The Ruling on Establishing Islamic Parties in Iraq

The questioner : Of course, Shaykh, praise be to Allah for what Allah the Mighty and Majestic has decreed, and we have met with you, praise be to Allah.

The Shaykh : Welcome.

The questioner : Often, but the circumstances do not allow it.

The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. Hopefully the circumstances will improve and our Lord will rectify them. Welcome.

The questioner : If Allah wills, in fact, there are many questions, but the time may not be appropriate. In fact, we are now in Iraq, and although the state is now beginning to fade, this idea has emerged that Muslims are permitted to establish Islamic parties. What is your opinion on this?

The Shaykh : I warn you against factionalism, and I warn you against factionalism, for factionalism brings no good. Factionalism is a system that leads to the division of Muslims and the scattering of their community. Therefore, Allah the Mighty and Majestic said: This is the verse; I have connected it to the previous answer. And is the system of the disbelievers: factionalism. This is such-and-such a party, and this is such-and-such a party, and this is such-and-such a party. This factionalism has crept into the lands of the Muslims. Yes. So now, factionalism is an established system for reaching a goal. This goal may be legitimate, or it may be illegitimate. For example, the Muslim Brotherhood, and for example, our brothers in Algeria: their goal is to establish the rule of Allah on earth, and their means is a legitimate means, but it is a means of disbelief. They adopted this means of factionalism and grouping to reach a ruling. There is no doubt that this factionalism does not mean Muslims facing disbelievers, nor does it mean Muslims facing other Muslims. Among those others, some are also factionalists belonging to another party, and some are not. And by the way, as an example, on the occasion of the elections a few days ago, and for the first time, the Salvation Front called me on the phone. They asked me about some matters related to the elections. I told the questioner that this cannot be answered over the phone; rather, write them down and send them. They said, "We are on the verge of the elections on Thursday, which has passed, as you know." I told them, "If you send them by fax, that is fine." And so it was. They sent six questions about the elections. Yes. I did not want to write the answer on my own until I had consulted some of the brothers. There was a meeting and deliberation on the subject, and we formed an opinion. I stayed up for a large part of the night until I wrote the answer to the six questions in six pages. The important thing is that I sent it by fax as well. Considering the season, which is election season, questions are numerous from them there. In fact, they used to ask us before. So I found that with this writing I sent them, I was relieved from answering. I referred them to the Nahda movement; the answer is written there. Yes. So, my brother, in Islam, and I say "my brother" regarding Iraq, factionalism is not permissible, even if the factionalists are religious, because the consequences of factionalism are very serious. And I was just telling you the story: after we sent them the six answers, and I told you we were relieved, every time one of them asked me about something, I would say, "Go to the Front; they will give you the text." One person said to me, "I am outside the capital; the distance between me and the capital is about 200 to 300 kilometers." I told him, "Whatever the distance between you and the capital, the distance between me and you is much greater. Go back to them." The important thing is that another person called our brother Abu Laylah, and he referred him to the Front. And the answer from the person in charge there was, "You are not from our party." And here is the point, so they did not give him