Title: What should the Muslims do if the Leaders of the World won't Listen? Question: Everyone condemns terrorism against the USA and I personally too. A question arises here that what should be the way to make the US and Israel realize that human life is a human life no matter it is in Palestine, Afghanistan or any other country. Here we need to keep in mind that they don't listen to us and we don't have the power to face them and revenge. Dr.Zahoor Malaysia Answer: I am sure that all Muslims would agree that whatever the circumstances, Muslims must abide by the prohibitions of the Shari`ah and under no circumstances should they ignore and turn their backs upon the clear directives entailed in the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh). We know that during the pre- Hijrah period, the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions (ra) were severely persecuted at the hands of the rejecters, yet there was hardly an instance where the Prophet (pbuh) or any of his companions retaliated to these persecutions, in any manner, which was against the universal moral values or any of the express directives of the Shari`ah . In fact, the Prophet (pbuh) did not allow any of his followers to 'retaliate' in any manner whatsoever, but actually prompted them to bear the persecution, for the sake of God and persevere in adhering to the truth. It should further be remembered that this 'response' to persecution is not only a feature of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), but is, in fact, the common feature of the lives of all the prophets of God. None of these prophets of God ever retaliated to even the severest of persecutions that they and their followers were subjected to till the time that they established an independent and sovereign rule in a piece of land [1] and even after that, their war against their enemies never crossed the limits imposed upon it by the universal moral values and by the express directives of the Shari`ah . The question that we must try to answer with absolutely cold and academic justice, without any love for our own creed or hatred for any other creed is, whether a Muslim or a group of Muslims is right in ignoring and turning his back upon the directives of the Shari`ah or upon the universal moral values, even if he is faced with severe persecution. As I understand it, in the light of the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as well as that of all the previous prophets of God, as given in the Qur'an, Muslims, under no circumstances, should resort to any activity prohibited by the Shari`ah , irrespective of how enticing the circumstances may be. It may seem difficult - and somewhat impractical, under the prevalent Muslim psychic - to strictly adhere to these laws of the Shari`ah , yet I assure you that the day we resolve to do so with perseverance and patience, we shall find the Almighty by our side. Regards, Moiz Amjad September 17, 2001 [1] One of the basic conditions for Jihad is the establishment of an independent political rule.