his position. The Ummah is lost due to different scholars’ rulings or trying to modernize Islam in order for the West to approve of the followers of Islam. We see how Izz al- Din was fearless due to the love he had for Allah (swt). We, as an Ummah should follow in these scholars’ footsteps fearing only Allah (swt). May Allah (swt) shower his mercy on Izz al-Din and our Ummah! Ameen

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