| The War Yesterday and Today
By:Sheikh Salman Bin Fahd Al-Oadah
29/03/2003
We should allow ourselves to take some comfort in the fact that the invading American troops have met with stiff resistance. They were surprised to be received by the Iraqi people with bullets instead of with flowers. We should not postpone this comfort hoping for a victory that only Allah knows about.
We should also take some comfort in the fact that the Iraqi people have not turned into a bunch of refugees begging international aid organizations to provide them with their basic needs. They have stayed firm on their own ground.
It is not unrealistic to think that the ominous war machinery and relentless firepower that is bearing down on Iraq will bring quick and decisive results in favor of the side in this war that wields all the power and therefore force a good portion of the Iraqi population to flee to an uncertain future.
When we look at the Palestinians, we see how courageously and steadfastly they continue to resist the protracted occupation of their land. We have to bear in mind, however, that there is a distinct difference between the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the possible forthcoming American hegemony over Iraq.
America's drive to expand is very strong, as are its imperialistic intentions. America is no different in this than the imperialist states of past history, except that the United States has an exaggerated notion of its own righteousness and good intentions. It also has a tendency to grossly underestimate the strength of those who dare to see things differently.
These are probably the reasons why the so-called "allied" forces made such a bad estimate of how the war was going to proceed, which brings to mind the following verse of the Qur'ān that was revealed during the Battle of Badr:
"Remember Satan made their acts seem alluring to them and said: 'None among men can overcome you today while I am near you'. But when the two forces came in sight of one another, he turned on his heels and said: 'I am clear of you. I see what you see not. Truly, I fear Allah, for Allah is severe in punishment'." [Sūrah al-Anfāl: 48]
Satan did not want to deceive the unbelievers and cause them to be vanquished. He did not wish them to fall into the hands of the believers. However, blind desire does not give us the opportunity to think and reflect and assess matters properly.
It seems that the Iraqi opposition forces that sided with the occupiers have had their effect on what is going on inside Iraq right now. They led them to believe that the war would be a three or four day desert vacation. Some were so emboldened as to assume that a few well placed strikes were all that was needed to get the Iraqi people to rise up against their government.
Today, the people of Iraq are facing a new form of oppression and aggression that speaks about freedom and human rights and conveys glad tidings of democracy by way of tanks and bombs. They wish to turn Iraq into a train of the hungry, sick, and injured so they can then graciously dole out to them humanitarian aid drawn from Iraq's very own accounts while they line their pockets with Iraq's wealth and resources.
This is the secret behind Iraq's present strength. The oppressed are always divinely assisted, even if that assistance comes after a period of time. Allah says: "And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden save with right. Whoso is slain wrongfully, We have given power unto his heir, but let him not commit excess in slaying. Lo! he will be helped." [Sūrah al-Isrā': 33]
When Allah gave the Muslims permission to fight, he stated the reason for that permission: "Permission (to fight) is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Allah is well able to assist them." [Sūrah al-Hajj: 39]
`Umar asked a man to which people he belonged. He said he was from the tribe of `Anazah. `Umar then informed him that he had heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: "A group from among you will be oppressed and will be granted divine support." [Musnad Ahmad]
This is probably one of the reasons why this war is different than the previous Gulf War. At that time, Iraq had occupied Kuwait and was itself an oppressor and an aggressor. Therefore, their resolve was broken very swiftly and they failed to put up even the weakest resistance. Today, on the other hand, they are being aggressed against in their own land and the objective of the attack is to destroy them and put and end to their present and future capabilities. This has strengthened their resolve to defend themselves and put up some resistance.
Whoever thinks about past events and reflects upon the patterns of Allah's decree will find wonderful examples of His divine wisdom and justice. This might go unnoticed by a person who is so overwhelmed by the events of the moment that he can neither recall the past nor have expectations for the future.
We would have hoped that those who have tasted the bitterness of oppression would be the last people to engage in it. They should have the greatest aversion to it. They should be the most fearful of its consequences. There is an old saying that goes: "Whoever aids an oppressor will fall under his power."
Therefore, it is wrong for us to let ourselves be drawn by some pretence or another into helping them in their war. The true objectives of this war go far beyond disarming Iraq. What they are seeking is to totally overturn the present order and then fashion a new order that suits American and Israeli interests.
This war is laying the foundations for the dangerous principle of direct intervention in the affairs of sovereign states and the idea of going to war to change political systems, not to mention to break the will of the Arab and Muslim people and make them a non-entity. This is just the prelude for an era of total subordination and humiliating pacification in accordance with some "road map" for peace or whatever else suits the fancy of Israel's Likud Party.
Iraq may be no more than a link in a long chain of events that are designed to destroy any notion of independence in our decision making, our planning, our construction, and our very will throughout the Muslim world, whereby anything that might pose the remotest threat to Western interests and Israeli regional supremacy will be demolished.
Their superior military machinery may give them victory at the end of the day. They will then be able to establish their "ideal" state to be a model for all the neighboring countries to follow and that can serve as a base for future wars in the region.
However, Allah's law in the world remains the same: "And were it not for Allah's repelling some peoples with others, the Earth would certainly be in a state of disorder; but Allah is Most Gracious to all the worlds." [Sūrah al-Baqarah: 251]
Those who are in the right is always more tenacious, more patient, and more willing to make sacrifices. When they die, their children and grandchildren are willing to take up the banner and seek justice against those who wronged them.
We still hear people who can reminisce about the valiant resistance that was made against the colonial occupiers of Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, and other parts the Muslim world. It looks like a new era of occupation is not a long way off.
"True might belongs to Allah and to His Messenger and to the believers; but the hypocrites know it not." [Sūrah al-Munāfiqīn: 8] | |
