Circles of death continue to surround the noble people of Syria. Not a child, elderly person or woman has been left except that the ugly hand of the regime has reached them. The cities and towns revolting in Syria continue to be hit by tanks, surrounded by soldiers and armoured vehicles in the dark of night and in broad daylight.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Open Address to Noble al-Sham and its Venerable Soldiers. Presented in the blessed month of Ramadan; the month of victory and conquest!
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا كُونُوا أَنْصَارَ اللَّهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ مَنْ أَنْصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنْصَارُ اللَّهِ فَآَمَنَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَكَفَرَتْ طَائِفَةٌ فَأَيَّدْنَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا ظَاهِرِينَ
“O you who believe, be supporters of (the deen of) Allah, just as Isa, son of Maryam, said to the Disciples, “Who are my supporters towards Allah?” The Disciples said, “We are the supporters of (the deen of) Allah.” So a group from the children of Isra’il believed, and another group disbelieved. Then We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they became victors” (al-Saff: 14)
Circles of death continue to surround the noble people of Syria. Not a child, elderly person or woman has been left except that the ugly hand of the regime has reached them. The cities and towns revolting in Syria continue to be hit by tanks, surrounded by soldiers and armoured vehicles in the dark of night and in broad daylight. The criminal regime in Syria – and from behind it the lying West, led by America – does not afford the homes of civilians any sanctity, nor the blood of people any weight. They continue in their serial of terror and repression, seeking to break the will of the Ummah, to bring her to her knees, and to keep her in a state of disgrace and humiliation. This is because Bashar al-Assad, and those with him in ruling, came to power on an agreement of enmity towards the people, and loyalty to America. Thus when the people have revolted, they have sought to severely punish them, and in doing so, the words of Allah have rung true with respect to this regime:
قُتِلَ أَصْحَابُ الْأُخْدُودِ (•) النَّارِ ذَاتِ الْوَقُودِ (•) إِذْ هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌ (•) وَهُمْ عَلَى مَا يَفْعَلُونَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ شُهُودٌ (•) وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ
“Cursed were the People of the Trench, the (people of the) fire that was rich with fuel, when they were sitting by it, and were watching what they were doing with the believers. They punished them for nothing but that they believed in Allah, the All-Mighty, the Worthy of All Praise.” (al-Buruj: 4-8)
We, in Hizb ut-Tahrir, whilst feeling the severe pain being inflicted on our people in Syria by this criminal regime, emphasis the following:
FIRST: we say to our beloved people in Syria, to the youth in the squares and to the fathers and mothers:
Your blessed uprising against this criminal regime is a sign of sincerity of soul and depth of iman. It is not for us to say to you after the saying of our Lord,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“O you who believe, be patient, persevere, stay on guard and be conscious of Allah so that you may succeed”;
except to say to you that our address to the sincere officers in the Syrian army, who are you sons and brothers, is, after the support of Allah, a means of support for you and your blessed uprising.
O youth of the uprising which called out, ‘It is for Allah! It is for Allah!’, we call you to a covenant between us and you that you do not deviate this uprising from the path of Allah, and that you be with us in a strong and united call to the army for it to play the role that Allah has commanded it, by removing this criminal regime, and establishing a state of justice and security – a Khilafah on the method of prophethood.
O noble revolutionaries! O leaders of organised bodies! Be conscious of Allah, and be models in taqwa, not in disobedience. Make firm in the hearts of the people the vitality of iman and its courage, and drop benefits, interests, fear, the East and the West, from your considerations, and do not weaken or compromise in demanding the establishing of the Khilafah, as a means to establish justice and the Shari’ah of Allah, and to carry Islam to the World. Stand with Hizb ut-Tahrir, who stood when people sat, spoke when people were silent, declared the truth when people lied; realities upon which the prisons of the tyrant, Bashar, bear witness!
O beloved people of Syria – youth in the squares, and officers and soldiers in the barracks:
As we recognise your uprising against oppression and tyranny, and appreciate your immense sacrifices aimed at returning to us justice, honour and a dignified living, and as we call on our brave army and its officers to respond to the caller of Allah and to respond to what we call them to, we, your brothers in Hizb ut-Tahrir, call you to redouble your efforts and persist until this oppressive, perishing system is destroyed along with its constitution, laws, institutions, and personalities, and to establish in its place the system of the Islamic Khilafah State, wherein the Ummah will appoint a Khalifah, by her will and choice, who will protect the land and the people. They will give him the oath of allegiance on that he implements the Shari’ah of Allah – which is complete and covers all aspects of life – and that they obey him so long as he obey Allah with respect to them, and they will account him on his deviations, as Umar (ra) said, “There is no good in you if you do not say it, and there is no good in us if we do not hear it”.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “The Imam is a shield; the people fight behind him and are protected by him.”
So rise to honour and forgiveness and to paradise and Allah’s good pleasure in this blessed month of Ramadan. Do not let the discouragement of those who discourage or the fear of the criminals, from East or West, divert you from your goal. Be as Allah, the Exalted, said,
الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ (•) فَانْقَلَبُوا بِنِعْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ لَمْ يَمْسَسْهُمْ سُوءٌ وَاتَّبَعُوا رِضْوَانَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَظِيمٍ
“Those to whom people said, “The people have gathered against you; so, fear them.” It increased them in faith and they said, “Allah is fully sufficient for us, and the best One in whom to trust.” So, they returned with bounty from Allah, and grace, with no evil having even touched them, and submitted to the pleasure of Allah. Allah is the Lord of great bounty.” (Al-Imran: 172-173)
O Muslims of al-Sham, the heart of the lands of Islam:
Be conscious of Allah, and know your enemy from your friend. Know that the West, led by America, France and England, is your real enemy and the cause of what inflicts you of calamities and disasters, for they are the ones behind all the dictatorial regimes, who make your lives harder and harder, who insult your deen and beliefs, who support your enemies, ‘Israel’ and others, against you, who prevent the commands of Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and the Qur’an under the pretext of fighting terrorism. So long as you look towards the West for support, you will not rid yourselves of these calamities.
O Muslims of al-Sham, the heart of the lands of Islam:
Know that all your problems will not end except with the State of Islam, and that your honour, blood and wealth will not be protected except under the shade of the Khilafah. Know that your honour, and the pleasure of your Lord is not except in the State of honour, the Khilafah state, so work for it and you will be, by the leave of your Lord, of the successful.
SECOND: we say to our brothers and fathers, the officers and soldiers in the barracks:
The intelligent minds and sincere hearts are all asking: is it not time for the night to become day? Is it not time for the chains to break? Is it not time for the sincere officers of the army to fulfill their oath of protecting their people and their honour by grabbing the hand of the oppressor and preventing his crimes?
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “By the one in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, you must enjoin the good, forbid the evil, grab the hand of the oppressor and restrict him to the truth, or Allah will strike your hearts against one another, and you will then by cursed as they are cursed.”
O noble officers and soldiers: the Ummah has risen, with her young and old, to liberate herself and you from these rulers – agents who have brought you to the humiliating situation which you find yourself in. Yesterday your brothers were being slaughtered, bombed and besieged in Gaza, Lebanon and Iraq, whilst you were not allowed to go to their aid. Instead, enemy planes were flying over your heads, bombing as they pleased and leaving, and your weapons were of no use. Is it not this regime that has shackled, subjugated and disgraced you?!
The submissiveness of the Muslim armies tired them / leading them to the shades of darkness, scattered
Becoming hostage to the arrogant oppressor / who strove with them towards corruption and destruction
We in Hizb ut-Tahrir – having taken upon ourselves the responsibility of returning Islam to practical implementation in life through the establishment of the Khilafah state – understand the suffering of the army, just as we understand the suffering of the people, and we, in calling upon our army and officers today, understand that the blood of honour boils in your veins. We understand also, given that you are true sons of this Ummah, that the Zionist enemy has not broken your resolve, nor do you fear it, to the extent that this criminal, foul regime has done so. This regime has disgraced and humiliated you and distanced you from your responsibilities. It has distanced you away from the liberation of the Golan, an obligation on you from your Lord, and has directed you to the killing of your brothers in al-Sham, a matter forbidden on you. Thus, to an elevated status do we call you, to a profitable trade do we direct you, and to the observance of the saying of Allah, the Exalted, do we guide you:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى تِجَارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ (•) تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (•) يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَيُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
“O you who believe, shall I tell you about a trade that saves you from a painful punishment? That you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and carry out Jihad in His way with your wealth and your lives. That is much better for you, if you but know. (If you do this,) He will forgive your sins, and will admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow, and to pleasant dwellings in gardens of eternity. That is the great achievement!” (al-Saff: 10-12)
O noble officers and soldiers: this matter is your matter, and the time is yours, so fulfill your responsibility for the sake of Allah, you will be successful. You are in the blessed month of Ramadan, the month of victories, so let the breaking of your fast be with your giving victory to (the deen of) Allah. So take heed for the sake of Allah, and for the sake of your Ummah who has preceded you in sacrifice, and who will be the best support for you if you are sincere towards her and towards your Lord. Allah, the Exalted, says,
إِنْ يَنْصُرْكُمُ اللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ وَإِنْ يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَنْصُرُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
“If Allah helps you, there is none to overcome you. And if He abandons you, then, who is there to help you after that? In Allah the believers should place their trust.” (Al-Imran: 160)
O noble officers and soldiers: beware! Beware of betraying your Ummah and your trusts by directing your tanks and guns towards the chests of your own people – your young men and women, your children, your mothers and fathers. Beware of putting your support with a falling regime, which does not have but a phantom presence on the streets and ‘alerts’ on its deceitful media. Beware of meeting your Lord with the blood of the Muslims on your necks! Beware of losing your hereafter for the worldly life of somebody else! Rather, work for the victory of your Ummah and yourselves, by taking power away from the gang which has committed crimes against you, your Ummah, your Lord and your deen, and making it a means of supporting the deen of Allah by establishing the rule of Allah on the Earth – a Khilafah Rashidah upon the method of prophethood. In doing so, if you are victorious, you will rejoice and so will the believers, and if you are martyred, then how excellent will be your position! Allah, the Exalted, says,
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ (•) فَرِحِينَ بِمَا آَتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَيَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
“Never take those killed in the way of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, well-provided, happy with what Allah has given them of His grace; and they feel pleased with the good news, about those left behind them who could not join them, that there shall be no fear for them nor shall they grieve.” (Al-Imran: 169-170)
THIRD: we remind the scholars and the imams of the masajid, whilst we are in the month of fasting, to be conscious of Allah and not to hide the truth whilst they know it. Be leaders of goodness for the Ummah, and do not make your knowledge and your leading the prayers a means of material acquisition in life, nor sell the verses of Allah for a lowly price. Know that the punishment of Jahannam is severe, and that power is for Allah, not for Bashar and his aides. Speak the truth and remain firm on it, and do not clothe the truth in falsehood, whilst you know well that the reward of good deeds are multiplied in Ramadan. So fear Allah, speak the truth, and beware of false speech and that which the state dictates to you so that you fabricate lies on the pulpits on Jumu’a!
In ending, Hizb ut-Tahrir calls you O all the people of al-Sham, with the call of truth, in order to take you out from the worship of the slaves to the worship of Allah, the Lord of the slaves, and from the tyranny of the regimes and the oppression of the rulers to the justice and light of Islam, and from the constriction of the world to the vastness of the world and the hereafter. So be sincere with Allah and work with Hizb ut-Tahrir to establish Islam, you will succeed thereby in this world and the hereafter.
Hizb ut-Tahrir also calls you O patient believing soldiers, in the blessed month of Ramadan, the month of victories, the month of the victory in Badr on the 17th of Ramadan, that you place your trust in Allah, the Exalted, and that you make firm your resolve to change the world. The biographies of your lives will be written on pages of light if you give the nusrah to Hizb ut-Tahrir by announcing the Khilafah state, for you will be the new Ansar who status Allah will raise as he raised that of the Ansar of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Allah, the Exalted, says,
وَلَيَنْصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
“Allah will definitely help those who help Him. Surely, Allah is Powerful, Mighty.” (al-Hajj: 40)
and He, the Exalted, says,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
“O you who believe, respond to Allah and the Messenger when He calls you to what gives you life, and be sure that Allah intervenes between man and his heart, and that to Him you shall be gathered.” (al-Anfal: 24)
Hizb ut-Tahrir, Wilayah of Syria
17 Ramadan 1432 AH
17 August 2011 CE