11th July: Srebrenica genocide- the fault of modernity

In commemoration of the genocide of at least 8,000 innocent Muslims exactly 14 years ago, mosques around the world had taken the initiative to word the khutbah on Bosna. Thus, yesterday، here in Sunderland Royal Hospital, I had the opportunity to deliver the following text;

ان الحمد لله، نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفروه، ونعوذ بالله من شرور انفسنا، ومن سيئات اعمالنا، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلله فلا هادي له، واشهد ان لا اله الا الله وهده لا شريك له، واشهد ان محمد عبده ورسوله. قال الله تعال في القران الحكيم

رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَىٰ رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۗ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَفَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَنِّي لَا أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِّنكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ ۖ بَعْضُكُم مِّن بَعْضٍ ۖ فَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا وَأُخْرِجُوا مِن دِيَارِهِمْ وَأُوذُوا فِي سَبِيلِي وَقَاتَلُوا وَقُتِلُوا لَأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ثَوَابًا مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الثَّوَابِ

Europe belongs to all

The arrival of Islam in Europe is as natural as the arrival of both Judaism and Christianity. None of the messengers of God are of the European origin. Hence, no one has the right to claim the priority of his/her faith of the land of Europe. All three Abrahamic traditions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam belong to Europe and thus Europe has the right, nay, an obligation to treat them as its own. The arrival of Islam into Europe has come via two main gates: the gate of the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century and the Balkan Peninsula in the 14^th century. Eight centuries of the Islamic presence in Andalusia, Spain, have produced a unique tradition of religious and cultural tolerance as well as academic freedom which has greatly helped Europe on its way to humanism and renaissance. Unfortunately, the idea of the Andalusian tolerance did not survive in the European history.

Srebrenica genocide of Muslims

By the grace of Allah, Islam did survive in the Balkan Peninsula despite the hardship which the Muslims have witnessed over the last century. The most difficult one being genocide in July 1995 in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, which was at that time a Protected Zone by a United Nations Security Council Resolution. During several days of carnage more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys, who had sought safety in this area under the protection of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), were summarily executed by Serb forces commanded by General Mladić and by paramilitary units, including Serbian irregular police units which had entered Bosnian territory from Serbia. Nearly 25,000 women, children and elderly people were forcibly deported, making this event the biggest war crime to take place in Europe since the end of the Second World War.

Therefore, the European Parliament thought it appropriate that the institutionalisation of the 11th of July as a day of remembrance is the best means of paying tribute to the victims of the Srebrenica genocide. Thus, with the majority vote of its 565 members the European Parliament has adopted the resolution of 15 January 2009 on Srebrenica whereby it commemorates and honors all the victims of the atrocities; expresses its condolences to and solidarity with the families of the victims, many of whom are living without final confirmation of the fate of their relatives; recognizes that this continuing pain is aggravated by the failure to bring those responsible for these acts to justice. Also, the European Parliament calls on the Council and the Commission to commemorate appropriately the anniversary of the Srebrenica-Potočari act of genocide by supporting Parliament's recognition of 11 July as the day of commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide all over the EU, and to call on all the countries of the western Balkans to do the same. The victims of Srebrenica genocide are aware that the past cannot be changed, but they appreciate the recognition of their pain by EU as a good sign that genocide will not be repeated in the future to anyone. Not only Muslims in Europe, but all people of good faith are also appreciative of the fact that the lives of innocent boys of Bosnia were not in vain. It is exactly what the Holy Qur’an teaches us to say:

"O our Sustainer, grant us that which Thou hast promised us through Thy apostles, and disgrace us not on Resurrection Day! Verily, Thou never failest to fulfill Thy promise!"

"And thus does their Sustainer answer their prayer: - I shall not lose sight of the labour of any of you who labours [in My way], be it man or woman: each of you is an issue of the other. Hence, as for those who forsake the domain of evil, and are driven from their homelands, and suffer hurt in My cause, and fight [for it], and are slain - I shall most certainly efface their bad deeds, and shall most certainly bring them into gardens through which running waters flow, as a reward from God: for with God is the most beauteous of rewards" (Asad, 3:194-195)

الحَمْدُ ِللهِ الَّذِى تَتِمُّ الصَّالِحَاتِ , وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلهَ إِلا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ سَيِّدَنَا مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ , اللّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلى عَبْدِكَ وَرَسُوْلِكَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِيْنَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَيَا أَيُّهَا المُؤْمِنُوْنَ اتَّقُوْا اللهَ أُوْصِيْكُمْ وَإِيَّايَ بِتَقْوَى اللهِ وَطَاعَتِهِ فَقَدْ فَازَ المُتَّقُوْنَ

It was only 14 years ago that these killings of unbelievable cruelty and atrocity happened. Many of us were old enough at that time to have memories on our own life; some of us were in our primary school, some high school, and university even, or had jobs, and we were busy with our own life. At that time, at the time when each of us thought that our hardship is the worst one can get, our brothers and sisters in Bosna were slain like they were never human beings. It was a genocide of a modern era, and it happened right in Europe, with so many so-called civilisations just watching it happen. The blood of Bosnian people spilled into their cup of tea and they took no bother. In this one-sided Bosnian war, when they intervened, they only did so to benefit the aggressor. When the Dayton agreement was signed in 1995, half of Bosna was given to the Serbs, as if they were rewarded for attacking the Muslims. Thus Bosna is forever a witness to the failure of contemporary modern civility.

They sought to extinguish the light of Allah, but Allah will complete His light, even if they don't like it. I was given by Allah the opportunity to visit our brothers and sisters in Bosna in Easter, and by Allah it was a wonderful experience. Islam, after being repressed for so many years, is now gaining momentum. You may wonder how, a land of absolutely European people, would choose to live Islam despite so many challenges on their right and left. In 1950s, under the communists, no one would have thought that Islam would survive in the land. In 1990s they were killed for being Muslims. But now in the 21^st century, more and more people are turning to Islam. This is the will of Allah, done by the works of the Muslims who spread good news and do righteous acts.

With or without our involvement, Islam will continue to have a future that it has been destined for by the Most Merciful. We have seen this in Bosna, and we will see the same everywhere else. Palestine, especially, should be our priority. Whether we remember them or not, they will soon be freed- only Allah knows when. Whether we help them or not, they will have victory. Whether we give donations and contributions to them or we keep our money to ourselves, Allah will eventually make their path glorious. The choice is on our own shoulders. If we participate, it is us who will benefit from it. And if we don't, it is us who will be left out, and no one else.

اللهم اغفر للمسلمين والمسلمت والمؤمنين والمؤمنات الاحياء منهم جميعا والاموات، اللهم اعز الاسلام والمسلمين واذل الشرك والمشركين والظلم والظلمين اللهم انصر الاسلام والمسلمين في كل مكان وفي كل زمان