Personal Note: This documentary is clearly biased toward the Assad government. It aims to provide a counter argument to the US media understanding of the Syrian situation. It cites 4 journalists to make its points. These journalists appear on Arabic Television (unknown sponsor), Russia Today, and a western program entitled “AntiWar Radio”. Webster Tarpley is a friend of the Assad government and has appeared on the Iranian news channel “PressTV”.
Webster Tarpley, “Historian/Writer”
The CIA is involved in Syrian conflict, and sends “death squad commando” units
This is not a new tactic
Tactic used in Argentina
Tactic used in Nicaragua
Tactic used in Libya
Most of the killing is done by snipers
Most US marines and many US army soldiers could be considered snipers
The US trains the most snipers of any government
Middle eastern nations are not known for their sharpshooters
Thierry Meysann “Independent Journalist
The conflict began with foreign fighters entering the country
The initial combat teams aimed to create Islamic superstate, or “Caliphate”
These teams initially organized and deployed from Jordan
Nizar Nayouf “Syrian Journalist”
Foreign troops massed in Jordan before entering Syria
Initial force numbered in hundreds
Set up command center in Al Housha, Jordan, 10 km from Syrian border
Troop were western, possibly American
Eric Mangolis “AntiWar Radio”
Many different armed groups represented
Salafists from various nations (Al Quaeda)
Mercenaries
Lebanese Falange Party (Kateab)
Armed groups receive support from NATO
Thierry Meysann
Strategy is similar to Libya
Attempts made to convince UN and Arab League to intervene on humanitarian grounds
Cite 5000+ civilian deaths
These deaths are the “fault” of armed groups, not army
Personal note: This is debatable
Fighters shipped from Libya, many are Salafists
Entire brigades (600+) incorporated into “Free Syrian Army”
Webster Tarpley
Salafists from Libya “recycled” and used in Syria
Salafists kidnap and murder civilians based on ethnicity and loyalty
This differs from South American operations, where leadership is targeted
Salafists target indiscriminately
Salafists use snipers to kill in daylight
Snipers target civilians, closing off streets and limiting movement of goods
Many internal issues stem from lack of goods, particularly fuel
This lack of goods is caused by
Sanctions
Theft and destruction by rebels
Snipers limiting movement of delivery personnel
Thierry Meysann
Sanctions have had negative effect on economy
Affect tourism
Affect foreign trade
Affect imports of consumer goods and medications
Affect fuel imports
Aim of sanctions is to divide population and create small, weak, ethnic mini-states
Eric Margolis
At least 50% of Syrian population supports Assad
Minority groups (non Sunnis)
Middle class
City dwellers who want stability
Scott Horton “AntiWar Radio
US was initially worried that Salafists would take over government, but is now providing assistance to rebels despite this possibility
US is more concerned with fighting proxy war with Iran than defending against Salafism
Iranian and Palestinian interests would be hurt by loss of Syrian ally
Coup D' Etat
Writer: Edward Luttwak
Qualifications: London School of Economics
Coup d' Etat can be performed by outsiders with the help of insiders
The help of insiders is required
The concept of coup d' etat is to detach employees of the state from their leadership
If a nation is too ethnically minded, it cannot be thrown over by outsiders
The effect of ethnic loyalty can be mitigated by the size of bureaucracy
More bureaucracy means less ethnic loyalty
A coup takes advantage of the “machinery” of the state
Whoever is “at the controls” drives the “car”
There are a number of methods used to seize nations, with their own pros and cons
Revolution aims to completely change a system, and the personalities associated
Civil War aims to change a system using factions of the nations military (often involving a draft) through conventional warfare
“Putch” is a military only coup
“Liberation” is when an outside force invades a country and “frees” it through conventional warfare
Insurgency seeks a separation from the present state
A coup does not require mass mobilization of a population, or a long military campaign
A coup uses the power of the state itself as a weapon
A small, but critical segment of the population is used to “take the driver's seat”
A coup is only possible when the majority of the target nation is uninvolved in politics
A legitimate government is difficult to overthrow by any means
Even a country that is officially a dictatorship may be more legitimate than it appears
A lack of proper education can imply a lack of political collaboration
Economic backwardness is a precondition of a coup
A person who never leaves his village does not care what happens outside of it
A coup can only take place if the majority of people either obey or evade government
The immediate need of the coup is simple apathy
Coups work best in oligarchies
You cannot “take the wheel” if there are hundreds of wheels
A strong local government is a stabilizing factor for a nation, which makes it less vulnerable to a coup
A state must be independent and able to stand on its own for a coup to be achievable
If the major source of power is another country, that country will intervene
If the greater ally approves of the coup, or a greater ally can be found, a “colonial” coup can be achieved
Economic aid and trade can be more important to the success of a nation than arms
Sophisticated arms (jets, missiles, satellites) can make a nation dependent on a greater ally
The post coup environment may require aligning the nation to a “greater ally”
This greater ally can be a world power (China) or a regional power (Iran)
A nation's true seat of power may not be in the capital, or even in the country
The seat of power may be a business, industry, church sect, or a tribe
Any of these outside powers can pull their supporters (and money) from the country
A tribe or union can organize its members against the post coup government
It does no good to take the central government if the central government is just another clique or gang
If the seat of power is in more than one place, multiple coups may be required
A nation must have an identifiable seat of power to seize, and it must be political in nature
Ethnic “crews” are difficult for outsiders to enter
Marriage is the traditional method of entering a powerful tribe
You cannot change the status quo entirely through a coup
A capitalist country cannot be made communist overnight
A kingdom cannot be made a republic overnight
Transition of power is the most critical stage of a coup
Resistance in this stage can defeat a coup
Maximum speed is required for this stage
Neutrality may disappear if coup plotters take too long to visibly seize power
The only source of quick “game changers” is the military
Ethnic minorities are easy to recruit, but difficult to place in power without upsetting the majority
Party militias are another source of “game changers”, but they never seem to win on their own
Arming a party militia is expensive, and very visible
A coup requires its plotters to convert a segment of the military while neutralizing the rest
The nonloyal (to the coup plotters) segment of the military must be neutralized before the coup
Political forces can be dealt with afterward
Some political forces must be dealt with before or during the coup, as they may be able to intervene
Industry
Church
Party Militias
Unions
Modern armies are large and complex
This is an advantage for the coup plotters, as it provides more people to recruit
Loyalty is rarely to personalities (like a “great leader” or president) and sometimes there is no loyalty at all
Even a single formation can spoil a coup
A coup is not a military battle, ideally, there should be little or no actual fighting
A coup plotter must not ignore any force capable of intervention
Naval and Air Forces will find it difficult to intervene, given their nature and the nature of coup
A commander will not shell or bomb his own capital city, at least not initially
Coups take place over the course of hours to days, initially is all that matters
The transport potential of a Navy or (especially) an Air Force may be important depending on the nature of the target nation
Island chains
Dense urban terrain
Multiple coup situations
Top Generals are often picked for loyalty, and may not be in actual control of the armed forces of a nation
People are often “kicked upstairs”
A confusing order (such as “capture the president”) may be seen as more suspicious if it does not come down through chain of command in the conventional way
The true military control structure lies with Brigade and Battalion leaderships, from Colonel down to Lieutenant
Soldiers cannot mount real resistance without leadership and command structures
Paratroops and Marines possess a much higher degree of autonomy, but still require some level of central command, and often rely upon sophisticated (easily sabotaged) equipment
The capability of a formation to intervene depends upon the nature of the unit and its location
Transport and fuel are the most important considerations
Armor capability is also important
A single armored division can make or break a coup
Training is of lesser importance, ans there should be very little fighting
A coup is lost around the time when people start shooting each other
Less intervening forces also means less potential recruits
For any formation to intervene, they must be 12-24 hours away from the coup location
An initial survey of the military situation in the target country should reveal 2 things
Nature and composition of units
Real operational echelon
Of equal importance is the personalities running the military
Leadership needs to be pinpointed
Technicians need to be pinpointed
Communications personnel
Drivers and pilots
Airport guards
Air Traffic Control
Technicians are easier to recruit and can make more of a difference than leadership
Coup plotters should attempt to neutralize complex formations while subverting simpler ones
Before approaching potential recruits, a coup plotter should know
Which units can intervene
What is the command structure, who are the leaders?
Technical structure of the unit, who are the technicians?
Incorporating a unit involves subverting its commanders
If there is a serious disconnect between men and officers, an “NCO coup” can be achieved
Identifying “informal leadership” is a very difficult task
Technicians are usually stable, there is no “revolving door” for them
There is no need to infiltrate a unit that will be neutralized
Every recruitment is a risk to the coup
Avoid over-recruitment
An Officer, under normal circumstances, has the most to gain from reporting the coup
The approach must offer great rewards for supporting the coup, and also give a sense that everyone else is already on board
The approach should appeal to the officer's sense of right and wrong, and friendship ties
Ethnic or tribal ties could be equally important
An officer will hesitate to “turn in” a wife or daughter who suggests a coup
A coup should take advantage of tribal ties, but avoid connection to a specific tribe
A coup should avoid appearing “hard” right (fascist) or left (communist) and if possible, should appear to be a “protection” against such extremes
Framing the coup in political terms may be a mistake, depending on the culture of the nation
A good candidate for recruitment is “alienated” from the command
If an officer is constantly passed over for promotion, they may be more alienated
Low rank sometimes means low ability
A person that is not trusted or respected in their unit can be a liability
Success in Islam
Speakers: Zahra al Alawi (Sarah Taki) and Ummal Banin
Many people think of and gauge success in worldly terms
Wealth, position, fame
In the Islamic call to prayer, success is mentioned
“Hurry to success”
Quran states “In every existence there is a goal to seek the best”
Sura Asr (Time) teaches that the utilization of time in the right way is success
Success in Islam is based on four concepts
Belief
Good deeds
Enjoining truth
Enjoining patience
What makes success attainable?
God and his book
Ahlulbayt and their guidance
Daily practices
Prayer
Almsgiving
Remembrance of God
Enjoining good and forbidding evil
There are multiple aspects of success, which are sustained by spiritual success
Physical
Emotional
Mental
Each aspect is related to the others
Physical Success
“Macro Picture” of success is going to heaven
“Micro Picture” of success is related to the world
Health
Fitness
Appearance
Mental Success
“One who understands his lord understands himself”
Attaining knowledge is the key to mental success
First a person must have a “vision” of what they consider success to be
It helps to put this vision on paper
The worldly aspect of success is intertwined with the religious aspect
There is nothing inherently wrong with worldly success
Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual success are of equal importance
If a person has no vision of success, they will not be working towards any real goals
Life is about striving, not just existing
Achieving success is a step by step process
Evaluate current situation
Examine time management, and find “gaps” which can be utilized better
Consider goals, and take concrete steps to achieve those goals
Books, classes, lectures, etc
Success is doing your best with what you've got, not being “better” than others
If a person is “down and out”, surrounding themselves with forward thinking people can help
Despite being cruelly oppressed, the Ahlulbayt tried their best and ultimately found success
We must know the Prophet and Ahlulbayt in order to follow them
Their teachings never go out of date
When facing a difficult situation, first consider the source of the issue
If the issue stems from your own actions, correct your action
If the issue comes from outside you, take it as an opportunity to grow and become stronger
God will only test you according to your ability
God will not give you a test that is beyond your ability
Faith is trust in God
Good deeds are when intention and action are on the same level
We should do for God, not for us, our good deeds should be selfless
Enjoining truth and patience radiates goodness, which is noticed by all
“Those who are successful call towards goodness and follow the prophet”
To follow the prophet, you must first know him
“Those who are successful strive with their wealth and themselves”
Your own family is just as important as the “global family”
Abstaining from sin is a form of success
Reading Quran is a form of success
Worldly success is good, as long as you maintain a balance between focusing on worldly success and religious success
Without balance, there is a void, and an emptiness in the heart
True success can only be obtained by achieving this balance
Worldly success is not always indicative of religious failure
Sister Ummal Banin's suggestions for achieving success
Make a “vision board”
Physical, Mental, Emotional aims
Spiritual aims
Establish goals
Macro goals
Micro goals
Create time management sheet
Organize according to prayer times “before fajr” “after maghrib”
Keep a journal
Always do your best!
Social Child-Rearing
“It Takes a Village to Raise a Child”
Writer: Hillary Rodham Clinton
Too often, the best interests of children seemed not to be a priority on either individual or national agendas. The consequences are there for any of us to see: potential lost to spirit crushing poverty, health lost to unaffordable care, hearts lost in divorce or custody fights, futures lost in an overburdened foster care system, lives lost to abuse and violence, our society lost to itself as we fail our children
Children exist in the world as well as in the family. From the moment they are born, they depend on a host of other “grown ups” grandparents, neighbors, teachers, ministers, employers, political leaders, and untold others who touch their lives directly and indirectly. Adults police their streets, monitor the quality of their food, air, and water, produce the programs that appear on their televisions run the businesses that employ their parents, and write laws that protect them. Each of us plays a part in every child's life: It takes a village to raise a child.
We cannot move forward by looking to the past for easy solutions. Even if a golden age had existed, we could not simply graft it onto today's busier, more impersonal and complicated world. Instead, our challenge is to arrive at a consensus of values and a common vision of what we can do today, individually and collectively, to build strong families and communities.
How well we care for our own and other people's children isn't only a question of morality, our self interest is at stake too.
Whether or not you are a parent, what happens to America's children affects your present and your future.
Many single parent, step-parent, and “blended” families do a fine job raising children. In general, however, their task is harder. These days, parents are less likely to have readily available support from extended family or a close knit community. There are fewer Aunt Belles, grandparents, and other relatives close by, and many of us no longer feel free to ask a neighbor to lend a hand or an ear.
While divorce often improves the economic condition of men, who are rarely awarded custody, it nearly always results in a decline in the standard of living for the custodial parent, generally the mother, and the children.
I am ambivalent about no-fault divorce with no waiting period when children are involved. We should consider returning to mandatory “cooling off” periods, with education and counseling for partners.
The anxieties that come with divorce require that parents do whatever they can to avoid creating additional uncertainty. Parents need to remember that little things often matter most, like maintaining mealtimes, helping with homework, telling bedtime stories, taking weekend excursions, and praying together. Children's needs should come first.
What a family looks like to outsiders is not as important as whether adults know what children need to develop positively, and work to fulfill their responsibilities to each other and the children.
The best interests of the child should take precedence over both the birth-mother's claims of her biological rights, and the state's claims to its contractual agreement.
The first three years of life are crucial in establishing the brain cell connections. These connections do not form in a vacuum, however. Babies need food for their brains as well as their bodies, not only physical nourishment, but also loving, responsive caregiving from parents and other adults. They need to see light and movement, to hear loving voices, and above all, to be touched and held.
Zahira Mamdani (Quals unstated) Hassan Sadr (Hematology PhD) Sarah Jawat (1st year Law Student) Afifa Ali Hassan (Med Student) Muhammad Ali Zanab (Student) Anh Kazemi (Religion Student)
Personal Note: This has the appearance of an extra credit assignment for a class, A&P maybe? It features a “Doctor of Hematology” as the “voice of reason”, Zahira Mamdani, who is new to Ahlulbayt TV, as the host, and what looks like a Muslim debate club.
(Zahira Mamdani) Some argue that the price of knowledge shows how valuable it is
But so many people need the knowledge and cannot afford it, should those people be denied education? The price can be set by the community, and if the speaker sets too high a price, he will lose out on the job.
(Dr. Sadr) In any educational institution, you must pay the teachers, and this payment should be a state responsibility
Should religious institutes have a price?
Religious schools are taxing in ways that others are not
If we weren’t paying for the degree, would we care about getting it?
There are a lot of steps to a high level degree, you pay in time and commitment as well as money
The state cannot take over university fees, as not everyone goes to university
(Dr. Sadr) It is the responsibility of the state to take over these fees, particularly when the funding comes from natural resources
Most of the state’s workers and key leadership come from universities, and so the state should cover funding for these universities
The entire society benefits from better education, and the university should only allow courses that benefit society
There are many programs which do not obviously benefit society, but that people want.
“Harry Potter studies” does not obviously benefit society, but its graduates could eventually go on to provide 5th-12th grade reading material.
“Every form of knowledge is an act of worship”
(Dr Sadr) Some people will pick a study that is ethically unacceptable
We learn a lot of things we don’t necessarily agree with, evolution, for example
If we study it, are we making it more acceptable?
We have an eternal quest towards truth, whatever that truth is
(Dr Sadr) When you personally study something, that’s fine, but schools organize knowledge as well. Schools create scholars, and that function needs to be controlled by the state, which understands the needs of the society. In a very good economic climate, you can expand funding
Why is the money limited? Education should be getting the most funding
(Dr Sadr) The funding will always be very limited
Taxing the rich could pay for more education
We spend a lot of money fighting wars, how much could we spend on education?
Some people will always want to be scholars, and usually you can find a use for a scholar.
(Dr Sadr) Higher education should be focused on serving the needs of the State, so all programs should be picked by the State to meet its needs and create jobs
Knowledge that is beneficial is knowledge that improves society, and knowledge you can act upon. If you can get a job with the degree, that’s a good sign
(Zahira Mamdani) Perhaps we should strike a balance, and consider who we’re benefitting by studying our chosen fields
Doctors of Medicine give back to society
Teachers give back to society
Philosophers sometimes have a more difficult journey
All knowledge can be used to benefit society, it just depends on the user
Speakers: Zahra Al-Alawi/Sarah Taki, Sunna Kaleem, Fatimah Mohammad
Qualifications: None stated
After the battle of Karbala, Zainab and the other surviving ladies and children were taken captive to Kufa (Iraq), and then to Sham (Syria)
Yazid held a celebration in Kufa for his “victory”
During the celebration, Zainab made a speech that exposed the lies of Yazid and informed the Umayyad dynasty of the truth of Hussein’s revolution
Yazid had stripped Islam of its most basic principles
Syeda delivered two sermons, one in Kufa, and one in Sham
In Kufa, Al-Ziyad tried to mock the Ahlulbayt
He said “Praise be to God, who disgraced you, and revealed your sayings as false”
She replied “Praise be to God, who has honored us with his messenger and purified us from all impurities”
This is a direct quote from the Quran
She went on to say “The one who is disgraced is certainly the libertine, and the one who has lied is the lewd, and we are not such people”
When someone lies and does evil deeds, it is our duty, as Muslims, to stand against that person
Syeda Zainab spoke in front of both men and women, in proper hijab, and she spoke directly
If a person or society stops women from education, how will they be able to learn about Islam, serve the faith, and secure their place in heaven?
A noble lady from the Holy Household established the first madrassa
Where would Islam be today without madrassas?
If Islam is ever attacked, it is the responsibility of both men and women to come to its aid, therefore it is our responsibility as a society to ensure that both men and women are educated
Al Ziyad was stunned by Syeda Zainab’s well formed reply, as women were not considered as equals in intellect by hypocrites such as him
He continued to abuse her with his language, saying “How did you find the way God treated your brother and family?”
She replied “I saw nothing but beauty; they rushed towards their graves with honor. But know that God will judge between you and them, and he will call you to account, so be worried about the winner on that day”
Syeda Zainab made this speech despite being in a great amount of stress
She had just witnessed her brother and family members killed violently, many of her closest friends and their children burned to death, along with many other atrocities
She was speaking to the tyrannical dictator of her nation, who could kill her at any time
She was tired and hungry, after being forced to march in captivity for 80 km
This was not a planned speech, she fought through the difficult situation to deliver a stirring sermon that “shook the very foundations of the Umayyad Dynasty”
She delivered the speech even though her hijab had been compromised by her captors
Her standards of hijab were very, very, high, she wore 7 layers of clothing, so that nothing was ever revealed
Of all the tragedies of Karbala, the capture of Syeda Zainab is widely viewed as the most tragic
All the martyrs and Imams are said to have “wept blood” over the unfortunate event
Yazid was not legally permitted to be caliph
At that time, only born Muslims were permitted to be caliph, Yazid was a “convert”
It is very important to note that Yazid forcefully removed Syeda Zainab’s hijab
She is the sister of the “Prince of Heaven”
She is in the line of rightful rulers of the Islamic world
Personal Note: Hijab is very important to those people who practice it, forcefully removing a woman’s hijab is the same as stripping her bare, and the severity of this crime was discussed at length by the speakers. I personally do not believe in compulsory hijab, but the way it is discussed, I can tell that practitioners find hijab to be very comforting, and denying this comfort is, in my mind, an act of oppression
Even without physically removing the fabric of the hijab, parading such a noble lady around (against her will) before unfamiliar men is just as much a compromise of the hijab
Syeda Zainab was only kept captive for 2-4 weeks, as her imprisonment was a very destabilizing factor for the regime
In Kufa, Syeda caused a storm of discontent among the people, as they largely sympathized with the revolution of Hussein
Even Yazid’s own wife was loyal to the Imamate, and she invited Syeda Zainab and the other captives to hold a majlis in Yazid’s palace
Syeda Zainab’s words inspired insurgency and revolution against the Umayyad Dynasty for years after her captivity and sermons, and eventually led to the demise of the corrupt Caliphate
On the day of judgment, all people will stand behind their chosen Imam, and if the Imam is lost, his followers will be lost as well
Yazid’s misguided followers will be judged justly for their crimes
Islam is based on standing against oppression
It is the strongest form of jihad to speak against an oppressive ruler
“And your lord never treats his servants unjustly, to God is our complaint, and to him do we rely upon. So scheme whatever you wish to scheme, and carry out your plots, and intensify your efforts, for by God, you shall never be able to obliterate our mention, nor will you ever be able to kill the revelation that was revealed to us, nor will you ever usurp our position, nor will your shame ever be washed away. Your views shall be proven futile, and your days limited in number, and your wealth wasted on the day the callers call out ‘The curse of God is upon the oppressors’”
The oppressors plot, but God plots as well, and God is the best of plotters
If you follow the cursed oppressors, you are cursed as well
If we do not challenge the oppressor, he will become more bold and more evil
Speakers: Romana Kazmi, Maryam Hilli, and Zahra Al Alawi/Sarah Taki
Qualifications: None stated
Ali Akber was Imam Hussein’s son
He was brought up in the Holy Household
He had a “good” tribal background
As the Imam’s caravan was leaving for Karbala, Medina citizens asked Imam to leave Ali Akber behind, as he resembled the Prophet, and they did not want to lose him
He resembled the Prophet in looks
He resembled the Prophet in morals
He was always kind to the poor and gave to beggars
He had the “vision” of the Prophet
He had no fear of death
Even his enemies loved him
He resembled the Prophet in voice
He loved and respected both his sisters and aunts
He asked for their blessing before going to battle, and would have stayed behind if they had desired it
He was raised by Zainab, the greatest lady scholar of Islam
He was trained in war by Abbas, the greatest warrior of Islam
He put his faith before all other concerns
He was the first to go into battle at Karbala
He gave the final Azan before the battle of Karbala
His stirring recitation converted a few of the more faithful followers of Yazid
Ali Akber, when given the option to leave the battle and be given immunity due to his family relations, chose to stay with the Imam, and with truth
His final concern (in his last moments) was whether he had kept Ali’s mission alive
All these personalities are important role models for the world, not just for Shias
The tragedy of Karbala was a victory in the end, despite the deaths of many involved
Ali Akber was never afraid of death, his bravery, courage, and Tawheed is an example to us all
He was very young between 18 and 27 when he was martyred, but he still went to fight
He fought even though he was hungry, thirsty, and tired
Islam is inherently against oppression, and all Islamic Prophets fought against oppression
Moses fought oppression
Jesus fought oppression
Abraham fought oppression
There are many forms of oppression
You can oppress your own soul with evil deeds and misconduct
Every disease (of the soul) comes from you, and the cure for all these diseases is also within you
Destroy the oppression from within first
Oppression is when someone wants to use their power to destroy the human soul
Pharaoh did this to the Israelites
The Israelites have in turn done this to the Palestinians
Justice and truth always prevail over evil
Syeda Zainab’s sermon in the court of Yazid should be studied and understood by all believers
Ali Akber saw death as a bridge to the greater world
If a person dies fighting for truth, death is “as sweet as honey”
Ali Akber’s killer later went to Imam Sajjad for asylum. He hid his face as to not be recognized, but the Imam knew who he was. The Imam granted the killer and his family asylum despite his personal wrongdoing, showing the character of the Holy Household
We should live in a way that impresses both friends and enemies
God loves nothing more than a youth that turns to him
Don’t get too involved in the material world, such that you forget that there is a world beyond
Personal Note: This lecture was edited by Sarah Taki/Zahra al Alawi, and while she does not appear personally, we can assume that it presents her views on who should be in charge of the Islamic world. Some of the views presented could be interpreted as extreme, or even heretical. I have never seen this level of adoration for Fatima before.
Many do not know very much about Fatima
Her story is rarely told in the Shiite sect, and almost never told in the Sunni Sect
Fatima was the “purest reflection” of the Prophet, as his daughter and only surviving heir
Called the “Lady of Light”
When she prayed, her light “illuminated the heavens”
Fatima was “God’s manifestation on Earth”
The “Daughter of God”
Personal note: I can only assume that this comment was not meant literally, as a literally interpretation would be considered shirk
Fatima (the word) means “to protect” or “to wean”
All her Shias (followers) will be protected from the Hellfire
She helps her Shias to “wean” themselves from the desires of this world
Fatima was a gift, from God to Humanity
She was delivered by 4 holy midwives
Mariam (mother of Jesus)
Sarah (wife of Abraham)
Asiah (wife of Pharoh)
Safourah (wife of Moses)
Fatima spoke to her mother (Khadija) in the womb
Fatima is the “Jewel in the crown” of Ahlulbayt
She is the head of Ahlulbayt, and the “Heart of the Ummah”
Fatima was nearest to the Prophet, as his daughter
Fatima was “Proof of God” to the Imams
The Imams are “Proof of God” to the Ummah
“Follow her to become loved by God”
There would be no Islam without Fatima
There would be no universe without Islam
Fatima is therefore, very important
Fatima is the “Mother of Islam”
Fatima cared deeply about her Hijab
She covered up even in front of blind men
“He could not see me, but I could see him”
She even planned her funeral dress to ensure that she was properly covered
Fatima championed women’s rights
She spoke well, and mastered the Arabic language, much like her father
Fatima could be compared to Maria, the mother of Jesus
She gave birth to 2 Martyrs
She was a very noble lady, and cared for the world before herself
Her wedding was beautiful, but also very simple and not costly
Fatima was considered by the Prophet to be the best of women
She was the last person he said goodbye to before leaving on a journey, and the first person he greeted when returning from a journey
She “Smelled of Paradise”
She never used her lineage to her advantage, or got a “big head” because of her family heritage
The Prophet once said “Fatima is a part of me, whoever pleases her, pleases me”
Whoever pleases the Prophet, pleases God
Fatima created Islamic prayer beads (Tasbih)
Fatima treated her servants with kindness and fairness
She gave many breaks, and even helped with the chores
Gave time to the poor, her children, her husband, the Quran, etc
Her prayers (for food, mostly) were quickly answered
Some would call these miracles
What Fatima desires, God also desires
Everything Fatima did was for God
Fatima is a role model for both men and women
She gave to the poor even when she had nothing to give
She fasted for 3 days straight because every day, poor people came to her door asking for charity, and she gave it to them without thinking of herself
Personal Note: I do not share sister Biria’s views on the role of government. They are presented because not many people know what Islamic Governance is, and fewer people have a real understanding of the true nature of the Islamic Republican (Iranian) government. Sister Biria first discusses the Islamic requirement to establish a just (Islamic) government, and then goes on to describe the structure of the Iranian government.
All societies need a government
Differences of interests must be resolved in a civilized manner
People need rulers, and if the government is not just, than the society will be unjust
People should only follow righteous (God fearing) people
“Obey God, the messenger, and those charged with authority over you”
Those charged with authority were originally the Prophet and Imams (Ahlulbayt)
During the occultation of the last Imam, “those charged with authority” are “those who narrate our Hadiths”
“Those who narrate our Hadiths” refers to Islamic Scholars
“If you have a dispute, refer it to God and his messenger”
Islamic government is the rule of the law of God
It is required for the people to follow righteous Scholars
If the scholar is not righteous, people should not follow him or her
It is not required for people to “go through” government for things like marriage or divorce if the government is not Islamic
Islamic Jurors should be visited for such needs
It is still necessary for government to be Islamic, even when God has not appointed a specific ruler, like the Prophet, or an Imam from his line
A good and righteous ruler possesses the same authority as an Imam or the Prophet
The status of this ruler, however, is not the same as the Prophet or Imams
The function is the same, the status is not
The role of a ruler is to ensure a just and Islamic society
The Islamic Republic of Iran is the first truly Islamic government since the 11th Imam
The Islamic Republic is an Islamic system which incorporates checks and balances
Elections are used to choose almost all members of government
Most leaders in Iran have been elected at least once, either by popular vote, or by a body of popularly elected officials
The biggest difference between Islamic Republics and Secular Republics is that the elected leadership must be Islamic, and practice the values of the Quran
Assembly of Experts (popularly elected Scholars [they must be Scholars, Laymen cannot be elected to this position]) elects Supreme Leader (Khamaini)
They also supervise the Supreme Leader, and can dismiss him if needed
The idea behind this method is that “the people” cannot know everything about the Supreme Leader, but the other Scholars do
Scholars are given a series of examinations over a number of years to become Scholars
Scholarship cannot be “given”, and takes many years
The Assembly of Experts has a list of possible replacement Supreme Leaders, just in case the elected Supreme Leader becomes too corrupt to execute his duties to the nation
Lying immediately results in dismissal
Any lapse in values results in dismissal
The Assembly of Experts consists of Ayatollahs, there isn’t just one
Jurists are appointed and overseen by the (popularly elected) Parliament
The Jurists and Parliament ensure that no “unislamic” laws are passed
President is popularly elected, and appoints ministers
Ministers are approved by Parliament
Supreme Leader appoints certain leadership
Military
Certain Judiciary members
Radio/TV Minister
Revolutionary Guard Commander
Nobody has absolute power, elected leadership supervises every individual leader
Islamic Revolution is a process, and not instant
Islamic revolution has 5 steps
Victory of initial revolution (1979 revolution)
Establishment of Islamic System of government through constitution (1979)
Establishment of Islamic Government, requiring the Islamisation of all government officials, from the top to the bottom (Current phase)
Achievement of a fully Islamic State
Export of revolution and establishment of a fully Islamic society
Qualifications not stated, daughter of Alawite tribe, (ruling tribe of Syria) which claims to be descended from the followers of the 11th Imam, Hassan al Askari, and so, closer to Ahlulbayt
A Wali has authority over the people
Wilayat is the authority over the Umma (Islamic World)
The Wali is god’s representative on earth, the “proof of god”
A Wali must have 4 traits
A Wali must have love of the prophet and the Ahlulbayt
A Wali must be a spiritual leader
A Wali must be both a social and political leader
A Wali must have “power over the universe” coming from God
It is not shirk to believe that an Imam can have Wilayat
Imam Ali was picked (by God) to be a Wali
This is based on a story of Ali giving zakat (charity) to a beggar while bowing in prayer
“God gives power to whoever he wishes”
The angel of death has the power to take the souls of man
Jesus was given this power to perform certain miracles
Jinns are given a measure of power
Jinns have knowledge of a “portion of the book (Quran)”
Ali has knowledge of the “entire book”
All prophets (Moses, Jesus, etc) were working towards the Quran
All prophets have had some degree of Wilayat
Whoever loves the Prophet should also love Ali, as per the prophet’s instructions
Love for Ahlulbayt is a part of Islam
Hatred of Ali is equal to hypocrisy
There is a living Imam (Wali) today, Imam Zaman, who waits for the our faith to reappear
For prayers to be accepted, Wilayat must also be accepted
All Imams (12) and “Infallibles” (14) epitomize the teachings of the Quran
Both Imams and Quran are “proof of God”
Both Imams and Quran are remembrance of the Prophet
Both Imams and Quran are “Light” for mankind
Both Imams and Quran call mankind towards goodness
Imam Hussein did not refuse charity from impoverished peoples, even though he did not need it
“God dislikes the proud and haughty” (Quranic teaching)
God keeps his mercy from the proud “Pride goes before destruction”
Imam Hussein after accepting charity from the poor, extends charity to them in return
Imam Hussein freed a servant in exchange for a gift of flowers
The flowers were from his own garden
“When greeted with a ‘Salaam’ we should return with a better salaam”
So when sending salawat (Allah Humma Salle Ala…) we get more in return (from Imams and God)
Imam Hussein loved the Quran
He gave many gifts to his son’s Quran teacher
Imam Hussein forgave a servant for misconduct committed based on the servant reciting an ayat from the Quran regarding forgiveness. He then freed the servant after the servant recited another ayat on the same topic
A man in Sham (Syria) began verbally abusing Imam Hussein, but the Imam showed patience and forgave the man. The man was forever changed by the experience
“You are the best of the people when you enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil”
When you eat unlawful food, you will only have unlawful thoughts and actions
Illicit games are a similar vice
It is evil to not stop others from doing evil
“Never fear when you are enjoining good and forbidding evil”
The first step is to do this, then all other (societal) issues will be easier to resolve
Atrocities of Muawiya
Murders the innocent for their lack of support
Illicit food and games
Sura Kaf mentioned by Hussein repeatedly as being important
Youthful fighters spoken highly of, said to “meet God enthusiastically”
The “tranquil soul” is best, but a soul cannot be at peace when it is attached to the world
The world encourages a person to want more and more
Mourning during Muharram is the best way to receive the message of Hussein and Ahlulbayt
Ahlulbayt are the “Pure household”, and this idea is supported by the Quran
Loyalty to Yazid would have ended Islam
“Whoever comes from God only bows to God”
Caliphate and Imamate is for Ahlulbayt
Saying “Alhamdullilah rabii Alamin” is the best way to thank god
A person should not fear death, instead, they should be concerned with how they die
If a person dies in the right fashion, there should be no fear
“Death will overtake you, even if you are in a fortified place”
A person should meet death with open arms
Personal Note: Salma Khalfan died of natural causes not long after this lecture was recorded. Her preoccupation with death is probably related to the understandable concerns about this transitional period in her life, and should be taken as such.
Death should not be scary to a believer, as it is a meeting of God
When Hussein is traveling to Karbala, a group of Jinn come to him and offer to “destroy the enemies in a flicker of a second”
Hussein refuses, asking “If I don’t go and fight, whose martyrdom will God accept? Whose tomb will be a symbol for the faithful?”
We fear death because we focus on the world instead of focusing on the afterlife
The world is only for a short time, while the afterlife is forever
The angel of death tells us to “Deliver children for them to die” and “Build houses to be ruined”
The world is nothing but a test of our character
Everything is destroyed after a time, so it is not a good idea to become too attached
All people should abstain from wrong towards people they love
You love yourself, and so this advice applies to you as well, you should not wrong even yourself
When the prophet died, he left the people two things, his book (Quran) and his family (Ahlulbayt)
“Let not the world deceive you”
The world is a good place, but too much attachment to the world can ruin a person
Too much desire can leave a person wanting more and more forever
Most things should be done in equilibrium
If we do things for the afterlife, we do them with more balance
Do for god, not for you
Love of the world is like seawater, the more you drink, the thirstier you become
Love of the world makes a person very afraid of death
When a person dies, they may forsake religion in order to stay in the world, which is bad
Love of the world keeps a person away from religion
Love of the world makes a person sad, as the world is not a perfect place
Qualifications: None stated, wife (daughter?) of an Imam, works for Sarah Taki/Zahra Al Alawi
Personal Note: Huda Shah-Moosavi has extremely expressive eyes. She sometimes speaks in a fashion that makes it very easy to believe whatever she says, without her offering any real evidence. Her husband (father?) speaks in a similar manner, but to a much lesser extent. Sarah Taki/Zahra al Alawi possesses this trait as well, though it is not always as obvious, as she rarely records herself speaking directly into a camera. This manner of speaking becomes especially apparent when they begin quoting the Prophet and Imams, and is most apparent when they are reciting speeches in Arabic.
It is also worth explaining Sarah Taki’s pen name/pseudonym/title, “Zahra al Alawi”. “Zahra” has a few meanings, such as “Bright Light, Shining Light, or Beautiful Flower” Zahra was the one of the many titles given to the Prophet’s daughter, Fatima. Al Alawi signifies that she is a daughter of the Alawite clan, which currently rules Syria. Her name, than, means “Shining Light/Beautiful Flower of the Alawite clan”.
Sarah Taki’s TV channel, (it is owned by her husband, but she is chief editor) “Ahlulbayt TV, consumes $160,000 a month in operational costs. It is a free to air satellite network that broadcasts globally. Most of the money is garnered through personal donations.
Muharram marks the massacre of Karbala
Imam’s goal was to “reawaken the spirit of Islam”
Yazid (enemy of Imam) based his social order on aristocracy and nepotism
Imam’s goal was to enjoin good and forbid evil, not to become a ruler or “mischief maker”
Imam said once “Never claim to be a Shia unless your heart is free of corruption, or God will take you as one of the liars of the day of judgment
It is better to claim that you are a “Lover and follower of the Ahlulbayt”
A good scholar will encourage you to do good deeds, and forbid you from all evil deeds
Personal note: She seems to wink at the camera here, right at “forbid you from all evil deeds”. I’m not sure if this was intentional, but it’s worth mentioning.
You should read Imam’s speech to the scholars of Medina before [wink] every Muharram
The Prophet once said, “The world is like a ship, and mankind is its passenger. The welfare of all depends upon the safe conduct of each. If anyone is found making a hole on the side of the ship, they must be stopped.”
The 5th Imam once said, “When we enjoin good and forbid evil, the world will become a safe place, enemies will be subdued, and all other affairs will be discharged successfully”
If Imam Hussein had not fought against Yazid, Islam would have been destroyed
If you do not fight against an evil ruler, you are just as guilty of the ruler’s crimes as he is
The tragedy of Karbala should remind Muslims to always do what is right regardless of the consequences, and to fear no one but God
Karbala was a means to an end, not the intended end
We should focus not only on the tragedy, but also on the [wink] reasons behind the tragedy
Each of the Ladies of Karbala was a role model for us today
Lady Zainab, sister of Imam Hussein, became the “voice” of Karbala, and was one of the secrets of Imam Hussein’s eventual victory
She spread the message of Karbala
She was the “pride of her family”
We should look at our lives and consider whether we are a source of pride, or a source of shame
Lady Zainab made many sacrifices to uphold the ideals of her family
We should not be afraid to make sacrifices for our ideals
We should consider whether we have been evading[wink] certain sacrifices that must be made
The month of Safar (directly following Muharram) is also a time of mourning
Ziyarat is the act of visiting and speaking with those who we consider role models
Ziyarat can be done in Karbala or otherwise
“The heavens wept over Imam for 40 mornings, rising red and setting red”
Ziyarat of Arbayeen is a profession that our Imam is pure and rightly guided
We promise to “mold our lives according to the teachings of the Imam”
Some people mourn for 2 months and 8 days
40 days is officially [wink] recognized by most “Lovers of Ahlulbayt”
40 days is a great amount of time to achieve any lifestyle change
Jesus wandered for 40 days
Moses and his followers wandered for 40 years
Noah sailed for 40 days
It is important to read translations of the Ziyarats, not just say the words
You may want to take the day of Arbayeen off
Arbayeen was a turning point in Imam Hussein’s movement, and marks the date when the heads of the martyrs were returned to their bodies for burial
All stories of Ashura have a hidden message for us
“We are the family of prophethood, and the treasure house of the divine mission, and the companions of the angels”
An Imam will never make a deal with a corrupt ruler
“We are not afraid of death, as long as we remain on the right path”
We should be mentally, physically, and spiritually prepared for martyrdom when we wake up every morning
Martyrdom should be highest on our list of to-do’s
Someday we will be required to offer up our lives to remain on the true path
Personal note: I’m not sure why Huda decided to throw these little gems into the lecture. It is important to remember, however, that armed struggle is not required for women, so when they say things like we should go free the children of X, or we should depose the ruler of Y, they really mean you should do all these things, while they stay at home and cheer you on. This isn’t to say we should discount the views entirely, but it is wise to keep this in mind.
“The caravan that will soon [wink] become thirsty, does not deny water even to its own enemy”
We should not adopt a cruel manner of dealing with enemies, even if theirs is cruel
Abbas, when offered immunity based of family ties to Yazid, refuses and stays with Hussein
“Imam’s family was the best of families, and his companions were the best and most loyal companions”
Loyalty within families and loyalty to the (Shia) community at large is very important
If we are finding it difficult to remain loyal today, it will be very difficult to remain loyal when the Imam of time (Zaman, Mahdi) returns
We should keep our calmness and patience in the face of adversity, and all personalities of Karbala did this in one way or another
Youth is an important time in a person’s life, as it is a time of “great wakefulness and energy”
A person should be stingier about their time than their money
Money is not so important compared to the evil caused by loving it to an extreme
“The value of one day is like one paradise
One day spent in the right way can grant a person eternal paradise
Start and end your days in prayer, or at least with a Takbir
On the day of judgment, time spent during life will be presented to a person in the form of a box
Good time will be presented as a sweet smelling box with nice things inside
Wasted time will be presented as an empty box
Evil time will be presented as a bad smelling box with scary things inside
Both belief and doing good deeds are required
Truth, honesty, and patience are all important virtues
The purpose of life is to do good and forbid evil
Life is like a mountain, with youth as the summit of the mountain
Don’t wait for old age to do good, as it will be more difficult
Childhood is a weak stage of life
Youth is the strongest stage
Old age is a return to weakness
In childhood, nothing is truly forbidden or required
Things like prayer, hijab, etc, are not required for children
In youth anything is possible, good or bad
On the day of judgment, God will ask a person about 4 things
How youth was spent (most important)
How rest of life was spent
How a person earned money
How a person spent the money
In heaven, youth is restored, and retained forever
Youth here is defined as 16 (ish)
A youth spent in the correct way can give goodness forever
God does not forget sacrifices made in youth
Youth is the best time to connect with God
This connection lasts forever
Intention is more important than result, if you try something and it doesn’t work out, it’s not all bad, as long as you were trying for the sake of doing good and forbidding evil
Namaz (prayer) is the cornerstone of Islam
“Most in hell delayed their work until tomorrow”
Tomorrow may not come!
One bow in namaz is equal (to god) to a mountain of gold given in zakat (charity)
Namaz removes all sin from a person
Takbir (Allaho Akber) is like being given new life, all sins are removed
Takbir is “Beauty of Namaz”
Takbir means “God is greater (above, more) than all descriptions”
Shortened namaz is preferable to no namaz
It is best to perform full namaz
Angels are very connected with our lives
They pray with us as we do
Sins not recorded if a person asks for forgiveness within a certain time period (7 hours or so)
“We are from God and we return to God”
Even if you hate the world, you are only here for a short time
Your only real concern (or rather, your greatest concern) should be god and the afterlife
On the day of judgment, the Prophet will complain that we treated the Quran as a falsehood
If a youth recites the Quran, the benefit is greater
Good deeds are better when performed in youth
Bad deeds are worse when performed in youth
When a person goes to heaven, god will clothe that person in “2 heavenly garments”
God does this personally, not an angel
A crown is also given, and a person is told to “read and ascend”
Personal note: Presumably illiteracy is resolved in heaven?
A youth should try to do everything for God
A youth should spend time getting to know the Quran
Namaz: Still the cornerstone of Islam
Namaz is like a thermometer for tawhid (monotheistic belief)
A person must be thinking of God often for concentration in Namaz to be best
Many rewards come from namaz, namaz is very, very, important
When in namaz, a person is connected directly with God, Angels, and the “unseen world”
Namaz, with the right intention and deeds, will send a person to heaven
It is difficult to do evil deeds when you are praying all the time
Namaz is just as good as Yoga, or Japanese “Rajio Taiso”
In Yoga, a person takes energy from “the world”
In Namaz, a person takes energy from God, creator of the world
Enjoy Islam has 4 more lectures in the series, but they are all about Hijab, particularly women’s Hijab, and as I am not a woman, the lectures are not quite as interesting to me as the ones presented here.
Two words: Fuck Topamax.
If there is one medication in this world that will send me to an early grave, it's that one. I just spent 5 hours in a simmering, paranoid, homicidal, rage, plotting to kill one of my friends, because of an anonymous forum post.
Topamax can suck my dick, why the hell did my doctor give me that crap?
Getting shot at blows dick!
Judaism is a religion, not a race. I have a great respect for practitioners of the Jewish faith, but I have little respect for people who choose to invent a persona based on a religious identity, and then dirty it's name with their unethical actions. I see a lot of very healthy looking families walking out of Temple on saturday.
Most of the Jewish people I've come across have been just fine, if a bit caught up in ethnic issues. I've experienced little to no racism personally from Jewish people. Whatever is said behind closed doors amongst themselves about us, seems to stay behind those doors, where it belongs.
If you've had a particularly bad experience with a Jewish person with relation to greed, consider this: Were you dealing with a Jew, or were you dealing with a corrupt wealthy person? Do they go to Temple? Do they have a family, or plan to have a family? Plenty of Christians and Muslims alike have been corrupted by wealth. Whatever the "truth" is, nobody does themselves any favors by being Anti-Semitic.
I sincerely hope that there are no military commanders on this site, but on the off chance that there are, I'd like to give a suggestion.
Never, ever, ever, kick somebody out of the military using bad evidence or forged confessions. It does not encourage that person to get out and respect the law. If I had been kicked out legally, I would be much more inclined to resolve my issues with the system legally. You may not feel like a role model, or want to be a role model, but you are, in fact, the role model of your unit.
If you can't be bothered with waiting for the bullshit legal system, why should I be bothered? Additionally, why would I go back to work for a system that is willing to lie and cheat in order to get what it wants? If a group seems to hate me to the point where they are willing to lie to get rid of me, why would I fight their decision? If you're willing to lie and forge documents, you're willing to do a lot worse.
I'm sure I sound like some entitled shitbag kid, but I really don't care. The people who know my situation understand the whats and whys, and everyone else can fuck themselves. This would be much easier to let go if my entire family hadn't been military.
I really wish I had "the enemy" to blame for my head pain. It would make all of this a lot easier. At least I could point to something and say, "well, I got fucked up, but it was for a good cause, right?"
Unfortunately, it wasn't the enemy. It was my own "fellow airmen" that are responsible, along with the officers responsible for recruitment, and the non-commissioned officers who were supposed to be responsible for supervising us. It's extremely difficult not to hold a grudge when I'm in pain every single day, and will be for the next 60-70 years. I don't care that there's people out there who "have it worse".
I'm completely fine with the VA taking care of them before me, but I can guarantee that if I'm insulted and ignored at the end of all this, the US government will, at the very least, stop receiving income taxes from at least one of its citizens, if not more.
Jesus and Sampson were both targets of oppression, and were both (in the christian dogma) martyred for their respective causes. Where they differed was the response to the oppression. Sampson essentially conducted a (very successful) suicide attack, while Jesus allowed himself to be tortured, humiliated, and ultimately killed.
Who had the right idea? Jesus probably inspired more people, but for him, justice was never truly reached, and many of his followers were martyred following his example. Sampson, on the other hand, remains a largely mythical figure. Nobody goes to the "First Church of Sampson" or wears a t-shirt that reads "Sampson is my homeboy". He is a bedtime story, a footnote in history.
Perhaps the ascribed punishments were part of the reason. Sampson was assured a life of humiliating servitude, while Jesus was given a slow, painful, but somewhat romantic martyrdom. Sampson's final, violent, act of resistance served two purposes. One was to deny his enemies the use of his body, and the second was to take revenge on his enemy.
If someone was framed for a crime that they didn't commit, and was given a choice between the Sampson option and the Jesus option, which is the better choice? A modern martyr would probably not be able to inspire anyone, as his government would lie, cheat, and rig any judicial proceedings, ensuring that he was silenced, shamed, and ultimately imprisoned. Few people would cry for this martyr, he would be known to all but god as yet another piece of filth to be cleansed from society.
For such a martyr, the Sampson option would be the much better choice.
