The Islâmic Significance of Iraq

“Tilkad darul akhiratu naj‘aluha lilladhina la yuriduna ‘uluwwan fil ardi wa la fasadan wal ‘aqibatu lil muttaqin.” (Qasas:83)

“This heavenly abode do We only apportion for those who do not wish superiority and mischief in the land. 
And a good ending are for those who are Allâh-fearing.”

Long before Islâm took over and continued the splendour of Iraq , it was already known for its high level of civilisation, culture and historic significance. Under Islâmic rule, Iraq continued this tradition and reached the pinnacle of its civilisation in all fields: religious, intellectual, cultural, political and economical. Western writers too have consistently attested to the fact that when Europe was wallowing in what is termed the “dark ages,” it was Baghdad and Cordoba ( Spain ) that lighted the path and to which thousands flocked to empower themselves. In modern times too, it has once again won the spotlight due to its influence, strategic location and economic base for which the USA and her surrogate allies have unleashed an illegal war of terror and attrition.

It was in the fertile regions irrigated by the Tigris and the Euphrates that civilization first took birth. The first villages and cities grew here, and here developed the earliest forms of writing as well as papyri, the first reed writing matter. Southern Iraq was the site of the flourishing Sumerian civilization, a cluster of city-states, in the 3rd millennium B.C. They had one of the most varied artistic traditions in the world, which became the basis on which Babylonian and Assyrian culture developed. A culture evolved over so many centuries can not be simply overtaken and colonized without fierce resistance and much unwillingness.

Some of the earliest surviving examples of Islâmic art, architecture and culture are located in Iraq , notably the Great Mosque at Samarra and the desert palace of Ukhaidar . The damage caused to religious and historical sites in the 1991 bombing by American forces was incalculable. The Hague Convention of 1954, which prohibits the targeting of cultural and religious sites, was totally disregarded by the American forces then, and most probably, now too.

Extensive damage to the priceless archaeological, art contents and Islâmic relics of the Baghdad National Museum of Antiquities, the seventh largest in the world, occurred as direct and indirect consequences of the war. It stands in the heart of Baghdad city, and the aerial assaults will most certainly ensure its destruction. According to reports, just before the 1991 Gulf war broke out, the Iraqi authorities transferred the most precious of the contents of the museum to a secret location. The ceramics, ivory pieces and cuneiform tablets were swathed in cotton and sponges for protection. The basements where these were stored were accidentally flooded and the humidity caused by the cotton wool and sponge wrapping caused the growth of fungus on the protected objects. Efforts at restoration have suffered because of the ban imposed on Iraq importing chemicals.

Iraq , the “Cradle of Civilisation” in which the legacy of Islâm plays a vital part, is now under attack by infidel forces. The attack - if successful - is not only designed as a colonialist-style takeover, but will see to the destruction of the Islâmic legacy and heritage honed and developed over the past 1400 years. This is why, more than anything else, the resistance should be stiff and severe. Let us now briefly examine what significance Iraq has to the Muslims:

The Ambiy and Iraq

Many of the Ambiya or illustrious Prophets of Allâh plied the earth of present day Iraq , making it a blessed piece of land second only to hijaz and Jerusalem . To mention a few, the shrines of Sayyadina Yunus Alayhis Salâm, ‘Uzair Alayhis Salâm and Yusha ibn Nun Alayhis Salâm are located in Iraq . These three Prophets, amongst dozens of others, propagated the message of Allâh at various times in the history of Iraq and their imprint has been indelibly marked upon the terrain. It was also the birth-place of Sayyadina Ibrahim Alayhis Salâm, known as Abul Ambiya or the “father of all Prophets”

In each of the lives of these illustrious Prophets is a lesson to be gleaned which is relevant for the present context. Sayyadina Yunus Alayhis Salâm, or dhun nun (one of the fish) when he left Ninevah after exhausting all efforts of convincing them to accept Allâh, boarded a boat on the Euphrates and then volunteered to jump abroad when the boat started sinking. A huge fish was ordered to swallow him and the famous du’a which he recited then: “la ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu min az-zalimin“ has become the standard invocation to be recited at any time of difficulty and distress. His spirit was kept alive by his boundless hope in Allâh, notwithstanding the darkness, hopelessness and the danger he faced. Muslims too should adopt this spirit of limitless hope and optimism, notwithstanding our darkest moments in history and have conviction in our deliverance. 

Whilst Sayyadina Yunus Alayhis Salâm taught us to cling to hope in the face of dismay, Sayyadina Yusha ibn Nun Alayhis Salâm taught us how to achieve victory against all odds. Famous as the “fish carrier” in his journey with Sayyadina Musa Alayhis Salâm in search of the wise Khidr, Yusha ibn Nun Alayhis Salâm was the Prophet who was responsible for leading the Israelites back to the holy land of Jerusalem in the face of the superior Canaanite force. He used all his resourcefulness to coax the unwilling and stubborn Israelites to fight, and under his able generalship, the battle was won. The present day Canaanites, the USA and her evil allies, have today re-enacted the same situation. The optimism and ingenuity of Yusha ibn Nun Alayhis Salâm defied all odds, and with the mercy of Allâh which the enemies of Allâh do not have on their side, victory – Insha Allâh – is surely for those who perservere. Faith had baffled science and military might before, and it can do so now too!!    

If the previous two Prophets taught us optimism and how to achieve victory, then Sayyadina ‘Uzair Alayhis Salâm taught us that death and destruction is not the end of Allâh’s plan. Speaking of his episode in 2:260 in the Qur’an, Allâh says that ‘Uzair Alayhis Salâm gazed upon the ruins of Jerusalem and wondered how it would be ever repopulated and restored. Allâh then lulled him into 100-year sleep, after which he witnessed his decomposed donkey being given new life, as if he never died at all! This most cogent message was to instill in the world that in the clock of Allâh, time is nothing. Time affects different things in different ways, the keys of life and death are in Allâh’s hands, man’s power is nothing and Allâh tests mankind in various ways. If Allâh caused the destruction of some nation, he can cause it to be revitalised, but can man repair the damage to himself by his own deeds before he will be resurrected?

How true, the same Iraq which held up high the torch of Islâm indeed survived terrible turns of fortune in the past. In the Mongol invasion of 1258, Baghdad was razed to the ground, the ‘Abbasid caliph was sewn in a sack and trampled underfoot and thousands were put to the sword in the most gruesome manner. However, it was not more than two generations when the grandson of the Hulagu Khan converted to Islâm, and from the ashes of Baghdad there once more raised the greenery of Islâm, call the Ilkhanid rule. What was perceived as a fundamental tragedy for Muslims, was simply a means of transferring the seeds of Islâm to another flowerbed

Lastly, one of the greatest of Prophets, Sayyadina Ibrahim Alayhis Salâm was born at Ur, the place where his father practised as a carpenter carving out idols for people to worship, where he broke the necks of the idols and placed the axe around the neck of the largest one whilst all the townsfolk were out celebrating some pagan festival and in whose sky the young Ibrahim Alayhis Salâm gazed in the quest of finding out as to who was the ultimate Creator, was it the sun, the moon or the stars? It was also the rule of the arrogant Nimrud then, who killed and let live by his sheer will, but who could not cause the sun to rise from the west instead of the east at the behest of Ibrahim Alayhis Salâm.

The parables gleaned from the life of this most magnificent Prophet are too numerous to mention, but what shines out clearly from his example is that the believers in Allâh will be put through various trials and tribulations, not once but many times in their lifetime. Every time this happens, they are supposed to become more fortified in faith, more closer to the sunnah, and more dearer to Allâh. Have the terrible afflictions of the ummah in the past few years made us more conscious of our duty of Allâh, has it not jolted us to the reality that true security is only with Allâh, and not with materialism and our flirting with westernisation, fashion and wealth? 

Let us examine one of the more extreme episodes in Ibrahim Alayhis Salâm‘s life. It was decided by Nimrud, the then pagan king, that he be flung into a blazing furnace for not attesting to his divinity and for speaking ill of their idols. Shackled in the fire to prevent his escape and with crowds jeering at him, he amazed everyone with his calm and cheerful disposition. The angles in the sky were in an uproar and Angel Jibra’il Alayhis Salâm even offered to douse the flames with a flap of his wings. Refusing this offer, he asked: “Is the Lord of the skies aware of my plight?” Jibra’il Alayhis Salâm answered in the positive to which Ibrahim Alayhis Salâm said that Allâh will take care of him. As he was being flung into the furnace, Allâh commanded the fire: “Qulna ya naru kuni bardan wa salaman ‘ala Ibrahim.’ (O fire, become a means of comfort and security for Ibrahim) (21:70) 

The raging furnace of Nimrud and the “shock and awe” attack of USA and her allies have much in common. Both are aimed at extinguishing the message of truth from Iraq, notwithstanding the promise of Allâh that none can extinguish His message. Like Nimrud, the USA exults in her superficial might and temporary glory, but history bears testimony to the fact that any victory the infidels achieve is but temporary. Falsehood and evil has never known to perpetuate.

We thus find the fair land of Iraq already a battleground of truth and falsehood before the advent of Islâm. All this changed for ever when Islâm entered Iraq in the time of the second Caliph of Islâm, Sayyadina ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab y. Let us now turn briefly to the history of Iraq under Muslim rule:   

Islâm Enters Iraq

At the time of Rasûl-Allâh Sallallahu alayhi wasallam, Iraq formed part of the mighty Persian Empire which was ruled by the Sassanids. The proud monarch, Parvez, occupied the throne in the time of Rasûl-Allâh Sallallahu alayhi wasallam and it was him who, through his arrogance and pride, shredded the epistle of Rasûl-Allâh Sallallahu alayhi wasallam inviting him and his nation towards the true religion of Islâm. When the Holy Prophet’s emissary related to him the episode, Rasûl-Allâh Sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: “May Allâh destroy his kingdom just as he shredded my letter.” None can escape the decree of Allâh.

Not long after this episode, Parvez died and his kingdom entered a phase of instability from which it never recovered. Buran Dakht was made the interim Queen as no male from the royal family was available to rule and much civil strife broke out due to this. In the time of Abû Bakr Radiallâhu anhu, the first Caliph, most of the frontier towns of Iraq was conquered under the able generalship of Khalid ibn al-Walid Radiallâhu anhu, but the entire Iraq could not be conquered as the Christian threat of Syria had to be first stemmed.   

It was in the time of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab Radiallâhu anhu, the second Caliph, that Iraq was completely subjugated. Rustam, one of the most astute Persian warriors was given unlimited powers and appointed to fight the Muslims in a battle for ultimate survival under the command of Abû ‘Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah Radiallâhu anhu and Muthannah ibn al-Shaibani Radiallâhu anhu. Initially, the Muslims were no match against the powerful white elephants which resembled “large mountains” and the Persian steeds clad in steel armor and their riders in sable fur, resembling “savage beasts” which scared away the Arabian horses. Thus, at Marwah, they suffered a defeat on the eastern banks of the Euphrates, but this defeat was reversed a few months later at Buwaib. This victory boosted the morale of the Muslims who began preparing for the grand finale, whilst the Persians too raised a hue and cry at their impending doom. Buran Dakht was deposed and Yezdgird, a boy of only 16, was placed on the throne. After appointing veteran Sahabah like Talha Radiallâhu anhu, Zubeir Radiallâhu anhu and ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Auf Radiallâhu anhu to lead the wings of the army, Sa‘ad ibn Abi Waqqas Radiallâhu anhu was made commander-in-chief whilst ‘Umar Radiallâhu anhu reserved the right to directed the expedition from Madinah itself. On this occasion, there was much fervour and enthusiasm for jihad and thousands of Muslims from all the outlying areas of hijaz came and voluntarily enlisted in the army, including Christians.

Rabi ibn ‘Amir Radiallâhu anhu and Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah Radiallâhu anhu, on visiting Yezdgird in his imperial palace, explained their purpose of the encounter as “restoring the worship of the Creator instead of the created.” Refused to be dazzled by all the fineries and embroidery which bedecked the Persian court, they dressed as any ordinary Muslim and even seated themselves next to Yezdgird himself on the throne saying that it did not behove one person to sit on a high position like Allâh whilst others sat at his feet. Rustam then, as if conferring some favour to the Muslims, said that if the Muslims were to return, the Persians would allow them a safe passageway and not take offence. At this, an offer of either accepting Islâm or paying the jizyah was given to him, but the conceited Rustam flew into a fit of rage and bellowed: “By the sun! I will annihilate the whole of Arabia tomorrow!”  He thus set the stage for his own defeat at Qadsiyyah a few weeks later in 14 AH/636 CE.

The battle of Qadisyyah and Jalulah paved the way for the complete winning of Iraq and is cited as one of the defining moments in world history. From then, till now, Iraq has been in Muslim hands. The zeal and enthusiasm of the Muslims for Islâm at that stage can be best captured in the following incident: during the clash, a reputed Persian soldier fled from the army, but was arrested and brought before his commander to answer for his desertion. On being asked as to the reason of his desertion, he took out his bow and aimed his arrow at a stone, breaking it in two. He then said: “When such arrows can not make any impression upon the Muslims, it is useless to fight them for Allâh is with them.” The Persians, who at that time, were better equipped than the Muslims described and mocked the arrows of the Arab, likening them to “needles,” but they had to admit that the “needles” of the Arabs crushed their empire. 

It was at the time of ‘Umar Radiallâhu anhu that the cities Basrah, Kufah and Mosul were planned and built under the supervision of the Caliph himself. Basrah was built for reasons of security against sea raids, and it initially housed the army cantonments. Soon, however, people started flocking to Basrah in huge numbers and it is from here that Islâmic learning took root. The first Arabic dictionary ever written was compiled in Basrah by Khalil. Sibwaih, the first writer on syntax, received his education here and it was the home town of the two famous saints, Hasan al-Basri and Rabiah Basriayyah. Ma’qal ibn Yasar Radiallâhu anhu, ‘Abdullah bin Mughaffal Radiallâhu anhu and ‘Imran bin Husain Radiallâhu anhu were specially sent here by caliph ‘Umar Radiallâhu anhu to teach the people Islâm.

Kufah was also built primarily to attract Arab immigrants and in time, it became the metropolitan if the Islâmic world. Great muhaddtihin, jurists and grammarians were born here. Ibn Mas‘ud Radiallâhu anhu settled down in Kufah and it is where Imam Abû Hanifah studied at the feet of the likes of Ibrahim Nakh‘i, Hammad and Imam Sha‘bi, formulated his fiqh and presented it to the world. Mosul, meaning the “place of meeting between east and west” was developed and it soon became the crossroads of Islâm as the thousands of people passing through this important city would take with them the message of Islâm wherever they went.

Iraq became one of the more fair and prosperous provinces of Islâm during the Caliphate era as well as under the Umayyads, but it is under the ‘Abbasids when Baghdad became its capital that it attained true significance and glory. Hafiz Khatib al-Baghdadi has captured the glory and splendour for us for posterity in his voluminous Tarikh Baghdad. Indeed, in the history of the conquest of Iraq is valuable lessons for us all. A superior force based on pomp and infidelity was defeated by a small band based on tauhid and humility; “Kam min fi’atin qalilatin ghalabat fa’atn kathiratan bi ithnillah.” (How many small groups have three been  which defeated bigger groups by the permission of Allâh!) Today, the rifles of Iraq face the sophisticated laser-guided precision bombs and of USA, but it is not military might which decides victory, it is faith in Allâh Ta‘ala alone.    

Superior culture and heritage under the ‘Abbasids

Though mostly illiterate, the Arab mentally seemed peculiarly adapted to scholarly study and investigation. They seemed to have a great gift of lucidity, and were remarkably clear organizers and classifiers – qualities essential to for subjects like mathematics and astronomy which they developed. Mansoor had collected many learned men at his court, particularly engineers and astronomers. In the reign of Ma’mun, an astronomical observatory was established. An Arabic work, The Compendium of Astronomy by al-Ferghani, was in use in Europe until the sixteenth century.

The Arabs made Algebra an exact science. They also laid the foundations of analytical geometry. They were indisputably the founders of plans and spherical trigonometry which, properly speaking, did not exist among the Greeks. Some controversy has taken place on the question of who discovered zero, and it would now appear probable that the Arabs obtained the idea from China or India. The use of zero enables people to reckon in tens and hundreds and it thus forms the very basis of modern arithmetic. Even if the Arabs did not invent it, they were using it two hundred and fifty years before it reached Europe.

The fact that all this learning was widely diffused among the people is emphasized by the fact that there were at this time no less than one hundred bookshops in the Baghdad suburb of Karkh alone. There was also a library attached to every mosque. In 820 AD, Mamoon founded a central library in Baghdad  which he called ‘The House of Wisdom’

The Nizamiyya Madrasa of Baghdad during the Abbasid period was famous for its scholars, scientist, educationists, jurists and philosophers. Men of learning from all over the world including Greece, Spain, France, Italy, India, even of China, pursued them in this great citadel of education. It is said between ten and twenty thousand students were pursuing higher studies at this institution. More than five thousand scholars of exceptional ability from different corners of the world were engaged in imparting lessons to these seekers of knowledge. These scholars were not necessarily Muslims. Many of them were Christians, Jews or others. Imam Abû Hamid al-Ghazzali for a long time was the principal of this Madrasa and it was he who used to engage all these scholars and students in debates and discussions to seek the Truth.

All the Greek, Chinese and other literature available in those days in the world was brought to Baghdad and translated, edited, printed, and reprinted at government cost and then freely distributed among the public. So great was the patronage of this learning by the kings and princes in Baghdad that people of all religions, of all castes and colors from all over Europe, Asia and Africa, used to converge on the courts of the Khalifs. Baghdad was also the place which defended the true orthodox Islâm from any foreign influence. When Ma’mun wished to impose the heretic doctrine of Mu’tizilism on the populace, it was the great champion of truth, Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal and his group of devout ‘ulama who led the revolt until they once again succeeded in getting Islâmic law recognized as the official State policy and ensured that the shariah reigned supreme.

Centre of world Learning 

Under Mamun, the Muslims formed the vanguard of civilization in Iraq. Mansur founded a translation department in which classical and scientific works were translated from various languages into Arabic. The philosophical, mathematical and scientific works of Greek masters, which otherwise would have remained buried in the dark recess of the Greek Imperial Palaces, were brought within reach of the common man bv translating them into Arabic. According to the  celebrated historian, Maulana Shibli Nomani, the Darul Hukama (House of Wisdom) founded by Harun al-Rashid was divided into two sections: one was concerned with the translation work and the other related to the collection of books and housed a big library.

Yahya Barmeki, the famous grand vazier of Harun had summoned well-known scholars from distant lands who adorned the literary gatherings of the great Caliph. Harun al-Rashid who had founded a big library at Baghdad had appointed Al-Fadl Ibn Naubakht, a renowned scholar and translator, as head of his library, The library contained a large number of books, which were efficiently arranged and catalogued. Harun had a good taste for books and even carried large number of books on his military and other expeditions. Once, when he had gone to Riqqah, he took eight boxes of books with him.

The reign of Mamun al-Rashid, known as the Augustus of the Arabs, formed the most glorious period in the field of intellectual achievements of the Muslims. He was the moving spirit behind the House of Wisdom, which employed the best brains of the age and acquired astounding success is a short span of 20 years. The library attached to the House of Wisdom was immensely enlarged and a large collection of books of the pre-Islâmic era were added. Humayun Ibn Ishaq, the chief of the translation department was also made the librarian of this famous library. Among the rare manuscripts preserved in the library were a document written on parchment by Abdul Mutallib bin Hashim (grand-father of the Prophet Muhammad Radiallâhu anhu) and a few writings of Hazrat Ali Radiallâhu anhu and his son Hasan Radiallâhu anhu. The interest taken by the Caliph in the accumulation of literary treasures created a taste for books not only in his associates but also among the common man. A number of ministers, officials and wealthy people established big libraries by spending large sums. Yahya Barmeki, grand vazier of Harun, owned a big library which contained a large collection of Persian and Greek manuscripts. Three copies of each book were kept in his library, which after the downfall of Barmekids were added to the Imperial library of Mamun. Fateh bin Khakan, the vazier of Mutawakkil Billah founded a grand library which contained rare books on astronomy. A big library was owned by Allama al-Waqidi Radiallâhu anhu, which was alleged to have contained 600 camel loads of books mainly on historical subjects. The libraries gained so much popularity that by the close of the 11th century A. D. there existed a network of libraries throughout the vast Abbasid Empire, and before the Mongol invasion, Baghdad alone had 36 big libraries.

Today, however, education is a luxury in Iraq. Majority of the children in Iraq do not even  attending primary schools and are mostly concerned with earning a living for their families. There is hardly a family wherein one or a few male members have not been killed in wars. Some work as shoe cleaners, some as car cleaners or garden minders, some sell newspapers or other small wares at the street corners whilst some do whatever they can. Even professional people like doctors and teachers have to supplement their income by some way or the other! This picture is a far cry from the previous grandeur of Baghdad. 

Some significant sites in Iraq

Kerbala: Kerbala, lying 108km southwest of Baghdad, is the site of the battle of Kerbala, which was fought in AD 680 between the Sayyadina Husain Radiallâhu anhu, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed and the Umayyads. Although largely outnumbered, Husain Radiallâhu anhu and his group were martyred and passed on the eternal message of standing up in the face of tyranny, no matter what the situation and how painful and disastrous the consequences might be.

Najaf: Although history is obscure as to the exact location of the resting place of Sayyadina ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib Radiallâhu anhu, it is commonly believed that he is buried at Najaf. His tomb is contained in a mosque in the city centre and is visited by thousands every year.

Ur: Iraq's most famous site, perhaps the earliest city in the world which flourished under the Sumerians between 3500 B.C. and 4000 B.C. It situated is near Tallil, a major airbase and radar centre which was bombed in 1991. Ur has been identified with the birthplace of Prophet Ebraham (AS). Ur's dominant feature is the remains of a ramped `ziggurat' or temple tower, the best preserved in Iraq. Many layers of history still remain buried under Ur.

Babylon: This city is resonant with historical meaning, the capital to such kings as Hammurabi, Nebuchadnezzar and Alexander the Great. Built on the banks of the Euphrates, Babylon, whose site is near the city of Al Hillah in modern Iraq just 60 km from Baghdad, became the centre of a great empire in the 2nd millennium under its king Hammurabi. Babylon underwent a long period of domination by Assyria, which ruled from there between 722 B.C. and 626 B.C. The city then entered its period of great prestige and power under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II, who ruled between 605 B.C. and 562 B.C. and rebuilt his capital as one of the greatest cities of antiquity. He was probably responsible for the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon, laid out on elevated terraces and ingeniously irrigated by pumps from the Euphrates. Possible locations for the Hanging Gardens and the Tower of Babel have been found.

Nineveh: Situated in northern Iraq, this place is commonly cited as the birthplace of Prophet Yunus (AS) and was also the imperial seat of the Assyrian kings Sennacherib (circa 704-681 B.C.) and Ashurbanipal (668-627 B.C.). Ancient palaces with magnificent sculptures as well as 20,000 cuneiform tablets from Ashurbanipal's library have been found here. After the Gulf war, the excavated palaces were looted of their sculptures. Nineveh is on the World Monuments Watch list of the 100 most endangered sites.

Ctesiphon: The seat of the Sassanian Empire (100 B.C. to 900 A.D.) before the coming of Islâm, its reconstructed ruins is believed to be most at risk in the present war. Here, the largest brick arch to have survived antiquity is located. Abul ‘Abbas, the first ‘Abbasid caliph, used many of the to construct his own city in Baghdad.

Baghdad: The walled city of the "Thousand and One Nights", Baghdad, built originally on a circular design, was one of the loveliest cities in the world, with tombs, mosques, minarets, a university and the revered Kadhumain mosque and shrine. The famous saint, Junaid al-Bagdadi and ‘Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, lived here from whence they provided spiritual guidance to humanity. 

Samarra:. In 836 the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mu'tasim shifted the Capital of the Islâmic world from the 74 year old Baghdad to the newly built Sammara, Some 110 km north of Baghdad and extends along the Tigris for nearly 32 km. Some 56 years later Baghdad resumed its role as Capital. During this short period Sammara flourished and the tales surrounding it have passed into legend.  indeed, the Grand Mosque of Sammara, built under Caliph Al-Mutawakkil in 852, was at that time the largest mosque in the world and has the tallest minaret at 52 meters high.

Mosul: Iraq's third largest city, is also on the Tigris. It is rich in architecture and has the leaning minaret of the now destroyed mosque of Nur ad-Din, the great Zangi ruler. Situated in the heart of the Kurdish people, it was the home of the fiery Salahuddin Ayyubi who was responsible for re-uniting the ummat at the time and recapturing Jerusalem from the crusaders. It also contains the shrine of Prophet Yunus (AS).

Kirkuk: An important Ottoman castle is located here. Kirkuk is situated near an army and air force base and a large oil refinery, which was bombed in 1991. There is Hatra, which, in its day was one of the largest Greek cities of the Orient. The site has lavish carvings in pink ochre rock, with sculptures of birds, men and animals, in addition to cupolas, colonnades and immense archways.

The Sahabah who lay buried in Iraq

As mentioned before, it was during the time of ‘Umar, the second Caliph, that Islâm spread to Iraq via various conquests and battles in which veteran Sahabah took part. Many Sahabah were martyred in Iraq and their tombs are still present, whilst many later settled there in order to impart learning and teaching. It was the place where Khalid ibn Walid Radiallâhu anhu, the Saifullah (Sword of Allâh), first made the fire-worshipping pagans pay the price for their insolence, where Sa’d ibn Abû Waqqas Radiallâhu anhu, one of the finest archers of Islâm, proved that the small arms of the Muslims were more effective than the sophisticated armoury of the Persians and where Mughirah ibn Zurarah Radiallâhu anhu told Yezdgird, the Persian emperor who thought that he alone was of superior stock: “The Companions are the flower of Arab nobility and ther dignity and respect they command does not permit one to defame them.“ In addition, Leading Sahabah like Abû Said Ansari Radiallâhu anhu, ‘Uqbah ibn Qubti Radiallâhu anhu, Abû ‘Umait al-Farazi Radiallâhu anhu gave their lives in Iraq to ensure that Islâm was firmly rooted there. Will the infidel and accursed Americans be allowed such a holy place as this?

In the battle of Qadsiyyah which saw the ultimate defeat of the Persians, the famous poetess, Khansa, along with her four sons arrived. Coaxing her four sons and all the Muslims by her poetry to fight, even an imprisoned Muslim warrior, Abû Mihjan al-Thaqafi Radiallâhu anhu, pleaded to let him free in order to fight in the battle with the condition that he would return to his prison after the battle! SubhanAllâh, if Iraq was won to Islâm with such grace and enthusiasm, can it be vanquished by the oppressive and evil forces whilst Muslims are given to despair and depression. This must never happen!!  

Two of the ‘ashar mubashharah (those Sahabah who were granted glad-tidings of Islâm in this world already) also lay buried in Basrah: Talha ibn ‘Ubaidullah Radiallâhu anhu and Zubeir ibn al-Awam Radiallâhu anhu. These two towering Sahabah were close advisors of Rasûl-Allâh Sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam and to all four caliphs of Islâm, and noted for their wisdom and courage. They were unfortunately martyred by hypocrites in the battle of Camel when the two Muslim factions, that of ‘A’ishah Radiallâhu anha and of ‘Ali Radiallâhu anhu, had reached a peace agreement. If there is anything to be learnt form their life is that they threw their full weight behind their convictions. They wished for the best for the Muslim ummah at all times and sent a cogent message to Muslims for all time: although Muslims can be divided along any issue, but reconciliation is always possible. Let not external forces capitalise on your differences to your detriment and always promote the good of Islâm. For these convictions, people who did not want peace martyred them. May Allâh rest their souls in peace – amin.  

The Scholars and Saints of Iraq

Iraq is rich is Islâmic learning and heritage and has been blessed by the presence of many scholars, the list of which is too numerous to mention. However, only three are mentioned here:

• Imam Abû Hanifah: The founder of the Hanafî school of law which is widely practised in many parts of the world, this astute scholar had a counsel of 40 jurists with whom he discussed and arrived at legal decisions for a period of 30 years. According to al-Khwarizmî, they produced 83 000 decisions in this time adding to which numerous other publications and pamphlets. It was also in Iraq that the first Hanafi courts were implemented and where Islâmic learning was always augmented by healthy rational discussions. It. Such a rich Islâmic tradition can only be rivalled by hijaz and one or two other place sin the Islâmic world. 

• Abdul Qadir Jilani: He was one of the veritable geniuses that the Islâmic world ever produced. Not only steeped in tasawwuf, he was also a scholar of repute and a spiritual leader of such calibre that ibn al-A’rabi conferred upon him the title of Qutb, one of the highest stations in Sufism. In the sixth century AH, the Muslims of Iraq had become somewhat relaxed towards Islâm, and the eminent Sufi took it upon himself to rectify the situation. Preaching to the masses and the ‘ulama alike, he started with a lone and obscure voice and in time, would lecture to over 70 000 people at a time and presented Islâm in a new dynamic light. His tomb is much visited up to today. 

• Abû Hamid al-Ghazali: Writing in the 11^th century and well schooled in all the divine and secular sciences of the time, the legacy of Al-Ghazali is still found in the Muslim world today. At the time, Islâmic teachings had become contaminated with their writings of philosophers and degenerate Sufis, and it was al-Ghazali who did an eternal favour to the Muslims by rectifying these and presenting the true Islâm. It is recorded that once he was robbed by bandits of all his possessions, including his books and manuscripts. He pleaded with the bandits to keep everything, but to return his books. At this, the bandit smirked at him: “If your knowledge is confined to books only, what is the use of such knowledge?” After this, the Imam always memorised everything he learnt.

Other scholars who simply can not be ignored who hailed from Iraq were Ibn Jarir al-tabari, arguably the most eminent Muslim historian of Islâm whose Akhbar al-Rusul wal Muluk, originally written nin 150 volumes, is till today used as a standard text for Islâmic history. There was also Abul Hasan al-Ash‘ari, the son of the famous Sahabi Abû Musa al-Ash‘ari. Initially a staunch Mu’tizili or “free-thinker” he renounced his heretical belifs and became one of the champions of Islâm in defending the doctrines of Islâm from pollution. He had authored many books, but till today, his Maqalat al-Islâmiyyin remains the standard of the ‘aqidah (beliefs) of the Muslims. All the authors of the Sihah Sittah (the six most authentic compilations of hadith), although not born and bred in Iraq, spent considerable amounts of time in Iraq to gather information and learn from the huge amount of scholars present there. Indeed, Iraq would be the first stop for anyone desiring to know anything of the Islâmic sciences as well as the worldly sciences.

Conclusion

The invasion of Iraq by forces led by the United States and her allies, will, in a profound sense, mark the end of history for the Iraqi people. If a large segment of the Iraqi people are bombed out of existence, with them will be obliterated the rich remains of their past and part of the heritage of humankind and Islâm. It will mean the total and irreversible destruction of 5,000 to 6,000 years of recorded history located in Iraq's archaeological sites, museums and ancient monuments. Only 12,000 out of 100,000 sites in Iraq have been uncovered thus far; it is believed that every mound in Iraq tells a historical tale.

The greatest fact of all is that ‘people never learn from history’, but history goes on repeating itself and leaving its lessons for people. A rugged, strife-torn and mountaineering people who were known for their chaotic habits and pursuits were suddenly turned into an indomitable Muslim force, which achieved a series of splendid victories unparalleled in the history of nations, for in the short space of ninety years that mighty range of the Muslim conquest embraced a wider extent of territory than Rome had mastered in the course of eight hundred.

How was it possible? It was possible because this indomitable force got the fire of inspiration from a Book called Al-Qur’ân and from a man called Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullâh Sallallahu alayhi wasallam. This Book and this man were as inseparable as the head from the body and their collective influence on their followers was so great that mankind has yet to find a second instance like it. The result was that as long as these followers remained faithful to this Book and to its bringer, they went on conquering country after country, winning war after war, overcoming nation after nation. No force in this world could stand in their way, and every possible opposition had to give in to make way for their onward march. They were invincible. They were invincible because they were following the Truth. When you are following the Truth you do not concern yourself with winning or losing. A follower of Truth is mad for the Truth itself; he is anxious to establish the Truth. And in establishing the Truth all obstacles and handicaps will be trampled underfoot and all finer qualities will be achieved and mastered.

In a tragic reversal of history, old Mesopotamia, the birthplace of human civilisation and the seat of Islâmic ruling for 800 years, might well stand witness to its own death.

[Back|Home]

About Us|Ar Rasheed|Library|Q & A|Noticeboard|Masâjid|Calendar|Guest Book|Halâl|Links