The Mind of PAS President
RAMADHAN – THE MONTH OF VICTORY
In this blessed month, God has bestowed a historic victory over those who believe and perform righteous deeds. It is not only a struggle against lust within oneself by way of an increase in worship, but a struggle against enemies from the outside who are trying to extinguish the light of Allah from Islamic guidance, when this bright Islamic light has exposed their weaknesses and misdeeds.
Some of the famous historical victories include Badr al-Kubra, Fathu Makkah and ‘Ain Jalut. They are events that showcase wars being provoked against Islam even though Islam conceptualizes freedom of religion in which the Muslims cannot compel adherents of other religions to embrace Islam unless they try to impose on the freedom to perform daawah and interfere when Islam is practiced even by one individual, let alone if they attempt to destroy the country and society in which it is held.
Islam still allows the worshipers of other religions in the community and their country according to the word of Allah SWT:
﴿أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَٰتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمۡ ظُلِمُواْۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ نَصۡرِهِمۡ لَقَدِيرٌ٣٩ ٱلَّذِينَ أُخۡرِجُواْ مِن دِيَٰرِهِم بِغَيۡرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّآ أَن يَقُولُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُۗ وَلَوۡلَا دَفۡعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعۡضَهُم بِبَعۡضٖ لَّهُدِّمَتۡ صَوَٰمِعُ وَبِيَعٞ وَصَلَوَٰتٞ وَمَسَٰجِدُ يُذۡكَرُ فِيهَا ٱسۡمُ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرٗاۗ وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُۥٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ٤٠ ٱلَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّٰهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُاْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَمَرُواْ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَنَهَوۡاْ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡأُمُورِ٤١﴾ [الحج: 39-41]
“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 (39). [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 (40). [And they are] those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish prayer and give zakah and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allah belongs the outcome of [all] matters (41).” (Surah al-Hajj: 39-41)
The Badr al-Kubra event which took place on the 17th of Ramadan in 2 Hijra erupted when a mass of 1,000 people of Mecca with a full-fledged war machine led by Abu Jahal came to attack an Islamic group led by the Prophet SAW consisting of only 313 people with incomplete weapons. The Muslims were not prepared at that time because the real purpose was to intercept a business troupe from Mecca led by Abu Sufyan who had just returned from Syria.
Their actions against those who mistreated the believers in Mecca, murdered, tortured, and plundered their property were reasonable even though the disbelievers were members of their own family. In fact, the disbelievers were considered guilty for their deviant faith.
The Badr Al-Kubra War ended with a triumph for Islam even with a small number of troops and a complete lack of arms. The event was recorded in the Quran by the word of Allah:
﴿وَلَقَدۡ نَصَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِبَدۡرٖ وَأَنتُمۡ أَذِلَّةٞۖ فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ١٢٣﴾ [آل عمران: 123]
“And already had Allah given you victory at [the battle of] Badr while you were few in number. Then fear Allah; perhaps you will be grateful (123).” (Surah Ali ‘Imran: 123)
The secret to achieving the victory is obtained when the conditions that make them qualify for God’s help are fulfilled, namely, spiritual strength in faith, jihad and patience, and outward strength in the form of military arrangements and good and intelligent strategy. The additional requirements is believing in the truth of Islam that must be trusted, upheld and protected and believing in Allah Almighty and His promises to give victory in this world and the Hereafter.
The next event is the Fathu Makkah that occurred on the 20th of Ramadan in 8 Hijra. The Islamic concept of peace was prioritized in the signing of Hudaibiyah Peace Treaty but the people of Mecca suddenly broke the treaty. The Messenger of Allah took action to liberate Mecca from the ignorance of the nation especially his own family.
The Muslims gained a great victory as the ignorant leaders of Mecca surrendered. Thus, they carried out a mass pardon without enacting any plot of revenge against the wrongdoers who had killed the companions in order to fulfill the word of Allah:
﴿وَإِنۡ عَاقَبۡتُمۡ فَعَاقِبُواْ بِمِثۡلِ مَا عُوقِبۡتُم بِهِۦۖ وَلَئِن صَبَرۡتُمۡ لَهُوَ خَيۡرٞ لِّلصَّٰبِرِينَ١٢٦ وَٱصۡبِرۡ وَمَا صَبۡرُكَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِۚ وَلَا تَحۡزَنۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا تَكُ فِي ضَيۡقٖ مِّمَّا يَمۡكُرُونَ١٢٧﴾ [النحل: 126-127]
“And if you punish [an enemy, O believers], punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed. But if you are patient – it is better for those who are patient (126). And be patient, [O Muhammad], and your patience is not but through Allah . And do not grieve over them and do not be in distress over what they conspire (127).” (Surah al-Nahl: 126-127)
Allah said:
﴿وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ قَوۡلٗا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ٣٣ وَلَا تَسۡتَوِي ٱلۡحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُۚ ٱدۡفَعۡ بِٱلَّتِي هِيَ أَحۡسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِي بَيۡنَكَ وَبَيۡنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٞ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٞ٣٤﴾ [فصلت: 33-34]
“And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, “Indeed, I am of the Muslims” (33). And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend (34).” (Surah Fussilat: 33-34)
Then the people of Mecca embraced Islam including those who were not initially forgiven, leading them to embrace Islam after receiving forgiveness.
The ‘Ain Jalut victory in Palestine took place on 25th Ramadan in 658 Hijra when an Islamic army led by Sultan Saifuddin Qutuz succeeded in defeating the Tatar army led by Genghiz Khan and joined by Hulagu Khan.
The Tatars were the most violent army in the history of the world, killing millions of people including children, women and the elderly. They had conquered China, India, West Asia and parts of Europe to the extent that it was considered impossible for anyone to defeat them.
All of a sudden, the event of ‘Ain Jalut made a mark on history when the Sultan chanted the slogan “Wa Islamah!” (Save dear Islam) after his horse was killed by an enemy archer. He refused to ride his commander-in-chief’s horse to replace his own. His Majesty strongly declared his readiness to be a martyr in order to defend Islam, thus encouraging his army and disarming the most violent enemy troops.
The ‘Ain Jalut’ event ended with the defeat of the Tatar people and they eventually embraced Islam and subsequently adopted Islam. Islam made history when it successfully converted the colonialists to Islam since what always happened is the other way around. At the same time, it proves the word of God:
﴿يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطۡفُِٔواْ نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفۡوَٰهِهِمۡ وَٱللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِۦ وَلَوۡ كَرِهَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ٨﴾ [الصف: 8]
“They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it (8). It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although those who associate others with Allah dislike it (9).” (Surah al-Saff: 8-9)
ABDUL HADI AWANG
PAS President
Date: 11 Ramadhan 1441 / 4th May 2020
