“While Caesar had sleepless nights, Umar (RA) slept under a tree without anyone guarding him.”

The U.S. method of fighting terrorism by force, injustice, pre-emptive strikes, unilateral action and "regime change" only adds fuel to the fire. As witnessed by the recent world events. If we compare this attitude with that of the Early Muslims who are considered the best generation, we find the following example of Caliph Umar RA.

The Caliph Umar RA was the governor or president of the Islamic Empire, which included Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, North Africa and Spain. One day Caesar wanted to know how Umar RA lived and how he treated his people. He sent a person to Al Medina where Umar RA lived. When this man entered Al Medina he asked the people, "where is your king?" The people replied, "We have no king but we have an Amir similar to a president." The man asked, "Where is he?" They told him, “he is outside Al Medina." He went to find him. What did this man see? He saw Umar RA sleeping alone on the sand holding a little stick with no guards around him. When he saw him like that he became very impressed and ashamed of himself and said, "A man all the kings in the world are scared of, sleeps that humble without any guards? You governed your people with justice and honesty so you became safe and slept. Our king is unjust and dishonest. That is why he is always scared and awake most of the night surrounded by guards inside a fortress.

Fighting terrorism is only by spreading justice and education, but not by force as what is happening now. In the Quran, Surah Al Nahl (16) verse 90, “Allah commands justice, the doing of good and looking after our relatives. Allah forbids all shameful deeds, injustice and rebellion. Allah instructs you so you may comprehend." However, spreading only justice is not enough because some ignorant people may do acts of terrorism. In Surah Al Nahl (16) v. 125, " O Mohammed, invite to the way of your Lord, which is Islam, with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, you Lord knows best who has gone astray from his path, and he is the best aware of who are guided."

This was the character of the Early Muslims which allowed Islam to spread throughout the whole World. Allah said that the most honorable to Allah is the most fearful of Allah and not the richest, strongest or those who belong to a certain group or nationality as shown in Al Hujurat (49) v. 13. "O Humankind; we have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may know one another. Verily the most honorable of you to Allah is that who is most faithful, pious and fearful of Allah."

There are numerous historical examples in the Quran showing the eventual outcome of oppressive tyrants such as Pharaoh compared to those who are righteous. The Quran teaches us the morality, wisdom and meaning behind these events. Unfortunately in Schools and Universities, history is only taught in a factual manner only showing the consequences of military conquests where morality, responsibility and accountability are considered irrelevant. It is no wonder that we can never learn from our previous mistakes. Particularly if one insists on believing the Paulian idea that "the means justifies the aims". That is, it does not matter how evil your actions are as long as your intentions are good. Whereas, for a good deed to be accepted in Islam, it must be sincere, with good intentions and done according to the Sunnah of our Prophet SAW.

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