In the name of Allah, may His peace and blessings be upon His final Messenger, Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
All praise be to the One that has granted His slaves some victories against one of the most brutal oppressors of our time. [1]
The news coming of the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s brutal grip over Aleppo and surrounding areas is something that we should all show thanks for.
The scenes of captives being released from dungeons after years of torture and imprisonment, and refugees that fled persecution finally able to go back to their homes, is certainly heartwarming.
BACKGROUND
- Recent reports from Aleppo have shown significant progression in the conflict between opposition forces and the Bashar al-Assad regime
- On 11 November, opposition forces launched an offensive targeting strategic locations including Aleppo University and provincial government sites
- By 16 November, key regime positions were overrun, with government forces and their Iranian and Hezbollah allies retreating
- Assad has been dealt a major blow with the area freed and his control weakened in parts of Aleppo and adjoining areas toward Idlib
- al-Assad, in power since 2000, has the blood of 600,000 on his hands; his father, Hafez, killed at least 40,000
Thank Allah that oppression is being lessened
There has reportedly been much misinformation being spread; sincere Muslims are looking for advice on how to act at this time.
First, we ask Allah ﷻ that He chooses the best outcome for the Syrian people.
They have been suffering tremendously for the last four decades, and their particular ordeal is of an especially brutal degree that perhaps no others have endured at the hands of their own regimes.
Whether it was Hafez al-Assad or his son who inherited his brutality after him, this regime is notorious for being one of the most brutal — if not the most brutal — in the entire world.
We need to remember that the land of al-Shām is a land of barakah, a land of Islam. [2] And any Muslim should be happy at the dhulm against his brothers and sisters being removed.
Indeed, every single Muslim should feel happy and show thanks to Allah for any reduction in the power of an oppressor of the likes of this regime, with the blood of 600,000 people on their hands.
Assad’s “support” for Palestinians and torture of Syrians
The “support” that the Syrian regime has been showing to the Palestinians — irrespective of their motivations — does not justify the oppression and brutal torture of their own people.
And it does not justify anyone, let alone Muslims, to support this oppressive regime; these are two different matters.
It is up to the Palestinian leadership to decide from where to receive assistance, in what way, and at what cost, just like any suffering people.
But that does not justify the Palestinians, nor anyone else, to support an oppressive regime against their brothers and sisters.
Dhulm is an absolute red line for Muslims
Unlike man-made norms and ethics, dhulm, oppression, and injustice is a red line for Muslims, regardless of who commits it.
Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) says,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا ۚ اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just.
“Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.” [3]
This is the unique characteristic of support and allyship in Islam, you do not support your ally in oppression, unlike what we see animating other powers in the world today.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,
“Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or an oppressed.” [4]
A man asked,
“O Allah’s Messenger! I will help him if he is oppressed, but if he is an oppressor, how shall I help him?” [4]
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“By preventing him from oppressing [others], for that is how to help him.” [4]
Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) says,
وَعَنَتِ الْوُجُوهُ لِلْحَيِّ الْقَيُّومِ ۖ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ حَمَلَ ظُلْمًا
“And [all] faces will be humbled before the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. And he will have failed who carries injustice.” [5]
And He also warns,
أَلَا لَعْنَةُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
“Surely, Allah’s condemnation is upon the wrongdoers,” [6]
Advice to sincere revolutionaries
Those sincere revolutionaries who are rebelling against this oppression are in fact acting according to their nature as human beings, i.e. upon the sound natural disposition (fitrah).
They are acting according to their dīn, which commands them to reject and work against oppression.
They are also commanded to support those weak and downtrodden people that are being oppressed.
Allah (‘azza wa jal) says,
وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاءِ وَالْوِلْدَانِ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ الظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَاجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا وَاجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ نَصِيرًا
“And what is [the matter] with you, that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say,
“‘Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper’?” [7]
In fact, they are defending their dīn and the dīn of the entire Syrian people.
Anyone doing so in a legitimate way — according to the rules of engagement — is thus seen as a true mujāhid striving upon the truth.
Mujāhidīn shoulder a great responsibility
We advise those who are sincere mujāhidīn to fear Allah ﷻ in all their matters and rectify their intentions.
They should continually make sure that the above aims are their main aims:
- to fight oppression;
- support the oppressed;
- get rid of this brutal regime;
- and, most importantly, to protect their dīn and the dīn of their people.
Their aim is not any personal gain or for the sake of any party or group.
Mujāhidīn should be united, not letting fitnah disunite them
Allah (‘azza wa jal) says,
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.” [8]
He (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) further states,
وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ ۖ وَاصْبِرُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
“And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” [9]
Learn from mistakes early on in the revolution
We advise the mujāhidīn to learn from the mistakes that happened in the beginning of the revolution from 2012-18 in different stages and different places, where disunity caused them to lose strength.
This led to the regime — supported by Russia and Iran — massacring hundreds of thousands of Syrians.
We advise the mujāhidīn not to depend on military force alone, they must have strategic thinkers who can help them in finding the best plan of action to achieve their goals.
This includes political strategies that allow for the representation of all Syrians, not just certain sections from the mujāhidīn.
Have humility and thank Allah for all successes
We advise the mujāhidīn to be careful and not become arrogant, not to feel pride because they have swept and taken a few cities easily.
They must show humility and thanks to Allah for any successes, and follow the model of the Prophet ﷺ when he took over Makkah. He (ﷺ) entered with his head lowered to humble himself before Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla).
We advise them to use a mature discourse that demonstrates their respect for the rules of engagement, international law (even if their enemies do not, let alone believe in it), and the rights of minorities that the noble Sharī’ah has granted.
Keep in mind Russian and American interests in Syria
Despite Islamic differences within different groups, sects, and even religions within Syria, they must remember that the Sharī’ah commands them to work for the interests of and justice for all Syrians under their protection, not just one group or sect.
They should also remember that Syria is a country of great interest for the main superpowers.
Indeed, the US would not like to see a strong Sunni Muslim ruling this country, a country that has borders with Israel.
Likewise, Russia considers Syria as its frontline against NATO. It has one of its military bases there — specifically the Khmeimim Air Base.
Lastly, Muslims all over the world should ask Allah ﷻ to help our Syrian brothers and sisters, guide them, and to protect them against all evil and harm.
Source: Islam21c
Notes
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/3/syria-tracker-maps-and-charts
[2] https://islamqa.info/en/265697
[3] al-Qur’ān, 5:8
[4] Sahīh al-Bukhārī, 2,444; https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2444
[5] al-Qur’ān, 20:111
[6] al-Qur’ān, 11:18
[7] al-Qur’ān, 4:75
[8] al-Qur’ān, 3:103
[9] al-Qur’ān, 8:46
