A discussion on the methodology of Islamic political parties and their efforts to establish the Islamic state.

The Shaykh : The Shaykh is pointing to a very important aspect: there are Islamic parties, not just one, that focus on an aspect of Islam. Naturally, there are differences among these parties, but they all converge on the issue of establishing the Muslim state. This is undoubtedly an obligatory matter for Muslims to care about; it is the earnest striving to establish the Muslim state.
Welcome.
However, the path to establishing this Muslim state, as I hinted at in my previous remarks, is one in which they differ greatly. We say:
-- And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings --
The success in achieving any matter is linked to the correctness of the methodology established for it, or its error. For example, a person wants to build a house or a grand palace, but he does not own the land on which he wants to establish that house or palace. We believe it is an error for this person to think about the specifications of this house or palace, and how it should be, when he does not own the land on which that palace should be built. In this case, we see it as correct for him to strive to acquire and own the land. Once he owns it, he takes another step: he considers that this land needs a foundation, it needs stones, not just "cement" and iron, it needs stones. These stones are the foundation; where are they to be brought from? He sits and thinks, and so on, proceeding step by step until the material that is called today "raw material" is available to him. After that, he remains to place the complete plan for this structure, and he proceeds step by step; he cannot build the upper floor before building the ground floor, and so on.
So, does the call today to establish the Muslim state rest on this foundation of proceeding to achieve the great goal through the gradualism required by the Shari'ah and by fitrah? I say: No. I summarize this by saying that many of those who are enthusiastic about establishing the Muslim state do not possess the means that, if they were provided to them, as it is said, on a moonless night, would enable them to establish the Muslim state. They do not possess the means that would enable them to establish it. What are these means? First, the nurturing of souls that are filled with zeal and Islamic fervor for establishing the Muslim state. These souls must be saturated with knowledge of Islam first, and consequently, this knowledge becomes a burden upon them if it is not accompanied by action.
Therefore, it is obligatory that these individuals who are zealous for establishing this Muslim state be saturated and filled with knowledge of this correct Islam from the two previous sources, the Book and the Sunnah, and from the methodology of the Salaf al-Salih. On the other hand, they must apply this to themselves and their families within the limits of what they are able to do, before establishing the great state, the state of Islam.
And for that reason, I am impressed by the idea of one of the Islamic preachers in the present age, which is the summary of this explanation we are giving now. It is his saying: "Establish the state of Islam in your hearts, and it will be established for you on your land." These are two sentences: "Establish the state of Islam in your hearts, and it will be established for you on your land." This requires the methodology that we tried to summarize as much as we could in our previous speech. "Establish the state of Islam in your hearts"—does this mean with ignorance of Islam, or with knowledge of Islam?

Those present : With knowledge of Islam.

The Shaykh : With knowledge of Islam.
How do we know Islam? Is it like my father said, and my grandfather, and my grandmother, and so on? No, we know Islam as Allah said and as the Messenger of Allah said. Now, as Allah said and as the Messenger of Allah said, this Islam has concepts from which seventy-three sects branched off. Which sect? The methodology of the Salaf al-Salih. This is what "Establish the state of Islam" means. "In your hearts"—what does that mean? Belief in this Islam with firm conviction, and practical application in your hearts. After that, "it will be established for you on your land." Most of us today do not establish Islam in their own person. You look at them and find them filled with heat and a flame in calling to Islam, but in their own person, they do not embody Islam, and you do not see them following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
You look at them in their homes and with their children and do not find them applying Islam. So, where did we go from this wisdom: "Establish the state of Islam in your hearts"? "He who lacks a thing cannot give it"!! If we do not establish Islam within the limits of what we can establish in this time, we will not be able to establish Islam in its entirety, even to the point of bringing all the states of the earth into it, and the banner of Islam fluttering over them. "He who lacks a thing cannot give it" is a known wisdom from ancient times.

The questioner : If you allow me a word, Professor.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : While you take a rest, I mean.

The Shaykh : Yes, take it, Professor. Do you see, I answered this question. The questioner is asking about the economy in Islam. This is our problem; where is the questioner asking?
Oh Allah.
Yes.