Zawaya

Istehlal, a foreign concept to Islam

By: Mouhamed Lemine Kettab

The concept of istehlal, and the ideological reference it’s based upon, bear no relevance to the true Islam and have nothing to do with it.

The principle of istehlal, which means to violate people’s lives and shed their blood based on an arbitrary will and narrow view that are not based on any reasonable justification, is contrary to the spirit of Islam, the texts of its teachings, and the foundations of its philosophy.

Islam is in essence based on forgiveness, brotherhood, tolerance, and acceptance of others. God the Almighty says: “O ye who believe! Guard your own souls: If ye follow (right) guidance, no hurt can come to you from those who stray. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute”.

Islam sanctifies life, and even prohibits its adherents from violating it, as the Quran states that: “Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one it is as if he had saved mankind entirely”, and it also came in the Hadith that whoever testifies that there is no God but Allah, and that Muhammad is his messenger, then his blood, money, and honor become protected from all Muslims, as “the whole of a Muslim for another Muslim is inviolable: his blood, his property, and his honor”, as stated in the farewell sermon of the noble prophet.

In this context, comes the sermon of the Muslim scholar Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali, may God have mercy on his soul, in which he recommends to “hold your tongues on the people of Mecca while they hold fast to the statement, there is no god but Allah, Mohammad is the Messenger of God”, therefore if holding one’s tongue is required, what about holding one’s hand and refraining from shedding blood!

Indeed, the concept of istehlal, like the principle of Takfir, is mainly due to the narrow-mindedness and shallowness of knowledge of the Islamic heritage, and to the adoption of an unquestionable and unilateral approach that’s based on puritanism, coercion, intellectual terrorism, material violence, and physical liquidation. Islam has nothing to do with this philosophy and conduct, the proof on that is the verse in which God says: “No doubt the virtuous path has become clearly distinct from the erring”, and “then whoso will, let him believe and whoso will, let him disbelieve”.

The truth is that the principle of istehlal, along with the perception of Takfir that it’s established on, are an attempt to justify and legitimize bloody violence, eradication, and cruelty that some malevolent chose as means to achieve their goals, while using Islam and its teachings as excuses, although Islam is a religion of brotherhood, love and tolerance. As stated in the Islamic heritage, a Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand people are safe.

It is worthy in this context to quote the words of Ibn Arabi, “I follow the religion of love, wherever its boats take me to, love is my religion and faith.”

We continue to hope that people who pursue Takfir and istehlal will regain their senses, and be inspired by the teachings of Islam to encourage moderation, tolerance, and reverence for life that is the greatest gift God gave to all His creatures without granting anyone the right to harm it or tamper with it. The limits set by God start with respecting life, and any who transgresses the limits of Allah, does verily wrong his own soul.