All after listening to the Nasheed of the "Islamic State"
Background
It was a day ago when this writer heard a remix of the nasheed being played by the so-called "Islamic State" of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), known by western media as ISIS as they accurately refer the Levant as Syria.
The "Islamic" State, ruled by the ruler "Caliph" Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, waged a war against both Syrian and Iraqi governments as it tries to occupy and eventually expand in the name of their Caliph and of the religion. That however, most Muslims around the world hath opposed them for being against the rule of war such as unjustly killing captives and destroying other places of worship, including Masjids in certain towns of Iraq; as well as their interpretation of the Shariah law in which far from being just such as compelling people, no matter how peaceful they live, to just accept Islam (according to their interpretation actually) or face death by firing squad.
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| "Caliph" Abu-Bakr Al-Baghdadi Self-Proclaimed "Caliph" of the Islamic State |
These instances somehow made residents of some occupied villages, regardless of their religion, compel to leave instead of stay and face the consequences. Hundreds, if not thousands of refugees dare to leave theirs towards unoccupied ones such as those defended by the Iraqi army. In Syria, Islamic State forces used the civil war as an opportunity to expand and wreck havoc in the name of their 'faith', that somehow made other Islamic armed groups like Hizballah, Kurdish self-defence forces, troops of the Syrian and Iraqi army continue to fight against them. And ironically, Al-Qaidah's Al Nusra Front also battled against them as well, also despite waving the same flag as theirs alongside the banner of Jihad.
Back to the main topic, this writer had listened to the their nasheed and yes, it's like any other Jihad-invoking nasheeds they glorify war as well as the Caliphate. According to their propaganda, their mobile propaganda teams played the nasheed in every occupied town, as they're trying to impose their so-called "governance" that stresses their interpretation of the Shariah law.
Actually, in an earlier article made by yours truly, nasheeds reflect their religion and culture, particularly in music (since most conservatives within the Islamic religion prohibits instruments except the daff drum). Towns occupied by the Islamic State prohibit any kind of music except their nasheeds, and social media sites supported by the said entity dare to produce videos of their actions with their music being played as its background; that, somehow made people around the world described their music as 'scary' as the religion itself.
And as according to an article made by Euronews, The song was released at the end of 2013 by the Ajnad Media Foundation, as according to Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, a Shillman-Ginsburg fellow at the Middle East Forum. For Al-Tamimi, the Foundation is actually an ISIL-founded “media unit specialized in jihadi audio chants.” Its very existence suggests nasheeds are crucial to the militant group.
And according to Behnam T. Said, a Scholar, the nasheed “is a mighty song with a powerful and hopeful message which comes from a position of strength not of weakness,” a stark difference, he says, “from older songs which often underline the status as a small opposition confronting a mighty state and its security forces.”
Al-Tamimi goes as far as to say that this nasheed “has become a quasi-official anthem for ISIL.”
And as according to an article made by Euronews, The song was released at the end of 2013 by the Ajnad Media Foundation, as according to Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, a Shillman-Ginsburg fellow at the Middle East Forum. For Al-Tamimi, the Foundation is actually an ISIL-founded “media unit specialized in jihadi audio chants.” Its very existence suggests nasheeds are crucial to the militant group.
And according to Behnam T. Said, a Scholar, the nasheed “is a mighty song with a powerful and hopeful message which comes from a position of strength not of weakness,” a stark difference, he says, “from older songs which often underline the status as a small opposition confronting a mighty state and its security forces.”
Al-Tamimi goes as far as to say that this nasheed “has become a quasi-official anthem for ISIL.”
The lyrics, music,
and the response from commentators
In a writeup made by Al-Tamimi, he also featured his translation of the said nasheed. He also stated that in the stanza "in which there is the law of the Lord of the Worlds", Al-Tamimi had made clearer that the 'which' (hā in fīhā) refers back to ad-dawla al-islamiya (the Islamic State), thus perhaps better to render the line: "So that the religion may be established in it: the law of the Lord of the Worlds."
Here are the translated lyrics of the said song:
"My Ummah, Dawn has appeared, so await the expected victory,
The Islamic State has arisen by the blood of the righteous,
The Islamic State has arisen by the jihad of the pious,
They have offered their souls in righteousness with constancy and conviction,
So that the religion may be established, in which there is the law of the Lord of the Worlds.*
My Ummah, accept the good news, and don't despair: victory is near.
The Islamic State has arisen and the dreaded might has begun.
It has arisen tracing out glory, and the period of setting** has ended,
By faithful men who do not fear warfare.
They have created eternal glory that will not perish or disappear.
My Ummah, God is our Lord, so grant your blood,
For victory will not return except by the blood of the martyrs,
Who have spent their time hoping for their Lord in the Abode of the Prophets.
They have offered their souls to God, and for the religion there is self-sacrifice.
The people of giving and granting are the people of excellence and pride.
My Ummah, accept the good news: the Sun of Steadfastness has risen.
Verily we have marched in masses for the hills: the time-honoured glory,
That we may return the light, faith and glorious might,
By men who have forsaken the dunya*** and attained immortality.
And have revived the Ummah of glory and the assured victory."
*- The Shari'a**- Metaphorically, the language of sunrise and sunset.
***- The material world.
In spite of its so-called message of "hope" to Muslims through a "Caliph", not all would admire its feats as reality had showed its real intention. As said earlier, even Al-Qaidah's Al Nusra Front also battles against them despite waving the same flag as theirs. Come to think of this, if this modern-day Caliphate tries to unveil its glories, how come most muslims disagree with them such as its own version of the Shariah law? Perhaps Al-Baghdadi is far from the just of Abu-Bakr, and the righteousness of Omar Al-Khattab, and the magnificence of Suleiman al‐Qānūnī.
And to most people, seemed quite scary though thinking that the song had become synonymous to the cause of the so-called "Caliphate" of Al-Baghdadi. Actually, certain uploaders in YouTube had afforded to upload the nasheed as well as others featuring the so-called "feats" of the "Islamic State" such as its flag, its men brandishing their guns, as well as their war booty. There are even commentators, other than assailing them (and worse, Islam in general), had afford to put ridicule such as:
Be good to hear this at the Olympics...... If it lasts that long!"
***
This writeup, although posted under "Kultura" portion of this page, is not meant to popularise the said group through its nasheed. This writer, although a Christian and a Deist, had been listened to nasheed and savor its meaningful message including those speaking of Jihad. If this writer may ask, if ISIL is the Mujahid, then how come Hizballah or the dreaded Al-Nusra is also a Mujahid?
Yes, Dawn will appear as what the nasheed said, but that dawn is not the dawn, nor the glory, what Al-Baghdadi had proclaimed.