Muhajir Moving Between Cultures

Learning a new language in an immersed language and cultural environment: Reflections of a Muhajir learning Arabic in Yemen

“Learning a second language is a long and complex undertaking. Your whole person is affected as you struggle to reach beyond the confines of your first language and into a new language, a new culture, a new way of thinking, feeling and acting. Total commitment, total involvement, a total physical, intellectual and emotional response is necessary to successfully send and receive messages in a second language.” (D.Brown: 2004)

Ordinarily, this statement would not evoke any strong feeling in me, but at the time of reading it I was experiencing exactly what is expressed in the quote. These words struck a strong chord with me as I struggled with all my faculties to master a second language – Arabic.

My motivation to learn Arabic extends beyond the fact that I live in an Arabic speaking country, and beyond career aspirations and progression. I learn and love Arabic because it is the language of the Noble Qur’an, the language of Islam, and the language of Jannah.

Arabic is such a vast, deep language filled with the most amazing colours and flavours. Allah the Most Merciful put love in my heart for this language – something way beyond the words of any language textbook or second language acquisition theory.

I am learning Arabic in Yemen in a immersed learning environment and have participated wholly in Yemeni life with Yemenis, and indeed my whole person has been affected as I have moved out of English into my new Arabic “clothes” which are still ill-fitting but becoming more comfortable each day. And as these clothes become more fitted I notice changes in the people around me – they recognise me and interact with me more freely, whereas before, the conversations ended after initial greetings and how did I like Yemen.  But as my clothes fit me, I feel I have also changed to fit them and my surroundings.

Being of the same religion of the people meant that many of the cultural and religious practices were already familiar and understood, and of the religious specific practices, I had already practiced myself for years. So in some ways, being with the Yemeni people was like being with long lost family.

One of the beautiful things about Islam is that it unites people. I myself, from one of the big Anglophone countries with an extremely different set of life experiences to my Yemeni counterparts, find connection and brotherhood through our religion.

Moving into a new way of thinking, feeling and acting although beneficial for language mastery has its drawbacks as one cannot help but become attached emotionally to the new environment and its people. As a foreigner, it is near inevitable that I will eventually leave Yemen whether I want to or not and thus lose my new family and community.

I have indeed grown very attached to Yemen and have achieved a lifestyle I could never have as a Muslim in the West. Although I was born in that Western country and I love that country, socially just didn’t fit in and was often harassed and discriminated against due to the simple fact that I was very obviously Muslim.

After committing myself totally – in my physical, intellectual and emotional capacities, I feel I will not easily return back to my previous existence should I be forced to return, and a large void would more than likely form in my being where Yemen and its people used to be, but whatever happens at least I can take their language with me and there is nothing sweeter than being able to study the Deen of Allah in the language in which it was revealed.

Imam of al-Saleh Mosque Sana'a: President must step down

One would be forgiven for thinking that any cleric working at the Presidents Mosque is one of the scholars for dollars, however, Abdus-Salam al-Majeedi is not one of them Insha Allah.

Here are excerpts of what he had this to say about the President.

It is high time for the President and the regime to listen to the demands of the Yemeni people and depart from power. It is time for us to show the world the greatness of the Yemeni people and it has been the greatest mistake of the President to not rely on these great people.

The Shaikh also expressed concerns about the lack of organised replacement for the current regime and worries about the posibility of disunity amongst the people hampering progress and blocking the door for change as well as the increase in power of Houthis and Iranian interests.

The Shaikh said that if the regime had presented genuine reforms in the begining and actually listened to the people there may have been a path out of the current situation, but it had become very clear to him as it had to others that this is a regime that does not like the advice givers, so how would they possibly ever make peace with the demonstrators?

In the end it is for the people to decide a path that will allow for the aspirations and dreams of the Yemeni people to be realised.

(Would like to note that the Shaikh did not mention democracy as the path anywhere in the article)

Yemen in Hadiths

Narrated Ali Said al-Khudri:

While speaking to a group of sahaba, The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing upon him) said, "Verily there will come a people who's deeds with surpass yours."

We asked, "O Messenger of Allah, are they Quraish?"

The Messenger of Allah replied, "No, they are the people of Yemen."

Ibn Abi Asim in Ahaad wa al-Muthani 216/4 and declared musnad sahih by Shaikh Muqbil in Al-Sahih Al-Musnad which are not in the Sahihain 160/4

Pieces of News

Posted by Admin
The government has completely lost control of al-Jawf province in the center north of the country, not that it ever really had much control there in the first place. It is also a place where Huthis hang out besides Sa'ada. This is where al-Qaeda is very useful for the government as the "terrorist" organisation often helps out in the fight against Huthis.

Also clashes have broken out in Hadhramaut. You can read about Jawf and Hadhramout in English here.http://www.yementimes.com/defaultdet.aspx?SUB_ID=35827

Shaikh Sadeq has made public the revelation of assassination plots on big anti-government figures in Yemen. This is to be expected from the current regime, but coming from the Shaikh gives extra impetus as he is not known for dishonesty or trouble making.

Line-ups for gas are growing. I passed one yesterday of easily over 150 people long. Maybe Yemenis will need to get used to eating something other than rice and meat (no sarcasm there). It is an economic burden on Yemen to now import cooking gas when the country is a big gas supplier.

It's not just the gas but all consumer items are rapidly increasing in price

On the economic subject, Dr, Nasr al-Awlaki was interviewed on Al-Jazeera English and no mention of him being abu Anwar, which is good. The Dr. spoke only of politics (Ali should step down) and economics (Yemen falling into an abyss). 

Despite all the problems, life in most parts of Sana'a continue as per normal.

Cruising Through Town Before Curfew

Posted by Al-Ghariba

We were well aware of the state of emergency imposed curfew in the country, which is 9pm so we left our venue at 8pm. Due to road blocks and therefore plenty of doubling back as well as military checkpoints around the city, our time started to run short and we didn't want to break the curfew, although it is a common action.

We passed through the last military check point on our way to the Sitteen (major arterial road from north to south of Sanaa) and drove like Yemeni maniacs up the highway only to be stopped by yet another military checkpoint. No problem, and we were waved through and returned weaving at speed through traffic.

We had not gone even a few hundred metres when a group of soldiers ran out onto the street ahead of us with rifles at the ready pointed at us. So, we stopped, and I have to admit that my heart skipped a beat. These troops were from the Ali Muhsin part of the army which had defected to support the uprising. Once they saw that we were a car full of women they appologised and let us continue.

This sudden encounter however did not encourage us to change our driving style. But still it highlighted three things. One; erratic driving will arrouse the suspicions of soldiers patroling the streets. Two; avoid being out at night, especially foreigners. And thirdly, a new confusing situation has emerged where we do not really know which soldiers are from which army.

Ali Muhsin troops have most of the city and you are most likely to encounter them. Ali Saleh troops are mainly in the southern districts around the President's Palace, Saba'een and his big Masjid.

Take care and have an enjoyable revolution.

Stepping Up the Ante

Posted by Admin

This Friday, 25 March, the protesters have decided to march en masse upon the presidential palaces in all parts of the country. They will go armed with nothing but courage and steadfastness to the aim of deposing the President and his men. This day is being labelled "The Day of Creeping".

It is not likely that the president will welcome them openly, and all the palaces are now guarded with armoured vehicles and troops serving in the units commanded by and loyal to the sons of the President and his brothers.

Word from the protest scene is that the people are confident and unafraid of what might happen to them during this protest action. One protester intending to participate in the march said that he is not afraid to be killed because life without hope and future is like being dead anyway so he has nothing to lose in trying to change the situation even if it results in his death because he will be shaheed insha Allah and the people who remain can benefit from his actions, or he can survive and enjoy the victory. Surat al-Anfal 15-16 was then quoted:

“O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve in a battlefield, never turn your backs to them, and whoever turns his back to them on such a day unless it be a war strategy, or a retreat to a group (of your own for reinforcement), he indeed has drawn upon himself anger from Allah and his abode is Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.”

This upgrading in protest action, confidence and resoluteness could end in a number of ways.

1.       Troops guarding the palaces open fire and many protesters are killed but those not killed keep marching forward, their numbers being too many for the troops to resist and the people will take the palace.

2.       Troops guarding the palaces will open fire and then the defected army will decide to react in defence of the protesters and this will lead to the start of armed conflict between the two armies all over Yemen.

3.       Saleh will step down before Friday and mass march of protesters will be averted.

4.       Troops guarding the palaces will not defend and protesters will take the palaces unchallenged.

5.       The fifth is too ugly, and I dare not speak it, may Allah protect us from such carnage.

This is a very unusual Jihad, the unarmed Jihad, a very strange thing to behold in a land where almost everyone, young and old has a gun and often use it as a tool of justice in the case of disputes.

Sadly, a large portion of they youth reject free and fair Islamic rule feeling that the leaders will be harsh and everything will become haram. Some in their disgruntlement even uttered words of kufr. I cannot blame them for their dislike of the Islamic leaders in the country as they have become disconnected with the people.

The youth see the lives of the disbelievers as desirable and wish to copy them on that path. Having a good life with all the services and comforts in it is not haram but choosing the path of the disbelievers will only lead to further destruction of the Deen and the Ummah. We will see the result of our deeds on the Day of Recompense.

We ask Allah to make clean the intentions of those participating in this action and remind them that death in the cause of anything other than for the sake of Allah will not be accepted by Him. So don’t waste your opportunity to be Shaheed in His Sake and enjoy the rewards of the Shuhada’.

Allah protect the shabab al-Thawra and grant victory and true guidance upon the Straight Path. Amin

Rebelion Against a "Muslim" Ruler

Posted by Admin

Many of us are observing events in Yemen closely as the possibility of armed conflict balances on near even odds, however, as things often go in Yemen, something unexpected may happen, like an un-armed youth revolution. Who would have ever expected that a few months ago?

For a long time the scholars of Jihad have tried to encourage the citizens of the Muslim lands to rise up against the leaders and declared it halal to do so even against a ruler of a Muslim land because in effect he is an apostate – his actions have nullified his Islam. Because of this perceived nullification, the ruler has lost his right to obedience, and is an invader in a Muslim land implementing the laws and cooperating with the enemies of Allah to fight and kill the Muslims. In the case of the invasion of a Muslim land, Jihad becomes fard ayn (compulsory on all Muslims).

This issue has been for some time one of the most juicy and hotly contended issues of Jihad, the arguement that if the leader of the Muslims disbelieves and resists then it is obligatory to fight him fard ayn and it is even prioritized ahead of other Jihads. Think about it. If we truely want to take back Palestine for example, how can we do that when the leaders of the Muslim lands cooperate and make agreements with the enemies of Islam in regards to Israel?

The hadiths that are used to support the rulers in the Muslim lands are:

The Marfu’ hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas, “Whoever hates something from his Amir then let him be patient because whoever leaves from beneath the authority of a single hand span, then he dies a death of Jahiliyya.” (Agreed upon), and the hadith of Awf ibn Malik al-Ashja’I, that The Messenger of Allah (sas) said, ”The best of your leaders are those whom you love and who love you, and for whom you pray and who pray for you, and the worst of your leaders are those whom you hate and who hate you, and to whom you curse and who curse you.” He said, “We said, O Messenger of Allah, should we not rid ourselves of them?’ He said, “No, not so long as they establish the prayer amongst you.” (Muslim).

According to ahl us-Sunnah, these hadiths are regarding the Muslim Imam, not the disbelieving ruler. And they are not to be used as evidence concerning the apostate rulers because those people do not fulfill the conditions of the leadership (Imamah) in the first place, such as the Shari’ah knowledge and justice. Also, a valid Shari’ah bay’ah was not contracted upon them and the bay’ah would not take place unless it was upon the condition of ruling with the Book and the Sunnah just as al-Bukhari narrated from ibn Umar that he wrote to Abdul-Malik ibn Marwan giving him Bay’ah “and I will agree with you in listening and obeying upon the Sunnah of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger in what I am able.”

Abdul-Qadir ibn Abdul-Aziz (scholar of Jihad and presently in prison in Egypt – May Allah hasten his release) said that this is the condition of the rulers who rule with other than Shariah of Islam in many of the Muslim countries today. They are considered disbelievers due to the statement of Allah swt;

“And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed such are the Kafirun.” Surah al-Ma’ida 44

This ayah is clear and does not use any fancy language, it states that they are kafirun, not just committing kufr but they themselves are kafir. Some argue that if they pray then we cannot call them kafir. I will present the evidence to refute this as it was presented to me, it is up to you if you agree or not.

The way that they implement laws of their own making, they set themselves up as Lords beside Allah and decide that the laws that their hands made are better than the laws of the All-Knowing Allah swt. We find mentionings of such people in the ayat of Quran;

“…yet those who disbelieve hold others as equal with their Lord.” Al-Anam 1

“Or have they partners with Allah who have instituted for them a religion with Allah has not allowed?” ash-Shura 21

Fabricating laws and everyone involved in making up such laws are committing kufr akbar which removes one from the Millah of Islam even if he comes with the five pillars of Islam. This is what many of the contemporary people of knowledge have approved.

So it is obligatory to remove the apostate ruler if he does not have any defenses and then he must be put before the judge. If he repents then he is spared and if he doesn’t he is executed.

In the case of his repentance, he is not to be returned to power. He has lost his rights to this. Abu Bakr and Umar raa never employed a munafiq over the Muslims nor did they ever employ any of their relatives. They fought the people of apostasy and returned them to Islam, and then they prevented these people from riding horses and carrying weapons until the validity of their repentance was shown(Majmo’o al-Fatwa 35/65).

If the apostate ruler is resisting with a group which fights for him then it is obligatory to fight them and everyone who fights for him is a disbeliever like him. And this statement is supported by the statement of Allah swt,

“And whoever from you takes them as awliya, then surely he is one of them.”

Surah al-ma’ida 51

Once again a very clear statement from Allah swt so that we cannot mistake it, yet most of the ummah is mistaken!

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab and others have said that from the nullifications of Islam is the siding with the mushrikin and assisting them against the Muslims. They use surah al-Ma;ida 51 as their dalil.

Therefore all of the people who are fighting for these apostate rulers even if they say the shahada and openly show some of the outward characteristics of Islam, due to their nullification of the foundations of Islam they are to be fought. Allah swt says,

“Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah and those who disbelieve fight in the way of tagut.”

An-Nisa 76

People use the argument in regard to the apostate rulers that they pray so we cannot call takfir on them and I have presented why their Islam is nullified, the other argument is that we cannot see what is in their heart. Yes that is true, we cannot judge someone by what is in their heart, we only have the outward actions and if their outward actions are kufr akbar, and the type of kufr that nullifies Islam, then that is the end of the story, that apostate ruler needs to be removed and those who fight for him are from him and must also be fought until Islam is dominant.

The hadith of Ubadah ibn As-Samit raa explains how these rulers lose their right to obedience by their actions.

“The Messenger of Allah (sas) called us so we gave bay’ah to him. So from what he took upon us was that we offer bay’ah upon listening and obeying, during our eagerness or reluctance and in our difficult times and in our easy times and favouring the commands instead of our own desires and that we would not dispute the authority from its people unless you see an open disbelief for which you have evidence from Allah about it” (agreed upon).

The consensus is that if kufr comes from the ruler, then he should be removed. He has not right to authority and has lost his right to obedience according to the above mentioned hadith. It becomes fard for the Muslims to rise up against him and set up an imam if possible. As we have seen in many of the Muslim countries now including Yemen.

There is no difference if the invader is foreign or domestic because the reason for the obligation of the Jihad against him exists in his characteristic of disbelief just as the domestic disbeliever becomes foreign to the Muslims by his disbelief due to the statement of Allah swt:

“O Nuh! Surely he is not of you family, verily his work is unrighteous”! Surah Hud 46

Abdul-Aziz says that these apostate rulers have set up a fence of lethal alienation between the general Muslims and those holding steadfast to their religion so that it will be easy for the tawaghit to strike those who hold steadfast to their religion while being surrounded by the ignorance of the general population and their silence.

The responsibility of those who are steadfast on the Deen of Allah is to break down these barriers of alienation by informing the general population through the path of one-on-one dawa and the general dawa with the obligation of this Jihad, so that the issue of Jihad will turn into an issue of all the Muslims as opposed to an issue of the groups of the elite. It also needs that the Jihad switches from an issue of the specific population to an issue of the general population. And here the tables will turn against the tawaghit and their helpers. Then their alienation will take place after their disbelief and their crimes have been uncovered, He the Most High said,

“…and turn them out from where they have turned you out.” Al-Baqara 191

It is also important to move the issue of Jihad from the specific population to the general population because Allah does not help a people who do not help themselves as He has told us in His Book,

“Verily! Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.”

This does not mean that the whole population must participate, but a good percentage of the people to form some strength which can force the Islamic system and protect it from foreign and domestic enemies. For the rest of the population it is at least important that they are morally supportive or neutral until the truth is clarified with them because we cannot force someone to believe, that is up to Allah swt.

The Messenger of Allah (sas) started with the dawa until an assembly (Ta’ifah) was formed which had strength with which he performed Jihad against the disbelievers, thus actualizing  what Allah swt ordered him to do in his statement;

“Then fight in the Cause of Allah, you are not tasked (held responsible) except for yourself, and incite the believers (to fight alongside you) it may be that Allah will restrain the evil might of the disbelievers.” Surah an-Nisa 84

It is also obligatory for those holding steadfast to their religion to part the tawaghit from their money with which they use to recruit the armies to wage war against Allah and His Messenger. So it is unlawful for Muslims to pay money to the tawaghit in any form of tax except by necessity or compulsion. That is the unavoidable taxes that are hidden in the prices of foods, goods and services.

To recap, fighting against the apostate rulers is put ahead of fighting others besides them from the disbelievers of origin because:

1. It is specified Jihad Dafa’ – the defensive Jihad which is put ahead of Jihad at-Talab and it is Jihad Dafa’ because the rulers are a disbelieving enemy which has taken over a Muslim country. The intruding enemy corrupts the religion and this life and there is nothing more obligatory after faith than to repel it (ibn Taymiyya).

2. The fact that they are apostates and fighting the apostates has been prioritized ahead of fighting the disbeliever from origin.

3. They are the closest in proximity to the Muslims and more severe in fitnah and threat.

You may be familiar with these opinions, and whether you agree with it or not with armed struggle is irrelevant in the current climate of un-armed rebellion. It is something very special and courageous and many never thought that the un-armed protesters would ever succeed, but they have shown exemplary patience, unity and good will between each other.

Even once presented this dalil most Muslims would still have serious doubt about rising up or taking up arms against another claiming to be Muslim, especially fellow countrymen. So the youth of the new uprising are in a unique situation. No one can call them terrorists or claim their rebellion haram, although some have but are now rather quiet about it. The uprising is not linked to any particular political party, so no one can claim conspiracy by another group. They are young and they had nothing to lose by starting this unarmed Jihad against the oppressive (apostate if you prefer that opinion) ruler.

When we have an oppressive ruler, we are advised in the hadith of the Messenger of Allah not to rise up against him to help him to stop the oppression. This happened in Yemen as the President received advice from the Islamic scholars and other highly respected members of the Yemeni society to stop the corruption, stop playing games between the different groups, stop killing the Muslims, not to take America as helpers and to adhere to Islam – Qur’an and Sunnah in making decisions. He did not listen to this advice and became worse in his corruption.

Allah bless and guide the youth who had the courage to stand up against this ruler un-armed and stand fast to their demands despite the violence meted out to them. Amin.

(note: this post was to LPOY in a strange format and after some time spent editing there are still lines across the page in some places. They don't mean anything please ignore. Extracts are taken from a longer text translated into English).

Updated Advice for Foreigners in Yemen

Events continue to unfold in Yemen and safety of foreigners is thinning.

Previous advice posted on LPOY were not to participate in demonstrations and to prepare yourselves for a long stay home.

The President of Yemen has announced the dismissal of the cabinet. This in itself is nothing and I have been informed that the fired government is still there but in a different shape, or in name only - it is now a caretaker government.

However, if you compare the steps of the Yemeni President to those of the deposed Tunisian President Ben Ali, the steps are very similar. First step announces tax cuts and pay rises, second step - announces that he will not run for president in the next elections in two years time. Step three - sack the government.

Many political analysts in Yemen stay that Ali will not go without a big fight, so with that in mind I would like to remind foreigners living in Yemen to prepare well for a long stay home.

If war comes to Yemen, the initial stages will be absolute chaos and killing. It will not be clear who are the munafiqeen and who are on haq. And foreigners will likely find it difficult to navigate through these waters without local support - that is be part of a Yemeni group or tribe for protection. If you have not fostered good relations with locals you should consider leaving Yemen rather than weathering the storm.

Westerners, specifically those who chose to live in Yemen for protection of their religion - Muhajireen for the sake of Allah and choose to stay in Yemen despite serious upheaval and possibility of armed conflict will be labelled by the current authorities as terrorists linked to al-Qaeda and be blamed for the fitnah engulfing the country. These falling regimes find it easy to claim a foreign plot to overturn the government and create chaos for (unknown) gains.

I know at this time these warnings may seem sensational. LPOY does not wish to create fear and panic amongst foreigners wishing to stay in Yemen despite the problems, but to inform you of serious possibilities so to better prepare yourselves.

- Gas is stocks are very low and you may now need to pay very high prices.
- Foreign currency is almost impossible to get hold of now.
- If you are using sabafon, get yourself a sim card from another company incase the sabafon network is shut down by the government. Sabafon is owned by Hameed al-Ahmar who is the President's number 1 opponent.

Yemen State of Emergency

At last count 52 had died from the attack on unarmed protesters at Change Square near Sana'a University last Friday. Heart-wrenching is the only word to describe the sight of the stream of dead and severely injured entering the made shift hospital set up in the Masjid out the front of the university. Some of them mouthing the shahada "La ilaha ila Allah" before passing away.

The Yemeni President has announced there will be an independant investigation into the incident, which is laughable and insulting. Independant indeed!

Most reports say the shooters were "balatajia" or hired thugs. Government supporters say it was Hameed al-Ahmar, which in my view is not possible, for anyone who knows anything about Hameed, whether he is aiming to become president or not, this action seen last Friday is not his style. At least the President didn't blame al-Qaeda.

As for reports that the shooters on top of apartment buildings lining the streets in the protest areas were snipers is debatable. The fact that most victims had head, neck, chest or shoulder injuries is not suprising if the shooters were on the roof of a multi-storey building shooting down at a crowded area. However, having said that, the report that Muhammad al-Shamiri an officer from 1st Armoured Division was shot in the head suggests that there may have been snipers aiming at 'defectors', especially considering that this particular army division recently refused orders to attack protestors (reported in al-Ghad newpaper, Yemen).

Word on the street says that the shooters were not residents of those buildings and entered without any invitation from them. This goes against Government claims that some shooters were disgruntled residents tired of the protests disrupting their lives. I know that some residents are afraid and tired of all the noise and attacks, but to go so far as to open fire is unlikely.

The goverment is bleeding high level personnel. Ministers, army officers, state media employees and Ambassadors are resigning over this bloody event.

Protesters have maintained their resolve and remaining patient and un-armed. It is well known to them that the President is trying to provoke them to fight back and thus hand the government legitimacy to open up and attack with force to clear out the protesters.

We are all making du'a that Yemen moves through this upheaval without anymore horrendous incidents. But many feel this is unlikely as military equipment and vehicles arrived at the Aden port from Saudi Arabia.

What happens next is anyone's guess. Let's all hope Saleh doesn't do a Gaddafi!

View of the Sana'a University Demonstration Area

You can see the extent of the anti-Government protests at this site, InshaAllah it doesnt get blocked!

http://opinions-alaaisam.blogspot.com/2011/03/picture-showing-size-of-demonstrations.html

Updates Advice to Foreigners Living in Yemen

Prepare for the long haul. Just in-case the situation in the country spirals out of control, and you are not inclined to leave the country, prepare your house for a long stay home.

Stock up on:

Drinking water
gas
non-perishable food (cans, indomie etc)
batteries
candles and matches
Yemeni riyal and $US
medicines

Unrest in Yemen Spreading

In Jawf and Marib province tribal squabbles and revenge killings have the potential to escalate into localised tribal skirmishes.

In Sana'a protests continue. The lack of English news in the past days is due to foreign journalists being deported or hiding out. You may have notices Hisham Ahl-Bara absent from Al-Jazeera English despite the action in Yemen escalating and possibly reaching Libya-like levels.

Here is some cut and paste from Yemen Times Newspaper (in bold).

The US ambassador continued to urge Yemenis to give Saleh another chance and to sit with him at the negotiating table. He claimed that street protests will not achieve anything, as they are blocking dialogue and causing the deaths of innocent Yemenis.

Of course USA does not want de lose Ali Saleh despite the corruption and lack of human rights metted out by his regime. He is very cooperative in the fight against al-Qaeda. However, asking the people to sit and talk with him is very aggrevating to the anti-gov side. Saleh does not listen and implement. There is no trust for him, when he speaks he lies when he promises he breaks his promise.

Ambassador Feierstein believes that the potential for violence in Yemen is even worse than in Libya, considering that most Yemenis own weapons. Weak state institutions coupled with the risk of using arms is a significant concern.

This is true. Tribes in Yemen are very very well armed and not afraid to use it.

Moving on to Shaikh Zindani who has reportedly fled Sanaa to his tribal area. (Yemen Times)

 SANA’A, March 13 – A source close to Sheikh Abdul Majeed Al-Zindani told the Yemen Times that Al-Zindani moved from Sana’a to his hometown in Arhab district on Saturday as pro-democracy demonstrations grow nationwide. Arhab district is approximately 20 km to the north of the capital.

Hood Abu Ras, a spokesman at Al-Zindani’s office in Sana’a, said that this move was made in response to soldiers who have “started killing protesters to disperse them in the name of Al-Zindani.” A week ago, Al-Zindani also made a statement on state television describing demonstrations as “illegal”. His office claims that his statement was taken out of context.

On Saturday, the 26 September newspaper, a state-owned news service, sent out text messages quoting the US ambassador to Yemen, who has asserted that Al-Zindani is still considered a wanted terrorist by the US and UN.

The Yemeni government began this media campaign against Al-Zindani following a statement in which he announced his support for the pro-democracy demonstrations two weeks ago.

Al-Zindani remains a wanted terrorist by the US in spite of the fact that he leads the Islah Party Shura Council, a large wing within Yemen’s Islamist political party.

In a recent press conference, US ambassador to Yemen Gerald Feierstein said that his government would have a problem with Yemen if Al-Zindani was elected as president or became involved in any new government.

“What we would like to see in Yemen are free and fair elections. In Palestine, we have a problem with Hamas because they are a terrorist organization. As you know, Abdul Majeed Al-Zindani is considered to be a terrorist by the United States and the United Nations. So would we have a problem if he were elected president? Absolutely,” said Feierstein.

A Yemeni political analyst has said that the Yemeni regime has exploited the US ambassador’s quote, which was taken from an interview conducted by the Saba News Agency and published on Saturday.

“When he [Al-Zindani] was in the presidential palace, they [the Yemeni government] gave him their full support. But when he sided with the anti-government protests, they began campaigning against him,” he said.

Al-Zindani is the one of the most powerful and vocal religious scholars in the country. He is also the rector and founder of Iman University, a religious school based in Sana’a that is attended by more than 5,000 students.

According to local Arabic press, social figures and tribal leaders in Arhab are now taking orders from Al-Zindani.
Some local comment on this include this from "Abdullah",

It is interesting to read the level of ignorance when people can associate Islamic caliphate/governance systems with failure and regression. Those who posit the idea of a top down system and those who criticize Islamic governance are from the same elk. The rely either on the knowledge and opinion of heretics or orientalists, all of whom have a concerted interest in seeing muslims leave their religion and preventing non-muslims from accessing accurate information on various matters of the religion.

To blame Islam of not being able to provide any solutions speaks volumes of your intellectual dishonesty. I guess by your perspective, and those who share your view, the free market, unrestricted capitalism, along with rampant corruption, lack of auditing and regulation, that has permeated throughout Yemen over the past 15 years can simply be alleviated by "giving people the vote"? I do not support the Islah party or Zindani for that matter. But blaming Islam for the socio-economic regression is an argument void of any truth and logic.

There is a famous saying in Arabic, translated "your are ruled according to your condition". The condition of nation is reflected in the ruler who is in charge of them. Not all Yemenis are corrupt nor all officials for that matter. I believe there are generally some who want a reformed system but removing one person does not solve this problem.

We need to work to build upon unification by making sure that wealth is not concentrated in the north but distributed to build the entire nation. I agree with Hussein that prior to the political riots Yemen does not feel unified. The people in south feel punished as if it was there choice to pick communism. Like a human body, Yemen is suffers many maladies. But chopping off the head is not the first step for recovery.

Yemen Yarn

The anti-Government protests are not going away any time soon, but I wonder if the protesters realise what they need to do if they are successful in ousting the regime - President and his men.

The President has said he will draw up a new constitution, but the problems with that are that firstly, there isn't a problem with the current constitution, just to tweek a few of the un-Islamic aspects, secondly, why would anyone what a constitution drawn up by the current president and thirdly again there is no real problem with the current constitution except the lack of implementation! The Yemeni constitution is the best of all the Arab states.

The situation here could end similarly to what happened in Romania in 1989 when the people ousted and assassinated the President and his wife. After their victory the people thought it was the biggest party ever and they'd never have to work again. Then their lack of future planning and structure lead to what we have seen in that country ever since. The bubble of optimism burst with the continued corruption and lack of opportunities for the youth, with a brain drain of its citizens to neighbouring European countries. But at least the secret police stopped disappearing people.

The protests in Sana'a have been very well organised and the people are very united in their mission, but after than, their views range from marxism to democracy to Islamic Khalifate and the west is very afraid of the third option.

While sitting in the demonstrations to listen to some speeches, most of which were encouraging the demonstrators not to give up until they have victory, one woman spoke out and was angry about the absence of the voice of the Ulama' (Islamic Clerics). The Clerics are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Some clerics have been speaking, and one of them being Abdul-Majid Zindani, who besides being rector of al-Eman University is also the head of the organisation of Clerics in Yemen. When he speaks, his words represent all the ulema in the organisation. And he is quite clear in is words these days. He encourages peaceful resistance, condemns the use of force by the government against unarmed peaceful protestors and calls for the establishment of an Islamic state.

A Yemeni brother spoke about Amna Siyasi (political security forces) and Amnul-Qaum (bad guy security forces). He highlighted the fact that these security forces are headed by immediate relatives of the President and particularly Amnul-Qaum (which means security of the people) is a misnoma and is in fact Amnul-Kursi (security of the throne). Only the most oppressive of regimes need such a force.

More than 30 have been killed since the demonstrations started and hundreds have been injured many seriously. When security forces in Tunisia and Egypt started using live ammunition on its people the media showed the world and people were horrified, then Libya went an extra step by using air force jets to bomb areas of its people. The Yemeni Government, or Saleh and Co. have been bombing its people for a long time now and have been able to brush it off with the fighting al-Qaeda and the War on Terror claim. And with that there is no complaint from anyone, well at least not anyone who is listened to.

Allah Loves the Yemeni People

Bismillahi Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem,

Have you ever read this ayah of Qur'an and wondered about whom it spoke?

"O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion, ALlah will bring a people whom he will love and they love Him; humble towards the believers, fighting in the Way of Allah and never fear the blame of the blamers. That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower." Al-Ma'ida:54

I used to wonder about such people and made plenty of dua in my sujood, on Friday's and in Qiyam Al-Lail that Allah let me live with these people and make me be like them.

I had no idea that it was referring to the people of Yemen when I first read this ayah, but it seems Allah answered my dua on the first account. The tafsir of the hadith says that when asked about this ayah, Rasool Allah (sas) gestured towards Musa Bashi' who was with him and said, "They are these people." In the opinion of al-Tabari, they are the people of Yemen.

Not part of the tafsir of this ayah but a sahih hadith related from Abu Mas’ud that the Messenger of Allah (sas) gestured with his hands towards Yemen and said: “Belief (iman) is there” (Sahih al-Bukhari, no: 4126 & Sahih Muslim, no: 81)
In these times of great fitnah it is comforting to remember the blessings of Allah on the people and the land of Yemen. Insha Allah I will be posting a series of hadiths related to Yemen and its people throughout the coming months.

Anti-Government Demonstrations - Sana'a Yemen

Post by al-Ghariba

I was on my way to the Science and Technology University thinking it will be ok because the roads there are only blocked off until the intersection, but as I walked up Cairo Street I saw the demonstration had expanded down to Eagle Tourist Hotel and up past the Science and Tech Uni Girls Section. And the University was locked up.

I sat for a while talking with one of the women checking women entering the area for contraban (weapons) and then after being told by her that there are plenty of women at the demonstration, decided to enter into the demonstration area.

The mood and tempo had moved on so much since I last entered the area a few days ago. It was very serious now, and as I walked the "first kilometre to freedom" I was passed by protesters covered in blood and some with head injuries. A way had been permanently cleared for ambulances which were still zooming in and out of the area taking out the injured.

Those guarding the entrances to the area had set up small middens of stones ready incase of confrontation with security forces. It was clear that many stones had been thrown before I had arrived as they lay scattered down the road.

As I made my way to the Hikmah Yemenia Obelisk I was amazed at the good manners of the men in making sure they cleared a way for me as I walked through the crowd to the womens' area.

I stood in the womens' area for no more than a minute when the crowd errupted as an Army Colonel and a General were carried upon the shoulders of the demonstrators to the stage - They had defected to join the anti-government protesters. The General addressed the crowd, encouraging them to continue thet struggle, and exposing some of the sins of the army at the hands of the regime.

The atmosphere was indescribable. I was moved to tears. I wished I could have stayed but it is not a good idea for foreigners to participate in these types of political uprisings, especially when the government security forces are still so active. The most dangerous part of attending a political demonstration is leaving one, because that is when you are most likely to be followed and disappeared on your way home.

Allah barik ala al-Yemenieen wa yansoorahum ala al-qaum al-dhalimeen!

Dear Brother

Post sent to LPoY by brother "Abu Rasheed"

Dear Brother Anwar,

I hope you and your family are in good health and iman.

It's been a long time since we quenched our thirsts listening to your lectures. You changed our lives as we progressed from ignorance to understanding of our religion and great love of our Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him. Whenever a new lecture was available there'd be a great buzz, "have you heard the latest Anwar Lecture?" And if we hadn't we'd hunt down a recording.

When you were first arrested in Yemen we were all saddened. I remember sitting with my friends at a Friday gathering, all of us downcast and silent until one of us mentioned this hadith reported by Anas bin Malik.

"After the death of Rasool Allah (sas) Abu Bakr (ra) said to Umar (ra), "Let's  visit Umm Aiman (ra) as Rasool Allah used to visit her." As we came to her she wept. They (Abu Bakr and Umar) asked her, "What makes you weep? Do you not know that What Allah has in store for His Messenger is better?" She replied, "I don't weep because I am ignorant of the fact that what is in store for the Messenger of Allah is better than this world, but I weep because the Revelation has ceased to come." This moved both of them to tears and they began to weep along with her.
(Muslim)

We cannot imagine what it would have been like to be alive at the time of the death of Rasool Allah, but losing our language link to understanding what Allah the Most Merciful gave us through his Messenger was a blow to us and Allah swt did not replace you in your absence.

When you were released and started releasing lectures again it was as if the sun rose after a night of one and a half years. We don't forget you in our du'a. We hope this turmoil in the Arab lands will unearth more brothers like you who are honest and on the truth, who care about the Ummah and serve it sincerely, who think about akhira before duniya.

We love you for the sake of Allah brother Anwar.

Your brothers and sisters in Islam

A Big Flip - Better Late than Never

Post by Al-Ghariba

Alhamdulillah I had the opportunity to be present and listen to speeches made by the al-Eman University (womens' section) about the university's stance in the new political situation.

Before the opening dua, the Shaikha and head of the womens' section - Shaikha Aisha Zindani made it very clear that recording is FORBIDDEN. Then she started. "Indeed we are now in a time of great fitnah."

She justified her fathers previous stance and his appearance of being with the government as a matter of situation and justified his change in this stance as a matter of Islamic responsibility. She spoke candidly about the political situation, the government and the President. For once I was hearing an Islamic leader speak about politics without tap dancing. It was great, but the hall was filled at times with audible gasps of shock as students could not believe what they were hearing.

Many Yemenis really cannot imagine their country being ruled by anyone other than Ali Abdullah Saleh. The Shaikha asked the gathering upon being asked who will rule if Ali goes, that Ali Abdullah Saleh is corrupt and will not change, when he speaks he does not keep his word and is not to be trusted, he is the one who allowed the American forces to enter the country and allows them to kill Yemenis. Is there not anyone in Yemen better to rule than him? Are there not any pious men, men of Islamic understanding, men who fear Allah and act in a good way? Of course there are many good men in Yemen.

It is a sign of the final era (akhir zaman) that those least appropriate to take positions of authority will rule. Islam stipulates that someone who seeks power should not be given it. Basically, leaders are appointed without their asking and it is up to them to accept or decline.

The University is not with the protesters as such, except in wanting change. It was expressed often that now is the opportunity to work towards an Islamic state in Yemen as as students of al-Eman University, we were important in these steps. Advice was given, that if we speak against the system and propose other Islamic alternatives we must do it with good speech, no cursing or vulgar language.

The women of the university were reminded not to join demonstrations, not because demonstrations are haram for women, but because of the environment - mainly because of the squash of people it is not appropriate to be squashed up against a man in order to wave a flag and shout down the government. The university has in the past organised demonstrations for various issues for women so that women can have a voice but in an appropriate manner.

The ending statement was one of hope that a fair and just Islamic state could be established, and insha Allah if Yemen exited this current turmoil peacefully it will be much better than before the turmoil. Allah grant us a fair and free Islamic state free of fear from being bombed out of existance should we succeed in its establishment. Amin.

Shaikh Zindani Changes his Mind - Alhamdulillah

This post written by Al-Ghariba

I mentioned once before that I doubted a full scale uprising was unlikely in Yemen due to a number of factors but one of them being that Islamic leaders, especially Shaikh Zindani, the rector of al-Eman University in Sana'a, said that uprising against the government is haram because the leader - Ali Abdullah Saleh - establishes the prayer.

The Shaikh maintained this stance for years and anyone who spoke out too loudly against him in this stance may have had their house vandalised by thugs (every big character has a gang of thugs to do the dirty work) or banned from his university.

Now he has finally taken a more Islamic political stance by publically supporting the anti-government protests and calling for the establishment (I am not sure how loud he said that), of an Islamic state. That's great news but I would be hesitant to follow him in case he changed his mind again if he gets a bit scared of stronger characters.

Western media covering this are quick to remind us that the Shaikh is an al-Qaeda sympathiser (that's just one step down from being actual al-Qaeda) and that he is a specially designated terrorist (specially designated by America of course).

Since I am on the topic of a Shaikh speaking out against the government, I might now turn your attention to a speech televised on Yemen's Suhail channel of Shaikh Tareq al-Suwaidan from Kuwait. Summarising heavily, he said that the president of Yemen is a liar and the people of Yemen should not believe any of his words in regard to his intended actions and are within their rights to uprise against him.

Yemen Protests Continued

Today is billed to be a big day in the protest scene of Sana'a and this morning I could hear the distant chants emminating from the anti-government camp out the front of Sana'a University. I personally am taking the day off to avoid traffic and possible security problems.

As I walk around my area of Sana'a the traffic is noticeably sparse and a few trucks full of pro-government protesters with their President colour portraits zoom past, both sides emboldened, not just to speak out, but to hurl obcenities to pedestrians. Which leaves me to ask, what will happen with all those colour portraits if the President goes. What a waste of materials. I could never understand a dictators need to plaster his face on every spare surface. Smells of narcicism. But it gives anti-government protesters more to deface and destroy.

And what about all the sons of fallen and falling dictators, do you think they'd be pissed with daddy, "Hey dad, you've ruined my future! Now I will never have the opportunity to see my face plastered all over the nation and suck the money of the people."

The Yemeni President spoke to his cronies, and this was aired on local and international news channels, and he said to them, if I go, you all go, look what happened in Tunis and Egypt, the people got rid of the whole system, so think about it and be careful. True, if the pin is pulled on Saleh, it hopefully would be pulled on his associates, and similarly if Saleh pulls the pin on corruption he will be pulling the pin on himself. It's lose lose for now and the protesters are gaining momentum, and as I saw them, I was suprised by their organisation and management. Small scale I know, but nothing in Yemen bares much of the signs of fluid organisation.

I am not participating or observing protests actively but as it is the biggest news in Yemen right now I would hate to ignore it so I'd like to recommend this Yemen blog for protest commentary. Yemen Peace Project