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How to counter the obstacles in the way of the progress of the Muslim Societies?
Research and investigation on finding causes and factors of the East’s backwardness in general, and the Islamic societies in particular, is one of the issues which stems from the previous centuries and ages, and all the time the freeborn thinkers and scientists who have come on the scene of the research, have studied this foremost problem according to the existing circumstances and conditions of their own age. And, sometimes research and investigation goes beyond the domain of the Eastern people’s studies and has driven many Western scientists into discovering these causes. However, what has played an important role in leaving their researches unfinished and their being unsuccessful is the unsuitable atmosphere for following up as well as the authorities’ inattention towards these activities. As witnessed by the history, from among the previous freemen and thinkers there were individuals such as “Sayyid Jamaluddin Asad Abadi’, “Iqbal Lahuri”, “Sadr”... who discovered some of the roots behind the Muslim’s weakness and decline and endeavored to remove these problems; however, governance of the brutal kings and influential agents of foreigners in the society has taken away from them the power for any activity, and for undervaluing their thoughts, they have buried all their endeavors and hardships under a great deal of unvalued historical events. While, at present that many years have passed from their lofty thoughts and ideals, the world’s freemen are admiring them yet.
When colonialism faced with the Islamic thoughts and struggles in the Muslim countries and found out that by spreading and disseminating the true Islamic ideas and thoughts, it could not dominate over the Muslim countries, by exact and long term planning in line with their goals, planed to cause to dry the roots of thinking and seeking remedy of the Muslim nations for finding main causes behind the backwardness, and close the door on economic and cultural development and progress for them and keep them always in the state of need and backwardness; however, in a manner that the Muslims do not recognize their plots and always be in double ignorance. Therefore, for attaining this goal, they likened the way to the by-way and by instilling ideas and very trivial causes or even the harmful ones prevented Muslims from thinking and striving to find out the main causes and on the other hand their puppets drove the nations towards more decline and weakness in line with their masters’ targets. So that, Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says in this regard: “Unclean hands and sickly minds gradually deflected people from the matters underlined by Islam after the Messenger of God, engaging people with only trivial matters and neutralizing and occasionally driving them to raise voice to general public concerns needed by Islamic countries. This was a diabolic design.”
The Muslims and backwardness
Of course, it is undeniable that the Muslims themselves have a share in their weakness and backwardness; since they are indifferent to the current affairs of their societies and in their turn exacerbate the factors affecting their backwardness and only, in times, in the Arab states seemingly they gather round through holding conferences and different meetings to examine the factors of the Muslim societies’ backwardness, the results of which will be put aside by finishing the conferences. Regarding these conferences, Hadrat Imam says: Those aspects that were important at the dawn of Islam were not at all important among the Muslim countries... Now, too, when meetings are arranged to see what must be done, it is not evident whether they go beyond speeches-—and who gives a better speech! It is not like they really observe why we are backward and find the solutions as to what are the things that can rescue us from this backwardness and follow them up and take action. Not that every year or every few years we hold a meeting where people from every place come, deliver a few speeches, recite verses of poetry and a little about Islamic issues and the needs of the Muslims and after departing from the meeting everything basically remains the same and neglected as before.”
Now, the Islamic lands are filled with ignorance, negligence ... without the Muslims being in the think of it and, undoubtedly, unless the Muslims desire, they will not succeed. As to the Muslims vigilance, Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) such says: “My advice to the Muslim nations is: Do not look for outside help in achieving your goal, which is Islam and implementation of the Islamic rules. You yourselves must rise up and undertake this vital issue which will make liberty and independence a reality.”
The need to tackle with the Muslims’ problems
As it was pointed out, one of the causes of the former thinkers and combatants’ lack of success has been the absence of the fertile ground for exerting and implementing their policies in the society. And, at all times, there were agents in the Muslim societies who have contended against these expediencies. However, the important matter at the present time is the existence of such fertile ground for raising these thoughts and ideas. Since. on the one hand, a country like Iran is ready to receive, study, and nourish the ideas, and, on the other hand, the Muslim world is now greedy to attain the solutions and is ready to receive any kind of suggestions to deliver itself from the yoke of the imperialism. Now, the Muslim oppressed nations are like the latent energy, which can explode the world with a little spark; for, day by day, the Muslims become more flamed with the hatred and disgust they have in their hearts from their enemies.
Uniqueness of the Islamic Revolution of Iran compared with other movements
With a cursory glance at the Muslim countries records during the recent decades, we will observe that though the Muslims have been in the state of backwardness and weakness during last years, at times in every corner some movements took shape by the freeborn Muslims, and sometimes they attained success to some extent which after a while it was removed as a result of discord and differences. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolution of Iran was an exception to the rule and despite facing many problems, it achieved considerable successes. Undoubtedly, the most important factor which was effective in the victory of the Revolution was the leadership of “Hadrat lmam Khomeini’ (may God’s peace be upon him). And it was his high thought and ideals which kept the Revolution safe and sound amid the problems and disorders. Since, he had discovered the causes behind backwardness and also factors of victory over infidelity and, on the other hand, had coincided his policy with the religion and piety, and simultaneously with struggle in the trench of politics, he, too, campaigned in the trench of science, jurisprudence and ijtihad and as such his teachings took root in the beliefs of the world Muslims and he ruled over the hearts.
Thus, we are duty-bound to seek assistance from the lofty thoughts and ideals of this great man of history and thus pave the way for the Muslims’ growth and perfection.
The factors behind the Muslim societies’ backwardness from Imam Khomeini’s viewpoint
What is the cause, indeed, that such the Muslim nations have remained behind from the civilized world? The Islam, which has a very shining past and there was a time when the scope of its conquests had encompassed many places of the world and its expansion of science and knowledge astonished the world. Now, what has happened that it has crept into a corner and the neocolonialism has infiltrated into it a lot? The Islam which in the confess of the western scientists themselves is the infrastructure of the West’s civilization, and all sciences, from technology and industry to the human sciences, are driven from Islam, in such a manner that Gustawlobon in his work entitled “Civilization of Islam and Arab” quotes the French scientists as saying, “If the name of Islam had conic out of the history, the age of the European restoration of science would have fallen behind for several other centuries” and he, too, states in another section of his book “if civilization of Islam did not exist, there would be nothing of the present civilization”
His eminence Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) also, has repeatedly referred to the Muslims’ grandeur and splendor in the past so as to the Muslims awaken and make endeavor to restore their prestige: “The Muslims are those whose greatness once conquered the world. Their civilization excelled all others; their spirituality was of the highest caliber; their officials were the best; the vastness of their lands was greater than all others; the power of their government dominated the world.”
However, what has happened to the Muslims now that they are in such a weakness and abjectness condition!? The farer the Muslims got from the very beginning of the Islam, the more became the power of their weakness and lassitude, and while their number and also their facilities increased at any moment, their lands became smaller and their power weaker, and foreign agents, on the one hand, and internal crisis, on the other, paved the ground for the Muslim societies’ backwardness.
The enemies’ hostility toward Islam
When the true religion of Islam was established, the oppositions and saboteurs reached their climax since, Islam was always against power- seeking, oppression and tyranny, and if Islam were put into force, undoubtedly the imperialist and oppressor would not survived any more. However, the more the Islam flourished and found more followers, the more became oppositions and saboteurs and the colonialists did their best to annihilate Islam. As, his eminence Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says: “The left and right imperialists have agreed to struggle hand in hand to destroy the Islamic nation and Muslim countries, repress nations, and plunder their enormous capital and natural resources.”
They had well found Out that if the Muslims perceive the real notion of Islam and be bound up in it, hegemony over them and also colonizing and exploiting them is not easily possible; since they are followers of the Messenger and are from among the descendents of the same people who at the very beginning of Islam had humiliated many of the enemies of Islam with a few human forces and hoisted the glorious flag of Islam over the highest summits of the world.
Struggle with the basic pillars of Islam
Since, the imperialism and the pledged enemies of Islam found out the harm of Islam for their interests, initiated an all-out struggle against it and, in this line, did not withhold from any strategy and plot. They knew that the only way for domination over the Muslims and keeping them backward is removing them from Islam. And, the only possible way for struggling against Islam is eliminating its basic principles and pillars. The enemies knew that the Qur’an is a book which has linked the Muslims with one another and as much as the Islam is beloved between the Muslims, ruling over them is not possible; therefore, they opposed with Islam, so that Glaudeston, the ex-prime minister of England, said in the parliament of this country: “as long as the Islam is dear before the Muslims, the Christians have no ease, it is incumbent upon the Europe to conceal the Book behind the Eastern women’s veil.”
Also, after the conquest of Alexandria and murdering its people by Napoleon Bonaparte, he said: “in case, you wish to annihilate Islam and the Muslims, you ought to take them away from the adhan (prayer-call) and Qur’an.”
On the other hand, they understood that in addition to the Quran, scientists and the Islamic scholars, too, play an important role in the advance of the Islam’s goals. Moreover, they will face with some obstacles on their way. Thus, as far as they could and can make endeavor to keep away the committed scholars and scientists from the scene of politics and eliminate them along with the Qur’an. His eminence Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says in this regard: “The only thing which can come between the imperialist governments and me. and not allow their control over the resources of the Muslim countries is Islam and its distinguished ulama’... The imperialist governments’ original plan is to eliminate the Qur’an, Islam, and the ‘ulama’... From their long years of experience, they have realized that the eminent ‘ulamã’ of Islam and honorable preachers have led the nations toward Islam and the Qur’an through their constant efforts and that they have never yielded to the threats and allurements in favor of the tyrannical regime and plundering foreigners. Through utmost effort they have made the mosques and religious assemblies at the service of the Holy Qur’an and dear Islam.”
Neocolonialism and backwardness
One of the main techniques, which the imperialism made use of it to rule and dominate over the weak and oppressed states, was military inroad and military expedition to these countries, in the manner that through placing their military power in the colonized country, the colonialist powers started plundering and looting their resources directly. However, by advance of the world and awakening of the Muslim and oppressed nations, the imperialism confronted with numerous problems which prevented it from military attacks and inroads. However, the more painful matter which was definitely more hazardous than the military attacks was creation of a phenomenon named “Neocolonialism”. Even though, there were not in this kind of imperialism any military attacks, it was filled with ideological and cultural inroads. In the neocolonialism the country under hegemony will gradually be alienated with its identity and dignity and will open his eyes when there is no hope; since in that country the imperialistic thoughts will take roots in every corner and, like a cancerous tumor, will bereave the society of all its possessions and take away its power for any kind of activity and improvement. The framework and goals of the neocolonialism are as follows: 1) Infiltrating and spreading the imperialistic culture in the colonized country; 2) Eliminating the original culture of that country, and 3) Ruining cultural legacies and eliminating the glories of that country.
Depicting the condition of a country under hegemony of the neocolonialism, his eminence Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says: “the nation must remain backward the Qur’anic and Islamic culture be antiquated; laws violated; and corruption and debauchery be taken to the depth of this mourning place called Iran so that the neocolonialism can easily continue its plunder while its ill-reputed agents can pound the head of this cemetery with luxury, pleasure and wealth-accumulation. Through the noise of progressive country and its blowing of horn, this strange country must be pushed back and deprived of the necessities and main concerns of a developing country... and if they ever breath, their sound will be suppressed with a bayonet so that oil reserves and other minerals of ours can be plundered and nothing but suffering, hardship, imprisonment, and torture for the Iranian nation will be left.
And, at the present time, the cause of regret is existence of this great danger in the Muslim countries, and many of the causes behind the Muslim societies’ backwardness are originated from this very matter and unless the Muslims be in the thought of remedy, they will always be under the rule of the neocolonialism.
Disunity and backwardness of the Muslim societies
One of the important ways which throughout the history has been used for weakening and declining the deprived and oppressed states is adding fuel to disunity and discord; since, when discord and division is created in a society and every group and gang of starts quarrel and dispute with other groups, undoubtedly, that society will not attain prosperity and success and will at any moment fall towards decline and adversity. It is likely that a society has a huge potential power, but because of lack of unity and consolidation among the individuals, it will forever remain in the state of weakness and stagnation.
From among the factors which has caused weakness and backwardness among the Muslims is this very issue; despite having a tremendous power and many human forces, the Muslim ummah has always been witness to the aggression and hegemony of foreigners. And, disunion and discord are from among the factors which inflicted irretrievable losses upon Islam and so much bloods shed and persons murdered for this ominous plot and the discord affected all the Islamic issues and affairs. His eminence Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) has pointed out to the great power of the Muslims in a part of his statements and such states the reason behind the backwardness and weakness of them while having many number and powers: “Muslims are a population of more than one billion, but unfortunately because of the disunity that exists among them and because of the lack of foresight that is present in their governments, they have not been able to achieve the power that Islam has foreseen for them.”
In his memoirs, the spy of England in Muslim countries says: “the English Ministry of Colonies dispatched me to Egypt, Iraq, Tehran, and Hijaz to collect enough information for finding and strengthening ways for creating disunity among the Muslims...” His eminence Imam, too, reckons the key to victory of the Muslims in the very beginning of Islam as the aftermath of unity and lack of dispersion: “The secret of the triumph of the Muslims at the advent of Islam was in their unity of expression and the power of faith. It was the power of faith that caused a weak army to overcome the great number of the Roman Empire”.’
Dispersion of Power
After the completion of investigations in the Muslim countries by the enemies, they found out that as long as unity and concord exist among the Muslim countries, and they are correlated to each other from the geographical perspective, it is impossible to infiltrate among them and to keep them in the state of weakness and backwardness for exploitation. Then, they planned to firstly separate the Muslim countries from one another and then attain their goals easily. Following this plot, after the World War I, they overwhelmed the great Ottoman Empire. Hadrat Imãm such says in this regard: “Maybe some of you remember the international war, the First World War, and what they did with the Muslims and the great Ottoman State. The Ottoman State was that state which would sometimes prevail in its conflicts with Russia, while other governments could not stand up to her. ‘The Ottoman State was a Muslim state, whose power spread almost from East to West. They realized that as long as this Muslim state with such power existed, they could not do anything, they could not rob the region of its wealth. So after their victory in the First World War, under those circumstances, they divided the Ottoman State into a number of petty states. At the head of each of these states they placed a king, an amir, a sultan or a president.”
In the ninetieth century, after the European ideational developments (Renaissance), each of the Muslim countries fell under the sway of one of the great powers. At that time, a main part of the North Africa was colonized by France. Italy took a greedy view upon the Ottoman Tripoli and Arabia and Yemen fell into the hands of the wahhabis who were nourished by the imperialistic powers. Iran severely became a protectorate of England and Russia and the intense competition between these two powers in Iran and Afghanistan inflicted irretrievable losses. The Ottoman capital changed into the current Turkey which was administered by the English policies. Indeed, the imperialism’s infiltration into the Muslim countries dissipated the scientific, economic and cultural basis of the Muslims.
However, though the Ottoman rulers themselves had many deficiencies and weaknesses, the existence of an emperor, to that extent, had rendered a great power for Islam and after the Ottoman division, the colonialists endeavored through taking the reins of these small governments not to let the Muslims reestablish such a great emperor. His eminence Imam says in this regard: “There once existed the Great Ottoman State. And that, too, the imperialists divided. Russia. Britain, Austria, and other imperialist powers united. It is true that the most of the Ottoman rulers were incompetent, that some of them were corrupt, and that they followed the monarchial system. Nonetheless, the existence of the Ottoman State represented a threat to the imperialists. It was always possible that righteous individuals might rise up among the people and, with their assistance, seize control of the state, thus putting an end to imperialism by mobilizing the unified resources of the nation. Therefore, after numerous prior wars, the imperialists at the end of World War I divided the Ottoman State, creating in its territories about ten or fifteen states. Then each of these was entrusted to one of their servants or a group of their servants.”
Thus, the enemies of Islam who were for years in the pursuit of dealing a blow to, and wiping out, the Islam, took the first step and removed the basic unity among the Muslim countries and gradually paved the ground for their backwardness, weakness and decline.
After the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, imperialism planed to create discord among the Muslim countries.
Differences among the Muslim states
When the enemies reached their old desire which was the very division and disintegration of the Muslim countries, they smoothed the ground for alienating the Muslim countries from one another through more activities. They had well perceived that Islam has connected the Muslims to one another, though they be from different nationalities; therefore, they made plans to create rift among the Muslim countries and strived to infiltrate into the iron will power of the nation by adding fuel to the flames of discord and disunion. They endeavored a lot in this direction. Some of the heads themselves were puppets and agents of the colonialist powers and many others were in step with their goals unwantedly or because of some causes.
Unfortunately, as yet these differences have a wide scope, and this is itself an important factor for the Muslims weakness and decline. His Eminence Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says: “If the governments come together the nations will also come together. But there are some governments who will not allow the different nations to cooperate. The Islamic government and the Muslims will meet with no obstacles if they unite. There will be no power stronger than Islam. This is because there is a milliard Muslims in the world.”
In another place, while reproaching the Muslim states for their differences, Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says: “Why should the Islamic governments be cut off and separated from one another like this? Why don’t the Islamic countries realize that it is Islam that they (the imperialists) have in their sights? All the people are alive to this; why not the governments? Until when must we and our governments be under foreign domination ... Why don’t the Muslims wake up?”
When dispute and discord among heads of the Muslim countries reach its climax, it is apparent that the scope of its flames will also reach to that country’s nation and people, and consequently, rancor, enmity and hostility will exacerbate at the heart of the Muslim world. Under such circumstances, the Muslim power will be exhausted, and its weakness and inability will day by day be increased.
Racism and aggravation of negative nationalism
Racial discrimination is one of the techniques which the imperialism makes use of it for weakening and declining the Muslims. Instilling the idea that, for example, the Arab race is superior than other ones or the Aryan people are prior to others, it makes endeavor to create rift among the Muslims. Unfortunately, at the present time, it has been to some extent successful in this way.
This issue has caused bloody conflicts and disputes as a result of which the Muslims should find themselves and diffuse this technique of the (world) arrogance, since all of them are Muslims and followers of the Qur’an, and as a united nation. Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) such states this plot of the (world) arrogance: “The West has used one great deception to influence, tempt or intimidate the governments of Islamic countries... That great deceit which debases the Muslim governments and distances them from the Qur’an is this race business. This man is from the race of Turks. he has to do his ritual prayers in Turkish. This one is from the Iranian race; his alphabet should be as such. That one is from the Arab race, Arabism should govern not Islam!!!... The Aryan race should rule not Islam……!”
However, the important matter is the Muslims’ adding fuel to these kinds of differences. Every day heads of the Muslim states breathe into this fire of imperialism by using titles such as “Arab”, “Arab nationalism”, “the society of Turks, Kurds...” and make it more successful in reaching its goals; however, what the Muslims ought to take into consideration is that aggravating the differences will, further, pave the way for the weakness and decline of the Muslims, while these kinds of differences have been resolved among all the nations and these deeds are very naïve and reactionary. Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says in this respect: “Let us see where this racism, which is being developed amongst these men and is increasing and is encouraged, leads us. This racism is a childish affair and it is as if they are making children play their games. They are making the heads of the governments play their games... Sir, what are you, where are you from? We should do such and such for our own country! ... and I don’t know where it will lead to... There are no Turks and Iranians, Arabs and non-Arabs. Islam is the pivotal point for all Muslims. Why should these kinds of revolutions be created in each of these countries? Why should fronts be created between Muslim governments?”
Sectarian differences and provocation of prejudices
The heaviest blows which during several decades ago have been dealt upon the holy body of Islam originate from the differences and biases in creed and sect. So that, it has inflicted the most vital losses on the Muslim society and now it suffers from numerous afflictions in this regard, since whatever the scope of these differences extends, discord and disunion among the Muslims exacerbates and consequently not only the Muslims lose their thinking on construction and unity for reaching to development and welfare, but also oppression, corruption and treachery reach their pinnacle.
Since time immemorial, the imperialists were thinking to find ways for creating difference among Muslim sects and for this purpose they have brought up many specialists and seasoned ones and have dispatched to the Muslim states.
In his memoirs, Mr. Hemfer states: “the English Ministry of Colonies dispatched me to Egypt, Iraq, Tehran, and Hijaz to collect enough information for finding and strengthening ways for creating disunity among the Muslims...”
Through causing differences such as Shi’ism, Sunnism and creating and provocation aggression among them and provocation of the partial and biased individuals like wahhabis, the colonialist powers have been able to some extent to achieve their sinister targets. As, Hadrat Imam says: The agents of the foreigners who see that their interests and the interests of their masters are in danger, in order to provoke the Sunni brothers and fan the flames of fratricide, have put forward the Shi’ah-Sunni issue and with this mischief they seek to create a rift between brothers.”
If we went a little back to the past, we would observe that what killings, wars, rancor, and enmities have taken place because of this. And, at this juncture that all the opponents are hand in glove and have been mobilized to wipe out Islam, some of the Muslims, instead of standing alongside each other, are supporting these differences and arc aggravating it and are weakening Islam and the Muslims more than even before. Indeed, if the Muslims, instead of attributing blasphemy and profanity to each other, become united and put aside the sectarian differences and struggle with their common enemies in one line, will they have any doubt in gaining victory? Hadrat Imam had well got the point and it is not out of reason that he at any time speaks of the unity among the Muslims: “We have no disagreement with our Sunni brethren. We are all of one nation and Qur’an”.3. In another place, addressing the Shi’ites who are leaving for the Hajj, his eminence Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says: “Iranian brothers and Shiites of other countries are required to avoid all ignorant actions, which might be a cause of separation within the lines of Muslims. They are also required to attend the gatherings of Sunnites and avoid attending and forming prayers in houses or setting up loud speakers to oppose them. They must avoid genuflecting on the holy tombs and doing whatever is not in consistent with the sacred law at all cost.”
The imperialists not only are creating disunity among the Muslims but also are planning to strain the relation between the Muslims and non- Muslims; for example, the Muslims clashes with the Hindus are a good example in this regard. Every year, in India and Pakistan many oppressed people of the two sides are killed because of these religious differences and biases, without thinking a little where from these differences originates.
Unity and solidarity in the Imam Khomeini’s word
Since his eminence’s (r) struggle against the imperialism, he has always warned the Muslims about the danger of disunity and disagreement and has repeatedly announced it as one of the root causes of the Muslim nations’ lack of success and development. In many of his speeches, he has called the Muslims for unity and pointed out to its aftermaths. In a part of his speeches, he says: “If nations and governments want to attain victory and attain the Islamic objectives in all their dimensions, which are for the happiness of mankind, they must cling to the rope of God and hold fast altogether by the rope which Allah stretches out for you, and to shun differences arid division and obey the command. . Thus, in order to achieve independence and freedom, Muslims must get hold of this key to victory and try hard for unity of expression. You the leaders of governments must pursue this Islamic objective and shun hostility and antagonism with your brothers.”
In another place, Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) introduces disunity as the source of all misfortunes: “Be aware that differences and dissensions are the sources of all miseries and slaveries.” In another place, the Imam knows the victory of the Islamic Revolution indebted to the unity of expression: “You overwhelmed and triumphed over powers, and the satanic power of the ex-Shah through your unity of expression”.’ In conclusion of this discussion, we shall pay heed to the Imam’s word on disunity and unity in his religio-political testament: “What is important for the Iranian people and the Muslims of the world today and In the future, is to challenge this divisive and destructive propaganda. My recommendation to the Muslims... is to react strongly to these conspiracies and consolidate their unity in any possible way, in order to disappoint the Kuffar (disbelievers) and Munafiqin (hypocrites).”
Being under the influence of the Western culture
When a society loses its cultural identity and originality, and resorts to the traditions and customs with which its existence and nature arc alienated, undoubtedly, it will not succeed. Scientists are on the belief that, throughout history, one of the root causes of civilizations’ decline has always been cultural corruption and taking influence from other cultures.
Islam has such a sublime culture in which all the issues related to the mankind’s happiness and welfare has been recorded and if it is acted accordingly, there is no doubt that the society will succeed. As, Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says in this regard: “You know and have seen in history that the Muslims of the very beginning of Islam while having a few number united and with their faith overcome in less than a century, since they were together and the weapon of faith was at their disposal .. You observed that a nation which had a few number and no weapon and had no warfare and military force, but because of having faith it prevailed over a demonic power which all the powers, and not only the superpowers, were following it.”
However, imperialism had found out that in case the spirit-giving ideals of Islam are implemented in the Muslims’ societies, it can never be able to infiltrate into the Muslim lands. Hence, by spreading the imperialistic culture which has no goals behind except leading the Muslims to corruption and backwardness, it planned to make the Muslims deviated from the main direction of Islam, so as through the corruption and decay of them and alienating them from their original culture it can achieve its goals. Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says in this regard: “Culture is the source of a nation’s happiness or misfortune. If the culture is not sound then the youth who are trained in this unsound culture will, in the future, create corruption. The imperialist culture produces imperialist youth for the country. A culture which is created by the designs of others—and it is the foreigners who lay their plans for us then hand them over to our- society in the form of culture—is an imperialist and parasitic culture. Such a culture is a weapon more lethal than anything else: it is even worse than the arms of these , for their weapons eventually fall to pieces, as they have done now. But when the culture is corrupt, our youth. who form the foundation of our society, are lost to us; they are trained to become parasites, to become infatuated with the West.”
In another place, referring to this ominous plot of the (world) arrogance and warning the Muslims about its danger, his eminence Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says: “One of the most effective conspiracies that unfortunately has left an undeniable mark on the nations, including our own, is the alienation of the people of colonized countries with their own cultures. In other words,’ Westernized’ or ‘Easternized’ intellectuals became alienated with their own cultures and they came to regard the people related to the superpowers as having superior culture and race compared to that of their own. They looked upon the superpowers as their Qiblah and thought that affiliation with one of the two poles of power is an inevitable issue.
Then Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) refers to the consequences of this ominous plot of the (world) arrogance as such: “This sad story has a lengthy background. And the blows we have received, and still receiving, are seriously devastating and fatal. Another unhappy and mischievous target plotted by the superpowers is to prevent the oppressed and colonized nations from progression and keep them backward in order to make them consumers rather than producers.”
When the imperialistic culture infiltrates into a society, corruption and debauchery increase as well, the consumer policy rules over it, lassitude and languidness prevails over that society, and gradually the true Islam is eliminated and substituted with the western prosaic culture. Apparently, under such circumstances the imperialism can reach its goals easily; as Hadrat Imam says: “A time when the malicious claws of the imperialists have penetrated the depths of Muslim countries and by all possible means they endeavor to dissuade the Muslims from resorting to Islam and the Qur’an so that they could easily attain their inhuman objectives which are the exploitation of the deprived class.”
Spreading corruption in the name of civilization
Claiming that it wants to submit its culture to the Eastern society, the West commits various crimes and corruptions. And, whenever it is protested, raise the name of civilization. In order to infiltrate its culture into the Muslim societies easily, the West calls it civilization and in this manner it names the freemen who challenge these cultural inroads reactionaries and protestors of the civilization, and unfortunately this intrigue has inflicted a vital blow upon the body of Islam. Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says frankly in his word: “We are not against development and progress, but we are opposed to the expansion of the foreigners’ culture and also prostitution. We are not against cinemas; we are opposed to brothels. We are not opposed to radio, it is prostitution that we are opposed to; we are not opposed to television; what we are opposed to are services rendered to foreigners for keeping our youth backward, and the dissipation of our manpower. When did we ever oppose modernism and its processes? When manifestations of European modernism set foot on eastern shores, particularly in Iran, instead of utilizing this (great) center of civilization, we were pushed into savagery.”
Corruption in the educational system
For spreading the imperialistic culture, the imperialists has taken some measures from among of which we can refer to the establishment of Western schools aiming to make the future generation acquainted with foreign culture so that, that generation disremembers its original culture. For example, the educational advisor of Italy in Eritrea ordered in 1938 that: After finishing the fourth year of the primary school, students have to be able to speak Italian language well, and it is sufficient for them to know from the science of history and its figures only those who have been the cause of grandeur and greatness of Italy.
It is not causeless that Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) shouts that the educational matters ought to be taken into consideration and be based upon the true basis. He says: “Foreigners and their activities emptied our schools and universities of any content... We must do our best for many years to come so as to strip off our second nature and come onto ourselves and stand on our feet... We should start with children and our only aim should be turning western man into an Islamic one.”
Referring to this great danger in his testament, too, Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says: “One of their (and the enemies’) major plots.., is to take over the educational institutions, especially the universities”.
Corruption in the mass media
One of the means which the West always makes use of it to corrupt and stupefy the Muslim nations is radio, television and the press. In case the mass media of a country turns into the propagandistic means of the imperialists, and only undertake the duty of propagating and disseminating the culture of imperialism, how one can expect that the Islamic precepts be put into effect in that society. Since, radio, television and the press are from among the means which if they are used in the proper way and are based on the Islamic norms, they will bring about happiness, and if, God forbid, they fall into the abyss of corruption and destruction, they will deviate the strata of the society, particularly the young generation, from the true path of Islam, as Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says in his religio-political testament: “Radio, television, the press, the cinema, and theaters are the most effective means for stupefying and corruption of the nations especially the younger generations. During the past century, especially the second half of it, great plots were hatched and executed through these media against Islam and its faithful servants, the clerics. The mass media are used, also in the colonial propaganda networks of the West and the East. They have been used to create markets for goods, especially for the sale of luxury and decorative commodities. The media are focused to make people imitate other cultures particularly in areas like clothing, consumption of alcoholic drinks, styles of architecture, and in many other things. To look Westernized was the thing to be proud of. Especially ladies in higher or middle income groups imitated the westerners in all forms and manners.”
Making obscene and immoral films, exciting the young women and men’s lusts, and leading the Muslims astray, the imperialists endeavor to keep the nation away from being awakened and thinking of construction and development, and cause them to remain in negligence forever. In the colonized countries, magazines and the press are only encouraging and inciting the nation for the materialization of the imperialistic goals and make effort to expand the colonial culture of the West. As Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says: “Television films depicting Western or Eastern products made young men and women stray from the normal course of their work, throwing life and industry into oblivion irrespective of themselves and their personalities and produced pessimism in people vis-à-vis their own beings, their country, and culture and even about highly valuable works of art and literature, of the West and the East through the treachery of middlemen and collectors. Magazines printed pictures and articles detrimental to morality. Newspapers took pride in directing the youth towards the West or the East by publishing anti-Islamic and anti-indigenous culture and articles.”
However, it does not mean that the mass media are of no value, but they are very valuable if they are programmed in line with the lofty teachings of Islam, they will be very successful. Referring to this issue, Hadrat Imam says that the very radio and television, which are so harmful can be used in the way of proper propaganda: “The radio and television arc media to which great significance is attached for both positive and correct propagation as well as negative and corrupt propaganda”.
In another place, the Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) counts the radio and television more important than any other publicity means: “The importance of radio and television is higher than all other things”.
Proposing separation of religion from politics
When Islam and politics are linked together and a composition of the Islamic policy is formed, undoubtedly it will succeed; since according to the history only with an ephemeral glance on the Islamic Revolution and its solidarity against the innumerous problems this will be clarified. Was there anything but the political sense and Hadrat Imam Khomeini’s commitment to Islam (r), the key to the victory of his leadership? What caused him to enter into the hearts? And what caused him to progress in the most dangerous political issues? Was it anything but the Islamic politics?!
When imperialism discovered this foremost issue, it concentrated its endeavor on it to separate religion from the policy of Islamic states and gradually drive the true religion of Islam into isolation. If we take a look at Turkey, we will observe that a country which has once been the center of Islam and from which the power of Islam has been originated, now has disregarded all the Islamic disciplines and took step towards misfortune and decline. As, Kamal Pasha (Ataturk), one of the kings of Turkey, believed: for the country’s advancement, all the disciplines and customs as well as the Eastern heritages have to be put aside and all over the country have to be transform into a European country. His slogan was the westernization of Turkey and all his measures were taken in this line and at present we observe that how Turkey is declining for its political and social problems.
In the Islamic states, imperialism gradually started disseminating the idea that faith and religion is only peculiar to the illiterate and ignorant ones and its place is only in the tombs and mosques and Islam is unable to administer the society so as to take the solidarity and proper Islamic biases away from the society and alienate them from their national identity and then follow their ominous goals. In this way, through instilling these doubts, they are planning to remove the religious ones and on top of them the great range of the clerics from the scene. As, Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says: “The covert hands of the global usurpers have, with the help of local individuals and groups that have penetrated into the various strata of the Muslim nations, been working on a certain evil plan for many years now. And they have unfortunately succeeded in spreading a general belief that the clerics should be isolated in their chambers and in the mosques and that the activities of their seniors should be confined to visits from their homes to the mosques and back, with no involvement whatsoever in social issues. And that any involvement of the clergy in socio-political affairs should be tabooed since it would be against the dignity of the clergy! Subsequently, the duty of the young ulama was to simply crawl into the damp chambers of their seminaries and to study religious books that had nothing to do with social and political affairs. According to them, it would be most improper for a cleric to ever don a military uniform...”
The imperialism went ahead so much as even the political interference is considered as sin and crime. In many of the Muslim countries, if a person who has a scientific and Islamic status interferes into the affairs of the society, he will act contrary to his own standing. Since, the imperialists introduced the politics as telling lies and resorting to trickery. In this respect, Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says: “They have from the first instilled the idea that politics means telling lies and the like so as to dissuade you from the countries affairs and they be busy with their own job and you busy with saying prayers. You sit down here and they do what they wish, commit what debauchery they wish.”
The word of the martyr of the path of freedom and independence, the late Mudarris, is yet in the minds who said: “our religion is the same as our politics”.
Indeed, does the materialization of the point that the religion and the politics are linked together give honor and dignity to Islam? And doesn’t it pave the way for its progress and growth?! Certainly yes.
Poverty and exploitation of the Islamic countries
One of the main causes which has always hindered the Muslim countries from growth and advance is poverty and exploitation which has been caused by the imperialism and it is exacerbated day by day. However, it is surprising that why the nations which have access to the best wealth and the richest resources, live in poverty and indigence? While, these nations can with such a great deal of capital have a great industry and technology. If we glance our eye over Africa, we will observe that in many of its parts there are great resources of gold, silver, lignite, and aluminum however, it is always in the state of poverty and hunger. Also, there are rich resources of petroleum and gas in the Middle East; however, they are backward compared to the world of industry and technology. While describing these courtiers, Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says: “... The nations which, with enormous populations, vast lands, precious natural sources, a very brilliant history and culture as well as heavenly laws, under the bondage of imperialism, are dying of hunger, are entangled in nakedness, poverty, misery and backwardness, and are waiting for their death...”
For finding the cause of this great affliction, it is enough only to take a look at imperialism’s record in the Muslim countries.
Through various techniques in the Muslim countries and in line with their ominous goals, the imperialists are plundering the oppressed and deprived nations of the region. Without the Muslim nations being in the think of a remedy, the imperialists are endeavoring to annihilate the potential economic infrastructure of the Muslim countries by plundering their natural resources and then place the Muslims in the state of backwardness and poverty and exploit them through various techniques. As, Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says: “It is wonderful that the main resources like petroleum which has turned into the means of other states’ progress and development are more often in the Eastern and Muslim countries; however, unfortunately, the imperialists are robbing your wealth while you ought to flatter them, Indeed, this God- given wealth which should be the cause of progress, elevation and development of this region’s people and free them from what has been the cause of their bondage and misfortune.”
Conclusion
Yes, indeed, so long as the imperialists are such infiltrating into the Muslim countries, the Muslims will never experience the sweet taste of progress and happiness, so long as Islam is not revived among the Muslim nations and its issues are not materialized exactly, we can never achieve growth and elevation and so long as the ominous shadow of hypocrisy disunion, poverty, exploitation and alienation from the cultural originality is cast among the society, how one can expect prosperity and independence?! Now, we are living in an age when a moment of negligence equals to a great deal of backwardness and affliction. Undoubtedly, if the enemies of Islam find the scene empty, they will make use of our weakness and will consider no mercy and compassion lawful to the Muslim world and will keep us from all aspects in the state of weakness and backwardness. As, Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says: The aim of America and all the hegemonic powers is nothing other than keeping all the weak counties in a state of backwardness in all aspects: cultural, economic, political and military. They cannot have any plan other than to benefit from our resources and those of the other backward countries; and this is the cause of all the pressures in all respects being brought to bear on us.”
Thus, we ought to be in the think of remedy and discover the main causes of weakness and backwardness and take steps for their adjustment. The founder of the Islamic Republic Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says in this regard: “It is my hope that the Muslims of the world learn of their afflictions and the origins thereof as we approach the turn of the century and it is my wish that by means of multilateral unity as well as reliance upon Islam and under its glorious banner that they sever the shackles of slavery and procure their freedom from colonialist nations. Having recognized the pains that they are enduring as well as the fact that they have seen nothing but difficulties, barbarities, and crimes from the diabolic superpowers, Muslims today must achieve a solution by uniting and seeking divine help from the Almighty and our holy religion, Islam.”
In another place, Hadrat Hadrat Imam Khomeini (R.A.) says in this regard: “This era is not the time for Muslims to sit idle and watch them (foreign powers) going on with their plundering. This is an era when Muslims must rise up and dissociate their country from the influence of foreign (powers)”.
Now it is a time when we require struggle, endeavor, and sacrifice, and along with unity, consolidation and solidarity and also the God’s help, the victory will be imminent.
“Oh Muslims of the world, poor of the world under the hegemony of the oppressors, rise up and unite and defend Islam and your destiny and don’t fear the roar of the superpowers, for this century as God will is the century of domination of the poor over the superpowers and right will prevail over wrong.”
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