Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, 04 Juni 2010
Sultanate of Sulu declares independence and chooses Shariah currency
Abdalghany A - Muamalah Council
Sultanate of Sulu was one of the most beautiful and prosperous states in Nusantara

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  Sultanate of Sulu was one of the most beautiful and prosperous states in Nusantara from 1405 up until the late 19th century; stretching over Sulu Archipelago (also called Islands of Pearls) and part of Northern Borneo it had splendid culture, extensive trade system and profound Sufi traditions that brought fame to the Sultanate in the entire Muslim world and beyond. The kufar wanted to bring Sulu empire on its knees for a long time: first, Spaniards tried to break Tausug people - ethnic majority of Sulu Sultanate - for more than 300 years, then Americans for nearly for 50 years, then Japanese and now Philippines for over 60 years, but all in vain - Tausugs continued to fight. Despite massacres perpetrated by Spanish, American and later Philippine troops, the Tausug people couldn't be christianized or subjugated, they never abandoned their language and religion, indeed the Tausugs defended the Deen with their lives when everybody else surrendered. And they still do.

Tausug people have never agreed or signed any document on the Sulu Sultanate becoming part of Philippines, and of course they never accepted to be called Filipinos, a slave name given after the disgraceful king of Spain Philip II who died from syphilis 400 years ago, until today Tausugs issue their own birth certificates stating their citizenship not as of Philippines but of the Sultanate of Sulu Darul Islam. But now the time has come for Tausugs to shake up the whole world: on November 17, 2010 Tausug people are going to declare the existence of independent SULTANATE OF SULU DARUL ISLAM. But most importantly, from November 17, 2010 onwards the citizens of Sulu Sultanate are going to exercise their freedom, not with guns and rifles but with Gold Dinars and Silver Dirhams.

Datu Albi Ahmad Julkarnain is the chairman of Council of Regents of Sultanate of Sulu Darul Islam, the governing body that runs affairs of United Tausug People of Sulu Archipelago in the absence of de jure and de facto reigning Sultan at present. It is this Council of Regents under the leadership of Datu Albi which is charting the course of the nation's destiny that will culminate on November 17, 2010. Datu Albi is the grandson of the legendary Datu Julkarnain, who was the Admiral (Raja Laut) of the Sultanate of Sulu during the reign of Sultan Jamalul Ahlam and Sultan Jamalul Kiram II.

Datu Albi Ahmad Julkarnain led the delegation of Sulu Sultanate in the tour around Malaysia in an effort to inform Malaysians as well as its own Tausug people residing in Malaysia that Tausug people are ready to declare independence of Sulu Sultanate on November,17 2010. By Allah's plan on 24th May 2010 the Sulu delegation unexpectedly met with Umar Pasha Vadillo, the author of two most urgent fatwas of our age - Fatwa on Money and Fatwa on Banking, and the founder of World Islamic Trade Organization (WITO) and president of World Islamic Mint (WIM), two pioneer organizations that restored Gold Dinar and Silver Dirham as the currency of the Ummah in the 21st century.

Datu Albi explained to Umar Pasha the ridiculous annexation of his country to Philippines by the United States who never conquered the Sulu Sultanate, nor Sulu Sultan ever ceded his authority to the US or whoever else. He also told Umar Pasha about the efforts of the Council of Regents in uniting the Tausug people around the common purpose, that is the declaration of independence in November 2010. "I am not sultan and I don't want to be, I just want to prepare the throne for the sultan", - said Datu Albi to Umar Pasha. "We will prepare the throne together", - replied Umar Pasha. "Sultan is not a title in Islam, it is a function, big function, in fact it is a burden, only the one who wants to serve Allah more than everybody else will take up that burden. In our time whoever will mint dinars and dirhams in Sulu and collect Zakat with dinars and dirhams is the Sultan" - told Umar Pasha to the Sulu delegation.

In his Malaysian tour Datu Albi was accompanied by his son - Datu Nursastri Julkarnain, Tuan Zakaria Abdullah - secretary general for foreign relations of Sultanate of Sulu, Prof. Neldi Jolo - Editor of the Tausug Global Bulletin, a multi-language monthly bulletin of the Sultanate of Sulu, and Julasri Hajad - official representative of Sultanate of Sulu in Malaysia.

"Paper money is the enemy's money, the kuffar took over the Dar al Islam with paper money and they still hold us by throat by means of it. You must understand that although Muslim nations do have their own paper currencies it is only their (kufar) paper which is recognized as international medium of payment. So they can print as much as they want and buy from us whatever they desire but we cannot buy from them anything with our paper money. So we are always in need for their paper money and they are always willing to 'help' us by lending their papers to us on interest and against our resources as collateral. For as long as we continue accepting this insane system we will remain to be absolutely under the kafir tyranny. And the United Untions is there to perpetuate this unjust and absurd world order" - told them Umar Pasha.

Umar Pasha then explained to Sulu brothers that paper money is instrument of Riba and Muslims don't need it to become prosperous and progressive, just as they don't need banks. Gold dinar and silver dirham are a Halal money (not the only Halal money) known in the past as Shariah Currency and it provides both, stable buying power and instant international recognition.

"You don't need United Nations to grant you independence; Allah has already given it to you. Malaysia or Indonesia can't help you to become an independent state because they themselves are not free states; one day you will have to free the Malay World from the oppression of Capitalism and Democracy, and you'll have to free Filipinos from their horrendous and corrupt regime and make them Muslims. You have the spirit of success in your genes, it were you and Aceh who fought until the end. Nationalist state under the auspices of the United Nation is not your goal and can't be your goal if you want to win; because if you say 'nation state' then I am a foreigner in your land but if you say 'Darul Islam' then I am one of you and your fight is my fight" - said Umar Pasha to the Sulu people.

The understanding of the matter of Gold Dinar by Sulu delegates was instant, they immediately realized how crucial was the matter of Free Money not just for them but for the entire Ummah. Prof. Neldy Jolo said: "In the past our money was called 'Pilak" (similar to malay 'Perak') which means silver, even today our people call paper Peso 'pilak', in Malaysia too our people say 'pilak' when referring to Ringgit". Their desire to undertake the task was even more encouraging - they agreed to develop the design of the Sulu sovereign coins as soon as they return home.

I was amazed with these people: they saw and touched gold dinar and silver dirham first time in their lives and yet I saw neither fear nor doubts in their eyes about the possibility of bringing it to Sulu. And these people face machineguns of Filipino soldiers on a daily basis. I was also amazed how they treated Umar Pasha, with total respect and trust, as their own brother, althought it was the first time they ever met with him. I felt I was witnessing a scene of some 500 years ago: Muslim warriors from far lands of Dar al-Islam meeting, with open hearts, with love, ready to die for each other; back then they had only one passport - La ilaha ill Allah.

The Spanish called the Sulu people 'Moros' (english 'moors') just like they called Muslims of Andalusia. How symbolic it was when Tuan Zakaria Abdullah, Secretary General For Foreign Relations of Sulu Sultanate, concluded the meeting by saying: "May Allah unite the Western Moros of Iberian Peninsula and Eastern Moros of Sulu Archipelago".

The Sulu people fought many battles against kafir invaders, one of the bloodiest one in the recent history was Jolo Battle of 1974 when 28,000 of Filipino military attacked Jolo city - the capital of Sulu Sultanate - burning the city to ashes. But after every fight the plight of Sulu people didn't change. The date of 17th November 2010 will be written in the history books of Sulu Sultanate as the beginning of the victory and glory Sulu Sultanate because on the 17th November 2010 Tausug people will assert their independence by choosing the Gold Dinar and Silver Dirham as the free currency of the free country. And that simple decision is the most decisive affirmation of freedom in our time. And the Sulu people will not be alone, the people of Java under the leadership of Pak Zaim Saidi will support them, the people of Aceh will support them, the people of Kelantan will support them and millions of Muslims around the world who are already using Shariah currency will support the Sultanate of Sulu Darul Islam.

We ask Allah The Almighty to strengthen the Tausug people to free their land from kafir occupation. We ask Allah The High to help the Tausug people to establish the Deen of Islam in the Sultanate of Sulu according to Quran and Sunna. We ask Allah the Exalted to make the Sultanate of Sulu the center of Islamic revival in Nusantara through restoration of Zakat, the fallen pillar of the Deen.

Amin.