Fitnah Middle East
However glad we all are that Assad is finally gone, whoever believes that a new golden era is now dawning for Syria, in which there is an Islamic government under which people unite and live in peace, will unfortunately be deceived. The hope that this could be the beginning of an Islamic caliphate that will finally also put Israel in its place and stop the genocide in Palestine will also prove false.
The events since October 2023 mark a turning point. Informal alliances in the Middle East are gaining increasing importance, the influence of non-state actors is growing, and the order in the Persian Gulf and the eastern Mediterranean is undergoing profound change. In such an unstable environment, political, economic, or military upheavals are inevitably accompanied by conflicts. Against this background, the current tensions take on a particularly explosive dimension: it is not merely a matter of shaping a new agreement or controlling individual regions — rather, the future order of the Middle East as a whole is at stake.
The United States and Israel are pursuing a long-term strategy for the fundamental reshaping of the region. The goal appears to be to weaken, fragment, or even cause the disintegration of traditionally strong regional powers such as Iran, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and possibly Saudi Arabia as well. In contrast to the era of the "war on terror," they now do not rely on direct military occupation, but on the deliberate exacerbation of old and new lines of conflict — whether of an ethnic, sectarian, tribal, or socio-economic nature. This targeted escalation of internal tensions leads to the gradual collapse of centralized states and their replacement by smaller, weaker units dependent on external support. Such fragmented, "mosaic-like" structures are easier to control, allow direct access to resources, and prevent the emergence of new, independent centres of power.
The current developments thus appear as a continuation — indeed, even as an acceleration — of that Fitnah of the last age against which the Prophet (s.a.w.) warned. This Fitnah will ultimately seize all Arab countries and cause many people to lose their faith. Outwardly they will continue to be Muslims, but by allowing themselves to be drawn into mutual bloodshed and harbouring the intention of killing other Muslims, they expose themselves to the fire of Hell. The only way to escape this fate is to consciously keep out of the maelstrom of hatred and division and instead firmly hold fast to the values that Islam teaches us: sincere intention (niyyah), justice, mercy, patience — and above all the preservation of unity among the believers.
This time of Fitnah is not only a trial — it is also an opportunity: for spiritual clarity, for the uplifting of one's own soul, and for holding fast to Tauhid when everything else is shaken. In the midst of chaos, Allah preserves those who trust in Him, and those who remain steadfast despite everything. For in the end the victory belongs not to the mighty of this world, but to those who are sincere and patient.
There are various strong hadiths that probably describe the present situation and tell us what we are to do (all from Abu Dawud).
Transmitted by Abu Hurairah:
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said: Time will become short, knowledge will decrease, discord (fitan) will arise, miserliness will fall into people's hearts, and Harj will prevail. He was asked: Messenger of Allah, what is that? He answered: Slaughter, slaughter.
Transmitted by Abu Bakr:
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said: There will be a time of turmoil in which the one who lies down will be better than the one who sits, and the one who sits is better than the one who stands, and the one who stands is better than the one who walks, and the one who walks is better than the one who runs. He asked: What do you command me to do, Messenger of Allah? He answered: Whoever has camels should stay with his camels, whoever has sheep should stay with his sheep, and whoever has land should stay on his land. He asked: If someone has more of these, (what should he do)? He answered: He should take his sword, strike its blade against a stone, and then flee if he can.
Transmitted by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud:
I heard the Prophet (s.a.w.) say: Then he mentioned a part of the hadith of Abu Bakr above. This version adds: He (the Prophet) said: All their slain will enter Hell. I (Wabisah) asked: When will this happen, Ibn Mas'ud? He answered: That is the time of turmoil (Harj), in which a man will not be safe from his companions. I asked: What do you command me (to do) if I happen to live during this period? He answered: You shall restrain your tongue and your hand and stay at home.
Transmitted by Abu Musa al-Ash'ari:
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said: Before the Last Hour there will be turmoil like pieces of a dark night, in which a man in the morning will be a believer and in the evening an unbeliever, or in the evening a believer and in the morning an unbeliever. Whoever sits in them will be better than the one who stands, and whoever walks in them is better than the one who runs. So break your bows, cut your bowstrings, and strike your swords against stones. If people then come to one of you, let him be like the better of the two sons of Adam.
Transmitted by Abu Dharr:
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said: You must show endurance. Then he said to me: What will you do, Abu Dharr, when you see the Ahjar az-Zayt covered with blood? I answered: What Allah and His Messenger choose for me. He said: You must go to those who are like-minded. I asked: Shall I not take my sword and lay it on my shoulder? He replied: You would then join with the people. Thereupon I asked: What do you command me to do? You must stay at home. I asked: (What shall I do) if the people enter my house and find me? He answered: If you fear that the gleam of the sword will blind you, then lay the end of your garment over your face, so that (the one who kills you) may bear the punishment for your and his sins.
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