UPDATE 4/9 9:43: Here is an English translation of the below Fatwā:
Question
Our beloved Sheikh Abu’l-Mundhir Al Shinqiti – Asalamu alaykum wa Rahmatullah. May Allah bear witness that I love you for His Sake. My question is about the ruling concerning participation in the demonstrations in Morocco, especially since those who are leading them are the leftists, and at times they are led by the deviant group – Al Adl wal Ihsan Association (Jama’ah Al Adl wal Ihsan).
Submited by: Usamat-ul-Islam
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Praise Allah, the Lord of all that exists. Allah’s blessings be upon His noble Prophet, and on all his family and companions. To proceed:
Noble brother, may Allah love you for whom you have love us.
I say, noble brother, that these demonstrations are a rare opportunity to do away with these tyrant regimes, which have weighed heavy on the hearts of the Muslims for decades. They have oppressed Allah’s servants, changed Allah’s Shariah and have handed over their lands to Allah’s enemies.
They completed the mission of colonization by spreading corruption in its lands and plundering its resources.
Therefore, if the demonstrators are able to remove these tyrant regimes, they would be bringing down the curtain on an inauspicious era in the history of the Ummah, bringing it into a new era, which could be, with Allah’s permission, one which is better and more prosperous.
As for these demonstrations, these are popular demonstrations and are inclusive of all people. People in all of their social makeup and various ideological and religious leanings are waiting to participate in them.
All people have the right to demand the removal of these regimes, which has corrupted people’s mundane and religious life.
I have indicated in a previous reply that the fact that some of the demonstrators are seeking the implementation of democracy and the sovereignty of the masses make no difference, for the mutual goal is the removal of the current regime. After achieving the mutual goal, each group will strive to continue working toward the goals it seeks, and in the way it wants.
Thus, there is no objection to the fact that various ideological leanings are playing a prominent role in these demonstrations.
Just because the people of these ideological leanings have religious deviation, this does not mean that it is prohibited to cooperate with them on a legislated matter. It is legislated to cooperate in virtue, justice and truth with all those who seek it. As the Allah the Exalted said:
(وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى البِرِّ وَالتَّقْوى)
“Help one another in righteousness and piety.”
An important factor in the success of these revolutions is that they have been initiated by people from all different backgrounds.
Because of this, we have seen the Egyptian regime trying to portray the revolution as if it were the initiative of the Muslim Brotherhood, and Gaddafi is trying to portray it as if it were the doings of Al Qaeda, both in an attempt to remove their popular image. For the same reason, Gaddafi tried to stir up inter-tribal strife and divide the country into the Eastern people and Western people.
Care must be taken that during these popular demonstrations there be no ideological, sectarian or class distinctions.
The brothers in Morocco, especially, must be careful about stirring up strife between the Arabs and the Berbers, since this may be the card this regimes plays to weaken the unity of the demonstrators.
And Allah knows best. Praise Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
Sheikh Abu’l-Mundhir Al Shinqiti
Shariah Committee Member
Minbar Al Tawheed wal Jihad
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Shaykh Abū al-Mundhir al-Shanqīṭī — “Ruling on Demonstrating With the Muslim Brothers and Leftists in Morocco”
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