Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal
Bayaan for 12 October 2001

How Mighty Nations Were Destroyed!

"And be not grieved by those who vie with one another in denying the truth: verily they can in no way harm Allah. It is Allah’s will that they shall have no share in the life to come; and a tremendous suffering awaits them." (3:176)

The military might of the US unleashed against the Taliban regime may apparently seem as invincible and irresistible as the tyrannical and despotic might of the Aad and Thamud. The Quraan reminds us of how these mighty tribes were destroyed when Allah unleashed the forces of nature against them. “For every one of them did We take to task for his sin; upon some we let loose a deadly stormwind; and some of them were overtaken by a sudden blast; and some of them We caused to be swallowed by the earth; and some of them We caused to drawn. And it was not Allah who wronged them by they wronged themselves” (29:40)

In the tragic pillage of Afghanistan, there lies profound lessons for those who wish to learn and a grim reminder for those who choose to remain blind. As Muslims, we do not view events in the same way as non-Muslims, nor do events have the same impact on the believers as on the non-believers. We neither look at events in the same way as they do; neither do we come to the same conclusions as they do. To them, this is a display of their uncontestable power; to us it is the rope that Allah extends to them. Even if they capture Osama or manage to defeat the Taliban regime, it should not exhaust our flame of Imaan; nor cause us to waver or doubt the Qudrat of Allah. The respite that Allah grants to the Kufaar must not be interpreted to be a lack of His power or might. And they should not think – they who are bent on denying the truth – that Our giving them respite is good for them: We give them respite only to let them grow in sinfulness; and shameful suffering awaits them.” (3:178) Allah will deal with the enemies of Islam when and how He deems fit. Allah works in ways that we cannot comprehend and understand. Victory is promised to those who persevere and place their implicit trust in Allah. What at first seems to be a tragedy may really be the basis for future prosperity. The very ocean that threatened the life of Musa (as) at birth, became the source of his salvation later in life. The very shirt of Yusuf (as) that became the source of his father’s agony and blindness, later became cause of his joy and sight. The very City – Mecca - that drove the early Muslims into exile became now stands as the sanctuary of the Muslim world.

For the believers this is a test of patience and submission to the Will of Allah. “ We shall certainly test you with something of fear and hunger, loss of goods, lives and the fruits of your toil….” It is the process through which Allah will sift the sincere believers from the hypocrites. It is a test of submission to the Will of Allah. Are we going to waver, doubt, and confuse the Might of Allah with the Will of Allah? Allah’s Might requires no more than “BE” and “it shall BE,” His Will however may dictate a course very different to our expectations in accordance to His wisdom.

Further, the humanitarian aid extended to the Afghans evokes a sense of deep suspicion, and doubt. The motive for the  ‘charity’ is to contaminate the most formidable weapon of the Afghans; their faith and conviction in Allah as the Provider. Americans realize that faith cannot be fought conventionally. Hunger and despair invariably make people vulnerable. The image of Americans throwing food from the skies is both demeaning and corrupting. Almost a replay of Qaruns arrogant claim that “ I give life and cause death.” Muslims of the world can themselves provide humanitarian aid by initiating an ‘adopt a family’ scheme worldwide.

We may not have the technology to challenge the propaganda or the military might of the West, but we certainly have the power of attracting the divine help of Allah, as was the case in the battle of Badr wherein the Muslim army was strengthened by an army of angels. “ If Allah help you there is none that can vanquish you.” However, Allah’s help is subject to our commitment to His deen. “ If you help the deen of Allah, Allah will He help you.” We generally wait to see the help of Allah BEFORE we commit ourselves to the deen, whilst Allah’s promise is that He will help you only AFTER you commit yourselves to His deen.

We must not loose sight of the humiliating retreat of America after the 11^th September 2001. The Americans were persuaded to repay their indebtedness to the United Nations in an amount of approximately R580 million dollars. For the first time since the creation of Israel, the American’s were forced to chastise the Jews in Israel, which resulted in an unprecedented apology, by Shimon Peres on International TV. The American president, George Bush, who several weeks prior to the 11^th September 2001 announced that “we do not need the world” during an interview wherein he declined to attend the race conference in Durban is now forced to appeal for the support of the international community. Americans suddenly realized how much they needed the world. American foreign policy towards inter alia Pakistan changed considerably. The United Nation’s sanctions against Sudan was uplifted. The events of today may only be a chapter in the larger plan of Allah. We need the faith to believe it and the humility to understand it!