Omar bin al-Khattab's Response:
In another example, before returning to Makkah Abu Sufyan, the leader of polytheist at Uhud taunted the Muslims openly and said: "This day (Uhud) in revenge for Badr". Omar replied back: "No they are not equal. Our dead are in heaven and yours in hell." Abu Sufyan was confounded. No doubt, Muslims look forward to expiation of their sins and a great reward for each hardship they suffer. God is great not only in good times but also in trying times. Those who have fallen in Gaza are not equal to a nation so morally bankrupts that they wage war on Sabbath - a day of prayers and rest (Genocide in Gaza began on Saturday, December 27, 2008). The Quran is clear on the character of such people and their war with God. They have nothing in the hereafter. This leads to the third principle of my discussion: the belief in the hereafter.
The third principle is the conviction in the Day of Judgment – the hereafter. A simple Bedouin came to the Prophet and he asked when the Day of Judgment is? The Prophet replied back with a question: "What have you prepared for it?" The Bedouin said: "I have not prepared much good deeds but I love God and His messenger". So the Prophet Muhammad replied back that "a man will be with those he loves" (Riyad al-Salihin). The point relevant to this discussion is that the Prophet asked the Bedouin about his preparedness for the hereafter. Modern Muslims frequently fall into the trap of judging success in worldly terms. Success of an individual or the entire Ummah is not based on worldly standards of position and possession.
Position & Possession:
According to the standards of the Makkan polytheists, the Prophet was amongst the poorest of poor. He had neither wealth nor male heirs to boost his name. Yet, he was the richest of rich through his most beautifully elegant character. On his deathbed he gave away all that he possessed – even the last six dirham in charity (Ibn Ishaq). What is the standard of success in Islam? Is it money, power, victory, luxury, entertainment? Wrong, the hereafter is the standard. Those who are successful in the hereafter are successful in this world even if they live in worst of conditions deprived of all the basic human needs without any justice. The poor Gazans have neither position nor possession within the geopolitical spheres of influence but those things do not count in the hereafter.
It would be wrong to compare and contrast the success of Ummah in worldly terms especially Gazans. To illustrate another example, a few days ago Muslim community commemorated 'Ashura - a day when Prophet Musa was given victory over Pharaoh and moreover in a separate incident the grandson of the Prophet, Husain ibn Ali was martyred raising the banner of truth against unjust authority. A worldview based on principles other than Islam may identify Musa as successful and Imam Husain as failure. However, Muslim worldview is that they were both successful. Why? Because God is pleased with them both and that is what matters.
No doubt, the martyrs of Gaza are the most successful within the ranks of Muslims today. There is no comparison between those Muslims who sit at home watching world news, ignoring prayers, and their obligations and those who sit in Gaza remembering God in the worst of plights. Quran confirms:
"Do not call those who have been martyred in the path of God as dead. Rather, they are alive but you do not understand."
Conclusion:
In conclusion, these three principals – belief in One God, sirah as guide, and success in the hereafter are the building blocks of any response or strategy for the Muslims. The source of everything "Islamic" is based in the Quran and sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad. Any proposal or strategy offered by any think-tank or any leader must conform to the Islamic principals to receive any blessings from God. Therefore, a Muslim has to return to the sources of his/her religion before laying any plan of action. And God knows best.
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