PERSIAN GULF WAR II: WHAT CAN WE DO AS MUSLIMS

Yesterday, we woke up to be greeted by the news that Iraq has been attacked. With the world already divided, reaction to the military strikes by the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ led by the United Sates of America is also mixed. It has been condemned, described as an immoral act, dealing a severe blow to multilateralism whilst on the other hand it was hailed as a dawn of a new doctrine: pre-emption.

We would like to believe that the people who will bear the brunt of this assault are purely coincidental. However to convince Muslims differently will take some doing. In less than two years, two Muslim populations are on the receiving end of actions purported to make the world a safer place. Who will believe America , a country whose intelligence agencies have engineered coups in countries around the world? A country whose intelligence agencies have caused instability in many countries worldwide? A country whose military has invaded tens of nations in the last 100 years? An argument advanced by the Coalition of the Willing’ for attacking Iraq is that “it had not months but years to disarm and our patience is exhausted.” Yet it is over 30 years since resolution 242 called on Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories in Palestine . Believe America and you do so at your own peril!

Given the present set of circumstances, is there a sense of helplessness in the rank and file of Muslims? All we manage doing is vilifying and deriding America and her allies. Will this change the situation? Obviously it will not. If you resist the designs of America by defending yourself, you are branded a terrorist and legislation in about all countries of the world is in place to negate that “irritation.” What other option do we have? Do we realise the nature of what is being communicated to you? Does it behove Muslims to express such sentiments? It is simply indicative of our weakness. It lays bare our relationship with Allah. It reveals our lack of belief in the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam.

We are not suggesting that the principle of cause and effect should be consigned to the waste bin. Nor are we advocating that material means should not be acquired to challenge the hegemony of America . The efficacy of these, it must be understood, will be maximised only if we reinforce our link with Allâh.

Let us ask ourselves, how much of our lives is consistent with the recommendations of Allâh. To what extent does our actions conform to the lifestyle of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam.

If we emerge from such investigation in the positive, then be rest assured, the helplessness that seems to demoralise you will be dealt very comfortably.

Unfolding events in Iraq will be unsettling and disconcerting but as Muslims, we can call on Allâh is whose control is all what we experience.

Say: O Allah! Owner of Sovereignty! You give sovereignty unto whom You wilt, and You withdraw sovereignty from whom You wilt. You honour whom You wil, and You disgrace whom You wilt. In Your hand is the good. Lo! You are Able to do all things. (Al-Imran 3:26)

We are duty bound to implore and beseech Him for peace to prevail in the world. We need to supplicate to Allâh, the All-Powerful in order to attract His favour and grace. He alone can protect us from any harm or suffering. No opportunity should be lost to seek the mercy and assistance of Allâh. Imâms of masâjid are strongly encouraged to recite Qunût Nâzila in Fajr Salât. Hereunder follows some du’âs which one can individually make:

رَبَّنَا لاَ تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلْقَوْمِ الظّلِمِيْنَ

[Our Lord, do not make us a target of tyranny by wicked people. (Yunus: 10:85)]

رَبِّ انْصُرْنِيْ عَلَي الْقَوْمِ الْمُفْسِدِيْنَ

[My Lord, help me against people who practice corruption and spread disorder.]

اَلّلهُمَّ اِنَّا نَجْعَلُكَ فِيْ نُحُوْرِهِمْ وَنَعُوْذُبِكَ مِنْ شُرُوْرِهِمْ

[O Allâh, we make You (our defence) against their aggression and seek Your protection from their evil (designs)]

اَلّلهُمَّ اكْفِنَاهُ بِمَا شِئْت

[O Allâh, suffice me against him as You will]

____________________________________________________________________________

Issued by:

Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal , 2nd Floor Baitul Hamd, 32 Avenue Road, Fordsburg 2092

Tel: 011 373 8000 Fax: 011 373 8022

[Back|Home]