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A Word from the
Leader
A regular feature in Common Sense is a word of
reflection or recent letter from the leader of the Islamic Party of
Britain, David Musa Pidcock The
following
is his contribution to issue 20 (Spring 1997) of Common Sense.
Human Rights
through Human Wrongs? Or: The Palestine Peace Process
After what happened in
Europe to certain sections of the Jews, one would have thought that
the conditions of Palestinians, living in what is now called the
State of Israel, would have been much better than it is. Sadly,
however, as the most recent bombing illustrates, the State of Israel
is devoid of human rights for all. The bombing, on the one hand, is
a symptom of Israeli injustice and on the other a symptom of the
ignorance of how we, as Muslims, should respond to acts of
oppression by our enemies. Furthermore, the enemy within is far more
dangerous than the one with a different qiblah. Today, all "Islamic"
countries and regimes - including the West Bank of Palestine - are
ruled by non-fundamentalist Islamic governments. Name one, if you
can, which operates - or allows to operate - a truly halal monetary
system on its soil, which is the essential, indispensable
precondition for being truly deserving of the epithet
"Fundamentalist". Name one 'Islamic' State in which you can obtain
genuine, interest-free credit. Lamentably, of course, you cannot.
Therefore, our arguments and criticisms - however justified - about
the way Israel treats its original and lawful Palestinian
inhabitants are seriously compromised, if, at the same time, we fail
to criticise or challenge the dangerous enemy within our very midst
- the so-called 'Islamic Bankers' who - like Korah, mentioned in the
Old Testament - are simply ibni, ibni Qarun.
The Palestinian Children
of Abraham and Ishmael are clearly undergoing a serious test of
character along with the non-Semitic followers of their religion
Islam/Shalom. It is a new version of Cain and Abel with the
offspring of Isaac and Ashkenaz firmly in the camp of Citizen Cain.
Far be it for us, at such a distance, to tell our brothers and
sisters to 'turn the other cheek', nor is it expected of them under
the code of conduct in Islam not to retaliate when attacked.
However, there is guidance in the Qur'an, to help us cope in such
situations; to understand what rewards accrue to believers and what
odium awaits the perpetrators of all injustice, in this world and
the next (although, as Allah points out, the perpetrators of evil
are not immediately made to account for their actions). The test
being carried out is surely the perennial one God sets for humanity
to see who among His creatures are true believers, a point clearly
made in Surah 5 - al Maida - Verse 9ff. which states; "O you who
believe! Stand out firmly For God, as witnesses to fair dealing, and
let not the hatred of others towards you make you swerve towards
wrong and depart from Justice. Be just; that is next to Piety; and
fear God, for (He) Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.
(10) To those who believe and do deeds of righteousness God has
promised forgiveness and a great reward. (11) While those who reject
faith and deny Our signs will be Companions of Hell-Fire. (12) O you
who believe! Call in remembrance the favour of God unto you when
certain men formed the design to stretch out their hands against
you, but (Allah) held back their hands from you; so fear God. And on
God let Believers place all their trust. (13) God did aforetime take
a Covenant from the Children of Israel. And We appointed twelve
Captains amongst them and God said: "I am With you if you establish
regular prayers, practice regular charity, believe in My apostles,
honour and assist them, and loan to God a beautiful loan, verily I
will wipe out from you your evils, and admit you to Gardens with
rivers flowing beneath; But if any of you, after this, resisteth
faith, He has truly wandered from the path of rectitude." (14) And
because of their breach of their (covenant) We cursed them (the
Children of Israel) and made their hearts grow hard. (Furthermore)
They change the words from their right places and forget a good part
of the Message that was sent them, nor will you cease to find them
bent on new deceits; But forgive them and overlook (their misdeeds)
for Allah loveth those who are kind".
The Muslim Palestinians
should not expect their Christian counterparts to be able to find
solutions to their problems either, as verse (15) states: "For
those, too, who call themselves Christians We did take a Covenant,
but similarly they forgot a good part of the Message that was sent
them: so We estranged them, with enmity and hatred between one and
the other till the day of Judgment. And soon God will show them what
ills they have done." Therefore, the only viable "Peace Process" to
follow is that contained in verse (19) of al Maida: "O People of the
Book! There has come to you Our Apostle, revealing to you much that
you used to hide in the Book, and passing over much (that it now
supersedes): There has come to you from God a new light and a
perspicuous book (the Qur'an) wherewith God guides all who seek His
good pleasure to ways of Shalom and Safety, And leadeth them out of
darkness, by His Will, unto the light, - guiding them to a Path that
is straight... (20) Both the Jews and the Christians say: "We are
sons of God, and His beloved'," Say (in response) "Why then does He
punish you for your sins? On the contrary, you are but men, of the
men He has created: He forgives and punishes whom He pleases, and to
Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all
that lies in between: And to Him is the final goal of all. (21) O
People of the Book! Now has come unto you Our Apostle, making things
clear, after the break in the series of Our apostles, lest you
should say: "There came unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no
warner from evil": But now there has come unto you a bringer of glad
tidings and a warner from evil, and God has power over all things."
Following the Balfour
Declaration, by comparison, the people who opposed the re-arrival of
Israel into the Holy Land of Palestine in 1917 were too weak and
powerless to stop them, which was in marked contrast to the fierce
Canaanites who faced them in the time of Moses (Peace be upon him).
Verse 22 contains the following account: "Remember Moses said to his
people: "O my people! Call in remembrance the favour of God unto
you, when he produced prophets from among you, made you kings, and
gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples." (23)
"O my people! enter the Holy land which God hath assigned unto you,
and turn not back ignominiously, for then will you be overthrown, to
your ruin." (24) They said: "O Moses! in this land are a people of
exceeding strength: Never shall we enter it until they leave it: If
once they leave, then we shall enter," (25) "But among their
God-fearing men were two (Joshua and Caleb) on whom God had bestowed
His grace: They said; "Assault them at the proper Gate; when once
you are in, Victory will be yours; (26) But on God put your trust if
you have faith." (27) They said: "O Moses! While they remain there,
never shall we be able to enter, to the end of time. Go thou and Thy
Lord, and fight ye two, while we sit here and watch". (28) He said:
"0 my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother: So
separate us from this rebellious people!" (29) Allah said:
"Therefore will the land be out of reach for forty years: In
distraction will they wander through the land: But sorrow thou not
over these rebellious people." (30) "Recite to them the truth of the
story of the two sons of Adam. Behold! they each presented a
sacrifice to God. It was accepted from one, but not the other. The
latter (Cain) said: "Be sure I will slay thee." Said the former
(Abel): "Surely, God doth accept the sacrifice of those who are
righteous (31) "If you stretch out your hand against me to slay me,
it is not for me to stretch out my hand against you to slay you: for
I do fear Allah the Cherisher of th Worlds. (32) For me, I intend to
let you draw on yourself my sin as well as your own. For you will be
among the companions of the Fire, and that is the reward for those
who do wrong. (33) The selfish soul of the other led him to the
murder of his brother; he murdered him, and became one of the lost
ones ...(35) On that account We ordained for the Children of Israel
that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for
spreading mischief in the land - It would be as if he slew the whole
people, and if he saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life
of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our prophets
with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to
commit excesses in the land. (36) The punishment of those who wage
war against God and his Apostle, and strive with might and main for
mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the
cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the
land. That is their disgrace in this world and a heavy punishment is
theirs in Hereafter. (37) Except those who repent before they fall
into your power: In that case, know that Allah is Oft-forgiving Most
Merciful."
The above rules still
apply to all people. Therefore, even in a legitimate war of
liberation - as against a secular, Zionist State like Israel - and
even though it is not possible to make lasting peace with the
enemies of God, Allah says that there should be no indiscriminate
acts of war carried out against civilian targets as the end never
justifies the means. Furthermore, the sins of any innocent bystander
who may be killed in such an action will be placed on the
perpetrator's own soul.
Author: David
Pidcock |
Date Published:
Spring
1997 |
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