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Reflecting over and Learning from Past Events
Shaykh Saalih bin Humaid [(Shawwaal, 20, 1423 (January
4, 2002)]
All praise is
due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the
Messenger, his household and companions.
Brethren In
faith! Fear Allaah as He should be feared, for whoever fears Him, He
protects him and whoever turns to Him in repentance, He guides him and is
pleased with him. Whoever humbles himself for His worship He honours him
and whoever transacts with Him prospers.
Fellow
Muslims! Trials and afflictions are made to awaken the affected nation to
a serious and sincere review of its culture and civilization and a
transparent assessment of its actions. For, it is civilization and culture
that influence people’s behaviour and concerns. Yes, there is a need for
this self-examination is order to identify causes of defects and weakness.
Big challenges and crises awaken nations and constitute major turning
points in their lives and spur them to work for their progress and
development. Indeed, past failures do not in any form kill the future of
the affected nation, it rather call its attention to its potentialities.
Allaah says
regarding the tribulation of the Battle of Badr,
“If a wound
has touched you, be sure a similar wound has touched the others. And so
are the days (good and not so good), We give to men in turns, that Allaah
may test those who believe and that He may take martyrs from among you.
And Allaah likes not the wrong-doers. And that Allaah may test (or purify)
the believers (from sins) and destroy the disbelievers.”
(Aal ‘Imraan
3:140-141)
When major incidences happen, it does not affect a nation
alone but affects most nations of the world, for it generates a lot of
religious, economical, social and political reactions. What is then
deserving of the wise people of the affected nation is to review their
policies and systems and the effects of these policies on nations and
individuals. Also, contemporary principles, systems and policies of this
age should be re-examined. There are however some good systems that are
beneficial materially, technologically, medically, economically and
educationally. But what is the effect of these useful systems on
the men who
propagate them? It seems as if the propagators of these systems are
themselves devoid of all the meanings of humanity. They proclaim systems
whose its implementation is biased. They speak of freedom, democracy and
human rights but their actions negate that which they speak of.
Contemporary history is full of arrogance, ostentation, dictatorship,
humiliation, oppression of weaker nations and usurpation of their wealth.
Justice and logic, therefore, demands that the affected nation should deal
with other nations truthfully, wish them well and review its policies
towards them and seriously think over those basic factors that caused
people’s hatred for it.
What are the
benefits of principles and systems that generate hatred and allows the
humiliation of others? What is the benefit of a policy that encourages
arrogance and haughtiness? Sincere reflection must be made on the waves of
violence that takes place all over the world.
Let it be
known that, if violence is allowed to prevail instead of dialogue and
mutual understanding, no voice will be heard for the weak and justice will
have no chance. Worse than these is that aggression and violence will
become legalised. All types of aggression, hostility, hatred and racialism
should therefore be brought to an end.
Among the
issues that need urgent review are the wars that have characterised this
generation and in which many innocent lives have been lost and in which
destructive weapons, that not only kill but also cause harm and diseases
to the living are wantonly used. What then is the benefit of a system
which has as its product aggressive and unjust wars that know no law or
norms? Compare this to the injunction of the Qur’aan about the purpose of
fighting a war which says,
“And fight
in the way of Allaah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits.
Truly, Allaah likes not the transgressors.”
(Al-Baqarah
2:190)
Statistics
speak of millions of casualties of these senseless wars all over the
world. Therefore, careful and sincere review of these policies and systems
in the light of their effects will go a long way in solving the problems
at hand.
Brethren in Faith! The philosophy and civilization of this
contemporary time are built on materialism. Faith has been restricted to
things that are only perceptible through the senses to the exclusion of
the unseen things; the concern is only for this world and its
pleasures and
all the scientific discoveries are for the purpose of this mundane life
alone. This sorry situation is accurately described by Allaah says,
“They know
only the outside appearance of the (i.e. the matters of their livelihood)
and they are heedless of the Hereafter.”
(Ar-Room 30:7)
No attention
is therefore, paid to spiritual development. This clearly manifests in the
excessive attention being given to sports, dancing, music, drama, etc.
Religion has no impact on behaviours, policies and systems. Religion has
become a mere ritual in their view and a war has being set up between it
and the science and between body and soul. In these ideologies, there is
no place for Allaah; the only recognized deities are statues and shapes.
When any of these people carries out any religious rites, it is to follow
the customs and traditions and no more. It is in view of this that
cruelty and violence became the order of the day because, many people no
longer has any respect for Allaah and have become heedless of the
Hereafter.
Brethren in
Islaam! It is incumbent on us to have a sincere and serious review of our
own actions so that justice and truth may reign and falsehood may be
annihilated. The world is in need of a merciful system and policy that
will promote justice and eradicate all the weapons of mass destruction. It
is in need of a policy that will have real respect for human rights and
guarantees for all people the right of self-determination, freedom and
tranquillity. It is in need of a system that will put an end to
colonisation and all kinds of hegemony. It is in need of a system that
will restore the rights of the oppressed and punish the oppressor
appropriately, for fairness can not be achieved through injustice nor can
security be achieved through fear. Sense of revenge should give way to
dialogue and mutual understanding. World countries are in need of
cooperation and unity in order to live in peace and this is what the wise
and sincere people who want good for the humanity should call unto. If
they fail to do so, the weak will continue to grow weaker. Nevertheless,
history has shown us examples of nations and civilizations that have
risen and fallen and the examples of communities that have persevered,
resisted the aggression of devilish nations and finally survived, for all
the affairs belong to Allaah. He says,
“And those
who do wrong will come to know what their end is going to be.”
(Ash-Shu‘araa
26:227)
He also says,
“And indeed
We have firmly established them with that wherewith We have not
established you and We had assigned them the (faculties of) hearing
(ears), seeing (eyes) and hearts; but their ears, eyes and hearts availed
them nothing since they used to deny the Aayaat (Allaah’s Prophets and
their prophethood, proofs, verses and revelations) of Allaah, and they
were completely encircled by that which they used to mock at!”
(Al-Ahqaaf
46:26)
When one
reflects over the crises that Islaam has underwent in its long history,
one will find out that, regardless of the civilization, light, justice and
fairness that nations and communities had enjoyed under the rule of Islaam,
these crises had significantly weakened the Islaamic civilization in a way
that has been a cause of joy for its enemies. However, these crises has
its positive impacts. It has reawaken the Muslims, afforded them the
opportunity to examine themselves and created in them stronger
determination and hope. Therefore, all kinds of persecutions that afflict
the Muslims today are but harbingers of bright future for them. An example
of this was what happened to the Muslims in the Battle of Uhud. It is in
this regard that Allaah says,
“Those who
answered (the call of) Allaah and the Messenger after been wounded; for
those of them who did good deeds and feared Allaah, there is a great
reward. Those (believers) unto the people (hypocrites) said: ‘Verily, the
people have gathered against you, therefore, fear them.’ But that only
increased them in Faith, and they said: ‘Allaah Alone is Sufficient for
us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs.’ So they returned with Grace
and Bounty from Allaah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good
Pleasure of Allaah. And Allaah is the Owner of the Great Bounty. It is
only Satan who suggests to you the fear of his friends; so fear them not,
but fear Me, if you are (true) believers.”
(Aal ‘Imraan
3:172-175)
Having agreed
that what happen to the Muslims are results of their own deeds, there is
certainty that they possess strong spiritual values that are embodied in
the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger in which they
believe and upon which they stand. These two values are the criteria for
identifying the points of deviation and it is by them that the Muslim
nation will be able to rectify its situation and rise again against all
odds Insha Allaah.
The Islaamic
law is the Muslim’s source of strength and immunity during ideological
crises. Though, the invading modern trends achieved a great success all
over the world, the Islaamic world and its societies in spite of all their
sufferings are, by the will of Allaah, united in resisting the invasion.
Islaam is the religion of truth that is firmly rooted among the Muslim
societies. Although, the Muslims do not reject the useful new things, they
however, will not subscribe to the notion that these invading trends are
the only ideal way of life that should be followed by all. Muslims are
open-minded, welcome any progress that brings benefit for the mankind and
are not enemies to science and useful civilization. Islaam will never
accept being subordinate to or melt into any civilizations or cultures as
many other religions and cultures have done, for Islaam is the protected
and everlasting religion of Allaah.
Moreover, it is a source of honour and pride that Islaam, through its
creed, law and culture, has provided for mankind what other civilizations
have never provided. Muslims are therefore capable of overcoming their
problems and settling their differences with the help of Allaah. They
should therefore, strive to understand the reality of their religion and
the nature of their message so as to be able to fulfil their
responsibility towards themselves and the humanity in general, bearing in
mind the saying of Allaah, “Allaah will not change the condition of a
people as long as they do not change their state themselves.” (Ar-Ra‘d
13:11)
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