Hizb ut-Tahrir - history

HIZB UT-TAHRIR:

Founder

Taqi ud-Din an-Nabahaani, a reader in Mu`tazilah theology and a student of knowledge from Jordan, he was the founder of Hizb ut-Tahrir in the year 1953, in an attempt to ‘re-ignite the desire for khilaafa in the hearts of the Musims.’ He was successful in mixing a Salafi-brand type of Islam with Marxist/Leninist ideology that when fused became a volatile recipe of ignorance, confusion and disaster for Muslims worldwide.

One can see the followers of this movement today in most urban centres of Islam, spouting slogans, waving black flags and distributing leaflets to beleaguered Muslims emerging from the congregational Jumu`ah prayer. This style of teaching, learned from the party culture, is what replaces any systematic talks and teachings on salvation, theology, the Day of Resurrection and so forth. In fact, many will find that in their books, they are devoid of almost any talk of the Hereafter, Salvation, theology necessary for every believer to know and so forth. Although proclaiming that they are merely a political group, many of their press releases have theological overtones as well as principles. It is usually in college and university that young, naive Muslims are set upon by this organisation.

Key beliefs

1. They do not make it a priority to study systematic theology and the principles of knowing their faith, but are told and tell others that once the khilaafa is established, then such matters can be attended to by the populous. One will find many members unaware of the basis principles of the Muslim Creed, something both frightening as well as unnerving.

2. Hizb ut-Tahrir use the methods of debate as well as theological responsa extracted from the Mu`tazilah sect. This type of thinking of course has drastic consequences on the rest of the theology.

3. Many of the leaders, still today, hold that there is no punishment of the grave, denying numerous ahaadith as well as verses from the Qur’an that explicitly state this fact.

4. Followers of Hizb ut-Tahrir are commanded to attend two hours of lessons a week as a fard (compulsory) order. Missing them requires sincere repentance to Allah

5. They will not adhere to one of the four orthodox schools as an organisation. Rather, they blend and combine rulings, sometimes even making their own fataawa, such as the permissibility of listening to music with harmonics as well as viewing pornography and the naked body. All of this stems from the fact of a tacit refusal to submit to the methodology of Muslim Orthodoxy.

6. HT members seeking out new followers are usually encouraged to ‘go for the Jaahil ones,’ meaning those who have no knowledge of Islam. This methodology alone deserves to be labelled at cultic.

7. The Hizb ut-Tahrir are willing to work under any banner with any of the cults as long as ‘they are Muslims who want khilaafa.’

Extent
It is unknown the precise numbers of HT as the organisation does not rigorously keep records, but some estimates place as many as 10,000-20,000 full-time members worldwide.