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What gets me really perplexed is hearing some Western politicians, their media outlets and extremists from some church groups especially in the US making strange and unreasonable distinctions between the warring groups in Darfur, Western Sudan. As they desperately try to portrait, the oppressing group is an Arab and the oppressed is an African and yet you cannot physically differentiate the so-called Arab from the African. One can easily find out that the people of both groups are equally black and share same set of Islamic beliefs. No Shia card can be played here in Darfur against Sunni one as it is in Iraq or else where. What is then the fuss behind all those noises? When will the divide and rule mentality of some Western countries come to an end and when will the heedless affected by such policies understand where they still go wrong after they were to reemerge from the effects of years of dreadful colonization and inhuman humiliation for which they have every reason and right to ask for full compensation?
Answer
You are right. The Darfuris are all Muslims and Arabic-speaking. The Darfur conflict, in effect, is all about natural resources; namely, between Sudanese Arabs and Sudanese Africans, who speak Arabic.
In view of this conflict over water sources, farming and cattle raising rights in Darfur, the warring parties raced to arm themselves to protect their farmlands and their cattle with weapons pouring from every nook and cranny: from Chad, Libya and Central Africa.
In the past, both sides used to clash with one another using knives, swords and such weapons; that's why the death toll was not significant.
Unfortunately, the Sudanese government failed to contain the conflict and separate between the warring parties at a time when foreign intervention was looming large and the conflict starts becoming politically motivated.
Israel, the United States, foreign intelligence services and African states, which sought a regime change in Sudan, seized the opportunity and interfered in the Darfur crisis.
They found the conflict an ample opportunity to add fuel to the flames and politicizes the issue to topple the regime. And this is the story of the Darfur crisis.
Name
Abdullateef Qadri
-
Profession
Senior Apparel Desgner - U.S.Apparel MNC
Question
Assalaamu Alaikum!
I want to politely ask a short question. Is the divide between Sunni and Shia mazhabs really of relevance today and can not we Muslims of the world look forward to a Pan Islamic reunion for consolidating our factions into one Islamic solidarity?
While living in my own country Pakistan, I had followed what local Sunni Ulema ordered. Stay away from Shias! Now in the USA where I work I see very little Muslims. In my city and factory there are two Sunnis and one Shia and we three can not even offer our Salaat (namaz) to Allah together!
Jazaakallahu Min Khairuhu!
Answer
We firmly believe that all Islamic schools and denominations are somehow close to one another. Late Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Mahmoud Shaltout said there is nothing wrong with the Shiite Jaafari sect. So Islam is all about unity and we should be happy with victories achieved by any Muslim entity or any Muslim achievement irrespective of race, color or ethnicity, since all Muslims testify that there is no god by Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Different schools of faith, in fact, should not be taken as a pretext to spark an inter-Muslim conflict. We should join forces and spread fraternity, and bear in mind that our differences make us stronger, according to late Muslim leader Hassan el-Banna. And we should be guided by the noble verses which read: "The Roman Empire has been defeated. In the nearer land, and they, after their defeat will be victorious. Within ten years - Allah's is the command in the former case and in the latter - and in that day believers will rejoice " (Ar-Room)
Name
Ali Moheb
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Profession
Question
My question imply is: where are he Arab And Islamic states? Are they all dead?
Why do not they stand hand in hand in the face of this western policy of hegemony?
Thank you dear Dr. Hasan
Answer
All these regimes are gripped with fears. They derive their legitimacy, their weapons and money from the West. The West is keen on wiping out the Sudanese and the Iranian examples so that they can nib in the bud the birth of a bloc of Islamic states, and the incumbent regimes in the Muslim and Arab world, on the one hand, and in the developing world, on the other, remain under the thumb of the West.
Name
Rita
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Profession
Question
How do you see the crimes that happen day and night in Darfure? Is really there collective masacres?
Answer
The situation now in Darfur is better than before. There are of course a lot of exaggerations pertaining to what actually happens on the ground there. What we fear now is a civil war that would lead to unimaginable atrocities as what obviously had happened in the American Civil War. This US civil war had left so many victims exceeding the number of the US external wars. Unfortunately, the proliferation of weapons made in the west, in particular, and used in many civil conflicts now, has led to an overwhelming increase in the number of people victimized all over the globe.
What I'm stressing here is stability is coming sooner than later and no genocides are being committed at the time being. Some small exceptions and individual incidents may happen here or there, but are all small-scaled.
Name
Jimmy
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Profession
Question
As Muslims, what can we do practically to take part in ridding you of this western pressure? We are very sad that our governments are too weak to say no to the American policies.
thank you sir.
Answer
Hands-on experience always remains the best way to know the truth. In other words, delegations should visit Darfur and then relay their experience to the Members of Parliament. You can "enlighten" your MPs and offer your advice to the Sudanese government. You can also send aid to the refugees no matter how little it is. As the Arab proverb goes "Rekindle a candle instead of cursing the darkness." That's far better than leaving Darfur for foreign intelligence services and western lobbies.
Name
momena
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Profession
Question
What is the expected reaction from the UN security Council concerning Sudan's rejection of deploying international peacekeeping force on its soil in Darfur?
Answer
Some sanctions may be imposed against the Sudan. Sanction on weapons is the most probable one. In addition, they may prevent some Sudanese officials from traveling abroad. I don't think it will go more beyond such issues.
Name
shabaka
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Profession
Question
As salamo alaykum!
The western media has lead the American public to believe that the conflict in darfur is between white Arab Muslims and Black Christians. Many African Americans are confused from reports they get from CNN and so on. Since race still continues to dominate the American way of life, African Americans primarily have sided with the Black Christians, even though some are Muslims themselves. Recently, some African Americans have traveled to the Sudan have filed reports on the conflict, which sharply contrast with those from mainstream news stations. Can you shed light on this! Jazakum Allahu Khayran
Answer
I answered this question before. All Darfuris have dark complexions and speak Arabic. Non-Arab Darfuris are those who speak Arabic and another dialect. In other words, those who do not have a certain dialect are called Arabs even if s/he has a darker complexion than those who speak Arabic and have a dialect.
But bear in mind that tribes in Darfur nowadays are mixed and the province's social fabric is now based on mixed marriages irrespective of ethnicity. True that there are some racial tensions, but all Darfuris are on board that the Al-Fur is the largest tribe in Darfur and its people are considered to be the best memorizers of the Noble Qur'an all over the world. They are also considered to be the indigenous people of pastime Darfur Kingdom, and that's why the province is named after their tribe.
The people of Al-Fur tribe are mostly farmers, who took the brunt of this conflict. And I want to assert that the conflict in Darfur is not ethnic or racial in nature. But it is a conflict on natural resources, power and political posts. It is no surprise then to find an Arab tribe allying with an African or Arab one. Farmers are taking the side of their fellow farmers, while shepherds are rallying behind their follows. Political ambitions have given this conflict an ethnic dimension. There are too much lies and exaggerations about the conflict in Darfur. In a nutshell, If we found a solution to the natural resources and power problem, the conflict's stumbling bloc would then be removed.
Name
Zeinab
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Profession
Question
What is the origin of Darfur Crisis? And what are the pressures of the foreign countries does the Sudan face?
Answer
I have just answered a similar question but anyway, the European countries are practicing pressure on the Sudan in an attempt to dismantle its Islamic structure along with its regime. They may resort to imposing sanctions through the UN Security Council on the Sudan. They will not go far away in these sanctions as they fear the peace accord in the south , and of course that of Darfur, may fail.
Name
Abdul -Rahman
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Profession
A student
Question
We want to know the origin of Darfur crisis and is there actually a crisis or it's just a matter of allegation and false claims to intervene and impose foreign troops on the Sudanese territories.
Answer
There is a problem in Darfur. But the United States and Israel are a part of this problem. The government has its own mistakes and the conflict and be resolved. However, the United States wants to use the conflict as a pretext to interfere in the Sudanese affairs as it did in Iraq under the excuse of weapons of mass destruction and as it did in Afghanistan under the banner of the war on terror. An now it is trying to interfere in the Somali affairs under the pretext of bringing in peace despite the fact that peace has materialized under the ruling Islamic Courts. The United States only interfered in Somalia when it realized that the Islamic Courts could assist elements who abhor US foreign policy. But this is untrue as the Courts are giving priority now to the welfare of Somali citizens and the Courts need the United States.
Name
Tawfik Jameel
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Profession
Question
Would you please give us briefly what the conflict is all about and who the players are? Jazakum Allahou Khairan
Answer
As I have just mentioned it, there is a conflict on the Sudanese resources. It's a conflict between the farmers and the shepherds there, but it has been politically exploited, a step that led to emergence of three political movements that have been fighting the Sudanese government, but only one movement signed a peace treaty with the government.
What is strange here is that the US president Gorge Bush met with this movement leader, and this is the first time in the history of the US diplomacy that the white house receives a leader of an armed insurgence movement.
Name
Mohsin khan
- United States
Profession
Scientist
Question
Salam Dr. Hasan,
Some westerners have claimed that Sudan's government along with arab militia killed hundreds of muslims of south african descent. Is this true? if not what is the truth?
Thanks in advance.
Answer
It is a civil war. Some soldiers might have made mistakes. The government might have also made its own. But western media, as a point of fact, are used to making too much fuss about nothing and exaggerate the conflict. As I mentioned before, the Darfur conflict is not an ethnic one, but rather a conflict on natural resources and power. Unfortunately, the Sudanese government has not succeeded in defusing the conflict peacefully and maintain the rights of the warring parties.
I underline and underscore that this is not a religious conflict since all Darfuris (100 percent) are Muslims. So, the conflict is not based upon religious matters.
Name
Editor
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Profession
Question
.
Answer
Editor,
The session has ended. We would like to thank both Dr. Hasan Mekky for taking the time to answer the questions of IslamOnline viewers, and all those who have participated in this live dialogue.
