The Oil Factor

Given it’s shiny human rights record, history of war and occupation- it’s difficult to believe Washington’s commitment to democracy outside it’s own country. Their backing of Kosova has nothing to do with commitment to either democracy, freedom or human rights. You guessed it right- it’s about oil. Again.

Kosovo does not have oil but its location is strategic as the trans-Balkan pipeline – known as AMBO pipeline after its builder and operator the US-registered Albanian Macedonian Bulgarian Oil Corporation – will pass through it. (Source)

More recently,

on January 10, Swiss-based Manas Petroleum Corporation broke the news. Gustavson Associates LLC’s Resource Evaluation identified large prospects of oil and gas reserves in Albania, close to Kosovo. They are in areas called blocks A, B, C, D and E, encompassing about 780,000 acres along the northwest to southeast “trending (geological) fold belt of northwestern Albania.” (Source)

So then. It’s also good to reckon that Kosova is the second largest foreign military base of the US. Oil is important. That’s what makes Kosova important. Good thing is, it worked in their favor. It could have been otherwise.

History and Politics

Serbs (and their friends) claim that Kosova is integral part of Serbia, which is not correct. It was conquered and ruled by the Serbs for about 250 years before the Ottomans conquered the whole region in the 13th century AD. In 1912, after about 600 years Serbs conquered it back from Ottomans. In the meantime, the cultural and political linkage between the two regions got severed.

When in late 1990s a revolution broke out, the Serbian forces reacted with gross human rights violations. The UN intervened and set up a “autonomous” government within Serbia. The government of Kosova, ever since it was installed in 1999 has not actually been a autonomous one. EU and NATO (US in particular) has a lot of say in how the country runs. The three previous Prime ministers are known to have been involved with illicit activities. The new government?

It will be run by an appointed High Representative and bodies appointed by the U.S., European Union and NATO. An old-style colonial viceroy and imperialist administrators will have control over foreign and domestic policy. It is similar to the absolute power held by L. Paul Bremer in the first two years of the U.S. occupation of Iraq. U.S. has merely consolidated its direct control of a totally dependent colony in the heart of the Balkans. (Source)

The US wants to secure it’s oil, and more ambitiously- to control the flow of oil. It is ready to pay a lot of money for that- shown by it’s rather costly occupation of Iraq.

There are fears that this will cause further instability in the region. There are opinions that Kosova should have stayed within Serbia. I shall not get into that debate after Kosova is already independent. We should focus on future taking the present into account.

Future

As the Kosovars have affinity towards the US and they share some strategic interests with the US, it will not be wise to try to get US out of Kosova. The presence of US forces give security to this tiny country of 2.2 million.

The US is not going to protect them for ever. In the meantime, as the US is busy building on it’s own interests, the Kosovars should build their nation.

Politically it’s very difficult for a population of 2.2 million to remain unwary of a hostile neighbor- Serbia. It is good (if not essential) to establish strong political and economic ties and treaties with Albania, B&H and Turkey (the biggest power in the neighborhood and a NATO member.) An amicable merger with Albania will not be bad- since Kosova is so little and landlocked. Last but not the least- the Serb minority should not be oppressed- Allah does not love the oppressors.

A honest and hardworking society (which are essential qualities of an Islamic society ) can form the backbone of the nation. A just and swift judiciary and police force ensure the health of a nation. It is a good time for Daw’ah. However, one has to be careful in a society that has seen little Daw’ah for a long time. It may be met with hostility unless Daw’ah is sympathetic.

Trade and industry provide backbone for a state. If too many countries do not recognize Kosova (recognition is another interesting ball game) it will be difficult to engage in direct trade with them. It will be good if Kosova is eventually recognized.

Kosova is rich in minerals- making heavy industries a possibility. Oil is nearby. The technical colleges should incorporate material, mechanical, civil and petroleum engineering heavily into their courses, if they are not doing that already. Automobile and aviation engineering can come later.

Medical training has to be taken seriously, and free healthcare for the poor only brings Barakah to the state. A good healthcare system will bring health tourists from the Arab countries who now head for UK or India.

There should be enough support for students of every useful stream (including deeni ilm) to ensure that a single talent does not go untapped for lack of money.

Building good road and railway network is essential for growth. They help fight unemployment and generate expertise. Are well worth the money and effort due to their long term gains and implications. But no IMF/World Bank loans please. How about attracting some FDI from the Arab states (seeing that they have funded the war)?

It’s a scenic place with not much rain. Perfect for a film industry, I would imagine.

Prayer

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Kind

I hope and pray Kosova takes it’s freedom very seriously, and flourishes both spiritually and otherwise.

Amen.

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We feel angry and frustrated about the problems that the Ummah faces, and often complain about them. Nobody listens, which leads to yet more frustration.

But to complain alone is a mistake. To solve a problem, we must not stop at pointing it out. Rather, we should offer a solution and work on it. Thus the following is a humble attempt at offering such a solution, based on the advice found within the Qur’an and Sunnah.

The future of the Ummah? [Source: dlemieux]

Help Thyself

“God helps those who help themselves.” – an English proverb.

No other society is going to help us either (besides, what can they avail us, without Allah’s help?). It is a difficult world, and we have to emerge from it triumphant without becoming cruel.

The best way to begin helping others is by helping oneself. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“A person who teaches others while neglecting his own soul is like an oil lamp, which illuminates others while burning itself out.”

[Source: Sheikhy Notes]

Let us try and become the best in our field. Allah says in the Qur’an:

So lose not heart,
Nor fall into despair;
For ye must gain mastery
If ye are true in faith

[Meaning of the Holy Qur'an 3:139, Yusuf Ali]

Allah will help us if we try, insha’Allah. He knows what is in our hearts, and takes our intention into account. Even if we fail, our sincere effort will certainly be recognized – a beautiful loan lent to Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala.

The Ummah is a single body: if one part of a body becomes wounded, and does not heal, it loses blood. The body needs to cure itself; we need to take care of the needy and the sick amongst us. Who knows when we may fall into poverty? What goes around, comes around.

We should live in proximity to others in the Ummah, in order to be aware of the needs of those close by. One cannot achieve a great deal when living far away from those who need help, which is why the order of rights first belongs to our family and relatives, then to our neighbours, and then to the rest of the Ummah.

The Goal is to serve, not to be admired

The intention for any charitable act should be to serve Allah by serving the Ummah; it should not be for one’s ego or any worldly interest.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) foretold of a time when the nations will try to devour the Muslims. The reason, he said, will be that we shall fear death, and we find in the Qur’an about those who fear death:

But they will never seek for death,
on account of the (sins)
Which their hands have sent on
Before them.

[Meaning of the Holy Qur'an 2:95, Yusuf Ali]

This verse was originally revealed in relation to the Jews of Madina, but it has general implications. We are afraid of death when we know in our hearts that we are committing crimes; when we have become too attached to the material world; when the true Goal has become blurred.

Give the Benefit of the Doubt

Trust is essential for unity of the Ummah.

I read a beautiful Hadith the other day:

Someone gave the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) honey; he asked Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) what it was. He said, “Honey, O’ Messenger of Allah.” He asked Umar ibn Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) [the same question], he said, “Honey, O’ Messenger of Allah.” Then he asked Ali ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), who tasted some and then said, “It is honey, O’ Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon be him) said, “The one who tastes, knows.”

In other words, the one who verifies, knows. We forget that. We hear something about somebody, and immediately believe in it.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) discouraged dispensing punishment before a crime has been proven beyond doubt. Unless we have clear proof, we do not know. Therefore it is better to make excuses for the brother/sister, or at the least, avoid passing negative judgement.

Let us also start being Muslim. Allah wants us to be Muslim, and not a Sunni, a Shi’a or a Sufi. We may have different opinions, but please, please do not let these differences become “tribal”. We only stand to lose from that.

There is no “Quick Fix”

As Yasir Qadhi said at the Texas Dawah Convention: we must not expect to change everything in a second. We must not hope that people will accept what we say the moment that we say it. We have to be patient: with them, and with ourselves.

Do not be bogged down by pessimism

We have a decent life to lead, and a lot to look forward to; let not the disturbances spoil our day.

In addition, when we witness a misrepresentation of Islam, we must not only stop at saying: “this portrayal of Muslims is wrong.” We should go on to point out how we want to be perceived: as kind, generous and honest people, who have the courage to stand up for justice and equality. And most important of all: we must go on to really behave in that manner, in order to please Allah, and for the benefit of all of mankind.

To close, I shall quote Shaykh ibn Ahmed Darqawi:

“If you want to treat your enemy with what is duly deserving for him, preoccupy yourself with the love of the Beloved, for if you preoccupy yourself with hate and enmity then the enemy gets from you what he wanted and you have the lost opportunity to love the Beloved.”

[From his Epistles, 13th Century]

With Allah’s help, we shall succeed.

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The Earth was at the center of the universe. The movement of the stars above the moon decided the fate of the world below. This was the science of Aristotle.

The scholars of the new Islamic empire, established when the Roman Empire had given way to the Christian Byzantines, began to translate Greek books. They were astonished by the originality of the Greek sciences in measuring and determining the orbit of the stars. Whereas the Christians of that era had been extremely suspicious of such “pagan” texts, the Caliphate had been continuously absorbing books and sciences from Greece, Rome, Persia, India and else where, since the early days of its inception. During this time, the Greek sciences were subject to criticism and development; a process especially highlighted when they became difficult to reconcile with religion.

For example, Islam says that man decides his own destiny, whereas all the Greek philosophers, including Aristotle, believed that the movement of stars decided man’s fate (astrology), thus leading to an inevitable clash of ideas. The problem was eventually solved by the abandonment of astrology; the new breed of philosophers were simply observing God’s universe to know Him better, and not to determine the future. However, in spite of a fierce attack from Islamic Jurists, it cannot be denied that some astrologers remained (people love to know their future – so much so, that they are ready to invent it).

Greek science, as a whole, tended to be theoretical. Although very often the philosophical discourses were shaped by experience, philosophers never went back to Nature to verify their assumptions or conclusions. They thought man, being rational and the best of living beings, could understand the universe by thinking.

It didn’t work. Aristotle, for example, assumed that human beings must have the most number of teeth, because man is the best of all the animals. All he had to do was open the mouth of one of his students, do the same to his horse, and start counting; he would have soon realized his error – but he never did.

We cannot decide how the universe “should work”. To learn about the world around us, we must observe it and find out how it “does work”. We can even go one step further, and demand that all the conclusions we draw should be verified by experience. This idea, that all theories must be verified via experimentation (or in other words, must be consistent with our observations), is known as empiricism, and is the principle upon which modern Science (with a capital S) is hinged.

The scientist whose work first reflected this idea was ibn Al-Haitham (or Al-Haytham; 965 – 1039). In his own words:

“the seeker after truth is not one who studies the writings of the ancients and, following his natural disposition, puts his trust in them, but rather the one who suspects his faith in them and questions what he gathers from them, the one who submits to argument and demonstration”

Portrait of Al-Haitham on the Iraqi dinar.

In brief, Al-Haitham is credited with “inventing” Science. In less passionate terms, he invented the Scientific Method; and because of that, he is recognised as the first scientist.

And quite a scientist he was. He was the first to experimentally demonstrate that light travels in a straight line. He invented the pin-hole camera, determined the laws of

refraction, and established the field of experimental psychology. In addition, his analysis of the Greek models of the universe led him to conclude that they were inadequate and faulty.

Al Haitham published his most famous book, Optics, around 1015 (the exact year is unknown).

What is really exciting is that we are now approaching a thousand years from the publication of Optics. In other words: we are approaching a Thousand Years of Science, thousand years since Science earned a capital S.

(Logo of 1000 years of science designed by Fara.)

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