Libya: The Promise of Allah is Always True

by AmatuRahman

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar!                    God is Greater, God is Greater, God is Greater!

Allahu Akbar kabira!                                                          God is Greater

Walhamdu lillahi katheera                                               and praise be to God

Wa subhana allah bukratan wa asila!                           and glory be to God, in the evening and the morning

These are the words I could not stop chanting loudly in my car as I drove home from work last Monday. These are the words the fighters for freedom in Libya chant as they march from city to city and town to town and village to village, risking and giving their lives for the sake of those who will come after, so that they may taste life in true tawheed, where one fears none but Allah (subhanahu wa ta`ala – Exalted is He), where idolatry in the form of fear of an ‘omnipresent’ dictator no longer tarnishes one’s pure belief.

I pointed to the calendar the other day, telling my mother that the 20th of Ramadan was the Historic Opening of Mecca. Something will happen in Libya. Something big. Insha’Allah (God willing) the Opening of Tripoli, in the same peaceful way that Mecca was opened. Unbeknownst to me, I wasn’t the only one thinking along those lines. The revolutionaries from East, West, and South of Tripoli, having freed most major cities and towns on the way to the capital, literally had the Mediterranean port surrounded. Ships of trained men were on their way from Benghazi, fighters were ready from nearby Zawiyah to the South and Misrata to the East, and their brothers were coming down from the mountains in the West . They selected the 20th of Ramadan as the day they would begin freeing the capital, for its blessed marking of the historic opening of Mecca. They could not have chosen a better day, nor could they have selected a better example than that of our Beloved, the Messenger of God, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him).

At Maghrib (sunset), cries of takbeer (‘Allahu Akbar’) were heard from all the mosques in Tripoli, giving the signal for the revolutionaries to go out and initiate the plan to free the Capital. Eyewitnesses reported mercenaries fleeing in fear from the sound of ‘Allahu Akbar.’ Announcements poured through to the Tyrant’s men: “Drop your weapons, and you will be safe. Enter your homes and you will be given amnesty.” The leader of the Transitional Council urged everyone to act in a calm and controlled manner, to protect all property, and to give amnesty to all who seek protection and surrender. This was not a time for revenge, he said. In the freed city of Benghazi, the streets and city center were filled with people: praying, weeping, making du`a’ (supplication). Shuyookh (pl. of shaykh, scholars) requested that every Muslim in the world fill their prayers that night with du`a’ for the Libyan capital.

Surely, with the intense du`a’s, patience, and sincere tawakkul (reliance) on Allah (swt)—Victory and Help came swiftly from Allah (swt). Shortly after Maghrib, many regions of Tripoli were quickly cleared of the Tyrant’s men. The revolutionaries armed and protected these cities. Shortly thereafter, the wave of revolutionaries from the South and East had begun to arrive. They managed to enter the Center of Tripoli with no resistance. Within a matter of 24 hours, all of Tripoli was cleared with the exception of the Tyrant’s compound in Bab al-Aziziyah.

Every man and woman that called Al Jazeera to share reports of the astonishing victory began by reciting prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ, followed by thanking Allah (swt) for His Victory.

“And incumbent upon Us was support of the believers” (Quran 30:47).

This is the revolution in which the Prophet ﷺ was seen many times in visions—giving the believers glad tidings of victory. This is the revolution that started with heavy rain, as did all the battles in which the Prophet ﷺ was victorious. This is the revolution whose momentum, weaponry, and cries were that of ‘ALLAHU AKBAR’. This is revolution that had the enemies fleeing and trembling in terror from the chants of ‘Allahu Akbar’ emanating from the tongues and hearts of those with deep conviction.

As I drove to work that Monday reciting my morning dhkir (remembrance of God), I could not stop the silent tears streaming down my face as I read the salah `ala annabiyy (prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ). I could almost picture Rasul Allah ﷺ and feel what he felt as he returned to Mecca on the Day of its Opening. Ya Rasul Allah (O Messenger of God) ﷺ, it is your example we strive to follow, both openly and privately, outwardly and inwardly, and it is our hope that this Victory from Allah (swt) is our reward for that struggle. Are you proud of us?

Brothers and sisters, Allah (swt), the One who gave Victory to all the Prophets, is ever-Living, ever-Watching, ever-Aware. His promise to bring Victory to the Believers continues to hold true as strongly as it always has. It is only up to us to have that firm and unwavering belief in Him, that complete and total reliance on Him Alone; and surely, He will not turn away from our call.

In these beautiful days of this blessed month of Ramadan, turn to Allah (swt). Express your incapability, your weakness, your absolute dependence and reliance on Him. And He will hold you up. He will grant you strength. He will Plan for you. And He will lead you in ways you have never imagined. Never lose hope in Allah’s (swt) promise. With imaan (faith), reliance, and patience, we can never go wrong.

Please do not forget to keep the entire Ummah (community) in your du`a’s this month, particularly for our brothers and sisters in Libya, Syria, and Yemen—that they remain steadfast in their faith and practice, grateful and humble to their Lord, and ever obedient to Him.