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by Hassan Zaylai
Monday, August 03, 2009
From 1991, when the Somali government collapsed, to 2006, the entrenched model in Somalia was chaos. Neither Somalis nor others could get handle of lawlessness and pure thuggery.
At the time, but for complete ignorance on Somali ways, the world was sincere in finding a solution for Somalia’s problems. The Somalis themselves were obviously the obstacle to peace in their country, for they have not gotten tired of a futile, clan based politics.
Politics always fixes wars, if there was to be a war. Show me your politics, in any conflict, and I will tell you—to 100% accuracy—the result of the war you wage from it, before you even fire the first shot. Those who plunged the Somali people into a war, from unworkable clan politics, had to know the disaster for country and all they would produce, especially for them. Where are they now?
In 2006, the first glimmer of a new, out of the anarchy, thinking pattern emerged in Somali politics. It was a turning point which signaled an indigenous firm growth and adaptability in ways to defeat the disarray in Somalia. It was the advent of Islamic Courts Union (ICU). This was based, for the most part, on Islam! Again, as I said before, it is all about what politics you function from. And, it so happens Islam, the oldest constitution and politics by God (SWT) for all Muslims worldwide, is squarely opposite to blunder.
Amid disorder, the ICU composed order in neighborhood by neighborhood in Mogadishu, the seat of Somalia’s misfortune. Shortly after, the world had witnessed the Lords of Mayhem (Warlords) and their militias smashed to pieces. For 6 months, Mogadishu residents have enjoyed peace and tranquility.
At that point, Somalia’s long-standing problem has become the agenda of Ethiopia, at the forefront, and Bush’s Whitehouse. Poor Somalis would no longer own their own pity. Somalia’s misery has been a hostage, since then, to the fear-based interests of others.
What has been the overriding interest of Somalis since the start of the civil war there? The answer is peace and security above all else!
Just as Somalis figured out how to achieve peace and security on their own, other powerful countries have mistakenly, for them too, made their business to have a veto on what Somalis will provide it. They want to decide what Somalis will come to or stay out of power in Somalia!
Somalia’s despair is now sadly secondary to exaggerated big power horror of Islamic, global terrorism. This is what is driving the current disaster in Somalia. To me, the problem with this agenda is it will only prolong suffering for the Somali people, on one hand. It will also, ironically, counter produce for the interest of these powers concerned and involved in Somalia’s current problems.
The world concerned has to decide on what is the best course to advance in Somalia, considering, first, the Somalis’ pressing need for peace and order. Second, what is best for global and regional security against possible is or would be Somalia-based Islamic terrorism.
There are two choices on the ground in Somalia, for Somalis and the world: A government by only one building (Villa Somalia) in all Somalia, and Islamists who control most of Mogadishu and beyond in the South of Somalia. Facts should no be ignored or wished away, for this government of Sharif doesn’t not even control or defend the one building which houses it, without AU troops.
Picking winners and losers in Somalia’s conflict, for Washington or Addis Ababa’s narrow interests will not achieve peace. For this government, the darling of the world, to succeed, it has to start from ground zero, the compound it is in. It has nothing going for it, other than foreign support of both political and troops. From scratch, is this government going to be by this support? AU troops with Washington’s financial and arms support will achieve victory for it? That is the only scenario for its existence and burgeoning.
A one-big lesson lost on so-called world experts on Somalis is the Somali history against foreign occupiers. Be they the Great Britain, France, Italy or Abyssinia, Somalis never submitted to them. By stone, spear, sword or a gun, Somalis always resisted foreign powers imposing themselves on them.
African Union troops will now rush into hellish neighborhoods in Mogadishu held by Somali Islamists and engage in hand-to-hand combat with them, is that what it will take! This will only produce disaster!
These Somali Islamists live on insurgency. It is their Manna from heaven! They look forward and cherish dying for their cause. They would not shrink of or retreat from any fight with AU troops. The result could only achieve more destruction in Mogadishu, more deaths and massive flight and displacement of Somali civilians! In such, Sheikh Sharif, the local Messiah to save the world from terror, would earn unprecedented hatred of his people! His parliament will most likely abscond him at that point!
The other optional scenario for the world is to let the Somali Islamists take control. Those who read and know me by my other essays, which were posted on this and other websites before, know I am against the Somali Islamists on religious, doctrinal grounds.
As a Muslim, what they propagate as Islam—by my father and all my ancestors as devote Muslims—I would not recognize or adhere to. This I base on the solid tenants of the religion they misrepresent! My concerns about them are over the long-term spiritual health of my people. It is even bigger and more important to me than terrorism they might undertake. But again, terrorism comes from their misguided reading or understanding of my beautiful Islam!
Their agendas, unless they change or moderate them once in power, are adversative to the Somalis, religiously and culturally.
Forcing people to fear God or behave certain ways or die is unIslamic. I am not talking about enforcing public morality against licentiousness. These people will literally put guns on the heads of Somalis to go and pray, when the Adhan (call to prayer) commences! A forced prayer is not what God (SWT) wants or prescribed!
Culturally, under their rule, Somalis can no longer be permitted to listen to their Somali songs, perform traditional dances, wedding ceremonies or take part in sports. This will not fly with the Somalis! I cannot listen to Maandeeq or Baladweyn Allahayoow (nice Somali songs)! What?
By the way, what does our Islamic religion say about this?
On singing or listening to:
Translation of Sahih Bukhai, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 268:
Narrated Aisha (ra):
That once Abu Bakr (ra) came to her on the day of 'Id-ul-Fitr or 'Id ul Adha while the Prophet (pbuh) was with her and there were two girl singers with her, singing songs of the Ansar about the day of Buath. Abu Bakr (ra) said twice: "Musical instrument of Satan!" But the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Leave them Abu Bakr, for every nation has an 'Id (i.e. festival) and this day is our 'Id."
Sport:
Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1941:
'A'isha reported: BY Allah, I remember the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) standing on the door of my apartment screening me with his mantle enabling me to see the sport of the Abyssinians as they played with their daggers in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). He (the Holy Prophet) kept standing for my sake till I was satiated and then I went back; and thus you can well imagine how long a girl tender of age who is fond of sports (could have watched it).
Unless singing or sporting is profane or lewd, it is allowed. So, what more proof does one need to be convinced about these fanatics being out of step with true Islam. There is only one true Islam. It is not about my Islam is better than your Islam. It is whether one or a group follows the correct Islam based on the Qur’an and the Sunna of the messenger of God (pbuh). If you think every Muslim group is a true Muslim, think again. Heed what the prophet of Allah (SAW) foretold about this:
Abdullah bin Amar (RA) relates that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said "Surely things will happen to my people as happened earlier to Israelites, they will resemble each other like one shoe in a pair resembles the other to the extent that if anyone among the Israelites has openly committed adultery to his mother there will be some who will do this in my Ummah as well, verily the Israelites were divided into 72 sections but my people will be divided into 73 sections, all of them will be in the fire except one.” The companions asked, ‘Who are they O Messenger of Allah,’ Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “They are those who will be like me and my companions.”
Other than Tirmidhi, Ibne Maja gives three independent narrations of the same hadith above.
This much is known about Somali Islamic history: Somali Ulemas had always stood, based on Shari’ah by Shafi’ school, against Wahhabi doctrine. In early 1970s, as a preteen, I witnessed one event:
In a little town I grew up, two minor clerics posed the following argument: They said the prophet (SAW) in death is nothing; that his shoes would be worth more than him in death. They were Wahhabis. The news reached the 2 most preeminent Ulemas in the town. One was my teacher, a graduate of Jamatu Al-Azhar; the other was the Qadi (judge in Islamic law) of the whole region.
The 4 men faced each other in the courtyard of the only Mosque in the town. The whole town gathered around them. Books were opened on each side. When all said and done, the Wahhabi clerics were defeated on every count. The people erupted with chants of Bid’a against the Wahhabis.
God (SWT) chose Muhammad (SAW) above His creation long before the Lord created the universe. Only Wahhabis would dare to say the Messenger of God’s (SAW) position would be diminished by death. In life as well as in death the prophet (SAW) intercedes for his Ummah, with not a smidgen subtracted from him in death! So says true Islam!
So why, of all people, I would favor these fanatics to come to power?
I cannot stress enough the importance, for Somalis, of the extremists taking power. If they do, they would have uprooted clan politics from Somalia, especially from Mogadishu. I give credit where credit is due! These Islamists had transcended clannism, bribery, looting, raping and murder for sport—all the evil associated with clan warlords. Don’t forget how Islamic Courts Union forced warlords to abandon their devilish fiefdoms for political careers. The new breed of hard-line Mullahs in power is what Somalis need to band together.
If they come to power, with such reputations, it better be with something even better to dismantle them with. The following will make it easier for Somalis to provide the alternative:
The Islamists’ prim proclivities in compulsory religiosity and forbidding old Somali customs and ways will insist. Whatever they would have gained for Somalis, in peace and order, would be overtaken by dispensing harsh measures unheard-of by Somalis. Talibanization will not be easy to impose on nomadic, ‘everyman a king onto himself’ Somalis!
Remember this: In the chaos that is Somalia, these fanatics will always misrepresent themselves to the people as the better alternative to a futile government. What other choice do Somalis have? The fanatics would smell to the Somalis like roses anytime, against manure government!
Remove such worthless government and allow these extremists to assume full power, and the Islamists will be exposed to the Somalis for whom they are: a Godforsaken cult of the worst order!
Somalis will be forced to come up with a viable alternative to the fanatics. A nationalistic and traditional, authentic Islam alternatives that is, to which all Somalis naturally would gravitate. The underlining theme of such alternative to the radicals must be: “restore true Islam and Somali traditions.”
This is already in progress in central Somalia. There you have a different religious order by the Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jamah. They are the true defenders of the faith and social customs of Somalis, with no political ambitions. They do not forbid Somali, long-standing traditions, which never violated the tenants of Islam!
No group has put more fear in the hearts of Al-Shabab than ASWJ. There is your formula to face and defeat the radicals at the end!
So long as you have a stalemate between a government in a coma—on a life support by foreigners—and extremists, there will not be a paradigm shift for the better for Somalia. This is a carnage infinitum!
Once there is a real incentive, via radicals’ complete takeover, the world might be pleasantly surprised about Somali capacity to circumvent fanatic rule. Somalis, at present, are confused about events in their country. They neither join the sham government, nor are they oblivious to ramifications for them with radicals on the march. On balance, under the prevailing circumstances, Islamists are the better alternative to Somalis. Don’t take my word for it: Go ask the residents of Kismayu, under Islamists’ rule, if they would trade places, for an hour, with Mogadishu resident under government on-paper only!
Give the Somalis a true enemy to vie against. Al-Shabab coming to power will reactivate in Somalis their forgotten nationalism, their religious and cultural heritages and natural coming-together on such worthy principles. The world, including our neighbors, should be ready to invest in Somalis at the right crucible!
To the world: So what if hard-line Islamists come to power in Somalia. It would not be as if these ragtag Islamists—these skinny nomads—are about to achieve a “nuclear” weapon. Why exaggerate the threat to neighbors and the world. Has anybody considered the better positioning of the world and Somalis themselves to deal with the fanatics effectively only and if they assume power? By denying them power, it would be insurgency until the next Somali generation with not many willing to die for Sharif’s government. AU troops vs. Islamists, that is all!
It is hard to believe, but Somalia has put the insidious anarchy behind it. Clan wars are gone; the by-products of that, which was warlords, also gone. What remains is a war of ideas and principles!
Who can bring the order so needed in Somalia? Order hinges on law and principles. In the end, only Somalis can do that for themselves, not the AU or other foreign troops! Islamists have proven in town after town they can do this, and Somalis are in dire need for law and order!
As for potential safe-haven for Islamic terrorists in Somalia, why the Somali Islamists have not set up terror operations, against the neighbors, in the vast territories they have been holding for a year or so now! They rule big cities with ports, such as Kismayu, a stone throw away from Kenya. Where is the evidence?
It would seem, to me, Somalia’s conflict will never end until foreign interventions (AU troops) cease altogether. Ironically, at this point, Western interests in Somalia could better be realized if powers involved adopt hands-off agenda. Hands on have been fueling the conflict, to the determent of foreign and Somali interests.
Mark my words: It would be a different matter when the Islamists come to power. Remember the unity of the Mujahidin of Afghanistan against the then Soviet Union. There was no daylight between them as they fought the enemy. Once the enemy left, they turned the guns on each other. The Somali Islamists’ unity is recent, if there is a real unity that is. Even if they succeed, once in power, in holding together, then they will be the establishment power to contend with the new insurgency in streets and alleys against them. Give the Somalis the catalyst they need to come together, which will herald to the world a new Somalia! Count on it, and have no fear!
One last option, a third way! Let the so-called Somali parliament pass a binding resolution, stating the fall of the government and the removal of AU troops from Somalia in 4 months on the following conditions: A complete and immediate cease fire on both sides for 4 months. Within which time there will be sincere negotiations, all Somali led, in Villa Somalia to agree on a new administration for the country! Start all over, for peace sake! What do you think about that idea?
Hassan Zaylai
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