['Aalim Network QR] Ethnicity in Islam

[Mustafa Rawji <mrawji@trapdoor.aracnet.net>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salamun alaykum,

	The reply to the following question was kindly provided by Shaykh
Muhawesh.

Wasalaam,

Mustafa Rawji
'Aalim Network
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INITIAL QUESTION:

Salamun alaykum,
 
	I would like to ask that if somebody who is a Muslim and believes
in Islam but considers himself as a Muhajir [in this context, a migrant
from India following Partition] because he thinks that other Muslims
consider themselves as Punjabi, Sindhi and etc; Is he right or wrong? 


CLARIFICATION OF QUESTION AND ANSWERS:

>Salamun alaykum,

Wa-alaikum as-salam,

----------------
  Q1:    I want to know if Islam allows us to refer ourselves based on 
	  our ethnicity first?
          
ANSWER: Islam does not prohibit us from referring to ourselves as Arabs,
Indians etc. as long as that is not intended to be ethnicity vs. Islam. So
you can say I am an Indian Muslim & so forth. 
       
---------------   

  Q2:     Does Islam says that you can follow a leader who is not working 
          for Islam but he is working for human rights without 
          concerning Islamic laws?

ANSWER: It is prohibited to follow a leader who does not adhere to the
laws of Islam. 

---------------          

  Q3:     Does Islam allow us that we work for our ethnic group only
          not for other Muslims because we think that they are also 
          working for their ethnic group only?  

ANSWER: We can work for our ethnic groups if it is within the tenets of
Islam.
  
--------------        

  Q4:     Does Islam allow us that we can kill other Muslim because 
          of that, we think, due to him I am not getting my rights
          or he is not giving my rights or he is involves in killing
          of my ethnic group people or he is zalim? 
                     
ANSWER: Only Wali Al-Faqih can decide if a group of Muslims is to be
fought. The Faqih may give a ruling according to the guidelines mentioned
in the Quran whereby a Muslim group may become a transgressor against
another Muslim group [see verse 49:9 below]. Again, this is only decided by 
the Wali Al-Faqih and not by any other leader including other Maraji.

Allah knows best. 

Best Regards

Odeh A. Muhawesh

-------------

[Moderator's Note]

The verse 49:9 of the Holy Qur'an refered to in the reply is reproduced
below:

049.009
If two parties among the Believers fall into a quarrel, make ye peace
between them: but if one of them transgresses beyond bounds against the
other, then fight ye (all) against the one that transgresses until it
complies with the command of Allah; but if it complies, then make peace
between them with justice, and be fair: for Allah loves those who are fair
(and just).
------

Also, please note that there is a difference of opinion on the position
and role of the Wali al-Faqih and other maraja' in the abscence of the
12th Imam (as).  Please refer to the following questions and answers from
the archives for a review of these differences: 

	http://www.al-islam.org/organizations/AalimNetwork/msg00005.html
	http://www.al-islam.org/organizations/AalimNetwork/msg00087.html
	http://www.al-islam.org/organizations/AalimNetwork/msg00465.html