For Amir al-Mu'minin, it was important to establish justice, defend the oppressed, and oppose the tyrant--whoever be the tyrant, whoever be the oppressed. Amir al-Mu'minin’s principle of defending the oppressed is not restricted to Muslims. Amir al-Mu'minin--the first-rate believer who strongly believes in Islam, the greatest commander of the Islamic conquests--has not made a Muslim condition to defend the oppressed. In the case of “Anbar," a city in Iraq, some were sent by the government of Sham (currently Damascus) to kill the ruler of Anbar who had been appointed by Amir al-Mu'minin. They attacked the people, plundered their homes, killed some and returned. In sermon (27), given on this occasion--one of the most thought provoking sermons of Nahj al-Balaghah called the sermon of Jihad--Amir al-Mu'minin wants to incite the people to act in opposition to this great oppression, stating: “Jihad is one of the doors that opens up to Paradise." He holds: “I have come to know that every one of them entered upon Muslim women and other women under protection of Islam." I learned that the plundering men of that group entered the houses where Muslim women or other women (Jewish, Christian, and Zoroastrian women) were living. It is the same for Amir al-Mu'minin, if the woman who was attacked is a person of the Book, Ahl al-Kitāb: Jewish, Christian, Zoroastrian or a Muslim woman. He mentions all of them equally. “And took away their ornaments from their legs, arms, necks and ears, and no woman could resist it except by supplicating." And, this Muslim woman, or non-Muslim woman, had no defensive tool against the attacker, except for begging. Amir al-Mu'minin further says: "If any Muslim dies of grief, after all this, he is not to be blamed, but rather there is justification for him before me.” It is acceptable that any zealous man would die of grief after this incident!
Amir Al-Mu’minin writes to Malik Al-Ashtar in his famous letter (53) to advise him on how to behave toward the people and to avoid attacking the people like a wild wolf. He further states, "People are of two groups: either your religious brother or your partner in humanity"--i.e. a human like you. Thus, in defending the oppressed and doing justice, Islam is not a distinguishing factor for Amir Al-Mu’minin: Muslims and non-Muslims equally benefit from this right. See how magnanimous is the thought and how honorable is the flag that Amir Al-Mu’minin rises throughout history! Today, some talk of human rights: an absolute lie, an absolute deceit. They don't practice human rights anywhere, not even in their own countries, let alone in the whole world! Human rights, in its true sense, is described and practiced by Amir Al-Mu’minin.
December 7, 2001
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