The Shaykh's comment on viewing images that stir Islamic emotions regarding the Burmese massacres.

The Shaykh : All right, I have here a paper submitted by some of the brothers. Is it from your side regarding the images?
The student : Yes, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : What is it?
The student : There are brothers, may Allah reward them with good, who were traveling through the lands of the Muslims. They went to Sri Lanka, some of them went to Bosnia, and some also went to Kashmir and Burma. It was decreed that they entered villages, and before that, meaning before they entered, the Tamil and Hindu caravans had come and slaughtered all the Muslims. Some of them had their skulls flying and were cut to pieces, so they took pictures. So, if you wish to see them, Shaykh? There are about ninety images via the projector.

The Shaykh: Yes.
The student : If Allah wills, it will not take much time. The images, Shaykh, are almost like fantasy.

The Shaykh: Yes.
The student : But they are the reality of children and women.

The Shaykh : I am saying now: Perhaps you know that the original ruling on photography in Islam is prohibition. So, if it is known that photography is not permissible in Islam, I say: This photography is not permissible. I could have said: It is permissible in some time, but this time is not that time. What do I mean by this statement? Now, the benefit of these images is stirring the dormant Islamic emotions in the hearts of the Muslims. Such images are like a smooth-tongued orator who seizes the souls and hearts, and delivers a passionate, jihadist sermon, so the people rise up. So, what comes after this uprising?
The student : Submission and silence.

The Shaykh : Why? Because all the barriers prevent them from... I said: These images might be beneficial in a time other than this, meaning: a day when there are Muslim rulers who are zealous for the Muslims in all parts of the world, and they remind us of the old woman's cry: "O Mu'awiyah, help us!" So he immediately prepared that army and aided her immediately. And I say, with regret, and do not hold me to this: Now, the Saudi government is the first among Islamic governments to prepare the Muslim army fighting in the path of Allah. Where is that? What did it do regarding Bosnia? Nothing. Money? Oh, as much money as you want, like rain, but the Muslims there were destroyed...
The student : Even the money, Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Huh?
The student : Even the money, there is none.

The Shaykh : Even the money, there is none.
The student : I wanted to say that the benefit of the images, truly, is what you said exactly.

The Shaykh : No, may Allah bless you, there is no benefit at all.
The student : But a short time ago, the images were used in large halls or something, and stirring the people, as I said, was done by sending exaggerated sums of money as aid. Now, even the active and sincere committees have been closed and restricted, and donations must be made through specific projects and sent to committees.

The Shaykh : This is a matter, I mean, for what reason? That is how the matter is coming from above.
The student : Exactly, committees in Germany to distribute aid.

The Shaykh : That is it, my brother. Therefore, do not resort to means whose original ruling is not prescribed, but let us walk on the path, even if slowly. I like the saying of the pre-Islamic poet Imru' al-Qays, whose poem begins: "My companion wept when he saw the path before him, and was certain that we would catch up to Qaysar. I said to him: Do not weep, O eye, for we are either seeking a kingdom or we die and are excused." Let us keep walking on the path slowly, and it is not for us to reach the goal, for the whole matter is in the hand of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). As for leaning to the right and left and taking means, claiming that we will succeed with them, while they are un-Islamic means, this is one of the paths of Satan, as the Lord of mankind said: . Images are polytheistic means. Acting, acting, these are polytheistic means. The plays that they often call... we do not ask about them much, and perhaps there is a man imitating a woman, or the story does not complete, the story does not complete unless they bring a woman. All of these are means, why? To achieve goals that benefit the disbelievers who do not have lawful means. As for us, our religion is sufficient in all good, whether in goal or means. So I conclude that the Islamic world now is afflicted with very diverse calamities, and the most dangerous of them is what takes on a religious appearance, while it is not from the religion at all. Allah is the Helper, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah!