"Historia inadhihirisha wazi, hata hivyo, kwamba hadithi ya Waislamu wenye msimamo mkali kusambaa duniani kote na kulazimisha Uislamu kwa nguvu ya upanga juu ya mataifa yaliyoshindwa ni mojawapo ya hadithi za kubuni zisizo na mantiki kabisa ambazo wanahistoria wamewahi kuzirudia." --De Lacy O'Leary Kila wakati serikali za Magharibi zinapotaja silaha za maangamizi makubwa (WMD) na Waislamu kwa pumzi moja, vyombo vya habari vya Magharibi mara moja huingia katika hali ya taharuki kubwa, vikiwaonya watu wao kwamba tukio la maafa makubwa ya kiwango cha kutisha linakaribia kutokea.

“History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated.” --De Lacy O'Leary Whenever western governments mention weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and Muslims in the same breath, the western media immediately breaks into a wild frenzy warning its people that a catastrophic event of epic proportions is about to unfold.

Hadithi za zamani za Ulaya kuhusu Waislamu kueneza Uislamu kwa upanga zimebuniwa upya ili kutoa picha kwamba Waislamu ni hatari sana, hawawajibiki kabisa, na hawajali sana uhai wa binadamu. Kwa sababu hiyo, kauli mbiu ya kuzinyang'anya silaha za maangamizi makubwa nchi za Kiislamu imekuwa kilio cha vita cha Magharibi dhidi ya ulimwengu wa Kiislamu.

Old European fables of Muslims spreading Islam by the sword are reinvented to convey the impression that Muslims are extremely dangerous, highly irresponsible and pay scant regard to human life. Hence the mantra of disarming Muslim countries of WMD has become the rallying cry of the West directed against the Muslim world.

Katika baadhi ya matukio, hoja hizi hupanuliwa ili kuhalalisha sera inayoendelea ya Magharibi ya kubadilisha tawala nchini Syria, Iran na huenda Pakistan. Hata hivyo, utafiti wa kina wa utawala wa Kiislamu wa zamani unapingana na hadithi maarufu ya Magharibi kwamba Waislamu ni watu wenye kiu ya damu, wanaotamani kuwaangamiza wengine wote wa binadamu kwa jina la Uislamu.

In some cases the arguments are extended to justify the West’ s ongoing policy of regime change in Syria, Iran and perhaps Pakistan. However, a close study of Islamic rule in the past contradicts the popular western myth that Muslims are bloodthirsty people anxious to wipe out the rest of mankind in the name of Islam.

Lakini haiwezi kusemwa hivyo kuhusu Magharibi. Magharibi, ikiwa na itikadi yake ya kisekula na mtazamo wake wa kimaada wa dunia, ilienda mbele kuwanyonya, kuwapora na kuwakoloni watu wengi ili kudhibiti rasilimali na kuongeza utajiri.

The same however, cannot be said about the West. The West armed with its secular doctrine and materialistic world-view proceeded to exploit, plunder and colonise vast populations in order to control resources and maximise wealth.

Katika harakati za kutafuta utajiri huu mpya, Magharibi ilifanikiwa kuharibu ustaarabu mwingi kama vile Waincas, Wamarekani Wenyeji, Waazteki na Waaborijini. Wale walionusurika ukoloni walilazimishwa kubadilishwa dini kuwa Wakristo, wakanyang'anywa urithi wao na kuuzwa utumwani kwa kampuni za Magharibi. Kwa watu wa asili wa Afrika, India, Asia, Mashariki ya Kati na wengine, ahadi za uhuru zilitoweka haraka na nafasi yake ikachukuliwa na utawala wa kikoloni. Badala ya kuonyesha majuto kwa vitendo hivyo vya kikatili, Magharibi ilishangilia tu mafanikio yake.

In pursuit of these newfound riches the West succeeded in destroying numerous civilisations such as the Incas, American Indians, Aztecs, and Aborigines. Those who survived colonisation were forcibly converted to Christianity, stripped of their heritage and sold into bondage to western companies. For the indigenous people of Africa, India, Asia, Middle East and others, the promises of freedom quickly evaporated and were replaced by colonial rule. Rather than show remorse towards such atrocities the West could only gloat at its achievements.

Teknolojia kama vile mizinga, bastola, injini za mvuke, bunduki za mashine, ndege na gesi ya haradali zilisaidia tu kuharakisha upatikanaji wa koloni na unyonyaji wa watu wake. Upinzani uliotolewa na wenyeji dhidi ya mabwana wao wa kikoloni ulikutana na nguvu za kikatili, mara nyingi ukisababisha kuangamizwa kwa jamii nzima. Pale Magharibi ilipokuwa haiwaangamizi wenyeji, walikuwa wakijishughulisha kuangamizana wao kwa wao katika jitihada za kukata tamaa za kushikilia koloni zao za thamani. Vita vya Kwanza na vya Pili vya Dunia ni mifano bora ya asili ya uharibifu ya maadili ya Magharibi.

Technologies such as cannons, pistols, steam engines, machine guns, aeroplanes, mustard gas etc only hastened the acquisition of colonies and the exploitation of its people. Resistance offered by the natives towards their colonial masters was met by brute force – often resulting in the destruction of entire communities. When the West was not destroying the natives they were too busy annihilating each other in a desperate bid to cling on to their precious colonies. World Wars I and II are prime examples of the destructive nature of western values.

Hii ni maelezo ya Ulimwengu wa Kale ambapo nchi kama England, Ufaransa na Ujerumani zilijenga himaya na kujikusanyia utajiri mkubwa juu ya kifo na uharibifu wa mamilioni ya watu wasio na hatia. Je, Ulimwengu Mpya (Marekani ikiongoza Magharibi) ni tofauti leo?

This is a description of the Old World where countries like England, France, and Germany built empires and accumulated immense wealth on the death and destruction of millions of innocent people. Is the New World (America leading the West) any different today?

Chukua mfano wa Ulimwengu Mpya na uhusiano wake na Afghanistan na Iraq. Ukombozi umegeuka kuwa ukaliaji wa kimabavu; demokrasia imetoa nafasi kwa utawala wa kikoloni, uharibifu unaitwa mashambulizi ya usahihi wa hali ya juu, na mauaji ya Waislamu wasio na hatia yanaelezwa kama "madhara ya kando." Wakati huo huo, kampuni za mafuta za Marekani na Uingereza zinapanga foleni kunyonya visima vya mafuta vya Iraq, na kusafirisha akiba ya nishati ya Bahari ya Caspian hadi Ulaya kupitia Afghanistan.

Take the example of the New World and its relationship with Afghanistan and Iraq. Liberation has become occupation; democracy has given way to colonial rule, devastation is termed as precision bombing and the slaughter of innocent Muslims is described as collateral damage. Meanwhile, American and British oil companies are queuing up to exploit the oil wells of Iraq and transport the energy reserves of the Caspian Sea to Europe via Afghanistan.

Khalifa wa Kiislamu katika zama zilizopita haijawahi kuwatendea wanadamu kwa ukatili wa namna hii. Wala Khalifa haikueneza Uislamu kwa nguvu wala kuharibu ustaarabu. Uislamu ulipoenea hadi Misri, Wakristo wengi wa Kikoptiki hawakuukubali Uislamu, na hadi leo idadi yao ni takriban milioni 7.

The Islamic Caliphate in the past never treated mankind in such a barbaric fashion. Neither did the Caliphate spread Islam by force nor destroy civilizations. When Islam spread to Egypt, many Coptic Christians did not embrace Islam and today they still number approximately 7 million.

Vivyo hivyo, India ilipofunguliwa kwa Uislamu wakazi wake hawakulazimishwa kuukubali Uislamu. Leo hii India ina idadi ya watu zaidi ya milioni 750 wa dini ya Kihindu.

Likewise, when India was opened up to Islam the inhabitants were not coerced into accepting Islam. India today has a population of more than 750 million Hindus.

Linganisha hili na maangamizi ya Waislamu na Wayahudi mahakamani mwa Wachunguzi wa Kihispania (Spanish Inquisitors) wakati wa Renaissance ya Ulaya inayotamaniwa sana. Wayahudi walionusurika maangamizi haya ya Kihispania walikaribishwa kwa uchangamfu na Ukhalifa wa Ottoman. Katika Uhispania ya Kiislamu walistawi na kuwa wanachama muhimu wa jamii ya Kiislamu.

Compare this to extermination of Muslim and Jews in the courts of the Spanish Inquisitors during the much-coveted European renaissance. Those Jews that survived this Spanish holocaust were warmly welcomed by the Ottoman Caliphate. In Islamic Spain they flourished and became important members of the Islamic society.

Leo dunia ina hofu zaidi ya uharibifu wa maadili ya Magharibi kuliko silaha za maangamizi makubwa. Zamani maadili haya yalilazimishwa kwa mataifa ama kupitia utawala wa moja kwa moja wa kikoloni au kupitia tawala dhalimu zilizokuwa waaminifu kwa Magharibi.

Today the world has more to fear from the destructive nature of western values than WMD. In the past these values were enforced upon nations either through direct colonial rule or through tyrannical regimes loyal to the West.

Kwa sasa, hatari kubwa inayowakabili wanadamu ni tishio la mara kwa mara la Magharibi kulazimisha maadili yake kwa dunia nyingine kupitia silaha za maangamizi makubwa (WMD).

Presently, the greatest danger-facing mankind is the constant threat of the West imposing its values on the rest of the world through WMD.

Februari 17, 2008

February 17, 2008