ClassicalIslam.com - The two natives of Tikrit and the fall of Baghdad

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In 2003 CE (Common Era) Baghdad has fallen once more to the foreign invaders and her ruler executed without any remorse. Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti, as suggested from his name was from Tikrit, a small town north of Baghdad. Thanks to the 24 hour media publicity, we have all come to know that Saddam was the former president of Iraq until April 2003 and was hanged on 30th December 2006 – 10th Zillhijjah 1427 AH (Anno Hegirae).

Saddam Hussein may have ruled Iraqi people harshly but one thing is very clear if we play the numbers game, under his rule of approximately 24 years there was less loss of civilian life than in three and half years of (2003-6) so-called Iraqi freedom.

Let me make this very clear any loss of innocent life is a disgrace to humanity, as mentioned in the Qur’aan murder is equal to mischief and killing one innocent soul is as killing the whole of mankind.

Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq in a very different way to another native of his hometown Tikrit, Salahuddin Ayyubi.

Salahuddin Ayyubi (c. 1138 - March 4, 1193) was a twelfth century Muslim general and warrior also from Tikrit. Salahuddin is renowned in both the Muslim and Christian worlds for leadership and military prowess, tempered by his gallantry and merciful nature during his war against the invading Crusaders from the west. In relation to his Christian contemporaries, his character was exemplary, to an extent that propagated stories of his exploits back to the west, incorporating both myth and facts. Salahuddin Ayyubi is an honorific title which translates to ‘The Righteousness of the Faith’.

These two rulers being from the same town is not the only striking similarity but both having the fate of confronting (geographically) western powers and (religiously) Christians.

The invading crusaders of the 11th, 12th and 13th century were driven by faith and blinded by wealth. These crusaders mostly peasants accompanied by some fighters had the opportunity to clash with the mightiest warrior of Islam, Salahuddin Ayyubi who was instrumental in restoring peace in the troubled region. Whereas in 2003 the invading armies driven by the hunger of oil and blinded by ego have it easy during their face-off with Saddam Hussein.

Another similar thing that comes to my mind is the propaganda statements during the crusader years, in particular the remarks of pope Urban II (Pope 1088-99) who is known for starting the first crusade (1095-99) declared that we have to free the holy land form the rule of the “Barbarians” the Saracens (from Greek sarakēnoí, which is derived from the Arabic word sharqiyyin "easterners") i.e. the Muslims. Now in the 21st century CE same propaganda ranting goes on by the new hot-word “terrorists”.

The fall of Baghdad has already happened once before in 1258CE under the rule of Abbasid Caliph Al-Musta'sim Billah (1213 - February 20, 1258) by the grandson of Genghis Khan, Hulagu Khan. This is again another similar tale peppered with the distraction of Iraq and Baghdad along with ‘The House of Wisdom’ (Arabic Bayt al-Hikma) which was a library and translation institute in Abbassid-era Baghdad. It is considered to have been a major intellectual center of the Islamic Golden Age.

The killings of hundreds of thousands of innocent people and the unfortunate ultimate fate of Al-Musta'sim Billah on 10 February 1258CE who was executed by Hulagu Khan. The Mongols did not want to shed "royal blood," so they wrapped him in a rug along with all of his sons (but one) and trampled them to death with their horses.
This destruction of Iraq and Baghdad was largely due to the lack of preparation by Muslims, who were more engaged in leisure and pleasure than building defences. It is said that when Hulagu Khan sent a message to the caliph, Al-Musta'sim, containing the following:

"When I lead my army against Baghdad in anger, whether you hide in heaven or in earth
I will bring you down from the spinning spheres;
I will toss you in the air like a lion.
I will leave no one alive in your realm;
I will burn your city, your land, your self.
If you wish to spare yourself and your honoured family, give heed to my advice with the ear of intelligence. If you do not, you will see what God has willed."

The Caliph replied, influenced by deluded promises from his Vizier that the Mongols could be driven off literally by the women of the city throwing stones at them, and did the worst of all things, nothing. He neither raised an army to defend Baghdad from the largest Mongol army ever assembled - nor did he attempt to negotiate with Hulagu Khan. Instead he sent weak threats to the Mongol warlord and paid the ultimate price by death.

What we learn from this and many other events in history is that, it repeats its self and what we do not learn is the lessons it teaches us.

“Oh our Lord, grant us the best in this life and the best in afterlife and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” Ameen.
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Researched and compiled by Iftkhar Khan (Islamic Scholar)
Webmaster of www.Classicalislam.com
Graduate of Darul Uloom London





	The two natives of Tikrit and the fall of Baghdad
	(You can discuss this article in the Classicalislam.com Forum) In 2003 CE (Common Era) Baghdad has fallen once more to the foreign invaders and her ruler executed without any remorse. Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti, as suggested from his name was from Tikrit, a small town north of Baghdad. Thanks to the 24 hour media publicity, we have all come to know that Saddam was the former president of Iraq until April 2003 and was hanged on 30th December 2006 – 10th Zillhijjah 1427 AH (Anno Hegirae). Saddam Hussein may have ruled Iraqi people harshly but one thing is very clear if we play the numbers game, under his rule of approximately 24 years there was less loss of civilian life than in three and half years of (2003-6) so-called Iraqi freedom. Let me make this very clear any loss of innocent life is a disgrace to humanity, as mentioned in the Qur’aan murder is equal to mischief and killing one innocent soul is as killing the whole of mankind. Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq in a very different way to another native of his hometown Tikrit, Salahuddin Ayyubi. Salahuddin Ayyubi (c. 1138 - March 4, 1193) was a twelfth century Muslim general and warrior also from Tikrit. Salahuddin is renowned in both the Muslim and Christian worlds for leadership and military prowess, tempered by his gallantry and merciful nature during his war against the invading Crusaders from the west. In relation to his Christian contemporaries, his character was exemplary, to an extent that propagated stories of his exploits back to the west, incorporating both myth and facts. Salahuddin Ayyubi is an honorific title which translates to ‘The Righteousness of the Faith’. These two rulers being from the same town is not the only striking similarity but both having the fate of confronting (geographically) western powers and (religiously) Christians. The invading crusaders of the 11th, 12th and 13th century were driven by faith and blinded by wealth. These crusaders mostly peasants accompanied by some fighters had the opportunity to clash with the mightiest warrior of Islam, Salahuddin Ayyubi who was instrumental in restoring peace in the troubled region. Whereas in 2003 the invading armies driven by the hunger of oil and blinded by ego have it easy during their face-off with Saddam Hussein. Another similar thing that comes to my mind is the propaganda statements during the crusader years, in particular the remarks of pope Urban II (Pope 1088-99) who is known for starting the first crusade (1095-99) declared that we have to free the holy land form the rule of the “Barbarians” the Saracens (from Greek sarakēnoí, which is derived from the Arabic word sharqiyyin "easterners") i.e. the Muslims. Now in the 21st century CE same propaganda ranting goes on by the new hot-word “terrorists”. The fall of Baghdad has already happened once before in 1258CE under the rule of Abbasid Caliph Al-Musta'sim Billah (1213 - February 20, 1258) by the grandson of Genghis Khan, Hulagu Khan. This is again another similar tale peppered with the distraction of Iraq and Baghdad along with ‘The House of Wisdom’ (Arabic Bayt al-Hikma) which was a library and translation institute in Abbassid-era Baghdad. It is considered to have been a major intellectual center of the Islamic Golden Age. The killings of hundreds of thousands of innocent people and the unfortunate ultimate fate of Al-Musta'sim Billah on 10 February 1258CE who was executed by Hulagu Khan. The Mongols did not want to shed "royal blood," so they wrapped him in a rug along with all of his sons (but one) and trampled them to death with their horses. This destruction of Iraq and Baghdad was largely due to the lack of preparation by Muslims, who were more engaged in leisure and pleasure than building defences. It is said that when Hulagu Khan sent a message to the caliph, Al-Musta'sim, containing the following: "When I lead my army against Baghdad in anger, whether you hide in heaven or in earth I will bring you down from the spinning spheres; I will toss you in the air like a lion. I will leave no one alive in your realm; I will burn your city, your land, your self. If you wish to spare yourself and your honoured family, give heed to my advice with the ear of intelligence. If you do not, you will see what God has willed." The Caliph replied, influenced by deluded promises from his Vizier that the Mongols could be driven off literally by the women of the city throwing stones at them, and did the worst of all things, nothing. He neither raised an army to defend Baghdad from the largest Mongol army ever assembled - nor did he attempt to negotiate with Hulagu Khan. Instead he sent weak threats to the Mongol warlord and paid the ultimate price by death. What we learn from this and many other events in history is that, it repeats its self and what we do not learn is the lessons it teaches us. “Oh our Lord, grant us the best in this life and the best in afterlife and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” Ameen. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Researched and compiled by Iftkhar Khan (Islamic Scholar) Webmaster of www.Classicalislam.com Graduate of Darul Uloom London

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