Palestine Conquest

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH – THE SOURCE OF MERCY – THE MOST MERCIFUL

CONQUEST OF JERUSALEM - SALAHUDDIN AL- AYYUBI

"WHEN MANKIND SPREAD THEMSELVES OVER THE EARTH AND BECAME MANY NATIONS, SPEAKING DIVERSE LANGUAGES AND OBSERVING DIVERSE CUSTOMS AND LAWS, THE EVILS BECAME MULTIPLIED. AS ONE RACE OR NATION BECAME ALIENATED FROM ANOTHER. THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN WAS FORGOTTEN. FIRST, BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AND SECOND, BETWEEN NATIONS. ARROGANCE, SELFISHNESS, HATRED AND UNTRUTH WERE SOWN AND REAPED BY THE WESTERN MEDIA. PEACE, LOVE, FAITH AND JUSTICE WERE OBSCURED BY THE ENIMIES OF ISLAM."

NINETY-TWO YEARS AFTER THE HIJRAH, ISLAM HAD SPREAD ACROSS NORTH AFRICA, MOROCCO, IRAN, AFGHANISTAN, YEMEN AND SYRIA. SPAIN WAS UNDER THE TYRANNICAL RULE OF KING RODERIC OF THE VISIGOTHS. RODERIC HAD FORCED HIS SIX MILLION SERFS AND PERSECUTED JEWS TO SEEK THE AID OF THE MUSLIMS OF NORTH AFRICA IN ORDER TO BE DELIVERED. MUSA IBN HUSAIR, THE UMAYYAD GOVERNOR OF NORTH AFRICA, RESPONDED BY SENDING HIS COURAGEOUS GENERAL TARIQ IBN ZIYAD AT THE HEAD OF 12,000 BERBER AND ARAB TROOPS. IN RAMADHAN OF THAT YEAR, THEY WERE CONFRONTED WITH A COMBINED VISIGOTH ARMY OF 90,000 CHRISTIANS LED BY RODERIC HIMSELF, WHO WAS SEATED ON A THRONE OF IVORY, SILVER, AND PRECIOUS GEMS AND DRAWN BY WHITE MULES. AFTER BURNING HIS BOATS, TARIQ PREACHED TO THE MUSLIMS WARNING THEM THAT VICTORY AND PARADISE LAY AHEAD OF THEM AND DEFEAT AND THE SEA LAY TO THE REAR. THEY BURST FORTH WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM AND ALLAH MANIFESTED A CLEAR VICTORY OVER THE FORCES OF DISBELIEF. NOT ONLY WAS RODERIC KILLED AND HIS FORCES COMPLETELY ANNIHILATED, BUT ALSO TARIQ AND MUSA SUCCEEDED IN LIBERATING THE WHOLE OF SPAIN, SICILY AND PARTS OF FRANCE. THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF AL-ANDALUS WHERE MUSLIMS RULED FOR OVER 700 YEARS. 

ALHAMDULILLAH, ISLAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON THE ALERT, CORRECTING, MENDING AND ADMONISHING. THE NOBLE QURAN AND THE SUNNAH ARE CONTINUALLY EVER PRESENT, INTACT, UNADULTERATED AND UNPOLLUTED TO GUIDE AND TO JUDGE ON OCCASIONS OF DOUBT AND DISPUTE. THEY HAVE KEPT ALIVE THE TRUE ISLAMIC SPIRIT OF DEFIANCE AGAINST THE KUFR AND JAHILIYYAH INFLUENCES OF ITS ENEMIES.

THE WHOLE COURSE OF ISLAMIC HISTORY IS LIGHTED UP WITH THE ENDEAVOURS OF DEVOUT, DETERMINED AND BRAVE-HEARTED MEN, WHO, LIKE THE TRUE SUCCESSORS OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMED (PBUH), FACED THE CHALLENGES OF THE TIME AND WHO RESTORED, REVIVED AND KEPT ON MOVING. THUS IT WAS THAT DARKNESS WAS NEVER ALLOWED TO SPREAD ITSELF OVER THE WORLD OF AL ISLAM. SIMILARLY, AT EVERY CRITICAL TURN OF ITS HISTORY, SOME MIGHTY MAN OF ACTION, SOME INSPIRED DEFENDER OF IMAAN DID INVARIABLY BURST UPON THE SCENE TO BEAT OFF WHATEVER THAT THREATENED THE EXISTENCE OF OUR NATION. ONE OF THE MANY SUCH OUTSTANDING PERSONALITIES PRODUCED BY THE DEATHLESS SPIRIT OF ISLAM WAS SALAHUDDIN AL- AYYUBI RAMATULLAHI ALAYHI.

SALAHUDDIN WAS BORN IN THE YEAR 532 AH/1137 CE IN TEKRIT ON THE WEST BANK OF THE TIGRIS BETWEEN MOSUL AND BAGHDAD, LOVED DEARLY BY HIS FATHER, AYYUB AND NOURISHED ON THE LOFTY PRINCIPLES, SALAHUDDIN THE KURD SOON SHOWED SIGNS OF THE BLESSINGS WHICH WERE TO FOLLOW HIM. WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF HIS COMING TO EGYPT, HIS UNCLE WHOM HE WAS FORCED TO ACCOMPANY THERE, DIED. SUDDENLY, SALAHUDDIN WAS THE RULER OF MUCH COVETED EGYPT. IN AN INSTANCE, HE WAS A CHANGED MAN. FROM THAT TIME ON HIS CAREER WAS ONE LONG CHAMPIONSHIP OF ISLAM. 

“NO SOONER DID HE ASSUME THE LEADERSHIP OF EGYPT THE WORLD AND ITS PLEASURES LOST ALL SIGNIFICANCE IN HIS EYES,” SAYS IBN SHADDAD THE QADI OF HIS ARMY. HE RENOUNCED THE TEMPTATIONS OF PLEASURE AND TOOK TO A LIFE OF SWEAT AND TOIL, WHICH INCREASED DAY BY DAY UNTIL ALLAH SUMMONED HIM TO HIS MERCY. 

“PERHAPS YOU HATE A THING WHILE IT IS GOOD FOR YOU AND YOU MAY LOVE A THING WHILE IT IS BAD FOR YOU.” 

“WHEN ALLAH GAVE ME THE LAND OF EGYPT WITH SO LITTLE TROUBLE, I KNEW THAT HE MEANT FOR ME THE BLESSED LAND ALSO, FOR HE HIMSELF IMPLANTED THE THOUGHT IN MY HEART,” SAID SALAHUDDIN. HE SOON HAD THE SATISFACTION OF SEEING HIS ADMINISTRATION RESPECTED AND ORDER ESTABLISHED IN ALL ASPECTS. HE GENEROUSLY SPENT ON THE PEOPLE FROM THE MONEY THE FATIMIDS HAD BEEN STORING UP IN THE PALACE WALLS, WON THE HEARTS OF HIS PEOPLE, AND BROUGHT THE FACTION-RIDDEN COUNTRY UNDER OBEDIENCE AND HIS RULE. HE TOOK GREAT PAINS TO ESTABLISH THE SUNNAH MORE FIRMLY IN EGYPT WITH THE AID OF THE ‘ULAMA.

AT THAT TIME, EUROPE HAD BEEN HARBOURING EVIL DESIGNS AND INTENTIONS AGAINST THE MUSLIMS SINCE THEY HAD ANNEXED THE EASTERN WING OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. BUT, AS THE MUSLIMS THEN WERE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DEFY ANY OR ALL INCURSIONS, THE CHRISTIAN NATIONS THROUGHOUT EUROPE COULD NOT BRING THEMSELVES TO CHALLENGING THE MUSLIMS. TOWARDS THE CLOSE OF THE 11TH CENTURY (492 AFTER THE HIJRAH) HOWEVER, THE SITUATION UNDERWENT A CHANGE AND MASSIVE ARMIES OF CRUSADERS FIGHTING UNDER THE SYMBOL OF THE CROSS WERE ORGANISED ALL OVER THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT TO ATTACK THE MUSLIM COUNTRIES OF PALESTINE AND SYRIA. WHEN THE CRUSADERS REGAINED POSSESSION OF JERUSALEM AND OVERRAN THE GREATER PART OF PALESTINE IT IS SAID THAT: "THE CRUSADERS PENETRATED LIKE A WEDGE BETWEEN THE OLD WOOD AND THE NEW AND FOR A WHILE SEEMED TO CLEAVE THE TRUNK OF THE MUSLIM EMPIRE INTO SPLINTERS."

OF THE UNSPEAKABLE CRUELTIES, INHUMANITY AND ATROCITIES PERPETRATED UPON THE MUSLIMS BY THE CHRISTIAN CRUSADERS ON THEIR WAY INTO JERUSALEM, A RESPONSIBLE HISTORIAN WRITES AND I QUOTE FROM THE ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITTANICA (9TH EDITION VOLUME V1): 

"SO TERRIBLE, IT IS SAID, WAS THE CARNAGE AND THE SLAUGHTER WHICH FOLLOWED THAT THE HORSES OF THE CRUSADERS WHO RODE UP TO THE GATES OF MASJIDUL AQSA WERE KNEE-DEEP IN THE STREAM OF MUSLIM BLOOD. INFANTS WERE SEIZED BY THEIR FEET AND THEIR LITTLE BODIES WERE DASHED AGAINST THE WALLS."

THE CONQUEST OF JERUSALEM BY THE CHRISTIANS WAS A MOST MOMENTOUS EVENT FOR IT ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENSE FEAR AND HATRED FOR THE MUSLIMS AND THE RELIGION OF ISLAM. THIS ALSO HERALDED THE AWAKENING OF EUROPE AFTER THE DARK AGES THAT HAD FOLLOWED THE DECLINE OF ROME. THE SPIRITS OF THE CHRISTIANS ROSE SO HIGH AFTER THE MASSACRE OF THE MUSLIMS THAT REGINALD, THE MASTER OF KRAK, PROMISED TO CONQUER THE HOLY CITIES OF MAKKAH AL MUKARRAMA AND MADINAH AL-MUNAWWARA. THIS RUTHLESS AND DERANGED ENEMY OF ISLAM VOWED AND TOOK AN OATH THAT THE FIRST THING HE WOULD DO UPON CONQUERING THE HOLY CITY OF MADINAH AL-MUNAWWARA WOULD BE TO DIG OUT THE REMAINS OF OUR BELOVED PROPHET SALLALLAHOO ALAYHI WASALLAM AND BURN IT THUS BRINGING AN END TO THIS PAGAN RELIGION. THE MOST CALAMITOUS HOUR IN THE HISTORY OF ISLAM WAS STRUCK. RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT THERE AROSE, FROM AN UNEXPECTED QUARTER, A NEW STAR ON THE FIRMAMENT OF ISLAM. IT WAS THE ZANGI DYNASTY OF MOSUL. TWO MEMBERS OF WHICH IMADUDDIN ZANGI AND NURUDDIN ZANGI, REPEATEDLY DEFEATED THE CRUSADERS AND DROVE THEM OUT OF ALMOST EVERY TOWN IN PALESTINE EXCEPT JERUSALEM.

NURUDDIN HOLDS A HIGH PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF ISLAM FOR HIS PIETY, HUMILITY, ADMINISTRATIVE MERIT, JUSTICE, LEADERSHIP AND ZEST FOR JIHAD. IBN ATHIR AL-JAZARI A CONTEMPORARY OF NURUDDIN SAID THAT EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST FOUR CALIPHS R.A. AND UMAR BIN ABDUL AZIZ R.A. THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE WHO WAS MORE RELIGIOUS AND JUST THAN NURUDDIN. WHEN NURUDDIN DIED, SALAHUDDIN AL-AYYUBI TOOK THE FIELD AS THE SPEARHEAD OF MUSLIM RESISTANCE. FIGHTING BATTLE AFTER BATTLE, SALAHUDDIN INFLICTED A CRUSHING DEFEAT ON THE CRUSADERS AT HITTIN ON THE 14TH DAY OF RABI-UL-THANI (583 A.H.) WHICH CORRESPONDENTS TO JULY 11TH, 1187. IN THE YEAR 582 A.H., SALAHUDDIN AL-AYYUBI, AFTER BATTLING WITH THE CRUSADERS FOR YEARS, FINALLY DROVE THEM OUT OF SYRIA AND THE WHOLE OF THEIR OCCUPIED LANDS IN THE MONTH OF RAMADHÂN. THE MUSLIM WORLD WAS THEN DESTINED TO MEET ONE OF ITS MOST FRIGHTENING CHALLENGES. THE DREAMS AND ALL HOPES OF THE CHRISTIANS WERE DASHED TO THE GROUND WHILE THEIR ARMIES LAY SCATTERED, BEATEN AND TOTALLY DEMORALISED. SALAHUDDIN THEN PROCEEDED TO RE-TAKE JERUSALEM. THE FIRE THAT HAD BEEN BLAZING IN THE HEARTS OF THE MUSLIMS SINCE THE CITY HAD FALLEN INTO THE HANDS OF THE CHRISTIANS WAS AT LONG LAST QUENCHED. KAZI IBN SHADDAD, AN INTIMATE FRIEND AND COUNSELLOR OF SALAHUDDIN, HAS SET FORTH THE MOST STIRRING AND EMOTIONAL SPECTACLE OF THE VICTORY OF JERUSALEM IN THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

"ON ALL SIDES PRAYERS WERE BEING OFFERED, FROM ALL SIDES THE CRIES OF ALLAHO AKBAR! ALLAHO AKBAR! COULD BE HEARD. AFTER NINETY LONG YEARS SALATHUL JUMMA'H WAS OFFERED IN JERUSALEM AGAIN. THE BIG IRON CROSS THAT THE CHRISTIANS HAD MOUNTED ON MASJIDUL AQSA WAS PULLED DOWN. ALL PRAISE AND ALL GLORY BELONGS TO ALMIGHTY ALLAH! IT WAS A MOST WONDERFUL SPECTACLE. THE GRACE OF ALMIGHTY ALLAH AND THE TRIUMPH OF ISLAM WERE VISIBLE EVERYWHERE." AS PROMISED BY ALMIGHTY ALLAH IN VERSES 5 AND 6 OF SURAH AL-INSHIRAH, THE VICTORIOUS MUSLIMS REPEATED AND REMINDED THEMSELVES:

"SO VERILY, WITH EVERY DIFFICULTY THERE IS RELIEF. VERILY, WITH EVERY DIFFICULTY THERE IS RELIEF."

THIS MOST BEAUTIFUL VERSE IS REPEATED FOR EXTRA EMPHASES. WHATEVER DIFFICULTIES, HARDSHIPS, OPPRESSION AND REPRESSION THAT IS ENCOUNTERED BY THE UMMAH, INSHA'ALLAH, ALMIGHTY ALLAH WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE A SOLUTION, A WAY OUT AND ULTIMATE VICTORY THAT WILL LEAD TO SUCCESS, VICTORY, PEACE, HAPPINESS AND CONTENTMENT, PROVIDING WE BRING ABOUT NECESSARY CHANGES TO OUR LIVES AND STRIVE TO REMAIN FIRM ON THE PATH OF SEERATHAL MUSTAQEEM THROUGH SABUR, IMAAN AND TAQWA.

THIS WAS A SIGN THAT THIS DEED WAS PLEASING TO ALMIGHTY ALLAH. “IT WAS A VICTORY OF VICTORIES,” RECALLS IBN SHADDAD. “A TESTIMONY OF FAITH TO A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE, SCHOLARS, NOBLEMEN, MERCHANTS AND MASSES WHO WERE BROUGHT THERE BY THE NEWS OF SALAHUDDIN’S VICTORIES AND SUCCESS IN THE LANDS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST.” ALL THE ‘ULAMA CAME TO JOIN SALAHUDDIN, BOTH FROM EGYPT AND SYRIA. THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE WELL-KNOWN DIGNITARY BUT HE HAD COME. THE JOY OF THE BLESSINGS AND THE VICTORY OF ALLAH WERE TO BE WITNESSED EVERYWHERE ON THAT DAY. 

THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE COUNTRY THROUGHOUT EUROPE WHO DID NOT DESPISE AND HATE THE MUSLIM UMMAH FOR THEIR OVERWHELMING VICTORY IN REGAINING JERUSALEM. THEIR INTENSE HATRED TOWARDS ISLAM INTENSIFIED SO MUCH SO THAT OUT OF TOTAL DESPERATION, THE CRUSADERS FROM EVERY EUROPEAN COUNTRY MADE A DESPERATE RALLY TOWARDS SYRIA AND ANOTHER SERIES OF FIERCE BATTLES WERE FOUGHT. ONCE AGAIN, SALAHUDDIN AND HIS GALLANT ARMY STOOD GALLANTLY THROUGH THE CONCENTRATED CHRISTIAN FURY AND HATRED. AFTER ANOTHER 5 LONG YEARS OF RELENTLESS FIGHTING, THE CHRISTIANS CONCEDED DEFEAT AND A TRUCE WAS SIGNED AT RAMLA IN 587 A.H. (1192 A.D.). THE MUSLIMS WERE TOTALLY VICTORIOUS AND RETAINED JERUSALEM AND ALL OTHER TOWNS THAT WERE LIBERATED FROM THE CHRISTIANS.

IT IS SAID THAT WHEN REGINALD THE MASTER OF KRAK WAS TAKEN PRISONER, HE WAS INVITED INTO SALAHUDDIN'S TENT AND ASKED TO SIT NEXT TO HIM. THIS ARROGANT ENEMY OF ISLAM EVEN REFUSED TO ACCEPT A GLASS OF WATER FROM THE HAND OF SALAHUDDIN AND SHOWED NO REMORSE WHATSOEVER FOR VOWING TO DESECRATE THE QABUR AND BURN THE REMAINS OF OUR BELOVED PROPHET SALLALLAHOO ALAYHI WASALLAM. HE WAS OFFERED TO ACCEPT ISLAM AND AFTER HE HAD REFUSED, SALAHUDDIN REMARKED THAT HE TOO HAD TAKEN AN OATH TO PROTECT THE HONOUR AND DIGNITY OF ALMIGHTY ALLAH'S BELOVED PROPHET SALLALLAHOO ALAYHI WASALLAM. THIS ARCH-ENEMY OF ISLAM WAS DECAPITATED AND THUS THE OATH OF SALAHUDDIN HAD BEEN FULFILLED.

PEOPLE CAME TO VISIT HIM FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE AND FLOCKED TO HIS COURT FROM ALL PARTS. HE NEVER DISAPPOINTED THE HOPES OF VISITORS NOR ALLOWED THEM TO DEPART WITH EMPTY HANDS. WHEN THE CRUSADERS HEARD THAT SALAHUDDIN WAS RULING SUCCESSFULLY THEY WERE CONVINCED THAT HE WOULD SOON OVERTAKE THEM, LAY WASTE THEIR USURPED DWELLINGS AND WIPE AWAY ALL TRACES OF THEIR RULE. THIS WOULD MOST PROBABLY HAVE HAPPENED BUT SALAHUDDIN HAD ONE SUBSTANTIAL OBSTACLE, THE DISUNITY OF THE MUSLIMS. THEY HAD IMMENSE RICHES AND NATURAL STRENGTH IN THE REGION AND SPENT MOST OF THEIR TIME FIGHTING EACH OTHER RATHER THAN THE REAL ENEMY. IT TOOK SALAHUDDIN 18 YEARS TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE MUSLIMS IN ORDER TO LIBERATE MUSLIM LANDS. DURING THAT TIME MUSLIMS WERE BARELY HOLDING OUT IN EGYPT AND SYRIA. YET SLOWLY, SALAHUDDIN’S EXAMPLE THROUGH PERSUASION, TEACHING, TIME AND UNDERSTANDING WORKED TO UNITE THE MUSLIMS. “KURDS, TURKS, ARABS AND EGYPTIANS THEY WERE ALL MUSLIMS,” LANE WRITES. “IN SPITE OF THEIR DIFFERENCES OF RACE, THEIR NATIONAL JEALOUSIES…HE HAD KEPT THEM TOGETHER…” 

THE NON-MUSLIMS OF JERUSALEM ASKED FOR MERCY AND HE GAVE IT. EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD WAS ALLOWED TO RANSOM THEMSELVES FOR A PALTRY PRICE. HE KEPT ORDER IN EVERY STREET AND REFUSED TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK TO BE VERBALLY ABUSED, MUCH LESS MOLESTED. WHAT A FAR CRY FROM THE VICTORIOUS CHRISTIANS OF 1099 (AND THE 1980S) WHO KILLED, TORTURED, SHOT IN COLD BLOOD AND BURNT DEFENCELESS MUSLIMS IN THE STREETS OF AL-AQSA. “FORTUNATE WERE THE MERCILESS BECAUSE THEY OBTAINED MERCY AT THE HANDS OF THE MUSLIM SULTAN,” SAID LANE. SALAHUDDIN SAID, “WELL, WHEN BY ALLAH’S HELP NOT ONE CRUSADER IS LEFT ON THIS COAST, I INTEND TO DIVIDE MY TERRITORIES AND TO CHANGE THE SUCCESSORS WITH MY LAST COMMANDS, THEN, HAVING TAKEN LEAVE FROM THEM, I WILL SAIL ON THIS SEA TO ITS LANDS ACROSS THE WATER UNTIL THERE SHALL NOT REMAIN ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH ONE UNBELIEVER IN ALLAH OR I WILL DIE IN THIS ATTEMPT”. 

SALAHUDDIN WAS A TRUE SON OF ISLAM, HE WAS A MAN OF EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY AND ENERGY. AFTER HUNDREDS OF YEARS HE HAD SUCCEEDED IN UNITING THE VARIOUS NATIONS AND TRIBES INTO A SINGLE UMMAH BY MAKING THEM FORGET THEIR NATIONALISTIC FEUDS AND TRIBAL JEALOUSIES FOR THE SAKE OF ISLAM. THIS FAITHFUL SON OF ISLAM (MAY ALLAH BE PLEASED WITH HIM) PASSED AWAY ON THE 27TH OF SAFAR 598 A.H. HIS GREAT LOVE FOR ISLAM, HIS SELFLESS CRUSADING SPIRIT HAD MADE THE MUSLIM WORLD SAFE FROM THE OPPRESSION, HATRED AND TYRANNY OF THE WEST. FAITH AND IMAAN IN ISLAM IS THE ONLY UNIFYING FORCE OF THE MUSLIM UMMAH AND OUR BELOVED PROPHET SALLALLAHOO ALAYHI WASALLAM ITS ONLY LEADER AND GUIDE.

WE ARE GREATLY MISTAKEN IF WE THINK THAT THE WAR AGAINST THE CRUSADERS ENDED 800 YEARS AGO. THIS 'WAR OF HATRED' CONTINUES UP TO THIS VERY MOMENT BECAUSE OF THE GLARING ONGOING ATROCITIES BEEN PERPETRATED AGAINST THE UMMAH IN PALESTINE, LEBANON, CHECHENYA, KASHMIR AND IRAQ. IF WE ARE TO COMPLY WITH THE DIRECT COMMAND OF ALMIGHTY ALLAH, IT IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE THAT WE AS AN UMMAH MAKE OURSELVES INDEPENDENT OF THE KUFFAR WEST AND ATTAIN A POSITION WITHOUT HAVING TO LOOK AT THE UNITED NATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION. 

THIS WAS THE SPIRIT OF RAMADHAN THAT ENABLED OUR RIGHTEOUS FOREFATHERS TO FACE SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE CHALLENGES. IT WAS A TIME OF INTENSE ACTIVITY, SPENDING THE DAY IN THE SADDLE AND THE NIGHT IN PRAYER WHILE CALLING UPON ALLAH FOR HIS MERCY AND FORGIVENESS.

TODAY, THE MUSLIM WORLD IS FACED WITH DROUGHT, MILITARY AGGRESSION, WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION AND TEMPTING MATERIALISM. SURELY WE ARE IN NEED OF BELIEVERS WHO CAN WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR BELOVED PROPHET, SALLALLAAHU 'ALAYHI WA SALLAM, THE ILLUSTRIOUS SAHABAH, TARIQ IBN ZIYAD, SALAHUDDIN AND THE COUNTLESS HEROES OF ISLAM. SURELY WE ARE IN NEED OF BELIEVERS WHO ARE UNAFRAID OF THE THREATS OF THE DISBELIEVERS, YET KIND AND HUMBLE TO THE BELIEVING PEOPLE, MUSLIMS WHOSE FAST IS COMPLETE AND NOT JUST A SOURCE OF HUNGER AND THIRST.

MAY ALLAH RAISE UP A GENERATION OF MUSLIMS WHO CAN CARRY ISLAM TO ALL CORNERS OF THE GLOBE IN A MANNER THAT BEFITS OUR AGE, AND MAY HE GIVE US THE STRENGTH AND THE SUCCESS TO LAY THE PROPER FOUNDATIONS FOR THEM. MAY ALLAH MAKE US OF THOSE WHO CARRY OUT OUR ISLAM DURING RAMADHAN AND AFTER IT AND MAY HE NOT MAKE US OF THOSE WHO SAY WHAT THEY DO NOT DO. SURELY ALLAH AND HIS ANGELS INVOKE BLESSINGS AND PEACE UPON OUR PROPHET MUHAMMED (PBUH). O YOU, WHO BELIEVE, SEND PEACE AND BLESSINGS TO HIM FOREVER.