The Bangsamoro people must deeply reflect on causes of much our distress before anything else. It is unfortunate that too many of us refuse or neglect to look at ourselves as the chief reason for our failures and shortcomings. We are often more content to pinpoint the oppression or unjust policies of the government as the root of our problems. Do we ever, stop to reflect upon how the Arroyo administration could have any control over us or oppress us with impunity? Do we stop to take a long hard look in the mirror before seeking outside factors as the cause of our misery, dissatisfaction, or may other complaint?
The well-respected contemporary scholar Muhammad Ibn Saalih Ibn Al-‘Uthaimen once stated that we all need to admit: that whatever harm and hardship has befallen the Muslim in their wealth, security, individuals or societies is due to their sins and having neglected the commands of Allah (swt) and His prescribed laws and their seeking judgment amongst the people by other than the presecribed laws of Allah (swt). He also stated that by Allah (swt) sins affect the security of land. They affect its ease, its prosperity, its economy, and in the hearts of its people. Sins cause alienation between the peole. Sins cause one Muslim to regard his Muslim brother as if he were upon a separate religion other than Islam.
Very importantly, he went on to say about the proper perspective regarding the condition of Muslims. It is binding upon us, being Muslims that we see the occurrences from the Islamic perspective as shown by the Book of Allah (swt), the Sunnah of His Messenger (saw). Since if we look at them from a materialistic perspective by the way of the Book and the Sunnah, then we will abandon all that is a cause of these misfortunes.
Fellow Bangsamoro! The Book of Allah (swt) and the Sunnah of His Messenger (saw) contains causes of weaknesses that befall the Muslims. These causes are not peculiar with a particular generation of the Muslim but apply to all generations from past, present to future. Allah (swt) explains in the Qur’an His method of dealing with disbelievers and those who slip away from their religion under false pretexts at all times and in all places.
If we sincerely return to Allah and aid His Deen then Allah says in Qur’an: “Verily Allah will help those who help His cause. Truly, Allah is all Powerful, Al-Mighty” [Al-Hajj 22:40].
Allah (swt) explains the above verse that He has sworn to help and give victory to those who help Him. Then He explains the characteristics of those whom He has promised would receive His help and victory distinguishing from others. He said: “Those who, if we establish them in the Earth, establish the prayer, give the zakaah, enjoin the good, and forbid the evil” [Al-Hajj 22:41]. In another verse, He says: “O you who Believe, If you Help Allah, Allah will help you, and establish your feet firmly, but those who disbelieve. For them is destruction and Allah will make their deeds vain” [Al-Muhammad 47:7].
It is also worth recalling the story of the battle of Uhud to give us important lessons by which we can benefit on our lives, which is that: when Muslims suffer defeat in Jihad or da’wah, then they should blame themselves and straighten their course; and they should weigh their actions with true scales. Since Allah (swt) has informed the Muslims the reason for their defeat in the battle of Uhud was themselves, and this was the same reason on the day of Hunayn.
During the battle of Uhud , the unbelievers were able to inflict great harm upon the believers. At that time, some of the Muslims themselves asked how could that occur while they were following the truth and the unbelievers were following falsehood. It was in response to that situation that Allah (swt) revealed the verse: “When a single disaster strikes you, although you struck (your enemies) with one twice as great, do you say, “From where is this”? Say (O! Muhammad to them), “It is from yourselves, for Allah has power over all things “[Al-Imran 3:165]
In this verse, Allah (swt) did not explain exactly what was from their own doings. However, another verse in the same surah makes the complete picture: “Allah did indeed fulfill His promise to you when you, by His permission, were about to annihilate your enemy, until you flinched and feel to disputing about the order, and disobeyed it after He brought you in sight (of the booty) which you covet. Amongst you are some that hanker after this world and some that desire the Hereafter. Then did He divert you from your foes in order to test you” [Al-Imran 3:152].
This shows that the reason the unbelievers were able to get the upper hand over the believers was because the believers themselves disputed and disobeyed the command from the Messenger of Allah (swt) as some of them were tempted by the things of this world. They sought the goods of this world and they gave that preference to obeying Allah (swt) and His Messenger (saw). That is why Allah (swt) allowed the unbelievers to afflict harm to them. Are we not in this state? Let’s reflect!
In all the battles of the Prophet (saw), the Muslims werea single rank and single jum’aah (united body), taking orders from a single leader. Allah (swt) says: “O you who believe! When you meet an enemy, be firm against them and remember Allah a lot so that you may be successful! And obey Allah and His Messenger and do not dispute lest you lose courage and your strength departs. And have patience, indeed, Allah is with the patient ones” [Al-Anfal 8:45-46].
So, obedience for Allah means free form defect and blemish in both aqeedah (belief) and manhajj (methodology), just as it means agreement in direction and where instructions are taken. However, defeat is the result of disunity and disagreements between the hearts and in having many leaders and many jum’aahs (groups or parties). In surah Al-Hashr, Allah describes a people whose hearts are divided. Allah (swt) says: “You would think them united but their hearts are divided that is because they are people devoid of reasoning” [Al-Hashr 59:14].
In our present time, there have been no battles in which we have participated except that in it were differing and disputing parties, having different leadership and having mutual hatred. So how it is possible to achieve victory and establishment? Indeed, everyone talks about bringing unity. However, the results are sorrowful and frustrate our hopes after every attempt.
It is a time to increase sense of unity and brotherhood, and our commitment to Allah and His religion. There is no doubt that this sense of unity necessitates that: we all work together as sincere brothers – not due to party and political affiliations, nor sectarianism – in order to realize that which is of benefit to the Bangsamoro people and to establish Islamic society that every Bangsamoro aspires for.
So we must examine ourselves and ask: what is my role? Each of us has a role – in helping the precious Bangsamoro Ummah to regain its honor and return to the Ummah its comprehensive unity and strength and the victory that has been promised to it. Likewise, we should reflect upon our character and actions and ask: Are they aiding the process of unity and brotherhood, or are they a hindrance to it?
So we ask Allah (swt) to grant us the ability to change ourselves for the better and not to be of those who are prevented from His mercy and forgiveness. Indeed, He is the One who Hears and He is the One to Respond. Ameen!
