(Series of Answers by the Eminent Scholar Ata bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah, Ameer of Hizb ut-Tahrir, to Questions from His Facebook Page Followers)
To Alfateh Akjadeed
Question:
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,
Our honorable Ameer,
Is this page dedicated to jurisprudential matters? If not, I have the following question: I have noticed in the course of the ongoing war in the land of Ash-Sham that there are several regional axes in addition to two primary international axes:
- The Saudi Axis: Its key operative is Sheikh Al-Arour. For example, it has the Liwa al-Islam in Douma and was involved in forming the joint military command with Tayfour [the Muslim Brotherhood].
- The Qatari Axis: In addition to containing the Coalition and its role from the beginning in obstructing the National Council and supporting the National Coordination Committee, it adopts the support of the Syrian Liberation Front. It has more than one key, the most important of whom is Azmi Bishara.
- The Turkish Axis: Keen on stabilizing the fragile internal balance, with its eye first on the Kurdish issue and secondly on democracy in Syria. This axis is disciplined by international borders and American policy.
- The Jordanian Axis: It seems to be in clear disagreement with the Turkish axis. Several attempts were made to form what is called the "National Army" under Jordan's supervision, but Turkey and America foiled them by contacting the relevant officers, including Mustafa al-Sheikh (despite the permanent presence of the CIA and the Department of Defense in meetings in Jordan).
- The Kuwaiti Axis: Through Islamic groups via individuals: mainly Ahrar al-Sham was formed for them, and they were working to win over many parties, especially in Ash-Sham.
In the international framework: The American axis, then the English and French axis. All this relates to the opposition. The question is: What is the nature of the ongoing conflict? What is the picture of the region in terms of dependency (tabe’iya)? What are the basic axes in the conflict? And what is the vision for a solution for each party? Jazakumullah Khayran.
Answer:
To Alfateh Akjadeed
Wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
You ask if the page is for political, intellectual, or jurisprudential matters...
My brother, the page is for every good hoped for from this communication. No question in any door of goodness is prevented, Allah willing.
As for your question about the axes of the conflict in Syria, the matter is as follows:
The actual political influence (an-nafuz) since the era of Hafez and Bashar has been American influence. This regime has been fulfilling America's interests in the region and maintaining the security of the Jewish entity, not only in the lands occupied in '48 but also in the occupied Golan of '67.
When the popular movements in Syria occurred and escalated, and Bashar became unable to restore things to how they were, America realized that its agent, the tyrant, had effectively fallen. Its concern then became how to guarantee an alternative agent after him. It worked hard and established the Council, then the Coalition... but it could not find roots for them inside the country. It began to fear that the revolutionaries might succeed in toppling the tyrant before the alternative was ready, thus allowing forces not accounted for by America to fill the vacuum.
Consequently, it began giving Bashar extension after extension through futile, indecisive projects via the Arab League and the United Nations. They formed monitors who could not protect themselves, and meetings here and there without resolution, merely to pass time so it could market its products (the opposition) residing abroad, hoping the people inside would accept them as their rulers.
What surprised America was that the dominant sentiment inside is Islamic, whether among those aware of the ideas and rulings of Islam or those who are not. America was also deeply disturbed by the people's calls and shouts for the Khilafah (Caliphate), to the point that other voices—secular, etc.—were almost lost in the crowd, despite the intense focus on them by the media!
This atmosphere strikes terror into the heart of America and its allies, who fear that things will slip from their hands. Therefore, it focuses on three things:
First: Giving the green light to Bashar for killing and oppression to the greatest extent possible as pressure on the people inside to accept America's products abroad. Then, introducing these products and establishing a secular civil rule in Syria—meaning changing faces while keeping the basic structure of the regime.
Second: If it cannot market its products through Bashar's massacres, it is expected to resort to international intervention to impose its government. It is preparing the stage with excuses for intervention when necessary. However, due to its many internal and external problems and crises, it places intervention in the backlines of its plans and only resorts to it after the failure of the first line mentioned above.
Third: During this period, it will have brought the country to destruction. If Islam prevails in ruling Syria, the country would be filled with ruin and devastation. America and its allies think this will make the Ummah despair, lose hope, and refrain from rising and moving. But America and all the enemies of Islam do not realize the greatness of this Ummah. In its loins are true men who will build the earth despite the noses of the oppressors and increase the crops and livestock despite the plot of the hypocrites. This Ummah has dealt with their likes before: the Crusaders and the Tatars, who spread corruption, killing, and destruction in the land. Nevertheless, the Ummah defeated them, expelled them ignominiously, and they became a thing of the past as if they had never flourished. The Ummah returned to life anew, destroying its enemies and finishing them from where they did not expect. The Ummah returns as the best nation produced for mankind:
كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُمْ مِنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ
"You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient." (QS. Ali 'Imran [3]: 110)
This is regarding America... As for Russia, Turkey, Iran, and their allies in Lebanon, they are front lines for America, supplying Bashar with weapons and supporting him... heating up the stage or cooling it down according to the American plan. In this context was the recent meeting of the US Secretary of State with the Russian Foreign Minister; it was a "passing of time," closer to salon talk than to actual decisions...
As for Europe, it tries to "stir trouble" through its agents, particularly Qatar and Jordan. Note that America does not give them any weight; it left Europe, their master, running behind it. After America went to Russia and met with them regarding Syria—ignoring Europe's role—the British Prime Minister went to Russia, following in America's footsteps to see if there was anything he could scout out to save face, as if Britain had a role in this matter. France's position does not differ, except that France's voice is loud while Britain's voice is low in malice and cunning. The result is the same regarding their lack of an effective role in Syria.
There remains the axis of the Ummah in Syria, and the movement there is as follows:
- A minority deceived by Western culture, captivated by its ideas and concepts, saying what it says and calling for a secular democratic civil state that separates religion from life...
- Another group, more numerous and weightier than that minority... they are Muslims with a veil over their eyes: they love Islam and want the Khilafah, and they adore the banner of the Messenger (saw), but they do not declare what they love and want for fear of provoking the colonial states, and they do not raise the banner for fear of upsetting the claimants of nationalism!
- A group calling for Islamic rule, which is divided into two:
- A section that uses material actions and calls for Islamic rule but lacks full and correct awareness of the ideas and rulings of Islam and the current events... etc.
- A sincere, truthful section that wants Islamic rule, the "Rightly Guided Khilafah," in the way the Messenger of Allah (saw) proceeded, thus seeking Nusrah (material support for power) from its people...
In all our actions, dear brother, we adhere to the method of the Messenger (saw) and place the straight line next to the crooked line, manifesting the truth and urging towards it, not only in Ash-Sham but also in other areas, especially those neighboring Ash-Sham. These are witnessed actions, by the will of Allah, and we ask Him, the Sublime, for help and success.
In conclusion, America and its allies are preparing to create deals that guarantee the safety of the tyrant and replace grim faces with others even darker, while keeping the structure of the secular republican regime intact. They are exerting every effort to delay the coming Islamic rule to the land of Ash-Sham, for in the rule of Islam lies the destruction of the disbelievers, the hypocrites, and their followers. It is obligatory upon the Ummah not to enable them to achieve their evil goals, but rather to remain steadfast on the truth and pledge to Allah not to accept any alternative to the Khilafah. They must not be deceived by the products of the enemies of Islam who circulate ideas of a transitional or temporary government, for these are governments that praise their masters and plot against Islam and Muslims, just like the colonial disbelievers and hypocrites. Neither the former National Council, nor the subsequent Coalition, nor Hitto coming from afar will bring any good to this Ummah; rather, they are following the path of America and its allies...
Your brother, Ata bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah
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