Eid Mubarak from Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Asalamu alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

All praise is due to Allah (SWT) who has blessed this Ummah and brought her together on the day of Eid ul Adha.

All praise is due to Allah (SWT) who has blessed us with the opportunity to celebrate this day of Eid with our families, friends and community. May Allah (SWT) accept our fasting, our duas and sacrifice. Ameen.

The occasion of Hajj reminds us of the great sacrifice made by Ibrahim (AS) when he responded to the command of Allah

‘Father, do as you are bidden. Allah willing, you shall find me faithful.’ And when they had both surrendered themselves to Allah’s will, and Ibrahim had laid down his son prostrate upon his face, We called out to him saying: ‘Ibrahim, you have fulfilled your vision.’ Thus did we reward the righteous. That was indeed a bitter test. We ransomed his son with a noble sacrifice and bestowed on him the praise of later generations. ‘Peace be on Ibrahim!’ Thus are the righteous rewarded. He was one of Our believing servants.
(Translated meaning of Surah 37;83)

It also reminds us of the enormous diversity of races, languages and colours of this Ummah and the unique ability of Islam to free humanity from the narrowness of tribe and race to the vastness of the worship of the one Allah (SWT). It reminds us of the famous hadith of the Prophet (SAW) when he described the Ummah as one body.

The occasion of the Hajj also reminds us of the enormous challenges facing this Ummah. The ongoing occupation of our lands in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Kashmir, the propaganda against Islam, the economic crises and the dysfunctional and corrupt politics in our countries.

This is a time when we need to reflect on the lessons of the Hajj to solve the problems we face as an Ummah.

If millions of people from different tribes, races and nations can come together in the Hajj and perform the rituals of the Hajj exemplifying the inherent unity in this Ummah why is it that we are weak and divided around the world? Today the hujjaj gathering in Makkah do not identify themselves as Saudis, Pakistanis, Indonesians or Sudanese. They only identify themselves as Muslims. Why cannot this unique ‘spiritual unity’ of the Ummah be translated into political unity especially when this is an obligation on this Ummah in the same way the Hajj is?

Today the Ummah gathering in Makkah are like sheep without a shepherd. Rather than a shepherd who takes care of his flock we are led by wolves who only seek our destruction! What is missing today is an Islamic leader who will lead this Ummah in unity.

Brothers and Sisters

The sacrifices we have made this month: the fasts, the sadaqah, the qurbani, the efforts of the hujjaj to perfom the Hajj – are all part of achieving the reward from Allah (SWT). Similarly to see this Ummah united under one leader and one state addressing our problems from a position of strength requires sacrifice and struggle.

We call upon you, as you celebrate the bounties of Allah this Eid ul-Adha, to embark on a similar sacrifice and struggle to bring this practical unity in the Ummah. As we follow the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet SAW in fasting the days of Dhul Hijjah, performing the rituals of the Hajj, let us follow the Sunnah of the Prophet SAW in changing the corruption in our societies and countries and establish a new society, a new politics, a new State based on the Qur’an and Sunnah as our Prophet SAW did in Madinah 1400 years ago – this is the work for the Khilafah that we in Hizb ut-Tahrir call you to.

Alhmadulliah with every year more and more people from Indonesia to Pakistan, from Uzbekistan to Palestine, from Turkey and Egypt to Sudan are embracing this call for unity of this Ummah under one State and one leader. We pray to Allah SWT that He strengthens this movement in this Ummah so that next year our Hajj and Eid prayers are no longer led by illegitimate rulers but by a Khalifah who pledges to rule us according to the Qur’an and Sunnah and pledges to put forward a vision and direction for the Muslim Ummah.

Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion – the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: ‘They will worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me. ‘If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked.
(Translated meaning Surah An-Nur 24:55)

Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain

9th Dhul Hijjah 1429 / 7th December 2008