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Why Muslims cannot rely on the UN

Recently, Israel shelled the unarmed residents of Beit Hanoun, Gaza. According to the BBC, the majority of the 18 people killed were women and children. The BBC went on to note that 80 Palestinians have been killed in the month of November. In addition, “close to 400 have died - many of them civilians - since the Israeli army intensified operations in late June”.
The Guardian reported: “According to Human Rights Watch, since September 2005 Israel has fired about 15,000 rounds at Gaza while Palestinian militants have fired around 1,700 back. The latest disclosures come as an Arab-backed motion condemning Israel’s Gaza offensive was being circulated for debate at the UN Security Council and amid widening demonstrations in capitals of the Middle East.” As was quoted in The Independent, Sarah Leah Whitson of Human Rights Watch said: “Israeli forces launched the artillery attack on Beit Hanoun at a time when their commanders knew, or should have known, that the risk of civilian deaths far outweighed any definite military advantage.”

The recent aggression displayed by Israel evokes the memories of this past summer when Israel bombarded Lebanon with at least 350,000 cluster bomblets. During this campaign, thousands were killed, 3 airports bombed, 62 bridges destroyed, 3 dams and 3 ports hit, 5,000 homes
damaged, 22 fuel stations, 152 businesses including a tissue paper factory, 2 power plants and a sewage facility, TV station, 80% of its major roads, schools and hospitals. The total damage to the country’s infrastructure was more than $3 billion

The reality of Israel

The state of Israel is founded upon a land that was taken by force, after its people – both Muslim and Christian – were driven out. Any objective person aware of recent history knows that. For example Oren Ben-Dor (who describes himself as an ex-Israeli, & British academic) who teaches the philosophy of law and political philosophy at the University of Southampton wrote in the UK Independent newspaper: “Israel’s statehood is based on an unjust ideology which causes indignity and suffering for those who are classified as non-Jewish by either a religious or ethnic test. Israel is a terrorist state like no other.”

Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration also acknowledged that: “Israel is an artificial state created in Arab lands by European colonial powers after World War II. Instead of working to win acceptance and overcoming Arab hostility to Europe shipping off “the Jewish problem” to the Middle East, Israel has antagonized its Middle East neighbours. Israel can play the bully-boy role, because the US acts as Israel’s big brother. With its policy of fang and claw, Israel endangers its own right to exist.”

Given Israel’s violent track record, one would expect the United Nations to unanimously condemn the Beit Hanoun massacre. Although members of the UN Security council put forward a resolution to condemn the attack, the US vetoed it. This would not be the first time the US has covered for Israel. The US has used its veto power 30 times to protect Israel.

UN: Overseeing the pillage of Muslims

Some may see the UN as the only viable organization that can stand up for Muslims. However, to assess such an idea, one must review the UN’s track record with respect to the Ummah.
What help did the UN give to the Muslims of the so called UN “safe haven” of Srebrenica in Bosnia when thousands of Muslims were massacred in July 1995 after the UN forces abandoned these unarmed Muslims?

What help did the UN give to Iraq which has spiralled into a land where there is no security for Muslims and which stands on the brink of disintegration and demolition? What did the UN do to end the destruction of Afghanistan by the American military which bombs helpless civilians? The reality is that that UN and International Law are ineffectual and merely tools in the hands of the colonialists. America and Britain would never permit any resolution to be passed authorising military force against Israel, despite the latter’s occupation of land, its war crimes and systematic butchery of the civilian population.

As mentioned above, the US will veto any UN resolution that will undermine its interest. In fact, over the past 30 years, the United States has used its veto power more than all other member states of the UN combined (US = 81 to World = 71). UN resolutions are also open to subjective interpretation by the western powers. For example, a resolution that censures the harbouring of terrorists (which does not even clearly define what a terrorist is) is being used by the US and UK against some countries for allowing organisations that the United States sees as “terrorists”, while their host governments see them as “freedom fighters”. Yet the US is allowed to “opt out” of such a resolution as it “harbours” organisations that have attacked civilian targets in Cuba and Nicaragua.

The fact is that the UN Security Council has one rule for the allies of the US and another for everyone else.

The USA pressurises the Security Council to pass resolutions dealing with its allies under Chapter VI of the UN Charter, called “Pacific Settlement of Disputes,” which limits the Security Council’s ability to enforce them. By contrast, resolutions dealing with countries the United States does not like - are passed under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, “Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression,” which allows for stronger measures such as economic sanctions and the use of military force. Muslims can only rely on Allah and then the Believers As an Ummah, we need to work to ensure that we are defended. Evidently, we cannot rely on the UN to perform such a duty. As Prophet Muhammad (saw) narrated:
“The believer is never stung from the same hole twice.”

As Muslims, we have been repeatedly betrayed by the UN, time and time again. The UN is designed to grant higher status through veto power to its permanent members of the Security Council. And when the UN does not serve their interest, these nations go around the organization – as America did when it invaded Iraq in 2003. We must also realize that as an Ummah we can only rely on the support of Allah (swt) and then each other’s support. As Allah (swt) has revealed:

“The Unbelievers are protectors, one of another: Unless you do this, (protect each other), there would be fitna on earth, and great mischief.” [TMQ 8:73] Only the Ummah can collectively liberate Palestine; not the United Nations. This means we must pressure Muslim rulers and Muslim societies to abandon ruling systems that serve the West, and build the ruling system that serves Allah (swt). The institution that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and the sahabah established to achieve this objective was the Islamic State. It was through the Khilafah that Muslim unity was maintained and the honour of the Muslims was protected. Muslims must work with intensity, seriousness, to establish the Khilafah, using the Prophet’s method. Recall how Rasulullah (saw) mobilized the Muslims of Madinah in defense of the honor of one women who was assaulted by a man from Banu Qaynuqa’. Recall the incident of Khalifah Mu’tasim Billah who hurled the mighty Islamic Army against Rome’s strongest fortification of Amuriah over the incident of one Roman soldier pulling off the khimar of a Muslim woman! Recall the determined and valiant effort of Salahuddin Al Ayubi who vanquished and removed the Crusaders decisively from Al Quds. May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala pour His blessings upon them all.

The need for an Islamic International Order

Beyond the situation of the Ummah, we recognize with great sadness that the rest of humanity is also suffering under the current capitalism based world order. Allah (swt) has revealed:
“And we have not sent you except as a mercy to mankind” [TMQ 21:107]

The Khilafah state will endeavor to create a new international organization based on fairness and justice called the “International Alliance of Excellence”. The IAE unlike the UN will not be dominated by colonial nations with the right of veto, which impose sanctions and laws on weaker nations. The IAE will be a body that promotes dialogue and cooperation between states on issues such as Poverty, Environment and Trade. This is similar to the Pre-Islamic Arab alliance called “Hilf Al-Fudul” that the Prophet (saw) praised.
Allah (swt) also revealed:
“And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)? Men, women, and children, whose cry is:

“Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee one who will protect; and raise for us from thee one who will help!” [TMQ 4:75]

Allah (swt) requires us to assist the weak and the oppressed. Therefore, when we have the ability to do so, we must help those people and nations whose wealth and resources are being plundered by other nations. The Muslims in the past were invited into other nations because it was known that the Muslims would deliver on their word. Today we only see nations invading other countries for oil, economic gain, or political interest. The Khilafah state is different because it is established on the basis of the Islamic Aqeedah. The Islamic Aqeedah compels Muslims to accept that we are created by Allah (swt), and that we will be held accountable by Allah (swt) for all our actions. Therefore, if the people in Latin America or Africa for example call for the assistance of the Islamic State – the Khilafah must respond and assist them to the best of its ability, instead of stealing their wealth and killing their people. As for the UN, the Aqeedah that drives its vision is the Capitalist Aqeedah. Unlike the Islamic Aqeedah, for the Capitalist Aqeedah the belief in the creator is of no consequence on how Man lives his life. As according to the Capitalist way of thinking, Man is ultimately sovereign, it leaves Man vulnerable to follow his desires. As a result, it forces Man to only look to increase his benefit. Therefore, when Capitalist nations send their soldiers to fight, they only do so to protect their economic, political, and strategic interests. Consequently, it is only the Islamic Aqeedah that can work to protect humanity, as it pays primary interest to the True Sovereign of humanity –
Allah (swt).

May Allah (swt) protect our ummah and unite us under a rightly guided Khaleefah. May Allah (swt) help us to fulfill our obligation to protect this ummah and may He (swt) help us to be strong to bring justice and protection for all humanity.

“Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted to those before them .” [TMQ An Nur:55]

26th of Shawwal, 1427 November 17th, 2006 Volume 2, Issue 31
The Politically Aware Muslim Newsletter, Canada

Comments

Anonymous said…
Salam,

do you have a URL for this source.

Jzk

wasalaam
Islamic Revival said…
No it is not online to my knowledge. They do have an email though.
Anonymous said…
Salam,

can u share the e-mail address if they have a subscribtion service??

wasalaam
Islamic Revival said…
Send me your email address and I will send it to you.

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