Brethren in faith! Whatever action a Muslim takes, however good his intention, should be in accordance with the goals of Islaam and the Sunnah of the Messenger, so that one does not ignorantly destroy one's Islaam. Whenever violation of the goals of Islaam occurs, there occurs misguidance and leading others astray. Ibn Taymiyyah said about those Khawaarij who revolted against the companions of the Prophet, "It is rare that some revolt against the authority except that their action causes greater evil than good."                                                

Ibn Al-Qayyim said after establishing the fact that the law of Islaam was made for the interest of mankind, "This is a great favour the ignorance of which causes huge mistake in understanding the Sharee'ah."

In these days that our Ummah is undergoing difficulties, it is becomes imperative to deeply study and understand the goals of this religion. Tangible steps must be taken to reform our theoretical and academic curriculum and practical and social methods especially in areas that affect our youths who are the pillar of the Ummah and the source of its power.

Yes, they must be made to learn the goals of their religion so that they might keep protected against corrupt ways and undesirable deeds. Doing this will increase them in knowledge and show them in the best form that Islaam want them to be seen. It will also make their deeds emanate from the spirit of Islaam and its goals. Then the needs of the Da'wah could be fulfilled and the demands of this age could be met.

Fellow Muslims! The goals of Islaam is generally about bringing about what is beneficial and proliferating that and exerting all efforts to avert harm and minimising it. Therefore, the greatest goal of legislation in Islaam after the actualisation of worshipping Allaah alone is to protect the system of the Ummah, to protect the coexistence among mankind, to protect world order and to control people's activities in a way that through which harm and destruction could be avoided. Allaah says,

"And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order."

(Al-A'raaf 7:56)

Allaah also says,

"Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship? Such are they whom Allaah has cursed, so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight."

(Muhammad 47:22-23)

Brethren in faith! One of the lofty goals of Islaam in this life is to establish justice, spread mercy and actualize kindness. Allaah says,

"Verily, Allaah enjoins Al-'dl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but Allaah Alone - Islaamic Monotheism) and Al-Ihsân (i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allaah, totally for Allaah's sake and in accordance with the Sunnah (legal ways) of the Prophet (peace be upon him in a perfect manner), and giving (help) to kith and kin (i.e. all that Allaah has ordered you to give them e.g., wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of help), and forbids Al-Fahshâ' (i.e. all evil deeds, e.g. illegal sexual acts, disobedience of parents, polytheism, to tell lies, to give false witness, to kill a life without right), and Al-Munkar (i.e. all that is prohibited by Islaamic law: polytheism of every kind, disbelief and every kind of evil deeds), and Al-Baghy (i.e. all kinds of oppression)."

(An-Nahl 16:90)

Allaah also says addressing His Prophet Muhammad,

"And We have sent you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) not but as a mercy for the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)."

(Al-Anbiyaa 21:107)

The Prophet said, "Indeed, Allaah has decreed kindness upon everything."

Dear Muslims! Of the goals of Islaam are the things that are called 'the five necessities': protection of the religion, the lives, the properties, the minds and the lineage. These five things are the everlasting values of this religion and those things upon which human lives are based. No order can be established if they are weakened and the no happy life can be enjoyed without their safety. If they are weakened the condition of the Ummah will deteriorate into weakness and humiliation.

There are many texts from the Qur'aan and the Sunnah about the importance of these five things. There are practical examples of protecting them in the life of the Prophet and the lives of his righteously guided successors. Even in wars, Allaah's Messenger would prohibit the killing of women and children and all those who are not fighting in order to protect lives from wanton destruction.

The second caliph 'Umar expressed his deep understanding of these principles with his following words, "By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, it does not make me happy that you conquer a city in which there are four thousand fighters by wasting the life of a single Muslim."

On another occasion, he wrote to his governors: "Do not make al-Barra' ibn Maalik a leader upon any of the Muslim armies because he is a daring person who will lead the Muslims to dangerous ventures."

The scholars of Islaam have established that if the disbelievers, who are at war with the Muslims, shield themselves with even a single Muslim they should not be shot except in an extreme situation that is only decided by the leader of the Muslims. This is in order to protect souls. The case is also the same if the disbelievers shield themselves against the Muslims with their women and children.

Another goal of Islaam is its keenness to prevent all that could scare people from accepting Islaam. Allaah says,

"And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides Allaah, lest they insult Allaah wrongfully without knowledge."

(Al-An'aam 6:108)

It is in the light of this that Allaah's Messenger held back from killing the hypocrites though killing them was in the interest of the Ummah. But he did not kill them because doing so would scare people away from accepting Islaam and they would say Muhammad was killing his companions. The scholars said, "Because the harm of scaring far outweighed the harm of not killing them and the benefit of winning people's hearts was greater than the benefit of killing them.

Today you will see the enemies of Islaam lying in wait to use any misbehaviour on the part of some Muslims to attack Islaam and its realities though this misbehaviour like terrorizing innocent people, shedding blood or destroying buildings has nothing to do with Islaam.

Another goal of Islaam is to actualize Muslims' unity and prevent all that could cause dissention and infighting. Ibn Al-Qayyim said, "This is one of the greatest goals of Sharee'ah. Islaam uses all means to avert all that could cause disunity. Even in congregational prayers, Islaam enjoins leveling of the rows so that the hearts might not be disunited. Proofs for this are many." Allaah says,

"And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah (i.e. this Qur'aan), and be not divided among yourselves."

(Aal 'Imraan 3:103)

Allaah also sys,

"And obey Allaah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength departs."

(Al-Anfaal 8:46)

Allaah's Messenger said, "Whoever disobeys the ruler and deserts the community of the Muslims and dies in that stage, his death will be like that of those who died in the Pre-Islaamic Period of Ignorance. (i.e. as rebellious Sinners)." (Muslim)

The enemies are making all efforts to widen the gap between members of the Muslim nation and their scholars and leaders so that the Ummah can be afflicted with the greatest possible calamity. There is therefore a great necessity for cooperation and unity among the scholars and the rulers. Let every one work towards the achievement of the goals of Sharee'ah.

Brethren in faith! Another goal of Sharee'ah is blocking the ways to crises and evils. Ibn Al-Qayyim said, "The Prophet forbidden taking arms against the rulers and revolting against them even if they were unjust as long as long as they established prayers. He said this in order to prevent great corruption and evil that could emanate from taking arms against them. The reality has shown that taking arms and revolting against them had brought harm and evil that that was much greater than their corruption."

While speaking about undesirability of forbidding vices if that could lead to a greater vice he said, "Like revolting against kings and rulers, for this is the foundation of all evils and calamities. If one reflects over what happened to Islaam during minor and major crises one will realize that it caused by the negligence of this very principle."

It is in the light of this that scholars established a principle that "Not all the truth that is known should be spread if their spread should lead to a crisis, anarchy or an evil."

As-Shaatibee said, "There are parts of knowledge that should not spread at all if spreading them could cause clear harm." This is because such kinds of knowledge could be plunge common people and the youths into tribulations because of their lack of knowledge and understanding. Ibn Mas'ood said, "If you narrate to a people a narration that is beyond what their intelligence could bear, it will become a source of trial for some of them."

Abdur-Rahmaan ibn 'Awf told 'Umar when the later wanted to warn the Muslims about a group who talked about the issue of leadership during a hajj season, "Do not do that for the hajj season brings together all riffraff among the people. I am afraid that they might not understand your word in its real senses. Hold on until you reach Al-Madeenah where you will meet the companion of Allaah's Messenger who will comprehend your word and understand it in its real sense."

Among the goals of Islaam is freeing human minds from blind following that discourages independent use of natural intelligence. Islaam abhors accepting other people's opinions blindly without pondering over their correctness or not.

It is therefore incumbent upon the Muslim youth to fear Allaah as regard their religion. They should take fatwa only from erudite scholars. They should beware of websites that spread both the correct and erroneous thoughts whose sources are unknown. Allaah says,

"So ask (you) of those who know the ure (learned men of the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)) if you know not."

(An-Nahl 16:43)

In the hadeeth, Allaah's Messenger said, "Whenever there is no more any scholar, the people appoint ignorant leaders who give fatwas and thereby go astray and mislead others."

Fellow Muslims! It is one of the goals of Sharee'ah that the Ummah should have leaders who will direct its affairs, establish justice and implement Allaah's command; that is why authoritative leadership is necessary so that the law of Allaah may not be inactive at any time. 'Alee ibn Abee Taalib said, "People cannot be put in order except a leader be he righteous or sinful."

However, Islaam demands from the ruler to be conscious of Allaah in bringing benefits for his Ummah and averting harm from them. Islaam also makes it an obligation for the ruled to obey their ruler as long as they do not command them to disobey Allaah. Islaam forbids the ruled from revolting against the ruler. It rather encourages them to supplicate for them, to sincerely and gently admonish them and to support them upon the truth.

Brethren in faith! Dear Muslim youths! The above are some of the goals of Sharee'ah. There is no doubt that every sane person will condemn these criminal acts that happened is different places all over the land of the two Sacred Cities. These attacks are heinous criminal acts that contravene the command of Allaah and His Messenger and totally against the goals of Sharee'ah. They are in the interest of the enemies of Islaam. That is why the enemies were greatly happy over these occurrences.

Great is therefore the loss of those who turn themselves into willing tools in the hands of the enemies which they use to damage the goals of Islaam. Allaah says,

"And make not your oaths, a means of deception among yourselves, lest a foot may slip after being firmly planted, and you may have to taste the evil (punishment in this world) of having hindered (men) from the Path of Allaah (i.e. Belief in the Oneness of Allaah and His Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him)) and yours will be a great torment (i.e. the Fire of Hell in the Hereafter)."

(An-Nahl 16:94)

The Messenger of Allaah said, "Whoever repudiates obedience [to the leader] and separates from the main body of the Muslims—if he dies in that state—would die a death of the days of time of ignorance. Whoever fights under a banner of blind [emotion], out of anger for his people, or who calls [people] to fight for their family honour, and supports his kith and kin—if he is killed [in that fight], his death is one of Ignorance. Whoever attacks my Ummah, [indiscriminately] killing the righteous and the wicked among them, not sparing [even] those staunch in faith, and not fulfilling guarantees of safety—he has nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with him." (Muslim)

Rifaa'ah ibn Shidaad narrated, "I used to stand behind Al-Mukhtaar as his guard but when his falsehood became known to me, by Allaah, I was about to draw out my sword and strike his neck then I remember a hadeeth which 'Amr ibn Al-Hamiq narrated to me that he heard Allaah's Messenger say, "Whoever entrust a man with his protection and the man treacherously kills him, he will be given a banner of treachery on the Day of Resurrection."

Fellow Muslims! Another goal of Sharee'ah is seeking the religious knowledge and practicing its teachings. It is in the interests of the Muslims to spread Islaamic knowledge and the Sunnah. Allaah's Messenger said, "He whom Allaah wants to bless, He gives him understanding of the religion."

No member of the Ummah should therefore take any action except in the light of deep knowledge and that could not be achieved except by learning from the scholars who are erudite, experienced and well-versed in understanding the Sharee'ah and its goals.

Matters that affect the Ummah should not, in any circumstances, subjected to personal interpretations. They should rather be treated by only a group of eminent scholars. The statement issued by them regarding the matters should then be implemented.

Dear brethren! Actualizing the goals of Sharee'ah in its perfect form cannot be possible if the Ummah's political, economic and social situations are not taken into consideration. The needs of the Ummah and its relationship with other nations should also be taken into consideration in the light of specialized studies and concerted efforts.

The scholars said, "Understanding the goals of Sharee'ah that affect the Muslim Ummah depends on the scholars and the sincere rulers who are the trustees over the welfare of the Ummah. It is they who can determine the appropriate things to be considered in each situation."