Help Syria

The Syrian Arab Republic wrestled its independence from France in 1946. Syria, today, is a country of approximately 23 million of our brothers and sisters who seek a similar goal, but this time from a more domestic malignancy.

Over its 66 years of existence, Syria has seen at least 4 full-scale armed conflicts, a population growth of at least 16 million people, an unprecedented, complete, sovereign merger with Egypt, and a rather hasty, irresponsible pact with the Soviets (of which the effects can still be seen very clearly today).

In its first 24 years, Syria was subjected to more than 9 major military coups. That’s 9 different shifts in power—9 transient, ineffectual “colonels”, “rulers”, “presidents”, dictators (choose your pick).

But the 42 years after see only two “presidents,” of which the second is the son of the first.

Where the first 24 years were characterized by absolute political instability, the next 42 can best be explicated by complete tyrannical brutality. Wherein the first 24 years no one “man” held power long enough to suppress his people, the latter years poisoned two “men” with the time to oppress their people.

At the hands of one family, in the span of a single generation, 30,000 people guilty only of being fed-up were bombarded, shelled, raped, besieged, tortured, murdered by their own “leader”.

Hafez al-Assad is dead, but obviously his son did not heed the reminder, nor did he recompense, nor did he learn.

Just as his father was disgraced, just as his father’s legacy was stained with the blood of the innocent, so will Bashar live in infamy, so will he be raised humbled. Bashar’s time will come when his power is taken from him, if indeed he is rightfully to blame.

The only thing left to worry about and do is to help the people of Syria, and not only Syria but all those who are oppressed in any way, shape, or form. Here’s how:

1. Donate, even if it’s a small amount like $10. Organizations such as Islamic Relief are collecting donations for the Syrian humanitarian relief.

2. The weapon of the believer is du’a (prayers/supplications), so if you want to fight alongside your brothers and sisters, if you want to defend them, draw this weapon and use it.  Supplications have the capacity to change the Decree, if Allah wills it.

When Nur ad-Din Zengi, the Amir of Damascus, predecessor to Salah ad-Din, was challenged by all of Europe in the first crusades, he requested his people to fast, to pray, to do righteous deeds so that they would become closer to Allah and their du’a would be accepted. And indeed, they were victorious.