Chicago: Muslims Protest In Massive Force

Reminiscent of marches in Europe, thousands of Muslims protested in downtown Chicago, against America and Israel.  As seen in the video (above), this was a very well organized event.  Protesters carried, signs and waved flags representative of Iraq and Turkey.   What looked to be draped in a, Iraqi flag, was a coffin being carried by protesters.  (Please note: This event is from July 2014, which should cause any liberty minded American great concern as to the progression of organization after only 2 years have passed.)

Chants lead by a man over a loudspeaker included: “Muslim, Muslim don’t you cry…(inaudible response)”,  “Free, Free Palestine…(inaudible response)” along with other inaudible chants.  But regardless, the mood illustrated was a definite disdain with Israel and the United States.

We have learned and must acknowledge that Jihad comes in many forms and fashions.   As evidenced in this video, Jihad has definitely come to Chicago, Illinois

To further understand why massive protests are beginning now and have not been a notable occurrence in the past, we must first understand the ideology, when and how Muslims are called to Jihad.

Definitions to understand:

Mustahabb (Arabic: مستحبّ /mustaḥabb/, literally “recommended”) is an Islamic term referring to recommended, favored or virtuous actions. Mustahabb actions are those whose status of approval in Islamic law (ahkam) falls between mubah (neither encouraged nor discouraged) and wajib (compulsory).

Kafir (Arabic: كافر‎‎ kāfir; plural كفّار kuffār; feminine كافرة kāfirah) is an Arabic term (from the root K-F-R “to cover”) “unbeliever”, “disbeliever”, or “infidel”. It is used as a derogatory term.

In Islam, shirk (Arabic: شرك‎ širk) is the sin of practicing idolatry or polytheism, i.e. the deification or worship of anyone or anything other than the singular God i.e. Allah. Literally, it means the establishment of “partners” placed beside God. It is the vice that is opposed to the virtue of Tawhid (monotheism).

Fard or its synonym wājib (واجب) is one of the five types of Ahkam into which Fiqh categorizes acts of every Muslim. The Hanafi Fiqh however makes a distinction between Wajib and Fard, the latter being obligatory and the former merely necessary.

Jihad is of various kinds, some of which are obligatory upon everyone who is accountable, and some are obligatory upon the community as a whole.  if some people undertake them then the rest are relieved of the obligation. And some kinds of jihad are mustahabb.
Jihad al-nafs (jihad against one’s self) and jihad al-Shaytaan (jihad against the Shaytaan) are obligatory upon everyone who is accountable. Jihad against the munaafiqeen (hypocrites), kaafirs (disbelievers) and leaders of oppression and innovation is obligatory upon the community as a whole. Physical jihad (i.e. fighting) against the kaafirs may become an individual obligation upon everyone who is able to do it in certain circumstances, which will be described below.
Ibn al-Qayyim said:
Once this is understood, then jihad is of four kinds: Jihad al-nafs (jihad against one’s self), jihad al-Shaytaan (jihad against the Shaytaan), jihad against the kaafirs and jihad against the hypocrites. 

Jihad al-nafs (jihad against one’s self) is of four kinds:
1 – Striving to learn the teachings of Islam without which one cannot attain success and happiness in this world or in the Hereafter; if this is missing then one is doomed to misery in this world and in the Hereafter.
2 – Striving to make oneself act in accordance with what one has learned. Simply knowing without acting, even though it may not cause any harm, is not going to bring any benefit.
3 – Striving to call others to Islam, teaching those who do not know about it. Otherwise one will be one of those who conceal that which Allaah has revealed of guidance and teaching, and it will not benefit him or save him from the punishment of Allaah.
4 – Striving to bear patiently the difficulties involved in calling people to Allaah and the insults of people; bearing all that for the sake of Allaah.
If a person achieves all these four levels, then he will be one of the rabbaaniyyeen (learned men of religion who practise what they know and also preach to others. Cf. Aal ‘Imraan 3:79). The salaf were agreed that the scholar does not deserve to be called a rabbaani unless he knows the truth, acts in accordance with it and teaches it to others. Whoever teaches, acts in accordance with his knowledge and has knowledge, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Why aren’t all Muslims “Active” in the aggressive Jihad?

Fard al-Kifayah
Defines a communal obligation in Muslim legal doctrine. In juxtaposition to fard al-ayn, fard al-kifayah is a legal obligation that must be discharged by the Muslim community as a whole, such as military struggle; if enough members in the Muslim community discharge the obligation, the remaining Muslims are freed from the responsibility before God.

Jihad is obligatory and becomes fard ‘ayn if a person is present where fighting is going on. This is the first of the situations in which jihad becomes an individual obligation.

(Source: https://islamqa.info/en/20214 )

The Muslim protesters in Chicago cannot be described as those in Europe, however there were people of all ages.   Active protesters included: Older and younger, both men and women, even mothers who pushed their babies in strollers.

There was no visible sign of local police monitoring the protest and the News Media was conveniently absent. The protesters appeared to be nonviolent and there was no evidence of property destroyed (as seen in the video above).

As witnessed throughout the world, when Muslims turn out to protest, this is only the tip of the iceberg when considering their final agenda.