Page 68 - The Winter of Islam and the Spring to Come

THE WINTER OF ISLAM AND THE SPRING TO COME
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existence and national aspirations of the Muslim peoples of the
Caucasus as a threat, and those peoples must reduce the conflict and
tension to a minimum by adopting a moderate and peaceful policy. As
we have seen in some detail, the Russian terror in Chechnya is unac-
ceptable savagery. On the other hand, however, the Chechen fighters
who engage in terror attacks on Russian civilians are also on the wrong
path. Both sides must prevent the spilling of any more blood, and make
efforts to establish peace.
Extending a helping hand to the Chechen people in the face of the
oppression they are suffering is a responsibility of all Muslims in the
world. It is clear that nobody with courage who fears Allah and pos-
sesses the concept of justice revealed by Him in the Qur'an can stand
idly by in the face of this cruelty being visited on innocent people. A
true believer always helps the poor, those in need, and those who have
been driven from their homes, and will make any sacrifice for them.
The self-sacrificing and loving behavior of believers in the Prophet's
(saas) time towards those who had been expelled from or had to leave
their homes is described thus in the Qur'an:

It is for the poor of the emigrants who were driven from their homes
and wealth desiring the favor and the pleasure of Allah and sup-
porting Allah and His Messenger. Such people are the truly sincere.
Those who were already settled in the abode, and in belief, before
they came, love those who have emigrated to them and do not find
in their hearts any need for what they have been given and prefer
them to themselves even if they themselves are needy. It is the peo-
ple who are safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selves who
are successful. (Surat al-Hashr : 8-9)
Naturally, the spread of this superior morality among people is
only possible with the dissemination of religion. For that reason, what
intelligent people of good conscience need to do as a matter of priority
is to find the best ways of communicating the morality of the Qur'an
and actually put this into practice. Allah has promised to help those
who help His religion: