Reflections over 7/7

In a recent lecture on Islam and Terrorism, I referred to an article that I wrote within a few days of the terror attacks in London. It was posted on a blog for a day and then removed because the administrator considered it too controversial. Anyway, here it is for those who are interested:

Terror begets terror

This is the day we were dreading. It almost goes without saying that we can expect things to get harder here in the UK for Muslims. Maybe we were thinking that it’s difficult enough being a Muslim here in the UK without this! Who would perpetrate such actions, and what motivates someone to dot such a thing?
• Brainwashed fanatics?
• It is blind rage and hatred and revenge?
• A patience used up through witnessing the death of so many innocent Muslims, desecration of the Qur’an, torture and humiliation of AbuGuraib and Guantanamo?
• Are these acts perpetrated by individuals that have themselves witnessed so much death that it seems as nothing to add more to the tally?
• Or is the reason more sinister?

We have heard Bush and now Blair talk about our way of life and civilization being under attack. How these people hate our freedoms. Then we witness those very freedoms being swept away. Our freedoms taken away in order to protect our freedoms!

Blair told us:

“It is through terrorism that the people that have committed these terrible acts express their values and it is right at this moment that we demonstrate ours.  “I think we all know what they are trying to do. They are trying to use the slaughter of innocent people to cow us, to frighten us out of doing the things that we want to do, trying to stop us from going about our business as normal, as we are entitled to do and they should not and they must not succeed. "When they try to intimidate us, we will not be intimidated. When they seek to change our country or our way of life by these methods, we will not be changed.”

Prime Minister Tony Blair I mean is that really the reason why Al Qaida is bombing us? I thought it was because we were part of the occupation forces in Iraq, and because we helped destroy their bases in Afghanistan and are the most voraciously faithful ally of the USA who provides $16 billion dollars of aid to Israel annually and who has troops in Saudi Arabia.!

Just to remind you all, here is an extract from a supposed tape that Osama released after 911, taken from the associated press:

"To the U.S. people, my talk is to you about the best way to avoid another disaster," he said. "I tell you: security is an important element of human life and free people do not give up their security." He accused President Bush of misleading Americans by saying the attack was carried out because al-Qaida "hates freedom." Bin Laden said his followers have left alone countries that do not threaten Muslims. "We fought you because we are free .... and want to regain freedom for our nation. As you undermine our security we undermine yours," he said. He said he was first inspired to attack the United States by the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon in which towers and buildings in Beirut were destroyed in the siege of the capital. "While I was looking at these destroyed towers in Lebanon, it sparked in my mind that the tyrant should be punished with the same and that we should destroy towers in America, so that it tastes what we taste and would be deterred from killing our children and women," he said. "God knows that it had not occurred to our mind to attack the towers, but after our patience ran out and we saw the injustice and inflexibility of the American-Israeli alliance toward our people in Palestine and Lebanon, this came to my mind," he said.

Let me re-write Tony’s speech for accuracy…

“I think we all know what they are trying to do too. They are trying to stop us raping and pillaging and shedding the blood of innocent Muslims without fear of any consequence to ourselves. They are trying to stop us invading their lands and stealing their oil, to frighten us of doing whatever we feel like doing, and getting on with the business of colonialism and empire as we have done for hundreds of years now, as we are entitled to do that and they should not and must not succeed, because we’ll have no oil and then we really will have to change our country and way of life by the same methods that we have and are changing theirs. We need this oil and aren’t shifting and we don’t care that much how many people die as a consequence.”

Terror begets terror.
There is an obstinate reluctance that I still find in many Muslims to accept that any Muslim could have perpetrated such acts.  It is strange however, that there is not such reluctance amongst many non-Muslims to accept the idea that in fact their own governments are somehow behind, or even directly responsible for what is going on. I must confess that such ideas did spring to my mind. After 911, I suspected that at least Mossad and the CIA had foreknowledge of what was going to happen, and perhaps helped it to happen. But the idea that the government of the United States was somehow complicit in the murder of its own citizens was somehow too terrible to consider. Then I watched a documentary funded by Jimmy Walter, www.reopen911.org. I still could hardly believe what I was hearing, and so I searched for some references to debunk these 911 conspiracy theories, and came up with this http://maritimes.indymedia.org/news/2003/02/4086.php  I think it’s mocking sarcastic tone really won me over! My research continues, through arguments and counter arguments as each side refutes the other. There are however a few worrying factors outside the actual details of 911 and a possible neo-con plot. These I remember, and have been widely accepted in the mainstream media.  It all shows what the Western governments are prepared to do to their own people.
• The French secret service sank a Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior, docked in New Zealand.  http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/july2005/110705sinkingship.htm

• The first bombing of the World Trade Centre was all done with the help of an FBI mole, who was given explosives by the FBI. http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/OK/wtcbomb.html

• During the bloody civil war in Algeria the Algerian government with the help of the French secret services had brutal psychological operations that involved dressing Algerian troops as Islamists (with fake beards!) and raping and slaughtering women and children in villages. The give away here was that these villages were in the heart lands of the Islamist movement. An Algerian diplomat sought political asylum here in the UK and exposed the whole thing. This included an admission that the bomb blasts in France on the Metro were in fact done by the Algerian government at the behest of the French Secret Services, all with the intent to discredit the Islamist movement in Algeria. http://www.aliasoft.com/themes/alger2.html

• The Russian secret services organised a series of bombings of apartments in Russia itself, blaming it on Chechen terrorists in order to drum up support for the war in Chechnya.             http://www.tjetjenien.dk/baggrund/bombs.html#satter

Is it really beyond the realms of possibility that Madrid and now London are all part of that same methodology? All this shows how ruthless these governments can be in pursuit of power.  They say that Islam is not their target, but how can we be blind to the fact that the Islamic revival is a major, of not the major threat to the West’s continued global dominance?
We are so ready and willing and wanting to take their words for granted, and believe their overtures, but it flies in the face of history and experience. Think and check all the statements that come out about the people accused of being responsible, and ask how does it all fit?
I spoke to a brother who, before embracing Islam spent three years in the special services, with one year counter terrorism training. He said that even with his skill base and knowledge he could not have done it. The components for timing devices and the type of explosives used cannot be made at home. It takes months of training in order to able to build and use such devices.
From where did they get these devises and training? Well, I don’t know the answer. I really don’t think it’s worth spending too much of our time trying to figure it out.  Perhaps we will only find out when we meet Allah and He will make all that is hidden known.
What we can be sure about is this:
The noble deen of Islam stands clearly against these mindless atrocities. It comes to my mind again and again how could anyone with true faith in Allah, following the path of his Noble Messenger Mohammed, a mercy to all mankind, find such cowardly and indiscriminate methods compatible with the teachings of Islam? Perhaps that just makes it more tempting for me to accept these other ideas. I remember when 911 happened and all the different ideas were flying around and no one seemed to know what or who to believe and what to be sure of that there were two things, as the Prophet saws said, that as long as you hold on to them you will never go astray, the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet. What is clear from the revelation is that there are people of true faith and there are those who oppose it. And as for those who oppose the truth…
Allah says:

“And they have indeed planned their plan, and their plan is with Allah, though their plan is such that the mountains should be moved thereby.” 14:46

What does all this mean my brothers and sisters?
It is a test from Allah:

“Or do you think that you will enter the garden, while there has not yet befallen you the like of what befell those who have passed away before you. Distress and affliction befell them and they were shaken violently, so that the messenger and those who believed with him said: “When will the help of Allah come? Now surely the help of Allah is near!” 2:214

This all reminds me of a hadith where the Prophet is describing the fitan, or trails and tribulations that will occur, before the coming of Ad Dajjal, how they will come thick and fast one after the other, like beads falling from a necklace that is broken. At each trial the believer will think “This one will finish me!”
So upon us is patience and perseverance.  We should increase our obedience to Allah, enhance our understanding of this religion and intensify our efforts to call to Allah, making known the truth of this noble religion, for the time that we meet our Lord is ever close.

“By Time, Verily mankind are in a state of loss, Except those who believe and do righteous actions, And join together in the teaching of truth, And join together in the teaching of patience.” Surat al Asr 103

Husbunallahu wa ni’ma wakeel. We trust in Allah and He is the best Guardian and Protector

Comments

[Nisa]

Assalaamu 'alaikum

You can watch another 911 conspiracy theory production here: http://saturn9.ws/loosechange.html