What is your opinion on the intifada?
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The questioner : Our Shaykh, regarding the topic of the intifada, or what is now called the intifada in Palestine.
The Shaykh : I am at odds with the masses of people who are enthusiastic about the intifada. I do not see that this intifada will bring anything but destruction, because it is a political provocation, and a provocation for which they have not prepared at all. In my view, this movement is most like the recent Syrian revolution against Hafez al-Asad, because they launched it without planning for it. And what can the intifada do against these Jews who are armed with every kind of weapon? No Arab state moves to supply it with any kind of weapon. So I do not believe that this action is permissible in the Shari'ah, let alone that I believe it will be of any practical benefit—and peace be upon you. For every Jew who is killed, dozens are killed in return. It is incumbent upon the Muslim community to conserve its strength for the hour when they must move and when it is most likely in their opinion that they will benefit from their movement. Hence it is said in common proverbs, "The eye does not resist the awl." Do you have this saying? The awl is the thick needle with which one stabs, and the eye is made of fat and blood, and so on. It does not resist the awl. This is an example that applies exactly to our Palestinian brothers who face the machine gun with stones of various kinds and shapes.
The questioner : With their bodies.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is understandable, because when they face them with stones, they throw nothing at them but their hands and their bodies. The point is... I used to say—and I still say—that jihad in Afghanistan was an individual obligation. And although there were individual popular aids from all the Muslim peoples, and perhaps some non-explicit aid from some Arab states, it was supposed that the Muslim nation would move from one end to the other to supply the Afghan people with all numbers and equipment so that they could achieve victory over this Russian bear, as they say. And although the issue reached almost its end, the signs do not bode well. It is sufficient that the Arab states speak but you find no victory for this people, and they do not take any stance that opposes the agreement of the two great powers, as they say, to bring about peace between the Russians and the Afghans. What is the connection of these two states? And this is a very clear matter. Nevertheless, the Arab states do not move a finger and do not support the Afghan people, even with a word, and so on. So what can be said about the great difference between the Afghans, in that they received a fair amount of reinforcements, and Palestine, which is surrounded by guards from among the same Muslims? Yes.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Allah is the Greatest. How can any benefit be hoped for for this intifada, let alone how can victory over the Jews be hoped for? This is impossible. And so we are truly throwing ourselves into destruction because of this movement. And I believe that it does not originate from the people, but from provocations. This is my opinion on the matter, and Allah knows best, and Allah is the One to be sought for help.
The Shaykh : I am at odds with the masses of people who are enthusiastic about the intifada. I do not see that this intifada will bring anything but destruction, because it is a political provocation, and a provocation for which they have not prepared at all. In my view, this movement is most like the recent Syrian revolution against Hafez al-Asad, because they launched it without planning for it. And what can the intifada do against these Jews who are armed with every kind of weapon? No Arab state moves to supply it with any kind of weapon. So I do not believe that this action is permissible in the Shari'ah, let alone that I believe it will be of any practical benefit—and peace be upon you. For every Jew who is killed, dozens are killed in return. It is incumbent upon the Muslim community to conserve its strength for the hour when they must move and when it is most likely in their opinion that they will benefit from their movement. Hence it is said in common proverbs, "The eye does not resist the awl." Do you have this saying? The awl is the thick needle with which one stabs, and the eye is made of fat and blood, and so on. It does not resist the awl. This is an example that applies exactly to our Palestinian brothers who face the machine gun with stones of various kinds and shapes.
The questioner : With their bodies.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is understandable, because when they face them with stones, they throw nothing at them but their hands and their bodies. The point is... I used to say—and I still say—that jihad in Afghanistan was an individual obligation. And although there were individual popular aids from all the Muslim peoples, and perhaps some non-explicit aid from some Arab states, it was supposed that the Muslim nation would move from one end to the other to supply the Afghan people with all numbers and equipment so that they could achieve victory over this Russian bear, as they say. And although the issue reached almost its end, the signs do not bode well. It is sufficient that the Arab states speak but you find no victory for this people, and they do not take any stance that opposes the agreement of the two great powers, as they say, to bring about peace between the Russians and the Afghans. What is the connection of these two states? And this is a very clear matter. Nevertheless, the Arab states do not move a finger and do not support the Afghan people, even with a word, and so on. So what can be said about the great difference between the Afghans, in that they received a fair amount of reinforcements, and Palestine, which is surrounded by guards from among the same Muslims? Yes.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Allah is the Greatest. How can any benefit be hoped for for this intifada, let alone how can victory over the Jews be hoped for? This is impossible. And so we are truly throwing ourselves into destruction because of this movement. And I believe that it does not originate from the people, but from provocations. This is my opinion on the matter, and Allah knows best, and Allah is the One to be sought for help.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.