“Those
killed fighting the American forces are martyrs given their good
intentions since they consider these invading troops an enemy within
their territories but without their will,” Al-Qaradawi, a
widely-respected Egyptian-born cleric based in Qatar, said in an
interview with Al-Quds Press Agency Monday.
But
the Islamic scholar stopped short of calling for fighting the U.S.
army, in what seems to be a concerted effort not to trigger a clash of
the Arab nations with their governments as he repeatedly asserted
before.
“Although
they are seen by some as being wrong, those defending against attempts
to control Islamic countries have the intention of Jihad and bear a
spirit of the defense of their homeland.”
The
Muslim cleric pointed a finger at the United States for launching a
fierce war against the Islam and its believers and showing an interest
“to be a god worshipped away from Allah”.
“The
U.S administration wants to maintain a grip and keep an eye on
everything in an attempt to be a god,” Al-Qaradawi repeated.
In
this perspective, we refuse, resist and disbelieve these invading
power, he argued.
New
Tartars
As
for the build-up of U.S. troops in the Arab Gulf region in preparation
for a potential military offensive against Iraq, Al-Qaradawi slammed
them as new “Tartars”, in reference to fierce war-like people that
had attacked the Islamic empire in the 14th
and 15th centuries.
“The
Tartars first appeared as a new military power in the world at the
same time the Islamic world was teetering in weakness. So all the
Muslim areas were easy targets for them as they fell down one after
the other,” Al-Qaradawi warned.
Stark
Difference
In
the interview, Al-Qaradawi was keen to stress a difference between the
American people on the one hand and the U.S. administration and
military arsenals on the other.
“The
issue is not with the Americans who are peace-loving, but with their
arrogant government.”
He
referred to war in the name of terrorism combat is now directed to
Islam, as the attacks on the Islamic schools, charities, societies and
personalities are meant to change the mentality of Muslims.
“This
mentality is considered by the U.S. administration as a threat. So was
at pains not to allow the rising of a strong Muslim man or woman
objecting injustice and keen on applying the right things as well as
ready to sacrifice himself or herself for the sake of Allah.”
In
other words, they want a submissive, meek and mild character with no
care about its own situation, Qaradawi explained.
Attempts
Doomed
Al-Qaradawi
lashed out at all efforts to change Islamic curriculums, saying they
will solely lead to breeding hippies loyal to the western
civilization.
“They
want to omit all teachings about Jihad, pride and dignity, and set
away the Qur’anic verses on Jihad and the military expeditions of
Prophet Mohamed (peace be upon him) from his biography.”
There
are other attempts to get Muslims to forget such great characters as
Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed and Salah Eddin Al-Qayoubi and Omar Al-Mukhtar
from the chapters of out history, Al-Qaradawi lamented, referring to
Islamic heroes.
Al-Qaradawi
was confident that all of these attempts would be doomed to failure.
