Thanks be to Allah, the
Lord of the worlds. Peace and prayers be upon the
most honorable of all messengers Mohammad; and all his folks, companions, and
followers to the day they are all summoned together.
A few days ago, and more
specifically last Saturday, the 5th of June marking the 1967 third Arab
Israeli 6-day war. Or as some enjoy calling it the Set-Back day. To learn a
bit about it, listen to someone who lived through it, a Palestinian student.
He says, I was in Egypt, initially, sharing the excitement of the people, and
only being sorry for not being in my country at the time to witness the joy of
victory or re-entering the towns of 7hayfa and yafa. But what I did not know
is the fact that only a few days were between me and loosing what is left of
my country and my right to return to my family home. I can only do that with a
special permission that took me years to get. The June war was meant to pull
the dispersed and destitute Palestinians together, and instead, things got
worse for them, and more of them were even prevented from seeing their
families.
Another witness
remembers how the Jordanian soldiers started retreating in an uncontrolled
manner. They started to get red of their military uniforms in fear of meeting
the Israeli army. People in town also started to get red those things just in
case the Israeli arm would search and find such material and punish the
people.
When the Israeli army
came into the town, they ordered everybody to assemble at the main street in
order to be evacuated to the east bank. The people through fear and hope were
eager to leave thinking there was a better reality awaited them in Jordan.
Another witness says
that what happened in 1967 was more than a setback. It was a destruction of a
dream to reclaim what is rightfully ours that was lost in 1948. People’s
confidence was high because of the commentary of Ahmed Saeed in the Arab Voice
Radio, and the military announcements of the shooting down of all enemy
fighter planes broadcasted during the war. People were deluded about the power
of the Arabs. And suddenly, all the talk was about retreating to the second
defense line, then the third. This is the sign of the end of the dream, and a
sign of worse to come. When we saw the Israeli tanks moving forward and the
Jordanian soldiers retreating, we realized that what happened was a repeat of
what happened only 20 years before.
Now, it has been 40
years to that war, and things are even worse. People then despite what was
known as the Nakbah war or “the Catastrophe”, the 1948 defeat. Despite that,
people were optimistic. Most people were responding due to the propaganda and
atmosphere of excitement most are Arab radio stations drummed up. Only some
minority of people, especially those who witnessed 1948-Catastrophe. But,
their voice was overwhelmed and they were silenced and accused of being the
5th column (or in short: Traitors).
The causes of victory
and defeat in the Islamic history is an important topic, that the common
Muslim should know about. And more specifically, those involved in prorogation
of the Islamic faith. They should learn, and teach the causes of victory and
defeat.
It is a known fact to us
Muslims that Allah has promised us victory for this belief and his followers.
He says: {We surly will make victorious, our messengers and the believers in
this worldly life and when the day of witnessing happens} aya 51 of Ghafer.
And in aya 55 of sourat An-Noor Allah says: {Allah promised those of you who
believe and do good deeds, He will make them the successors in the land, just
as he made those before them successors. And He will strongly establish their
religion that he is satisfied with, for them, and He shall replace their fear
with safety and security. Worship me and believe in no one else but I.}
This is a truthful
promise which must be fulfilled. It was fulfilled during the life of the
messenger (PPBU), then during his successors. Over the years, the Islamic
power saw many victories and many defeats.
The word Victory is a
big word with a wide scope, it includes:
A victory for someone
who is propagating Islam may be in the victory of the belief even if the
particular person is tortured or killed.
The Islamic nation today
faces a devastating reality which can be summarized in three points:
1.
A psychological defeat of many individuals, some unfortunately high
level individuals.
2.
Dependency in many areas, educations, cultural, economical and many
more.
3.
Weakness, humiliation, and scattering or break up. Despite the large
land area, the Islamic nation has become so weak and of low status.
This nation must find
out the causes of victory and defeat. And the reasons that led to this present
demeaning position. It must bring itself out and up to what Allah wants for it
. That is a leading position in this world.
Let us attempt to
summarize the causes of victory and defeat very briefly:
First the causes of
victory:
1)
True belief and good deed. Allah has stated that in many Ayas. And the
main points that form the true belief are:
a)
Dedicated true worship of Allah May he be exalted.
b)
Performing prayers and brining in charity and following all what the
messenger (PPBU) has ordered and avoiding or deterring from what he forbid.
c)
Drawing support from and depending upon Allah alone. Calling for help
from him alone, and asking the victory from Allah. Omar ben khattab said. On
the day of the battle Badr, The messenger (PPBU) looked and saw the infidel
and they were 1000 fighter, and looked at his companions and they were 319.
The messenger faced the Qiblah put out his hands and started calling his Lord:
{Lord, fulfill what you promised me, Lord provide what you promised me. Lord
if you destroy this punch of people of Islam, you would not be worshiped on
this earth.} He kept on putting his hands out, calling his Lord facing the
Qiblah until his robe or over coat fell off his shoulders. Abu-Baker came up
and placed his robe on his shoulders holding it from falling, and said:
Prophet of Allah, enough asking you Lord, for he will fulfill what he promised
you.
d)
Patience and stability either before or during the battle. This
religion will be made strong after many tests and calamities.
e)
Abundance of remembering Allah and saying his name.
2)
The second reason for victory is the unity of the nation. When
Sala-Eddin wanted to liberate the Al-Aqsa mosque, he first ordered the union
between the two most powerful Muslim countries then, Egypt and Sham. When they
were united he went on to fight the crusaders. Separated fragmented Muslims
are far from victory.
3)
Another reason for victory is the strong believing leadership. Strong
scholar and material strength are both required for victory.
4)
Building up the power and logically pursuing what it takes. Everything
that can be done, big or small. The messenger PPBU pursued what it takes, for
he wore the shield, and dug the trench, carried the weapons, took care of the
soldiers and the military commanders, assigned the money. But remember, even
when doing what it takes, still dependence still remain upon Allah alone.
Also remember, that it
was never ever that Muslims had more weapons, or numbers than infidel. But,
belief always made things to be better with Muslims. Whenever Omar felt the
victory is slow coming he used to write to his field commanders saying: {We do
not fight people with numbers and weapons but with this religion, Check you
may have come up with some thing different?} He reminds them to revise their
actions.
Doing what is required
and getting the arms ready can be divided into many items but the most
important are:
a)
Preparation of the true believing soldier and field commander and
purifying it from non-believers. The soldier who is aim is to die in the line
of Allah. Omeir ben h7amam when the messenger PPBU said: {Get up to a paradise
its width is like all the skies and earth.} Omeir said “bukh, bukh”. The
messenger said {What makes you say that bukh bukh} he replies “Messenger of
Allah, only that I would be of people of this paradise”, the messenger said:
{you are of its people}. Omeir took a few dates (about five) off his bag and
started eating, then he said, Am I going to live to eat all these dates. What
a long life it will be. He mean waiting to go to paradise. He threw the dates
away, went to fight until he was killed.
b)
The second item is to get the military equipment ready.
c)
Part of military equipment is the financial required. Money is a major
part of any war. Othman got a whole army ready. The messenger said: {Nothing
Othman can do that will hurt him after what he did today}
d)
Know your enemies and their capabilities. Collecting the intelligence
as the messenger used to do by finding out the size of the enemy’s army by
finding out how many they slaughter to eat.
e)
Total trust in Allah and confidence in his promises. We must be certain
that Allah will make this religion victorious no matter how tight things get,
and no matter what the size of obstacles are in the rout towards victory.
5)
another cause for victory is that the nation is at the level of victory
with its resources, capabilities, resolve (determination), and intentions.
For Allah may delay the
victory if the nation is not ready for it. The capabilities to manage
liberated Muslim land.
6)
Jihad or Fighting in the name of Allah, commending good and deterring
against evil. Jihad keeps the nation safe from external dangers, while
commending good and deterring evil keeps it safe internally.
Jihad is a cause for
glory and power and victory. Allah says: {It was decided that you shall fight,
yet is disliked by you. And you may hate something and there is good in it for
you. And you may love something and yet it is evil for you. Allah knows and
you do not.} 2-216. When looking at the interpretation of the scholar Imam
Qurtuby who lived at the time when Andalusia fell; one could only feel regret
in between the lines and phrases. He says that "and you may hate something"
refers to fighting and blood shed and donating money. "and there is good in it
for you": refers to the taking over the land, victory and glory. While the
statement: "and you may love thing" refers to loving relaxation and the false
peace. Being bad for you refers to the suffered humility, and the losing their
dignity and honor, and the take over by the non-believers and being removed
from your land.
It is known that the
non-believers will not leave Muslims in peace even if Muslims leave them in
peace. We were told this by Allah {And they still fight you fight you until
they return you off your belief if they could . . . } 2-217. and in another
Aya: {Neither the Jews nor the Christians will be happy with you unless you
follow their religion and sect}2-120.
They shall only be happy
in one case and one outcome. They will not leave you without a fight. Not a
military fight, for that is too hard for all. They will fight you with
cultural, intellectual, media, sex. They shall fight you to wreck your
religion and belief, and to loose your faith and conviction. So, dear Muslim,
just be careful and stay alert.
