“Those killed fighting the
American forces are martyrs given their good intentions since they consider
these invading troops an enemy within their territories but without their
will,” Al-Qaradawi, a widely-respected Egyptian-born cleric based in Qatar,
said in an interview with Al-Quds Press Agency.
“Although they are seen by
some as being wrong, those defending against attempts to control Islamic
countries have the intention of Jihad and bear a spirit of the defense of
their homeland.”
The Muslim cleric pointed a
finger at the United States for launching a fierce war against the Islam and
its believers and showing an interest “to be a god worshipped away from
Allah”.
“The U.S administration wants
to maintain a grip and keep an eye on everything in an attempt to be a god,”
Al-Qaradawi repeated.
In this perspective, we
refuse, resist and disbelieve these invading power, he argued.
New Tartars
As for the build-up of U.S.
troops in the Arab Gulf region in preparation for a potential military
offensive against Iraq, Al-Qaradawi slammed them as new “Tartars”, in
reference to fierce war-like people that had attacked the Islamic empire in
the 14th and 15th centuries.
“The Tartars first appeared as a new
military power in the world at the same time the Islamic world was teetering
in weakness. So all the Muslim areas were easy targets for them as they fell
down one after the other,” Al-Qaradawi warned.
Stark
Difference
In the interview, Al-Qaradawi
was keen to stress a difference between the American people on the one hand
and the U.S. administration and military arsenals on the other.
“The issue is not with the
Americans who are peace-loving, but with their arrogant government.”
He referred to war in the name
of terrorism combat is now directed to Islam, as the attacks on the Islamic
schools, charities, societies and personalities are meant to change the
mentality of Muslims.
“This mentality is considered
by the U.S. administration as a threat. So was at pains not to allow the
rising of a strong Muslim man or woman objecting injustice and keen on
applying the right things as well as ready to sacrifice himself or herself
for the sake of Allah.”
In other words, they want a
submissive, meek and mild character with no care about its own situation,
Qaradawi explained.
Attempts
Doomed
Al-Qaradawi lashed out at all
efforts to change Islamic curriculums, saying they will solely lead to
breeding hippies loyal to the western civilization.
“They want to omit all
teachings about Jihad, pride and dignity, and set away the Qur’anic verses
on Jihad and the military expeditions of Prophet Mohamed (peace be upon him)
from his biography.”
There are other attempts to
get Muslims to forget such great characters as Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed and
Salah Eddin Al-Qayoubi and Omar Al-Mukhtar from the chapters of out history,
Al-Qaradawi lamented, referring to Islamic heroes.
