Mentioning some of the conditions in Iraq during the war.

The questioner : Brother Abu Anas was in Baghdad during the battle. He has been here for a few days, so if you like, you can ask him some questions.

The Shaykh : If he has information that would benefit us, let him share it so we can see. When did you come from Baghdad?

The questioner : Last Sunday.

The Shaykh : Okay, what were your impressions there while you were present? What did you see? What did you observe?

The questioner : By Allah, I heard that the slogans the people are hearing here, meaning there, are just slogans. There is no application of the Islamic slogans or declarations. There is no practical application at all, not in the least.

The Shaykh : We had heard from some of them that, regarding prayer in some of the mosques, there was a turnout for prayer. Did you not see this phenomenon?

The questioner : I mean, after the war started, during the war, the people would be at the Friday prayer. The mosque would be full, and there would be several rows outside. During the war, it was only one-third full. Perhaps most of the people fled from Baghdad. Perhaps all the young men were at the front. Perhaps there was a turnout, but Allah knows best. One of the brothers there, an Iraqi graduate of Sharia, was appointed as a religious education teacher. His appointment was about six days after the start of the war. He was bearded, based on his role as a religious education teacher. So they told him, meaning someone from the school said, "Now, a religious education teacher is not acceptable. It might be a personal action or it might be a general policy."

The Shaykh : We have heard a lot about this story. They were confiscating the IDs of bearded men and telling them, "Go shave your beard and you will get your ID back."

The questioner : This became an issue with us during the exams. Half of the exams were postponed for us because there were instructions that beards were prohibited in the exams. They took a signature from every bearded student stating that he would not enter the exam if he was bearded. These were last year's exams.

The Shaykh : Last year. Well, in any case, regarding the past, my brother, the past is past, unfortunately. We seek help from Allah.

The questioner : The donations that come out from here to there, look, they are like this. Indications in the central markets. They take them and sell them in the central markets.

The Shaykh : We heard that most of the Egyptians are taking them for their personal benefit.

The questioner : By Allah, the Egyptians are very few during this period.

Another questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : In any case, we ask Allah to rectify the conditions of the Muslims and to make them honored over the disbelievers.
The Shaykh: Okay, if you are finished, then depart as the righteous.