-
Plight of Oppressed Muslim Minorities
-
Demands of Islamic Fraternity
-
Should Such Muslims be Helped?
-
Migration
Today there are
more than 120 crore Muslims in the world out of which more than 40
crore are living in non-Muslim countries. Some of these non-Muslim
countries are oppressing their Muslim subjects so severely and are
persecuting them so cruelly that these Muslims have been forced to
resort to Jihad. They have started their freedom struggles and are
crying for help from the independent Muslim countries. Should the
Muslim countries help them is the question which we intend to
address in this chapter. We shall first examine in a little detail
the plight of the oppressed Muslims in some non-Muslim countries
of the world and then we shall discuss Islam’s concept of
universal brotherhood before proceeding to answer the above
question.
[Back
to the start of this chapter]
I- Plight of
Oppressed Muslim Minorities
The plight of the
Muslims in some of the non-Muslim countries such as Israel, India,
Russia, China, Yugoslavia, Ethiopia, Burma, Philippines, is simply
miserable. The Muslims are being subjected to the worst type of
persecution and oppression in these lands. They are denied all the
basic human rights such as right to protection of life, property
and honour, freedom of religion and worship, freedom of speech,
freedom of movement, political rights, etc. They are arrested by
the agencies without warrant. They are tortured, injured and
physically incapacitated. Thousands are massacred and buried in
mass-graves. Their women are raped. Attempts are being made to
finish the race of Muslims in those countries. They are expelled
from their homes and are forced to seek asylum in neighbouring
countries. Their houses, shops, places of worship are put to
torch. Their orphans and widows are put to sword. Their struggle
for rights and freedom is mercilessly and ruthlessly crushed. The
Muslims have only recently been subjected to unparalleled tyranny
by the Serbs in Bosnia and Kossovo, by the Russians in Afghanistan
and by the Greeks in Cyprus. They are being persecuted in Eritrea
by the Ethiopians, in Israeli occupied areas by the Jews, in
Kashmir by the Indians, in Chechnya by the Russians, in Sinkiang
by the Chinese, in Arakan by the Burmese, in Philippines by the
Christians and so on. Tales of sorrow, blood, holocaust, arson,
atrocities, brutalities, horror, terror, torture, rape, massacre,
looting and plunder received from these lands are living testimony
of modern barbarism. Such tales also tell us how much the men can
go low to satisfy their brutish instincts.
Although the plight
of the Muslims in all the above mentioned Non-Muslim lands is
almost the same, yet the case of Kashmir and Chechniya specially
needs discussion in detail as representative example of
persecution of Muslims at Non-Muslim hands.
Kashmir:
The state of Jammu and Kashmir comprises an area of 1,84,000
square miles and has population of over 12 million people of whom
a preponderant majority are Muslims. In 1947, British India was
granted independence and was divided into two independent
countries : India or Bharat being Hindu majority country and
Pakistan being a Muslim country. By the Act of Independence, the
Indian states were given option to join India or Pakistan keeping
into consideration the geographical location of the state and the
wishes of the people. State of Jammu and Kashmir, in accordance
with these principles, should have joined with Pakistan, as it was
contiguous to Pakistan and more than 80% of its population was
Muslim. But despite wishes of its population, it could not join
Pakistan because its Hindu ruler Maharaja Hari Singh Dogra decided
to join India. The population, therefore, revolted against the
Maharaja who invited India for help to suppress the rebellion.
Thus India
exploited the opportunity and dispatched its troops to the valley.
In the meantime tribesmen from the North-Western Frontier Province
of Pakistan had joined the conflict to help their Kashmiri
brothers. Indian intervention resulted in reign of terror let
loose on the Kashmiri Muslims. Thousands were massacred, hundreds
of women were raped, hundreds of thousands were expelled from
their homes. Innumerable Kashmiris sought shelter in Pakistan and
brought with them tales of murder, torture, looting, burning and
brutality. Pakistan could not keep quiet at this state of affairs.
Moved by the horrible plight of the Kashmiri Muslims, Pakistan
entered to free the people and thus started war between India and
Pakistan. The war lasted until January 1949 when a ceasefire was
arranged, leaving one third area of the state in the hands of
Pakistan and two-thirds of the area in Indian occupation. Pakistan
made its part independent and that is called Azad Kashmir; whereas
India made its grip over Kashmir very firm and started calling it
an integral part of India.
At the time of
conclusion of the ceasefire agreement under the aegis of the
United Nations, it was also agreed by all the concerned parties
that the future of Kashmir would be decided by the people in a
plebiscite held under the supervision of the UN. Although it was
India who had taken the dispute of Kashmir to UN, but it has
defied the world community since then and refused to hold
referendum to determine the will of the people. The UN has passed
dozens of resolutions urging India to honour its commitment, but
they have proved of no avail and the illegal occupation of Kashmir
by India still continues. The two subsequent wars between India
and Pakistan in the years 1965 and 1971 have failed to resolve the
dispute. Simla Agreement concluded between India and Pakistan in
1972 changed the ceasefire line into the line of control while
both India and Pakistan agreed to settle their mutual disputes
including the dispute of Kashmir through bilateral negotiations.
But India never agrees to hold any meaningful dialogue with
Pakistan.
So the problem of
Kashmir still remains unsolved much to the danger of peace and
security in this region of the world which has lately become
international flash-point due to the achievement of nuclear
capability by India as well as by Pakistan.
The success of
Afghan Jihad against the Russian invaders has recently triggered
war of independence in Kashmir. Jihad launched by the Kashmiris
from the year 1989 has only increased Indian oppression. India has
not only beefed up its security forces but has also stationed more
than seven hundred thousands of its troops in Kashmir. The
ferocious Indian army, well-equipped with latest weapons of modern
warfare is engaged in crushing the freedom struggle of the
innocent Kashmiri people. The following facts and figures speak of
the state terror, violation of human rights, torture and
brutalities to which the Kashmiris have been subjected by the
occupation forces of India : In the decade of 1989 to 1999, 67717
persons have been killed besides 7334 persons who have been
tortured to death in the custody of security agencies. In these
years 92248 Kashmiris were arrested, 99424 have been wounded and
6569 are missing while 17000 have been rendered physically
incapacitated due to torture. Children who have lost their parents
are over 42000; more than 10,000 women have become widows and
husbands of more than 3000 women are missing; whereas women
subjected to rape or gangrape are more than 17000. Number of
Mujahideen (freedom fighters) killed is 11829, number of wounded
is 9678 and number of arrested is 11593. Number of houses and
shops put to torch is more than 67900 and 31500 respectively.
These figures of Indian atrocities represent rather conservative
estimates given by the International agencies.
Chechnya :
Chechens are living in the area of Qafqaz since thousands of
years. They are descendents of Prophet Noah through one of his son
who had settled there. Because of this relationship they call
themselves ‘Noahchi’. They are Muslims, believe in One God and do
not associate anyone else with God. They voluntarily and enmasse
accepted Islam without fighting the Muslim forces during the reign
of caliph Umar. They were living as an independent people till
1859 A.D. when the Russian czar occupied their land after subduing
and capturing Imam Shamail. Despite that the Chechens never
submitted to the sovereignty of czars and kept their struggle for
independence going on. After communist Revolution of 1917, their
struggle started against the communists. In 1944 Stalin drived the
Chechens out of their homeland. In thirteen years of forced exile,
about 60% people of Chechen-Inqush nation lost their lives. In
1957, the people again returned to Chechnya to start their life
afresh with no means.
After dismemberment
of Soviet Union in 1991, the Chechens declared their Independence.
With this declaration hostilities broke out between Russia and
Chechnya. During the war of 1994-96, more than 2000 Mujahideen
were killed and more than 1 lac people lost their lives. On April
21, 1996 President Jauhar Daudouve was killed (Martyred).
Ceasefire was made in May 1996 while peace treaty was concluded on
August 22, 1996 with agreement that Russian Federation and
Republic of Chechnya would decide about future status before Dec.
31, 2001.
In September 1999,
in flagrant violation of peace treaty of 1996, Russia launched an
attack on Chechnya with latest weapons. The latest M-16 planes, M
gunship helicopters, long-range artillery, cluster bombs, napalm
bombs, chemical bombs and even toy bombs were used against the
Chechens. All big cities, including capital Grozny, Godasmir and
Shali, were completely destroyed. Thus a country of 1.2 million
population and 13000 Sq. Km of area has been turned into a ruin.
Presently more than 3 lac Russian troops are stationed in Chechnya
against a population of almost the same number who have only 4 or
5 thousand Mujahideen to protect it against the oppressors.
Reports of foreign
correspondents and observers of the US Human Rights Group and
Amnesty International prove that Russians are guilty of committing
dreadful crimes of torture, rape, genocide, mass killings of
innocent men, women and children. The UN Human Rights Commission
has passed a resolution only recently (April 2000) showing its
grave concern over the human rights violations by Russian military
force in Chechnya and calling on the Russian government to set up
an independent inquiry to look into the matter.
However, Russian
crimes in Chechnya were possible only with the silent and all-out
support of America and the Western nations. During this whole
period, America, Germany and IMF continued extending full
financial assistance to Russia. Rather America and European
community countries hold that Chechnya is Russia’s internal affair
and that Russia is fighting terrorism.
[Back
to the start of this chapter]
II- Demands of
Islamic Fraternity
Islam has
established brotherhood and fraternity among the Muslims on the
basis of common religion and has abolished all distinctions
between one Muslim and the other on the basis of race, colour,
language or nationality. In the Muslim brotherhood all men and
women, to whatever nation, race, colour, rank or station in
society they may belong, have equal rights and duties. Al-Qur’an,
the revealed book of Islam, says :
1. And hold fast,
all of you together, to the cable of Allah, and do not separate.
And remember Allah’s favour unto you ….
–—(3 : 103)
2.
Lo! those who believed and left their homes and
strove with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah
and those who took them in and helped them: these are protecting
friends one of another. And those who believed but did not leave
their homes, ye have no duty to protect them till they leave their
homes; but if they seek help from you in the matter of religion
then it is your duty to help (them) except against a folk between
whom and you there is a treaty. Allah is Seer of what ye do. And
those who disbelieve are protectors one of another – If ye do not
so, there will be confusion in the land, and great corruption.
–—(8 : 72-73)
Note: Figures
regarding losses in Chechnya have been taken from Monthly
Badidar Digest
3. And the
believers, men and women, are protecting friends one of another
………
–—(9:71)
4. The believers
are naught else than brothers. Therefore, make peace between your
brethren and observe your duty to Allah that haply ye may obtain
mercy.
–—(49:10)
Following Ahadith
of the Prophet of Islam further emphasise the bond of fraternity
among the Muslims :
1.
Nu’man-b-Bashir reported that the Messenger of Allah said : You
will see the believers in their mutual kindness, love and sympathy
just like one body. When a limb complains, the whole body responds
to it with wakefulness and fever.
–—(Bukhari and
Muslim)
2. Abu Hurairah
reported that the Messenger of Allah said: You shall not enter
Paradise till you believe; and you will not believe till you
love-one another. Shall I not guide you to a thing? When you will
do it, you will love one another. Spread peace among you.
–—(Muslim)
3. Ibn Umar
reported that the Messenger of Allah said: A Muslim is brother to
a Muslim. Neither he wrongs him, nor hands him over (to another).
And whoso comes in need of his brother, Allah comes in his need;
and whoso removes a calamity of a Muslim, Allah will remove a
calamity from the calamities of the Resurrection Day, and whoso
conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his sins on
the Resurrection Day.
–—(Bukhari,
Muslim)
4. Abu Hurairah
reported that the Messenger of Allah said: A Muslim is brother to
a Muslim. He does neither wrong to him, nor puts him to disgrace,
nor he hates him. Piety is here (and he was pointing out to his
breast three times). Despising his brother Muslim is enough evil
for a man. Every Muslim’s blood, property and honour are sacred to
a Muslim.
––(Muslim)
5.
Osamah-b-Sharik reported that Messenger of Allah said: whoso comes
out to make division among my followers, smite his neck.
––(Nisai)
6. Abu Zarr
reported that the Messenger of Allah said: whoso departs from the
united body even a hand’s breadth has indeed shaken off the rope
of Islam from his neck.
––(Ahmad, Abu
Daud)
III- Should Such
Muslims be Helped?
We have already
studied the aims and objectives of Jihad and have also analysed
the reasons for which the Muslims are permitted to wage Jihad.
Thus we know that one of the noble causes for which Jihad is waged
is the help to oppressed and persecuted Muslims living in
non-Muslim lands. Similarly one of the aims of Jihad is that the
persecuted Muslims living in Darul Harb be helped and be liberated
from the oppression of the non-Muslims. The Qur’an inspires its
followers to help such Muslims when it enjoins: How should ye not
fight for the cause of Allah and of the feeble among men and of
the women and the children who are crying: our Lord! Bring us
forth from out this town of which the people are oppressors! Oh,
give us from Thy Presence some protecting friend! Oh, give us from
Thy Presence some defender!
––(4 : 75)
However, help can
be given only to those persecuted Muslims who are living in such
countries with whom the Islamic state has no alliance or treaty of
peace and friendship. But if a treaty exits between the Islamic
state and a non-Muslim country which is oppressing its Muslim
minority, then the Islamic state is not permitted to help the
oppressed Muslims. The Qur’an has issued very clear directions on
this point in its following verses:
Lo! those who
believed and left their homes and strove with their wealth and
their lives for the cause of Allah, and those who took them in and
helped them; these are protecting friends one of another. And
those who believed but did not leave their homes, ye have no duty
to protect them till they leave their homes; but if they seek help
from you in the matter of religion then it is your duty to help
(them) except against a fold between whom and you there is a
treaty. Allah is seer of what ye do. And those who disbelieve are
protectors one of another- If ye do not so, there will be
confusion in the land, and great corruption.
––(8 : 72 – 73)
The commandment
regarding the concept of villayat (protection or guardianship) and
the rule regarding help to oppressed Muslims living in non-Muslim
countries as contained in the above mentioned verses of the Qur’an
has been beautifully explained by Syed Abul Ala Maududi He writes:
“The Arabic word (vilay’at)
is very comprehensive in meaning and ‘guardianship’ does not
convey its full significance. It denotes the relationship of help,
succour, protection, support, friendship, guardianship and the
like between the citizens and the state and vice versa, and
between the citizens themselves. Thus it is clear that this verse
confines the limits of the Islamic political and constitutional
citizenship to its territorial boundaries only and excludes from
this particular relationship the other Muslims who live beyond its
territorial boundaries.
“The Holy Prophet
also declared the same thing, saying, “I owe no responsibility for
the protection of any Muslim who resides among the mushriks.
“Though the Muslims
living outside the territorial borders of the Islamic State have
been excluded from political protection in the preceding verse,
this fact does not deprive them of the brotherly relationship of
Faith. Therefore it is obligatory on the Islamic State and its
inhabitants to help their wronged and oppressed brethren if they
ask for help. But even in this case, they should observe the
International Law and the universally accepted moral code. If
Dar-ul-Islam has made a treaty with the persecuting people of
Dar-ul-Kufr, the Muslims of Dar-ul-Islam are
forbidden to give any help to the oppressed Muslims in Dar-ul-Kufr
if that is against the moral obligations of the treaty.
“In this verse, the
word (mithaq) has been used for treaty. It implies
everything that gives the guarantee of peace in the known sense to
the parties concerned even though there might not be any explicit
mention of a no-war agreement.
“Moreover, the
original words of the Arabic Text––“…..between you and them there
is a treaty”––clearly show that a treaty of the Islamic State with
a non-Islamic State is not merely a treaty between the two States
but between the two nations. Therefore it is morally binding on
both the Islamic State and the Muslims living in the Islamic
State. The Islamic code does not tolerate that the Muslim subjects
should be left free from the obligations of the treaty which a
Muslim government makes with other countries or nations. Of
course, those Muslims who reside outside the territorial borders
of the State that makes a treaty are free from this obligation.
That is why Abu Busair, Abu Jandal and other Muslims who were not
the subjects of Dar-ul-Islam were not bound by the
terms of the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, which the Holy Prophet had made
with the disbelievers of Makkah.”
The gist of the
foregoing discussion is that it is obligatory upon the Muslims
living in Islamic countries and the governments of such countries
to help those Muslims who are being oppressed in Non-Muslim
countries. However, help cannot be extended against a non-Muslim
country with which the Islamic countries have a treaty
relationship although that country is oppressing its Muslim
minority. The question arises that in such case what should be
done? The answer is that the Islamic countries should use their
good offices because of their treaty relations in persuading the
concerned non-Muslim country not to persecute its Muslim minority.
The non-Muslim country should be pressurised to treat its Muslim
citizens kindly, grant them fundamental human rights and civil
liberties, and accept their genuine demands. But if the non-Muslim
country does not give up its oppression, the Islamic countries can
break their treaties after a due ultimatum and can directly
intervene in favour of their oppressed brothers to help them out
of the miserable plight.
In the present
world many Muslim communities living in non-Muslim countries are
being persecuted. As we have discussed earlier Muslims are being
oppressed in Palestine. Kashmir, Chechnya, Sinkiang, Bosnia,
Kossovo, Arakan, Eriteria. But the Islamic countries cannot
intervene directly in their favour and wage Jihad against their
persecutors because the Islamic countries have diplomatic
relations with the oppressor non-Muslim countries. In many cases
they have also direct or indirect treaty relations with such
countries. Thus they are not in a position to help the oppressed
Muslims by physical force until and unless they break their
treaties and severe their ties with the concerned non-Muslim
states which is not desirable in the present situation of the
world. So what they should do is that they should unitedly
exercise their pressure in persuading countries like Israel,
India, Russia, Serbia, Burma and Ethiopia to cease their
oppressive policies and grant their Muslim citizens fundamental
rights and accept their genuine demands. Good offices of the
leading states of the world, United Nations and international
forums can be utilized to help the persecuted Muslims. Direct
moral and political support and economic assistance can be
extended to the oppressed Muslim communities. Hospitality should
be shown to the Muslim immigrants from such places.
[Back
to the start of this chapter]
IV-
Migration
One way of helping
the oppressed Muslims is, as we have seen, to wage Jihad for
liberating them from the yoke of their oppressors, while the other
way is to welcome them in one’s land if they are expelled or if
they opt themselves to migrate. Islam teaches those Muslims who
are being persecuted in non-Muslim lands to migrate in the path of
Allah and seek asylum in safer places where they could live in
peace and practice their faith freely. There are many rewards from
Allah the Almighty for those who migrate in His way and for those
who offer hospitality to the immigrants. Before discussing the
subject of migration further, let us first go through the relevant
verses of the Holy Qur’an and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Verses of the
Qur’an:
1.
Lo! those who believe, and those who emigrate (to
escape the persecution) and strive in the way of Allah, these have
hope of Allah’s mercy. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
–—(2:218)
2. Lo! as for
those whom the angels take (in death) while they wrong themselves,
(the angels) will ask: In what were ye engaged? They will say: We
were oppressed in the land. (The angels) will say: Was not Allah’s
earth spacious that ye could have migrated therein? As for such,
their habitation will be hell, an evil journey’s end; Except the
feeble among men, and the women, and the children, who are unable
to devise a plan and are not shown a way. As for such it may be
that Allah will pardon them. Allah is ever Clement, Forgiving.
Whoso migrateth for the cause of Allah will find much refuge and
abundance in the earth, and whoso forsaketh his home, a fugitive
unto Allah and His messenger and death overtaketh him, his reward
is then incumbent on Allah, Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.
–—(4 : 97-100)
3. Lo! those who
believed and left their homes and strove with their wealth and
their lives for the cause of Allah, and those who took them in and
helped them: these are protecting friends one of another. And
those who believed but did not leave their homes, ye have no duty
to protect them till they leave their homes; but if they seek help
from you in the matter of religion then it is your duty to help
(them) except against a folk between whom and you there is a
treaty. Allah is Seer of what ye do. And those who disbelieve are
protectors one of another-If ye do not so, there will be confusion
in the land, and great corruption. Those who believed and left
their homes and strove for the cause of Allah, and those who took
them in and helped them-these are the believers in truth. For them
is pardon and a bountiful provision. And those who afterwards
believed and left their homes and strove along with you, they are
of you; and those who are akin are nearer one to another in the
ordinance of Allah. Lo! Allah is Knower of all things.
–—(9 : Al-Anfal :
72-75)
4. Those who
believe and have left their homes and strive with their wealth and
their lives in Allah’s way are of much greater worth in Allah’s
sight. These are they who are triumphant.
–—(9 : 20)
5. And those who
became fugitives for the cause of Allah after they had been
oppressed, We verily shall give them goodly lodging in the world,
and surely the reward of the Hereafter is greater, if they but
knew;
–—(16:41)
6. Then lo! thy
Lord-for those who became fugitives after they had been
persecuted, and then fought and were steadfast-lo! thy Lord
afterward is (for them) indeed Forgiving, Merciful,
–—(16:110)
7. Those who fled
their homes for the cause of Allah and then were slain or died,
Allah verily will provide for them a good provision. Lo! Allah, He
verily is Best of all who make provision. Assuredly He will cause
them to enter by an entry that they will love. Lo! Allah verily is
Knower, Indulgent.
–—(22:58-59)
8. And (it is)
for the poor fugitives who have been driven out from their homes
and their belongings, who seek bounty from Allah and help Allah
and His messenger. They are the loyal.
–—(59:8)
9. O ye who
believe! When believing women come unto you as fugitives, examine
them. Allah is best aware of their faith, Then, if ye know them
for true believers, send them not back unto the disbelievers. They
are not lawful for the disbelievers, nor are the disbelievers
lawful for them. And give the disbelievers that which they have
spent (upon them). And it is no sin for you to marry such women
when ye have given them their dues. And hold not to the ties of
disbelieving women; and ask for (the return of) that which ye have
spent; and let the disbelievers ask for that which they have
spent. That is the judgement of Allah. He judgeth between you.
Allah is Knower, Wise.
–—(60:10)
Traditions of
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) :
1.
Amr-b-Abasah
reported: I came to the Apostle of Allah and enquired: O Prophet
of Allah! Who is with you in this affair? “Both free man replied
he “and slave”. I enquired: What is Islam? He replied: Sweet talk
and giving food. I asked: What is faith? He replied: Patience and
generosity. I enquired: Which Islam is best? He replied: That
one’s from whose tongue and hand Muslims are safe. I asked: Which
faith is best? He said: Good conduct. I asked: Which prayer is
best! He said: Standing long in humility. I asked: Which
emigration is best? He replied: Abandoning what your Lord
dislikes. I asked: Which Jihad is best? He replied: That in which
his best horse is killed and his blood is shed. I enquired : Which
hour is best? He said : The middle of the later half of the night.
–—(Ahmad)
2. Abdullah-b-Hubshi
reported that the Prophet was asked : Which of the actions is
best? He said : prolonged standing (in prayer). He was questioned:
Which charity is best? He said: Strivings of a man of small means.
He was questioned: Which migration is best? He said: He who flees
away from what Allah has prohibited him. He was questioned which
Jihad is best? He said: He who fights with the polytheists with
his property and his life.
–—(Ibn
Majah)
The first ever
migration of the oppressed Muslims that took place was that of the
Makkan Muslims who migrated to Abyssinia, a Christian country
around the year 616 or 617 A.D. To escape from the persecution by
the pagan Quraish, the Muslims migrated to the said country, with
the permission of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The ruler of Abyssinia
not only accorded them a kind treatment but also refused the
request made by a high-powered delegation of the Quraish to
extradite the Muslim refugees. The Prophet was so much pleased by
the hospitality shown by the Abyssinian ruler (Negus) to his
followers that he offered funeral prayer of the Negus in absentia
when the latter died.
Second migration of
the oppressed followers of Islam and this time in the company of
the Prophet himself was from Makkah to Madina in the year 622 A.D.
This is very important event in the history of Islam as well as of
the world because Muslim Calendar of Higerah dates back from this
event. The Muslims of Madinah welcomed their brothers from Makkah
and showed them the hospitality which has become a model to
emulate for the later generations. The Qur’an praises their
hospitality and Allah showered His blessings upon the Helpers (Ansar)
of Madinah and the immigrants (Muhajirin) of Makkah.
The later Muslims
have never lagged behind in following the golden traditions of
their predecessors in offering hospitality to the persecuted
refugees. Only recently Pakistan offered its hospitality to more
than three million Muslim refugees from Afghanistan when that
country was invaded by the Russian communists. Pakistan has also
been a long time host of the Kashmiris who migrate to this country
in the event of Indian oppression.
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