... the history of Islam offers many examples of this altruism. Let us recall some examples of this.

- 11 / 05 / 2008 07:09

Normally, as we know from the West and Turkey's recent past, one fights "against" the other. Not much is known about those who fight "for" the other.

Yet, the history of Islam offers many examples of this altruism. Let us recall some examples of this. But first we should stress the current state of affairs in the world.

Muslims are presently living in many places around the world where they are deprived of fundamental rights, victimized and tyrannized. The oppressive regimes under which they live have done great damage not only to their social lives, but also to their personalities. Secularism is intended to protect freedom of religion and conscience anywhere around the world, while it restricts this freedom in our country. Top judges assert that those who wear the headscarf do not have the right to education.

From Palestine to Kashmir and from Turkestan to the Balkans, Muslims are being repressed and they can do nothing to stop it. Undoubtedly the biggest tragedy is going on in Palestine. The state established by the Jews persecuted by the Nazis, i.e., Israel, drives Palestinians away from their land and collects the Jewish Diaspora together in this newly established state, giving them land and houses that rightfully belong to the Palestinians. It seems as if Israel wants to take the revenge on the Palestinians for all the injustice done by the world to Jews throughout history. This shows that they do not remember history. In the past, Muslims did not cause harm to Jews, but protected them and even fought for them.

The Islamic world is currently in a state of stasis -- fragmented and lacking wider perspectives and awareness. It lacks civilian or social leaders who are capable of raising their voices; and even if there were such leaders, they would not be able to raise objections. Once, the horsemen coming from the Arab peninsula would spring to the assistance of people who had been torn and exhausted in the centuries-old wars fought in the name of feudalism and sects. The words Muslim and Muslim rule meant justice, equality, freedom and fairness. Irrespective of their races, all Muslims were regarded as saviors that would fight for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, not only of Muslims, but also of other weak and persecuted people from other religions. They had only one ideal: to disseminate the Word of God to all around the world and to fulfill justice and freedom as this implies.

After a bloody war with Muslims near Damascus, Mongols were defeated and had to sign an agreement with Muslims. Ibn Taymiyah, representing the Muslims, and Kutlu Shah, from the Mongol side, attended the negotiations. The parties reached an agreement about war, compensations and exchanges of prisoners of war, but there were many Christian and Jewish prisoners. Ibn Taymiyah demanded that these non-Muslim prisoners be released. However, Kutlu Shah did not want to release them, arguing that Muslims had nothing to do with them. But this brought to negotiations to a halt. "Do you risk another war for Christians and Jews although you are Muslims?" asked Kutlu Shah with amazement. Ibn Taymiyah replied: "Yes. Be certain that this war will not end and no peace agreement will be undersigned unless every single one of them is released." Seeing his determination, Kutlu Shah had to agree to release Christian and Jewish prisoners. Do we need to reiterate that when the Jews in Spain were about to be massacred, they were protected by the Ottoman Empire? During the negotiations, one verse of the Holy Quran echoed in the ears of Ibn Taymiyah: "Why, then, should you not fight in the cause of God and of the oppressed, helpless men, women, and children, who cry out: 'O Lord! Bring us out of this land whose people are oppressors and appoint for us from Your Presence a protector, and appoint for us from Your Presence a helper'!" (An-Nisa, 4:75).