By Malam Yusuf Abdullahi
In the name of Allah who states "And if two parties of the believers quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them acts wrongfully towards the other, fight that which acts wrongfully until it returns to Allah’s command; then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allah loves those who act equitably" Q49:9
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His chosen servant, our master Muhammad and his purified progeny.
The months of Rajab, Shaaban and Ramadhan are very eventful going by historical events and related activities. Muslims are generally encouraged to work harder to achieve the pleasure of Allah particularly at this time. The piece for this week is on the unfortunate Saudi – led, American – backed strikes against Yemen which has taken a number of months claiming thousands of innocent lives and destruction worth billions of dollar!
To the best of my belief and knowledge, the article was very objective expecting no retort from any party through misinterpretation, partisan or sectarian inclinations. Rallies were recently organised to condemn the strikes on the poorest and helpless Arab nation in the Middle – east by the richest. Starting from Central London, Geneva to Indonesia, the rallies were either initiated or highly influenced by the London – based Islamic human rights commission (IHRC).
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has organised similar events particularly in Zaria and Kano. Generally speaking, the rationale behind the campaign was to express solidarity with Yemen as a sovereign nation for aggression against its honor and to create public awareness on the urgent need for justice to reign not only in the Middle – east but the world in general. The enemies of Islam propagate lots of propaganda to blackmail the religion and incite Muslims against themselves especially in the name of Shi’ah/Sunnah. This is what the enemies always propagate regarding the Yemeni crises accusing Iran which is part of the region of supporting Houthi which it always denied. At the same time, Western powers above all America have been in the region mingling with their popular allies trading their dangerous weapons / consultancy in the name of peace keeping! Although every Muslim could be likened to one jurisprudential school or the other, the unfortunate crises should be objectively studied from the Shari’ah point of view as Islam absolutely enjoins justice and negates oppression irrespective of the angle it emanates. From the teachings of this religion, we were taught to condemn tyranny and oppression at all places and times. The issue is therefore not Shi’ah/Sunna or Iran/Saudi but a problem needing urgent attention of all Muslims. It is good to be objective on the criteria primarily given by the noble Qur’an and the practical approach demonstrated by the prophetic tradition. At this juncture, I will briefly look at the problem from two angles; the role of the International community or the West – controlled United nations and most importantly as it affects the Muslim – Ummah. However, it will be good to have a geographical glance at Yemen, the subject of our discouse;
A BRIEF ON YEMEN
The country occupies the southwestern corner of the Arabian peninsula in the Middle – east covering an area of about 527,970 sq km. With sparse population mainly rural, the 2008 headcount put its size at 23,013,376 with average density of 44 persons per sq km. To the west, the country boarders Red sea, Gulf of Aden to the south, separated by strait of Mandeb from Africa and Saudi Arabia and Oman to the north and north – east respectively. Over the centuries, the economy of the country was largely agricultural. Variety of cheap goods were also imported by traders from other countries. In many parts of its historic life, Yemen had largely depended on Saudi – Arabia, other Gulf countries and of course western industrial plants. The country was created with the union of the two earlier republics in 1990. Yemen was hitherto referred as forgotten land and remains the poorest country in the region despite the discovery of petroleum in the late 20th century. The country had a long and bitter political history with civil war claiming thousands of lives and wanton destruction of invaluable property.
The world has apparently witnessed how the country reflected in the popular Arab spring which could be likened to a grand revolutionary process steadily in making. For quite long now, the death toll has alarmingly risen due to continuous Saudi – led raids, the spiritual centre of Islam, fully backed by America. How could such bombardment against a poverty – stricken nation bring peace to the region? And how could such action from the spiritual centre of Islam enhance security and improve diplomatic ties with its neighbours? No doubt, the crises in Yemen should be primarily and peacefully resolved by the Yemenis or judicious intervention of the international community.
THE UNITED NATIONS Looking at human diversity and his oppressive trends, the world designed a manual to man and police its affairs on the principle of equity and justice. Chapter 1: Purposes and principles – article 1 To maintain international peace and security, and to that end; to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace: To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights, self – determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace: To achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion: and, to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends. And for this end: to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors. to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security. to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples.
To what extent the world powers work to actualize these ends could be thought provoking but not the expatiated aspect of this discussion! MUSLIMS MUST BE UNITED No doubt, Muslim world has been strategically thrown into apparently unending crises from within and outside. That is why the Ummah becomes a laughing stock of its enemies despite its numeric strength, colossal resources and history. Look at Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Algeria, Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan, Morocco, Somalia, Nigeria, Myanmar, Niger and Yemen, the subject matter. Beside hitherto physical attacks of the enemy and creation of terrorist groups that blackmail Islam and massacres Muslims across the world, most unfortunate, Muslims are incited against one another. Unfortunately, the Saudi – kingdom bombards Yemen for a considerable time killing women and children! Under whose fatwa did the offensive start? Could such military strike solve the crises? In the end, what could be the cost benefit analysis? And what a profitable weapon trade for the West in all the Muslim world unending crises! Why can’t the Muslims reconcile themselves in the event of any crisis as indicated by the verse above? What is the right role of Muslim scholars and intellectuals vis a vis the unfortunate situation? "And do not incline to those who are unjust, lest the fire touch you, and you have no guardians besides Allah, then you shall not be helped" Q11 :113 The Muslim world is in better position to solve its problem. Allah Has emphatically warned the Ummah against disunity. It is very disheartening that some leaders of the Muslim world are completely subservient to West looking for solution where it is not. Allah the most high states “You are the best community raised for the good of mankind. You enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong, and you believe in Allah” Q3:110 So the Sunnis should embrace their Shiite brothers in the interest of Islam because as against the Western relation with those handling the affairs of the Muslim countries which is a marriage of convenience the Shi’ah /Sunna is perpetually religious. "The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you" Q49:10 Lebanon is an Arab country with significant Shi’ah/Sunna and Druze that experienced series of religious/sectarian crises and later resolved to be their brothers’ keepers.
As such, they understood and accommodated their differences thereby appreciating each other. “Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving clear signs; for them is a clear chastisement” Q3:105 Appreciably, I discussed with two friends; Shiite and Sunni both Shaikh, the Sunni, a judge and the Shi’ite whose wife was a Sunni living happily together with their children. I was highly impressed with the level of that understanding and brotherhood. Muslims all over the world must come together and learn to do the same!
Wassalamu alaikum.