Who or what is an Ikhwani, Salafi, and Sufi – Part II

Part II: Who are the Ikhwanis’:

This is the second part of the a series titled Who or what is an Ikhwani, Salafi, and Sufi. To read part I please click here

Taken from www.ikhwanonline.com , The Ikhwan said describing themselves:

إنهم دعوة سلفية، إذ يدعون إلى العودة إلى الإسلام، إلى معينه الصافي، إلى كتاب الله وسنة نبيه -عليه الصلاة والسلام- وطريقة سنية، إذ يحملون أنفسهم على العمل بالسنة المطهرة في كل شيء، خاصةً في العقائد والعبادات.

وهي حقيقة صوفية، يعلمون أن أساس الخير طهارة النفس، ونقاء القلب، وسلامة الصدر، والمواظبة على العمل، والإعراض عن الخلق، والحب في الله، والأخوة فيه سبحانه.

وهم هيئة سياسية، يطالبون بالإصلاح في الحكم، وتعديل النظر في صلة الأمة بغيرها من الأمم، وتربية الشعب على العزة والكرامة.

وهم جماعة رياضية، يعتنون بالصحة، ويعلمون أن المؤمن القوي هو خير من المؤمن الضعيف، ويلتزمون قول النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم-: “إن لبدنك عليك حقًا”، وأن تكاليف الإسلام كلها لا يمكن أن تُؤدى إلا بالجسم القوي، والقلب الذاخر بالإيمان، والذهن ذي الفهم الصحيح.

وهم رابطة علمية وثقافية، فالعلم في الإسلام فريضة يحض عليها، وعلى طلبها، ولو كان في الصين، والدولة تنهض على الإيمان.. والعلم.

وهم شركة اقتصادية، فالإسلام يُعنَى بتدبير المال وكسبه، والنبي-صلى الله عليه وسلم- يقول: “نعم المال الصالح للرجل الصالح” و(من أمسى كالاً من عمل يده أمسى مغفورًا له).

كما أنهم فكرة اجتماعية، يعنون بأدواء المجتمع، ويحاولون الوصول إلى طرق علاجها وشفاء الأمة منها.

هذا الفهم للإسلام يؤكد على شمول معنى الإسلام، الذي جاء شاملاً لكل أوجه ومناحي الحياة، ولكل أمور الدنيا والآخرة.

It is (this movement) a salafi movement, as they call to going back to Islam, to its pure meaning, to the book of Allah and the Sunnah of His messenger (peace be upon Him) and his Sunni tareqa, as they discipline themselves to work using the purified Sunnah in everything especially in their Aqeedah and worship to Allah.

Its a Sufi truth, as they know that the foundation of good is self purification, and purifying the heart, and a continuous work, and avoiding people, and the love for the sake of Allah, and the brotherhood in His name, exalted is He.

They are a political organization, asking for reform in governing (the people), and amend the relationship between the Ummah and there nations and raising people’s pride and dignity

They are a sports group, they take care of their healthand know that the strong believer is better than the weak one. They are committed to the statement of the Prophet when he said “Indeed your body has a right upon you” and that the obligations of Islam could never be preformed unless one is of a strong body and a heart full of iman and a mind with correct understanding.

They are the Association of science and intellect for science in the duty obligated on Muslims, one must request it, even if it was in China, and any State rises on Iman .. And knowledge.

They are economics firm, for Islam cares about earning money, and the Prophet – peace be upon him – said: “blessed is the good money for good man” and (who ever became tired of his work has been forgiven (from Allah)).

They are also the idea of social ideology care about illness of the society, attempting to reach their treatment and cure the nation from them.

This understanding of Islam emphasize the comprehensiveness of the meaning of Islam, which was inclusive of all aspects and walks of life, and all things the world and the Hereafter.

This is what Hasan AlBanna (may Allah forgive his sins .. ameen) tried to build this movement upon. It originally was a Islamic-Political-Anti colonization movement that started in Egypt to fight the British in Egypt. I was told when I was in Egypt that they actually were the real fuel behind the revolution that took place in 1952 that led to changing the political system from a Kingdom to a Republic.

Fast forwarding to 1992 when the Muslim American Society (MAS) started in the United States. According to their website they were the one who started (or caused the foundation of) the following organizations:
1- Muslim Student Association (MSA)
2- The North American Islamic Trust (NAIT)
3- the Islamic Medical Association (IMA)
4- the Muslim Arab Youth Association (MAYA)
5- the Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA)
6- Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)

One of their most famous Shiyook internationally is Shaykh Yousuf AlQaradawi. Famous for this book, The Halal and The Haram. On a National level and maybe through out the West, Imam Suhaib Webb is known to be affiliated with MAS (and AlMaghrib Institute as he is the newest addition to their faculty) as he himself declared this on his Facebook page

Lots of criticism (from non-Muslims and Muslims equally) was directed toward this movement, some of which are:

Very Important note: I tried my best not to share my own personal views (thou I agree with some of the below criticisms).

- They are liberal in their views when it comes to Fiqh in America
- They permit music on the bases of a difference of opinion in the Shafi’ school
- They are less strict on inter-gender relationships
- They are power hungry. They always want to control their community.
- They are media hungry. They always wish to be on the news.
- They aim to start an Islamic State (Caliphate) <- this is mainly directed from the Western Media
- Some of their halaqaat is very secretive (the Usra system is a system where they educate those who follow their ideology about matters of deen aka Tarbiya program)
- They are not creative and always repeat what other organizations are already doing. This is clear in so many instances.
- They charge people to become part of their movement. (If you didnt know, in order to be an active member of MAS, you must pay 2.5% of your monthly growth income. Look at their membership forms)
- They are called Wahhabis. This is a mistake though, matter of fact, they stand against one of the fundamental ideas of Wahhabis which is “Its Haram to go against the Muslim ruler”

Some of the praiseworthy efforts of MAS in America:
- They are partially able to outreach the Arab Americans who are disfranchised from most communities.
- They (amongst other organizations) have raised political awareness amongst Muslims in America.
- They have a well defined one of a kind national Muslim infrastructure.
- They have one of the few good Muslim boyscout and girl scout in the nation
- They usually stay away from issues of Aqeedah debate (between Salafis and Sufis primarily)
- They are known for some successful national initiatives like VIP (Voting is Power) program and others.
- Known for their focus on the youth and the creation of MAS-Youth Centers all over the nation.

If you see a person who says that he/she is MAS, respect their opinions and affiliations even if you disagree with them.