Until they call it what it really is an islamic uprising - they will continue to mishandle it. And unless they crack down soon it will continue to escalate out of control.
I was doing some searches this morning and found the following article on the official website of Cat Stevens aka Yusef Islam. He has some rather ummm interesting thoughts regarding a caliphate... Interesting to see the role he has in the Islamic schools in London as well.
http://catstevens.com/articles/00141/
Call for Islamic charity and a united ummah
By Zakiah Koya
New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur
December 12th, 1997
Courtesy of Kirby
FORMERLY known as the singer Cat Stevens (Bio), Yusuf Islam (Bio) made headlines when he embraced Islam years ago.
Today, he is singing quite a different tune in Britain, making headlines for the work he is doing for charity.
Involved in a number of major Islamic charities such as the Muslim Aid and the Islamia schools, it is his belief that acts of charity are inseparable from the Muslim way of life.
Yusuf is of the opinion that the charitable attitude of the present generation of the Muslim has reached a state in which the function of collecting and distributing charity is entirely left to either governments or a few individuals.
"The present Muslim world has reached such an awkward situation where in the absence of the organised structure of the khilafah (caliphate), you have a vacuum in the distribution of the basic treasury, in which of course zakat (tithe) essentially makes up the first level of the public treasury.
"So, without that structure, the function is now left to governments and individuals," states Yusuf, who goes on to explain that this is the main reason why in today's political terminology, charity is linked with terms such as "government projects", "collective assistance" and "aid".
The non-existence of the caliphate structure has also contributed to the reluctance of Muslim countries to help fellow Muslims in other countries, leaving the responsibility to other bodies such as the United Nations.
"It is here that we find that priority for other things is much higher than that of helping their own brothers and of needy Muslim nations," he stresses.
He also attributed the non-existence of the unity of the ummah (Muslim community) to the miserable state of Muslim charity today.
He says that the Islamic consciousness - that of Muslims being one people - should be impressed and ingrained into the ummah. This is important.
Yusuf says that as religion comprises establishing one's relationship with the Creator and establishing one's relationship with society on the basis of service, it is important to fully understand the importance of charity in Islam and practise it.
"There are so many verses in the Quran, where when it talks about instituting the connection of the abd (servant) with his lord through solat (prayers), we also read about the instituting of care and social awareness through giving of zakat."
Yusuf specifically refers to the verse which says:
"And they were not commanded except to worship Allah sincerely making religion for him and to establish prayer and to give charity and that is the everlasting religion."
"This goes on to show that prayer and zakat were already considered two basic pillars of Islam even before these two were instituted formally," adds Yusuf.
Yusuf, who chaired the Muslim Aid in Britain for eight years until 1992, says that from his experience, he finds that to some people, wealth is so dear that they would actually think twice before losing it.
"They would not think twice about losing their lives because to them wealth is perpetuity.
"Even in the Quran, it was stated that there are those who add up their wealth thinking that it would add to their perpetuity," says Yusuf, who adds that these people have been in existence even during the time of Prophet Muhammad.
Being a part of the overall "non-governmental organisation", as he sees it, which forms the main body of the large amount of charity that goes on in the world today, Yusuf says it is important that Muslim aid agencies play a vital role in this movement.
Yusuf says that Muslim charity is much far behind that of the non-Muslim charity groups which dominate the field.
"Indeed, they (non-Muslim charities) manipulate this field with their ideals and perpetuate them through this field," states Yusuf referring to the missionaries who have been successful in propagating Christianity in Africa through charity.
Claiming that what Muslim aid agencies do is fulfilling the obligations of Muslims for zakat, Yusuf says that the few Muslim aid agencies in the world have become "a very convenient channel for Muslims to direct their zakat because the charities work on the basis of syariah (Islamic law) in the spending of the zakat through the allowances which are given in the Quran (the needy and the impoverished)".
Yusuf also mentions another part of Islamic charity which many Muslims seem to have forgotten.
"Besides the obligatory zakat, there is sadaqah (voluntary donation) which is giving more than what is required," says Yusuf, explaining that interestingly the word sadaqah carries the meaning of confirmation.
"Thus, when you give sadaqah it means confirming one's faith that Allah will enrich you by means of your giving.
"You will not lose and that is the opposite of the satanic suggestions that when you give, you are losing, diminishing your wealth. That is the opposite.
"There is no gravity equal to this in existence where one perpetually gives and it increases," Yusuf stresses.
Yusuf says the Western idea of getting something when giving has influenced so many people that when they give, they expect something in return.
"It has become a lottery situation in the Western countries that most of them are gambling with the idea that they are doing charity," says Yusuf.
"Then there is the Live Aid with the mega stars performing and people buying the tickets, thinking that they are doing charity," Yusuf says that this is another example of what people expect when they give.
Yusuf says that in Islam, the reward is not in this world but it is sought with God. This is one concept of charity which Yusuf says many Muslims seem to have forgotten.
Yusuf does not believe in preaching charity but involves himself fully in what he says.
At present, Yusuf is running the Islamia primary and secondary schools in London, catering for Muslims in Britain. It is one of the few British Islamic educational establishments in Britain, which has a steadily growing Muslim population.
Having been denied financial support by the Britain's Department of Education, Yusuf says that the school is entirely dependent on the Muslims to fund its operations.
Thus Yusuf is now reviving another form of Islamic charity, the waqf - a type of charity in the form of an investment.
He says the idea of reviving this form of charity came about due to the financial constraints of the school and the fact that they had to go back to donors with the some problems every year.
In this case, Yusuf says that not only will the waqf benefit the school, but it would also offer an opportunity of charitable investment for Muslims.
The waqf has now launched a unique business opportunity, the Brondesbury Park Hotel - a "Muslim-friendly" hotel close to the heart of London. It is one good example of how charity could be used to generate funds for charitable causes.
Yusuf calls upon Muslims worldwide to unite.
"We must realise that ultimately, we have to support one another," says Yusuf, stating that there is no better way in moving towards unity of the ummah than giving each other when in need.
He ends the interview with a hadith which states:
"When one dies, there are only three things left: charity which continues to benefit people; knowledge which continues to enlighten, and the child which continues to pray for you."