1) Arab world in commotion.2) A Soul’s Connection .....
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In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate
"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaykum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakaatuh
1) Arab world in commotion
The spotlight that remained glued to Afghanistan for the last so many years has suddenly shifted towards the Arab world where waves of demonstrations are sweeping several Arab countries. The wave was initially triggered in Tunisia as a consequent to self immolation of a young unemployed graduate Muhammad Bouazizi on 17 December and soon turned into ‘Jasmine Revolution’. Cyberspace, Facebook and twitter played a role in stirring revolutionary fervor. Tunisian Army refused to fire on the protesters and stood on their side, which cooked the goose of autocratic ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. Fed up of state repression, corruption, unemployment and un-Islamic practices, the determined protestors forced him and his wife Leila to flee on 14 January and take shelter in Jeddah thus ending his 23-year rule. He had desired to shift to Paris since France had all along patronized his way of governance but changed his mind after receiving a cold response. The couple took along 1.5 tons of gold ingots.
A government of national unity was formed in Tunis on 17 January but it was reshuffled on 27th and a transition government installed, which granted unprecedented concessions. It promised free elections within six months and declared full freedom of speech and adopted an amnesty law for those persecuted by Ben Ali regime. Religious preacher Rached Ghannouchi who was against Ben Ali’s enforcement of secularism in the country and undermining of Islamic practices was persecuted and forced to go into exile in 1989. After the fall of Ben Ali, he returned to Tunis on 30 January and was lustily cheered by the crowds. He plans to launch a new political party Ennahda (awakening) and take part in country’s first democratic elections.
Responding to public protest, old faces of previous regime have been removed and the interim cabinet reshuffled, but till elections things would remain uncertain. Curfew has been lifted but not the emergency imposed on 14 January. More than 200 people died during popular revolt known as ‘Jasmine Revolution’ the ripple effects of which have been felt across North Africa and the Middle East. The overall situation in Tunisia is still in a fluid state and now it is up to the interim government to ensure smooth transition and bring a healthy change in the lives of deprived segment.
The young demonstrators in Egypt galvanized by the events in Tunisia took to the streets on 25 January to get rid of the 30-year old dictatorial regime of Hosni Mubarak. On the 18th day of the popular revolt, the youth-led protest movement achieved a monumental victory by forcing Hosni to abdicate power. He handed over the power to his newly appointed Vice President Lt Gen Omar Suleiman and authorized Supreme Council of Armed Forces under Defence Minister Tantawi to run the state affairs. He then flew to Sharm el Sheikh where he has his private residence. The Military has vowed to pave the way for democracy and to bring suitable amendments in the constitution but has so far not given a firm date for elections.
On 28 January thousands of Jordanians propelled by Muslim Brotherhood demonstrated in Amman and other cities of Jordan to press for political and economic reforms and demanding resignation of the ruling regime. They demanded constitutional amendments to curb king’s power empowering him to appoint and dismiss prime minister. The situation in Jordon could have further deteriorated had Abdullah not hastened to take preventive measures like dissolution of ruling cabinet and forming a new one and announcing some reforms. Simmering is however continuing and may flare up again.
South Yemen had been a British colony till as late as 1967. After Ali Abdullah Saleh took over power as President in 1978, he worked towards integration and succeeded in uniting southern part with Soviet influenced northern Yemen in 1990. He was re-elected in 2006 for a seven-year mandate. Yemeni parliament is considering making him president for life. He has all along pursued pro-US and pro-Saudi foreign policy. The country is now plagued by upheavals caused by rebellious Shia’s in the north and secessionist movement in the south together with heavy al-Qaeda presence. Central government controls only one-third of the country. Multi-directional threat to the regime is of concern to USA as well as to Saudi Arabia. Although Yemen has very little to offer economically but both are mindful of its geo-strategic location which helps in strategic economic gains. Yemen overlooks Gulf of Aden, connecting Black Sea to Arabian Sea.
The US has positioned Special Forces, activated CIA and sent weapons and equipment and used drones and cruise missiles to crush movements for independence and to push out Al-Qaeda elements which are active in entire Arabian Peninsula. Saudi regime is also taking direct action to help Saleh. The US has recently signed a $60 billion weapons contract with Riyadh to enable it to support Yemen and to counter Iran.
Some members of ruling party had lent active support to pro-government supporters in Cairo but Saleh’s regime opted to extend support to the people who brought down Mubarak. Encouraged by the success of Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia and in Egypt, Yemenis staged a mass demonstration in Sanaa calling on Saleh to quit. The ruling regime has to some extent been able to contain Tunis like uprising with the help of Saleh’s tribe armed with clubs and knives and backed by ruling General People’s Congress who countered the protesters successfully. Saleh has called for formation of unity government and promised to step down when his term ends in 2013. However, his offers have not pacified the people and strength of protesters in Sanaa is gradually swelling.
People of Algeria languishing under autocratic rule of President Abdel Aziz Bouteflika since 1999 have also started to agitate. Success in Tunisia and Egypt has galvanized them to bring a change in their country as well. A beginning was made on 12 February when large number of protesters battled with the riot police in Algiers. Protesters want emergency imposed in 1992 to end, growing price hike and high unemployment to be controlled and democratic reforms introduced. The country has gone through a bloody revolution in the wake of cancellation of first multiparty elections in January 1992 by the Army at the behest of USA and brutal persecution of the Islamists resulting in loss of 200,000 lives. The Army had taken over to pre-empt takeover by an Islamist Party. Although the government has promised to lift emergency and to bring down food prices, protests are likely to gather momentum.
Bahrain which had won independence in 1971 was ruled by King Hamad. In the 2001 referendum, the country was transformed from Emirate into a constitutional monarchy and led to elections in 2002. The King named Khalifa bin Salman as the PM. The country has Shia majority but is ruled by Sunni rulers. In the wake of protests in several Muslim countries, people of Bahrain also got affected and came out on the streets on 15 February. Protest marches were led by opposition groups including Shiite bloc al-Wefaq in Manama and other cities. They demand resignation of the regime and amendment in constitution to allow people to elect the leader of the House rather than the King. They also demand formation of national unity government. Troop firing on the protesters resulted in killing of four dead and over 230 injured. Fifty persons of security also received injuries. Although protests have not gained any momentum, tempers are still high.
Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Gulf States are also feeling the ripple effect. Pakistan is saddled with similar problems on account of which several uprisings have taken place in quick succession. Internally, it is faced with Taliban insurgency in the northwest, secessionist movement in Balochistan, troubled Karachi, politically polarized Punjab, aggressive religious extremist forces, secular-Islamic divide, disturbed law and order situation, fragile economy, rampant corruption, increasing poverty, price spiral and unemployment. Externally, it is up against hostile India, unstable and not so friendly Afghanistan, unreliable and overbearing USA which is brazenly meddling in Pakistan’s domestic affairs. Beset with so many troubles, corrupt and inept government has done little to redress any of the social inequities. Unless emergent measures are taken, time is not far that social unrest may engulf the whole nation.
The writer Asif Haroon Raja is a retired Brig and a defence and security analyst. Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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2) A Soul’s Connection to Another (Heart-Softeners)
It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah radi Allaahu 3anhu that the Messenger of Allaah sallAllaahu 3alayhi wa sallam said: “Souls are like recruited soldiers, those that recognise one another unite in harmony and those that do not recognise one another are at an aversion.” (1)
Abu Hatim said: “The reason that people find concordancy and harmony between themselves (after the Decree) lies in the recognition of two souls. And likewise, their discord and seperation lies in the aversion of the two souls. Hence if two souls recognise each other, they will find familiarity and affection between themselves and if there is aversion between the two souls they will in turn find aversion and seperation between their beings.
Mujahid (rahimahu-Allaah) said: “Ibn 3Abbas radi Allaahu 3Anhu saw a man and said: “Indeed he loves me”. They said, “And how do you know?!”
He said, “Because I love him and souls are like recruited soldiers, those that recognise one another unite in harmony and those that do not recognise one another are at an aversion.”
Abu Bakr al-Anbari recited:
Indeed the hearts are soldiers enlisted for Allaah
Upon the earth, through affection do they recognise each other
So those at a familiarity are held in harmony
And those enstranged are at a difference
It is narrated from Qatadah (rahimahu-Allaah) that he said regarding the verse of Allaah,
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“Except him on whom your Lord has bestowed His Mercy and for that did He create them.” (2)
He said: “(Created them) for mercy and obedience. As for the people of obedience, their hearts and desires are unified even though they may be distant from each other (living apart). And as for the people of disobedience, then their hearts are at a discord even though they may be closel gathered and living together”.
Mansoor al-Karizi:
Whatever the eyes and heart behold will be in affection
For neither the heart nor the eyes can be concealed
But they are only two souls, one in view of the other
So one recognises the other and hence they meet
Abu Hatim: The greatest sign that alludes to what a person is like in his daily affair is expressed through whom he befriends and whom he is at enmity with, because a person is on the path of his friend and birds of a feather only flock together. I have never seen something more indicative of another, moreso even than smoke indicating fire, as much as I’ve seen a companion allude to the reality of his companion.
The smart one avoids accompanying the doubtful one and he keeps away from the one whose Deen is questionable because whoever keeps in the company of a people is known by them and whoever lives with a person ends up being attributed to him. A man does not befriend except one who is like him or of his nature (i.e. in character). If a person does not find one to befriend from amongst the people, he seeks out one whose companionship will only beautify him and it will not disgrace him to be known by him. If he sees goodness from him, he counts it (and remembers it), and if he sees a bad thing he conceals it for him, and if he remains silent over it he’s the first to speak about it to him, and were he to ask of anything he would give it.
Indeed, from amongst Mankind is one who if a person were to see him, he would be amazed. And if he got to know him more, his amazement would increase. And from amongst them is one who has an aversion to another upon seeing him, and getting to know him only increases him in hostility. Their agreement is due to the agreement of their souls from aforetime, and their aversion is due to their souls’ aversion.
If two souls meet in affection and are then forced to depart with the departure of life without any hateful event or they depart due to death, then that there is shocking death and grevious pain. There has never been a moment of such prolonged grief, such apparant loss, lasting sorrow, deep sadness and lament more so than when two brethrens or beloveds are seperated.
And no-one has tasted a taste more bitter than when two close friends are seperated and it’s all over.
I wonder at the one who extends his right hand
To his beloved at the time of seperation and he hastens therein!
I felt weak and incapable of saying farewell when I saw him
So my heart shook his hand whilst my eye wept.
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From book “‘Gardens of the Intelligent & Journeys of the Virtuous’” by Ibn Habban Translated by Farhia Yahya References:(1) Saheeh Muslim(2) Soorah Hood, v: 119http://www.towardshuda.wordpress.com/
Compiled, edited and adapted by Khalid Latif, e-tabligue