25/10/2021
Syria; over a decade later, Who changed or what changed?
Firstly, I would have to apologize to political analysts and politicians for encroaching in their field of expertise, but let this be a politically laymen's view on things, especially that "religion" was forcefully injected into the political scene there and it became part of the formula.
Over a decade ago, many of the major world powers and their regional executioners assisted (or created, according to some) and maintained a militant movement against the sitting Syrian regime citing its corruption and human rights record. Slogans were initially raised citing the urgent need to correct political and economic corruption. What seems as the real objective, according to many, is the toppling of the regime after attempts to soften its stubbornness failed. If toppling is not possible, then a Somali-zation and a Libya-like scenario will do. That will ensure a toppling of the oppressive regime and its apparatus and replace it with "creative chaos" for a few decades, similar to many ongoing examples in the region. Under the pretext of the regime's oppression and corruptions (which are more than true), the masses were mobilized through a flood of cash money support, political support, weapons, military support, media support and other logistics calling for the removal of the sitting regime through violence. This violence was being called “revolution.” There is no doubt that the Syrian people have long overdue aspiration for political and economic justice; similar to the aspirations of the rest of the people in the entire region; the whole 3rd world countries; and actually all peoples of the world. Simultaneously, there is no doubt to any observer that other than the emotions of the Syrian people seeking a positive change, all monies, weapons, political, media, and military support was maintained by non-Syrian major global powers and their regional executioners. There is also no doubt in the mind of any balanced observer that the political and economic changes sought in the Syrian situation happen to be way overdue in all other involved regional powers who helped initiate, finance, plan, and lead the war against Syria utilizing the legitimate grievances of the Syrian people while forgetting their own peoples' aspirations. But, as in any 3rd world country, freedom of speech is among the "holy" forbidden things to even whisper. Your thinking process is confiscated by the state and its media outlets. The grievances of 3rd world populations are echoed throughout the region, and in many cases, more sorely needed. Totalitarianism was not and is not a Syrian problem only in that region. Despite the “steroids” injected, the calls for “revolution” against the regime did not reach the threshold needed to topple the regime forcefully. The strategy moved to "double down" on the mobilization of the masses through cloaking the “revolution” with religious rhetoric and objectives. Despite the more money and religious rhetoric, the militarization of the Syrian people did not reach the threshold needed. It became obvious; therefore, the need to mobilize sectarian rhetoric and force tear the social fabric into small pieces killing each other on sectarian and political basis through allowing (or facilitating) international radical militants to take the lead into the Afghani-zation, or Libya-zation, or Iraq'ization, etc.. of Syria. The reason for the foreign element injection are many, among them: the general Syrian religious mood being traditionally Sunni Sufi in nature, and hesitant to kill others in the name of religion. Under the pressure and "promises" and for others; simply their consistent vision of reform (such in the Jihadi Salafists Muslims), many religious figures opted for one reason or another (none included a detailed, consistent, Legal theory-backed, orthodox Sunni view about the validity, circumstances, means, objectives, etc.. of violent movements against a sitting regime for political and financial corruption) to take stands for validating killings and violence against the sitting regime and its personnel. Many of those figures called these actions -in a shy way- under the pretext that “we are defending ourselves against the aggressing regime.” " Daf' al-Sa'il". The more childish argument cites" "who started first?" as an argument for all the weapons, monies, logistics, and media support the militarization readily received. The regime is corrupt and oppressive enough, but -as in every totalitarian regime in that region- so long you do not seek to change the regime forcefully, the regime and its apparatus does not bother you much -in general-. Regimes in that region are concerned with their permanence. So long that is not threatened, they do not mind the prosperity and religiosity of the population to a certain extent. They will not stop you from a grass-root non-violent, non-political moral and social reform of the population, in general. In fact, things were becoming much better in terms of personal freedom and "religiosity" freedom before the "revolution" in Syria. This is not to say that things were transparent, democratic and great. Far from that. But the question of "how do we reach the needed reform in the best of ways, was never presented, and the only drive was the emotional mobilization of people. One person losing their life is one person too many, and unfortunately, in Syria millions of lives were hurt through murder and wounds. However, during the height of the "revolutionary" mode, bullets and bombs spoke while the intellect and wisdom (and even religion) were forcefully silenced. Some religious figures went to the point of issuing Fatwa’s of violence, which entails not just validating but obligating believers to carry on violence against all people perceived to be with the regime and its apparatus (which includes the official army and others, all of which reflect the mosaic of the Syrian people, sectarianly speaking). Once blood is spilled, intellectual thinking and dialogue usually stop. The religious calls for violence stooped further into sectarian calls for violence. This was not the case with most religious Syrian figures, but many, unfortunately.
We have, from the beginning, called for an all non-violent and legal movement for reform in Syria and in all other places in the world where reform is needed, whether in the 1st or 3rd world. We realize that violence would only breed violence, and the objective should never be just toppling an oppressive regime, rather constructing a transparent system for a better life for all. Construction does not happen through destruction, and life is not given through death by bullets and bombs. Nonviolence is costly, but this is the cost of freedom and liberty. Nonviolence maybe perceived as slow, but it is definitely the most effective tool of change. The worst in the so called Arab "Spring" which was more like a "Fall" with flood of blood and mass destruction, is that religion has been deceptively used as means of validating death and misery. Therefore, it is not surprising that most (if not all- as the West generally doesn't tolerate inciting violence) religious figures who called for violent toppling of the regime were living in another totalitarian/oppressive system they happen to praise, selectively.
Religion is never the cause of war or violence; greed, ambition, and envy are.
Over a decade after the whole thing, Fatwa’s for violence and killings of political opponents seem to have changed and are no longer uttered, the cloaks of “Jihad” are no longer worn by most who called for violent “Jihad” in the first place in Syria. Now, there are publicly a dozen foreign armies in Syria with different agendas, none of them represent the Syrian people’s dreams, the country which was debt-free before the “revolution” is crippled economically, infrastructure is destroyed, about half a million killed, 100,000’s of orphans, widows, and millions in “camps” in neighboring countries where exploitation is an everyday thing. Millions of internal and external refugees, etc. Maybe a reflection on the means and Maqasid should have been looked into before political/religious figures mobilized the masses to destroy their own lives. I cannot refrain from saying: the need of the our societies and time is an educational and ethical/Akhlaq "revolution" not a political one. The education/Ethical/Akhlaq/values "renaissance will -coupled by relentless struggle and sacrifice- pave the way for a non-violent political and economic reform.
Having said that, this is in no way to belittle any innocent life lost or injured on all sides of the spectrum, nor is it to belittle any innocent sacrifice or suffering sustained by any party in this tragedy. It is exactly the opposite.
What is happening now?
The remainder of the violent movements are working based on the signs of their foreign employers/suppliers, and the country is divided. All are awaiting a political settlement in which those who invested in the forceful changing of the regime will get something in return. Politically speaking, those who instigated all this to dissociate the Syrian regime from Iran have failed miserably. The Syrian regime is closer to Iran today than ever before. All things, politically speaking, will most likely be back to “before the revolution” but with lots of blood spilled, deep wounds, a destroyed country, brain drain (all degree-holding individuals were solicited directly and indirectly to leave), and tragedies upon tragedies.
Who changed and what changed?!!!
Many mocked Shaykh al-Buti when he called the matter for what it is. No one is saying that Shaykh al-Buti was infallible nor that he was right in everything he said or written about the regime or other issues. But what is evident from the beginning is that the standing of Shaykh al-Buti was the correct and the consistent one with the traditional “Sunni” methods of reform, historically speaking. Maybe that is why he paid his life as the price, because a reasonable voice which happened to be effective was not permitted to be voiced. May Allah Ta’ala grant him forgiveness and mercies.
Religion did not come to remain silent on the oppression and corruption of leaders. Religion came to show the right way of standing against oppression and injustice. Religion taught us that bloodshed should not be in the calculation to start with (Qur’an 5:28). Religion came to instruct that we should do all we can and drive an all-out effort to change the status quo and stand up to oppression and injustice. But when the “revolution” uses the same violent methods of the oppressor, their difference starts disappearing. This isn’t a call for pacifism but, on the contrary, for greater responsible all-out activism. It is never to equate the oppressor with the oppressed either but to remain focused on correcting the oppression rather than seeking revenge from the oppressor and his apparatus/accomplishments. Revenge is a Jahili value; while justice and Ihsan are Islamic values.
May Allah Ta’ala grant mercies to all innocent souls suffered in this and other conflicts around the world. The tears of the mothers and the pains of all those suffering cannot be ignored, and may Allah Ta'ala heal their bodies and hearts. May ease come to all those facing these terrible circumstances, and may people in the world never fall for calls of violence as means of salvation. Bullets and bombs will not bring peace, they will just bring another color/brand of totalitarianism/dictatorship. May the people of the world know that outsiders will not be more concerned with helping them, if they are not willing to help themselves first. Certainly if reform in a particular society is left to outsiders, don't be surprised if the best interests of that society are not the priority! The powers who assisted all sides of the violent conflict did not -most likely- do it as a charity, but all have their own agendas and interests; however, the very average Syrian family was looking for someone to represent their interest in have -again- a safe home with no bullets and bombs falling on their heads.
May the intellect and wisdom dictate the human scene rather than bullets and bombs, and may all people live in peace, guidance, and prosperity. Times on earth are changing, and we -as human beings- need more than ever to be connected with each other, support each other, and realize that we are not the enemies of each other; greed, envy, and unrestrained ambition maybe. This pandemic gives a lesson to all, hyperinflation that is already wiping out the middle class in most societies, and much more that is coming up, that we are all one race, one humanity, and one people at the end of the day, may Allah Ta'ala grant all guidance, mercy, and healing.
May next blessed Mawlid season arrive and the people of Syria and all other peoples of the world are better off and live in peace. May justice and reconciliation take place in all suffering communities and re-building a brighter future for the next generations take place. May the politicians and religious clerics not use religion for their political goals, and may His Healing heal all suffering hearts. This is not just a good wish for Syria, but about Somalia, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, ....and the list of is really long. May Allah Ta'ala grant mercy to the Ummah of Sayyiduna Muhammad, sallallahu Ta'ala alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam. Amin.
