Fallen: Hope or Fear

 

In a distant land, where the echoes of chaos drown out the whispers of hope, a sorrowful reality unfurls. Iraq has fallen; Syria lies ravaged; Egypt seems poised to follow suit. Each piece of news feels like another brick in a crumbling edifice, as confusion and despair reign. In such tumultuous times, one can’t help but ponder: what is the position of the believer?

Amid the chaos, perspectives diverge wildly. Some view the unfolding catastrophe through an eschatological lens, seeing it as the indication of a prophesied end; others attempt to make sense of the chaos with simply what’s visible before them. Yet, the most palpable truth in this disarray is the climate of fear that engulfs us all. We hope, that as per Shari'ah, that the current powers in Syria, rooted in a fervent faith, would safeguard minorities and uphold justice. However, time reveals unforeseen agendas, leading us not ignore the specter of a greater Israel looming over the region, a development that calls into question the very fabric of our shared humanity. Still, through the anxiety, we hold onto Allah, for in Him, we seek our refuge.

In these times, we ponder the dire prophecy that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ spoke of—the vulnerability of the ummah, despite its vast numbers. Muslims are beckoned toward unity, the singularity of brotherhood, rather than the strained duality that has crept into our lives. Too many have adopted foreign ways, drifting from the purity of our teachings to embrace lifestyles that do not serve us. The foundation of our belief—the Kalimah, “La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur Rasulullah”—is not just a phrase recited; it’s the essence of our belief. It is our unwavering allegiance, the anchor in stormy seas. In every struggle, we must hold onto our iman, the light shining through the shadows of tyranny and oppression.

But what can be done? The enormity of the situation can feel suffocating. The pulpits of Muslims echo the turmoil we face, reflecting the fractured state of our ummah, save for a handful of voices striving to guide us. Political Islam has, in many ways, been overshadowed, confused with religious ideologies. The roots of our Kalimah are shallow in many hearts, leading to disarray in our understanding of faith and politics. While it’s easy to lament the faltering of Muslim world leaders, dwelling on these issues without action is futile. Endless rhetoric serves no purpose; we must rectify ourselves, renew our commitment to our shahadah.

As we gaze upon the battlefield of life, we can’t help but see the weaknesses that permeate, not just in leadership but within our families and communities. We are called to rise, not as spectators but as standard-bearers of Islam, becoming beacons of light and unity in a world shrouded in darkness. The essence of our existence lies in our unwavering commitment to faith, our solidarity with one another, and our relentless pursuit of justice and truth.

As the sun sets on the horizon of despair, let us emerge not as fragmented souls but as a unified ummah, ready to confront the challenges of our time, armed with the conviction of our beliefs and the strength of our brotherhood. Together, we can rise above the chaos and reclaim our rightful place, finding solace and strength in our shared identity – There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, Muhammad ﷺ is His messenger

 

 

 

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Wars and Scores

 

The naivety of man is to consider matters totally independent of each other, e.g proclaiming justice while feeding on the poison of the unjust and evil.

This needs to be unpacked, but we will deal with it in short breathes. Consider the two world wars and their impact on Muslims. A need to join the dots and formulating a new question on the historical impact on Muslims of the ages or specifically over the last say, two hundred years or shall we make it one hundred and twenty years. History books will paint a picture and within it will be certain protagonists. To a large extent, it will be hard to argue that those mentioned were not protagonists. The set up and framework within certain events happened is so plausible that it must be accepted as the main plot. The reason for both world wars are clearly documented and you found no reason to see it any differently. Cast a glancing eye to the Muslim world in both these wars and you will start to see who were the ultimate victims of both wars. Germany was the main player in both wars, but they recovered both times and are thriving overall even they lost both wars. The first world war resulted in the demise of the Ottoman empire and with it the Caliphate. The allies 1, Muslims 0. Along came the very many Arab kingdoms and states, all as a result of the Sykes-Picot agreement. And in between came the Balfour declaration while Palestine became a British protectorate. Can we say Allies 2, Muslims 0? Fast forward to the second world war in which Turkey, the remaining land of the erstwhile Ottoman empire, did not partake. Germany was at it again and a certain Adolf Hitler. The Allies were victorious and even though the Muslim involvement in the war was negligible, the result by 1948 was: Allies 3 Muslims 0. The state of Is-rale was formed in occupied Falasteen. Thus, the results of the wars were heavily against Muslims while they were, at no time, protagonists in the war.

Today, the Palestinians are facing geno   cide at the hands of the Allies. No one is willing to help. The International Court of Justice is an organ of the United Nations - UNO (more on this another time)  - while the UNO is proven to be an institution of injustice. Is this Allies 4 Muslims 0, for certainly nought has come from so-called Muslim countries. Is this latest Rafah situation game over? This needs further discussion and elaboration. We conclude this note affirming our belief that Allah is in control and victory will come. He decides on when it will happen, but, for sure, that we must seek forgiveness, repent and give up sins and innovation, to gain the pleasure of Allah. The enemy is rejoicing in our misguidance (in following their way) while fear will grip their hearts when Muslims are firm on their deen.

And Allah knows best

·        The term Allies is used. Effectively, as things stand now, it is pretty much NATO. Nato though was formed in 1949. NATO can be seen as Allies minus Russia. Japan is not part of NATO but has an alliance with NATO.

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Picture courtesy https://www.arabnews.com/

 

 

The Hejaz Railway

 

A century ago, the Ottoman empire came to and end and so did the caliphate. With that came to an end the singularity of the ummah (the followers of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ). I dare not say unity of the ummah, because it was the gnawing away, by the enemies of Islam, at this singularity that caused division in Muslim lands. The enemies needed to end the caliphate.

How is this important to us in Cape Town. Firstly, we are part of the global ummah. Now that word “global” with reference to “ummah” is redundant because a Muslim naturally is attached to the body of Muslims. Secondly, as an illustration of our connection to the Caliphate, the Muslims of South Africa, although under British rule in the early twentieth century, sent a monetary contribution towards the Hijaz railway project. Now, we (our forebears of the time) were not going to benefit from this project because it was from Istanbul to the Hijaz. However, that singularity in that when the Caliph (Abdul Hamid II) called for financial assistance, Muslims the world over responded, even those who were not under the Ottoman Empire.  Two things become important in our discussions. Firstly, it is the singularity that we are one when we have a single leader. This is something clearly seen through a “political” structure. Unity is the manifestation in our hearts and minds of this singularity and that this ummah is a single brotherhood. The caliphate fell because the unity was disturbed when love and understanding became secondary to selfish interests – to put it in a simplistic way. While the unity was brittle, the singularity gave hope that this unity can be mended. Today, we have neither learned from history, largely because we are ignorant and oblivious of the past, nor have we a sense of moving beyond the yoke of what these same colonisers have placed upon us. Accepting a system which challenges our morals, our values and our beliefs means that we are not preparing for this singularity. All this is possible because unity is a mere ball being kicked around and its benefits have not translated beyond lip service.

Your intention is what matters most and then which team you join. If you want South Africa great or America great, then that’s your intention. Ultimately, you can only join one team. You decide but the right team will win, with or without you. Our forefathers sent money for the Hijaz Railway Project because they wanted to be part of the right team.

 

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Picture courtesy: https://commons.wikimedia.org