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Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
IRAN - THE CHAMPION OF THE PALESTINIAN
CAUSE
To understand the Palestinian cause, we
shall first review the main guidelines of
Iranian foreign policy, its goals and most
basic values which can be summed up in
five fundamental values:
1. Founding a united, universal Nation:
the Islamic Republic of Iran should lead
the Muslim world toward the
establishment of a universal Islamic
coalition. Those who are responsible for
the divides among Sunnis and Shiites
are the enemies of Islam, who strive to
prevent the forces of Islam from uniting.
One cannot coerce the Muslims to
unite. This goal can be reached only via
the creation of a unified ideological and
spiritual system under which all Muslims
would willingly subjugate.
2. Protecting the oppressed peoples of
the earth and supporting their fight
against their oppressors.
3. Defending the boundaries of the
Iranian motherland.
4. Inviting people to join Islam through
means of da'wa.
5. Adopting a non-alliance between East
and West.
The above 5 Fundamental values form a
central element in Iran’s foreign policy
and its ideological platform. The export
of the Iranian Revolution ’79 was to
form the underlying basis to counter the
Arab Nationalism by aiding the radical
anti-regime forces in different countries
in the region which would eventually
bring about the establishment of Islamic
governments that would follow the
Iranian Model. Khomeini sought to
replace the “Arab” and Muslim
“corrupt” regimes with Iranian styled
Shiite governments while creating a
linkage between the export of the ‘79
Revolution and the fight against the
Western imperialism and the fight to
liberate Palestine.
The promotion of the Revolution
entailed financial aid, military guidance
and indoctrination given to the radical
Iran – The Champion of the Palestinian Cause
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
organizations like Hamas who would
then be dictated later on with furthering
the Iranian agenda and at the same time
downplaying the Saudi Arabia’s and
other Gulf States stakes in the
Palestinian cause. Factors that have
brought Hamas closer to Tehran are:
• Common enemy in Israel with
Hamas’ calls for destruction of
Israel form the basis of the
organization’s political discourse.
Iran has been using this to
further its image in the Muslim
world ever so subtly and
sophisticatedly.
• Hamas and its government have
been striving to get financial aid
since Isma'il Haniyya's
government was formed, in light
of the international boycott that
was declared on and enforced
against it after the elections. Iran
has taken upon itself a
commitment to provide the
organization with economic aid
since the 1990s. This aid has
bloated over the years. Right
after Hamas's victory, Iran gave
it 50 million dollars in aid. It also
promised to help out in projects
related to rehabilitating the
infrastructure that was ruined
during the second Intifada.
Hamas has therefore willingly
succumbed to Iranian political,
military and economic
patronage. It has been running a
liaison office in Tehran and its
officials hold frequent meetings
with Iranian government officials
and Iranian Revolutionary Guard
Corps (IRGC) commanders.
• Hamas's relations with the
moderate Arab axis (Saudi
Arabia, Egypt and Jordan) have
loosened and suffered from ups
and downs in recent years.
These conflicting relations
enabled Syria and Iran to
embrace Hamas and its exiled
leadership. The organization's
Political Bureau operates in
Damascus, and Iranian
Revolutionary Guard Corps
(IRGC) commanders go there
quite often for meetings with
Mash'al and his entourage. The
Damascus-Tehran-Hamas axis
has become so tight that Mash'al
has been accused of getting his
orders directly from Iran.
•
• The Muslim Brotherhood, as the
mother organization of Hamas,
has expressed a rather moderate
viewpoint regarding Iran and the
Shiites on dogmatic issues, and,
according to anti-Shiite
elements, it has not been able to
“The export of the Iranian Revolution
’79 was to form the underlying basis to
counter the Arab Nationalism by
aiding the radical anti-regime forces in
different countries in the region which
would eventually bring about the
establishment of Islamic governments
that would follow the Iranian Model.”
Iran – The Champion of the Palestinian Cause
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
divert Hamas's inclination
toward Iran on key political
issues, thus proving it has no
actual influence upon the latter.
• Hamas has been blamed by anti-
Shiite elements for ignoring
Iran's master plan to rule the
Middle East and its support for
the Shiite militias that slaughter
Iraqi Sunnis. This support has
been realized in Mash'al
declarations in which he
reiterated that Hamas would
stand alongside Iran if the latter
were attacked by Israel, saying
that Iran is Hamas's most
steadfast ally.
Iran’s Success with Hamas
Iran’s deep interest in the Palestinian
cause has not come as a dead weight
but has given it greater mileage as
discussed below.
• It has been able to establish an
entangled network of loyal allies
that serve its interest, from Iraq
through Lebanon's Hezbollah via
Palestine. Hamas's loyalty has
been expressed, for instance, in
the aftermath of the kidnapping
of the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit,
in June 2006, when Hamas' Head
of the Political Bureau, Khalid
Mash'al, residing in Damascus,
seemed to have followed the
orders of Tehran and expressed
his allegiance to his ally, even at
the price of worsening the
already bad situation of the
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and
despite internal opposition to
the kidnapping and its timing,
expressed by Isma'il Haniyya,
Hamas Government's Prime
Minister.
• The declared Iranian support of
Hamas and the Palestinian issue
enables Iran to present itself as
the leader of the Muslim world
in a way that transcends any
religious law schools or Shiite-
Sunni rift, especially in light of
Iran's problematic image
resulting from its involvement in
the war in Iraq.
• Supporting Hamas legitimizes
Iran's continuous activity in the
Arab world since it takes under
its custody an organization that
opposes Israel and is under
Israeli blockade since Hamas's
victory in January 2006's
elections.
• Supporting Hamas reduces the
latter's objection of any
missionary activity inside
Palestine. As we shall see later
on, in recent years several
arenas of Shiite activity have
appeared on the surface in the
Palestinian theater, especially
under PIJ initiative with the
latter's acting under Iran's direct
orders. Hamas's leadership
appears not to release many
anti-Shiite declarations, since it
does not wish to anger Iran, its
highly valuable strategic patron.
• Supporting Hamas also enables
Iran to get declarations of
Iran – The Champion of Palestine Cause
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
support from the Sunni
organizations’ leaders, thus
helping the cause of exporting
the Islamic Revolution.
The championing of the Al Quds
Mosque by Iran and its support is
echoed through out the world with
rallies being taken out in all major
Muslim countries. What needs to be
considered is that Shiites believe that
the real Al Quds Mosque is in Heaven
and the Muslim world is being deceived
by Iran’s chicanery. Therefore, it is very
pertinent to rise up in defence of Al-
Aqsa Mosque and to call attention to
the fact that the Shiite books and their
authorized sources, which they wrote
with their own hands, indicate that they
have no regard or recognition for Al-
Aqsa Mosque in its present location.
They also hold that ‘real Al-Aqsa
mosque’ is in the Heaven and that
majority of people mistakenly believe
that it is the mosque that is in
Palestine!!
Iran – The Champion of Palestine Cause
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
The Iranian Revolution by and large hit
Pakistan more than any other country.
More so because of the fact that till
1979, the 32 year old Pakistan was
governed by 12 years of Shiite rule.
• Iskander Mirza, Pakistan’s first
martial Law administer was a
Shia ruled for 4 years
• Yahya Khan, another Shia ruled
for 3 years
• Zulfikar Ali Bhutto ruled for 5
years
More than 12 years of direct Shiite rule
had dis-embered East-Pakistan from its
West Wing, paved way for Iranian
Influence in the foreign policy apart
from many other controversies. The
revolution coincided with the Russian
Invasion of Afghanistan and 2 years into
the Zia rule. The Pakistani Shiites were
emboldened by their co-religionist’s
success in neighbouring Iran. The
Movement for the Implementation of
Shiism (Tehrik Nifaz Fiqh-e-Jafria) was
launched at Khomeini’s orders under
the leadership of senior Shiite cleric,
Mufti Jaffer Hussain in 1979. The name
of the organization is worrisome
considering Shiites don’t even amount
to more than 10% of Pakistan’s total
population. And which more than
explains the underlying under-tones of
the Iranian Expansionist agenda of the
‘Shi’itization of Pakistan’. Never-the
less, the movement and its student
proxy ‘Imamia Students Organization’
conducted wide-spread protests against
Zia’s Islamization policies, the most
famous was the take-over of the
National Assembly in a bid to exclude
shias from the Zakat imposition laws.
That this was one of the first and more
direct steps towards a revolt against
Islam (i.e. Sunnism) and can rightly be
argued as the start of a sectarian war
fuelled by Shiite political activism.
On a national and Micro level, the
revolution inspired the mass publication
and distribution of Shiite literature
financed by the Khana hae farang Iran
(Iranian Cultural Centres) which were
“The Iranian Revolution by and large hit
Pakistan more than any other country.”
PAKISTAN AND THE IRANIAN SHIITE’S SPILLOVER
Pakistan and the Shiite Spill over
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
built with Iranian Support in large and
small cities of the country. This
literature which was full of Shiite abuse
of the Sahaba and Ummuhat-ul-
Momineen, besides the Shiite belief of
the alleged tampering of the Quran was
a direct assault on mainstream Islamic
beliefs. The situation was exacerbated
more-so by the fact that many Ulama
did not object to such literature besides
a few. The Jamat-e-Islami Pakistan
totally ignored the Iranian Shiite
Attempts to corrupt Muslim beliefs, and
instead supported a Khomeini inspired
revolution in Pakistan. That such Shiite
attempts did not stop there, soon
became a cause of concern for senior
Ulama and scholars alike. Sunni
mosques were being taken over,
coupled by the fact that Iranian Inspired
Guerilla groups started massacring
sunnis, the 1985 Quetta Carnage was by
and large the final tombstone on which
the Sunni Resurgence was to be laid.
Other incidents included the burning of
Quran and effigies of Hazrat Umar and
Hazrat Aisha in cities like Jhang, Dera
Ghazi Khan, Karachi and others.
On 6th
September Maulana Haq Nawaz
Jhangvi, a Sunni cleric from Jhang laid
the foundation of the Sipah-e-Sahaba
On 6th
September 1985, Maulana Haq
Nawaz Jhangvi, a Sunni cleric from
Jhang laid the foundation of the Sipah-
e-Sahaba Pakistan, a movement meant
for defending the rights of sunnis in
Jhang. What started as a movement for
one city soon found mass support in
rest of Pakistan and in less than 3 years
became the foremost defense line of
the Pakistani Muslims against Iran and
it’s Shiite proxies in Pakistan. This is by
no-way a discounting of the fact that
similar platforms were initiated by
Mainstream Ulama such as the
Sawwad-e-Azam led by Mufti Ahmed-
ur-Rahman, Maulana Yusuf Ludhianwi &
others, Khuddam Ahl-e-Sunnat of
Maulana Qazi Mazhar Hussain, Tanzeem
Ahl-e-Sunnat of Maulana Abdul Sattar
Taunsvi. What has made Sipah-e-
Sahaba the main anti-thesis to the
Iranian attempts to Shi’tize Pakistan is
its longevity and the fact that despite 28
years, the organisation is still very much
a part & parcel of the Sunni scene.
Another reason of Sipah-e-Sahaba’s
credibility and popularity owes to the
fact that it took the Shiite goals / beliefs
in the popular imagination of the
masses. What was previously written by
authoritative Ulama in books was soon
translated in the popular slogan ‘Kafir
Kafir Shia Kafir’-the raison detre of
Sipah-e-Sahaba. Books such as:
• Irshad-ul-Shia by Maulana
Sarfaraz Khan Safdar
• Irani Inquilab,Shiiyat aur
Khomeini by Maulana Manzur
Ahmed Naumani
• Dau Mutazaad Tasveerain by
Maulana Syed Abul Hassan Ali
Nadwi
“On a national and Micro level, the
revolution inspired the mass publication
and distribution of Shiite literature
financed by the Khana hae farang Iran
(Iranian Cultural Centres) which were built
with Iranian Support in large and small
cities of the country. This literature was full
of Shiite abuse of the Sahaba and
Ummuhat-ul-Momineen.”
Pakistan and the Shiite Spill over
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
• Khomeini aur Shia Ithna Ashari
kay mutaliq Ulama-e-Karam ka
muttafiqa faisala
These books were written after the
1979 Revolution, and adds up to the
compendium of books available on
Shiism by the Ulama of the Indian Sub-
Continent. These books were utilised by
the Sipah-e-Sahaba, in a bid to educate
the masses that yes, Shias are Kafirs as
opined in our slogans, but why are we
calling them Kafir, for that you need to
read these books of the Ulama. Another
reason for Sipah-e-Sahaba’s relevance
to the Sunni cause, is that unlike the
previous movements such as Sawwad-e-
Azam Ahl-e-Sunnat, Khuddam Ahl-e-
Sunnat and others, is the presence of
youngsters both literate and illiterate
besides students of Madaris and Ulama.
Where-as the other movements mostly
had rectors of Madaris and religious
seminary students, Sipah has to its
credit the inclusion of students, doctors,
lawyers & laborers as well.
As to what Maulana Haq Nawaz and his
organisation achieved vis-à-vis the Shiite
onslaught in Pakistan,
1. The shifting from a defensive to
an offensive position
Where-as previously our scholars used
to defend Shiite allegations against
Sahaba, Ummuhat-ul-Momineen and in
the light of solid arguments make those
allegations null and void. This defensive
stance was changed by Maulana Haq
Nawaz into an offensive ones by his
argument that Shias are kafir because of
their crooked beliefs (such as
considering their Imams on a higher
pedestal of virtue than the Prophets of
Allah, allegations that the Holy Quran
has been tampered with, that Sahaba
turned apostate after the Holy
Prophet’s death). Where our Ulama
used to defend and up-hold the honor
of Shiite criticisms of Sahaba, today
Shiites have been put into that position
courtesy Maulana Haq Nawaz for
defending their alleged ‘Islam’.
2. Iranian Revolution = Shia
Revolution
The Khomeinist Revolution was being
hailed as an Islamic Revolution by the
Iranian State as well as the world-wide
media. Images such as the covering-up
of woman, control of vices such as
alcohol and prostitution in Iran, and
efforts to ignore Shia-Sunni differences
was being appreciated as the makings of
a truly Islamic change in Iran. Maulana
Haq Nawaz in his speeches and public
gatherings changed the opinions of the
masses by high-lighting Khomeini’s
credentials as a Shiite Scholar and his
beliefs as evidenced from his books
“Maulana Haq Nawaz unified the three
schools of Sunni thought (Deobandi,
Barelwi and Ahl-e-Hadith) in the Indian
Sub-Continent vis-à-vis the Sipah platform.
Just like previously Ulama of these three
schools got together in a bid to declare
Qadianis as Non-Muslims, in the same way
Maulana made Sipah as the rallying call for
the unity so as to declare Shiites as Non-
Muslims.”
Pakistan and the Shiite Spill over
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
Kash-Al-Asrar, Tahrir-ul-Waseela, Jihad
Al Akbar, Islamic Government among
others. The Maulana proved that
Khomeini in no way differs from his
Shiite predecessors when it comes to
beliefs regarding Imamate, Sahaba &
Quran. Then how can he be hailed as a
truly Islamic leader who downplays or
rejects Shiite leanings? And how can his
revolution be Non-Shiite with an aim to
not Shi’itize Iran’s neighbouring
countries where-ever the revolution
was planning to be exported?
3. Boycotting Shiites Socio-
culturally and economically
Where-as previously the masses were
relatively quite unaware of the Shiite
question, and considered them
Muslims, they used to have marital
relations with Shiites, eat their food,
buy from Shiite shops and traders, have
meat cut from Shiite butchers etc.
Maulana Haq Nawaz popularized what
the Ulama had said (i.e. Shias are Kafir),
therefore don’t marry them, don’t wed
your sons and daughter to them. This
way there would be no Zina which
unaware Sunnis were technically doing
when they had married Shiites as in the
religious dogma there is no Nikah
between Sunni and Shia (since Shiites
are Non-Muslims). Because of the wide-
spread appeal of the Maulana’s
message, Sunnis who had married Shias,
called off their marriages and thus got
rid of such perversity and ignorance.
When Sunnis stopped buying meat from
Shiite butchers, they were saved from
eating Haram food as the Zabiha
(slaughtering of the animal) by a Non-
Muslim (in this case Shia) becomes un-
fit for eating. When Sunnis stopped
having trade relations with Shiites and
buying products from Shiite run shops,
they in a way stopped contributing to
Shiite power. As what-ever Shiites earn
goes in some way or the other towards
publishing their religious literature,
financing their religious institutions and
thus the onslaught against the Sunnis.
4. No religious Shiite gatherings to
be attended
Previously layman Sunnis used to attend
Shiite Majalis or mourning gatherings
held in honor of Ahl-e-Bayt. Such Sunnis
were most likely to be influenced and
hence converted by the Shiite
attachment to the Ahl-e-Bayt (while
ignoring the implications of twisted
Shiite beliefs which makes a Shia in-
essence a Non-Muslim). Maulana Haq
Nawaz checked that trend by
conducting huge conferences
commemorating the martyrers of Islam
especially during the Muharram days
when the Shiites also used to conduct
their gatherings. This way Sunnis were
caught in a trap to attend their
gatherings rather than the Shiite’s. This
way the Sunni was kept busy and thus
also learned about Shiite beliefs in the
anti-Shia gatherings (of Sipah-e-Sahaba)
5. Unity among the Sunnis
Maulana Haq Nawaz unified the three
schools of Sunni thought (Deobandi,
Barelwi and Ahl-e-Hadith) in the Indian
Sub-Continent vis-à-vis the Sipah
platform. Just like previously Ulama of
these three schools got together in a bid
to declare Qadianis as Non-Muslims,in
the same way Maulana made Sipah as
Pakistan and the Shiite Spill over
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
the rallying call for the unity so as to
declare Shiites as Non-Muslims. When
Shiite literature was being brazenly
distributed, all these schools of thought
found a common front as Shiites
attacked mainstream Sunni beliefs
which these three schools share.
6. An end to aiding/propagating
Shiite symbolism
Because of the wide-spread Shiite
propaganda against the Sahaba, un-
aware Sunnis used to adopt the Shiite
religious symbolisms namely the
wearing of Shiite bangles, making Halwa
or sweet dishes on 22nd
Rajab, and etc.
Maulana’s Sipah educated both the
urbane and village masses of such Shiite
symbolisms, and how they are meant to
aid Shi’itization of Sunnis. Shiites
commemorate the death of Hazrat
Ameer Muawiyya (R.A.) on 22nd
Rajab
by distributing Halwa and then term the
act as commemorating the birth of
Imam Jafer Sadiq (upon whose name
the Shiites name their fiqh as Jafria).
While Imam Jafer was neither born nor
died on that date. All similar acts were
put an end to Al-Hamdulillah.
7. Recent converts stop adopting
Shiism
Non-Muslims such as Hindus, Christians,
Parsi and others when-ever used to
think about converting to Islam, they
considered Shiites as a 5th
school of
thought just like Shaf’I, Hanfi, Maliki and
Hanbali. With Sipah’s wide-spread
propagandeering, this trend was
checked and thus Non-Muslims were
made aware the Shiite threat (as a Non-
Muslim based on its beliefs and how
they are counter to Islam).
8. Shiites adopt True Islam
I feel the biggest impact Maulana’s work
has had on the serious-minded Shiites
themselves who based on an in-
adequate knowledge of Shiism and how
it contradicts Islam adopted true Islam
when shown the light. Many Shiites did
not know how their religious books have
hurled abuse on the Prophet’s
Companions, the Prophet’s Wives, how
they have alleviated the status of Shiite
Imams to that of the Prophets of Allah,
how they have maligned Quran by
calling it tampered. Maulana’s Sipah
helped burst the myth that such beliefs
can go hand in hand with an outer-
projection of love for the Prophet’s
family and thus dupe the lay-man Shiite
that he is following true Islam. For
loving the Prophet’s family can in no
way be considered the sole pre requisite
for faith while rejecting the men who
conveyed the Prophet’s message to the
world (i.e. Sahaba), cursing the
Prophet’s Wives and regarding Quran as
being tampered with. These beliefs in-
their selves demolish the very
foundations of faith.
Shiite Inroads
On account of the above-mentioned
accomplishments, Maulana Jhangvi’s
organisation is still very much a cause of
concern for Shiite designs of taking over
Pakistan. This can be seen in the light of
Ulama and workers of Sipah being
martyred every 2nd
day in Pakistan.
Since its inception in 1985 to-date (i.e.
9900 days) some 5000 workers and
Pakistan and the Shiite Spill over
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
cadres of the Sipah have been gunned
down by the Iranian Inspired Shiite
militias operating both within and
outside the domains of the Pakistan
Government and Intelligence agencies.
The Shiite response to the Sipah’s rising
popularity and relevance, has evolved
from overt to covert. The changing of
their movement from Tehrik Nifaz Fiqh-
e-Jafria (Movement for the
Implementation of Shiism) to Tehrik-e-
Jafria (Movement of the Shiites) very
much sums it up. This trend was
coupled by the fact by the inclusion of
educated Shiites into the various
upcoming and old political parties alike.
Men such as
• Faisal Raza Abdi of the Pakistan
Peoples Party
• Asif Ali Zardari of the Pakistan
Peoples Party
• Hyder Abbas Rizvi of the
Muttahida Qaumi Movement
• Syed Wasay Jaleel of the
Muttahida Qaumi Movement
• Zulfikar Ali Mirza of the Pakistan
Peoples Party
Were the products of ingrained and a
subtle form of Shiite activism without
being totally Shiite on the front. Put in
other words once in the party, you get
to roll the roast your way. Such manic
Shiites were behind the scenes of
millitias such as Sipah-e-Muhammad,
Lashkar-e-Mehdi, Sipah-e-Mehdi and
others, whose main prerogative was the
massacre of Sunni Ulama, cadres and
sympathizers mostly associated with the
Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan.
Going hand in hand with this form of
chic activism, were the rise of Shiite
journalists and reporters in the media
arena. Media channels such as Dawn Tv,
Geo Tv, Aaj Tv, Ary News, Express Tv are
by and large controlled and
overshadowed by Shiite agendas.
Whereas religious gatherings of Shiites
are hailed and projected as national
days, and wide-spread air time is
allotted to them, similar gatherings and
conferences by Sunni leaders are at
most avoided or ignored.
And who is ignoring the rise and rise of
Shiites in the bureaucracy, Army and the
civil service? That this was prevalent
before the revolution, there is no
denying that, but the revolution has put
Sunnis in a quagmire as to the true
loyalties of Shiites present in powerful
positions? And there is no denying that
Iran is first and foremost the Vatican
and Qiblah towards which all Shiites
look forward for inspirations and
aspirations. To sum up, I would like to
quote the examples of the Shiite Abbas
brothers:
• Major General Ather Abbas DG
ISPR (Director General Inter-
Services Public Relations)
• Mazhar Abbas of the ARY
channel and former head of the
Pakistan Federal Union of
Journalists
• Azhar Abbas, Managing Director
of Geo Tv
• Zafar Abbas, Editor Dawn News
I leave up to the reader to assume and
presume!
Pakistan and the Shiite Spill over
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
Conclusion
Only time would tell what alternative
strategies the Sunnis adopt to check the
counter-evolving stratagems of the
politically/religiously motivated Shiites
of Pakistan. That Sipah-e-Sahaba is the
only ‘last man standing’ in this battle of
the minds, is a sad state of affairs in the
short-term, but InshaAllah the future of
a grand and powerful Sipah is very much
on the cards in the Long-term. Relevant
efforts have to be made by the
educated Sunnis belonging to the upper
middle class of Pakistani society to up
the anti. Till then Ulama and cadres,
sympathizers would continue to be
maimed and killed by the ever-alert
Shiite ascendancy.
Pakistan and the Shiite Spill over
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
IRAQ AND THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION ‘79
Since 1920’s Iraq has been very much
under Sunni Rule. The Saddam regime
with secular leanings did not rely / trust
on Shiites courtesy their loyalties with
the Iranian revolution. Therefore we see
discrimination and killings of rogue
Shiite elements such as Baqir Al-Sadr,
and members of the Al-Hakim family
coupled with the crackdown on all
Iranian inspired guerillas (such as the
Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution
Iraq). That the 8 years war between Iran
and Iraq, was the result of increased
proselytization among the Shiites by the
Iranian regime to topple the Sunni
regime. The war had all the designs of
the Iranian regime being supported by
the Israeli and American regimes. The
contra-Iran affair is one such example.
The Saddam years saw a drop in Shiite
political activism and even the yearly
Muharram mournings. Nevertheless,
the Saddam years saw the rise of
dissent among the religiously and
politically motivated Shiites owing to
their coreligionists’ revolution in Iran.
Saddam Hussein aimed for a pan Arab
domination, thereby invading Kuwait in
1991. That Saddam’s was a tyrant
regime, there is no denying that, but the
1991 Invasion by the USA signaling the
first Gulf War (even though the regime
in neighboring Iran was a tyrant regime
in itself) is not justified. Iraq had never
voiced an Anti American rhetoric as
compared to Iran’s virulent Anti
American tendencies. This and many
more similar trends aimed at
internationalist isolation of Iraq (by the
imposition of various sanctions, to the
Israeli Air force bombing of the Iraqi
Nuclear Plants and etc). All this points
to a biased American agenda of
containing the rising Sunni political
ascendency. In no way is it implied that
the Saddam rule was an Islamic or
purely Sunni in character, but it acted as
a bulwark against the Iranian agenda of
attacking or downplaying Saudi Arabis’s
hegemony (citadel of Islam). Borrowing
Iraq and the Iranian Revolution ‘79
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
words from an interview to BBC, by
Iranian Supreme Leader Khomeini,
“The first step I would take upon taking
authority in Iran is I would exhume the
bodies of Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat
Umer R.A.”
That is why we see that the Iranian
Revolution instead of helping or aiding
the Sunni Mujahideen against the
Russian onslaught in Afghanistan (The
Iranian Revolution coincided with the
Russian Invasion of Afghanistan). The
first step Iran took was attacking Iraq
(the Sunni Saddam Regime). This 8 year
duel with Iraq, where Iran pumped
everything in the war further testifies its
visions of subverting the Saudi Influence
in the region and hence the Sunni
agenda.
American Invasion 2003
The American Invasion put an end to
more than 40 year old Saddam Hussein
Rule and placed instead an Iranian Shiite
Puppet, Nuri Al Maliki, SCIRI (Supreme
Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq),
Sistani and others. That is why we see
the quietist cleric (Taqiyya Centric), Ali
Al Sistani welcomed the American
Invasion as the perfect recipe for
change. In a major fatwa, he called all
Iraqis (read Shiites) to participate in the
American sanctioned Elections. This was
contrary to the decades old quietest
tradition of Sistani and his predecessor
Al Kho’i which called for all Shiites to
not participate in the political
machinery under the Sunni Saddam.
This also meant a major break from Al
Kho’i’s stance on political activist Shiism
(During the 80 to 88 War Iraq’s Kho’i
sided with Saddam against the
Khomeinist Vilayate Faqih Model to be
imposed on Iraq, Sistani was the
successor after Al Kho’i death).
Enter Zarqawi
The American Invasion saw the rise of
greater Shiite mileage in the post
Saddam era. After occupying the Iraq’s
territories, the US used to pave way for
the Iraqi Army police and security forces
(comprising of mainly Shia elements).
That is why we see the rise of Sunni
pogroms (mass massacre of Sunnis)
operating under the guise of Iraqi
security forces, police and army who
allegedly had the backing of Muqtada Al
Sadr’s Mahdi Militia and Al Hakim’s
Badr.
Such and many more similar atrocities
saw the rise of Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, a
Jordanian Al Qaeda affiliate. Zarqawi’s
AQI (Al Qaeda in Iraq) besides targeting
the American security forces also
attacked its Shiite affiliates. In a historic
letter to Osama Bin Ladin, Zarqawi
elaborates contextual justifications for
the attacks on the Shiites. Taking a leaf
out of this letter:
• Imam Bukhari says “Not in the
house have I prayed behind a
Shiite….. They are not to be
greeted, they are not to be
congratulated on holidays… they
“The first step I would take upon taking
authority in Iran is I would exhume the
bodies of Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat
Umer R.A.”
Iraq and the Iranian Revolution ‘79
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
are not to be taken into
Marriages… They can not bear
witness. The Animals they
slaughter are not to be eaten..
(Khalq Af’al Al – ‘ibad, page
125).
• Imam Ahmed says – He was
asked about who had cursed Abu
Bakr, Umer and Aisha (May God
be pleased with them – “I do not
see him within Islam”.
• Imam Malik Says, “He who
curses the Companions of the
Prophet (May God Bless him and
grant him salvation) has no
share or part in Islam”. (Kitab Al
– Sunnah of Al Khallal, number
779).
• Imam Ibn Taymiyya in his Al
Fatawa (part 28, pages 478-527)
writes “The Shia love the Tartars
and their state because through
it they achieved the glory that
they did not achieve through the
Muslims’ state… They were
among the greatest helpers (of
the Tartars), as they seized the
countries of Islam, killing
Muslims and capturing their
women. The story of Ibn Al – Al
Qami and his like with the Caliph
and their case in Aleppo is
famous. All the people know it. If
the Muslims defeat the Christian
and polytheists, this causes the
distress among the Shia. And if
the polytheists and Christians
beat the Muslims, this occasions
a holiday and joy among the
Shia”.
• Ibn Taymiyya furthers writes on
page 482 Al Fatawa part 28 “
With this it becomes clear that
they are more evil than the
sectarians and more deserving of
begin fought than the Kharijies.
• Al Faryabi says “I do not see the
Shias except as atheists”. (Al –
Lalika ‘I part 8, page 1545)
The above references by Zarqawi meant
to show that Shiites just like Jews and
Christians are Non Muslims (see Imam
Bukhari, Imam Malik and Imam Ahmed’s
verdicts above). This justifies the killing
of all those Shiites who participated
whole heartedly in the American siege
of Iraq. Innocent Shiites civilians who
showed indifference to American
occupation and went on with their daily
lives were not targeted.
Conclusion
The US withdrawal in late 2011 meant
the rise of the open Sunni Shiite civil
war in Iraq, where as previously the
Shiites were targeting the Sunnis
through the covert-tacit support of the
US forces. It is now evident that post US
scenario is no different with Sunnis
being targeted mercilessly. It remains to
be seen that till what extent the Iranian
regime is prepared to go to, to satiate
its thirst of toppling Sunnis powers.
Despite the rising awareness of the
Shiite threat in the Islamic Circles, they
are still willing to further their Vilayat –
e- Faqih Model in establishing an Iranian
Shiite Model by embroiling the
countries in civil wars. (Iraq, Syria,
Bahrain, Lebanon can be cited as
relevant examples).
Iraq and the Iranian Revolution ‘79
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
Well, no one can ignore the Iranian
Impact on Bahrain, considering the
historical fact that even before its
independence in 1971, Bahrain was
regarded as Iran’s 14th
province. Bahrain
as statistics show is 66-70% Shia, but
taking nothing away from the Shiite
majority; it remains whether the Shiites
of Bahrain are given power positions by
the Sunni government? The answer is
Yes,
• Bassim bin Yaqub Al Hamer,
Minister of Housing Shia
• Dr. Fatima Bin Mohammad Al
Baluchi, Health Minister Shia
• Dr. Jameel Humadan,Minister of
Labour Shia
• Dr. Abdul Hussain Bin Ali
Mirza,Minister of Oil and Gas
Affairs Shia
As a point of argument, I would
reinstate the point, that 30% of the
Iranian Population are Sunnis, they
don’t even have one minister in the
Iranian cabinet! Its time that Iran calls
for equality rather than supremacy of
the Shiites. And in Bahrain, it is exactly
doing the same.
Immediately after the revolution,
Iranian inspired militants attempted a
coup, which failed. Had it been
otherwise, the world would have seen a
Shiite Cleric Sayyid Mahdi Al-Modarressi
at the helm of affairs. The current 2011
protests to-date have similar under-
tones: to install the Iranian inspired
Velayat-e-Faqih model and further
tighten the noose on Saudi Arabia.
What is Velayat-e-Faqih and why the
need?
Iran’s Khomeini during his exile days in
Iraq, concocted this theory about the
‘Governorship of the Jurist’. He
maintains that in the absence of the 12th
Imam (Shiites believe that their 12th
Imam, the Mahdi is in occultation and in
hiding since the last 1200 years, and
would come out near Qiyamah), the
learned Faqih or cleric should rule on his
behalf. In short, the theory calls for the
designation of a Naib Imam (i.e. the
proxy representative of the Hidden
Imam). It obviously is a Shiite concept,
which can never be replicated or
imposed on the Sunni world without
being totally Shiite in character. The
Shiites since the disappearance of their
12th
Imam have always believed in
Taqiyyah or dissimulation. Put simply
Taqiyyah is to hide your real beliefs and
motives. There are numerous examples
present in the Shiite books of Hadith
(there are 4 Shiite Books of Hadith as
compared to 6 books of the Muslims)
regarding Taqiyyah
BAHRAIN AND THE SHIITE INSPIRED
REVOLUTIONS
Bahrain and the Shiite Inspired Revolutions
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
• Till the appearance of Mahdi,
one should practice Taqiyyah
• Taqiyyah is my religion and the
religion of my fore-fathers
• There is no Iman / Faith without
Taqiyyah
• The one who does not practice
Taqiyyah is a Kafir
• Till the time of the appearance of
the Mahdi, all governments and
allegiances are false-hood
• To pray behind a Sunni Imam
whilst doing Taqiyyah is like
praying behind the Holy Prophet
PBUH
• We, (the Shiites) are ordered to
read the present Quran as it is
out of Taqiyyah, when the Imam
Mahdi would come he would
bring the Real Quran (the un-
corrupted one according to Shiite
belief)
• The one who hides his faith (out
of Taqiyyah) Allah would glorify
him, while the one who
proclaims his faith (leaves
Taqiyyah) Allah would abandon
him
What Velayat-e-Faqih does mean is that
Taqiyyah becomes null and void, as the
concept talks about Naib Imam who
would rule on the Imam’s behalf till he
returns. This contradicts Taqiyyah which
in the words of Imam Jaffer Sadiq is
9/10th of Faith. This is the reason why
Marj’a Taqlid’s (Senior Shiite Mullahs)
such as Khoi, Sistani among others
rejected Khomeinist claims, and sided
rather with the centuries old quietest
tradition whereby the clerics never
ruled in matters of government, rather
they dealt with the day to day affairs
and guidance of Shiites.
Velayat-e-Faqih, then meant the rise of
Shiites in politics and the day-to-day
administration of states. Which goes on
to show clerics such as Khomeini,
Rafsanjani, Shariatmadari, Montazzeri,
Khameini rule and run the political
scene in Iran. Which also meant the rise
of Shiite Proxies like Amal and Hezbollah
in Lebanon, Tehrik-e-Jafria, Imamia
Students Organisation, Jafria Alliance in
Pakistan, Hezbollah in Kuwait, Syria,
Saudi Arabia and the Al-Wefaq and
others in Bahrain. These proxies adhere
to the Velayat-e-Faqih, and regard
Khomeini and his successors as the
supreme leaders. Put simply Velayat-e-
Faqih points to the building of a Shiite
Dominion with Iran as the capital or
Dar-ul-Khilafah thereby acting as the
perfect substitute / alternative to the
Sunni Caliphate model. Such a model
coupled with the rise of Shiites both
overtly and covertly is very much a
cause of concern in the Sunni world,
considering the Sunnis don’t have a
working paradigm of their own since the
lone Taliban attempts from 1995-2001.
In-essence the imposition of the
Velayat-e-Faqih model by the sword,
and Iranian Assistance in Bahrain would
mean:
• No Sunni Mosques in Manama
(Capital of Bahrain) as in Tehran
(Iran’s Capital)
• No Sunni representation in the
Parliament as in Iran
• No Sunni as President / Prime
Minister as in Iran
Bahrain and the Shiite Inspired Revolutions
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
• Massacre of Sunni Ulama as in
Iran
• No rights allocated to Sunnis as
in Iran
In-effect, Bahrain would be the new Iran
and that too at the foot-step of Saudi
Arabia.
Conclusion:
In the absence of any formidable Sunni
alliance against the Iranian inspired
Shiite onslaught, sooner or later Bahrain
might fall in the hands of a Velayat-e-
Faqih’ist cleric. The need of the time is
to tackle the Shiite threat on a mass
socio-cultural level. Because if majority
Shiites get to have their government
similar to Iran, then emotions might run
high among the already ‘busy’
mujahideen in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria
etc. To stop Bahrain from rising in
flames, steps have to be taken by not
just the Gulf Co-operation Council, and
others. Such Shiite containing steps
have been for now have been successful
for calming the Shiites down, by
agreeing to some of the Arab Spring
protesters. But what would happen, if
Shiites want more??
Bahrain and the Shiite Inspired Revolutions
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
Hezbollah : The Case for LebanonHezbollah : The Case for LebanonHezbollah : The Case for LebanonHezbollah : The Case for Lebanon
The Shiite inspired revolution in
neighboring Iran stirred up the
imagination of dissenting chords in the
Shiite strata of Lebanon. The revolution
marked the rise of a pseudo militant
movement “Amal” led by the influential
Musa Al Sadr (of the famous Al Sadr
Clerical Family of Iraq). That, the
militancy espoused by Amal was not
enough to satiate the thirst of radical
Shiites, enter a pro Iran and a much
more radical “Hezbollah”.
Hezbollah was meant as an Iranian
substitute for the many Palestinian
Jihad Organizations and movements
operating in and out of Lebanon by
Palestinian refuges. Hezbollah stood for
an independent Palestine and the
independence of the Al Aqsa Mosque
from Israeli control. Initially from 1983
to 1992 Hezbollah emerged as the most
radical Anti US and Israel operating in
the Middle East. It had to its credentials
the US marine bombings, the Terra Blast
in Paris, Flight Hijackings, hostage taking
and all the ingredients of a perfect
Guerilla Organization.
Overtime Hezbollah has increased its
reach from its Shiite denominations to
its majority in Lebanon. Shiite account
for 20% of the Lebanese demographics
and the Hezbollah hold of Lebanon
defies the sectarian milieu. That,
Hezbollah’s anti American rhetoric has
won Sunni hearts is no less of a
complete Iranian Shiite victory in
Lebanon. That today, Hezbollah appeals
to more Sunni to the larger Sunni
populace as compared to Sunni
Fundamentalist movements in Lebanon
is no small achievement.
How did Hezbollah work towards this
accreditation.
Hezbollah is Shiite, there is no denying
that:
• Hasan Nasrullah takes its direct
orders from the Vilayate Faqihist
Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei,
of Iran.
• Hezbollah regards the late
Hussein Fadlullah as their
Spiritual guide. Fadlullah was an
all out Shiite Cleric who never
stopped hurling abuse at the
Prophet’s Companions, be it any
small pamphlet or large book
(Ittehad Maslak – e - Ahle Bait ki
Roshni mein).
• In its Media channels and
propaganda Al Manar Tv,
Hezbollah downplays Shiite
Sunni differences and calls for
virulent Jihadist rhetoric.
Hezbollah downplays the Shiite Sunni
antagonism based on the perfect Shiite
recipe : Taqiyya.
Hezbollah : The Case for Lebanon
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
Iran’s IRGC andIran’s IRGC andIran’s IRGC andIran’s IRGC and Hezbollah’s meddling in Hezbollah’s meddling in Hezbollah’s meddling in Hezbollah’s meddling in
SyriaSyriaSyriaSyria
Iranian Revolutionary Guard and
Hezbollah aiding al-Assad in Syria – FSA
commander Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat
Free Syrian Army [FSA] commander
Brigadier General Hussam Awak, who
previously defected from the Syrian Air
Force Intelligence Directorate, revealed
that an Iranian Revolutionary Guards
Corp [IRGC] armored brigade is fighting
alongside al-Assad regime forces in
Syria. He also claimed that Hezbollah
armed brigades – that specialize in
snipers, explosions, and guerilla warfare
– are supporting the al-Assad regime in
suppressing the Syrian revolution.
General Awak stressed that these forces
are counteracted by increasing numbers
of defectors joining the FSA seeking to
overthrow the al-Assad regime.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat
conducted in Cairo, FSA Brigadier
General Hussam Awak revealed that an
increasing number of Syrian army forces
are defecting from the regime and
joining the FSA, in addition to Syrian
civilians themselves taking up arms to
fight al-Assad regime forces. He also
stressed that the Syrian popular
resistance forces that are supporting
the FSA are undertaking dangerous
operations and they have proved their
worth on the battlefield.
As for reports that the IRGC is fighting
alongside the al-Assad regime force, FSA
General Hossam Awak told Asharq Al-
Awsat that “on more than one occasion,
we have captured IRGC officers and
Iranian experts” adding “there is a full
armored IRGC brigade operating on
Syrian soil and present in the Ahmed
Jibril [Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine – General Command] camps in
the Deir al-Ashayar region along the
Lebanese – Syrian border. He stressed
that “this is information that we are
revealing publicly for the first time,
although they [the IRGC armored
brigade] have been present there since
2007, following Hezbollah’s war with
Israel.”
Brigadier General Awak also revealed
that Hezbollah fighters are present on
Syrian territory and are fighting
alongside the al-Assad regime forces. He
claimed that Hezbollah Brigade 101,
Brigade 102, and Brigade 103, are
present in the country. He claimed that
Hezbollah Brigade 103 is a terrorist
brigade that specializes in assassination
and bombings. He added “Hezbollah
Brigade 101 specializes in street battles
and sniper attacks, and Bashar al-Assad
is utilizing this brigade against the Syrian
people.”
General Awak also spoke to Asharq Al-
Awsat about Baghdad’s position on the
Syrian revolution, particularly as the
Iran’s IRGC and Hezbollah Meddling in Syria
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue
next Arab summit is scheduled to take
place in Iraq later this month, revealing
that “the news coming out of Iraqi
Kurdistan indicates that they [Iraqi
Kurds] understand the Syrian
revolution.”
He added “as for the Nouri al-Maliki
government, we do not know its
position, but this appears to be a
government that is affiliated to Iran.
However with regards to direct contact
with us, the Iraqi government has not
issued any position opposing the Syrian
revolution.
The FSA commander also stressed that
“as for the Iraqi Shiite brigades that are
trying to reach Syria [to aid the al-Assad
regime], we are warning them for the
hundredth time not to interfere in
Syrian affairs.”
As for his views of resolving the Syrian
crisis, FSA Brigadier General Hussam
Awak told Asharq Al-Awsat that “this
can only be solved in two ways:
politically or militarily” adding “we do
not want to see a repeat of the Libyan
scenario, in terms of death toll and
injuries, and we are trying to avoid
bloodshed, which is why we have
partnered with politicians, however if
the situation requires a military
confrontation then we are ready for
this.” He stressed “we have called on
Bashar al-Assad to hand over power;
however he has fought us and continues
to kill our children.”
Taken from
http://www.asharq-
e.com/news.asp?id=28677
Iran’s IRGC and Hezbollah Meddling in Syria
Al Rashideen – Iranian Revolution Special Issue