Auspices From History

 

The auspices of the ultimate victory of Islam are not restricted to the Qur’anic texts and the numerous Prophetic hadiths that fill the heart with the belief that tomorrow belongs to this great religion. Moreover, we find in historical and past events reasons that overfill our hearts with belief and hope for the future, in spite of the obstacles that currently block its way and the horrible impediments that hinder its arousal. The lion’s share in these obstacles is the fabrication of external enemies and the rest of internal adversaries. Amazingly, most of these adversaries bear the name of Islam, but – in reality – they joined the battalions of its fighters. For neither do they wish that its Shari‘ah [Islamic Law] governs, nor that Islamic values prevail, nor that its word reigns supreme.

 

Two Great Facts from History

 

More than enough for us to know from the auspices of history generally and ours specifically – that begins with the noble biography of our Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) – two certainties of utmost importance concerning the topic we are investigating.

 

Bestowal of Victory When Direly Needed

 

The first certainty: is that Allah only grants victory when people are in utmost need of it and have rid themselves of the belief in their own power and might and have resorted to the Power and Might of Allah. When all doors are shut in their faces save His Door, and when all their resources are cut off save His. Only then they will entreat Allah with the supplication of the distressed and resort to Him like the poor and He, all Praises be to Him, certainly answers the supplication of the distressed when he calls upon Him and never disappoints he who needs and begs Him.

 

Indeed, a certainty that we all live in the Hijrah of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), when he took refuge in a cave wherein he hid himself together with his companion Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). The infidels kept looking for them until they reached the mouth of the cave and there Abu Bakr, pitying his companion and his sacred message, said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! If any of them looked beneath his feet he would certainly see us!’ Whereupon the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, ‘O Abu Bakr, what do you think of two Allah is their third?’   

 

The noble Qur’an narrates to us how Allah supported His Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) on that day and the forces through which He made him triumph. Allah The Most exalted says:

 

يقول الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

 

إِلاَّ تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لاَ تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللّهَ مَعَنَا فَأَنزَلَ اللّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ السُّفْلَى وَكَلِمَةُ اللّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا وَاللّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ {40}  (التوبة: 40)

 

The noble Qur’anic verse says what means:

 

“If you help him (Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace) not (it does not matter), for Allah did indeed help him when the disbelievers drove him out, the second of two, when they (Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him) were in the cave, and he (Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said to his companion (Abu Bakr): ‘Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allah is with us.’ Then Allah sent down His Sakînah (calmness, tranquillity, peace, etc.) upon him, and strengthened him with forces (angels) which you saw not, and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowermost, while it was the Word of Allah that became the uppermost, and Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (At-Tawbah, 9: 40)

 

We have witnessed such victory on the Day of the Battle of Badr, when Muslims were fewer than the infidels (less than the third of their army), weaker in military equipment (the Muslims had two horses while the infidels had one hundred), less psychologically prepared for undergoing war, for they left their homes for the caravans (of the Quraish in compensation for their properties which they were forced to leave behind at the time of their Hijrah to Mecca), not for war; fighting was not in their intention. Bearing upon that meaning the noble Qur’an says:

 

يقول الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

 

كَمَا أَخْرَجَكَ رَبُّكَ مِن بَيْتِكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقاً مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَكَارِهُونَ {5} يُجَادِلُونَكَ فِي الْحَقِّ بَعْدَمَا تَبَيَّنَ كَأَنَّمَا يُسَاقُونَ إِلَى الْمَوْتِ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ {6} (الأنفال: 5، 6)

 

The noble Qur’anic verses say what means:

 

"As your Lord caused you (O Muhammad) to go out from your home with the truth, and verily, a party among the believers disliked it; disputing with you concerning the truth after it was made manifest, as if they were being driven to death, while they were looking (at it).” (Al-Anfâl, 8: 5-6)

 

In spite of all this the believers won the battle when they cried for the Help of Allah and He readily answered them:

يقول الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

 

إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّي مُمِدُّكُم بِأَلْفٍ مِّنَ الْمَلآئِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ {9} وَمَا جَعَلَهُ اللّهُ إِلاَّ بُشْرَى وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ بِهِ قُلُوبُكُمْ وَمَا النَّصْرُ إِلاَّ مِنْ عِندِ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ

عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ {10} (الأنفال: 9، 10)

 

Almighty Allah says in His Noble Book what means:

 

“(Remember) when you sought help of your Lord and He answered you (saying): ‘I will help you with a thousand of the angels each behind the other (following one another) in succession.’ Allah made it only as glad tidings, and that your hearts be at rest therewith. And there is no victory except from Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.”  (Al-Anfâl, 8: 9-10)

 

On that day the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) supplicated His Lord many a time and begged Him importunately saying, “O Allah! (Please) fulfill what I begged for, O Allah! If that group is destroyed there will be none on the earth to worship You after today”!! And he kept on supplicating until his garment dropped off his shoulders while Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) kept saying to him, “I swear by Allah, O Messenger of Allah, Allah will indeed grant you victory.”

 

Verily, the Uppermost Hand of Allah, the One and Only, the Almighty, was mastering the battle from seven heavens above. Indeed, He is the One who arranged it, and appointed its place and time.

 

يقول الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

 

وَلَوْ تَوَاعَدتَّمْ لاَخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِي الْمِيعَادِ وَلَـكِن لِّيَقْضِيَ اللّهُ أَمْراً كَانَ مَفْعُولاً لِّيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَن بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَى مَنْ حَيَّ عَن بَيِّنَةٍ وَإِنَّ اللّهَ لَسَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ {42} (الأنفال: 42))الأنفال: 42)

 

Almighty Allah says in His Noble Book what means:

 

“Even if you had made a mutual appointment to meet, you would certainly have failed in the appointment, but (you met) that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained (in His Knowledge); so that those who were to be destroyed (for their rejecting the Faith) might be destroyed after a clear evidence, and those who were to live (i.e. believers) might live after a clear evidence. And surely, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.” (Al-Anfâl, 8: 42)

 

Verily, the hand of Supreme Destiny backed the hand of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) when he threw a handful of dust in the faces of the disbelievers. It was also backing the hands of the believers while killing the infidels as Allah, The Most Exalted, says:

 

يقول الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

 

فَلَمْ تَقْتُلُوهُمْ وَلَـكِنَّ اللّهَ قَتَلَهُمْ وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَـكِنَّ اللّهَ رَمَى (الأنفال: 17)(الأنفال: 17)

 

The noble Qur’anic verse says what means:

 

“You killed them not, but Allah killed them. And you (Muhammad) threw not when you did throw but Allah threw.” (Al-Anfâl, 8: 17)

 

Hence, Allah blessed His Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and the believers with victory in the Battle of Badr, as stated in the noble Qur’anic verse:

 

يقول الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

 

وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللّهُ بِبَدْرٍ وَأَنتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌ فَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ {123} (آل عمران: 123)

 

Almighty Allah says in His Noble Book what means:

 

“And Allah has already made you victorious at Badr, when you were a weak little force. So fear Allah much [abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and love Allah much, perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained] that you may be grateful.” )Âl-‘Imrân, 3: 123)

 

We have also witnessed such bestowal of victory on the Day of the Trench when the hardships the Muslims suffered intensified. The infidels invaded them on their own ground and mightily besieged them, so the Muslims dug a trench to protect themselves from their attacks. The Jews also betrayed them and joined the assailants. The noble Qur’an depicted the physical and psychological state of the Muslims during that critical time saying:

 

يقول الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

 

إِذْ جَاؤُوكُم مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ وَإِذْ زَاغَتْ الْأَبْصَارُ وَبَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ الظُّنُونَا {10} هُنَالِكَ ابْتُلِيَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَزُلْزِلُوا زِلْزَالًا شَدِيدًا {11} (الأحزاب: 10، 11)

 

The noble Qur’anic verses say what means:

 

“When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes grew wild and the hearts reached to the throats, and you were harbouring doubts about Allah. There, the believers were tried and shaken with a mighty shaking.” (Al-­Ahzâb, 33: 10-11)

 

There, the hypocrites dropped their masks and some of them uttered vicious words, which the Noble Qur’an has recorded against them:

 

يقول الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

 

وَإِذْ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ مَّا وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا {12} وَإِذْ قَالَت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَا أَهْلَ يَثْرِبَ لَا مُقَامَ لَكُمْ فَارْجِعُوا وَيَسْتَأْذِنُ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمُ النَّبِيَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ بُيُوتَنَا عَوْرَةٌ وَمَا هِيَ بِعَوْرَةٍ إِن يُرِيدُونَ إِلَّا فِرَارًا {13} (الأحزاب: 12، 13)

 

Almighty Allah says in His Noble Book what means:

 

“And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease (of doubts) said: ‘Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusions!’ And when a party of them said: ‘O people of Yathrib (Medina)! There is no stand (possible) for you (against the enemy attack!) Therefore go back!’ And a band of them ask for permission of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) saying: ‘Truly, our homes lie open (to the enemy).’ And they lay not open. They but wished to flee.” (Al-­Ahzâb, 33: 12-13)

 

During such a stifling ordeal and under such gloomy circumstances came the Victory of Almighty Allah. The Most Exalted and Ever-Majestic says in His Noble Book:

 

 يقول الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَاءتْكُمْ جُنُودٌ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا وَجُنُودًا لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرًا {9}(الأحزاب: 9)

 

The noble Qur’anic verse says what means:

 

“O you who believe! Remember Allah’s Favour to you, when there came against you hosts, and We sent against them a wind and forces that you saw not [i.e. troops of angels during the battle of Al­Ahzâb (the Confederates)]. And Allah is Ever All­-Seer of what you do.” (Al-­Ahzâb, 33: 9)

 

The Most Exalted also says in His Noble Book:

 

يقول الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

 

وَرَدَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِغَيْظِهِمْ لَمْ يَنَالُوا خَيْرًا وَكَفَى اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْقِتَالَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ قَوِيًّا عَزِيزًا {25} (الأحزاب: 25)

 

 

The noble Qur’anic verse says what means:

 

“And Allah drove back those who disbelieved in their rage, they gained no advantage (booty, etc.). Allah sufficed for the believers in the fighting (by sending against the disbelievers a severe wind and troops of angels). And Allah is Ever All­-Strong, Almighty.” (Al-­Ahzâb, 33: 25)

 

True, in the Battle of Hunain the Muslims were a huge army that conquered Mecca and defeated the Quraish, but they were deceived by their great number, whereupon Allah taught them a hard lesson to awaken them and make them learn that only Allah grants victory, and that the side whom Allah does not support is a loser, whereas the one whom Allah supports shall never be overcome.

 

يقول الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

 

لَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللّهُ فِي مَوَاطِنَ كَثِيرَةٍ وَيَوْمَ حُنَيْنٍ إِذْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ كَثْرَتُكُمْ فَلَمْ تُغْنِ عَنكُمْ شَيْئًا وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ ثُمَّ وَلَّيْتُم مُّدْبِرِينَ {25} ثُمَّ أَنَزلَ اللّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَعَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَنزَلَ جُنُودًا لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَعذَّبَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَذَلِكَ جَزَاء الْكَافِرِينَ {26} ثُمَّ يَتُوبُ اللّهُ مِن بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ عَلَى مَن يَشَاء وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ {27} (التوبة: 25، 27)

 

Almighty Allah says in His Noble Book what means:

 

“Truly Allah has given you victory on many battle fields, and on the Day of Hunain (battle) when you rejoiced at your great number but it availed you naught and the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for you, then you turned back in flight. Then Allah did send down His Sakînah (calmness, tranquillity and reassurance, etc.) on the Messenger (Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and on the believers, and sent down forces (angels) which you saw not, and punished the disbelievers. Such is the recompense of disbelievers. Then after that Allah will accept the repentance of whom He will. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”(At-Tawbah, 9: 25-27)

 

Thus, we see that the Victory of Allah is sent to His believing servants when there is no way out and earthly means have failed them, and they raise their hands towards heaven in appeal.

 

This is a steadfast certainty throughout the history of celestial messages and the history of all the Prophets, as clearly indicated by the Noble Qur’an in the verse before the last of Surat Yûsuf:

 

يقول الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

 

حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّواْ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُواْ جَاءهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّيَ مَن نَّشَاء وَلاَ يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ {110} (يوسف: 110)

 

Almighty Allah says in His Noble Book what means:

 

“(They were reprieved) until, when the Messengers gave up hope (of their people) and (their people) thought that they (the Messengers) lied, then came to them Our Help, and whomsoever We willed were delivered. And Our Punishment cannot be warded off from the people who are Mujrimûn (criminals, disobedients to Allah, sinners, disbelievers, polytheists).” (Yûsuf, 12: 110))

 

 

Strength of the Nation in Hardships

 

The second certainty: which we have learned from our history is the great psychological and spiritual supply that the nation treasures and only emerges at the time of distress and adversities.

 

History informs us that in Islam there is a hidden [self-enforcing] power that does not come forth except at the befalling of adversities and encirclement of hardships round about its nation. At that time, we see it the strongest, the firmest and the toughest it can ever be, and the ablest to bestir and evoke the hidden powers of its nation. Whenever opposed, it resists; even fought against and it triumphs. There, the apparent weakness that tempted the enemies converts to a mighty power, or rather to a conquering victorious power.

 

We have witnessed it at the dawn of Islamic history: on the Day of Badr, when the minority defeated the majority, and the poor financial ability conquered power, and Allah graced the believers, as the noble Qur’anic verse tells:

 

 

يقول الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

 

وَلَقَدْ نَصَرَكُمُ اللّهُ بِبَدْرٍ وَأَنتُمْ أَذِلَّةٌ فَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ {123} (آل عمران: 123)

 

“And Allah has already made you victorious at Badr, when you were a weak little force. So fear Allah much [abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and love Allah much, perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained] that you may be grateful.” (Âl-‘Imrân, 3: 123)

 

يقول الله تعالى في كتابه العزيز:

 

وَاذْكُرُواْ إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ تَخَافُونَ أَن يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ النَّاسُ فَآوَاكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُم بِنَصْرِهِ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ {26} (الأنفال: 26)

 

Almighty Allah says in His Noble Book what means:

 

“And remember when you were few and were reckoned weak in the land, and were afraid that men might kidnap you, but He provided a safe place for you, strengthened you with His Help, and provided you with good things so that you might be grateful.” (Al-Anfâl, 8: 26)

 

During the Wars Waged Against Apostasy

 

We have also witnessed such a victory after the death of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), when the Arabian tribes apostatized – except Mecca, Medina and At-Tâ’if – and there also emerged false claimants to prophecy from amongst the Arab soothsayers. Their tribes followed them out of partisanship, as they used to say, “The liar of Rabî‘ah is dearer to us than the honest man of Mudâr!” Amongst them were Musailamah, Sajâh Al-Aswad Al-‘Ansay, Tulaihah Al-Asaday and others. The withholders of the Zakâh (obligatory charity), who acknowledged offering the Prayers but denied paying the Zakâh, also joined them. Certainly, it was a turbulent sedition and a severe affliction that made some people say to Abu Bakr, ‘O successor of the Messenger of Allah! You do not have the power to fight all the Arabs, keep to your home, close your door, and worship your Lord until the inevitable comes unto you!!’

 

But Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), the tearful tenderhearted man, refused to give up. He stood as firm as a mountain, roared like a lion, and prepared eleven armies to fight the apostates and the withholders of the Zakâh. When ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) discussed with him fighting the withholders of the Zakâh, Abu Bakr, bearing in mind the hadith of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that says, “I have been ordered (by Allah: verses 38-39 from Surah Al-Anfâl: Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief) their past will be forgiven. But if they return (thereto), then the examples of those (punished) before them have already preceded (as a warning). And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world]) to fight the people until they say, ‘Lâ illâh ilâ Allâh (There is no god but Allah),’ 1if they say it, their blood and property would be guaranteed protection on my behalf except for (violating) its obligations (rights and conditions for which they should be justly punished) and their account is only with Allah (regarding the disbelief and sins they are concealing),” said to ‘Umar confidently and powerfully, “By Allah! I will fight those who differentiate between the Prayers and the Zakâh (by acknowledging the performance of Prayers while denying the payment of the Zakâh), for the Zakâh is the right enjoined in property. By Allah, if they withheld from me (the Zakâh due on) a she-kid – in another narration: a hobble – which they used to pay as Zakâh during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) I will fight them for it.”

 

Then battles broke out, where the Companions – in spite of their minority – fought against the apostates and the withholders of the Zakâh, despite being the majority, and they ended with the triumph of the believers over the apostates who returned to the shelter of Islam penitent and begging for forgiveness. They expiated their apostasy by joining the battalions of the strivers, who fought against the Persians and the Romans, and truly they were amongst the people who fought most courageously, atoning for the wrong they had committed against Islam.

 

Again, the Arabian Peninsula returned a fortress and a stronghold of Islam throughout centuries.

 

The Crusades

 

The power buried in Islam showed up once again when the Western European Christians marched towards it one and all, with their trinity and cross, in nine famous military expeditions known as The Crusades.

 

The crusading Western Europe marched, harboring black malice towards Islam and Muslims, coveting the prosperities of Islamic countries, aspiring to demolish its might and seize the heirdom of its sovereignty. Regretfully, it was backed by the indifference of Muslims and the indulgence of their rulers in pleasures, their dissension caused by the pursuit of worldly gains, their tenacious holding to rulership and the willingness of those worthless emirs to sell any of his brothers and buy the foreign intruder and to sell his entire nation and buy his emirate.

 

No wonder that the crusaders triumphed at the beginning and established kingdoms and emirates of their own in the homeland of Islam, in cooperation with the treacherous emirs, and succeeded in entering Jerusalem after a massacre wherein tens of thousands were killed in what was more akin to a knee-deep blood bath.

 

The crusaders haunted Shâm [The countries of the Levant, they include: Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan] for approximately two hundred years, whereas Jerusalem remained in their clutches for a full ninety years.

 

Then, for the sake of Islam, Allah paved the way for men who were firmly resolute to withstand the attack, bring back their usurped land and restore the ravished rights. Among them were ‘Imâd Al-Dîn Zanky and his hero son, Nûr Ad-Dîn Mahmoûd, who was reminiscent of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs in his biography, his courage, his commitment and his justice. And his disciple, the victorious leader, Salâh Al-Dîn Al-Ayyûby (Saladin), to whom Allah granted victory over the crusaders at the famous Battle of Hittîn (Hittin) and the Battle of the Conquest of Jerusalem and its return to the Islamic nation. Afterwards, battles were fought in Egypt, which ended in the capture of Louis IX in (Dar Ibn Luqmân) in Mansurah.

 

All what is aforementioned produces the evidence that the Islamic nation may slumber, may sicken but never dies as long as there runs in the veins of its children the blood of belief and as long as there exists those who lead it with Lâ illâh illâ Allâh, Muhammadun Rasûl Allâh (There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). 

 

The Tatars Wars 

 

As the Western European Christians invaded Islam from the West, the heathen Tatars invaded it from the East. They attacked the Muslims countries as the barren wind that spares nothing that it reaches, but blows it into broken spreads of rotten ruins.

 

They emerged when the Muslims were weak and disunited, lacking a strong leadership that unifies their battalions, or a religious arousal that awakens the people. At that time, the Tatars were a tyrannical military power governed by a fearsome obeyed leadership. They were impossible to be opposed by those torn kings, disunited emirs and self-indulgent rulers, so the Islamic countries fell into their grasp one after the other, and the emirs fled – or bowed in defeat – one after the other. Certainly, achieving one victory tempts to another, and one conquest prompts another, till the byword of that time was, “If you are told that the Tatars are defeated do not believe it!” It is the legend of [the invincible power] that recurs from time to time.

 

Finally, they marched towards the capital of the Ottoman Caliphate, Baghdad, the homeland of Islam and its most sublime states. Thus, its downfall was brought about under their aimed blows and through the help of the traitors who falsely ascribed themselves to Islam. Streams of blood flowed and the Tigris River blackened with the ink of the endless cultural books that were thrown into it, turning its water black as night.

 

Few years hardly passed by till the miracle of Islam was twice fulfilled: Islam conquered the Tatars militarily in one of the most conclusive battles of history, which is the Battle of ‘Ain Jâlût (Spring of Goliath) under the leadership of the Mamluke Commander, As-Sâlah Saifud-Dîn Qutuz, at whose hands Allah realized victory, along with the Egyptian soldiers on one of the days of Allah; on the twenty-fifth of Ramadan 658 A.H., only two years after the downfall of Baghdad.

 

Morally speaking, Islam achieved another victory, for those tyrants who invaded Islam were overtaken by Islam itself; all of a sudden the unsheathed sword of the invader dropped before the influence of the unarmed Islamic creed and the conquerors finally embraced the religion of the conquered!! A victory contrary to the prevalent and familiar conduct, as affirmed by Ibn Khaldûn, that the vanquished is the one always fond of imitating the triumphant victor.

 

Liberation Wars during the Modern Age

 

During the modern age we have witnessed the heroic struggling against the colonizing invaders in the rest of the Muslims homelands: the struggling of the Algerian leader, ‘Abdul-Qâdir, against the French in Algeria; the leader ‘Abdul-Karîm Al-Khattâby against the Spanish troops in Morocco; the hero ‘Umar Al-Mukhtâr against the Italians in Libya; sheikh ‘Azz Ad-Dîn Al-Qasâm against the English and the Jews in Palestine, together with the Algerian revolution against the French occupation, the glorious Palestinian Intifada [Palestinian heroic struggling to free the Muslim land] against the Jews and fighting against the British forces in the Suez canal.

 

The western historians themselves – as Bernard Louis in his book entitled (The West And The Middle East) – have admitted that the religious movements have conducted the liberation battles in the rest of Islamic counties against occupation, even against the anti-Islamic movement led by Kemal Ataturk. But regretfully, the Muslims sow and the secularists reap; they are thieves, skillfully trained to steal the ripe fruits of earnest struggling and the revolutions of the strivers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Islam came breaking the idols, fighting disbelief, heathenism and polytheism that Satan teaches to mankind, so that worship will all be for Allah Alone in the whole of the world. It is not a fight for the sake of power or authority but for the sake of raising the Word of Allah the highest and uprooting disbelief, atheism and polytheism form earth. Only dark souls, tenacious to disbelief, who desire that the ways of Satan and disbelief reign over earth, are ever to hate and resist it. (ed. emphasis)