JIHAD IN MINDANAO - no light at the end of the tunnel

It has been some decades ago since the inception of modern jihad of the people in Mindanao, the Bangsamoro or the Moros. (This is termed ‘modern jihad’ because it is conceived just about four decades ago, and the proponent groups are still active up to now – the MNLF and the MILF.) And these four decades of struggle is supposed to have born fruit if compared to the jihad of Prophet Muhammad’s 23 years. This is considering the advanced telecommunications and transportations today, and Mindanao is only very small compared to what is now Saudi Arabia. During the time of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), they were only using horses and camels as their mode of transportation and communication. No cars, no airplanes, nor cellular phones or the internet.

But he was a prophet, some may say. But nay, he was also a human being. The only advantage he had was his good judgment or prudence regarding tactics and strategies. In Islam, the basis for good thinking is piety and sincerity, or righteousness. Then certainly Allah will help in strategizing. However, I did not categorically say that Prof. Nur Misuari and the late Ustadz Salamat Hashim have dubious personalities – it is up to you to evaluate. Mine is only a personal analysis. Whether you agree with me or not is upon your own discretion.

The other factor of failure to succeed on jihad in Mindanao, aside from leadership, might lay on the philosophy practiced by the two groups. MNLF is more on nationalism, and the MILF is the Sunni Islam (more likely it is a Wahhabi branch of Sunnism, or a Salafi). I do not mean to create dissension here if I have inevitably touched of sectarianism. Like it or not, sectarianism is “in the air”. I am just trying to somewhat dissect here what I think is another cause of our failure to establish an Islamic system of life in Mindanao. Whether you are a Sunni or a Shia, it does not matter much, stay where you are and just think or reflect of the good points being discussed here.

Everywhere in this world, not a single Muslim state that stood up against the onslaught of imperialism, or the ever mysterious Zionism, had succeeded except the Islamic Republic of Iran. Khadafy of Libya is now tamed. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, everywhere, they are at the mercy of Zionism. Iraq and Lebanon do seem to see a light at the end of the tunnel - how ever much they are in big trouble nowadays. And the school of thought of these Persians (and majority Iraqi and Lebanese) is the Imamate. Right, they are Shiites or Shias. They are shias (followers) of the Islam of Ali ibn Abu Talib, the right-hand man of Prophet Muhammad and his legitimate successor.

Once and for all, if we Moro people could not succeed until now with all the privileges and recognitions given to us by the International bodies (the UN and OIC) and even by the Philippine government itself (the ARMM), then maybe it is time to experiment with the Imamiah school of thought. We have never been united under the present ideologies. Perhaps under this Imamiah can we get unified like the mighty Iran.

Come on, think of it. Give it a break. Let us free ourselves from bigotry. Let’s accept the truth and be free from ignorance. Let’s get united and free ourselves from oppression. Ask those who know.