American Civil War was not for abolishing slavery
About 80, 90 years after the formation of the U.S. government, two parts of this country waged a war against each other. An American author - who is apparently our contemporary - says that more than 100,000 books have been written about these wars! For four years of war - which was an inglorious one because there is no honor in a war between two groups from one country - more than 100,000 books have been written! This has been said by an American writer who is a well-known and reliable writer.
Of course, some American propagandists say that this War of Secession [American Civil War] was for the sake of abolishing slavery. This is a lie and the purpose of the wars was not this. Although it happened during the time of Abraham Lincoln and slavery was abolished, the purpose of these wars was something else. If someone reads the history of these wars, they will understand it correctly. They have written so many books about an inglorious, totally failed and costly civil war which lasted only four years. Finally, in this war, the north defeated the south - which was secessionist - and they formed the government again. In fact, in this war, the country of America was defeated although one side achieved victory against another. According to the figures that have been released, about 600,000, 700,000 people were killed in these years - that is to say, several times more than the number of all our martyrs in the imposed war and during the Sacred Defense Era.
Unfortunately, today as you can witness, these events are many in a world that is indifferent to spiritual values. Now, the funny part is that in the U.S.- whose president is a black - many crimes are committed against blacks. They have a celebration on the occasion of abolishing slavery, which was done by a certain president, but they oppress blacks in a very cruel way. Of course, there are certain criticisms about the abolishment of slavery. They say that Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery, but this is not the truth of the matter according to historical research that has been carried out in a careful way. The issue was not the issue of abolishing slavery. Rather, it was the issue of the north and the south. It was the issue of long and deep-rooted wars between the north and south of America. It was a fight between landowners and agriculture, and industry. This was the main source of contention. They did not abolish slavery because of altruistic feelings.
In any case, despite this celebration, blacks are ignored and humiliated. Besides, their lives are in danger as well. Such police power is not what Islam and we want. We do not at all like to give a cinematic and Hollywood-like color to our police work on the streets. We want tasks to be carried out in the real sense of the word. That is to say, we want complete authority and power accompanied by justice, kindness and mercy - in certain cases, power should be accompanied by mercy. This is the manifestation of Islam. On the one hand, the Holy Being is Beneficent and Merciful and on the other hand, He is a Great Punisher. These two things should be considered together. This should spread in the different levels of the pyramid and affect our lives, behavior, and affairs. The same thing should be done in the Police Force.
West exploited its tremendous scientific achievements to further slavery and colonialism
The humanities are the soul of knowledge. Indeed all types of knowledge and all outstanding endeavors in society are like a body whose soul is the humanities. The humanities provide an orientation. They specify where we are going and where our knowledge is heading. When the humanities are derailed and are based on wrong foundations and world views, this would cause all endeavors in society to develop a deviant tendency. Today the knowledge that the west has acquired is not a joke. Their knowledge is not a small achievement. The knowledge of the west is a unique historical achievement. But this knowledge has been used to further colonialism for many years. It has been used to further slavery. It has been used to promote oppression. It has been used to appropriate the wealth of nations. And you see what they are currently doing. The fact that this knowledge is being used for these purposes in spite of its honorable and admirable nature, is because of the wrong thought, wrong perspective, wrong world view and wrong orientation on which it is based.
For centuries, the ancestors of African Americans were enslaved and put under extreme pressure
Capturing and enslaving Africans is one of the most tragic historical events, which American imperialist and other such regimes do not like to review. They do not like the issue of enslaving the people of Africa to be reflected upon. They used to set sail on ships from the Atlantic Ocean, anchoring them on the coast of West African countries-- such as Gambia and other countries on this continent. Then, they would capture hundreds of thousands of men and women, old and young, with guns and other weapons which were not available to the victims of that time. Enduring difficult conditions, they were taken to America on slave ships. They captivated people who were once free, living in their own dwellings and villages. Presently, African Americans, who live throughout the Americas, are the descendants of those slaves. For several centuries, the Americans exerted such extreme pressure on slaves, and there are many books in this regards such as "Roots" written by Alexander Haley. This book is very valuable for revealing fragments of these crimes. How can today's modern human forget such events? Despite all these crimes, many white people continue to discriminate against blacks in America.
With embarrassing histories of slavery, U.S. and Europe still promote xenophobia
The historians of the United States and Europe are ashamed of their slave trade, embarrassed by the colonial period and chagrined with the oppression of non-whites and non-Christians. Furthermore, Western researchers and historians are deeply ashamed of the bloodshed wrought in the name of religion—between the Catholics and Protestants, or in the name of nationality and ethnicity—during the First and Second World Wars. This approach [of delving into one's own historical mistakes] is admirable.
By mentioning a fraction of this long list, I don’t want to reproach history; rather, I would like you to ask your intellectuals as to why the western public conscience awakens, coming to its senses, after a delay of several decades or centuries. Why should the revision of collective conscience apply to the distant past and not to the current situations? Why is it that attempts are made to prevent public awareness regarding important issues such as the treatment of Islamic culture and thought?
You know well that humiliation and spreading hatred and illusionary fear of the “others” has been the common base of all those oppressive profiteers. Now, I would like you to ask yourself why the old policy of spreading “phobia” and hatred has targeted Islam and Muslims with an unprecedented intensity. Why does the power structure in the world want Islamic thought to be marginalized and remain latent? What concepts and values in Islam disturb the programs of the superpowers, and what interests are safeguarded in the shadow of distorting the image of Islam? Hence, my first request is: Study and research the incentives behind this widespread tarnishing of Islam's image.
Islam liberated people from slavery and ignorance
What was the secret behind Islam’s progression during an age of widespread ignorance and darkness, which once prevailed over the entire globe? It was not only amid the Arab world that ignorance triumphed. There was ignorance among two of the greatest empires then, which were the Sassanian and Roman Empires.
There was no justice within either of these empires, and there was immense discrimination. In Iran, education or the awareness of knowledge was exclusive for the privileged class; at the grassroots level, they did not have the right to receive an education. Slavery was practiced in its worst manner. The weak were dealt with horribly. The question of women’s rights was nonexistent, as well as the mere presence of women in society; the treatment towards women was practiced in the most deplorable and humiliating way. There was utter ignorance everywhere.
Everywhere knowledge was unbeknownst. Then, out of the sun came Islam; Islamic knowledge shone upon hearts and minds; despite vast ignorance across the globe plus the bad conditions, the caravan of progression and enrichment among mankind was swift. Within half a century, since the birth of Islam, Islam prevailed in over much of the well-established world. This phenomenon is extremely significant. Wherever Islam voyaged it was welcomed by the public, the empty and obstructing powers were pushed away effortlessly.
What factor made the might of Islam so progressive? What facilitated the foundation of the Islamic civilization, a civilization that endured at the peak of brightness and valor even during the wane of Islam’s political power, a civilization that influenced the culture across the globe, promoting science and the manifestation of Islamic culture? There are amazing experiences in this history to offer.
November 06, 1999
Hajj liberates believers from the shackles of slavery and tyranny by moguls
Security is the most important human need. Materialistic powers and materialistic motives have created a hell in this world. Through the Hajj, human beings can experience the peace of Heaven.
Hajj is a form of worship, remembering God, supplicating to Him, and asking Him for forgiveness; it is a form of worship aimed at improving the situation of the Islamic Ummah, liberating it from the shackles of slavery and tyranny by rich and powerful people, and infusing it with dignity and glory. Hajj is considered as one of the foundations of religion. And the Commander of the Faithful—Imam Ali (a.s.)—has described hajj in Nahjul Balaghah as the flag of Islam, the jihad of the powerless, a remedy for poverty, and a source of friendship among faithful people.
December 20, 2004
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