This year, up to a week after Eid ul Fitri, 719 people were reported to have died, 1184 seriously injured, and 4326 people slightly injured, due to 3279 transportation accidents during the Eid's exodus flow of people in Indonesia travelling to visit their families for the celebration. Each year, in this, the largest Muslim country in the world, around 40 million residents of big cities in Indonesia make an annual homecoming (locally known as "mudik") heading to their hometowns by various modes of transportation. This phenomenon is not much different from other Muslim countries, although the volumes of migration are different. In Bangladesh, for example, the third largest Muslim country after Indonesia and Pakistan, more than 12 million Bangladeshi Muslims leave the city of Dhaka for the villages every year at the time of Eid ul Fitri. At the same time, Bangladesh experiences a high rate of ferry accidents due to poor ship quality and the number of passengers travelling on them in excess of capacity.

Muslim families in various countries, especially in Indonesia, have a strong annual tradition of visiting and spending time with their families during the Eid celebration, which originates from the Islamic understanding, as expressed by Rasulllah (saw);

" زر غبا تزدد حبا"

"Visit each other [for a short visit] sometimes and love will increase" (HR Ath Thabrani & Al Baihaqi)

Unfortunately, this good tradition costs hundreds of lives each year, caused by the capitalistic economic policies of governments in the Muslim countries. The phenomenon of huge traffic accidents is actually an indication of ‘a clear economic gap' between rural and urban areas, as well as a ‘clear evidence' of the incompetence of Muslim regimes in investing in the development of people-oriented infrastructure.

The Poor Development Vision of Capitalist States in Securing Welfare for Its People

In the context of this homecoming phenomenon, there are two strong indications that clearly show that the governments of Muslim countries do not have any strong vision to seriously secure the welfare of their people:

1. Development Gaps between Urban and Rural Areas

The Capitalistic development model is only growth-oriented, therefore more economic investment is geared to serve the urban areas that have a relatively rapid growth. Moreover, developing countries like Indonesia, that always swallow the doctrine of the capitalism economy, only concentrate economic development on the industrial sector that requires expensive investment in order to pursue growth. As a result, other sectors such as agriculture, are abandoned and eventually the development itself is concentrated in the cities, without considering the concept of area planning based on the distribution of welfare for the people in all areas of the country - urban and rural alike. A ridiculous paradox is present in the fact that despite this poor distribution of welfare affecting many parts of the state, the Indonesian authorities are still considered to have made a great achievement in the past decade simply due to being one of the top three countries with the best economic growth in the world. However, almost 90 percent of the villages are poor, and the economic gap between the rural and the urban areas has continued to widen, alongside increasing poverty levels in many parts of the country. Ironic!

2. The Lack of State Investment in the Development of Transportation Infrastructure

In the view of the capitalist in the provision of public services such as transportation, the state only serves as a facilitator, while the operator or executor is left to the market mechanisms, in other words, managed by the private sector. As a consequence, the price of public transportation tickets are expensive but the service is not good. In order to pursue profit, it is not uncommon that forms of public transportations that are not roadworthy and prone to accidents remain in operation, ignoring the safety of passengers. For the reason of limited funds, the infrastructure is left neglected, while thousands of kilometers of damaged roads, many full of dangerous pot-holes have been left without repair for many years. Hence this principle of economic development that relies on the private sector, is an invitation to the economic imperialism of Muslim lands, for it allows foreign corporations to control all strategic investments including natural resources in the name of ‘aiding investment and development' in states. Hence the Muslims would be colonized in their own country.

The Impact of Capitalistic Development on Muslim Families

The homecoming tradition in Indonesia and Bangladesh in itself is actually a reflection of economic inequality and mass poverty caused by capitalism and its flawed development philosophy and policies which have inevitably impacted the institution of the Muslim family. Many Muslim families are forced economically to live in the urban areas, struggling to meet their needs while also being separated from their big families in other parts of the country. This phenomenon occurs systemically because life facilities and employment opportunities are concentrated in big cities, therefore most people have to travel far away from their families to meet the needs of daily life, often risking their lives just to meet their basic needs, or are even forced to migrate hundreds of kilometers away, leaving their family just to earn crumbs.

The migration from rural to urban areas, from one area to another, as well as migration across national borders of a country in the context of the growing "global cities" or new urban areas, or buffer areas to support the rapid industrial urbanization; are all characteristic of capitalistic development. All this would definitely cause a significant adverse impact on the structure of the Muslim families in the Muslim countries, which is a natural consequence of Capitalism which inherently puts liberal materialistic values ​​over the harmony of family units in society.

Among the effects are: First, it separates family members from their family; and the most crucial is if the children are separated from their mother. It is reflected on the forms of urban families where the husband and wife work in the big city while the children live with grandparents or relatives in the village. The most frightening consequence is the destruction of future generations, because instead of attention being placed on the upbringing of their children, the focus of the mothers is on their jobs that often demands them to be separated from their children. Second, it weakens the institution of Muslim marriages and families as seen from the increasing numbers of divorce, the shifting role of the mother into breadwinner, the phenomenon of husband and wife living separately, the high rate of single parent families, and so on.

The Economic Development Principles of the Khilafah "Caliphate": Strengthens the Family Structure

Islam is diametrically different from the capitalist ideology. Islam as an ideology strongly rejects the values of materialism and hedonism that come from the point of view of Capitalism. The true Islamic society under the Khilafah "Caliphate" system is built purely upon Islam that has a primary focus on the implementation of God's laws, as according to the Words of Allah (swt):

((وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ))

"I have only created jinn and men so that they may worship Me." [TMQ Adz-Dzariyyat: 56]

Islam builds its society upon the foundation of the Islamic Aqeedah. Its view of the purpose of life is to obey the Commandments of Allah and avoid His prohibitions, and its view of happiness is seeking the Pleasure of Allah (swt). The Islamic value system creates a distinctive identity in the community, which defines the status of people upon their taqwa, and not their wealth or any other physical attributes.

Islam also stands in stark contrast to the capitalist system that curbs the role of the state and emphasizes the role of the market. Islam is precisely the opposite. The state has a major and vital role in Islam in taking care of the needs of the people. Its main task is to serve and take care of the needs of every citizen, protect the vulnerable, and prevent any injustice.  The Prophet (saw) said,

"فَالْإِمَامُ الَّذِي عَلَى النَّاسِ رَاعٍ وَهُوَ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ"

"An Imam is a shepherd (ra'in) and he is responsible for those in his care."

The Khilafah "Caliphate" is a state which implements a sound economic system that rejects the flawed capitalist interest-based financial model, bans hoarding of wealth, and prohibits the privatization of natural resources as well as foreign party heavy investment in the development of infrastructure, agriculture, industry and technology. The foundation of its policies are directed to seeking an effective distribution of wealth in order to secure the basic needs of all citizens, and at the same time it is committed to ensuring the equitable and affordable economic development in all its territories, so that people do not need travel far just to meet their basic needs.

The blessed, just and prosperous economic development is on the shoulders of the Khalifah. However this development policy of the state is shaped upon the Islamic Shariah which determines the purpose of economic development in the Islamic Khilafah "Caliphate", which are:

1.    Securing the shar'i rights of the people, i.e. protecting religion, life, honor, mind and property which are considered as adh-Dharuriyat al-Khamsu (five emergency matters) in human life.  So if the development policy runs contrary to or undermines the religion, life, honor, mind and property of the people, then each violation is considered a crime that should be punished by the established Shariah Law, according to the type of violation.

2.    Establishing Islamic societies. Related to this, if the development policy harms or destroys the Islamic thoughts and feelings of the society, including damaging or harming the Muslim family structure in the society, then the policy is contrary to Islamic Shariah and declared as flawed and unacceptable economic development.

3.    Realizing the individual prosperity of the people. Indicators of prosperity in Islam is first ensuring fulfillment of the basic needs of individuals, so if there is one person alone who does not have their basic needs met, then the economic development policy would not be considered a success. Unlike under capitalism, it is not necessary to have millions of poor people before considering the economic development of a country a failure.

As a consequence, the Muslim family structure is maintained and the religion, life, honor, reason and property of the people is protected. Masha Allah!

The Khilafah "Caliphate" state is Responsible for the Strategic Infrastructure Investment

Imagine the mentality of a great leader like Umar bin Al-Khattab who stated: "I am the Amir Al Muuminin, and I am afraid that if a donkey trips on the road in Iraq, Allah will ask me why I didn't fix the road for the donkey". Such a mindset underlies the Khilafah "Caliphate"'s policy in carrying out its strategic infrastructure investment, which can be explained in the following 3 principle points (as written by Dr. Fahmi Amhar in the Homecoming Technology of the Khilafah "Caliphate"):

1.    Firstly, the principle that infrastructure development is the responsibility of the state and should not be handed over to private investors.

2.    Secondly, the principle that good development planning in the regions will reduce transport needs. When Baghdad was built as the capital city, every part of the city was planned only for a certain population, and there were adequate mosques, schools, libraries, parks, a wheat industry, and a commercial area for the people, in addition to stopovers for the wayfarers, and even separate public baths for men and women. Most citizens within the Khilafah "Caliphate" should not need to travel far to meet their daily needs as well as to study or work, because all the necessary facilities for life should be within a reasonable range of travel distance, and the standard of quality of all such facilities should be of good.

3.    Thirdly, the state should build public infrastructure using the latest technological standards in for example navigation technology, telecommunications, physical road management, up to the transportation equipment itself. Here are some historical examples of how the Khilafah "Caliphate" seriously invested in the cutting-edge technologies of the time:

• Navigation is absolutely necessary to ensure safe travel, and avoiding getting lost. For that purpose the Muslims learned astronomy and compass engineering in China, and developed the science of mapping. Hundreds of geographers explored all corners of the world and made a reportage of unique countries. As a result, the hajj journey and also travel for trade - both on land and sea - became more secure.
• Technology related to physical road management was also not left behind. Since 950, the roads were paved in Cordoba, regularly cleaned of dirt, and oil lamps lit in the night. Two hundred years later, ie in 1185, Paris became the first European city that mimicked Cordoba.
• Interestingly, until the 19th century the Khilafah "Caliphate" Uthmani was still consistent in developing the transportation infrastructure. When railway technologies were founded in Germany, the Khalifah immediately made ​​the decision to build a railway line, with the main purpose to facilitate the Hajj pilgrimage. Hajj is the season that involves the ritual of the largest movement of Muslims across the world, both to go on the pilgrimage to Mecca and the hajis journey back home to their hometowns. Therefore there is an exodus of people travelling during this season. In 1900, the Khalifah Sultan Abdul Hamid II announced the project "Hejaz Railway". This rail line stretched from Istanbul, the capital of the caliphate to Makkah, passing through Damascus, Jerusalem and Medina. The result of this project is that travel from Istanbul to Makkah which was initially 40 days, was cut to 5 days. Mashallah!

Thus, the Khilafah "Caliphate" will provide a comprehensive guarantee of a blessed, equitable, and prosperous economic development which will minimize inequality and destruction in the society and at the same time strengthen the Muslims' family structure, also benefitting the people. The Khilafah "Caliphate" will also provide the safe and adequate transportation infrastructure with advanced technology so that thousands of Muslims will Insha Allah no longer be victims of transportation accidents due to neglectful governance.

Fika Komara, M.Si

Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir

The Karzai presided corrupt and puppet government of Afghanistan has been implementing manmade laws on Muslims in Afghanistan since its establishment, which unquestionably contradict the noble values of Islam. Based on the corrupt capitalistic system, banks have spread and imposed usury and have encouraged the Muslims towards it, whilst Allah (swt) has declared usury (Riba) haram and His Messenger (saw) cursed the one who pays usury, one who takes it and the one who bears witness to it.

The American position has announced the decision to punitively strike the Syrian regime after Bashar made use of chemical weapons against civilians in Damascus on 8/21/2013 surprised the countries of the world. Some of these countries took a supportive position, declaring their willingness to join the international coalition that is to direct this strike under the lead of America. The wave of regional and international media undertook a change of direction, such that the talk about this intervention is the first topic that is making the round. Obama has described the chemical attack as "an important event that raised grave concern", announced America's intention to launch a military strike against strategic targets in Syria and opposed the call for military intervention in Syria without a UN mandate. The spokesman of the White House repeated what his president had stated earlier, in that he does not expect the deployment of U.S. troops on the ground in Syria. U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagel told reporters that "the Ministry of Defense is responsible for providing the president with options for each case of emergency." Pentagon officials said that the 4 destroyers of the U.S. Navy are on standby to carry out any order they are given concerning Syria within hours. The newspaper The Washington Post cited a military official that all destroyers are armed with about 90 winged Tomahawk rockets and that there are American submarines carrying winged missiles in the Mediterranean Sea, but their positions remain confidential.  A closed meeting of the leaders of the armies of ten countries was held in Amman to discuss the scenario of directing a military strike, and the Washington Post Newspaper in its issue from 8/27/2013 revealed that the process would depend "in its timing on three factors: the completion of the intelligence report that assesses the extent of the involvement of the Syrian government in the attack of last week, ongoing consultations with the allies and the  Congress, and the determination of the justification for the attack under international law."  America announced that the aim of the strike is to punish and discipline Bashar for his use of chemical weapons, but not to bring about a regime change. A senior official in the U.S. State Department said that the chemical attack showed the need for "a comprehensive political solution and lasting peace" to end the crisis in Syria.

In the presence of this crowd of international positions of pro-military strike, and the statements and actions of the American military, and the array of media effort to report on this strike, the Russian position dramatically plunged into humiliation. Moreover Lavrov's announcement that Russia would not enter into war for anyone, and the Russian announcement of its intention to vacate its military pieces from its naval base in Tartus in the event of the strike. More than 120 Russian nationals were evacuated, and Russia expressed its regrets for the cancellation of a meeting with the U.S. that was scheduled to be held in The Hague on 8/28/2013 in order to prepare the ground for the Geneva 2 Conference. As for Iran, it started rearing, puffing and threatening but quietly without causing noise, and it has to be mentioned that the American and UN political official, the fox Jeffrey Feltman, visited Tehran suggesting a scenario and distribution of roles.

America owns the sole influence in Syria, and its influence there is endangered by the revolution. In vain were all of the political and criminal and brutal tricks to destroy the revolution, America did not even succeed in securing an agent ruler as Bashar's alternative, not to mention its failure in the production of such an alternative. Now here comes America with another hellish plan to be implemented and carried out by it, no less criminal than the criminality and monstrosity of Bashar in robbing lives. This plan started with the chemical strike executed ​​by Bashar to be used as a justification for military intervention, and to thereby open the door of the political process leading to Geneva 2. A prominent member of the Syrian opposition exposed for the al-Sharq al-Awsat the features of an agreement between the opposition and those allied countries, and said that "the process will not eliminate the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but will bring to the negotiating table Geneva 2 exhaustively" and that "the Syrian president at the end of the negotiations and as a result will step down." To go even further, he also told al-Sharq al-Awsat that according to sources of the Syrian opposition the American side asked them to offer it a "bank of targets " to be used for the strike, and that meetings will be held between U.S. experts and members of the military councils to set the assumed goals.

It is likely that in such a meeting they will run through scenarios to eliminate Islamist fighters, the owners of the project to establish the Khilafah "Caliphate" state in Syria. Therefore the strike is expected to be limited and calculated, to strike the essential military infrastructure, so that the new Syria is one at peace with Israel. It will lead to the loss of many Muslim lives, as happened in Libya, and as it happens in Afghanistan when masses are killed by U.S. drones bombing civilians under the pretext of hitting the leaders of al-Qaida and the Taliban. America through its military dominance will impose itself as the main administrator of the dialogue, and it will impose its own project of solutions on the opposition and the regime as participants in the dialogue, as it will impose the sending of strong, effective international forces to cooperate with the national army to attack anyone who violates this project.

Further America will impose the preservation of the security services by which Bashar kills the Muslims, because they will guarantee the American grasp of the new regime. Finally America will set up international tribunals to bring to trial some of those known to have killed people, to silence the public and give them a sense of relief, as they did in Kosovo...

Oh Muslims in Syria ash-Sham and other Muslim countries:

America is the head of evil in the world; it is the worst enemy of the Muslims! America is now on the verge of committing massacres in Syria that will not be less than those committed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and you will see that they will assume the mission of mass murder against Muslims from Bashar, and with it will come an international mandate to kill, they will impose a secular constitution and agent rulers upon you... Today the same America is the weakest it has ever been in the region, it is threatened with loss of influence in the region. America is unable to stabilize the political situation through its clients in Egypt and Syria and it has made its bitter experience with the Muslims.  Now they claim that they do not want to occupy Syria, just as they did in Iraq and Afghanistan, rather America wants to impose its political agenda so as to achieve its interests without occupation... It is this America that loves to announce its refusal of intervention and fighting, and anyone who demands this is a traitor to his Deen and his Ummah... America came to save its interests and its agent Bashar who they still considered president, and will work to secure a safe exit for him, his family and his aides ... It is this America that is an enemy to you so take it for what it is! Unmask its agents with the strongest and clearest of words!  All of the murder, torture, displacement, hunger, humiliation and arrest you have suffered... It will not be compensated except by raising the word of Allah on earth ... It is this America that has let loose its henchmen on you and it wants to drag the world into the war against you and your Deen, and it will repeat this cycle over and over again.

Not one of you are excused for remaining silent for their intended crime, you are obligated to prohibit it!

Oh Muslims in Syria ash-Sham and other Muslim countries:

Allah's commands and prohibitions must be the measures of our actions. Allah has enjoined on the Muslims to embrace the Islamic project based on the establishment of a Khilafah "Caliphate" State. Look around you, is there any project that brings together the Muslims and unites them apart from this project and that will enable you to stand in the face of the American project?!  Is it without Allah that you could overcome the masses of Kufr, no matter how great they are? So be with Allah for He will be with you, and give victory to His Deen for He will give you victory. Hizb ut Tahrir calls you to this great obligation that is most strongly fought by America, the West, the nations of the world and the rulers of the Muslims and the secularists. But Allah is the One who takes care of His affairs, for He (swt) said:

أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ * الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّا أَنْ يَقُولُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَهُدِّمَتْ صَوَامِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَاتٌ وَمَسَاجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا اسْمُ اللَّهِ كَثِيرًا وَلَيَنْصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ * الَّذِينَ إِنْ مَكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الْأُمُورِ

"Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. And indeed, Allah is competent to give them victory. [They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right - only because they say, "Our Lord is Allah." And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned. And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might." [Al-Hajj 22:39-40]

A number of leaders from the FSA's Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a statement announcing that: "the international and global conspiracy against the blessed Syrian revolution has become clear and apparent, and their involvement with the Magi occupation in spilling the Syrian blood using all kinds of weapons including that which is internationally forbidden, and after a whole year of false promises by the so-called friends of Syria states, it has become apparent that they do not care about the red lines." They also announced that "the stance of the Arab and Islamic countries, especially those who claim support for the Syrian revolution is so meager that it has not reached the level of the sacrifices of the Syrian people, who are fighting a war on behalf of the Arab and Islamic nation, knowing that this fire will reach everyone if they do not fulfill their responsibilities." They threatened to submit their resignation from the commission's membership if "the level of support provided by the Arabs and Muslims does not reach the level of sacrifices made by the Syrian people." Also declaring "cessation of all forms of cooperation with the UN Security Council Resolutions States unless an urgent international investigation takes place for the use of chemical weapons by the criminal regime, and hence hold it accountable immediately." In addition that "based on our resignations, the council will be no longer legitimate and does not represent the Syrian people."

We would like to remind those in the council with warm words that would fall on attentive ears that they should not expect from the Western states, nor their counterparts from the Arab leaders who are traitors to their religion and Ummah, any serious stances for the support of the revolution of Al-Sham and the establishment of the Islamic Khilafah "Caliphate" in the land of Syria. For this, their stance should have been decisive in their statement not reluctant, since no good should be expected from such people. We declare that the international coalition, led by America, who has announced to strike the Syrian regime is a stance that aims to achieve their own interests, and to control the upcoming political process, including striking anyone with an Islamic direction, in which you are included. We therefore remind you that whoever is with Allah (swt), will be with Allah (swt) alone, and does not take a partner with Him, and the doctrinal stance and the legislative rule related to your case require you to be with Allah (swt) alone. Allah (swt) said:

فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ وَمَنْ تَابَ مَعَكَ وَلَا تَطْغَوْا إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ * وَلَا تَرْكَنُوا إِلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا فَتَمَسَّكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءَ ثُمَّ لَا تُنْصَرُونَ

"Pursue, then, the right course, as thou hast been bidden [by Allah], together with all who, with thee, have turned unto Him; and let none of you behave in an overweening manner: for, verily, He sees all that you do. And do not incline towards, nor rely upon, those who are bent on evildoing lest the fire [of the hereafter] touch you: for [then] you would have none to protect you from Allah, nor would you ever be succoured [by Him]." [TMQ 11:112-113]

O Patient Muslims in Syria of Al-Sham: You are embarking upon days of deceit, which can only be detected with greater direction to Allah alone, and an increase in drawing help from Allah (swt) alone. The American claim and its adherents to bring triumph to the victims of the chemical attacks in East Damascus is but an attempt to revive political negotiations under the pressure of the military action, and to circumvent the sincere sons of the Ummah in order to abort their efforts and prevent them from overthrowing the Coalition and its agent the Chiefs of Staff; we therefore warn our brothers in the revolution of Al-Sham from this criminal campaign under the guise of striking the regime that it is to strike the revolution and the sincere ones in it. Allah (swt) said:

((وَقَدْ مَكَرُوا مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ الْجِبَالُ (46) فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّهَ مُخْلِفَ وَعْدِهِ رُسُلَهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ))

"And [this retribution will befall all evildoers because] they devise that false imagery of theirs [61] - and all their false imagery is within Allah's knowledge. [And never can the blasphemers prevail against the truth - not] even if their false imagery were so (well devised and so powerful] that mountains could be moved thereby. HENCE, do not think that Allah will fail to fulfil the promise which He gave to His apostles: [62] Verily, Allah is almighty, an avenger of evil!" [TMQ 14:46-47]

Hisham Al-Baba

Head of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir

Wilayah of Syria