الم * غُلِبَتِ الرُّومُ * فِي أَدْنَى الأَرْضِ وَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ غَلَبِهِمْ سَيَغْلِبُونَ * فِي أَدْنَى الأَرْضِ وَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ غَلَبِهِمْ سَيَغْلِبُونَ * فِي بِضْعِ سِنِينَ لِلَّهِ الأَمْرُ مِن قَبْلُ وَمِن بَعْدُ وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ [الروم: 1ـ4].
"Alif Lam Mim. The Romans have been defeated. In the nearest land, and they, after their defeat, will be victorious. In Bid`i years. The decision of the matter, before and after is only with Allah. And on that day, the believers will rejoice." [Surah Ar-Rum 30: 1-4]
Ibn Kathir writes in his Tafseer that these Ayaat were revealed at a time when the king of Neshapur overpowered Persia, Syria and the nearby cities of the islands and the king of Rome Hercules besieged himself within Constantinople. This siege remained for a long time, but finally the tables were turned and Hercules become victorious. It is recorded in Musnad Ahmad that Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated that Romans were defeated again and again and the Mushrikeen celebrated this a lot because the Persians were similar to these idol worshipers, whereas the Muslims wanted Romans to dominate because at least they were People of the Book. When Abu Bakr (ra) spoke about it with RasulAllah (saw) then he said that Romans will be victorious again soon. When Abu Bakar (ra) told this news to Mushrikeen, they said lets bet on it and set a time limit. If Romans do not get victorious then you will give us this many dinars and if they become victorious then we will give this much to you. And this was before the prohibition of betting. A five year limit was set and that limit expired but the Romans did not become victorious so Abu Bakr (ra) communicated the news to RasulAllah (saw) who said that why you did not set the limit to ten years. Saeed bin Jubair says that in Quran the word used for limit is Bidaa' (بِضْعِ) and this applies to ten years or less, therefore, the same happened and the Romans dominated again within ten years.
In these ayaat, Allah (swt) is making global politics a discussion and this discussion is being done when Kuffar are dominant. Even then the Sahaba (ra) were busy discussing global politics with Kuffar and RasulAllah (saw) was guiding the Sahabah (ra) in this matter which points to the fact that the viewpoint of Muslims since the beginning was not limited to a particular area rather it was global. After which, it is unquestionable that politics or global politics are merely worldly matters that should not be discussed by those who fear Allah (swt).
Here it is absolutely essential to understand that Muslims can defeat the conspiracies of the Kuffar and protect the Ummah from them when they gain a correct understanding of them. Hizb ut Tahrir in its book "Political Concepts" writes, "Keeping abreast with the policy of every state in the world is absolutely essential and a Muslim politician cannot live without it. It is very important for every Muslim to know in public style the nature, secrets, plans and styles of global powers and to have detailed and reality based understanding of these matters, the complete understanding of daily changing nature of political realities of global powers and their foundation and pillars. In this way, the goal of protecting Ummah from them becomes clear through which the path to protect the state and Muslim Ummah and propagation of Islamic dawah in the world is paved."
In this context, the most important point is that the global politics and its foundation should be understood through some basic rules. Firstly, the present status of existing countries in the global arena, their political plans and workings should be deeply studied. The understanding of the global arena is important so that we could know which countries dominate the world and influence global politics and which countries they directly control or influence.
Basically, in today's world there exists four types of state. Firstly, the one which is called superpower, a leading state, that acts as the most powerful state in the world and holds the capacity to influence other states, such as the US alone today, or USSR and USA previously, or Britain and France prior to that. Secondly, there are those subordinate states whose internal and foreign policies rely on other powerful states. The countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Mali are considered amongst those states. Thirdly, satellite states, such as Australia and Canada, whose domestic policy stays independent, however, most of the foreign policies rely upon others. The fourth kind of states are the ones who have independent foreign and domestic policies just like Britain, France, Germany, Russia and "Israel."
It is also important for us to know the political plans of the powerful countries and the goals and political styles which they adopt to implement them. For example, the invasion of Iraq, and providing legal cover for it at a local and global level, was part of the American strategy. To accomplish it, America relied upon different political styles in which the presence of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, the projection of the CIA report full of lies, creating a legal reasoning through UN of aggression, igniting Shia and Sunni conflict, including Shia factions as part of the government, and the use of Iranian and Syrian influence.
However, it is also important to understand that the political styles keep on changing according to the political strategy, whereas political strategy is changed only when all the adopted political styles fail and the political objectives are not achieved, or the political strategy itself becomes against the political objectives. For example, first China was provided aid to make it stand against Russia and then China was encircled to limit its influence by employing political styles.
A somewhat similar situation is that of America to keep her influence on Muslim world for which she keeps on changing the political styles as needed for example, the Muslim countries were controlled through military coups and other political actions, and now the control is being strengthened by attacking Muslim lands. Therefore, the target of our political struggle should be to uncover the political thoughts, political styles, and political plans of the oppressors.
Today, the situation of the land of Prophets, Syria, is such that the nations of the world are tearing it apart like hungry wolves. Whether it is America, Saudi Arabia, Russia or Iran - all of them have come together with a common purpose against the sincere revolution of Syria. This is the land where imperialists, according to their political plans, tested every political style to achieve their political strategy. However, the people of Syria are proving themselves as the aware vanguard Ummah, who are destroying every strategy and style of the imperialists. Whereas Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen etc. failed to deal with political conspiracies of the imperialist due to lack of wisdom and maturity. The political unrest in Syria for the past four years is evidence of the fact that the Ummah develops political awareness and maturity when she is consistently given dawah towards Islam.
To understand the current situation of Syria, it is essential to understand Syria's political status and background. Syria under the leadership of Hafiz al Assad and his son Bashar al Assad for the past forty years has been under US influence. However, some people may get effected by the rhetoric and political statements of the political leaders, and start to believe that the Syrian rulers are anti-America. For example, in May 2014 America put economic sanctions upon Syria by alleging that Syria has failed to stop the militants entering Iraq. Through comprehensive analysis, it becomes clear that Syria under the leadership of Al-Assad family has always remained agent of America. The support of Syria to America in the Gulf War against Iraq is a clear evidence of that. Syria was the only democratic Arab country who in the first Gulf War supported America against Iraq and sent her troops to support Operation Desert Storm.
Syria also extensively supported America against Islamists and it was admitted by the American intelligence agency, the CIA, that through Syria, America received the kind of information which America had never expected. Syria was the one who offered friendship to "Israel". The extent of Syria's friendship is that when "Israel" in 2007 destroyed Syrian nuclear reactors through air raids, Bashar al Assad did not even bother to make a reasonable response. What could be a better example of America and Syria's alliance that when Bashar al-Assad continuously bombarded Syria for three and a half years, America did not even show any concern. Moreover, when the rebels become able to uproot Bashar al Assad, America worked to undermine the rebels. However, the people of Syria at every juncture proved to be informed and caused American political objectives to fail and made America change her political plans.
The point to reflect is that is it not the fruit of a month or a year, but the struggle of many years. After the demonstrations of March 2011, when the matter reached the throne of Bashar Al Assad, the traitors amongst the political leaders realized that through offering alternative leadership, they could try to deceive the Syrian people as has been attempted in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. To accomplish this plan, America started lining up Bashar's opponents. In October 2011, a Syrian National Council was formed. In November, the Arab League suspended Syria's membership and put sanctions on it in order to pressurize Bashar al Assad, so as to put him in the back burner and to prepare his replacement.
Since the beginning of Syrian revolution, Hizb ut Tahrir had strong roots amongst people and had been guiding the revolutionaries. On Nov 2nd, 2011 Hizb ut Tahrir uncovered this plot of Kuffars through its platform, "America through her tool Arab League is providing time to the Syrian Government so that they can shed more blood of innocent people and in the meantime an alternative to Bashar can be identified."
The sincere revolutionary leaders were being repeatedly reminded of the message of Allah (swt) that وَلَا تَرْكَنُوا إِلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا فَتَمَسَّكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّـهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءَ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ "And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire, and you would not have other than Allah any protectors; then you would not be helped." [Surah Hud: 11-113].
On the other side, the UN Security Council in March 2012 endorsed the unconditional peace agreement of Kofi Annan for which Russia and China also declared their support, however, the blood bath still continued. After the resignation of Kofi Annan, UN appointed Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi as a special envoy of UN and Arab league for Syria.
When the Geneva Convention was held in June 2012, fifty thousand people had already died. In June 2012, Hizb ut Tahrir in its address to Ummah exposed the convention and explained that "the approval of Geneva agreement would be the kind of stain which would not be removed - this will be a treachery with Ummah. Russia for his master is nothing more than a paid servant."
America was stationed at all four borders of Syria meaning Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq, whereas Russian presence was negligible. However, Russia remained an ally with US in its every tactic in order to gain material benefit, curtail the rising wave of change in Muslim countries and its spread into Central Asia. Whereas, the American goal was clear that until an alternate leadership is identified, Syrians are to remain in a blood bath. To the extent that America, unlike Libya, did not insist on a no-fly zone on Syria to prevent the loss of life occurring due to aerial bombing by the regime.
In November 2012, the so-called opposition parties gathered together in Qatar under the umbrella of revolutionary and opposition forces calling for establishment of democracy. In 2012, America, Britain, France, Turkey, and Gulf states tried to establish Syrian National Council under the leadership of Maaz al Khateeb as a representative of Syrian people. On that occasion Hizb ut Tahrir made it clear for the Ummah that "This is a devious plot which has been prepared by America and her allies. After massive killings in Syria, the enemy wants to pressurize us to accept this puppet coalition."
And Alhamdullilah the proud people of Syria by positively responding to the sincere call of Hizb ut Tahrir completely rejected the Syrian opposition coalition. The Nusrah front and At-Tawheed, the two most important groups on the ground confronting Bashar al Assad, rejected the alliance and clarified that they want an Islamic State, not a democratic state. They set aside the Syrian national flag and starting raising ar-Raya and al-Liwa'a. After witnessing the constant failure of the plans, the leader of the opposition alliance Maaz al Khateeb resigned and disclosed that some external elements want to get their job done through the opposition alliance.
After which, on 13th March 2013, Hizb ut Tahrir warned the Ummah with the words of Allah (swt) (وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّتِي نَقَضَتْ غَزْلَهَا مِنْ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ) "And do not be like she who untwisted her spun thread after it was strong ..." [Surah Nahl: 92]
After the failure of the Syrian National Council, America started spending on Syrian secular brigades. In May 2013, the Washington Post published news that "the U.S. administration headed by Barack Obama is betting on Salim Idris." The newspaper further wrote, "He is the cornerstone of the strategy of the new U.S. administration because of his responsible and moderate position". In response to this, Saleem Idris wrote a letter to Obama and expressed that "Salim Idris sent a message to President Obama expressing his understanding of the cautious position of America of intervention in Syria, and requested American financial support and training and expressed his readiness to face the Jihadi groups."
Asides these plans, the Americans made efforts to use Iran and "Hizb-e-Iran" to give the Syrian revolution a sectarian color. Iran presented an excuse to her people that Iran's support to Bashar al Assad is actually to protect sacred monuments in Syria. In Qaseer, an area between Homs and the Lebanese border, the fight had started between "Hizb-e-Iran" and militant groups. In this way America sought to give the revolution against oppression a sectarian color in order to protect the government of Bashar al Assad.
Also, "Israel" had also openly come against Syrian people. On 7th May 2013, Hizb ut Tahrir addressed the Ummah and confirmed the Israeli bombings in the areas where revolutionaries were strong, saying ""Israeli planes" bombed Syria on 5th May 2013. Indeed, Bashar's government do not see Jews, America and their allies as enemies, rather, their enemies are only the people of Syria. And this is the game which America and her allies play where they replace one agent with another."
On the one hand there were the atrocities of Bashar's army and on the other hand America was busy employing its political trickery. Instead of George Sabra, Saudi backed Ahmed Jarba had assumed responsibilities as the interim head of Syrian Alliance. Whereas the interim prime minister resigned from his position by saying that he cannot establish rule over rebel areas.
In the meantime, despite America's several verbal claims and threats, on August 2013, Bashar al Assad carried out a chemical attack on Ghouta, an area in the capital city of Syria, where approximately 300 people died. According to America, this was its self-proclaimed red line and US president Barack Obama had given threats to Bashar al Assad several times about the repercussions of crossing it. However, it has been 18 months since the attacks and not a single American plane was flown against Bashar al Assad. The whole drama of chemical weapons was only staged to destroy the chemical weapons in Syria and prevent the coming Khilafah "Caliphate" to have the capability to fight against Kuffar strongly. However, they have forgotten that war is not fought based on military might alone, rather it is fought with the strength of Iman.
The revived people of Syria had been constantly making the conspiracies of the enemies fail, whether concerning the struggle against Bashar or on the international diplomacy front. The failure of Geneva Conference 2 in the beginning of 2014 is a clear evidence of that, when the Syrian authority refused to talk about interim government. Hizb ut Tahrir continued to guide the Ummah, saying, "The people of Syria will have to hold the rope of Allah tight and will have to have a firm believe that the victory is from Allah alone. You will have to maintain this revolution transparent and extremely clear - the revolution which was started by saying that ‘This is for Allah alone, this is for Allah alone' and to not allow the sale of this revolution on the negotiating tables of Geneva Conference and to remember this message of Allah (swt ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ بِطَانَةً مِّن دُونِكُمْ لاَ يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالاً وَدُّواْ مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ الْبَغْضَاء مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِي صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الآيَاتِ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ "O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves, for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason. [Surah Ale-Imran: 118]." And indeed the slogan of Ummah also was "The People Want Khilafah "Caliphate" Again."
The American backed FSA had also failed miserably. The Islamists had uprooted its presence. Considering subsequent setbacks, the leadership of FSA was handed over from Saleem Idris to Brigadier Abdullah al Bashir. However, the setbacks continued. All political gimmickry had failed and therefore it was necessary to make basic changes in the strategy. Then we saw that America under the guise of attacking the militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) finally attacked Syria directly. However, this was not something new for the Ummah, as the Ameer of Hizb ut Tahrir Sheikh Ata bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah in May 2013 had already warned about America's frustrations. The Ameer of Hizb ut Tahrir had clarified, "Despite providing extensive coverage to the secular elements of media, the secular voices had grounded and America had become extremely anxious because of the rising call for Khilafah "Caliphate"."
The situation continuously worsened for America and her allies. The Ameer of Hizb ut Tahrir had already uncovered this reality eighteen months ago that America is focusing on a specific agenda after witnessing the situation which was getting out of their control. Bashar al Assad was given free hand to murder so that people could be compelled to follow the American plans for the establishment of a secular civil state could be established in Syria. Then by establishing and maintaining the complete state structure and democratic system, the faces could be changed. However, the Kuffar and its agents always had to face defeat at the hands of a revived Ummah. Maaz al Khateeb, George Sabra, Ahmed Jabra, interim Prime Minister Ghusan Heto, Salim Idrees, Abdullah al Bashir, Kofi Annan, Lakhdar Brahimi, Geneva 1, Geneva 2 etc. - all these plans of Kuffar were brought to dust by the people of Syria.
In case of the failure of their first plan, their second plan was that if they failed to remove Bashar al Assad from his position, through their allied rebels or opposition, then through global intervention, their favored government will be selected. The Kuffar thought that if both these plans failed, then the situation would worsen so much, and the destruction would be so much, that even if Islam become dominant, the Ummah will be so disheartened that despite wishing to acquire revival, they will not be able to step forward for its implementation.
However, Kuffar and their followers failed to understand that this is the best Ummah which has been chosen for the leadership of the world and in this Ummah there are still people who strive for the Ummah's revival and will cause all the plans of Kuffar and hypocrites to fail. They don't know that this is the same Ummah which brought the Romans and Persians to the ground, made crusaders realize their actual and struck terror in the heart of Jews and Hindus. The message of the Lord of the Universe cannot be denied كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم مِّنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ "You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient." [Surah Ale-Imran: 110].
Allah (swt) has blessed the Muslim Ummah with all, that which makes it distinguished from all other nations. There is always a need to have informed and aware political personalities and groups who keep the Ummah aware of the plans of Kuffar. And this informed and aware Hizb also has the responsibility that it strengthens her root in the Ummah and creates strong ties with every level of the Ummah, so that the Ummah moves ahead with the Hizb and continues to ruin the wicked plans of the Kuffar. Being the sons of the Ummah, it is our responsibility that we carry the Dawah in best possible manner, become the best politicians and take this Ummah to the destination it deserves. This action will bring honour in this world and raise us in the Hereafter inshaaAllah with the Shuhada, Siddiqeen, and Saleeheen. Izzah and Zillah are indeed from Allah (swt).
Adi bin Hatim narrated that Rasul Allah (saw) said
عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ، قَالَ بَيْنَا أَنَا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ، صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَشَكَا إِلَيْهِ الْفَاقَةَ، ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ آخَرُ، فَشَكَا قَطْعَ السَّبِيلِ. فَقَالَ «يَا عَدِيُّ هَلْ رَأَيْتَ الْحِيرَةَ». قُلْتُ لَمْ أَرَهَا وَقَدْ أُنْبِئْتُ عَنْهَا. قَالَ «فَإِنْ طَالَتْ بِكَ حَيَاةٌ لَتَرَيَنَّ الظَّعِينَةَ تَرْتَحِلُ مِنَ الْحِيرَةِ، حَتَّى تَطُوفَ بِالْكَعْبَةِ، لاَ تَخَافُ أَحَدًا إِلاَّ اللَّهَ» ـ قُلْتُ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ نَفْسِي فَأَيْنَ دُعَّارُ طَيِّئٍ الَّذِينَ قَدْ سَعَّرُوا الْبِلاَدَ «وَلَئِنْ طَالَتْ بِكَ حَيَاةٌ لَتُفْتَحَنَّ كُنُوزُ كِسْرَى». قُلْتُ كِسْرَى بْنِ هُرْمُزَ قَالَ «كِسْرَى بْنِ هُرْمُزَ، وَلَئِنْ طَالَتْ بِكَ حَيَاةٌ، لَتَرَيَنَّ الرَّجُلَ يُخْرِجُ مِلْءَ كَفِّهِ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ أَوْ فِضَّةٍ، يَطْلُبُ مَنْ يَقْبَلُهُ مِنْهُ، فَلاَ يَجِدُ أَحَدًا يَقْبَلُهُ مِنْهُ، وَلَيَلْقَيَنَّ اللَّهَ أَحَدُكُمْ يَوْمَ يَلْقَاهُ، وَلَيْسَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهُ تُرْجُمَانٌ يُتَرْجِمُ لَهُ. فَيَقُولَنَّ أَلَمْ أَبْعَثْ إِلَيْكَ رَسُولاً فَيُبَلِّغَكَ فَيَقُولُ بَلَى. فَيَقُولُ أَلَمْ أُعْطِكَ مَالاً وَأُفْضِلْ عَلَيْكَ فَيَقُولُ بَلَى. فَيَنْظُرُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فَلاَ يَرَى إِلاَّ جَهَنَّمَ، وَيَنْظُرُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَلاَ يَرَى إِلاَّ جَهَنَّمَ». قَالَ عَدِيٌّ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ «اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقَّةِ تَمْرَةٍ، فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ شِقَّةَ تَمْرَةٍ فَبِكَلِمَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ». قَالَ عَدِيٌّ فَرَأَيْتُ الظَّعِينَةَ تَرْتَحِلُ مِنَ الْحِيرَةِ حَتَّى تَطُوفَ بِالْكَعْبَةِ، لاَ تَخَافُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ، وَكُنْتُ فِيمَنِ افْتَتَحَ كُنُوزَ كِسْرَى بْنِ هُرْمُزَ، وَلَئِنْ طَالَتْ بِكُمْ حَيَاةٌ لَتَرَوُنَّ مَا قَالَ النَّبِيُّ أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ صلى الله عليه وسلم «يُخْرِجُ مِلْءَ كَفِّهِ».
"While I was in the city of the Prophet, a man came and complained to him (the Prophet,) of destitution and poverty. Then another man came and complained of robbery (by highwaymen). The Prophet said, "Adi! Have you been to Al-Hira?" I said, "I haven't been to it, but I was informed about it." He said, "If you should live for a long time, you will certainly see that a lady in a Howdah traveling from Al-Hira will (safely reach Mecca and) perform the Tawaf of the Ka'ba, fearing none but Allah." I said to myself, "What will happen to the robbers of the tribe of Tai who have spread evil through out the country?" The Prophet further said. "If you should live long, the treasures of Khosrau will be opened (and taken as spoils)." I asked, "You mean Khosrau, son of Hurmuz?" He said, "Khosrau, son of Hurmuz; and if you should live long, you will see that one will carry a handful of gold or silver and go out looking for a person to accept it from him, but will find none to accept it from him. And any of you, when meeting Allah, will meet Him without needing an interpreter between him and Allah to interpret for him, and Allah will say to him: 'Didn't I send a messenger to teach you?' He will say: 'Yes.' Allah will say: 'Didn't I give you wealth and do you favors?' He will say: 'Yes.' Then he will look to his right and see nothing but Hell, and look to his left and see nothing but Hell." 'Adi further said: I heard the Prophet saying, "Save yourself from the (Hell) Fire even with half a date (to be given in charity) and if you do not find a half date, then with a good pleasant word." 'Adi added: (later on) I saw a lady in a Howdah traveling from Al-Hira till she performed the Tawaf of the Ka'ba, fearing none but Allah. And I was one of those who opened (conquered) the treasures of Khosrau, son of Hurmuz. If you should live long, you will see what the Prophet Abu-l-Qasim had said: 'A person will come out with a handful. of gold...etc." (Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 56, Number 793)
We also believe that Rasul Allah's (saw) prophecy «ثم تكون خلافة على منهاج النبوة» "The establishment of Khilafah "Caliphate" on the way of Prophethood" will come true soon inshaaAllah.
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Engineer Umair, Pakistan
