LEGACY OF MOWLANA IHSAAN HENDRICKS IS THE BEACON OF UNITY FOR PALESTINE

Jumuah lecture on Friday 17 August 2018 (5 Dhul Hijja 1439)

by Mowlana Syed Aftab Haider

at the Ahlul Bait (a.s) Masjid, Ottery, Cape Town

This is the third part of our discussion about Islam’s response to gender-based violence, or violence against women. Last week we established one very important foundation for the relationship between man and woman. In summary, this foundation according to the Holy Quran is Ma’ruf, which serves as the basis of the relationship between the 2 genders. This principle is the best protection against any abuse or exploitation of women.

MA’RUF IS THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OF RELATIONSHIPS

Therefore, I have given various examples from the Holy Quran, where we are reminded about Ma’ruf when it comes to our relationships. We defined Ma’ruf to mean goodness (broadly speaking). Also, Ma’ruf is commensurate with the norms of the society, and this needs to be considered very carefully when we speak about the relationship between men and women, and more particularly, the treatment of women based upon Ma’ruf.

In the case of disputes, divorce, sustenance, maintenance, protection of their property, inter-personal communication, and so on, we see that the Holy Quran repeatedly reminds us of Ma’ruf. This is what we discussed in the last lecture, in terms of the Quranic approach to gender relations. This followed after we elaborated on the Holy Quran first taking the holistic approach by referring to us all as Insaan (humanity). So, we moved from Insaan (humanity) to Ma’ruf (goodness).

To repeat the key point, the approach of the Holy Quran to the issue of gender-based violence is a holistic, deep-rooted approach, based upon the acknowledgment of genders, with its relationship having Ma’ruf as its foundation.

ISLAM PROMOTES PEACE AND TRANQUILITY THROUGH MARRIAGE

The Holy Quran then approaches this from a very different angle to address this problem. Verse 21 of Surah Rum (chapter 30 of the Holy Quran) refers, which we find on every wedding invitation!

“And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect.”

This verse says that Almighty Allah (SWT) has created our spouses from “ourselves”, for us to find peace and tranquillity from them. If the Holy Quran is saying that the purpose of creating spouses is peace and tranquillity, then how is it possible to say that any violence or abuse is permissible in this relationship. This verse goes further to say that Almighty Allah (SWT) has placed love and compassion between couples. Again, how is it possible that we can allow any type of abuse or violence if peace and tranquillity, love and compassion is the basis by which our relationships should be governed by?

DOMESTIC ABUSE IS INCONCEIVABLE IF MARRIAGE IS THE CONNECTION OF 2 SOULS

This is the discussion based upon the holistic approach. Then, the discussion on the sacredness of the institution of family is crucial to reflect upon. The Holy Quran was not only revealed as a book of commands, such as “do not abuse women”. In addition to this, the Quran presents solutions too, such that when you look at the home and family as a sacred abode, you see this as the sanctity of 2 souls, instead of simply a relationship on the physical level between 2 bodies.

As a consequence of this approach, the issue of violence is addressed very differently. You are not saying to 2 intimate partners that they should not abuse, because they like each other’s bodies. Instead, you are saying that you are connected to each other through your souls, and not your body.

Now, the big question is, how can 2 connected souls abuse each other?

MARRIAGE IS THE SACRED STEP TOWARDS ATTAINING SPIRITUAL ELEVATION

So, we now understand this whole institution of family and its sanctity in Islam. In Islam, we learn from the Quran and the teachings of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) that whoever gets married has saved half of his/her faith, and that the prayers of a married person is exponentially more rewarding than that of a single person, apparently 70 times more rewarding! This highlights the spiritual angle of marriage, and that the home and family are sacred. It is much more than the physical and material relationship between 2 people!

As a result, when a man reflects on his house as a sacred place, and a spiritual abode, then naturally that family is protected against domestic violence.

There is a very well-known Hadith narration from our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) where he says that the best among you are the ones who are best towards your women. In addition, when one reflects on the life stories of highly revered spiritual people, other than our Prophets (a.s) and Imams (a.s) who are beyond our reach, we see that they feel the highest level of indebtedness towards their wives.

The wife of Allama Tabataba’i, the great mystic and commentator of the Holy Quran, once commented that for her entire life that she spent with him, there was not a single moment where he raised his voice towards her, nor did he even ask her for a cup of tea. In the traditional Middle Eastern setup, beds are normally unfolded and laid on the ground and then folded up in the morning and placed away. Again, the wife of Allama Tabataba’i says that he never requested her to do this task in all those decades of being married to him.

We once again see here that the approach and mindset is based on spirituality! This is where one dives into the realms of Mawadda (unconditional love) and Rahmah (blessings) as the key role players in combatting this evil disease of violence against women and children.

HOLY QURAN ESTABLISHES THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN

Then, there is the multi-faceted approach, where the Holy Quran specifically brings up situations where there is the possibility of violence and abuse. The Quran rejects all forms of violence and abuse, be it physical, verbal, emotional, etc.

There are some verses of the Holy Quran which makes reference to causing harm. In this regard, I would like to cite an excerpt of verse 232 of Surah Baqarah (chapter 2 of the Holy Quran):

“Neither shall a mother be made to suffer harm on account of her child, nor a father on account of his child”

This verse requires a great deal of explanation! This verse says that the mother should not be pressured unjustly to accept unfair terms just because she is the mother. There are other related verses as well, where women should be protected from being pressured.

Moving along, we have another group of verses of the Holy Quran which speaks about Adl (justice). Adl is indeed a very detailed discussion. In this context it is about pressurising someone unjustly. Again, it is exploitation or blackmailing.

It was very common tradition in that Arab society, where a woman wanting to return to the same husband after being divorced, would need the permission from the heads of the tribes. In this context, the Holy Quran explains that these tribal heads have no right to pressurise the woman in any way to remarry their previous husbands.

Again, our religious scholars and commentators of the Holy Quran have described this as an example, but the overriding principle established here is that society as a whole is not allowed to exploit these traditions to place pressure on the woman and remove her free will regarding whoever she wants to get married to.

In verse 19 of Surah Nisa (chapter 4 of the Holy Quran), we learn about a woman’s rights on financial freedom:

“O ye who believe! Ye are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should ye treat them with harshness.”

This verse explains that a man has no right to inherit from a woman by force, or take away their dowry. This is not acceptable.

Another very important issue which we will discuss next week, refers to emotional and verbal abuse against women. The whole problem of false accusations falls within this ambit ie. using wrong language, which degrades the status of women.

In conclusion, I once again remind myself and all of you to observe Taqwa, which is essential in our relationships with those who may be physically weaker than us in our families and society. This Taqwa should be amplified in our homes, in the manner we treat our spouses, our mothers, our sisters and our daughters.

SECOND KHUTBAH

SCALE OF VIOLENCE IN AFGHANISTAN CONTINUES TO ESCALATE

This is a very, very sad situation. Last week we reported about the ghastly attack in Gardez, in the Paktia province, where more than 50 people were killed and hundreds injured. We have now once again seen another brutal attack on a learning centre, where more than 50 young students were killed as they were preparing for their exams.

This is the unfortunate trend in Afghanistan, where the followers of Ahlul Bait (a.s) are especially targeted. This is most unfortunate after relatively peaceful co-existence was achieved. However, we now see this problem resurfacing, which has cost so many innocent and sacred lives of religious scholars, young people, and normal people in the streets and in the markets over the past few weeks.

Again, it is a reflection of how the demonic ISIS is targeting the followers of Ahlul Bait (a.s) to start a campaign of hate and sectarian war in Afghanistan.

YEMEN CATASTROPHE HAS NO END IN SIGHT

The similar tragedy in Yemen remains unchanged. We have seen the United Nations representative burst into tears at witnessing the magnitude of the tragedy first hand, especially with the suffering of the most vulnerable being women and children. They are the biggest victims as a result of this aggression from the Saudi alliance’s brutality in Yemen.

DHIL HIJJA – THE UNIVERSAL ASSEMBLY OF MUSLIMS ON HAJJ

This is the great time of the year where millions of Muslims from all corners of the world partake in this essential pilgrimage together. However, sad to note that Yemen is burning, and Afghanistan is bleeding, and Palestine is in the difficult situation we all know, and not to forget what is happening in Rohingya, Myanmar. The suffering here and in other parts of the world continues, but not a single call emanates from Hajj for these oppressed people in the world. This is the sad status of impotence of the annual gathering of millions of Muslims.

SAD PASSING AWAY OF MOWLANA IHSAAN HENDRICKS

Indeed, our community was very familiar with this man, who was the former president of the Muslim Judicial Council and also the president of the Al Aqsa Foundation. We interacted with him on a number of occasions, and we need to remember these occasions, which were mainly on 2 platforms:

1. The issue of Palestine

2. Unity of the Ummah

I do not have even the smallest iota of doubt about his commitment and his passion for the Palestinian cause and its people. Beyond any doubt, he served this cause with distinction, and fought through the obstacles, including from those narrow-minded mentalities. He was able to keep himself above all of these hindrances and remain focussed on the job at hand.

MOWLANA IHSAAN HENDRICKS AND THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE ARE INSEPARABLE

I truly admire him for his approach to the issue of Palestine, and may Allah (SWT) reward him abundantly for this. He rose above being a typical Sunni scholar, and even above being simply a Muslim cleric or religious leader. He interacted beyond the borders to further the Palestinian cause, with people of different faiths and even with people who don’t have a religious persuasion.

This was the quality and legacy of Mowlana Ihsaan Hendricks. He could see the Palestinian cause being greater than his personal ideological affiliations. Unfortunately, most people do not see this, even when it comes to the Palestinian cause. They want to protest for Palestine, but only want to do it under their own banner! It must be their particular way, otherwise it is not accepted.

As a result, unfortunately, such an approach has achieved nothing for Palestine. It becomes a self-serving exercise for local consumption, to prove that we exist! Every year we will come out and shout for Palestine, to show that we are still alive as the original pioneers of this struggle for Palestine. This is where Mowlana Ihsaan Hendricks really crossed the borders and wanted the Palestinian cause to remain the priority, above all factional and sectarian tendencies.

MOWLANA IHSAAN HENDRICKS FERVENTLY DESIRED MUSLIM UNITY

Of course, the second platform of interaction, where I was personally involved with him quite a lot is on the issue of the unity of the Ummah. Again, I would like to remind, that Mowlana Ihsaan Hendricks was a unique example from the very few, if not alone, of the camp that unfortunately were never looked inclined positively towards Shia Muslims.

From his most senior position from this camp, we saw that he was able to maintain his relationship and practical commitment to unity by addressing us on the night of Ashura in our previous complex, the Ahlul Bait (a.s) Islamic Centre. This was really a very courageous and outstanding step that he took more than 10 years ago, where he established this historical precedent while he was the president of the Muslim Judicial Council.

I would like to say that we continued this journey, albeit that it was not on the ideal level that we had desired. Over the years, international politics in the Middle East, such as the problem in Syria, and the changing of positions in the international religious leadership of Sunni scholars, and local politics and pressures did not allow this journey to be a smooth one. There were many bumps in this road, but I would like to acknowledge that he never gave up, even though it could not be on the ideal level.

MOWLANA IHSAAN HENDRICKS WAS THE KEEN SUPPORTER DURING ADVERSITY

Apparently, we are informed that it was this same Mowlana Ihsaan Hendricks who strongly encouraged and supported the recent change in position of the Muslim Judicial Council’s leadership in the aftermath of the Durban tragedy, whereby the president (Sheikh Irefaan Abrahams) and deputy-president (Mowlana Abdul Khaliq Allie) took that courageous step to visit the Masjid of Imam Husain (a.s) in Durban and pay their respects and share condolences with the bereaved family.

We visited him in hospital a few weeks ago while he was very ill, and he again expressed the same sentiment, that his broad vision is his passion for Palestine and Unity. They are both inter-related, as the Palestinian cause cannot progress without unity. Unity is the pre-condition! Therefore, Mowlana Ihsaan Hendricks firmly believed in unity.

In my last visit to Mowlana Ihsaan Hendricks, he expressed his deep sadness at the terrorist attack in Durban, and I would like to conclude with a thought-provoking question he made to me while he was in hospital. He asked why do we Muslims only learn after losing ie. after going through a tragedy like what happened in Durban?

Could this tragedy have been averted if the Muslim leadership attended the opening of this mosque for example? Instead, we only learn our lessons in harm, unfortunately. He said that he wished this visit from the leadership of the Muslim Judicial Council would have occurred 5 years ago, instead of after such damage was done. But this is how we learn…

May Almighty Allah (SWT) reward Mowlana Ihsaan Hendricks for his great services and steadfast commitment for the oppressed of the world, especially Palestine, and for his vision of unity of this Ummah and especially here in Cape Town and broader South Africa.