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A Deja
Vu of Apocalyptic Proportions
March 4, 2003
By Jerome P. Van Wert
We're already aware of the well-established argument that
an attack on Iraq, and a post war American led occupation,
would be used as perhaps the most persuasive recruitment propaganda
by Bin-Ladin, Al Qaeda, and probably any and all anti-American
terrorist groups. But if the Bush Administration gives the
go-ahead to attack Iraq any time in March, particularly on
or around March 13th (Ashura), it will be used forever as
the ultimate anti-American, anti-West, and anti-non-Muslim
battle-cry.
I don't know if the Bush Administration is woefully ignorant
of this potentially apocalyptic catalyst, or they are fully
conscious of it and have chosen the date for its potential
ramifications. Either way, these are the facts.
According to factmonster.com, "The Islamic (Hijri) calendar
is based on the lunar year of 354 days. The number of days
each month is adjusted according to the lunar cycle, beginning
about two days after the new moon. The months drift backward
over the seasons, beginning again on the same day every 32
½ years. The Islamic year begins on the first day of Muharram,
and is counted from the year of the Hegira (anno Hegirae)
- the year in which Muhammad emigrated from Mecca to Medina
(A.D. 622). The year 2003 translates to A.H. 1423-1424." This
year Muharram begins on March 4, 2003. Muharram (March) is
one of the four sacred months of Islam. According to the Quran,
"Lo! The number of the months with Allah is twelve months
by Allah's Ordinance in the day that He created the heavens
and the earth. Four of them are sacred: that is the right
religion. So wrong not yourselves in them." (9.36)
So, to attack Iraq during one of the Islamic sacred months
would be considered extremely offensive to Muslims. To attack
in the first month of Muharram, which begins the Islamic calendar,
could easily be construed as an attack against Islam. But
this, by no means, represents the strongest basis for the
potential error.
According to the Islamic Times, Manchester. Vol:13 - May
1998, "The Islamic year begins with Muharram ul Haram, the
first month of the Hijri Calendar. While followers of other
religions spend their opening month in worthless merriment,
the first month of Islam teaches us lessons of admonition,
good counselling, knowledge of Allah Ta'ala, sacrifice,
selflessness, patience and seeking the pleasure of Allah
Ta'ala. The tenth day of Muharram (Ashurah) has many distinctive
qualities and features. Allah Ta'ala created the heavens and
the earth on this blessed day. On this day He gave His
infinite blessings and bounties to many of His Prophets and
delivered them from the clutches of their enemies." It
goes on to say, "On the eve of Ashurah offer 4 rakats
Nafl Salat as follows: In every rakat after Surah Fateha recite
"Ayetul Kursi" once and Surah Ikhlas 3 times. After completing
this Namaz recite Surah Ikhlas 100 times. Allah Ta'ala
will purify such a person of all their sins and grant them
endless bounties and blessings in paradise." (I have added
the bold emphasis.)
This information alone should give cause to the Bush Administration
to refrain from attacking Iraq in March, and especially on
or around the day of Ashura because of its potential use as
Islamic extremist's/terrorist's recruitment propaganda. But
the ultimate key to recruitment lies in the other reason why
Ashura is considered sacred. Ashura also commemorates the
extremely important battle and martyrdom of Hussein, "the
lord among martyrs", and grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.
Every year, Ashura is the day when Muslims around the world
are reminded of the battle that took place in 680 AD, in Iraq,
where Imam Hussein was slaughtered by the ruler Yazid, "a
sinful person, a drunkard, (and) the killer of innocent people."
To get the full impact of this potential cataclysmic error,
one must go to the web site www.ashura.com, where the history
of this Islamic sacred event is described in detail. But to
quote a short passage, "Why remember Ashura? Why is Husain
regarded as the "leader of the martyrs"? It is because he
was not just the victim of an ambitious ruler. There is no
doubt that the tragedy of Kerbala, when ascribed to the killers,
is a criminal and terrible act. However when ascribed to Husain
himself, it represents a conscious confrontation and a courageous
resistance for a sacred cause. The whole nation had failed
to stand up to Yazid. They had succumbed to his will, and
deviation and regression towards the pre-Islamic ways were
increasing. Passiveness by Husain in this situation would
have meant the end of Islam as we know it. Thus Husain took
upon himself the responsibility of the whole nation. The greatest
tragedy was that one who stood up for the noblest of causes,
the defence of Islam, was cut down in so cruel a manner. It
is for this reason that the sacrifice of Husain is commemorated
annually throughout the Muslim world. Our sorrow never abates
as we relive the tragedy."
It goes on to say, "The commemoration of Ashura on the 10th
of Muharram every year (March 13, 2003) serves to remind us
of the sacrifices of the family of the Prophet (S). It also
makes us aware of the people, then and now, who tried to destroy
Islam and the family of the Prophet (S) and all that they
stood for - as well as those who watched, listened and did
nothing."
It seems to me that an American led attack on Iraq in Muharram
or March, and especially on Ashura or March 13, 2003, would
be construed by Islamic extremists/terrorists as the most
prophetic and surest argument that such an act was really
an attack on Islam. As such, it would become the greatest
potential recruitment propaganda for Islamic extremist/terrorists,
as well as justification by them for any and all horrific
acts against Americans and Westerners in general. It is my
sincere hope that the Bush administration becomes aware of
this propaganda nightmare, and if necessary, changes their
war plans accordingly. Attacking Iraq on Ashura could turn
out to be one of the most influential parallel events in history.
It might be a déjà vu of apocalyptic proportions.
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