Historic paper scripts 7th century Umayyad Caliphate in Turkish Islam Artifacts Museum, tarihi kağıt alfabeler Kur'an'da yazılmış 7.yüzyıl Emeviler dönemine ait, Türk İslam Sanat eserleri Müzesi. Sultanahmet, Fatih District, Istanbul Province, Turkei. The Umayyad Caliphate (Arabic: الخلافة الأموية‎‎, trans. Al-Khilāfah al-ʾumawiyya), also spelled Omayyad, was the second of the four major Arab caliphates established after the death of The Last, Prophet Muhammad.

 

NATIONAL SUGRAPHIC Always Under The Light Of Your ❤ Masters of the Art - SANATIN USTALARI. COPYRIGHT OWNER © 2016 All Rights Reserved Ayhan ÇAKAR. Please contact photograph artist to use this photo. When the album is completed, a portion of the revenues will be donated to Social Welfare Institutions. Please Pluse and Share!

 

Remember mankind, sooner or later absolutely every soul shall taste death .. Hatırla insanoğlu, er yada geç muhakkak ki her canlı ölümü tadacaktır! Yedi Düvel Gelse Millet Eğilmez, Şehitler Ölmez Vatan Bölünmez.

USTMAN BIN AFFAN KEMUDIAN ALI BIN ABI THALIB RADHIALLAHU 'ANHUM Dalam Hal Keutamaan dan Khilafah Hammad bin Zaid Rahimahullah berkata, حماد بن زيد، يقول: لئن قلت إن عليا أفضل من عثمان لقد قلت إن أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قد خانوا "Seandainya aku mengatakan, bahwasanya Ali (bin Abi Thalib) lebih afdhal dari Utsman (bin Affan), sungguh aku telah menuduh para shahabat Rasulullah Shallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam telah berkhianat." (Hilyatul Auliya 6/259) Hammad bin Zaid adalah Abu Isma'il Hammad bin Zaid bin Dirham al-Jahdhami. Beliau lahir di Bashroh, kakek beliau berasal dari Sijistan. 👉Beliau merupakan ahli hadits yang kuat, kokoh, dan faqih. 👉Abdurrahman bin Mahdi berkata, "Aku tidak mengetahui orang yang lebih mengerti tentang sunnah daripada Hammad bin Zaid." 👉 Adz-Dzahabi berkata tentangnya, "Aku tidak mengetahui adanya pertentangan di antara ulama bahwa Hammad bin Zaid termasuk Imam Salaf, dan yang paling kuat hafalannya." 👉Beliau meninggal tahun 179 H pada usia 81 tahun. (Lihat Siyar A'lam An-Nubala 7/116) 〰 Ahlussunnah wal Jama'ah telah sepakat mendahulukan Utsman bin Affan dari Ali bin Abi Thalib Radhiallahu 'anhum dalam hal keutamaan dan kekhilafahan. Syaikhul Islam Ibnu Taimiyyah berkata, "Akan tetapi, telah tetap keyakinan Ahlussunnah untuk mengedepankan Utsman kemudian Ali." (Al-Aqidah Al-Wasitiyyah hal.117) Faedah Pagi, smg bermanfaat Disajikan oleh Tim Warisan Salaf ift.tt/22AE91x via Instagram ift.tt/1VxktcJ

via Blogger ift.tt/2ajyMlQ

The Postcard

 

A postally unused Photocolour postcard that was printed and published in the mid 1960's by E. T. W. Dennis & Sons of Scarborough and London.

 

The card has a divided back.

 

The Manchester Arena Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017, an Islamist extremist suicide bomber detonated a shrapnel-laden homemade bomb as people were leaving the Manchester Arena following a concert by American singer Ariana Grande.

 

Twenty-three people were killed, including the attacker, and 1,017 were injured, many of them children. Several hundred more suffered psychological trauma.

 

The bomber was Salman Ramadan Abedi, a 22-year-old local man of Libyan ancestry. After initial suspicions of a terrorist network, police later said that they believed Abedi had largely acted alone, but that others had been aware of his plans.

 

In March 2020, the bomber's brother, Hashem Abedi, was found guilty of 22 counts of murder and attempting to murder 1,017 others, and was sentenced to life in prison.

 

The incident was the deadliest terrorist attack and the first suicide bombing in the United Kingdom since the 7th. July 2005 London bombings.

 

The Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017 at 22:15 a member of the public reported Abedi, wearing black clothes and a large rucksack to Showsec security. A security guard observed Abedi, but said that he did not intervene in case his concerns about Abedi were wrong, and out of fear of being considered a racist.

 

The security guard tried to use his radio to alert the security control room, but was unable to get through.

 

Police officers on duty that night were subsequently criticised for their behaviour in the hours leading up to the atrocity - including a two-hour dinner break and a 10-mile round trip to buy a kebab.

 

At one point, when Abedi took his final trip through the station to his hiding place in the foyer, there were no BTP officers on duty in the area.

 

At 22:31 the suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device, packed with nuts and bolts to act as shrapnel, in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena.

 

The attack took place after a concert by Ariana Grande that was part of her Dangerous Woman Tour. 14,200 people had attended the concert.

 

Many exiting concert-goers and waiting parents were in the foyer at the time of the explosion. According to evidence presented at the coroner's inquest, the bomb was powerful enough to kill people up to 20 metres (66 ft) away.

 

A report by inquiry chair John Saunders blamed “failings by individuals” for “missed opportunities” to detect and stop bomber Salman Abedi.

 

Saunders outlined a “litany” of failures by venue operators SMG, security firm Showsec and British Transport Police (BTP) - failures that included taking unauthorised two-hour meal breaks and ignoring members of the public who tried to raise the alarm:

 

-- Reconnaissance Oversights

 

Abedi went to the arena several times to carry out hostile reconnaissance in the run-up to the bombing, visiting on the 18th. and 21st. May, and also on the afternoon of the day of the attack.

 

Although arena operator SMG and security firm Showsec “had experience of identifying and responding to potential hostile reconnaissance effectively”, the system for passing on information about suspicious behaviour was “insufficiently robust”.

 

If the Showsec staff on duty at the time, Kyle Lawler and Mohammed Agha - then aged 18 and 19 respectively - had been aware of previous reports of suspicious activity, “it would have increased the possibility” of Abedi being spotted.

 

Inquiry chair Saunders also notes that SMG could have extended the permitted security perimeter from the entrance doors of the arena to the City Room, the foyer where the bomb detonated. The report says:

 

“Had permission to push out the perimeter

been granted, an attack in the City Room

would have been much less likely.”

 

-- Absence of Officers

 

Despite five officers being assigned to the arena on the night of the attack, “there was a complete absence of any BTP officer in the City Room” in the half hour before Abedi detonated the bomb. And no officers were policing the public areas of the venue between 8.58pm and 9.36pm.

 

The report found that BTP officers “took breaks substantially and unjustifiably” longer than their authorised one hour. Instructions to stagger breaks between 7.30pm and 9pm - when younger children could be leaving the venue - were also ignored.

 

The public inquiry into the attack had previously heard how two officers on duty at the concert, PC Jessica Bullough and PCSO Mark Renshaw, had taken a “two-hour-and-nine-minute dinner break to get a kebab five miles from the arena”. The Telegraph reported:

 

"Bullough has since admitted that were

she present on her shift as she should

have been, she would have likely stopped

Abedi and asked him what was in his bag”.

 

-- The CCTV Blindspot

 

Saunders' report says that Abedi chose an “obvious hiding place” in a CCTV blindspot of the arena City Room foyer, having no doubt identified this area during his hostile reconnaissance:

 

“Had the area been covered by CCTV so that

there was no blind spot, it is likely that this

behaviour by Abedi would have been identified

as suspicious by anyone monitoring the CCTV."

 

Giving evidence to the inquiry, Showsec security guard Agha said that he had noticed Abedi in the City Room, but only because he “liked the look” of Abedi's trainers.

 

-- Inadequate Patrols

 

The inquiry report says that:

 

"A further missed opportunity to spot Abedi

in the half hour before the bomb detonated

arose from the absence of an adequate

security patrol by Showsec at any stage

during this time”.

 

The supervisor charged with carrying out “pre-egress” checks, Jordan Beak, did so “only very briefly”, patrolling for about ten minutes, during which he just “looked towards the staircases up to the mezzanine area”, where Abedi was sitting.

 

The report notes:

 

“He did not consider them a very important

part of the check because it was not an

egress route. Mr Beak did not go up on to the

mezzanine area, and so he did not see Abedi.

This was a significant missed opportunity.”

 

-- Concerns ‘Fobbed Off’

 

Saunders wrote that:

 

"The most striking missed opportunity, and the

one that is likely to have made a significant

difference, was an attempt by a member of the

public to raise concerns about Abedi after

becoming suspicious about the bomber's large

and obviously heavy backpack".

 

Christopher Wild told the inquiry how he had spotted Abedi while waiting for his 14-year-old daughter to leave the concert.

 

According to the BBC, Wild recalled how he approached Abedi and said:

 

“It doesn't look very good you know, what you

see with bombs and such, you with a rucksack

in a place like this, what are you doing?”

 

Abedi reportedly told Wild that he was “waiting for somebody, mate”, before asking what time it was.

 

Wild alerted security guard Agha about his suspicions around fifteen minutes before the blast. But according to the inquiry report:

 

"Agha did not take Christopher Wild’s

concerns as seriously as he should have”.

 

Wild felt that he had been “fobbed off” by the guard, who claimed to already be aware of Abedi. Agha is said to have made “inadequate” efforts to flag down his supervisor or pass on the message via his colleague Lawler, who had a radio.

 

Although Agha did share Wild’s concerns with Lawler, the latter “felt conflicted about what to do” and “stated he was fearful of being branded a racist and would be in trouble if he got it wrong”.

 

Lawler ultimately made an attempt to contact a senior supervisor through the radio, but couldn’t get through, and made no further efforts to communicate what he had been told to anyone else. Saunders wrote:

 

“The inadequacy of Mr Lawler’s response

was a product of his failure to take Mr Wild’s

concern and his own observations sufficiently

seriously. Mr Wild’s behaviour was very

responsible. He stated that he formed the

view that Abedi might let a bomb off.

That was sadly all too prescient, and makes

all the more distressing the fact that no effective

steps were taken as a result of his efforts.”

 

Aftermath of the Explosion

 

Three hours after the bombing, police conducted a controlled explosion on a suspicious item of clothing in Cathedral Gardens. This was later confirmed to have been abandoned clothing and not dangerous.

 

Residents and taxi companies in Manchester offered free transport or accommodation via Twitter to those left stranded at the concert.  Parents were separated from their children attending the concert in the aftermath of the explosion.

 

A nearby hotel served as a shelter for people displaced by the bombing, with officials directing separated parents and children there.  Manchester's Sikh temples along with local homeowners, hotels and venues offered shelter to survivors of the attack.

 

Manchester Victoria railway station, which is partly underneath the arena, was evacuated and closed, and services were cancelled. The explosion caused structural damage to the station, which remained closed until the damage had been assessed and repaired, resulting in disruption to train and tram services.

 

Victoria Station reopened eight days later, following the completion of police investigation work and repairs to the fabric of the building.

 

On the 23rd. May, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the UK's terror threat level had been raised to "critical", its highest level. 

 

In the aftermath of the attack, Operation Temperer was activated for the first time, allowing up to 5,000 soldiers to reinforce armed police in protecting parts of the country.

 

Tours of the Houses of Parliament and the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace were cancelled on 24 May, and troops were deployed to guard government buildings in London.

 

On the 23rd. May, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, via the Nashir Telegram channel, said the attack was carried out by "a soldier of the Khilafah". The message called the attack:

 

"An endeavor to terrorise the mushrikin,

and in response to their transgressions

against the lands of the Muslims."

 

Abedi's sister said that he was motivated by revenge for Muslim children killed by American airstrikes in Syria.

 

The Manchester Arena remained closed until September 2017, with scheduled concerts either cancelled or moved to other venues. It reopened on the 9th. September 2017, with a benefit concert featuring Noel Gallagher and other acts associated with North West England.

 

Later that month, Chris Parker, a homeless man who stole from victims of the attack whilst assisting them, was jailed for 4 years and three months.

 

Casualties of the Attack

 

The explosion killed the attacker and 22 concert-goers and parents who were in the entrance waiting to pick up their children following the show. 119 people were initially reported as injured. This number was revised by police to 250 on the 22nd. June, with the addition of severe psychological trauma and minor injuries.

 

During the public inquiry into the bombing, it was updated in December 2020 to 1,017 people sustaining injuries.

 

The dead included ten people aged under 20; the youngest victim was an eight-year-old girl, and the oldest was a 51-year-old woman. Of the 22 victims, twenty were Britons and two were British-based Polish nationals.

 

North West Ambulance Service reported that 60 of its ambulances attended the scene, carried 59 people to local hospitals, and treated walking wounded on site.  Of those hospitalised, 12 were children under the age of 16.

 

The first doctor thought to have been on scene was an off-duty consultant anaesthetist, Michael Daley. In recognition of his bravery for the role he played in the immediate medical response to the incident, Daley's name was entered into the BMA's Book of Valour in June 2017.

 

The Attacker

 

The bomber, Salman Ramadan Abedi, was a 22-year-old British Muslim of Libyan ancestry. He was born in Manchester to a Salafi family of Libyan-born refugees who had settled in Manchester after fleeing to the UK to escape the government of Muammar Gaddafi.

 

He had two brothers and a sister. He grew up in Whalley Range and lived in Fallowfield. Neighbours described the Abedis as a very traditional and "super religious" family who attended Didsbury Mosque.

 

Abedi attended Wellacre Technology College, Burnage Academy for Boys and The Manchester College. A former tutor remarked that:

 

"Abedi was a very slow, uneducated

and passive person".

 

He was among a group of students at his high school who accused a teacher of Islamophobia for asking them what they thought of suicide bombers. He also reportedly said to his friends that being a suicide bomber "was OK" and fellow college students raised concerns about his behaviour.

 

Abedi's father was a member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a Salafi jihadist organisation proscribed by the United Nations, and father and son fought for the group in Libya in 2011 as part of the movement to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi.

 

Abedi's parents, both born in Tripoli, remained in Libya in 2011, while 17-year-old Abedi returned to live in the United Kingdom. He took a gap year in 2014, where he returned with his brother Hashem to Libya to live with his parents. Abedi was injured in Ajdabiya that year while fighting for an Islamist group.

 

The brothers were rescued from Tripoli by the Royal Navy survey ship HMS Enterprise in August 2014 as part of a group of 110 British citizens as the Libyan civil war erupted, taken to Malta and flown back to the UK.

 

According to a retired European intelligence officer, Abedi met with members of the ISIS Battar brigade in Libya, and continued to be in contact with the group upon his return to the UK.

 

An imam at Didsbury mosque recalled that Abedi looked at him "with hate" after he preached against ISIS and Ansar al-Sharia in 2015.

 

Abedi's sister said her brother was motivated by the injustice of Muslim children dying in bombings stemming from the American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War.

 

A family friend of the Abedi's also remarked that Salman had vowed revenge at the funeral of Abdul Wahab Hafidah, who was run over and stabbed to death by a Manchester gang in 2016 and was a friend of Salman and his younger brother Hashem. Hashem later co-ordinated the Manchester bombing with his brother.

 

According to an acquaintance in the UK, Abedi was "outgoing" and consumed alcohol, while another said that Abedi was a "regular kid who went out and drank" until about 2016. Abedi was also known to have used cannabis.

 

He enrolled at the University of Salford in September 2014, where he studied business administration, before dropping out to work in a bakery. Manchester police believe Abedi used student loans to finance the plot, including travel overseas to learn bomb-making.

 

The Guardian reported that despite dropping out from further education, he was still receiving student loan funding in April 2017. Abedi returned to Manchester on the 18th. May after a trip to Libya and bought bomb-making material, apparently constructing the acetone peroxide-based bomb by himself. Many members of the IS Battar brigade trained people in bomb-making in Libya.

 

He was known to British security services and police but was not regarded as a high risk, having been linked to petty crime but never flagged up for radical views.

 

A community worker told the BBC he had called a hotline five years before the bombing to warn police about Abedi's views and members of Britain's Libyan diaspora said they had "warned authorities for years" about Manchester's Islamist radicalisation.

 

Abedi was allegedly reported to authorities for his extremism by five community leaders and family members, and had been banned from a mosque; the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, however, said Abedi was not known to the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme.

 

On the 29th. May 2017, MI5 launched an internal inquiry into its handling of the warnings it had received about Abedi and a second, "more in depth" inquiry, into how it missed the danger.

 

On the 22nd. November 2018, a Parliamentary report said that MI5 had acted "too slowly" in its dealings with Abedi. The committee's report noted:

 

"What we can say is that there were a number

of failings in the handling of Salman Abedi's case.

While it is impossible to say whether these would

have prevented the devastating attack on the

22nd. May, we have concluded that as a result of

the failings, potential opportunities to prevent it

were missed."

 

Investigation Into the Bombing

 

The property in Fallowfield where Abedi lived was raided on the 23rd. May. Armed police breached the house with a controlled explosion and searched it. Abedi's 23-year-old brother was arrested in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in south Manchester in relation to the attack.

 

Police carried out raids in two other areas of south Manchester and another address in the Whalley Range area. Three other men were arrested, and police initially spoke of a network supporting the bomber; however they later announced that Abedi had sourced all the bomb components himself, and that they now believed he had largely acted alone. On the 6th. July, police said that they believed others had been aware of Abedi's plans.

 

According to German police sources, Abedi transited through Düsseldorf Airport on his way home to Manchester from Istanbul four days before the bombing. French interior minister Gérard Collomb said that Abedi may have been to Syria, and had "proven" links with IS.

 

Abedi's younger brother and father were arrested by Libyan security forces on the 23rd. and 24th. May respectively. The brother was suspected of planning an attack in Libya, and was said to be in regular touch with Salman, and was aware of the plan to bomb the Manchester Arena, but not the date.

 

According to a Libyan official, the brothers spoke on the phone about 15 minutes before the attack was carried out. On the 1st. November 2017, the UK requested Libya to extradite the bomber's younger brother, Hashem Abedi to the UK in order to face trial for complicity in the murder of the 22 people killed in the explosion.

 

Photographs of the remains of the IED published by The New York Times indicated that it had comprised an explosive charge inside a lightweight metal container which was carried within a black vest or a blue Karrimor backpack.

 

Most of the fatalities occurred in a ring around the bomber. His torso was propelled by the blast through the doors to the arena, indicating that the explosive charge was held in the backpack and blew him forward on detonation. A small device thought to have possibly been a hand-held detonator was also found.

 

The bomb contained the explosive TATP, which had been used in previous bombings. According to Manchester police, the explosive device used by Abedi was the design of a skilled bomb-maker and had a back-up means of detonation. Police also said that Salman Abedi bought most of the bomb components himself, and that he was alone during much of the time before carrying out the Manchester bombing.

 

On the 28th. May, police released images showing Abedi on the night of the bombing, taken from CCTV footage. Further images showed Abedi walking around Manchester with a blue suitcase.

 

According to US intelligence sources, Abedi was identified by the bank card that he had with him and the identification was confirmed using facial recognition technology.

 

A public inquiry into the attack was launched in September 2020. The first of three reports to be produced was a 200-page report published on the 17th. June 2021. It found that:

 

"There were a number of missed opportunities

to alter the course of what happened that night,

and more should have been done by police and

private security guards to prevent the bombing."

 

News Leaks

 

Within hours of the attack, Abedi's name and other information that had been given confidentially to security services in the United States and France was leaked to the news media. This led to condemnation from Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

 

Following the publication of crime scene photographs of the backpack bomb used in the attack in the 24th. May edition of The New York Times, UK counterterrorism police chiefs said the release of the material was detrimental to the investigation.

 

On the 25th. May, Greater Manchester Police said that it had stopped sharing information on the attack with the US intelligence services. Theresa May said she would make clear to President Trump that:

 

"Intelligence that has been

shared must be made secure."

 

Donald Trump described the leaks to the news media as "deeply troubling", and pledged to carry out a full investigation.

 

New York Times editor Dean Baquet declined to apologise for publishing the backpack bomb photographs, saying:

 

"We live in different press worlds.

The material was not classified at

the highest level."

 

On the 26th. May, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States government accepted responsibility for the leaks.

 

Links with the Muslim Brotherhood

 

According to a secret recording unveiled by the BBC, Mostafa Graf, the imam of the Didsbury Mosque where Salman Abedi and his family were regulars, made a call for armed jihad ten days before Abedi bought his concert ticket.

 

Following these revelations, the Manchester Police opened an investigation into the mosque and its imam, who also fought with a Libyan Islamist militia. Mostafa Graf is a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, an organisation founded by the Muslim Brotherhood and Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Al-Qaradawi is known for having claimed:

 

"Suicide bombings are a duty".

 

Haras Rafiq, head of the Quilliam think tank, told The Guardian that the Muslim Brotherhood runs the Didsbury Mosque.

 

The Didsbury Mosque is controlled by The Islamic Centre (Manchester), an English association headed by Dr. Haytham al-Khaffaf, who is also a director of the Human Relief Foundation, a Muslim Brotherhood organisation blacklisted for terrorism by Israel. Between 2015 and 2016, al-Khaffaf's Human Relief Foundation received over £1.5 million from the Qatar Charity, which is also subject to US counterterrorism surveillance.

 

Trial and Sentencing of Hashem Abedi

 

On the 17th. July 2019, Salman Abedi's brother Hashem was charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion. He had been arrested in Libya and extradited to the UK.

 

His trial began on the 5th. February 2020. On the 17th. March, Hashem Abedi was found guilty on 22 charges of murder, on the grounds that he had helped his brother to source the materials used in the bombing, and had assisted with the manufacture of the explosives which were used in the attack.

 

On the 20th. August, Hashem Abedi was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 55 years. The judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, said that sentencing rules prevented him from imposing a whole life order as Abedi had been 20 years old at the time of the offence. The minimum age for a whole life order is 21 years old. Abedi's 55-year minimum term is the longest minimum term ever imposed by a British court.

 

Ismail Abedi

 

In October 2021 it was reported that Salman Abedi's older brother Ismail had left the UK despite being summonsed by Sir John Saunders to testify before the public inquiry into the bombing. Saunders had refused Ismail Abedi's request for immunity from prosecution while testifying.

 

Ariana Grande

 

Ariana Grande posted on Twitter:

 

"Broken. from the bottom of my

heart, i am so so sorry. i don't

have words."

 

The tweet briefly became the most-liked tweet in history. Grande suspended her tour and flew back to her mother's home in Florida.

 

On the 9th. July 2017, a performance to benefit the Manchester bombing victims was held in New York City's The Cutting Room, called "Break Free: United for Manchester", with Broadway theatre and television performers interpreting Ariana Grande songs.

 

On the 4th. June, Ariana Grande hosted a benefit concert in Manchester, entitled "One Love Manchester" at Old Trafford Cricket Ground that was broadcast live on television, radio and social media.

 

At the concert, Grande performed along with several other high-profile artists. Free tickets were offered to those who had attended the show on the 22nd. May. The benefit concert and associated Red Cross fund raised £10 million for victims of the attack, and £17 million by August. New York's Vulture section ranked the event as the No. 1 concert of 2017.

 

The Kerslake Report

 

On the 27th. March 2018, a report by Bob Kerslake named the "Kerslake Report" was published. The report was an independent review into the preparedness for, and emergency response to, the Manchester Arena attack on the 22nd. May 2017.

 

In the report, Kerslake "largely praised" the Greater Manchester Police and British Transport Police, and noted that it was "fortuitous" that the North West Ambulance Service was unaware of the declaration of Operation Plato, a protocol under which all responders should have withdrawn from the arena in case of an active killer on the premises.

 

However, it found that the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was "brought to a point of paralysis" as their response was delayed for two hours due to poor communication between the firefighters' liaison officer and the police force.

 

The report was critical of Vodafone for the "catastrophic failure" of an emergency helpline hosted on a platform provided by Content Guru, saying that delays in getting information caused "significant stress and upset" to families.

 

It also expressed criticism of some news media, saying:

 

"To have experienced such intrusive and

overbearing behaviour at a time of such

enormous vulnerability seemed to us to

be completely and utterly unacceptable".

 

However, it was also noted that:

 

"We recognise that this was some, but by

no means all of the media, and that the

media also have a positive and important

role to play."

 

Memorial to the Bombing

 

The victims of the bombing are commemorated by The Glade of Light, a garden memorial located in Manchester city centre near Manchester Cathedral. The memorial opened to the public in January 2022.

 

The memorial was vandalised on the 9th. February 2022, causing £10,000 of damage. A 24-year-old man admitted to the offence in April and will be sentenced at a later date.

 

The 2018 Manchester Terror Attack

 

The Manchester Arena is next to Victoria Station, and in fact partly above it. Victoria Station witnessed a subsequent terror attack on the 31st. December 2018 at 20.52.

 

Mahdi Mohamud, a 25 year old man from Somalia stabbed three people in a knife attack at the station. He appears to have acted alone.

 

Mohamud shouted "Allah!" and "Long live the Caliphate!" during the attack, and "Allahu Akbar" after being arrested. A witness alleged that during the attack he also shouted a slogan criticising Western governments. BBC producer Sam Clack reported that he heard Mohamud saying:

 

"As long as you keep bombing other

countries this sort of s--- is going to

keep happening,"

 

Mohamud had lived in England for about 10 years, and resided in Manchester's Cheetham neighbourhood with his parents and siblings.

 

Two of the three victims, a couple in their 50's who had come into town to celebrate the New Year, were hospitalised with serious injuries. The third victim was a British Transport Police officer who received a stab wound to his shoulder.

 

Despite suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, Mohamud was convicted of a terror offence and the attempted murder of three people, due to his possession of significant amounts of extremist material and the attack's extensive planning. He pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder and a terror offence.

 

The perpetrator, who was initially detained under the Mental Health Act, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-security psychiatric hospital.

 

The Second Inquiry into the Arena Bombing

 

On the 3rd. November 2022, inquiry chair Sir John Saunders issued a second report into the atrocity. Within the 884 pages he said that the emergency services failed to communicate properly in response to the incident, stemming from 'failures to prepare.'

 

He concluded that "Failing" emergency services thought a terror attack "could never happen" before the Manchester Arena bombing.

 

Sir John Saunders said the majority of those who died were so badly injured they could not have survived. However, it is believed that two of the 22 fatalities could have recovered if they had received better medical care.

 

Pointing the finger at leaders of the police, fire and ambulance services, he said:

 

“On the night of the attack, multi‐agency

communication between the three

emergency services was non‐existent.

That failure played a major part in what

went wrong.”

 

He added:

 

“There had been failures to prepare. There

had been inadequacies in training.

Well-established principles had not been

ingrained in practice.

Why was that? Partly it was because, despite

the fact that the threat of a terrorist attack was

at a very high level on the 22nd. May 2017, no

one really thought it could happen to them.”

 

The report also paid tribute to the “heroic” actions of ordinary members of the public who joined police and security and medical teams trying to save lives in a “war zone”.

 

Sir John said that two fatalities, John Atkinson, 28, and the youngest victim, eight year old Saffie-Rose Roussos, did have a chance of survival. Sir John said:

 

“I have concluded that one of those who

died, John Atkinson would probably have

survived had the emergency response

been better.”

 

He added:

 

“In the case of Saffie Rose Roussos, I have

concluded that there was a remote possibility

that she could have been saved if the rescue

operation had been conducted differently.”

 

The inquiry heard that only three paramedics went into the City Room after the attack. Crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service took more than two hours to attend the Arena.

 

Sir John added:

 

“GMP (Greater Manchester Police) did not

lead the response in accordance with the

guidance that it had been given or parts of

its own plans.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

(GMFRS) failed to turn up at the scene at a

time when they could provide the greatest

assistance.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) failed

to send sufficient paramedics into the City

Room.

NWAS did not use available stretchers to

remove casualties in a safe way, and did not

communicate their intentions sufficiently to

those who were in the City Room.”

 

Despite highlighting a series of failings, he said that:

 

"There were some parts of the emergency

response that worked well, and that no doubt

lives were saved”.

 

Paying tribute to those who helped the victims, he said:

 

“The heroism shown by very many people

that night is striking. I have seen the terrible

footage from the CCTV and body-worn video

cameras of the scene of devastation in the City

Room.

The description of that area as being like a

“warzone” was used by a number of witnesses.

That is an accurate description. To enter the

City Room or remain there to help victims

required great courage.”

 

Sir John added:

 

“At the centre of my Inquiry is the terrible loss

of twenty two lives. Each family and each person

at the Arena has a deeply personal story to tell

about the impact of the attack on them.

My report cannot change what has happened.

My intention is to uncover what went wrong and

find ways of improving practices so that no one

has to suffer such terrible pain and loss again.”

 

The report also stated that responsibility for the deaths lies with suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, and his brother Hashem, 25, who is serving life behind bars for his part in the plot.

 

The inquiry found that the brothers had “planned to cause as much harm to as many people as they could" when Abedi exploded his home made device.

  

Untuk Kualitas Puasa yang Super, Hormati Orang yang Tidak Puasa.

 

Demikian isi salah satu spanduk yang terbentang di salah satu sudut jalan pada bulan Ramadhan 1437 H lalu. Spanduk tersebut kemudian menjadi ramai bahkan menjadi viral perbincangan, apalagi di dunia maya.Mereka yang setuju terhadap isi spanduk tersebut berdalih, bahwa orang yang berpuasa itu tidak butuh penghormatan manusia apalagi sampai berharap dirinya untuk dihormati. Jadi, tidak perlu harus ada kata-kata, “Hormatilah orang yang sedang berpuasa.” Bagi mereka justru puasa yang super itu adalah ketika orang yang sedang berpuasa menghormati mereka yang tidak berpuasa. Ini bagi mereka adalah salah satu bentuk toleransi yang harus dijaga.

Sekilas memang terdengar logis, masuk akal. Orang yang berpuasa harus bisa menahan diri saat melihat ada orang yang tidak berpuasa sedang makan atau minum. Dengan menahan hawa nafsu tersebut, kualitas puasanya menjadi lebih baik, atau super menurut istilah yang mereka gunakan.

Namun, bagi seorang Mukmin, ini adalah kemungkaran yang nyata, yang tidak boleh dibiarkan. Kemungkaran tersebut haruslah dicegah. Allah SWT berfirman:

 

وَلْتَكُنْ مِنْكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

 

Hendaklah ada di antara kalian segolongan umat yang menyerukan kebajikan dan melakukan amar makruf nahi mungkar. Merekalah kaum yang beruntung (QS Ali Imran [3]: 104).

 

Seruan toleransi pun mulai disuarakan. Apalagi ditambah dengan peristiwa penggrebekan warung Bu Saeni beberapa waktu lalu di Pasar Rau, Kota Serang, Banten oleh Satpol PP. Peristiwa penggrebekan warung makan Bu Saeni terus diberitakan oleh media hingga menampilkan kesan Saeni yang teraniaya atas tindakan satpol PP tersebut. Hasilnya, imbauan untuk menumbuhkan toleransi terus diserukan banyak tokoh, bahkan termasuk para penguasa di negeri ini. Wapres Jusuf Kalla, misalnya, berkomentar, “Yang tidak puasa menghormati orang puasa. Yang puasa juga tetap hormati yang tidak puasa,” kata Kalla (Kompas.com,12/06/2016).

Bahkan Presiden Jokowi memberikan bantuan uang sebesar sepuluh juta rupiah kepada Bu Saeni.

Toleransi semacam ini adalah toleransi yang keliru dan terbalik. Harusnya, yang tidak berpuasa menghormati mereka yang sedang berpuasa dengan cara tidak makan minum secara terang-terangan di tempat umum. Sebagaimana pada saat berlangsung shalat, mereka yang tidak shalat harus menghormati mereka yang sedang shalat dengan cara tidak membuat suasana berisik sehingga bisa mengganggu kekhusyukan mereka yang sedang shalat.

Makna Toleransi

 

Toleransi merupakan kata yang berasal dari Barat. Secara bahasa, toleransi berasal dari kata tolerance. Maknanya adalah “to endure without protest” (menahan perasaan tanpa protes).

Kata tolerance kemudian diadopsi ke dalam bahasa Indonesia menjadi toleransi yang berasal dari kata toleran. Kata ini mengandung arti: bersikap atau bersifat menenggang (menghargai, membiarkan, membolehkan) pendirian (pendapat, pandangan, kepercayaan, kebiasaan) yang berbeda atau yang bertentangan dengan pendiriannya (Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia).

Kata toleransi ini kemudian dijadikan alat oleh musuh-musuh Islam, termasuk kaum Liberal yang ada di Indonesia. Kaum Liberal selalu menjadikan kebebasan sebagai fokus utama mereka, sebagaimana paham liberal yang mereka anut, yakni kebebasan tanpa batas yang menerjang norma-norma agama. Tema sentral yang biasa mereka usung ialah pemisahan agama dari politik, demokrasi, HAM, kesetaraan jender, kebebasan penafsiran teks agama, toleransi beragama, kebebasan berekspresi dan persamaan agama (pluralisme).

Berbeda dengan Islam. Islam mengartikan toleransi dengan istilah “tasâmuh”. Dalam kamus Al-Muhith, Oxford Study Dictionary English-Arabic (2008: 1120) istilah tasâmuh memiliki arti tasâhul (kemudahan). Artinya, Islam memberikan kemudahan bagi siapa saja untuk menjalankan apa yang ia yakini sesuai dengan ajaran masing-masing tanpa ada tekanan dan tidak mengusik ketauhidan.

Maka dari itu, umat Islam seharusnya jeli dalam memahami setiap persoalan yang kemudian membawa membawa-bawa istilah toleransi tersebut. Umat Islam tidak dibenarkan—agar tidak disebut intoleran—bersikap memaklumi dan menghargai sesuatu yang bertentangan dengan prinsip-prinsip Islam.

Menghambat Penegakan Syariah Islam

 

Sadar atau tidak, sikap toleransi yang salah tersebut akan menghambat upaya untuk tegaknya syariah Islam di negeri ini. Lihatlah, saat umat Islam menginginkan syariah Islam dijadikan aturan yang mengatur negeri ini, mereka berujar, “Kita harus menghormati agama lain, termasuk menghormati kelompok lain”. Dalih mereka, tidak boleh ada satu ajaran mendominasi ajaran lain; Indonesia adalah negara yang bukan hanya ada Islam, namun juga terdapat pemeluk agama lain. Padahal penerapan syariah Islam merupakan perkara yang diwajibkan atas umat Islam untuk mengatur urusan kehidupan mereka.

Allah SWT memerintahkan setiap Muslim agar dalam menjalankan semua aktivitasnya senantiasa sejalan dengan hukum syariah. Bahkan Allah SWT menafikan keimanan mereka yang tidak terikat dengan syariah yang dibawa oleh Rasulullah saw. (Lihat: QS an-Nisa’ [4]: 65).

Penafian keimanan atas mereka yang tidak terikat syariah dipertegas oleh Rasulullah saw. dengan sabdanya:

لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتىَّ يَكُونَ هَوَاهُ تَبَعاً لِمَا جِئْتُ بِهِ

 

Tidaklah beriman seseorang di antara kalian hingga ia menjadikan hawa nafsunya mengikuti apa yang aku bawa (HR Abu Hatim dalam Shahîh-nya).

 

Oleh karena itu, seorang Muslim tidak boleh melakukan perbuatan atau meman-faatkan apapun di luar ketentuan hukum, yakni harus selalu terikat dengan syariah (An-Nabhani, Muqaddimah ad-Dustûr, hlm. 84).

Kita juga bisa melihat beberapa kejadian yang menjadi penghambat tegaknya syariah Islam atas nama toleransi dalam masalah beragama, semisal:

1. Sejarah Piagam Jakarta.

 

Pada tanggal 22 Juni 1945, panitia kecil Badan Penyelidik Usaha-usaha Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia (BPUPKI) mengajukan rumusan dasar negara yang dikenal dengan nama Piagam Jakarta (Djakarta Charter). Panitia kecil tersebut terdiri atas sembilan orang sehingga kerap disebut Panitia Sembilan. Mereka adalah empat orang tokoh Islam, yaitu KH Wahid Hasyim, Abdul Kahar Muzakar, Abikoesno Tjokrosoeyoso dan H. Agus Salim; empat tokoh dari kalangan nasionalis sekular yakni Ir. Soekarno, Moh. Hatta, Achmad Soebardjo, Muhammad Yamin; dan satu perwakilan non-Muslim, yaitu A.A. Maramis.

Para tokoh Islam yang berada dalam panitia kecil tersebut mengusulkan Islam sebagai dasar Negara. Bahkan mereka memperkuat argumentasinya dengan membawa puluhan ribu tanda tangan tokoh Islam, ulama dan pimpinan pondok pesantren seluruh Indonesia yang menginginkan negara yang akan diproklamasikan berdasarkan Islam. Usulan tersebut ditolak oleh perwakilan dari tokoh-tokoh sekular dan non-Muslim. Namun, setelah melalui perdebatan panjang, Panitia Sembilan akhirnya sepakat dan merekomondasikan rumusan dasar negara yang dikenal dengan nama Piagam Jakarta (Djakarta Charter) yakni: “…maka disusunlah kemerdekaan kebangsaan Indonesia itu dalam suatu Hukum Dasar Negara Indonesia, yang berkedaulatan Rakyat dengan berdasar pada: “Ketuhanan, dengan kewajiban menjalankan syari’at Islam bagi pemeluk-pemeluknya.”

Namun, sehari setelah proklamasi kemerdekaan diproklamirkan, 7 kata tersebut kemudian dihapuskan.

Pencopotan syariah Islam bermula pada 17 Agustus sore. Seorang opsir Kaigun (Angkatan laut) bersama seorang juru bahasa, Nishijima, mendatangi Hatta di kediamannya.Opsir yang tidak disebutkan namanya itu keberatan dengan “syariat Islam”.

Dia beralasan, jika tetap mencantumkan kata “syariat Islam” golongan Protestan dan Katolik lebih suka berdiri di luar Republik Indonesia.

Karena itu pada 18 Agustus pagi, sebelum sidang Panitai Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia dimulai, Hatta melakukan rapat pendahuluan dengan Ki Bagus Hadikusumo, Wahid Hasjim, Mr. Kasman Singodeimejo dan Mr. Teuku Hasan. Dalam buku Memoir Mohammad Hatta (Tintamas: 1982, hlm. 458-459), Hatta mengatakan, “Supaya kita jangan pecah sebagai bangsa, kami mufakat untuk menghilangkan bagian kalimat yang menusuk hati kaum Kristen itu dan menggantinya dengan Ketuhanan yang Maha Esa.”

Akhirnya, dalam hitungan kurang dari 15 menit, seperti diceritakan Hatta dalam bukunya, Sekitar Proklamasi, tujuh kata dalam Piagam Jakarta dihapuskan. Sikap toleransi yang dilakukan oleh Moch. Hatta tersebut mengakibatkan 7 kata di dalam Pembukaan UUD 1945 tersebut hilang.

2. Perda-Perda Syariah.

 

UU No. 12 Tahun 2011 menentukan bahwa pemerintah daerah dapat membuat peraturan daerah. Karena itu sejumlah pemerintah daerah berlomba-lomba untuk merumuskan perda sesuai dengan keunikan dan kekhasan daerahnya masing-masing, termasuk keunikan beragamanya. Salah satu contoh peraturan daerah yang dibentuk berdasarkan ciri atau kekhasan tertentu adalah perda syariah.

Lebih 25 provinsi/kota/kabupaten telah melahirkan berbagai aturan baik dalam bentuk peraturan daerah atau instruksi kepala daerah yang dinilai sementara kalangan sebagai perda berbau syariah atau perda syariah.

Beberapa kali perda-perda itu digugat khususnya di lembaga parlemen. Kalangan Kristen dan Liberal yang paling getol mempermasalahkan. Pembentukan dan pemberlakuan perda itu dinilai inkonstitusional serta intoleran karena bertentangan dengan konstitusi dan Pancasila, meresahkan masyarakat, tidak sesuai dengan prinsip kebhinekaan dan mengancam NKRI; ditambah dengan alasan mengancam hak-hak kebebasan masyarakat sipil, hak-hak perempuan dan non-Muslim.

Pasca pemberitaan terkait dengan penggrebekan warung makan Bu Saeni yang menyita perhatian publik, muncul kabar Jokowi menghapus 3.143 Perda. Penghapusan Perda dan Peraturan Kepala Daerah itu diumumkan langsung Presiden Joko Widodo di Istana Presiden Senin (13/6) petang. “Sekali lagi saya tegaskan bahwa pembatalan ini untuk menjadikan Indonesia sebagai bangsa yang besar, yang toleran dan yang memiliki daya saing,” tegas Jokowi saat menutup pernyataannya seusai membacakan jenis-jenis perda yang dibatalkan tersebut.

Secara tersirat maksud dari kalimat perda yang bertentangan dengan perundangan-undangan yang lebih tinggi, sepertinya mengarah pada perda-perda syariah atau yang berbau syariah. Itu dapat dilihat dari alasan penghapusan perda-perda tersebut, yakni salah satunya adalah agar Indonesia menjadi bangsa yang besar dan toleran. Faktanya, para penolak perda syariah selalu berdalih bahwa perda syariah itu tidak toleran.

3. UU Perkawinan.

 

Undang-Undang Perkawinan no. 1 Tahun 1974 (UU-P no. 1/1974) tak pernah sepi dari kritik. Kelompok Liberal aktif menuntut revisi UU-P. Tim PUG Depag pada tahun 2004 pernah mengeluarkan CLD-KHI (Counter Legal Draft – Kompilasi Hukum Islam). Sebagai contoh masalah poligami (ta’addud al-zawjât), menurut draft yang terdapat di dalam CLD-KHI, adalah tidak diizinkan sama sekali, haram li ghayrihi (Pasal 3). Menurut CLD-KHI pula, pernikahan beda agama diizinkan asalkan bertujuan untuk mencapai tujuan perkawinan. Ini tentu pemahaman yang keliru dan menyimpang dari agama Islam. Dengan semangat liberalisme dan toleransi, mereka mengajukan draft ini kepada MK walaupun akhirnya usaha mereka tersebut gagal.

 

4. RUU Halal.

 

Setelah melalui jalan yang panjang dan berliku, akhirnya RUU Jaminan Produk Halal disahkan menjadi undang-undang pada rapat paripurna DPR RI hari Kamis, 25 September 2014 di Gedung Nusantara DPR RI, Jakarta (25/9). Rapat Paripurna yang dipimpin oleh Priyo Budi Santoso secara aklamasi menyetujui RUU JPH menjadi Undang-Undang.

Namun, kalau kita melihat proses RUU tersebut, upaya penolakan dari sebagian kalangan sangatlah terasa. Mereka beralasan, Negara Indonesia yang terbentang dari Sabang sampai Merauke, tiap etnik mempunyai kekayaan dengan beragam budaya, seni, ritual tradisi, adat, cara berpakaian, berbagai jenis produk minuman dan makanan kuliner yang berkembang selama berabad-abad, yang menunjukkan kemajemukan bangsa Indonesia. Oleh karena itu, RUU Halal akan mengotak-ngotakkan masyarakat, bertentangan dengan Pancasila dan UUD 1945.

Standar Ganda Toleransi

 

Kalau disepakati bahwa makna dari toleransi adalah menahan perasaan tanpa protes, maka tampak jelas bahwa kalangan Liberal tidak konsisten dengan konsep mereka sendiri untuk ‘tidak protes’ terhadap pendapat yang berbeda dari pemikiran/konsep yang mereka bawa. Kaum Muslim dipaksa tunduk pada argumentasi mereka kendati itu menyalahi konsep mereka sendiri.

Contoh bagaimana kehidupan Umat Islam di Bali saat Hari Raya Nyepi. Kaum Muslim harus mematikan lampu dan tidak boleh melaksanakan aktivitasnya dengan bebas pada hari itu. Bahkan belakangan, Raja Bali meminta kaum Muslim tidak menyembelih sapi karena binatang tersebut dianggap sebagai dewa. Terhadap kondisi ini, tidak ada kelompok Liberal yang protes. Sebaliknya, ketika kaum Muslim mengumandangkan azan melalui pengeras suara, mereka protes. Padahal suara keras itu ada di wilayah yang mayoritas Muslim. Kaum Muslim diminta menghormati non-Muslim dengan mengecilkan suara panggilan orang shalat tersebut.

Kita juga masih ingat bagaimana umat Islam di Tolikara dilarang melaksanakan shalat Id, juga dilarang membangun masjid. Padahal umat Islam di Indonesia adalah mayoritas. Namun, dalam masalah toleransi seolah digiring agar yang mayoritas mengalah kepada minoritas. Padahal yang minoritas harusnya sadar diri. Lihatlah juga bagaimana umat Islam yang mayoritas tersebut harus mengalah kepada kalangan yang tidak setuju terkait 7 kata di dalam Piagam Jakarta sehingga kemudian dihapuskan.

Oleh karena itu, toleransi adalah salah satu alat yang selalu dijadikan kafir Barat, kalangan liberal sekular, untuk menghalangi umat Islam hidup diatur dengan syariah Islam, karena itu berarti mengubur peradaban Barat yang sedang mereka bangun. Mereka hanya toleran terhadap kaum Muslim yang mau hidup dengan peradaban Barat, yakni melepaskan syariah Islam dari kehidupan.

WalLâhu ‘alam. [Adi Victoria; Humas HTI Kaltim/ABAD KHILAFAH Network]

 

via Abad Khilafah | Mengembalikan Kegemilangan Islam ift.tt/2bavjlp

via Blogger ift.tt/1sKt01F

  

Pro-kontra Pemimpin Kafir menghebat sejak Ahok yang kafir mencalonkan diri kembali sebagai calon Gubernur DKI pada Pilkada serentak tahun depan (15/02/2017). Pro-kontra ini makin tajam setelah akhir September 2016 lalu di Kepulauan Seribu Ahok melakukan penistaan al-Quran dengan kalimatnya yang terkenal, “Jangan mau dibohongi pakai al-Maidah 51.” Namun sebenarnya, pro-kontra tersebut hanya ada pada ranah realitas empirik, yaitu pro-kontra yang muncul di media, khususnya di media sosial. Adapun pada ranah normatif, yaitu dalam kajian fikih Islam, sebenarnya tidak ada pro-kontra. Para ulama telah bersepakat bahwa orang kafir haram menjadi pemimpin bagi umat Islam. Ibnu Hazm menegaskan, “Para ulama sepakat bahwa kepemimpinan umat Islam (al-Imâmah) tidak boleh bagi perempuan, orang kafir dan anak kecil.” (Ibnu Hazm, Marâtib al-Ijmâ’, hlm. 208).

 

Ada Gubernur Kafir Pada Masa Khilafah?

 

Ada yang berargumen bahwa pemimpin kafir boleh karena pada masa Khilafah ‘Abbasiyah konon Khalifah al-Mutadhid Billah (berkuasa 279-290 H/892-902 M) pernah mengangkat seorang wali (kepala daerah) bernama Umar bin Yusuf yang beragama Kristen di daerah Anbar di Irak.

Argumen ini tertolak dengan dua alasan.

 

Pertama: Pengangkatan pemimpin kafir yang dilakukan Khalifah al-Mutadhid Billah itu jelas penyimpangan syariah (mukhâlafat syar’iyyah). Pasalnya, sebagaimana telah dikutip sebelumnya, ulama telah sepakat orang kafir haram menjadi pemimpin bagi umat Islam (Ibnu Hazm, Marâtibul Ijmâ’, hlm. 208). Maka dari itu, penyimpangan syariah tersebut harus dianggap sebagai kesalahan yang tak boleh diulangi lagi pada masa datang, bukan malah dianggap standar ideal yang dapat dijadikan teladan atau model untuk kondisi sekarang.

Kedua: Fakta sejarah tersebut tidak dapat menjadi dalil syariah atas kebolehan pemimpin kafir menurut ajaran Islam. Pasalnya, fakta sejarah bukan dalil syariah dalam Islam. Fakta sejarah justru merupakan objek yang perlu dinilai menurut dalil syariah (al-Quran dan as-Sunnah). Faktanya, fakta sejarah kadang sesuai dengan Islam dan kadang menyimpang dari Islam. Tidak setiap peristiwa sejarah itu pasti sesuai dengan Islam.

Fathi Osman dalam “The History of Islam: New Directions” menegaskan jika seorang Muslim mengkaji sejarah Islam (islamic history), dia harus berkomitmen dengan Islam dan melakukan penilaian (assesment) terhadap fakta sejarah berdasarkan standar ajaran Islam. Mengapa? Menurut Fathi Osman, “since not everything which happened in the past or happens at present day on the Islamic scene can really be considered Islamic (karena tidak setiap peristiwa yang telah terjadi pada masa lalu atau yang sedang terjadi saat ini yang terkait dengan Islam dapat benar-benar dianggap Islami)”. (Nur A. Fadhil Lubis [Ed], Introductory Reading on Islamic Studies, Medan: IAIN Press, 1998, hlm 99).

 

Imam al-Mawardi Membolehkan Pemimpin Kafir?

 

Ada yang berargumen bahwa Imam al-Mawardi membolehkan seorang wazîr tanfîdz dijabat oleh seorang kafir dzimmi (warga negara kafir).

 

Argumen ini tidak dapat diterima berdasarkan tiga alas an. Pertama: Memang benar Imam Mawardi membolehkan kafir dzimmi menjabat wazîr tanfîdz (Al-Mawardi, Al-Ahkâm as-Sulthâniyyah, hlm. 27). Namun, ini tidak berarti mengangkat pemimpin kafir hukumnya boleh. Alasannya, karena wazîr tanfîdz tidak mempunyai kewenangan dalam urusan pemerintahan (al-hukm). Wazîr tanfîdz hanyalah pembantu Imam (Khalifah) dalam urusan administrasi (idâri) saja, misalnya korespondensi antara Imam (Khalifah) dan para gubernur (wâli). Yang mempunyai kewenangan dalam urusan pemerintahan adalah wazîr tafwîdh, bukan wazîr tanfîdz (Al-Mawardi, Al-Ahkâm as-Sulthâniyyah, hlm. 30-39).

 

Kedua: Pendapat Imam al-Mawardi yang membolehkan kafir dzimmi menjadi wazîr tanfîdz telah mendapat bantahan dari ulama lain, seperti Imam Abu Ya’laal-Farra‘ (dalam kitabnya Al-Ahkâm as-Sulthâniyyah hlm. 32) dan Imam al-Haramain al-Juwaini asy-Syafii (dalam kitabnya Ghiyâts al-Umam hlm. 114). Ulama kontemporer yang juga membantah pendapat Imam Mawardi adalah Imam Taqiyuddin an-Nabhani (w. 1977) dalam kitabnya Muqaddimah ad-Dustur(I/187). Ketiga mujtahid tersebut sama-sama berpendapat bahwa wazîr tanfîdz tidak boleh dijabat oleh orang kafir. Alasannya, wazîr tanfîdz adalah bithânah (orang dekat/kepercayaan) bagi Imam/Khalifah. Karena itu wazîr tanfîdz harus dijabat seorang Muslim, haram dijabat orang kafir. Dalilnya adalah QS Ali ‘Imran ayat 118, yang melarang mengambil bithânah (orang dekat/kepercayaan) dari kalangan orang kafir. Inilah pendapat yang lebih râjih (kuat).

 

Ketiga: Tidak pada tempatnya memboleh-kan pemimpin kafir sebagai kepala daerah dengan menggunakan pendapat Imam al-Mawardi yang membolehkan kafir dzimmi menjadi wazîr tanfîdz. Mengapa? Sebab, persoalan kepala daerah telah dibahas oleh Imam al-Mawardi dalam bab khusus (Bab III) tentang pengangkatan kepala daerah (fî taqlîd al-imârah ‘ala al-bilâd). Jadi kalau berbicara tentang kepala daerah, seharusnya yang dirujuk adalah bab tentang pengangkatan kepala daerah ini, bukan bab tentang pengangkatan para wazîr (Bab II). Ini namanya argumentasi salah bab (Lihat:al-Mawardi, Al-Ahkâm as-Sulthâniyyah, hlm. 30-39 [Bab II] dan 40-46 [Bab III]).

 

Ibnu Taimiyah Membolehkan Pemimpin Kafir Asal Adil?

 

Ada pula yang berargumen bahwa Ibnu Taimiyah membolehkan pemimpin kafir boleh asalkan adil.

 

Argumen ini tidak benar. Yang benar, Ibnu Taimiyah sekadar mengutip ungkapan orang lain, bukan menegaskan pendapatnya sendiri. Artinya, beliau sekadar menekankan betapa pentingnya keadilan dengan ungkapan hiperbolik (mubâlaghah), dan bukan sedang menyatakan pendapat fikihnya.

 

Memang Ibnu Taimiyah pernah berkata dalam kitabnya, Majmû’ al-Fatâwâ, “Sungguh manusia tidak berselisih bahwa akibat kezaliman adalah kehinaan dan akibat keadilan adalah kemuliaan. Oleh karena itu, diriwayatkan bahwa Allah akan menolong negara yang adil meski itu negara kafir, dan tak akan menolong negara yang zalim meski itu negara Mukmin. ”(Ibnu Taimiyah, Majmû’ al-Fatâwâ, XXVIII/63).

 

Dari ungkapan otentik itu, secara jelas Ibnu Taimiyah telah mengutip ungkapan pihak lain, bukan menegaskan pendapatnya sendiri. Ini tampak dari perkataannya yang menggunakan kalimat pasif (majhûl), yaitu wa li-hâdza yurwa (oleh karena itu diriwayatkan). Jadi bohong jika ada klaim Ibnu Taimiyah berpendapat pemimpin kafir (atau negara kafir) boleh asalkan adil.

 

Ungkapan Ibnu Taimiyah tersebut dalam bahasa Arab dapat dianggap mubâlaghah, yaitu ungkapan hiperbolik(melebih-lebihkan) untuk menekankan betapa pentingnya keadilan. Ungkapanini makna harfiahnya boleh jadi tidak ada faktanya atau bertentangan dengan syariah. Ini sama dengan perintah Rasulullah saw. agar kita mendengar dan menaati pemimpin meskipun dia adalah “budak Habasyah yang rambutnya seperti kismis. ” (HR al-Bukhari no. 6273). Kata Imam Ibnu Hajar Al Asqalani, yang dimaksud “budak Habasyah” adalah “bekas budak Habasyah” sebagai ungkapan mubâlaghah karena ulama telah sepakat budak haram menjadi pemimpin. (Ibnu Hajar Al Asqalani, Fath al-Bâri, XIII/hlm. 132).

 

Apalagi Ibnu Taimiyah dengan tegas menyatakan bahwa tujuan kekuasaan adalah untuk menerapkan syariah Islam dan mengatur kehidupan dunia dengan syariah Islam (Ibnu Taimiyah, As-Siyâsah asy-Syar’iyyah, hlm. 13). Bagaimana mungkin tujuan kekuasaan tersebut dapat terwujud jika pemimpin umat adalah orang kafir?

 

Ini Bukan Negara Khilafah, Tapi Negara Pancasila (NKRI)?

 

Ada pula yang berargumen bahwa pemimpin kafir bolehkarena kita sekarang berada dalam negara Pancasila alias NKRI, bukan Khilafah. Dikatakan, dalam NKRI baik Muslim maupun kafir sama-sama berhak menjadi pemimpin.

 

Argumen ini menyesatkan karena tidak menggunakan Islam sebagai landasan untuk menyikapi boleh-tidaknya kafir menjadi pemimpin. Seharusnya seorang Muslim menggunakan landasan Islam berdasarkan al-Quran dan as-Sunnah, bukan yang lain. Jika menggunakan landasan Islam, sebenarnya sangat jelas bahwa keharaman pemimpin kafir berlaku umum di mana saja, baik di negara Khilafah maupun bukan Khilafah. Apa yang halal dalam negara Khilafah adalah tetap halal di luar negara Khilafah. Sebaliknya, apa yang haram di negara Khilafah adalah tetap haram di luar negara Khilafah. Imam Syafii dalam Al-Umm menulis:

 

أَنَّ الْحَلاَلَ فِي دَارِ اْلإِسْلاِمِ حَلاَلٌ فِي بِلاَدِ الْكُفْرِ وَالْحَرَامَ فِيْ بِلاَدِ اْلإِسْلاَمِ حَرَامٌ فِي بِلاَدِ الْكُفْرِ

 

Sungguhapa saja yang halal di Dâr al-Islâm (Khilafah) tetap halal di negeri-negeri kufur. Apa saja yang haram di negeri-negeri Islam tetap haram di negeri-negeri kufur. (Imam Syafii, Al-Umm. Al-Mansurah: Darul Wafa‘, 2001, XIX/hlm. 237).

Imam asy-Syaukani juga mengatakan:

فَإِنَّ أَحْكَامَ الشَّرْعِ لاَزِمَةٌ لِلْمُسْلِمِيْنَ فِي أَيِّ مَكَانٍ وَجَدُوْا، وَ دَارُ الْحَرْبِ لَيْسَتْ بِنَاسِخَةٍ لِلأَحْكَامِ الشَّرْعِيَّةِ أَوْ لِبَعْضِهَا

 

Sungguh hukum-hukum syariah adalah suatu keharusan bagi kaum Muslim di manapun mereka berada Dâr al-Harb (negara kafir)bukanlah penghapus (nâsikh) hukum-hukum syariah atau sebagiannya (Asy-Syaukani, As-Sayl al-Jarrâr. Beirut: Dar Ibn Hazm, 2004). Makna Awliyâ Bukan Pemimpin, Tapi Teman Dekat? Ada yang berpendapat bahwa kata awliyâ‘ dalam QS al-Maidah ayat 51 artinya adalah teman dekat, bukan pemimpin. Jadi, katanya, mengangkat pemimpin kafir tidak haram; yang dilarang adalah mengangkat orang kafir sebagai teman dekat.

 

Jawaban untuk argumen ini ada dua: Pertama: Memang benar secara umum kata awliyâ’ di dalam al-Quran dapat ditafsirkan sebagai khashah (orang khusus) atau bithânah (teman dekat). (Lihat: tafsir kata awliya‘ pada QS an-Nisa’ [4]: 144 dalamTafsir Ibnu Katsir, I/867; Tafsir al-Qurthubi, V/425). Namun, membatasi makna awliyâ hanya pada makna khashah (orang khusus) atau bithânah (teman dekat) adalah pembatasan atau pengkhususan tanpa didasarkan pada dalil (takhshîsh bilâ mukhashshis). Sebab, berdasarkan mafhûm muwâfaqah (penarikan makna implisit yang lebih besar cakupannya daripada makna eksplisit), kata awliya‘ dapat juga diartikan sebagai pemimpin (penguasa). Artinya, jika mengangkat orang kafir sebagai teman dekat saja sudah haram, apalagi mengangkat dia sebagai penguasa atas kaum Muslim. Syeikh Ihab Kamal Ahmad mengomentari tafsir kata awliyâ‘ dalam QS an-Nisaayat 144, “Jika berkawan dengan mereka (kafir), membuka rahasia-rahasia kaum Mukmin kepada mereka, juga menjadikan mereka sebagai teman khusus sudah termasuk dalam bentuk memberikan loyalitas (berwali) yang dilarang oleh ayat ini, maka tidak diragukan lagi bahwa menyerahkan urusan kaum Muslim kepada mereka dan menjadikan mereka sebagai penguasa atas kaum Muslim adalah juga termasuk bentuk berwali yang paling jelas kepada mereka dan lebih berat keharamannya. ” (Ihab Kamal Ahmad, Ar-Radd al-Mubîn ‘ala Man Ajaza Wilâyah al-Kafir ‘alâal-Muslimîn, hlm. 3).

 

Kedua: QS al-Maidah ayat 51 bukanlah dalil satu-satunya yang mengharamkan pemimpin kafir. Jadi, andaikata tafsir awliyâ‘ dalam QS al-Maidah ayat 51 dipastikan hanya satu makna (padahal tidak), yaitu teman dekat, bukan berarti mengangkat pemimpin kafir lantas hukumnya boleh. Pasalnya, keharaman pemimpin kafir juga ditunjukkan oleh banyak ayat lainnya Misalnya QS an-Nisa‘ [4] ayat 59 saat Allah SWT memerintahkan kita menaati penguasa dari kalangan kaum Muslim (ulil amri minkum). Kata “minkum” dalam ayat ini menjadi dalil bahwa penguasa kaum Muslim wajib dari kalangan kaum Muslim, tidak boleh dari kalangan kafir. Ayat lain misalnya QS an-Nisa‘[4]ayat 141 saat Allah SWT menegaskan tidak akan memberikan jalan bagi kaum kafir untuk menguasai kaum Muslim. Ayat ini juga dapat menjadi dalil yang mengharamkan mengangkat pemimpin kafir. Alasannya, karena pengangkatan orang kafir sebagai pemimpin akan menjadi jalan bagi kaum kafir untuk menguasai urusan kaum Muslim.

 

Awliyâ‘Bentuk Jamak (Kepemimpinan Kolektif), Jika Tunggal Tidak Mengapa?

 

Ada yang berargumen bahwa yang dilarang dalam QS al-Maidah ayat 51 adalah mengangkat kepemimpinan kolektif yang terdiri dari orang-orang kafir semuanya. Alasannya karena kata awliyâ‘ adalah bentuk jamak, dari kata tunggal waliy. Implikasinya kalau pemimpin yang diangkat satu orang kafir saja, tidak apa-apa.

Argumen di atas jelas keliru. Kata awliyâ‘ dalam ayat itu memang harus berbentuk jamak agar sesuai dengan lafal kaum Yahudi dan Nashrani (al-Yahud wa an-Nashara) yang juga berbentuk jamak. (Rawwas Qal’ah Jie, Mu’jam Lughah al-Fuqahâ‘, hlm. 370 dan 397). Namun, ini tak berarti mengangkat satu orang pemimpin kafir boleh. Pasalnya, mengangkat pemimpin kafir baik satu orang (individu) maupun banyak orang (kepemimpinan kolektif) sama-sama haram, tanpa ada perbedaan, berdasarkan kemutlakan dan keumuman nas.

Ini seperti larangan umum/mutlak kepada kaum Mukmin untuk shalat dalam keadaan mabuk sebagaimana dalam QS an-Nisa‘ ayat 43 (yang artinya), ”Hai orang-orang yang beriman janganlah kalian (antum, bentuk jamak) shalat sedangkan kalian dalam keadaan mabuk (wa antum sukara). ”Apakah dari ayat ini lalu bisa disimpulkan, yang dilarang shalat hanyalah sekumpulan orang mabuk secara kolektif, sedang kalau yang mabuk seorang saja berarti dia boleh shalat? Tetap tidak boleh bukan? Demikian pula larangan mengangkat orang kafir, baik yang diangkat sekumpulan orang kafir maupun hanya satu individu kafir, hukumnya sama-sama haram.

Ayat Larangan Pemimpin Kafir Hanya dalam Kondisi Perang?

 

Ada yang berargumen bahwa larangan mengangkat pemimpin kafir dalam QS al-Maidah 51 hanya terjadi dalam kondisi perang. Pasalnya, konteks turunnya ayat tersebut adalah ketika terjadinya perang antara kaum Muslim melawan Yahudi Bani Qainuqa’. Jadi, katanya ayat itu tidak dapat diterapkan dalam kondisi damai seperti saat ini.

Argumen ini membatasi makna tanpa dalil (takhshîsh bilâ mukhashshis). Yang benar, ayat QS di atas, meski sabab an-nuzûldalam kondisi perang, keumuman ayatnya membolehkan penerapannya dalam kondisi apa saja, baik kondisi perang maupun kondisi damai. Kaidah ushul menyebutkan, ”Al-‘Ibrah bi ‘umûm al-lafzhi lâ bi khushush as-sabab (Yang menjadi patokan adalah keumuman lafal, bukan kekhususan sebabnya). (An-Nabhani, Asy-Syakhshiyyah al-Islâmiyyah, III/240). WalLâhu a’lam. (KH. M. Shiddiq Al-Jawi/abadkhilafah.com)

 

via Abad Khilafah | Mengembalikan Kegemilangan Islam ift.tt/2irTJMc

[Al-Islam edisi 792, 25 Rabul Akhir 1437 H – 5 Februari 2016 M]

 

Belakangan ini, isu LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Biseksual, Transgender) kembali menyeruak. Beberapa bulan lalu masyarakat dihebohkan oleh perkawinan sejenis di Bali yang dirayakan bak pesta. Setelah itu juga muncul mirip perayaan perkawinan sejenis di Boyolali Jawa Tengah. Paling akhir, isu itu kembali mencuat setelah munculnya lembaga konseling Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies (SGRC) di Universitas Indonesia (UI). Menanggapi hal itu, Menristek Dikti Mohamad Nasir mengatakan bahwa kelompok LGBT tidak boleh masuk kampus (Antara, 23/1).

 

Pernyataan itu mendapat protes dari mereka yang pro LGBT. Menanggapi hal itu, melalui akun twitter-nya @mensristekdikti, Senin (25/01/2016), Nasir menyatakan di antaranya, “Bukan berarti saya melarang segala kegiatan yang ada kaitannya dengan LGBT. Mau menjadi lesbian atau gay itu menjadi hak masing-masing individu. Asal tidak mengganggu kondusivitas akademik.”

 

Serbuan Virus LGBT

 

Sejak awal tahun 2000-an, serbuan virus LGBT mulai banyak menyerang negeri ini. Serbuan LGBT di negeri ini dilakukan secara akademik, politik dan sosial. Secara akademik, penyebaran ide LGBT di antaranya berlindung di balik kajian akademik. Banyak organisasi LGBT bergerak dari atau di kampus-kampus dan menyerukan ide LGBT melalui tulisan. Secara politik mereka melakukan gerakan politik: melakukan aksi di Bundaran Hotel Indonesia, berusaha mempengaruhi berbagai kebijakan politik dan bekerjasama dengan berbagai lembaga khususnya lembaga yang bergerak di bidang advokasi dan HAM. Ada juga pertemuan 29 ahli HAM di UGM Yogyakarta pada tanggal 6-9 November di 2006 yang menghasilkan dokumen “Prinsip-prinsip Yogyakarta” (The Yogyakarta Principles). Dokumen tersebut berisi tentang Penerapan hukum HAM Internasional dalam kaitannya dengan Orientasi Seksual dan Identitas Gender. Dokumen yang terdiri dari 29 prinsip itu juga disertai rekomendasi kepada pemerintah, lembaga antar pemerintah daerah, masyarakat sipil dan PBB itu sendiri.

 

Secara sosial, propaganda LGBT diserukan dengan beragam cara dan sarana. Melalui organisasi peduli AIDS dilakukan advokasi dan konsultasi, film, aksi di lapangan, budaya, media massa dan sebagainya. Targetnya untuk menyebarkan ide LGBT dan mengubah sikap masyarakat agar toleran dan menerima perilaku LGBT. Di antaranya dinyatakan, LGBT hanya merupakan ekspresi seksual dan gender dari faktor gen, keturunan dan bawaan.

 

Bukan Bawaan

 

LGBT tidak terbukti secara ilmiah merupakan fenomena dari faktor gen. Kode gen “Xq28”. yang selama ini ditengarai sebagai gen pembawa kecenderungan fenotepe homoseksual, tidak terbukti mendasari sifat dari homoseksual.

 

Pada 1999, Prof. George Rice dari Universitas Western Ontario, Kanada, bersama timnya melakukan riset terkait hal itu. Hasil penelitian mereka mengungkap tidak adanya kaitan gen Xq28 yang dikatakan mendasari homoseksualitas pria. Penelitian juga dilakukan oleh Prof Alan Sanders dari Universitas Chicago, di tahun 1998-1999. Hasilnya juga tidak mendukung teori hubungan genetik pada homoseksualitas. Ruth Hubbard, seorang pengurus “The Council for Responsible Genetics” mengatakan, “Pencarian sebuah gen gay bukan suatu usaha pencarian yang bermanfaat. Saya tidak berpikir ada gen tunggal yang memerintah perilaku manusia yang sangat kompleks.”

 

Jadi, perilaku LGBT bukanlah karena faktor bawaan, bukan faktor keturunan. Perilaku LGBT bukan sesuatu yang “dipaksakan” sehingga tidak bisa ditolak atau harus diterima keberadaannya.

 

Dalih Kebebasan dan HAM

 

Penyebaran ide dan perilaku LGBT menggunakan dalih kebebasan dan HAM. LGBT dibenarkan dengan ide relativitas kebenaran dan moral. Intinya, tidak ada kebenaran tunggal yang mengikat semua orang. Kebenaran bersifat majemuk; bergantung individu, budaya dan konteks sosial tertentu. Semua orang harus toleran terhadap perbedaan ukuran moralitas serta ukuran benar dan salah menurut pihak lain. Karena itu, menurut ide ini perilaku LGBT tidak boleh dipandang sebagai perilaku menyimpang, tak bermoral dan abnormal. Menurut ide ini, LGBT hanya merupakan keberagaman orientasi seksual seperti halnya perbedaan suku, agama, ras dan budaya dalam masyarakat. Perilaku LGBT dianggap manusiawi dengan dalih tidak merugikan orang lain. Yang penting perilaku seksual yang terjadi aman, nyaman dan bertanggung jawab. Masyarakat lantas dituntut toleran terhadap perilaku menyimpang LGBT.

 

Selain itu setiap orang bebas untuk mengekspresikan diri, dan itu adalah bagian dari HAM. Dari sudut pandang kebebasan dan HAM, pelaku LGBT hanya mengekspresikan orientasi seksual dan identitas gender yang jadi pilihannya sebagai bagian dari hak asasinya. Berdasarkan dalih kebebasan dan HAM itu, penentangan atas perilaku LGBT kemudian dianggap sebagai pelanggaran HAM.

 

Pandangan Islam

 

Ide kebebasan dan HAM yang mendasari dan digunakan sebagai pembenaran perilaku seks menyimpang, termasuk perilaku LGBT, adalah ide yang menyalahi dan bertentangan dengan Islam. Dalam Islam, manusia tidak bebas sebebas-bebasnya. Pandangan dan perilakunya harus terikat dengan syariah Islam. Seorang muslim tidak bebas berpandangan dan berperilaku sesukanya sesuai hawa nafsunya. Allah SWT berifirman:

 

)وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا (

 

Apa saja yang diberikan Rasul kepada kalian, terimalah. Apa saja yang dia larang atas kalian, tinggalkanlah (TQS al-Hasyr [59]: 7).

 

Karena itu dalam Islam negara berkewajiban membina dan memupuk keimanan dan ketakwaan warganya. Dengan ketakwaan itu maka ide dan perilaku yang menyalahi ketentuan Islam, termasuk LGBT, akan bisa dicegah dan diminimalisasi dari masyarakat.

 

Allah SWT menjelaskan bahwa tujuan penciptaan laki-laki dan perempuan adalah untuk kelangsungan jenis manusia dengan segala martabat kemanusiaannya (QS an-Nisa [4]: 1). Karena itu hubungan seksualitas yang dibenarkan dalam Islam hanyalah yang ada dalam ikatan pernikahan yang sah secara syar’i. Semua hubungan seksualitas di luar ikatan pernikahan adalah ilegal dan menyimpang. Lesbian, homoseksual, anal seks, perzinaan, semuanya adalah perilaku seks yang menyimpang; tidak bisa dipandang sebagai sesuatu yang normal. Semua itu juga menjadi ancaman terhadap keberadaan umat manusia dengan segala martabat kemanusiaannya.

 

Selain itu terdapat nas yang secara khusus menjelaskan bahwa homoseksual adalah perilaku terlaknat. Rasul saw. bersabda:

 

«مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلَ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ »

 

Dilaknat orang yang melakukan perbuatan kaum Nabi Luth (homoseksual) (HR at-Tirmidzi dan Ahmad dari Ibnu Abbas).

 

Perilaku transgender juga merupakan perilaku yang dilaknat dalam Islam. Ibnu Abbas ra. mengatakan:

 

«لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- الْمُتَشَبِّهَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ بِالرِّجَالِ وَالْمُتَشَبِّهِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ بِالنِّسَاءِ »

 

Rasulullah saw. telah melaknat wanita yang menyerupai laki-laki dan laki-laki yang menyerupai wanita (HR Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidzi, Ibnu Majah dan Ahmad).

 

Karena itu di dalam Islam, ide dan perilaku LGBT jelas menyimpang dan abnormal. Ide LGBT adalah ide haram. Perilaku LGBT adalah perilaku dosa. Karena itu ide LGBT tidak boleh tersebar di masyarakat. Siapa saja yang menyebarkan, mendukung dan membenarkan ide LGBT jelas berdosa dan layak dikenai sanksi sesuai ketentuan syariah. Negara dalam Islam harus membersihkan dan menjaga masyarakat dari ide LGBT.

 

Islam menilai homoseksual sebagai dosa dan kejahatan besar. Islam menetapkan sanksi hukum yang berat terhadap pelakunya. Siapa saja yang melakukan perbuatan kaum Nabi Luth dan terbukti dengan pembuktian yang syar’i maka pelaku dan pasangannya dijatuhi hukuman mati, tentu selama itu dilakukan suka rela, bukan karena dipaksa. Ibnu Abbas ra. menuturkan, Rasul saw. bersabda:

 

« مَنْ وَجَدْتُمُوهُ يَعْمَلُ عَمَلَ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ فَاقْتُلُوا الْفَاعِلَ وَالْمَفْعُولَ بِهِ »

 

Siapa saja yang kalian dapati melakukan perbuatan kaum Luth, bunuhlah subyek dan obyeknya (HR Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidzi, Ibnu Majah dan Ahmad).

 

Wahai Kaum muslim:

 

Dengan ketentuan Islam itu, masyarakat akan bisa dijaga sebagai umat manusia yang berbeda dengan binatang. Masyarakat juga bisa dijauhkan dari berbagai ide dan perilaku berbahaya termasuk LGBT. Semua itu akan terwujud sempurna jika syariah Islam diterapkan secara total dan menyeluruh. Di situlah pentingnya mewujudkan Khilafah Rasyidah ‘ala minhaj an-nubuwwah sebagai sistem yang ditetapkan oleh Islam untuk menerapkan seluruh hukum Islam. Oleh karena itu, mewujudkan penerapan syariah Islam secara total dan menyeluruh di bawah sistem Khilafah Rasyidah ‘ala minhaj an-nubuwwah harus menjadi agenda utama dan vital bagi umat Islam. Semua elemen umat Islam harus berjuang sungguh-sungguh untuk sesegera mewujudkan Khilafah Rasyidah ‘ala minhaj an-nubuwwah. WalLâh a’lam bi ash-shawâb. []

 

Komentar al-Islam:

MUI mengeluarkan pernyataan resmi terkait Gerakan Fajar Nusantara (Gafatar). Organisasi itu dinilai telah mencampuradukkan ajaran agama. “Mereka meramu tiga agama. Ada bukunya,” ujar Ketua Komisi Pengkajian dan Penelitian MUI, Utang Ranuwijaya, dalam pernyataan resminya. Ia juga menyatakan pengikut Gafatar juga meyakini adanya nabi setelah Nabi Muhammad. Sosok nabi yang dianggap telah memperoleh wahyu dari Tuhan adalah Ahmad Musadeq. (Detikcom, 2/2).

   

Itu namanya aliran sesat, sesuai 10 kriteria MUI.

Maraknya aliran sesat di negeri ini adalah karena sekularisme, kebebadan dan HAM. Saatnya semua segera segera dicampakkan.

Terapkan syariah di bawah sistem Khilafah Rasyidah ‘ala minhaj an-nubuwwah, niscaya Islam dan umatnya akan terlindungi dari bahaya aliran sesat.

  

hizbut-tahrir.or.id/2016/02/03/awas-virus-lgbt-mengancam-... heniputra.my.id/awas-virus-lgbt-mengancam-umat

CLIENT: Ilm Path Academy

 

[dp] www.dawahposters.com

[e] info@dawahposters.com

  

Pengantar Redaksi : Jauh sebelum kasus penistaan agama oleh Ahok mencuat, HTI telah lebih dini menyerukan keharaman pemimpin kafir. Karena itu, menistakan Islam atau tidak, Ahok—juga kalangan non-Muslim lainnya—tidak layak dipilih menjadi pemimpin di tengah-tengah mayoritas umat Islam di negeri ini. Mengapa? Apa alasannya? Apakah masih relevan mengangkat isu pemimpin kafir saat ini? Bukankah ini negara demokrasi dan siapapun berpeluang untuk menjadi pemimpin, termasuk non-Muslim? Bukankah juga pemimpin itu yang penting kinerjanya, bukan preferensi agamanya? Untuk menjawab beberapa persoalan di atas, kali ini Redaksi mewawancarai Juru Bicara Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), M. Ismail Yusanto. Berikut hasil wawancaranya.HTI sejak dini menyerukan “Tolak Pemimpin Kafir”. Mengapa slogan yang terkesan “menohok” itu dipilih? Mengapa bukan karena alasan lain misalnya pemimpin zalim, tukang gusur, bermulut lancang?

Mungkin saja secara politik penolakan terhadap Ahok lebih tepat menggunakan istilah pemimpin zalim, tukang gusur, bermulut lancang dan sebagainya ketimbang penyebutan istilah kafir. Sebagian orang malah menyebut, ini tidaklah strategis. Namun, secara teologis-ideologis, penyebutan itu lebih dekat pada hakikat masalah. Maksudnya, alasan utama penolakan terhadap kepemimpinan Ahok adalah memang karena dia kafir. Surah an-Nisa’ ayat 41 jelas sekali mengharamkan umat untuk mengangkat orang kafir menjadi pemimpin di negeri Muslim. Meski dalam redaksi berita, ayat ini mengandung celaan. Maknanya adalah larangan, yakni larangan untuk memberikan jalan kepada orang kafir untuk menguasai kaum Muslim. Kekuasaan atau kepemimpinan merupakan jalan terbesar untuk itu. Kata “lan” dalam ayat ini menunjukkan larangan ini bersifat tegas. Artinya, haram kaum Muslim menyerahkan kekuasaan kepada orang kafir. Meski umpamanya Ahok tidak korup, bertindak santun atau berkinerja bagus, sepanjang masih kafir, tetap saja harus ditolak.

Penyebutan istilah kafir ini juga lebih dekat ke hakikat dakwah. Inti dakwah adalah seruan ke jalan Islam. Islam telah dengan tegas mengharamkan pemimpin kafir. Istilah kafir itu sendiri adalah istilah al-Quran. Bila Allah menyebut istilah kafir, dan mengharamkan orang kafir menjadi pemimpin bagi umat Islam, mengapa kita enggan mengabarkan ketentuan ini? Ingat, salah satu makna berpegang teguh pada al-Quran adalah dengan menjadikan istilah-istilah al-Quran sebagai ukuran kita menilai dan memandang suatu masalah.

Misalnya dalam masalah LGBT. Bila kita berpegang teguh pada al-Quran, pasti dengan mudah mendudukkan status perbuatan itu, dan tidak akan bingung seperti yang terjadi pada sebagian kelompok masyarakat yang menilai fenomena LGBT sebagai refleksi kebebasan dan sebagainya. Merujuk ayat 28 surah al-Ankabut, perbuatan seperti yang dilakukan oleh kaum Nabi Luth (sodomi) itu disebut dengan istilah fâkhisyah. Fâkhisyah itu tidak bisa diartikan lain kecuali keburukan. Imam Ibnu Katsir mengartikan fâkhisyah sebagai ‘amal al-khabîtsah (perbuatan yang amat keji).

Jadi, menyampaikan istilah-istilah dalam al-Quran seperti fâkhisah, mu’min, munâfiq, jihâd, amr ma’rûf nahy mungkar, kâfir dan sebagainya sangatlah penting. Pasalnya, istilah itu mengandung pemikiran atau pemahaman tertentu. Sebaliknya, mengingkari istilah dalam al-Quran sama artinya kita menghindar dari pengertian yang dikandung oleh al-Quran. Sikap seperti ini tentu saja tidak sesuai dengan spirit dakwah itu sendiri.

Penyebutan istilah kafir ini juga lebih dekat ke hakikat solusi atau penyelesaian masalah. Kita tahu, orang kafir bisa terpilih menjadi pemimpin politik di negeri yang penduduknya mayoritas Muslim ini karena ada partai yang mencalonkan, kemudian calon itu dipilih oleh rakyat dalam Pemilu. Partai itu bisa mencalonkan orang kafir karena menurut peraturan perundangan yang ada memang hal itu dibolehkan. Jadi, andai tidak ada partai yang mencalonkan, dan andai pun dicalonkan tetapi tidak dipilih oleh rakyat, tentu orang kafir tidak akan bisa terpilih menjadi pemimpin. Apalagi bila dibuat aturan yang melarang, tentu tidak akan mungkin orang kafir bakal menjadi pemimpin di negeri mayoritas Muslim ini.

 

Ada yang mengatakan, slogan “tolak pemimpin kafir” itu SARA dan membahayakan masyarakat Indonesia. Bagaimana Ustadz?

SARA itu kan singkatan dari Suku – Agama – Ras – Antar Golongan. Suku, maksudnya mempertentangkan antarsuku-suku yang di Indonesia yang memang sangat banyak. Misalnya antara suku Jawa dengan Sunda, atau antara Jawa dan luar Jawa, dan lain sebagainya. Ras adalah mempertentangkan Cina dengan Pribumi, atau antara Cina dengan Arab atau dengan yang lainnya. Antar Golongan artinya mempertentangkan antara golongan kaya dan miskin, golongan sipil dan ABRI dan semacamnya.

Dalam pandangan Islam, memperten-tangkan suku dan ras dilarang karena manusia memang diciptakan Allah bersuku-suku dan berbangsa-bangsa untuk saling mengenal, bukan untuk saling bertentangan. Juga tidak boleh mempertentangkan antar golongan karena, dalam konteks ekonomi, pasti ada yang kaya dan miskin. Itu merupakan realitas masyarakat yang sebagiannya merupakan qadhâ atau takdir Allah. Dalam konteks profesi pasti ada yang memilih sipil dan non-sipil. Apalagi bila mereka semua yang bersuku Jawa, Padang, Sunda, atau yang Cina, Arab atau pribumi, atau yang sipil dan militer adalah Muslim, maka lebih tidak boleh lagi dipertentangkan.

Adapun mengenai agama, bukan kita mau mempertentangkan, tetapi memang watak antaragama itu pasti bertentangan. Lihat saja, Muslim menyatakan Allah itu ahad (esa), sedangkan orang Kristen mengatakan Tuhan itu satu dari tiga. Soal ketentuan halal-haram pasti juga berbeda. Begitu pun terkait masalah kepemimpinan. Islam tegas melarang memilih pemimpin dari kalangan orang kafir. Mengapa? Karena tugas pokok dan fungsi kepemimpinan dalam Islam adalah menerapkan syariah secara kâffah dan melaksanakan amar makruf nahi mungkar. Bagaimana kita bisa mengharap orang kafir bisa melakukan tugas ini bila ia sendiri tidak paham amar makruf nahi mungkar dan tidak mengimani syariah? Sikap ini harus dipahami sebagai ketundukan umat Islam pada ketentuan agama. Tidak boleh dianggap SARA.

Di negeri Muslim seperti Indonesia, soal keterkaitan politik seperti Pemilu, Pilkada atau Pilpres, bahkan juga dalam pergantian pejabat di berbagai instansi Pemerintah, faktor agama mestinya harus dipandang sebagai hal yang biasa. Islam itu telah menjadi bagian tak terpisahkan dari dinamika politik negeri ini bahkan sejak sebelum merdeka. Lihatlah ada Sarikat Islam, ada Muhammadiyah, NU dan lain sebagainya yang turut mewarnai perjuangan kemerdekaan. Sebelumnya ada P. Diponegoro, Imam Bonjol dan lainnya. Semua itu menunjukkan bahwa Islam itu tak pernah lepas dari masalah politik. Bahkan heboh penghapusan 7 kata dalam Piagam Jakarta, juga dipicu oleh soal agama.

  

Soal keharusan pemimpin itu harus bertakwa, sebuah idiom agama, juga dicantumkan secara resmi dalam peraturan perundangan. Misalnya dalam Undang-Undang No. 23 Tahun 2003 Pasal 6 disebutkan, syarat-syarat untuk menjadi calon Presiden dan Wakil Presiden Indonesia nomer 1 adalah bertakwa kepada Tuhan Yang Maha Esa. Meski pengertian takwa di situ dimaknai secara umum, bukan dalam pengertian Islam, faktanya ajaran Islam memberikan tuntunan yang sangat jelas tentang kriteria takwa. Kalau dia kafir kan berarti tidak memenuhi kriteria takwa itu. Karena itu aneh sekali bila umat Islam menginginkan pemimpin yang bertakwa lantas dituduh SARA.

Meski umat Islam menolak pemimpin kafir, tidak berarti kita boleh berlaku semena-mena terhadap orang kafir. Kita dilarang menyerang atau menyakiti orang kafir tanpa alasan yang dibenarkan oleh syariah. Bila sikap seperti ini dipegang teguh, tidak ada yang perlu dikhawatirkan dari penolakan terhadap pemimpin kafir.

 

Masalahnya, sekarang ini eranya demokrasi modern. Propaganda tolak pemimpin kafir itu sudah tidak cocok. Bagaimana?

Siapa bilang tidak cocok? Lihatlah, di negara sekular seperti AS yang disebut sebagai kampiunnya demokrasi, juga Jerman, faktor agama dalam memilih pemimpin tetap saja diperhatikan. Di AS, WASP (White – Anglo – Saxon – Protestant) menjadi referensi utama dalam memilih presiden. Karena itu selalu saja presiden AS terpilih adalah dari kulit putih. Obama yang kulit hitam adalah perkecualian. Itu pun terjadi setelah 220 tahun AS merdeka. Juga umumnya presiden AS beragama Kristen Protestan, bukan Kristen Katolik, apalagi Islam. Butuh waktu 171 tahun untuk John F Kennedy, yang beragama Katolik, bisa jadi presiden di sana.

Bukan hanya di AS, di Jerman pun preferensi agama juga cukup kuat. Partai yang sekarang memerintah di sana adalah Partai Kristen Demokrat, CDU, pimpinan Kanselir Angela Merkel. Lihatlah, nama partainya saja pakai Kristen. Di Indonesia malah tidak ada partai yang eksis yang menggunakan nama agama, termasuk Islam. Partai berasas Islam seperti PKS, PBB dan PPP tak ada satu pun yang menggunakan nama Islam. Kalau di AS dan Jerman, juga negara-negara lain, agama boleh menjadi referensi dalam memilih pemimpin, mengapa di Indonesia yang mayoritas Muslim, tidak boleh?

Yang penting itu bagaimana kinerjanya. Jadi kalau pemimpin kafir itu kinerjanya lebih baik, ya mengapa tidak? Kalau ada yang bilang begitu, bagaimana?

Siapa bilang agama seseorang tidak terkait kinerjanya? Coba tanyakan hal itu kepada penduduk AS, mengapa Presiden AS harus Kristen Protestan? Bukankah Katolik juga sama-sama Kristen? Apa hubungan keprotestanan dan kekatolikan pemimpin dengan kinerja? Mereka pasti punya jawaban.

Islam juga sangat mementingkan kinerja dalam memilih pemimpin. Kinerja itu terkait dengan tugas pokok dan fungsi pemimpin dalam pandangan Islam, yakni kemampuan dalam menerapkan syariah dan melakukan amar makruf nahi mungkar. Dengan itu akan terwujud rahmatan lil alamin berupa kemajuan dalam seluruh lapangan kehidupan, keadilan, kesejahteraan, kedamaian dan ketenteraman serta kesucian. Inilah ukuran kinerja pemimpin menurut Islam.

Oleh karena itu Islam mengharamkan pemimpin kafir justru karena kekafirannya itu memastikan ia tidak akan mungkin bisa mewujudkan kinerja yang dikehendaki itu. Iya, kan? Bagaimana bisa ia diharapkan bisa menerapkan syariah dan melakukan amar makruf nahi mungkar jika dia sendiri tidak paham, bahkan tidak percaya pada syariah serta tidak mengerti mana yang makruf dan mana yang mungkar?

 

Pemimpin kafir yang penting membawa kemaslahatan bagi umat Islam. Ahok, misalnya, dia membangun masjid besar di Balaikota, sesuatu yang tidak dilakukan pemimpin Muslim sebelumnya. Dia juga mengumrahkan banyak orang, dsb. Bagaimana, Ustadz?

Kalaulah itu semua dianggap kebaikan, itu hanya bagian kecil dari kebaikan atau rahmat yang dikehendaki oleh Islam. Penerapan syariah akan mencakup seluruh aspek kehidupan. Bukan hanya aspek ibadah mahdhah; tetapi juga politik, ekonomi, sosial, budaya dan sebagainya. Terwujudnya kesejahteraan, keadilan, kedamaian, ketenteraman serta kesucian adalah sebagian dari rahmat yang dimaui oleh Islam. Jadi, tidak bisa hanya karena Ahok mengumrahkan para pengurus masjid, membangun mushalla atau masjid, apalagi masjid di Balaikota itu faktanya bukan dia yang usahakan, melainkan Ibu Sylviana Murni yang sekarang menjadi calon Wagub, lantas kita sebut ia telah melakukan banyak kemajuan.

Mestinya, kita menilai kinerja dengan ukuran-ukuran yang lebih substansial. Lihatlah, bila kita merujuk pada Perda No. 2/2012 tentang RPJMD Provinsi DKI Jakarta 2013-2017, nyata sekali kegagalan Ahok. Di antaranya, jumlah orang miskin di DKI terus makin meningkat. Pada September 2015, jumlah penduduk miskin di DKI Jakarta mencapai 368.670 orang, atau 3,61 persen dari total jumlah penduduk. Lalu pada bulan Maret 2016 jumlah penduduk miskin meningkat menjadi 384.300 orang atau 3,75 persen. Artinya, ada peningkatan sebesar 15.630 orang atau meningkat 0,14 poin. Kesenjangan kaya miskin juga makin meningkat. Ini ditunjukkan dengan naiknya indek gini DKI yang sekarang menjadi 0,46; lebih tinggi dari rata-rata nasional yang hanya 0,41. Serapan anggaran semester pertama tahun 2016 pun sangat rendah, baru sekitar 33%, sama seperti tahun lalu, terendah di seluruh Indonesia. Pertumbuhan ekonomi DKI juga terus menurun. Pertumbuhan triwulan I 2016 hanya sebesar 5,62 persen secara tahunan (yoy) lebih rendah dibandingkan dengan triwulan sebelumnya, yaitu 6,48 persen (yoy). Problem akut seperti banjir dan macet juga tetap saja tak tertangani dengan baik.Ada yang mengatakan, seruan tolak pemimpin kafir itu membahayakan kebhinekaan. Komentar Ustadz?Seruan itu (Tolak Pemimpin Kafir, red.) mestinya harus juga dianggap sebagai bagian dari kebhinekaan itu, yakni sebagai seruan agama (Islam). Saya sangat yakin, seruan itu tidak akan membahayakan bila ditanggapi secara tepat. Justru yang berbahaya adalah bila ditanggap secara salah, seperti yang dilakukan Ahok. Jujur saja, demo besar 4 November lalu itu kan terjadi karena tanggapan yang tidak tepat terhadap al-Maidah 51. Ahok telah gagal menanggapi hal itu, khususnya pemaknaan ayat-ayat dalam al-Quran, sebagai bagian dari kebhinekaan yang harus dihormati.

 

Ada pula anggapan, larangan menjadikan orang kafir sebagai wali itu jika dalam kondisi perang, kalau dalam kondisi damai tidak dilarang?

Ingat, larangan pemimpin kafir bukan hanya ada dalam surah al-Maidah ayat 51. Ada juga ada di surah an-Nisa’ ayat 141, juga di banyak ayat lain. Itu semua berlaku umum dalam seluruh keadaan, bukan hanya dalam kondisi perang.

  

Ada juga anggapan, tidak boleh pemimpin kafir itu kalau dia memusuhui umat Islam. Kalau tidak memusuhi pemimpin kafir boleh. Betulkah?

Kalau orang kafir itu memusuhi umat Islam, ia bukan hanya tidak boleh menjadi pemimpin, tetapi bahkan harus diperangi.

  

Apakah cukup kalau pemimpinya Muslim?

Tidak cukup. Setiap pemimpin Muslim wajib memimpin secara adil, yakni melaksanakan syariah secara kâffah dan menegakkan amar makruf nahi mungkar. Oleh karena itu, kepada pemimpin Muslim harus terus diserukan tentang kewajiban ini melalui dakwah fikriyah dan dakwah siyâsiyah. []

 

via Abad Khilafah | Mengembalikan Kegemilangan Islam ift.tt/2hZ0Jzb

  

Seorang Inggris, Runnymede Trust mendefinisikan Islamofobia sebagai rasa takut dan kebencian terhadap Islam dan umat Muslim. Orang yang terjangkit Islamofobia biasanya memiliki persepsi bahwa Islam tidak mempunyai norma yang sesuai dengan budaya lain, lebih rendah dibanding budaya Barat dan lebih berupa ideologi politik yang bengis daripada berupa suatu agama.Adapun Syariahfobia adalah rasa takut dan kebencian terhadap syariah Islam dan menolak apapun yang berasal dari sumber hukumnya. Islamofobia sesungguhnya sudah ada sejak Rasulullah saw. diutus. Saat itu tokoh-tokoh kafir Quraisy menolak dakwah Rasulullah saw. dengan berbagai cara. Mereka mulai dengan cara yang halus yakni lobi dan tawaran harta, tahta dan wanita agar beliau menghentikan dakwah. Saat semua itu gagal, mereka mulai dengan cara yang kasar yakni “black campaign” dengan menyebut Rasulullah sebagai tukang sihir, lalu menganiaya hingga memboikot beliau dan pengikutnya selama sekitar tiga tahun.

Mengapa Muncul Islamofobia dan Syariahfobia?

 

Kita tahu, saat Rasulullah saw. diutus, masyarakat Arab Jahiliah sudah memiliki keyakinan dan tatanan tersendiri yang sudah berlangsung selama ratusan tahun. Bagi mereka, kedatangan Islam dan Muhammad saw. adalah ancaman terhadap eksistensi dan kedudukan mereka selama ini. Mereka memahami betul, Muhammad saw. datang membawa kebaikan. Mereka pun tidak bisa membantah kebenaran risalah yang dibawa oleh beliau. Namun, mereka pun tahu persis, bahwa lambat-laun tata kehidupan yang selama ini mereka pertahankan akan digantikan oleh Islam. Ini yang mereka khawatirkan.

Saat ini pun kurang lebih demikian. Para elit politik dan ekonomi mati-matian membela sistem Kapitalisme karena mereka sudah mapan dan dibuat nyaman dalam sistem tersebut. Mereka tahu persis, sistem Kapitalisme tidak membawa kebaikan untuk masyarakat luas. Namun, para elit ini khawatir jika sistem Kapitalisme yang selama ini memperkaya kehidupan mereka digantikan oleh sistem Islam, maka eksistensi dan kedudukan mereka pun bisa jadi terancam. Sesungguhnya mereka tahu, sistem Islam akan membawa perubahan ke arah yang lebih baik. Namun, karena alasan pragmatisme dan kepentingan dunia sesaat, mereka harus menolak Islam.

Di Balik Isu Toleransi

 

Berbicara toleransi sesungguhnya berbicara tentang sejarah gelap Eropa (baca: Barat) sebagai reaksi terhadap kondisi sosial dan politik saat itu. Mereka menyebut masa itu sebagai “zaman kegelapan” (the dark age), yakni ketika Gereja Kristen mendominasi tata kehidupan masyarakat. Mereka banyak melakukan penyelewengan dan penindasan kepada rakyat dengan mengatasnamakan agama. Gereja melakukan inquisisi, yakni hukuman kepada kaum yang disebut heretic (dicap menyimpang dari doktrin gereja), dengan bentuk penyiksaan yang kejam dan brutal.

Merespon kekejaman dan penindasan atas nama agama tersebut, Jhon Lock kemudian menggagas pentingnya toleransi dengan beberapa doktrin pemikiran. Pertama: Hukuman yang layak untuk individu yang keluar dari sekte tertentu bukanlah hukuman fisik melainkan cukup ekskomunikasi (pengasingan). Kedua: Tidak boleh ada yang memonopoli kebenaran sehingga satu sekte tidak boleh mengkafirkan sekte yang lain. Ketiga: Pemerintah tidak boleh memihak salah satu sekte sebab masalah keagamaan adalah masalah privat. Tiga doktrin inilah yang kemudian membentuk doktrin toleransi di dunia Barat.

Jelas sekali, istilah dan gagasan toleransi adalah respon dan reaksi atas kekejaman dan penindasan gereja dengan mengatasnamakan agama. Sayang, gagasan ini kemudian diekspor ke negeri-negeri Muslim dengan menjadikan agama Islam sebagai sasaran tembaknya. Seolah-olah ketika Islam berkuasa dan menerapkan syariah Islam akan terjadi penindasan sebagaimana yang dialami oleh Barat pada zaman kegelapan. Trauma sejarah inilah yang mereka tularkan kepada “intelektual” Muslim di seluruh dunia, termasuk Indonesia. Karena itu mereka menolak segala bentuk penerapan dan formalisasi syariah Islam.

Padahal dalam sejarah penerapan syariah Islam selama berabad-abad lamanya, tidak pernah terjadi tragedi kelam sebagaimana yang dialami oleh bangsa Barat pada Abad Pertengahan. Sejarah penerapan syariah Islam adalah sejarah kegemilangan di berbagai aspeknya, termasuk kesetaraan perlakuan terhadap warga negara non-Muslim di wilayah kekuasaan Khilafah Islam.

Karena itu ketika mereka mengekspor gagasan toleransi ke negeri Muslim dan menjadikan intelektual Muslim sebagai agennya, selain salah alamat dan tak berdasar, kemungkinan besar ada motif jahat di baliknya, apalagi kalau bukan motif anti Islam dan anti syariah Islam.

Sederet bukti menunjukkan kepada kita akan hal tersebut. Dalam sejarah Indonesia, misalnya, gagasan Piagam Jakarta yang memuat poin “Dengan kewajiban menjalankan syariat Islam bagi pemeluk-pemeluknya” ditolak dengan alasan toleransi dengan pemeluk agama yang lain.

Contoh lainnya adalah penolakan dari kalangan sekular dan non-Muslim terhadap RUU Anti Pornografi dan Pornoaksi yang dinilai kental bermuatan syariah Islam. Setelah terjadi kompromi, akhirnya konten UU tersebut berubah drastis sehingga akhirnya disahkan menjadi UU Pornografi dengan menghilangkan 2 kata pada judul, yakni “Anti” dan “Pornoaksi”. Alasan penolakannya adalah toleransi terhadap beberapa daerah di Indonesia yang pakaian tradisionalnya masih memperlihatkan aurat sebagaimana yang dimaksud di dalam Islam.

Contoh terakhir adalah penolakan terhadap RUU Minuman Beralkohol yang juga karena dianggap kental syariah Islam walaupun kemudian mereka menolak dengan alasan pariwisata, tenaga kerja dan toleransi terhadap agama yang membolehkan minuman beralkohol.

Di Balik Islamofobia dan Syariahfobia

 

Sesungguhnya isu toleransi hanyalah alat untuk menjegal penerapan syariah Islam dengan cara lebih santun dan lebih diterima semua kalangan. Adapun ide sesat di balik itu semua setidaknya ada tiga: Sekularisme, Hak Asasi Manusia (HAM) dan Pluralisme.

1. Sekularisme.

 

Pada intinya sekularisme menolak agama dijadikan dasar negara. Agama hanya berfungsi mengatur urusan-urusan individual, moral dan ritual. Agama dilarang mencampuri urusan politik, ekonomi, pendidikan, sosial dan lainnya. Karena agama urusan pribadi, negara tidak boleh mencampuri keyakinan seseorang. Negara tidak boleh menghakimi keyakinan rakyatnya. Karena itu dalam negara sekular, tidak boleh ada hukum agama yang diterapkan secara formal untuk mengatur urusan masyarakat yang plural. Bagi kalangan sekular, penerapan hukum agama secara formal termasuk syariah Islam dianggap intoleran, alias mengusik toleransi antarumat beragama. Pandangan sekular di atas jelas ditolak oleh Islam sekaligus berbahaya. Bila pandangan ini diterima bukan hanya akan terjadi pengerdilan Islam. Islam akhirnya dibatasi pada urusan individual, ritual dan moral saja. Pada akhirnya, penerapan syariah Islam dalam berbagai bentuknya ditolak.

2. HAM.

 

Ide Hak Asasi Manusia (HAM) berasal dari pandangan Barat yang menganggap tabiat manusia pada dasarnya adalah baik, tidak jahat. Kejahatan yang muncul dari manusia disebabkan oleh pengekangan terhadap kehendaknya. Oleh karena itu, kehendak manusia harus dibiarkan bebas lepas agar dia mampu menunjukkan tabiat baiknya yang asli. Dari sinilah muncul ide kebebasan (freedom) yang menjadi salah satu ide yang menonjol dalam ideologi Kapitalisme. Pandangan-pandangan tersebut menjadi dasar bagi apa yang disebut “kebebasan individu”—yang harus dipelihara—sebagai landasan HAM, yang meliputi kebebasan beragama (freedom of religion), kebebasan berpendapat (freedom of speech), kebebasan hak milik (freedom of ownership) dan kebebasan berperilaku (personal freedom). Oleh karena itu negara yang menganut prinsip HAM menolak penerapan syariah Islam karena dianggap intoleran dan mengekang kebebasan individu masyarakat. Pandangan ini jelas berbahaya dan bertentangan dengan Islam.

3. Pluralisme.

 

Paham Pluralisme muncul didasarkan pada sebuah keinginan untuk melenyapkan ‘klaim kebenaran’ (truth claim) yang dianggap menjadi pemicu munculnya sikap ekstrem, radikal, perang atas nama agama, konflik horisontal, serta penindasan atas nama agama. Menurut kaum pluralis, konflik dan kekerasan dengan mengatasnamakan agama baru sirna jika masing-masing agama tidak lagi menganggap agamanya yang paling benar. Kaum pluralis juga akan menolak dominasi agama tertentu dalam sebuah masyarakat yang plural, termasuk menolak penerapan syariah Islam dalam sebuah negara, karena dianggap intoleran terhadap pemeluk agama lain dan dianggap bertentangan dengan Pluralisme. Paham ini pun jelas berbahaya dan bertentangan dengan Islam.

Toleransi dalam Pandangan Islam

 

Tudingan Barat dan kalangan sekularis bahwa Islam merupakan ajaran yang intoleran terhadap pemeluk agama lain sama sekali tidak beralasan, tidak sesuai dengan realitas sejarah dan bertentangan dengan konsep Islam dalam memperlakukan non-Muslim.

Dalam hukum Islam, warganegara Khilafah yang non-Muslim disebut sebagai dzimmi. Istilah dzimmi berasal dari kata dzimmah, yang berarti “kewajiban untuk memenuhi perjanjian”. Islam menganggap semua orang yang tinggal di Negara Khilafah sebagai warganegara Negara Islam. Mereka semua berhak memperoleh perlakuan yang sama. Tidak boleh ada diskriminasi antara Muslim dan dzimmi. Negara harus menjaga dan melindungi keyakinan, kehormatan, akal, kehidupan dan harta benda mereka.

Berikut ini merupakan konsep perlakuan Khilafah Islam terhadap warga negara non-Muslim:

 

1. Non-Muslim berhak menjalankan kepercayaan mereka.

 

Di dalam Islam, Negara Islam tidak boleh memaksa non-Islam untuk meninggalkan kepercayaan mereka (Lihat: QS al-Baqarah [2]: 256). Namun, umat non-Muslim harus menerima Islam bila telah meyakini akidah Islam secara intelektual. Ini terbukti melalui fakta bahwa hingga hari ini masih ada komunitas Yahudi dan Kristen yang tinggal di kawasan Timur Tengah walaupun Negara Islam telah berkuasa di kawasan tersebut selama 1300 tahun.

2. Non-Muslim mengikuti aturan agama mereka dalam hal makanan dan pakaian.

 

Dalam hal makanan dan pakaian, umat non-Muslim berhak mengikuti aturan agama mereka. Mazhab Imam Abu Hanifah menyatakan, “Islam membolehkan ahlu dzimmah meminum minuman keras, memakan daging babi dan menjalankan segala aturan agama mereka dalam wilayah yang diatur oleh syariah.” Selama hal tersebut dilakukan secara privat dan tidak dilakukan di ruang publik, Negara Islam tidak punya urusan untuk mengusik masalah-masalah pribadi mereka. Namun, bila, misalnya, seorang ahlu dzimmah membuka toko yang menjual minuman keras untuk umum, dia akan dihukum berdasarkan aturan syariah Islam.

3. Urusan pernikahan dan perceraian antar non-Muslim dilakukan menurut aturan agama mereka.

 

Umat non-Islam diijinkan untuk saling menikah antarmereka berdasarkan keyakinan mereka. Mereka dapat dinikahkan di Gereja atau Sinagog oleh Pendeta atau Rabi. Mereka juga dapat bercerai menurut aturan agama mereka.

4. Kesetaraan di hadapan hukum.

 

Di mata hukum, tidak ada perbedaan antara non-Muslim dan Muslim. Hakim (qâdhi) wajib mencermati pembuktian yang disyaratkan menurut syariah semata, bukan menurut aturan lain. Banyak contoh yang menunjukkan bagaimana non-Muslim dapat mengalahkan seorang Muslim di pengadilan. Pada masa Khalifah Umar bin al-Khaththab ra., pernah sejumlah Muslim menyerobot tanah yang dimiliki oleh seorang Yahudi dan mendirikan masjid di atas tanah tersebut. Ini jelas melanggar hak Yahudi tersebut sebagai ahlu dzimmah. Khalifah Umar ra. kemudian memerintahkan agar masjid tersebut dirubuhkan dan tanah tersebut dikembalikan pada orang Yahudi tersebut.

Dalam kasus lainnya, pada masa pemerintahan Imam Ali ra., seorang Yahudi mencuri baju zirah milik Khalifah. Imam Ali ra. kemudian mengadukan Yahudi tersebut ke pengadilan dan membawa putranya sebagai saksi. Hakim menolak gugatan sang Khalifah dan menyatakan bahwa seorang anak tidak dapat dijadikan saksi dalam perkara yang melibatkan ayahnya di pengadilan. Setelah menyaksikan keadilan tersebut, si Yahudi kemudian mengaku bahwa ia memang mencuri baju tersebut. Ia akhirnya memeluk Islam.

5. Kesamaan hak ekonomi.

 

Di dalam Khilafah Islam, “Non-Muslim dari kalangan Ahli Kitab memiliki hak yang sama dengan Muslim untuk apapun yang berasal dari Baitul Mal.” Karena itu kaum miskin ahlu dzimmah pun berhak mendapatkan bantuan dari Baitul Mal (Kas Negara).

Selain itu, dalam Negara Khilafah, siapa pun yang memiliki kewarganegaraan dan memiliki kemampuan, lelaki ataupun perempuan, Muslim ataupun non-Muslim, dapat dipilih sebagai direktur atau pegawai departemen administratif. Ini diambil dari aturan tentang pekerja (ijârah), yang membolehkan mempekerjakan orang, terlepas dari apa pun agamanya. Rasulullah saw. sendiri pernah mempekerjakan seorang lelaki non-Muslim dari Bani ad-Dail. Ini menunjukkan bahwa mempekerjakan seorang non-Muslim dibolehkan, sebagaimana mempekerjakan seorang Muslim.

 

6. Non-Muslim memiliki hak politik.

 

Siapapun yang memiliki kewarganegaraan, bila ia dewasa dan berakal sehat, memiliki hak untuk menjadi anggota Majelis Umat. Dalam hal ini, dia memiliki hak untuk memilih anggota-anggota Majelis, baik perempuan maupun lelaki, baik Muslim maupun non-Muslim. Kaum non-Muslim berhak menjadi anggota Majelis Umat, untuk menampung aspirasi kalangan mereka terhadap perlakuan hukum oleh penguasa pada diri mereka, atau untuk mengoreksi kesalahan implementasi hukum Islam atas diri mereka.

Toleransi dan Keadilan Islam

 

Perlakuan adil Negara Khilafah terhadap non-Muslim bukan sekadar konsep, tetapi benar-benar diaplikasikan. Bukan juga berdasar pada tuntutan toleransi ala Barat melainkan karena menjalankan hukum syariah Islam. T.W. Arnold, dalam bukunya, The Preaching of Islam, menulis, “Sekalipun jumlah orang Yunani lebih banyak dari jumlah orang Turki di berbagai provinsi Khilafah yang ada di bagian Eropa, toleransi keagamaan diberikan pada mereka. Perlindungan jiwa dan harta yang mereka dapatkan membuat mereka mengakui kepemimpinan Sultan atas seluruh umat Kristen.”

Arnold kemudian menjelaskan, “Perlakuan terhadap warga Kristen oleh Pemerintahan Ottoman, selama kurang lebih dua abad setelah penaklukkan Yunani, telah memberikan contoh toleransi keyakinan yang sebelumnya tidak dikenal di daratan Eropa. Kaum Kalvinis Hungaria dan Transilvania, serta negara Unitaris (kesatuan) yang kemudian menggantikan kedua negara tersebut, juga lebih suka tunduk pada pemerintahan Turki daripada berada di bawah pemerintahan Hapsburg yang fanatik. Kaum Protestan Silesia pun sangat menghormati pemerintah Turki dan bersedia membayar kemerdekaan mereka dengan tunduk pada hukum Islam…Kaum Cossack yang merupakan penganut kepercayaan kuno dan selalu ditindas oleh Gereja Rusia menghirup suasana toleransi dengan kaum Kristen di bawah pemerintahan Sultan.”WalLâhu a’lam bi ash-shawâb. [Luthfi Afandi, SH, MH; (Humas DPD I HTI Jawa Barat)/ABAD KHILAFAH Network]

 

via Abad Khilafah | Mengembalikan Kegemilangan Islam ift.tt/2bN3SCH

Ibu, Susuilah Anakmu!

 

Menyusui bayi, terlebih yang baru lahir, adalah aktivitas yang sangat indah. Mungkin sakit bagi si ibu, sulit bagi si mungil, tapi sungguh pengalaman berharga yang tidak ada bandingannya.

 

Menyusui bukan sekadar proses pengaliran #ASI ke mulut bayi agar bayi kenyang dan tenang. Menyusui adalah saat penyaluran kasih sayang, #pendidikan sejak dini dan ibadah. Ya, jadikan proses laktasi sebagai ibadah, bukan sekadar insting keibuan. Berapa kali bayi mereguk ASI sehari, kali dua tahun lamanya, senilai itulah pahala yang didapat ibu. Betapa murah dan mudahnya mendulang pahala bagi para ibu #shalihah ini.

 

Amru bin Abdullah pernah berkata kepada isteri yang menyusui bayinya, “Janganlah engkau menyusui anakmu seperti hewan yang menyusui anaknya karena didorong kasih sayangnya kepada anak. Akan tetapi susuilah dengan niat mengharap pahala dari Allah dan agar ia hidup melalui susuanmu itu. Mudah-mudahan ia kelak akan bertauhid kepada Allah Subhanahu wata'ala”

 

Subhanallah, pelajaran yang sangat berharga. Betapa mungkin kita lupa, menyusui adalah bentuk investasi kita di dunia dan akhirat. Saat menyusui, adalah saat paling efektif untuk berkomunikasi dan berinteraksi dengan sang buah hati. Ajaklah bicara, kenalkan pada Rabb-Nya, beri sentuhan kasih, dan tatap mata polosnya. Semoga anak kita menjadi anak yang bersyukur pada Rabb-nya dan orang tuanya.

 

Allah Ta'ala berfirman, "Dan Kami perintahkan kepada manusia (berbuat baik) kepada dua orang ibu-bapaknya; ibunya telah mengandungnya dalam keadaan lemah yang bertambah- tambah, dan menyapihnya dalam dua tahun. Bersyukurlah kepadaKu dan kepada dua orang ibu bapakmu, hanya kepadaKu-lah kembalimu.” (QS. Luqman :14)

 

Jadi tunggu apalagi, wahai para ibu, susuilah anak-anakmu!

 

Kenali #HizbutTahrirIndonesia (@hizbuttahririd) dan perjuangannya mengembalikan kehidupan Islam, dengan terapnya #Syariah dan tegaknya #Khilafah youtu.be/k0s4kwn9XVc

 

#breastfeeding #muslimah #keluarga #samara #sakinah #mawaddah #warohmah #baitijannati #keluargaislami

 

heniputra.my.id/ibu-susuilah-anakmu

via Blogger ift.tt/2awUilS

  

Seluruh ulama Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah dari berbagai disiplin ilmu tidak pernah berselisih pendapat atas keharaman menyerahkan Imamah (Kepemimpinan) kepada orang kafir, baik kafir asli atau karena murtad dari Islam. Perkara ini termasuk ma’lûm[un] min ad-dîn wa adh-dharûrah. Siapa saja yang mengingakri kepemimpinan kafir atas kaum Muslim sama seperti mengingkari keharaman daging babi, khamer, darah mengalir, riba dan perzinaan. Pelakunya dihukumi murtad dari Islam dan diminta bertobat kembali ke dalam Islam. Jika menolak, ia wajib dihukum mati.Dalil yang menunjukkan keharaman kepemimpinan orang kafir atas kaum Muslim ditunjukkan oleh al-Quran, as-Sunnah, Ijmak Shahabat dan Qiyas.

 

Dalil al-Quran al-Karîm

 

Banyak ayat al-Quran yang menjelaskan keharaman mengangkat orang kafir sebagai pemimpin kaum Muslim. Pertama: Perintah untuk menaati ulil amri dari kalangan kaum Mukmin:

 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا أَطِيْعُوا اللهَ وَأَطِيْعُوا الرَّسُوْلَ وَأُوْلِي اْلأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ

 

Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, taatilah Allah dan taatilah Rasul-(Nya) serta ulil amri dari kalangan (QS an-Nisa‘ [4]: 59).

 

Allah SWT tegas memerintahkan kita untuk menaati pemimpin Muslim. Sebab, frasa minkum bermakna “dari kalangan kaum Mukmin”. Pertanyannya: Bagaimana mungkin kaum Muslim bisa menunaikan kewajiban mereka untuk menaati pemimpin Muslim jika dipilih dan diangkat adalah pemimpin kafir?

 

Kedua: Larangan condong kepada orang kafir (musyrik):

 

وَلَا تَرْكَنُوا إِلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا فَتَمَسَّكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءَ ثُمَّ لَا تُنْصَرُونَ

 

Janganlah kalian cenderung kepada orang-orang zalim sehingga kalian disentuh api neraka. Sekali-kali kalian tidak mempunyai seorang penolong pun selain Allah, kemudian kalian tidak akan diberi pertolongan (QS Hud (11):113).

 

Condong kepada orang-orang kafir adalah haram, apalagi memilih mereka menjadi pemimpin yang harus didengar dan ditaati.

 

Ketiga: Larangan menaati orang-orang kafir:

 

وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَبَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ نَذِيرًا * فَلَا تُطِعِ الْكَافِرِينَ وَجَاهِدْهُمْ بِهِ جِهَادًا كَبِيرًا

 

Andai Kami menghendaki, Kami benar-benar mengutus pada tiap-tiap negeri seorang yang memberi peringatan (rasul). Karena itu janganlah kalian mengikuti orang-orang kafir dan berjihadlah menghadapi mereka dengan al-Quran dengan jihad yang besar (QS al-Furqan [25]: 51-52).

 

Allah SWT juga berfirman:

 

فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمْ آثِمًا أَوْ كَفُورًا

 

Bersabarlah kamu untuk (melaksanakan) ketetapan Tuhanmu dan janganlah kamu mengikuti orang yang berdosa dan orang kafir di antara mereka (QS al-Insan [76]: 24).

 

Ayat di atas, juga banyak ayat-ayat lainnya, menunjukkan larangan menaati orang kafir dan perintah memerangi mereka. Ini sekaligus menunjukkan larangan mengangkat mereka sebagai pemimpin.

 

Keempat: Larangan ber-muwâlah kepada orang-orang kafir:

 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى أَوْلِيَاءَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّهُمْ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

 

Hai orang-orang yang beriman, janganlah kalian menjadikan kaum Yahudi dan Nasrani sebagai wali; sebagian mereka adalah wali bagi sebagian yang lain. Siapa saja di antara kalian yang menjadikan mereka sebagai wali, sungguh dia termasuk golongan mereka. Sesungguhnya Allah tidak memberi petunjuk kepada kaum yang zalim (QS al-Maidah [5]: 51).

 

Jika ber-muwâlah kepada orang kafir dilarang, apalagi lagi mengangkat mereka sebagai pemimpin.

 

Kelima: Perintah memerangi kaum kafir.

 

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ جَاهِدِ الْكُفَّارَ وَالْمُنَافِقِينَ وَاغْلُظْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ

 

Hai Nabi, perangilah kaum kafir dan kaum munafik itu, serta bersikap keraslah terhadap mereka. Tempat mereka ialah Neraka Jahanam. Itulah tempat kembali yang paling buruk (QS at-Taubah [9]: 73).

 

Berdasarkan ayat ini, bagaimana orang kafir absah dijadikan pemimpin bagi kaum Muslim, sedangkan mereka wajib diperangi dan diperlakukan dengan keras?

 

Keenam: Orang kafir wajib membayar jizyah sebagai bukti ketundukan mereka kepada kaum Muslim:

 

قَاتِلُوا الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَا بِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَلَا يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَلَا يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حَتَّى يُعْطُوا الْجِزْيَةَ عَنْ يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ

 

Perangilah kaum yang tidak mengimani Allah dan Hari Akhir, yang tidak mengharamkan apa yang telah Allah dan Rasul-Nya haramkan, dan tidak beragama dengan agama yang benar (Islam), yaitu kaum yang diberi al-Kitab, hingga mereka membayar jizyah dengan patuh dan mereka dalam keadaan tunduk (QS at-Taubah [9]: 29).

 

Bagaimana bisa dinyatakan orang kafir absah memimpin kaum Muslim, sedangkan mereka wajib diperangi dan membayar jizyah kepada kaum Muslim?

 

Para fukaha mensyaratkan penyerahan jizyah oleh orang kafir harus disertai dengan ketundukan terhadap hukum dan kekuasaan Islam. Mereka tidak boleh dibiarkan menampakkan permusuhan atau penghinaan terhadap keyakinan dan hukum Islam. Bagaimana bisa dinyatakan orang kafir yang wajib membayar jizyah dan harus tunduk di bawah aturan Islam boleh diangkat menjadi pemimpin?

 

Ketujuh: Larangan memberikan jalan kepada kaum kafir untuk menguasai kaum Muslim:

 

وَلَن يَجْعَلَ اللّهُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلاً

 

Allah sekali-kali tidak akan memberi kaum kafir jalan untuk memusnahkan kaum Mukmin (QS an-Nisa‘ [4]: 141).

 

Imam Ibnu Hazm menyatakan, “Kepemimpinan adalah jalan paling besar untuk menguasai dan mengatur kepentingan kaum Muslim.”

 

Imam al-Qurthubi menyatakan, “Allah tidak akan pernah menjadikan bagi kaum kafir atas kaum Mukmin jalan untuk menghapus negara kaum Mukmin, melenyapkan pengaruh mereka dan mencederai kesucian mereka.”

 

Menyerahkan kepemimpinan kepada orang kafir sama artinya dengan memberi mereka jalan untuk menguasai kaum Muslim. Ini adalah perbuatan haram.

 

Dalil as-Sunnah

 

Di dalam as-Sunnah, banyak riwayat menjelaskan keharaman menjadikan orang kafir sebagai pemimpin. Ubadah bin Shamit ra. berkata:

 

دَعَانَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَبَايَعْنَاهُ فَقَالَ فِيمَا أَخَذَ عَلَيْنَا أَنْ بَايَعَنَا عَلَى السَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ فِي مَنْشَطِنَا وَمَكْرَهِنَا وَعُسْرِنَا وَيُسْرِنَا وَأَثَرَةً عَلَيْنَا وَأَنْ لَا نُنَازِعَ الْأَمْرَ أَهْلَهُ إِلَّا أَنْ تَرَوْا كُفْرًا بَوَاحًا عِنْدَكُمْ مِنْ اللَّهِ فِيهِ بُرْهَانٌ

 

Nabi saw. menyeru kami. Lalu kami membaiat beliau. Beliau berkata, “Dalam semua hal yang telah disyaratkan kepada kami,” yakni agar kami membaiat beliau untuk selalu mendengar dan taat baik kami dalam keadaan senang atau benci, sulit atau mudah dan dikuasai oleh egoisme pribadi; juga agar kami tidak mencabut suatu urusan (kepemimpinan) dari pemegangnya, “kecuali jika kalian (kita) melihat kekufuran secara nyata dan memiliki bukti yang kuat dari Allah.” (HR al-Bukhari).

 

Riwayat di atas menjelaskan ihwal kewajiban memakzulkan pemimpin yang jatuh ke dalam kekufuran secara nyata.

 

Rasulullah saw. juga telah memerintahkan untuk memerangi penguasa yang tidak menegakkan shalat (hukum Islam). Ummu Salamah ra. menuturkan bahwa Nabi saw. bersabda:

 

سَتَكُونُ أُمَرَاءُ فَتَعْرِفُونَ وَتُنْكِرُونَ فَمَنْ عَرَفَ بَرِئَ وَمَنْ أَنْكَرَ سَلِمَ وَلَكِنْ مَنْ رَضِيَ وَتَابَعَ قَالُوا أَفَلَا نُقَاتِلُهُمْ قَالَ لَا مَا صَلَّوْا

 

“Akan datang para penguasa, lalu kalian akan mengetahui kemakrufan dan kemungkaran mereka. Siapa saja yang membenci mereka, terbebas (dari dosa). Siapa saja yang mengingkari mereka, selamat. Namun, siapa saja yang rela dan mengikuti mereka, (celaka).” Para Sahabat bertanya, “Tidakkah kita perangi mereka? Beliau bersabda, “Tidak, selama mereka masih menegakkan shalat.” (HR Muslim).

 

Mafhûm hadis ini menunjukkan jika penguasa tidak lagi menegakkan shalat, dia wajib diperangi. Imam Muslim juga menuturkan sebuah riwayat yang menjelaskan kewajiban memerangi penguasa yang tidak lagi menegakkan dan mengajak masyarakat untuk shalat, juga tidak menjatuhkan sanksi atas siapa saja yang tidak melaksanakan shalat:

 

قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَلَا نُنَابِذُهُمْ بِالسَّيْفِ فَقَالَ لَا مَا أَقَامُوا فِيكُمْ الصَّلَاةَ

 

Ditanyakan, “Ya Rasulullah, mengapa kita tidak memerangi mereka dengan pedang?!” Rasul menjawab, “Tidak, selama di tengah-tengah kalian mereka masih ditegakkan shalat.” (HR Muslim).

 

Perintah memakzulkan dan memerangi penguasa yang menampakkan kekufuran nyata, tidak melaksanakan shalat, tidak mengajak masyarakat mengerjakan shalat, dan tidak menjatuhkan sanksi atas orang yang meninggalkan shalat merupakan dalil tak terbantahkan atas keharaman mengangkat orang kafir menjadi pemimpin kaum Muslim.

 

Kesepakatan Ulama Ahlus Sunnah

 

Seluruh ulama Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah sepakat atas keharaman menyerahkan kepemimpinan atas kaum Muslim kepada orang kafir. Mereka sepakat bahwa Islam merupakan syarat keabsahan pengangkatan seorang peminpin.

 

Qadhi Iyadh berkata, “Para ulama sepakat bahwa Imamah tidak absah diserahkan kepada orang kafir.” (An-Nawawi, Syarh Shahih Muslim, 8/35-36).

 

Imam al-Qalqasysyandi, saat membahas syarat-syarat Imamah (kepemimpinan), “Syarat kesembilan adalah Islam. Imamah tidak absah diserahkan kepada orang kafir, baik kafir asli atau kafir karena murtad. Sebab, yang dimaksud Imam (pemimpin) adalah orang yang mengatur urusan kaum Muslim dan menolong agama (Islam). Siapa saja yang bukan Muslim tidak berhak mengatur kemaslahatan Islam dan kaum Muslim.” (Al-Qalqasysyandi, Ma’âtsir al-Inâfah fî Ma’âlim al-Khilâfah, 1/36).

 

Para fuqaha mensyaratkan untuk Imam (pemimpin) sejumlah syarat, di antaranya ada yang disepakati (mujma’ ‘alayhi) dan ada yang masih diperselisihkan (mukhtalaf fîh). Syarat-syarat kepemimpinan yang disepakati di antaranya adalah Islam. Oleh karena itu tidak boleh mengangkat penguasa kafir. Jika melekat kekufuran pada penguasa maka dia wajib dimakzulkan sesuai syarat-syarat yang telah diketahui menurut ahli ilmu (Lihat: Al-Mawsû’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 6/218).

 

Prof. Dr. Wahbah az-Zuhaili juga menyatakan, “Para ulama sepakat bahwa Imam (pemimpin) disyaratkan harus seorang Muslim untuk mengatur kemaslahatan Islam dan kaum Muslim. Tidak sah kepemimpinan kafir atas kaum Muslim.” (Az-Zuhaili, Al-Fiqh ‘alâ al-Madzâhib al-Arba’ah, 5/197).

 

Fungsi dan Syarat Kepemimpinan Dalam Islam

 

Imamah adalah ketetapan syariah. Fungsinya adalah untuk menerapkan Islam secara kâffah di dalam negeri sekaligus menyebarkan risalah Islam ke luar negeri dengan dakwah dan jihad (Lihat: QS al-Maidah [5]: 49).

 

Abdullah bin ‘Umar ra. menuturkan bahwarasul saw. pernah bersabda:

 

أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَشْهَدُوا أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا عَصَمُوا مِنِّى دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلاَّ بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ

 

Aku diperintah untuk memerangi manusia hingga mereka mengatakan, “Tidak ada Tuhan kecuali Allah dan Muhammad adalah utusan Allah”, menegakkan shalat dan menunaikan zakat. Jika mereka melakukan itu, terpeliharalah harta dan darah mereka dariku, kecuali karena alasan yang haq, dan perhitungan mereka di sisi Allah (HR Muslim).

 

Dua fungsi di atas—menerapkan syariah Islam secara kâffah dan menyebarkan risalah Islam dengan dakwah dan jihad—mustahil diserahkan kepada orang kafir maupun orang-orang yang tidak memenuhi syarat imamah. Atas dasar itu, para fuqaha menetapkan sejumlah syarat yang sudah sepakati (mujma’ ‘alayhi) agar esensi dan fungsi kepemimpinan bisa diwujudkan di antaranya: Islam, laki-laki, balig, berakal, adil, merdeka, dan mampu menjalankan tugas kepemimpinan.

 

Khatimah

 

Akhirnya, yang dibutuhkan umat Islam sekarang bukan hanya pemimpin Muslim adil yang memiliki personalitas dan integritas yang baik, tetapi juga sistem politik dan hukum yang bersumber dari al-Quran dan as-Sunnah, yakni Khilafah Islamiyah yang menarpkan syariah. Tegaknya syariah membutuhkan Khilafah. Berdirinya Khilafah meniscayakan dukungan dan perjuangan umat, khususnya orang-orang yang memiliki kemampuan dari kalangan ulama, jenderal dan para perwira militer dan tokoh berpengaruh.

WalLâhu al-Musta’ân wa Huwa Waliyy at-Tawfîq.

 

(Fathiy Syamsuddin Ramadhan An-Nawiy/abadkhilafah.com)

 

via Abad Khilafah | Mengembalikan Kegemilangan Islam ift.tt/2hGJxkq

  

Akhirnya Arcandra Tahar diberhentikan dari jabatan Menteri ESDM. Pria yang pernah menjadi Presdir Petroengineering itu resmi memegang rekor “menteri dengan masa jabatan tercepat” dalam sejarah pemerintahan negeri ini.

 

Arcandra tersandung status dwi-kewarganegaraan yang dikantonginya. Pria ini diketahui memegang paspor AS dan Indonesia sekaligus. Pria asal Padang ini sudah melakukan naturalisasi menjadi warga AS pada Maret 2012. Namun entah motif apa ia kemudian menerima jabatan menteri ESDM menggantikan Sudirman Said. Padahal tindakannya itu melanggar sejumlah undang-undang.

 

Arcandra dinilai melanggar UU No 6/2011 tentang Keimigrasian, UU No 12/2006 tentang Kewarganegaraan, serta UU No 39/2008 tentang Kementerian Negara karena dinilai melawan hukum dan membohongi Presiden dan rakyat Indonesia terkait status kewarganegaraannya.

 

Pasal 23 Undang-Undang Nomor 12 Tahun 2006 tentang Kewarganegaraan Republik Indonesia menyebutkan, warga negara Indonesia kehilangan kewarganegaraannya jika yang bersangkutan memperoleh kewarganegaraan lain atas kemauannya sendiri, tidak menolak, atau tidak melepaskan kewarganegaraan lain.

 

Presiden Jokowi sendiri sebelum pemberhentian Arcandra, menolak memberikan komentar ihwal dwi-kewarganegaraan menterinya itu. Publik bisa melihat di layar kaca bagaimana Jokowi ngeles saat wartawan menanyakan hal tersebut. Ia malah meminta Menteri Sekretaris Negara Pratikno menjawab pertanyaan pers. Di layar televisi, publik juga bisa melihat Pratikno terkejut ditunjuk Jokowi untuk menjawab pertanyaan tersebut. Memperlihatkan pemerintah gagap mempertanggungjawabkan blunder kebijakan pengangkatan sang Menteri ESDM.

 

Skandal kewarganegaraan Arcandra justru terkuak dari publik dan media massa. Di jejaring sosial beredar status dwi-kewarganegaraan Arcandra. Setelah itu menjadi bola panas politik yang menghantam Arcandra dan Presiden Jokowi.

 

Ada dua hal yang menjadi catatan buruk pemerintahan Jokowi dalam kasus Arcandra; pertama, kecerobohan atau amat mungkin kesengajaan mengangkat Arcandra menjadi menteri ESDM yang sudah memiliki kewarganegaraan ganda. Memperlihatkan buruknya administrasi dan menggampangkan persoalan reshuffle kabinet.

 

Rezim Jokowi lupa bahwa di era keterbukaan informasi sekarang ini berbagai informasi yang tersimpan rapat bisa dengan mudah dibongkar dan jadi konsumsi publik.

 

Kedua, setelah bergulirnya informasi kewarganegaraan ganda Arcandra, publik jadi bisa menakar setebal apa rasa nasionalisme para pejabat negara; benarkah mereka membela kepentingan bangsa dan rakyat banyak, ataukah justru membela kepentingan partai, presiden, asing dan aseng?

Menko Maritim yang mantan Menkopolhukam Luhut Pandjaitan misalnya justru mengancam siapa saja yang mengganggu Arcandra. “Saya back-up habis Pak Tahar, orang Texas yang tiba-tiba datang kesini. Yang macam-macam dengan Pak Tahar saya bilang buldoser saja,” ujar Luhut sembari bercanda di Kantor Kemenko Maritim, Jakarta, Selasa, (2/8).

 

Ngeri! Sudah jelas sang menteri bersumpah setia pada negara asing dan melanggar sekian undang-undang dalam negeri, pihak yang mengkritisi justru diancam akan dibuldoser. Apakah ini sikap nasionalisme dan cinta tanah air?

 

Sementara itu Menkumham Yasonna memberikan pembelaan status Arcandra. “Jadi secara legal formal belum ada proses pencabutan kewarganegaraan melalui SK Menkumham kepada pak Arcandra,” kata Yasonna kala itu.

 

Dia menegaskan bahwa Arcandra saat ini berstatus WNI. Dia juga masuk ke Indonesia menggunakan paspor Indonesia. Setelah menjadi Menteri ESDM, Arcandra kemudian mengucapkan sumpah setia kepada bangsa dan negara Indonesia.

 

Ini juga mengherankan. Bagaimana bisa seorang menteri hukum berlagak pilon tidak paham undang-undang? Lagi-lagi, inikah yang namanya cinta tanah air?

 

Mantan Ketua BIN dan juga anggota Wantimpres Jokowi, AM Hendropriyono mati-matian membela keputusan pengangkatan Arcandra. Ia memuji-muji Arcandra dan mencaci maki para pengkritik status kewarganegaraan Arcandra. Dalam akun twitternya Hendropriyono berceloteh: 3. Maka pengetahuannya luas. Kalau dia tdk merantau dgn cara begitu bisa cuma jd katak dlm tempurung seperti yg pada clometan di medsos itu. 14. Soal dwikewarganegaraan Archandra sudah selesai masalahnya. Dia org yang sangat tepat yang dibutuhkan bangsa kita. 15. Yang pada meributkan itu apa lebih pintar dari Archandra? Tong kosong memang nyaring bunyinya

 

Hendropriyono berkata persoalan kewarganegaraan ganda bukan tindak pidana, sehingga tak perlu diributkan. Dalam akun twitternya ia menulis: 9. Soal dwikewarganegaraan, Loh emangnya kenapa orang Mempunyai dwikenegaraan, bukan tindak pidana! Hanya jika hal itu diketahui, maka dia harus ditanya mau terus jadi WNI atau tidak? Kan dia sudah pilih jadi WNI, terus apa lagi?

Hendropriyono mungkin pura-pura lupa bahwa dulu Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba’asyir ditangkap dan dijebloskan ke dalam penjara terkait pelanggaran keimigrasian.

 

Saat itu Kapolri Jenderal Pol Da’i Bachtiar di depan Komisi II DPR juga menjelaskan, Ba’asyir diduga melanggar Undang-Undang Nomor 9 tahun 1992 tentang Keimigrasian. UU itu, kata Kapolri, masih berlaku untuk Ba’asyir yang kembali ke Indonesia tahun 1999. Diakui oleh Kapolri, ada beberapa warga Indonesia yang lari ke Malaysia dan beralih kewarganegaraan, tetapi umumnya bersifat permanen residen.

 

Pada 2 September 2003, Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba’asyir sempat divonis 4 tahun penjara oleh Pengadilan Negeri Jakarta Pusat karena karena kasus keimigrasian tersebut.

 

Hingga, pada 10 November 2003 putusan banding Pengadilan Tinggi DKI Jakarta menurunkan hukuman jadi 3 tahun penjara. Keterlibatan Ba’asyir dalam aksi makar tidak terbukti. Ia terbukti hanya melanggar imigrasi. Lalu pada 3 Maret 2004 Ba’asyir divonis 1 tahun 6 bulan penjara oleh Pengadilan Tingkat Kasasi MA.

 

Lalu bagaimana dengan Arcandra Tahar? Bila demi nasionalisme dan cinta tanah air Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba’asyir mendekam dalam penjara, akankah Arcandra bernasib sama?

Kegaduhan kasus sang mantan menteri ESDM menjadi sinyal bahwa di kalangan elit eksekutif slogan nasionalisme, cinta tanah air hanya retorika kosong. Bagi mereka slogan itu hanya digunakan untuk membela kepentingan kelompok dan menggiling pihak yang mengkritisi mereka, terutama kelompok Islam yang memperjuangkan syariah.

 

Lebih mengkhawatirkan lagi bila reshuffle kabinet yang dilakukan presiden justru untuk memuluskan kepentingan asing. Kecurigaan ada orderan asing dalam tampak dalam kasus pengangkatan Arcandra, belum genap 20 hari menjabat menteri ESDM ia sudah meloloskan izin ekspor konsentrat untuk Freeport. Kebijakan ini segera mengundang pertanyaan dan kecaman dari berbagai pihak. Tapi kala itu pemerintah bergeming.

Mengamini keputusan sang menteri.

 

Jabatan kementerian ESDM adalah jabatan yang amat strategis, apalagi untuk negeri seperti Indonesia dengan sumberdaya enerji dan mineral yang berlimpah. Dimana saat ini lebih dari 80 persen enerji migas di tanah air justru dikuasai asing. Apalagi Indonesia sudah sejak lama bermitra dengan sejumlah perusahaan migas asing yang menjadi anggota kartel minyak dunia yang dikenal dengan nama Seven Sisters. Ketujuh perusahaan itu adalah Standard Oil of New Jersey (ESSO), Standard Oil of New York (SOCONI sekarang menjadi Mobil Oil), Standard Oil of California (sekarang Chevron), Royal Dutch Shell, British Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC sekarang menjadi BP), Gulf Oil, Texaco.

 

Esso kemudian merger dengan Mobil Oil sehingga menjadi ExxonMobil. Sedangkan Chevron gabung dengan Texaco menjadi CHEVRONTEXACO. Dalam teori perang modern, menguasai ladang migas menjadi sangat vital. Ia menjadi bagian dari strategi perang asimetris, perang dengan strategi menguasai musuh yang memiliki sumberdaya yang lebih unggul. Dan di Indonesia, rakyat bisa melihat nyata betapa sekian pemerintah yang telah berkuasa terus menerus memberikan prioritas kepada berbagai perusahaan asing untuk mengeskplorasi kekayaan alam negeri sendiri. Sama artinya menyerahkan leher bangsa untuk digorok bangsa asing. Lalu mereka masih berteriak-teriak cinta tanah air dan penegakkan nasionalisme. Padahal hakikatnya adalah komprador pemburu rente. Sungguh tak tahu malu. [IJ – LS DPP HTI]

 

via Abad Khilafah | Mengembalikan Kegemilangan Islam ift.tt/2baxPrU

Tak diragukan lagi, wajib bagi kita semua menegakkan Khilafah. Apalagi para ulama seluruh mazhab telah menyepakati hal itu. Imam Ibnu Hazm dalam kitab Al-Fashlu fi al-Milal wa al-Ahwa‘ wa an-Nihal, (4/78) menyebutkan, “Telah sepakat semua Ahlus Sunnah, semua Murjiah, semua Syiah, dan semua Khawarij tentang kewajiban Imamah (Khilafah).”

 

Khusus dalam lingkup empat mazhab Ahlus Sunnah, Syaikh Abdurrahman al-Jaziri menyebutkan, “Para imam mazhab yang empat (Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik, Imam Ahmad dan Imam Syafii] rahimahumulLah telah sepakat bahwa Imamah (Khilafah) itu fardhu, dan bahwa kaum Muslim harus mempunyai seorang imam (khalifah) yang akan menegakkan syiar-syiar agama dan menolong orang yang dizalimi dari orang zalim. Mereka juga sepakat bahwa kaum Muslim dalam waktu yang sama di seluruh dunia tidak boleh mempunyai dua imam, baik keduanya sepakat atau bertentangan.”

 

Oleh karena itu, kita wajib bersungguh-sungguh melaksanakan kewajiban itu. Syaikh Abdul Qadim Zallum (Amir kedua Hizbut Tahrir) dalam kitab Nizham al-Hukm fi al-Islam (hlm. 34) menyebutkan, “Mengangkat seorang khalifah adalah wajib atas kaum Muslim seluruhnya di seluruh penjuru dunia. Melaksanakan kewajiban ini—sebagaimana kewajiban manapun yang difardhukan Allah atas kaum Muslim—adalah perkara yang pasti, tak ada pilihan di dalamnya dan tak ada toleransi dalam urusannya. Kelalaian dalam melaksanakan itu termasuk sebesar-besar maksiat, yang pelakunya akan diazab oleh Allah dengan azab yang sepedih-pedihnya.”

 

Tentang tegaknya Khilafah, memang bukan perkara mudah mengingat besarnya hambatan, tantangan, gangguan dan rintangan yang terus menghadang. Namun, kita harus yakin, semua itu bisa diatasi dan Khilafah pasti akan tegak. Mengapa? Karena tegaknya Khilafah adalah janji Allah. Semua janji Allah pasti akan terwujud asal kita memenuhi semua syarat-syarat bagi terwujudnya janji-janji itu.

 

Jatuhnya Ibukota Romawi Timur, Konstantinopel, ke tangan Islam sebagai contoh, memang sangat sulit. Namun, karena keyakinan para sahabat dan pejuang Islam pada waktu itu bahwa jatuhnya Romawi Timur ini adalah sebuah kemestian, maka misi yang sangat sulit itu tetap saja dilakukan. Ekspedisi untuk menaklukkan Konstantinopel sudah dimulai sejak Khalifah Usman bin Affan. Sejarah kemudian membuktikan Konstantinopel akhirnya jatuh pada tahun 1453M atau lebih dari 700 tahun kemudian oleh pasukan yang dipimpin oleh Muhammad al-Fatih. Ketika Panglima Muhammad al-Fatih masuk ke benteng Konstantinopel, ia teringat pada hadis yang berbunyi Fala ni’ma al-amir, amiruha. Fala ni’ma al-jaiz fadzalika al-jaiz (Sebaik-baik panglima perang adalah panglima perang yang menaklukkan Konstantinopel, dan sebaik-baik tentara adalah tentara yang menaklukkan Konstantinopel).

 

Hadis itu dibaca oleh Muhammad al-Fatih seolah-olah Nabi saw. memuji dirinya. Padahal hadis itu diucapkan pada 700 tahunan sebelum peristiwa besar itu terjadi.

 

Bila untuk menaklukkan Konstantinopel yang merupakan jantung adikuasa Romawi Timur saja akhirnya bisa dilakukan, apalagi untuk sebuah Khilafah yang sudah pernah ada, dan tinggal membangkitkan memori umat, tentu insha Allah juga akan bisa diwujudkan. Bahkan tidak sedikit pengamat dunia internasional pun memperkirakan Khilafah Islam akan segera tegak. Bila mereka yang notabene non-Muslim saja memprediksi bahwa Khilafah Islam akan berdiri, mengapa kita masih saja ragu?

 

Khilafah adalah kepemimpinan umum bagi seluruh kaum Muslim di dunia untuk menegakkan hukum syariah dan mengemban dakwah ke seluruh dunia. Keberadaannya akan menjamin perwujudan rahmat bagi seluruh alam atau rahmatan lil alamin melalui penerapan syariah Islam secara kaffah, persatuan umat dan dakwah Islam ke seluruh penjuru dunia.

 

Penerapan syariah secara kaffah akan mewujudkan kebaikan bagi semua, baik Muslim maupun non-Muslim, karena risalah Islam memang diturunkan untuk semua manusia (rahmatan li al-‘alamin). Penerapan syariah secara kaffah itu akan melahirkan perlindungan terhadap agama, akal, harta, jiwa, keturunan, keamanan serta perwujudan keadilan, kedamaian dan kesejahteraan. Muslim maupun non-Muslim akan merasakan kebahagiaan hidup di dalamnya.

 

Fakta sejarah peradaban Islam yang membentang selama lebih dari 1400 tahun menjadi bukti nyata kemampuan Islam untuk memberikan kerahmatan itu. Sejarahwan terkemuka seperti Will Durant, dalam The Story of Civilization, vol. XIII, mengakui kehebatan peradaban Islam. Ia menulis:

 

Para khalifah telah memberikan keamanan kepada manusia hingga batas yang luar biasa besarnya bagi kehidupan dan kerja keras mereka. Para khalifah itu juga telah menyediakan berbagai peluang untuk siapapun yang memerlukan dan memberikan kesejahteraan selama berabad-abad dalam wilayah yang sangat luas. Fenomena seperti itu belum pernah tercatat (dalam sejarah) setelah zaman mereka. Kegigihan dan kerja keras mereka menjadikan pendidikan tersebar luas, hingga berbagai ilmu, sastera, filsafat dan seni mengalami kemajuan luar biasa, yang menjadikan Asia Barat sebagai bagian dunia yang paling maju peradabannya selama lima abad.

 

Oleh karena itu, tidak ada yang perlu ditakutkan dari syariah dan Khilafah karena keduanya adalah bagian dari ajaran Islam yang akan membawa kebaikan. Ibarat orang sakit, keduanya adalah obat yang bakal menyembuhkan sakit parah yang sudah amat lama kita derita. Kita juga tidak perlu ragu untuk mencampakkan sekularisme, baik sistem politik demokrasi maupun sistem ekonomi liberal. Sistem itu telah nyata-nyata menimbulkan berbagai persoalan dan penderitaan kepada seluruh rakyat seperti yang saat ini kita alami, juga menjadi jalan bagi penjajahan gaya baru (neoimperialisme) atas negeri yang kita cintai ini.

 

Ketika hukum-hukum Allah ditegakkan secara sempurna di dalam Khilafah, kebaikan dan keberkahan pasti akan dilimpahkan Allah SWT. Rasulullah saw. bersabda, “Satu hukum had (sanksi syariah atas kejahatan tertentu) yang ditegakkan di muka bumi lebih baik bagi manusia daripada mereka diguyur hujan selama 30 atau 40 hari.” (HR Ahmad).

 

Maka dari itu, siapapun Anda, pegawai negeri atau swasta, pejabat pemerintahan, polisi, tentara, pengusaha, intelektual, buruh, mahasiswa, pelajar ataupun rakyat biasa, marilah kita bersama-sama berjuang menegakkan syariah dan Khilafah. Hizbut Tahrir mengajak saudara-saudara semua untuk bersungguh-sungguh secara konsisten memperjuangkan perkara yang sangat penting ini, yang akan menentukan tegak tidaknya hukum Islam yang akan menjamin penyebaran rahmatan lil alamin dan akan menentukan perwujudan kemuliaan Islam dan umatnya atau ‘izzul Islam wal Muslimin.

 

Songsonglah janji Allah SWT dan berita gembira Rasul-Nya akan kembalinya Khilafah di muka bumi dengan penuh semangat dan rasa optimis. Penuhilah panggilan Allah SWT dengan penuh kesungguhan dan keikhlasan.

 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ

 

Hai orang-orang yang beriman, bertakwalah kepada Allah, dan hendaklah kalian bersama orang-orang yang benar (QS at-Taubah [9]: 119).

 

hizbut-tahrir.or.id/2015/06/03/syariah-khilafah-untuk-isl... heniputra.my.id/syariah-dan-khilafah-untuk-rahmatan-lil-a...

The Postcard

 

A high-definition photograph on a postally-unused postcard with no publisher's name.

 

Note the Woolworth store behind the large monument to Queen Victoria which was created by Onslow Ford.

 

Interestingly, many of the faces of the people in the gardens have been blocked out, presumably to preserve their anonymity.

 

A Season of Operas

 

The photograph was taken in 1955, as there is a floral display in the gardens dated 1855 - 1955. It is likely that the display is commemorating the centenary of a remarkable season of operas.

 

In his autobiography (1819-1860), Sir Charles Hallé wrote:

 

"There came in the winter of 1855 the

offer to conduct a series of operas at

the Theatre Royal, Manchester.

A very excellent troupe had been engaged,

comprising Mme. Eudersdorff, Mme. Caradori,

Mlle. Agnes Biiry, Herr Reichardt, Carl Formes,

and other remarkable vocalists.

Most of the operas were given in German,

and it was happiness to me to conduct really

first-rate performances of 'Fidelio,' 'Don

Giovanni,' 'Der Freyschutz,' 'Die Entfuhrung

aus dem Serail,' alternately with more modern

works such as 'Robert le Diable,' 'Les

Huguenots,' 'La Favorita,' and others'.

 

The Manchester Arena Bombing

 

Piccadilly Gardens are just over half a mile from the Manchester Arena. On the 22nd. May 2017, an Islamist extremist suicide bomber detonated a shrapnel-laden homemade bomb as people were leaving the Manchester Arena following a concert by American singer Ariana Grande.

 

Twenty-three people were killed, including the attacker, and 1,017 were injured, many of them children. Several hundred more suffered psychological trauma.

 

The bomber was Salman Ramadan Abedi, a 22-year-old local man of Libyan ancestry. After initial suspicions of a terrorist network, police later said that they believed Abedi had largely acted alone, but that others had been aware of his plans.

 

In March 2020, the bomber's brother, Hashem Abedi, was found guilty of 22 counts of murder and attempting to murder 1,017 others, and was sentenced to life in prison.

 

The incident was the deadliest terrorist attack and the first suicide bombing in the United Kingdom since the 7th. July 2005 London bombings.

 

The Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017 at 22:15 a member of the public reported Abedi, wearing black clothes and a large rucksack to Showsec security. A security guard observed Abedi, but said that he did not intervene in case his concerns about Abedi were wrong, and out of fear of being considered a racist.

 

The security guard tried to use his radio to alert the security control room, but was unable to get through.

 

Police officers on duty that night were subsequently criticised for their behaviour in the hours leading up to the atrocity - including a two-hour dinner break and a 10-mile round trip to buy a kebab.

 

At one point, when Abedi took his final trip through the station to his hiding place in the foyer, there were no BTP officers on duty in the area.

 

At 22:31 the suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device, packed with nuts and bolts to act as shrapnel, in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena.

 

The attack took place after a concert by American pop star Ariana Grande that was part of her Dangerous Woman Tour. 14,200 people had attended the concert.

 

Many exiting concert-goers and waiting parents were in the foyer at the time of the explosion. According to evidence presented at the coroner's inquest, the bomb was strong enough to kill people up to 20 metres (66 ft) away.

 

A report by inquiry chair John Saunders blamed “failings by individuals” for “missed opportunities” to detect and stop bomber Salman Abedi.

 

Saunders outlined a “litany” of failures by venue operators SMG, security firm Showsec and British Transport Police (BTP) - failures that include taking unauthorised two-hour meal breaks and ignoring members of the public who tried to raise the alarm.:

 

-- Reconnaissance Oversights

 

Abedi went to the arena several times to carry out hostile reconnaissance in the run-up to the bombing, visiting on the 18th. and 21st. May, and also the afternoon on the day of the attack.

 

Although arena operator SMG and security firm Showsec “had experience of identifying and responding to potential hostile reconnaissance effectively”, the system for passing on information about suspicious behaviour was “insufficiently robust”.

 

If the Showsec staff on duty at the time, Kyle Lawler and Mohammed Agha - then aged 18 and 19 respectively - had been aware of previous reports of suspicious activity, “it would have increased the possibility” of Abedi being spotted.

 

Inquiry chair Saunders also notes that SMG could have extended the permitted security perimeter from the entrance doors of the arena to the City Room, the foyer where the bomb detonated. “Had permission to push out the perimeter been granted, an attack in the City Room would have been much less likely,” the report says.

 

-- Absence of Officers

 

Despite five officers being assigned to the arena on the night of the attack, “there was a complete absence of any BTP officer in the City Room” in the half hour before Abedi detonated the bomb. And no officers were policing the public areas of the venue between 8.58pm and 9.36pm.

 

The report found that BTP officers “took breaks substantially and unjustifiably” longer than their authorised one hour. Instructions to stagger breaks between 7.30pm and 9pm - when younger children could be leaving the venue - were also ignored.

 

The public inquiry into the attack had previously heard how two officers on duty at the concert, PC Jessica Bullough and PCSO Mark Renshaw, had taken a “two-hour-and-nine-minute dinner break to get a kebab five miles from the arena”. The Telegraph reported:

 

"Bullough has since admitted that were

she present on her shift as she should

have been, she would have likely stopped

Abedi and asked him what was in his bag”.

 

-- The CCTV Blindspot

 

Saunders' report says Abedi chose an “obvious hiding place” in a CCTV blindspot of the arena City Room foyer, having no doubt identified this area during his hostile reconnaissance:

 

“Had the area been covered by CCTV so that

there was no blind spot, it is likely this

behaviour by Abedi would have been identified

as suspicious by anyone monitoring the CCTV."

 

Giving evidence to the inquiry, Showsec security guard Agha said that he had noticed Abedi in the City Room, but only because he “liked the look” of Abedi's trainers.

 

-- Inadequate Patrols

 

The inquiry report says that:

 

"A further missed opportunity to spot Abedi

in the half hour before the bomb detonated

arose from the absence of an adequate

security patrol by Showsec at any stage

during this time”.

 

The supervisor charged with carrying out “pre-egress” checks, Jordan Beak, did so “only very briefly”, patrolling for about ten minutes, during which he just “looked towards the staircases up to the mezzanine area”, where Abedi was sitting:

 

The report notes:

 

“He did not consider them a very important

part of the check because it was not an

egress route. Mr Beak did not go up on to the

mezzanine area and so he did not see Abedi.

This was a significant missed opportunity.”

 

-- Concerns ‘Fobbed Off’

 

Saunders wrote that:

 

"The most striking missed opportunity, and the

one that is likely to have made a significant

difference, was an attempt by a member of the

public to raise concerns about Abedi after

becoming suspicious about the bomber's large

and obviously heavy backpack".

 

Christopher Wild told the inquiry how he had spotted Abedi while waiting for his 14-year-old daughter to leave the concert.

 

According to the BBC, Wild recalled how he approached Abedi and said:

 

“It doesn't look very good you know, what you

see with bombs and such, you with a rucksack

in a place like this, what are you doing?”

 

Abedi reportedly told Wild that he was “waiting for somebody, mate”, before asking what time it was.

 

Wild alerted security guard Agha about his suspicions around fifteen minutes before the blast. But according to the inquiry report:

 

"Agha did not take Christopher Wild’s

concerns as seriously as he should have”.

 

Wild felt that he had been “fobbed off” by the guard, who claimed to already be aware of Abedi. Agha is said to have made “inadequate” efforts to flag down his supervisor or pass on the message via his colleague Lawler, who had a radio.

 

Although Agha did share Wild’s concerns with Lawler, the latter “felt conflicted about what to do” and “stated he was fearful of being branded a racist and would be in trouble if he got it wrong”.

 

Lawler ultimately made an attempt to contact a senior supervisor through the radio, but couldn’t get through, and made no further efforts to communicate what he had been told to anyone else. Saunders wrote:

 

“The inadequacy of Mr Lawler’s response

was a product of his failure to take Mr Wild’s

concern and his own observations sufficiently

seriously. Mr Wild’s behaviour was very

responsible. He stated that he formed the

view that Abedi might let a bomb off.

That was sadly all too prescient, and makes

all the more distressing the fact that no effective

steps were taken as a result of his efforts.”

 

Aftermath of the Explosion

 

Three hours after the bombing, police conducted a controlled explosion on a suspicious item of clothing in Cathedral Gardens. This was later confirmed to have been abandoned clothing and not dangerous.

 

Residents and taxi companies in Manchester offered free transport or accommodation via Twitter to those left stranded at the concert.  Parents were separated from their children attending the concert in the aftermath of the explosion.

 

A nearby hotel served as a shelter for people displaced by the bombing, with officials directing separated parents and children there.  Manchester's Sikh temples along with local homeowners, hotels and venues offered shelter to survivors of the attack.

 

Manchester Victoria railway station, which is partly underneath the arena, was evacuated and closed, and services were cancelled. The explosion caused structural damage to the station, which remained closed until the damage had been assessed and repaired, resulting in disruption to train and tram services.

 

Victoria Station reopened eight days later, following the completion of police investigation work and repairs to the fabric of the building.

 

On the 23rd. May, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the UK's terror threat level had been raised to "critical", its highest level. 

 

In the aftermath of the attack, Operation Temperer was activated for the first time, allowing up to 5,000 soldiers to reinforce armed police in protecting parts of the country.

 

Tours of the Houses of Parliament and the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace were cancelled on 24 May, and troops were deployed to guard government buildings in London.

 

On the 23rd. May, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, via the Nashir Telegram channel, said the attack was carried out by "a soldier of the Khilafah". The message called the attack:

 

"An endeavor to terrorise the mushrikin,

and in response to their transgressions

against the lands of the Muslims."

 

Abedi's sister said that he was motivated by revenge for Muslim children killed by American airstrikes in Syria.

 

The Manchester Arena remained closed until September 2017, with scheduled concerts either cancelled or moved to other venues. It reopened on the 9th. September 2017, with a benefit concert featuring Noel Gallagher and other acts associated with North West England.

 

Later that month, Chris Parker, a homeless man who stole from victims of the attack whilst assisting them, was jailed for 4 years and three months.

 

Casualties of the Attack

 

The explosion killed the attacker and 22 concert-goers and parents who were in the entrance waiting to pick up their children following the show. 119 people were initially reported as injured. This number was revised by police to 250 on the 22nd. June, with the addition of severe psychological trauma and minor injuries.

 

During the public inquiry into the bombing, it was updated in December 2020 to 1,017 people sustaining injuries.

 

The dead included ten people aged under 20; the youngest victim was an eight-year-old girl, and the oldest was a 51-year-old woman. Of the 22 victims, twenty were Britons and two were British-based Polish nationals.

 

North West Ambulance Service reported that 60 of its ambulances attended the scene, carried 59 people to local hospitals, and treated walking wounded on site.  Of those hospitalised, 12 were children under the age of 16.

 

The first doctor thought to have been on scene was an off-duty consultant anaesthetist, Michael Daley. In recognition of his bravery for the role he played in the immediate medical response to the incident, Daley's name was entered into the BMA's Book of Valour in June 2017.

 

The Attacker

 

The bomber, Salman Ramadan Abedi, was a 22-year-old British Muslim of Libyan ancestry. He was born in Manchester to a Salafi family of Libyan-born refugees who had settled in Manchester after fleeing to the UK to escape the government of Muammar Gaddafi.

 

He had two brothers and a sister. He grew up in Whalley Range and lived in Fallowfield. Neighbours described the Abedis as a very traditional and "super religious" family who attended Didsbury Mosque.

 

Abedi attended Wellacre Technology College, Burnage Academy for Boys and The Manchester College. A former tutor remarked that:

 

"Abedi was a very slow, uneducated

and passive person".

 

He was among a group of students at his high school who accused a teacher of Islamophobia for asking them what they thought of suicide bombers. He also reportedly said to his friends that being a suicide bomber "was OK" and fellow college students raised concerns about his behaviour.

 

Abedi's father was a member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a Salafi jihadist organisation proscribed by the United Nations, and father and son fought for the group in Libya in 2011 as part of the movement to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi.

 

Abedi's parents, both born in Tripoli, remained in Libya in 2011, while 17-year-old Abedi returned to live in the United Kingdom. He took a gap year in 2014, where he returned with his brother Hashem to Libya to live with his parents. Abedi was injured in Ajdabiya that year while fighting for an Islamist group.

 

The brothers were rescued from Tripoli by the Royal Navy survey ship HMS Enterprise in August 2014 as part of a group of 110 British citizens as the Libyan civil war erupted, taken to Malta and flown back to the UK.

 

According to a retired European intelligence officer, Abedi met with members of the ISIS Battar brigade in Libya, and continued to be in contact with the group upon his return to the UK.

 

An imam at Didsbury mosque recalled that Abedi looked at him "with hate" after he preached against ISIS and Ansar al-Sharia in 2015.

 

Abedi's sister said her brother was motivated by the injustice of Muslim children dying in bombings stemming from the American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War.

 

A family friend of the Abedi's also remarked that Salman had vowed revenge at the funeral of Abdul Wahab Hafidah, who was run over and stabbed to death by a Manchester gang in 2016 and was a friend of Salman and his younger brother Hashem. Hashem later co-ordinated the Manchester bombing with his brother.

 

According to an acquaintance in the UK, Abedi was "outgoing" and consumed alcohol, while another said that Abedi was a "regular kid who went out and drank" until about 2016. Abedi was also known to have used cannabis.

 

He enrolled at the University of Salford in September 2014, where he studied business administration, before dropping out to work in a bakery. Manchester police believe Abedi used student loans to finance the plot, including travel overseas to learn bomb-making.

 

The Guardian reported that despite dropping out from further education, he was still receiving student loan funding in April 2017. Abedi returned to Manchester on the 18th. May after a trip to Libya and bought bomb-making material, apparently constructing the acetone peroxide-based bomb by himself. Many members of the IS Battar brigade trained people in bomb-making in Libya.

 

He was known to British security services and police but was not regarded as a high risk, having been linked to petty crime but never flagged up for radical views.

 

A community worker told the BBC he had called a hotline five years before the bombing to warn police about Abedi's views and members of Britain's Libyan diaspora said they had "warned authorities for years" about Manchester's Islamist radicalisation.

 

Abedi was allegedly reported to authorities for his extremism by five community leaders and family members, and had been banned from a mosque; the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, however, said Abedi was not known to the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme.

 

On the 29th. May 2017, MI5 launched an internal inquiry into its handling of the warnings it had received about Abedi and a second, "more in depth" inquiry, into how it missed the danger.

 

On the 22nd. November 2018, a Parliamentary report said that MI5 had acted "too slowly" in its dealings with Abedi. The committee's report noted:

 

"What we can say is that there were a number

of failings in the handling of Salman Abedi's case.

While it is impossible to say whether these would

have prevented the devastating attack on the

22nd. May, we have concluded that as a result of

the failings, potential opportunities to prevent it

were missed."

 

Investigation Into the Bombing

 

The property in Fallowfield where Abedi lived was raided on the 23rd. May. Armed police breached the house with a controlled explosion and searched it. Abedi's 23-year-old brother was arrested in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in south Manchester in relation to the attack.

 

Police carried out raids in two other areas of south Manchester and another address in the Whalley Range area. Three other men were arrested, and police initially spoke of a network supporting the bomber; however they later announced that Abedi had sourced all the bomb components himself, and that they now believed he had largely acted alone. On the 6th. July, police said that they believed others had been aware of Abedi's plans.

 

According to German police sources, Abedi transited through Düsseldorf Airport on his way home to Manchester from Istanbul four days before the bombing. French interior minister Gérard Collomb said that Abedi may have been to Syria, and had "proven" links with IS.

 

Abedi's younger brother and father were arrested by Libyan security forces on the 23rd. and 24th. May respectively. The brother was suspected of planning an attack in Libya, and was said to be in regular touch with Salman, and was aware of the plan to bomb the Manchester Arena, but not the date.

 

According to a Libyan official, the brothers spoke on the phone about 15 minutes before the attack was carried out. On the 1st. November 2017, the UK requested Libya to extradite the bomber's younger brother, Hashem Abedi to the UK in order to face trial for complicity in the murder of the 22 people killed in the explosion.

 

Photographs of the remains of the IED published by The New York Times indicated that it had comprised an explosive charge inside a lightweight metal container which was carried within a black vest or a blue Karrimor backpack.

 

Most of the fatalities occurred in a ring around the bomber. His torso was propelled by the blast through the doors to the arena, indicating that the explosive charge was held in the backpack and blew him forward on detonation. A small device thought to have possibly been a hand-held detonator was also found.

 

The bomb contained the explosive TATP, which had been used in previous bombings. According to Manchester police, the explosive device used by Abedi was the design of a skilled bomb-maker and had a back-up means of detonation. Police also said that Salman Abedi bought most of the bomb components himself, and that he was alone during much of the time before carrying out the Manchester bombing.

 

On the 28th. May, police released images showing Abedi on the night of the bombing, taken from CCTV footage. Further images showed Abedi walking around Manchester with a blue suitcase.

 

According to US intelligence sources, Abedi was identified by the bank card that he had with him and the identification was confirmed using facial recognition technology.

 

A public inquiry into the attack was launched in September 2020. The first of three reports to be produced was a 200-page report published on the 17th. June 2021. It found that:

 

"There were a number of missed opportunities

to alter the course of what happened that night,

and more should have been done by police and

private security guards to prevent the bombing."

 

News Leaks

 

Within hours of the attack, Abedi's name and other information that had been given confidentially to security services in the United States and France was leaked to the news media. This led to condemnation from Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

 

Following the publication of crime scene photographs of the backpack bomb used in the attack in the 24th. May edition of The New York Times, UK counterterrorism police chiefs said the release of the material was detrimental to the investigation.

 

On the 25th. May, Greater Manchester Police said that it had stopped sharing information on the attack with the US intelligence services. Theresa May said she would make clear to President Trump that:

 

"Intelligence that has been

shared must be made secure."

 

Donald Trump described the leaks to the news media as "deeply troubling", and pledged to carry out a full investigation.

 

New York Times editor Dean Baquet declined to apologise for publishing the backpack bomb photographs, saying:

 

"We live in different press worlds.

The material was not classified at

the highest level."

 

On the 26th. May, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States government accepted responsibility for the leaks.

 

Links with the Muslim Brotherhood

 

According to a secret recording unveiled by the BBC, Mostafa Graf, the imam of the Didsbury Mosque where Salman Abedi and his family were regulars, made a call for armed jihad ten days before Abedi bought his concert ticket.

 

Following these revelations, the Manchester Police opened an investigation into the mosque and its imam, who also fought with a Libyan Islamist militia. Mostafa Graf is a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, an organisation founded by the Muslim Brotherhood and Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Al-Qaradawi is known for having claimed:

 

"Suicide bombings are a duty".

 

Haras Rafiq, head of the Quilliam think tank, told The Guardian that the Muslim Brotherhood runs the Didsbury Mosque.

 

The Didsbury Mosque is controlled by The Islamic Centre (Manchester), an English association headed by Dr. Haytham al-Khaffaf, who is also a director of the Human Relief Foundation, a Muslim Brotherhood organisation blacklisted for terrorism by Israel. Between 2015 and 2016, al-Khaffaf's Human Relief Foundation received over £1.5 million from the Qatar Charity, which is also subject to US counterterrorism surveillance.

 

Trial and Sentencing of Hashem Abedi

 

On the 17th. July 2019, Salman Abedi's brother Hashem was charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion. He had been arrested in Libya and extradited to the UK.

 

His trial began on the 5th. February 2020. On the 17th. March, Hashem Abedi was found guilty on 22 charges of murder, on the grounds that he had helped his brother to source the materials used in the bombing, and had assisted with the manufacture of the explosives which were used in the attack.

 

On the 20th. August, Hashem Abedi was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 55 years. The judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, said that sentencing rules prevented him from imposing a whole life order as Abedi had been 20 years old at the time of the offence. The minimum age for a whole life order is 21 years old. Abedi's 55-year minimum term is the longest minimum term ever imposed by a British court.

 

Ismail Abedi

 

In October 2021 it was reported that Salman Abedi's older brother Ismail had left the UK despite being summonsed by Sir John Saunders to testify before the public inquiry into the bombing. Saunders had refused Ismail Abedi's request for immunity from prosecution while testifying.

 

Ariana Grande

 

Ariana Grande posted on Twitter:

 

"Broken. from the bottom of my

heart, i am so so sorry. i don't

have words."

 

The tweet briefly became the most-liked tweet in history. Grande suspended her tour and flew back to her mother's home in Florida.

 

On the 9th. July 2017, a performance to benefit the Manchester bombing victims was held in New York City's The Cutting Room, called "Break Free: United for Manchester", with Broadway theatre and television performers interpreting Ariana Grande songs.

 

On the 4th. June, Ariana Grande hosted a benefit concert in Manchester, entitled "One Love Manchester" at Old Trafford Cricket Ground that was broadcast live on television, radio and social media.

 

At the concert, Grande performed along with several other high-profile artists. Free tickets were offered to those who had attended the show on the 22nd. May. The benefit concert and associated Red Cross fund raised £10 million for victims of the attack, and £17 million by August. New York's Vulture section ranked the event as the No. 1 concert of 2017.

 

The Kerslake Report

 

On the 27th. March 2018, a report by Bob Kerslake named the "Kerslake Report" was published. The report was an independent review into the preparedness for, and emergency response to, the Manchester Arena attack on the 22nd. May 2017.

 

In the report, Kerslake "largely praised" the Greater Manchester Police and British Transport Police, and noted that it was "fortuitous" that the North West Ambulance Service was unaware of the declaration of Operation Plato, a protocol under which all responders should have withdrawn from the arena in case of an active killer on the premises.

 

However, it found that the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was "brought to a point of paralysis" as their response was delayed for two hours due to poor communication between the firefighters' liaison officer and the police force.

 

The report was critical of Vodafone for the "catastrophic failure" of an emergency helpline hosted on a platform provided by Content Guru, saying that delays in getting information caused "significant stress and upset" to families.

 

It also expressed criticism of some news media, saying:

 

"To have experienced such intrusive and

overbearing behaviour at a time of such

enormous vulnerability seemed to us to

be completely and utterly unacceptable".

 

However, it was also noted that:

 

"We recognise that this was some, but by

no means all of the media, and that the

media also have a positive and important

role to play."

 

Memorial to the Bombing

 

The victims of the bombing are commemorated by The Glade of Light, a garden memorial located in Manchester city centre near Manchester Cathedral. The memorial opened to the public in January 2022.

 

The memorial was vandalised on the 9th. February 2022, causing £10,000 of damage. A 24-year-old man admitted to the offence in April and will be sentenced at a later date.

 

The 2018 Manchester Terror Attack

 

The Manchester Arena is next to Victoria Station, and in fact partly above it. Victoria Station witnessed a subsequent terror attack on the 31st. December 2018 at 20.52.

 

Mahdi Mohamud, a 25 year old man from Somalia stabbed three people in a knife attack at the station. He appears to have acted alone.

 

Mohamud shouted "Allah!" and "Long live the Caliphate!" during the attack, and "Allahu Akbar" after being arrested. A witness alleged that during the attack he also shouted a slogan criticising Western governments. BBC producer Sam Clack reported that he heard Mohamud saying:

 

"As long as you keep bombing other

countries this sort of s--- is going to

keep happening,"

 

Mohamud had lived in England for about 10 years, and resided in Manchester's Cheetham neighbourhood with his parents and siblings.

 

Two of the three victims, a couple in their 50's who had come into town to celebrate the New Year, were hospitalised with serious injuries. The third victim was a British Transport Police officer who received a stab wound to his shoulder.

 

Despite suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, Mohamud was convicted of a terror offence and the attempted murder of three people, due to his possession of significant amounts of extremist material and the attack's extensive planning. He pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder and a terror offence.

 

The perpetrator, who was initially detained under the Mental Health Act, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-security psychiatric hospital.

 

The Second Inquiry into the Arena Bombing

 

On the 3rd. November 2022, inquiry chair Sir John Saunders issued a second report into the atrocity. Within the 884 pages he said that the emergency services failed to communicate properly in response to the incident, stemming from 'failures to prepare.'

 

He concluded that "Failing" emergency services thought a terror attack "could never happen" before the Manchester Arena bombing.

 

Sir John Saunders said the majority of those who died were so badly injured they could not have survived. However, it is believed that two of the 22 fatalities could have recovered if they had received better medical care.

 

Pointing the finger at leaders of the police, fire and ambulance services, he said:

 

“On the night of the attack, multi‐agency

communication between the three

emergency services was non‐existent.

That failure played a major part in what

went wrong.”

 

He added:

 

“There had been failures to prepare. There

had been inadequacies in training.

Well-established principles had not been

ingrained in practice.

Why was that? Partly it was because, despite

the fact that the threat of a terrorist attack was

at a very high level on the 22nd. May 2017, no

one really thought it could happen to them.”

 

The report also paid tribute to the “heroic” actions of ordinary members of the public who joined police and security and medical teams trying to save lives in a “war zone”.

 

Sir John said that two fatalities, John Atkinson, 28, and the youngest victim, eight year old Saffie-Rose Roussos, did have a chance of survival. Sir John said:

 

“I have concluded that one of those who

died, John Atkinson would probably have

survived had the emergency response

been better.”

 

He added:

 

“In the case of Saffie Rose Roussos, I have

concluded that there was a remote possibility

that she could have been saved if the rescue

operation had been conducted differently.”

 

The inquiry heard that only three paramedics went into the City Room after the attack. Crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service took more than two hours to attend the Arena.

 

Sir John added:

 

“GMP (Greater Manchester Police) did not

lead the response in accordance with the

guidance that it had been given or parts of

its own plans.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

(GMFRS) failed to turn up at the scene at a

time when they could provide the greatest

assistance.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) failed

to send sufficient paramedics into the City

Room.

NWAS did not use available stretchers to

remove casualties in a safe way, and did not

communicate their intentions sufficiently to

those who were in the City Room.”

 

Despite highlighting a series of failings, he said that:

 

"There were some parts of the emergency

response that worked well, and that no doubt

lives were saved”.

 

Paying tribute to those who helped the victims, he said:

 

“The heroism shown by very many people

that night is striking. I have seen the terrible

footage from the CCTV and body-worn video

cameras of the scene of devastation in the City

Room.

The description of that area as being like a

“warzone” was used by a number of witnesses.

That is an accurate description. To enter the

City Room or remain there to help victims

required great courage.”

 

Sir John added:

 

“At the centre of my Inquiry is the terrible loss

of twenty two lives. Each family and each person

at the Arena has a deeply personal story to tell

about the impact of the attack on them.

My report cannot change what has happened.

My intention is to uncover what went wrong and

find ways of improving practices so that no one

has to suffer such terrible pain and loss again.”

 

The report also stated that responsibility for the deaths lies with suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, and his brother Hashem, 25, who is serving life behind bars for his part in the plot.

 

The inquiry found that the brothers had “planned to cause as much harm to as many people as they could" when Abedi exploded his home made device.

 

CLIENT: Ilm Path Academy

 

[dp] www.dawahposters.com

[e] info@dawahposters.com

Mou’awiyah l'Omeyyade et tous les événements qui ont eu lieu jusqu’à ça mort.

  

Al-Hassan Ibn ‘Ali se désiste en faveur de Mou’awia;

Les Sahaba arrivèrent dans le camp (mou’askar) de Hassan (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) à Mada'in puis ils discutèrent et se mirent d’accord sur les conditions de paix. Al-Hassan (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) écrivit à Qays Ibn Sa’d alors qu’il était en compagnie de l’avant garde des Musulmans et lui demanda de rentrer dans les rangs de l’armée de Mou’awiyah et de se mettre sous ses ordres. Qays Ibn Sa’d parla aux gens et leur dit : « O gens, choisissez de vous mettre sous les ordres de l’Imam de l’égarement » et les gens de répondre : « Mais non, nous choisissons de rentrer sous les ordres de l’Imam de l’égarement et ils portèrent allégeance à Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) ».

  

Al-Hassan Ibn ‘Ali (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) abdiqua le califat en faveur de Mou’awiyah Ibn Abi Soufyan (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) au mois de Rabi’ Awwal de l’année 41 de l’Hégire (661).

  

Le califat d’al-Hassan dura six mois et un jour. Un très grand nombre de personne furent grandement fâchés et en colère par son acte en faveur de Mou’awiyah jusqu’à ce que l’un d’entre eux lui dit : « Paix sur toi, ô humiliateur des croyants (as-salamou ‘aleyka ya moudil al-mou'minin) prouvant l’ignorance et la stupidité de ce sot. Mais que fit al-Hassan (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui), ordonna-t-il de le punir ou de la frapper ? Al Hassan lui répondit : « Ne dit pas cela, je ne suis pas l’humiliateur des croyants mais j’ai détesté vouloir les tuer pour le pouvoir ! »

  

Mou’awiyah Ibn Abi Soufyan rentra dans Koufa et les gens lui portèrent allégeance puis il fit un discours aux gens. Puis il invita al-Hassan à parler aux gens qui leur dit : « Après cela (amma ba’d). O gens ! Allah Exalté soit-Il vous a guidé par nos prédécesseurs et vos contemporains font couler votre sang ! C’est une affaire qui dure et la vie continuera ! Allah le Très Haut a dit à Son Messager (Saluts et bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) : « Et je ne sais pas; ceci est peut-être une tentation pour vous et une jouissance pour un certain temps[3] ! » Et lorsqu’il eut dit ce verset Mou’awiyah se mit en colère et lui ordonna de s’asseoir.

  

L’empoissonnement d’al-Hassan Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib

  

Après cela al-Hassan (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) quitta Koufa et se rendit à Médine ou il resta jusqu’à sa mort en l’an 49 de l’Hégire (669) puisse Allah le Très Haut lui faire miséricorde. D’autre ont dit que ce n’était pas en 49. Il est mort empoisonné et il voulut donner à son frère al-Houssayn (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) le nom de celui qui lui avait donné la boisson empoisonnée mais il ne le fit pas et dit : « Allah est plus dur en châtiment si c’est celui que je pense et qui risque d’être tué à cause de moi ».

  

On questionna l’Imam de la Sounnah et de la Communauté Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (puisse Allah lui faire miséricorde) sur ce qui arriva entre ‘Ali et Mou’awiyah, il dit : « Lisez : « Voilà une génération bel et bien révolue. A elle ce qu’elle a acquis, et à vous ce que vous avez acquis. On ne vous demandera pas compte de ce qu’ils faisaient[4] » ».

  

Et lorsque la nouvelle de l’assassinat d’al-Hassan Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) parvint à Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux), il se mit à pleurer et sa femme lui dit : « Pleures-tu donc alors que tu l’as tué ? » Il lui répondit : « Malheur à toi, tu ne sais pas ce que les gens ont acquis comme mérites, comme jurisprudence et comme science ! »

  

Abou Mouslim al-Khawlani et un groupe de gens rentrèrent chez Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) et lui dirent : « Penses-tu que tu es meilleur ou bien comme ‘Ali ? » Il répondit : « Non, je jure que je ne suis pas meilleur ou plus méritant que lui. Mais vous savez bien que ‘Uthman a été tué injustement et moi je suis le fils de son oncle et j’ai recherché sa vengeance. Son affaire me concerne, dites-lui qu’il me remette les assassins de ‘Uthman et moi je lui donnerais ce qu’il veut ». Mouslim al-Khawlani alla trouver ‘Ali (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) et ils ne trouvèrent personne pour le défendre du fait de tous les problèmes qu’il avait à faire face.

  

Abou Mouslim al-Khawlani (ou Khoulani) est un Tabi’i du nom de ‘AbdAllah Ibn Thoub, il devint Musulman du vivant du Prophète (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) mais ne le vit pas. Il vint à Médine sous le califat d’Abou Bakr as-Siddiq (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) et mourut en l’an 62 de l’Hégire (681).

  

A propos de Mou’awiyah Ibn Abi Soufyan

  

L’Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal a rapporté de I’dad Ibn Sariyah as-Soulami qui a dit : J’ai entendu le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) nous inviter à prendre le Sahour (repas de nuit avant le jeûne) au mois de Ramadan : « Venez au repas béni ! » Puis je l’ai entendu dire (Saluts et bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) : « O Grand Seigneur (allahoumma) apprends à Mou’awiyah le Livre, le calcul et préserve le du châtiment ».

  

L’Imam Ahmad a rapporté dans son Mousnad de ‘AbderRahmane Ibn ‘Oumayrah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) que le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) a fait mention de Mou’awiyah et a dit : « O Grand Seigneur, guide le, fais en un guide et fait guider par lui ».

  

L’Imam Ibn Kathir a dit : « ‘AbdAllah Ibn Moubarak (puisse Allah le Très Haut lui faire miséricorde) fut questionné au sujet de Mou’awiyah et il dit : « Je ne dis rien sur un homme en qui le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) a dit : « Sami’a Lahou Hamida » (Dieu entends celui qui le loue, qui se dit en se relevant de l’inclinaison dans la prière) et Mou’awiyah derrière lui dit : « Rabbana wa lakal hamd (O Seigneur à Toi la Louange) ». Puis on lui demanda : « Qui est le meilleur Mou’awiyah ou bien ‘Omar Ibn ‘Abdel ‘Aziz ? » Il répondit : « Mou’awiyah avec le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) est meilleur que ‘Omar Ibn ‘Abdel ‘Aziz » ».

  

Et lorsque que Mou’afah Ibn ‘Imran, et Mou’afah est Ibn ‘Imran Ibn Noufayl Ibn Jabir al-Azdi le grand Imam et savant, né à la fin de la dynastie des Omeyyades et mort en l’an 186 de l’Hégire (801), fut questionné sur qui était le meilleur entre Mou’awiyah et ‘Omar Ibn ‘Abdel ‘Aziz, il se mit en colère et dit : « Mettez-vous un homme des Compagnons sur le même niveau qu’un homme des Tabi’in ? » Mou’awiyah était le Compagnon du Messager d’Allah (saluts et bénédictions d’Allah sur lui), son écrivain et son homme de confiance pour la révélation d’Allah !

  

Personne de nos jours, s’autoproclamant savant en prétendant connaître l’histoire et les hommes, la jurisprudence et les lois, ne doit discuter sur la préséance de certains hommes par rapport à d’autres ou bien critiquer les Compagnons ! Ceci est la parole des Salaf, de nos ancêtres bien guidés et clairvoyants sur les Compagnons (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) ! Comment les gens de nos jours peuvent-ils se laisser aller à de tel propos et qui sommes-nous par rapport à eux sinon de piètres Musulmans qui avons délaissé la religion que nos ancêtres nous ont légué et dont nous se sommes même pas capable de défendre.

  

Al-Hafiz Ibrahim Ibn Mayssarah at-Ta'ifi décédé en l’an 132 de l’Hégire a dit : « Je n’ai jamais vu ‘Omar Ibn ‘Abdel ‘Aziz frapper quiconque sauf un homme qui critiqua Mou’awiyah et qu’il réprimanda pour cela ».

  

L’Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal a rapporté de Sassinah, le serviteur du Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) qui a dit : « J’ai entendu le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) dire : « Le Khilafah (califat) sera de trente années, puis après cela ce sera la royauté ».

  

Dans le Hadith rapporté par Tabarani dans son compilé de Hadith « al-Mou’jam al-Kabir », Mou’ad Ibn Jabal (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) et Abi ‘Oubaydah Ibn al-Jarrah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) ont dit : « Le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) a dit : « Cette affaire a commencé par la miséricorde et la prophétie. Puis il sera miséricorde et califat, puis il sera une nombreuse royauté ; puis elle laissera la place à une dictature, une arrogance et un mal sur terre. Ils déclareront la soie licite, les relations intimes hors mariage et l’alcool desquels ils recevront leur subsistance. Ils auront le dessus jusqu’à ce qu’ils rencontrent Allah Exalté et Loué soit-Il ».

  

Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) a dit : « Je suis le premier roi » et lorsque ‘Omar Ibn al-Khattab (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) voyait Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) il disait : « Celui-ci est le Kisra (César, roi) des Arabes ». ‘Omar (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) était étonné de Mou’awiyah.

  

‘Abdallah Ibn ‘Abbas (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) a dit : « Je n’ai pas vu un homme qui avait les caractéristiques d’un roi comme Mou’awiyah ».

  

‘Abdel Malik Ibn Marwan dit sur Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) : « Je n’ai jamais vu quelqu’un qui avait une maîtrise de soi et un ténacité comme lui ».

  

‘Amr Ibn al-‘As (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) le grand Sahaba a dit à son sujet : « Méfiez-vous de Qouraysh et de ses enfants, de quiconque rit lorsqu’il est en colère et qui est toujours sur ses gardes ».

  

Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) était grand et beau. Il avait les cheveux et la barbe blanche qu’il teignait avec du henné ou du katam. Il devint Musulman avec son père le jour de la conquête de la Mecque et était de ceux envers qui le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) était généreux pour apaiser leurs cœurs et il était un de ceux qui écrivait la révélation lorsqu’elle descendait sur le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et bénédictions d’Allah sur lui). Il est connu, qu’il y eut plus de quarante Sahaba qui écrivaient pour le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) et parmi eux, il y avait ‘Uthman, ’Ali, Oubay Ibn Ka’b et Zayd Ibn Thabit (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux).

  

Mou’awiyah et son frère Yazid Ibn Abi Soufyan (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) était en Syrie (sham) ou Yazid était gouverneur. Et lorsqu’Abou Bakr (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) mourut, ‘Omar Ibn al-Khattab (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) le remplaça par Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui). Son père Abou Soufyan (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) écrivit à son fils Mou’awiyah et lui dit : « O mon fils ! Ces gens des Mouhajirines nous ont précédés et nous sommes en retard sur eux. Leurs degrés sont plus élevés chez Allah Exalté soit-Il et chez Son Messager (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) que le nôtre. De ce fait, ils sont devenus chefs et guides et nous suiveurs. Ils t’ont nommé pour diriger leurs affaires, ne les conteste pas sinon ton statut diminuera et si c’est le cas ton futur dépendra de la conséquence de tes actes ».

  

La conquête de l’île de Chypre

  

En l’an 27 de l’Hégire (647), les Musulmans conquirent l’île de Chypre (qoubrous) sous le commandement de Mou’awiyah Ibn Abi Soufyan (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) qui à la tête d’une grande armée traversa la mer. En sa compagnie se trouvait le grand Compagnon ‘Oubadah Ibn Samit (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) et son épouse la grande Sahabiyah Oumm al-Harram Bint Milhan (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’elle). Et ‘Oubadah est ‘Oubadah Ibn Samit Ibn Qays al-Ansari al-Khazraji. Il assista au Premier et au Second Pacte (‘aqaba oula wa thanya), à la bataille de Badr ainsi qu’à toutes les campagnes du Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) et mourut en l’an 34 (654).

  

Quant à Oumm Harram, elle est Oumm Harram Bint Milhan Ibn Khalid Ibn Zayd Ibn Harram al-Ansariyah al-Khazrajiyah, la tante du grand Compagnon Anas Ibn Malik (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux), le serviteur du Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui).

  

L’Imam al-Boukhari a rapporté dans son Sahih d’Anas Ibn Malik (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) qui a dit : Si le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) allait à Qouba, il rendait visite à Oumm Harram Bint Milhan qui lui offrait de la nourriture et elle était l’épouse de ‘Oubadah Ibn Samit. Un jour, le Prophète (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) lui rendit visite et elle le nourrit. Puis le Prophète (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) s’endormit chez elle et il se leva en rigolant. Elle lui demanda : Qu’est ce qui t’a fait rire ô Messager d’Allah ? Il répondit : « Des conquérants de ma communauté m’ont été montré, montant des navires sur la mer comme des rois sur des chevaux ». Elle dit alors : « O Messager prit pour moi que je sois parmi eux ». Et le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) invoqua Allah Exalté soit-Il en sa faveur. Puis le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) se rendormit et se releva à nouveau en rigolant. Elle lui demanda à nouveau : « Qu’est ce qui t’a fait rire O Messager d’Allah ? » Il répondit : « Des conquérants dans la voie d’Allah de ma communauté m’ont été montré, montant des navires sur la mer comme des rois sur des chevaux ». Elle dit : « O Messager prit pour moi que je sois parmi eux ». Et le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) lui répondit : « Tu fais partie déjà des premiers » ».

  

Elle prit la mer sous le règne de Mou’awiyah, en compagnies des conquérants, et en débarquant, elle tomba de sa monture et mourut (puisse Allah le Très Haut lui faire miséricorde). Le premier rêve du Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) prédisait la capture de Chypre et le martyr de Oumm Harram quant au second, il prédisait la tentative de conquête d’al-Constantiniyah (Constantinople) en l’an 49 de l’Hégire (669) sous le règne de Mou’awiyah et sous le commandement de Yazid Ibn Mou’awiyah.

  

Dans le Hadith rapporté par al-Boukhari de ‘Oumayrah Ibn al-Aswad al-‘Ansi vint voir ‘Oubadah Ibn Samit alors qu’il se trouvait à Hims en compagnie d’Oumm Harram dans leur maison. Il lui dit : « Oumm Harram nous a rapporté qu’elle a entendu le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) dire : « La première armée de ma communauté qui razziera par la mer sont connus ». Elle demanda : « O Messager d’Allah suis-je parmi eux ? » Il répondit (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) : « Tu es parmi eux ». Puis le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) dit : « La première armée de ma communauté à conquérir la ville de Qayssar (César) seront pardonnés ». Je lui demandai : « Suis-je parmi eux, O Messager d’Allah ? » Il (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) répondit : « Non » ».

  

Définition et conditions de l’Imamat, du califat et du serment d’allégeance

  

Avec le désistement du calife al-Hassan Ibn ‘Ali (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) en faveur de Mou’awiyah, a qui les gens portèrent allégeance, la sédition se calma et cette année fut appelée l’année de la réconciliation (du regroupement).

  

Avant de continuer avec l’histoire des Omeyyades nous allons marquer une parenthèse pour parler de l’Imamat ou du Califat et de l’allégeance chez les Gens de la Sounnah et de la Communauté (ahl sounnah wal jama’a).

  

Le grand Imam Shafi’i, ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad Ibn Habib, connu sous le nom d’al-Mawardi décédé en l’an 450 de l’Hijrah (1058) (puisse Allah le Très Haut lui faire miséricorde) a dit dans son livre « al-Ahkam as-Soultaniyah » à propos de l’Imamat : « L’institution de l’Imamat a pour raison d’être qu’il supplée le prophétisme (dont le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) a été le dernier représentant) pour la sauvegarde de la religion et de l’administration des intérêts terrestres ».

  

Le Qadi Abou Ya’la Muhammad Ibn Houssayn al-Faraq al-Hanbali décédé en l’an 458 de l’Hégire (1065) a dit dans son livre, aussi connu sous le nom d’ « al-Ahkam as-Soultaniyah » : « L’Imamat peut être nommé de deux façons : soit par le choix des gens du pacte ou de l’état ou bien par celui qui l’a précédé.

  

En ce qui concerne la nomination du nouvel Imam par les gens de l’état ou du pacte, elle ne peut être exécutée que par la décision de la totalité de ces gens de vouloir nommer cet Imam. Quant à la possibilité du prédécesseur de laisser le choix de la nomination du calife, du sultan ou de l’émir à autre que lui est possible si les gens du pacte et de l’état sont d’accord avec cela et avec la présence du futur nominé lors de la prise du pacte ».

  

Quant à celui qui prendra ce poste, il ne peut le faire qu’avec des conditions (shourout) qu’il doit remplir, comme par exemple le fait qu’il doit être libre, adulte, sain d’esprit, juste, savant, brave, fort, déterminé, intelligent, non aveugle, non sourd (bien que tous les savants ne sont pas d’accord sur ce point particulier) et qu’il doit être de Qouraysh comme il est mentionné dans le Hadith rapporté par al-Boukhari de ‘AbdAllah Ibn ‘Omar (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) du Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) : « Cette affaire doit rester chez les Qouraysh tant que durerons les Qouraysh ».

  

Et ce à propos de l’Imamat ou du califat.

  

Mais qu’en est-il à propos de l’allégeance à l’Imam ou au calife ?

  

L’allégeance (al-bay’ah) dans la langue vient de la racine du mot Bay’ et al-Moubaya’atou est al-Mou’ahadah (le renouvellement du pacte ou du traité) et de là, est venu le terme utilisé en droit al-Bay’atou qui veut dire le renouvellement du pacte d’une personne envers celui qui détient l’affaire (gouverneur, dirigeant, émir, calife etc.) de l’écouter et de lui obéir, de lui soumettre son point de vue en ce qui le concerne, les affaires des Musulmans et ne rien lui contester sur ces points. De lui obéir dans toutes les circonstances (même quand cela lui déplait) dans les affaires dont il a été chargé par lui.

  

Ce sont des choses essentielles à savoir en ce qui concerne l’allégeance. L’allégeance n’est pas un simple mot sans conséquence mais une action qui requiert d’autres actions. Et il est obligatoire au Musulman de porter allégeance à l’Imam (ou le calife, ou l’émir etc.) comme il lui est obligatoire de l’écouter et d’obéir à son Imam.

  

Dans le Hadith rapporté par l’Imam Mouslim d’Abou Hourayrah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui), le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) a dit : « Tu dois écouter et obéir dans l’aisance comme dans la difficulté, dans ton intérêt ou la contrainte et malgré ce que cela te cause ».

  

Et dans le Hadith rapporté par l’Imam Boukhari de ‘AbdAllah Ibn ‘Abbas (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) du Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) qui a dit : « Quiconque voit quelque chose de son Amir qu’il déteste, qu’il patiente ! Nul ne quitte sa communauté d’un pas et qui meurt sans qu’il ne meurt d’une mort préislamique ».

  

Ce sont des conditions claires que l’on doit impérativement obéir et appliquer. Celui qui prête le serment d’allégeance doit obéir à l’Imam, sa désobéissance devient illicite sauf si l’Imam ordonne une désobéissance, de même qu’il est illégal d’annuler son allégeance sauf si l’ordre vient de l’Imam.

  

L’Imam Mouslim a rapporté dans son Sahih, d’Abou Hourayrah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) du Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) qui a dit : « Quiconque sort de l’obéissance et quitte le groupe et meurt, meurt d’une mort préislamique. Et quiconque combat sous l’étendard patriotique, se fâche pour son clan, appelle pour son clan ou qu’il aide un clan et meurt, meurt d’une mort préislamique. Quiconque quitte sa communauté et qu’il frappe ses innocents, ou ses libertins, ou qu’il ne respecte pas ses croyants et qu’il ne tient pas ses engagements, ne fait pas partie de moi et je n’ai rien à voir avec lui ».

  

De même l’Imam Mouslim a rapporté de ‘AbdAllah Ibn ‘Omar (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) que le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) a dit : « Quiconque se désengage du pacte (allégeance) n’aura aucun prétexte le jour du Qiyamah et quiconque meurt sans qu’il n’ait porté allégeance, meurt d’une mort préislamique ».

  

L’Imam Boukhari a rapporté d’Ibn ‘Omar (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) que le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) a dit : « Tout traitre (perfide - trompeur) se verra attribuer sa trahison le Jour du Qiyamah ».

  

L’écoute et l’obéissance à l’Imam ne doit pas être dans la désobéissance. Mouslim a rapporté d’Ibn ‘Omar (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) que le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) a dit : « Le Musulman doit écouter et obéir dans ce qu’il aime et ce qu’il déteste sauf s’il lui est ordonné une désobéissance. Et s’il lui est ordonné une désobéissance, il ne doit ni écouter ni obéir ».

  

Il est interdit à quiconque de disputer le pouvoir à un Imam nouvellement élu même des gens du pacte ou de l’état et les Musulmans doivent combattre tous ceux qui cherchent à lui disputer le pouvoir lorsqu’il a été élu. Le pacte d’allégeance qui peut légèrement changer en certaines circonstance reste néanmoins et de manière générale le même. Il consiste à dire : « Je porte allégeance sur le Livre d’Allah, la Sounnah de Son Messager (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui), sur le combat dans la voie d’Allah Exalté (al-jihad fis-sabilillah ta’ala), sur l’écoute et l’obéissance dans la facilité et la contrainte, dans l’aisance et la difficulté, de tout ce dont je suis capable et de ne pas disputer aux gens leurs affaires ».

  

Une allégeance parfaitement claire en regard de tous les évènements qui ont précédé et qui vont suivre et tout ce dont nous avons mentionné jusqu’à présent, n’est que l’introduction à l’histoire des Omeyyades.

  

Ziyad Ibn Soumayah et Bousr Ibn Abi Artat

  

Nous allons maintenant faire mention de deux hommes qui jouèrent un grand rôle dans les événements de cette époque. Il s’agit de Ziyad Ibn Soumayah ou Ziyad Ibn Abi qui fut connu par la suite sous le nom de Ziyad Ibn Abi Soufyan. Il est né à Taif l’année de l’Hégire, ou selon certains autres une année avant l’Hégire, et devint Musulman sous le règne d’Abou Bakr as-Siddiq (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui). Il y a des désaccords en ce qui concerne le nom de son père. Les historiens ont rapporté qu’il est Ziyad Ibn ‘Oubayd ath-Thaqafi et que son père était ‘Oubaydoun ‘Abdana (un esclave). Et ils l’appelèrent aussi Ziyad Ibn Soumayah. Sa mère est Soumayah Jariyatou al-Harith Ibn Qaladah ath-Thaqafi le docteur connu.

  

Ziyad racheta son père ‘Oubaydah et le libéra. Ziyad fut présenté à ‘Omar Ibn al-Khattab (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) qui lui annonça une future conquête. ‘Omar lui demanda de s’adresser aux gens et son discours fut dur.

  

Ziyad était un homme ferme, un prêcheur et un scribe. Il écrivit à Abou Moussa al-Ash’ari, à Moughirah Ibn Shou’bah et à ‘AbdAllah Ibn ‘Abbas (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux). Il était le frère d’Abi Bakra par la mère et il était un des partisans de ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui). ‘Ali l’envoya combattre des Kurdes qui s’était rebellé en Perse et Ziyad les écrasa et prit possession d’une forteresse qui prit son nom.

  

Lorsque les arrangements furent scellés entre al-Hassan et Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux), Mou’awiyah lui envoya son commandant Bousr Ibn Abi Artat des Bani Ma’is Ibn ‘Amir Ibn Louhay al-Qourayshiyine, nous se sommes pas sur s’il était un Compagnon ou non car nous n’avons pas cherché pour le confirmer.

  

L’Imam Ahmad et Yahya Ibn Ma’in ont dit qu’il n’a rien entendu du Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui). Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) envoya Bousr Ibn Abi Artat à la tête d’une armée à Basra en lui demandant de capturer les Bani Ziyad afin de mettre aussi la main sur une somme importante d’argent du trésor public des Musulmans qu’il conservait alors qu’il était en service.

  

Bousr qui était un tyran captura ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Abi Bakra, ‘Oubaydillah et ‘Abad Ibn Ziyad et voulut les tuer mais Abou Bakra demanda un délai de deux semaines à Bousr pour lui laisser le temps de parvenir à Mou’awiyah à Damas. Bousr accepta mais promit que s’il ne se rendait pas, il tuerait les autres membres de sa famille. Abou Bakra se rendit en Syrie sans jamais s’accorder de repos et tua deux montures tant il voyagea rapidement. Il demanda à Mou’awiyah d’accorder à son frère Ziyad la sécurité et d’écrire un message à Bousr pour qu’il libère les membres de sa famille ce que fit Mou’awiyah. Mou’awiyah dit à Abou Bakra j’accorde la sécurité à ton frère à la condition qu’il me donne ce qu’il a comme argent chez lui. Et Abou Bakra fut de retour le septième jour à Basra avec la grâce d’Allah Exalté soit-Il, il put libérer sa famille prisonnière.

  

En l’an 41 de l’Hégire (661), Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) écrivit à Ziyad de tenir ses engagements puisque Abou Bakra avait demandé à son frère de rentrer sous les ordres du calife. Lorsque Ziyad rentra sous les ordres, Mou’awiyah lui demanda ce qu’il avait fait de l’argent qu’il avait ramassé alors qu’il était en campagne en Perse. Ziyad, lui répondit qu’il en avait envoyé une partie à ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui), qu’il avait utilisé une autre partie dans les besoins relatif à son poste et que le reste se trouvait protégé auprès de certains de ses aides et qu’il allait lui remettre la somme restante. Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) le crut ou bien il se contenta de ne pas le juger pour cela pour tirer parti de la force de Ziyad. Puis il l’envoya à Koufa sous la vigilance de Moughirah Ibn Shou’bah.

  

En l’an 42 de l’Hégire (662), les Musulmans firent une incursion dans le pays de Lan proche de l’Arménie actuelle[1]. Ils razzièrent aussi les Byzantins et leur infligèrent une terrible défaite ou plusieurs de leurs chefs furent tués. Ainsi nous pouvons remarquer que lorsque les Musulmans sont divisés, ils se combattent entre eux et laissent de côté le combat dans la voie d’Allah à Lui les Louanges et la Gloire et lorsqu’ils étaient de nouveau unifiés, ils reprenaient leurs conquêtes. Et en une seule année, leur empire s’accrut.

  

Cette même année naquit al-Hajjaj Ibn Youssouf ath-Thaqafi qui allait jouer aussi un rôle important dans l’Histoire des Omeyyades.

  

Le retour des khawarije

  

Le Calife ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui), avant la bataille de Nahrawan, avait donné l’étendard et le commandement de l’aile droite au respectable Compagnon Abi Ayyoub al-Ansari (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) qui avait dit aux khawarije : « Quiconque d’entre vous qui n’a ni tué et ni violenté et qui se range sous cette bannière se verra pardonné. Quiconque d’entre vous quitte les rangs et va à Koufa ou Mada'in sera en sécurité ». Nous avons mentionné qu’un groupe d’entre eux avait répondu à son offre et était effectivement sorti des rangs des khawarije tandis que les autres furent écrasés lors de la bataille qui s’ensuivit. La plupart furent tués et à peu près quatre-cent d’entre eux furent blessés à qui l’émir des Musulmans ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) pardonna.

  

Quant à ceux qui avaient répondu à l’offre de paix, ils se réunirent de nouveaux avec ceux qui avaient été blessés à Nahrawan et ceux qui avaient été pardonnés par ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) du fait de leur blessures. Et, submergés par la maladie de leur âme, ils se rebellèrent de nouveau contre le calife alors que les Musulmans s’étaient de nouveaux unifiés et que le califat était passé à Mou’awiyah Ibn Abi Soufyan (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux). Ils commencèrent par se regrouper puis établirent des réunions secrètes ou ils choisirent l’un d’entre eux, al-Moustawrid Ibn ‘Oullafah Ibn al-Farish at-Taymi de Koufa pour chef et à qui ils attribuèrent le titre d’émir al-Mou'minin, émir des croyants. Ils décidèrent de se proclamer ouvertement au mois de Sha’ban de l’an 43 de l’Hégire (663).

  

L’émir de Koufa à cette époque était al-Moughirah Ibn ash-Shou’bah ath-Thaqafi (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) qui, lorsqu’il fut informé de leur activité, s’adressa aux gens et les mit en garde contre ceux qui cherchaient encore une fois à causer non seulement des troubles mais des divisions parmi la communauté des Musulmans. Et Il promit de leur donner une dure leçon de manière à ce qu’elle soit un rappel pour les successeurs et pour que personne n’ait le prétexte d’ignorance.

  

Les khawarije comme prévu sortirent au nombre de trois-cent sous le commandement d’al-Moustawrid à Mazar qui est la ville de Mayssan au bord du fleuve du Tigre en Iraq (dajla). Al-Moughirah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) appela les gens à les combattre et il réunit une armée de trois-mille hommes à qui il donna le commandement à Ma’qil Ibn Qays ar-Riyahi at-Tamimi à qui le grand Compagnon dit : « O Ma’qil j’ai envoyé avec toi des cavaliers des gens d’Egypte. Marche vers ces gens qui ont quitté notre groupe et qui ont attesté de leur mécréance. Apelle les tout d’abord à se repentir et à réintégrer notre groupe. S’ils le font, acceptent-les et retiens toi. Et s’ils refusent alors attaquent les et demande le secours à Allah le Très Haut contre eux ».

  

Le temps que Ma’qil arrive à destination, les khawarije atteignirent al-Mada'in dont l’émir était Simaq Ibn ‘Oubayd al-‘Absi. Al-Moustawrid lui fit parvenir un message, et afin que vous connaissiez qui étaient les khawarije, voici ce qui était écrit : « De ‘AbdAllah al-Moustawrid, émir des croyants à Simaq Ibn ‘Oubayd en ce qui suit : Je t’invite au Livre d’Allah Exalté soit-Il et à la Sounnah de Son Messager, Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui, et à celle de leurs successeurs Abou Bakr et ‘Omar qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux. Au désaveu de ‘Uthman et de ‘Ali (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) pour leur écart dans la religion et leur abandon du jugement par le Livre d’Allah. Si tu acceptes, tu feras preuve de raison et si tu refuses sache que nous sommes parvenu près de toi et nous t’annonçons la guerre. Et Allah n’aime pas les traitres. » Et on sait combien les khawarije combattaient farouchement.

  

Et pendant ce temps, on annonça l’arrivée imminente d’une armée de trois-mille hommes de Basra envoyé par l’émir de Basra ‘AbdAllah Ibn ‘Amir Ibn Qourayz al-‘Abshami al-Qourayshi qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui, commandée par Shariq Ibn al-A’war Ibn al-Harith Ibn ‘Abdel Yaghouth des Bani Harith Ibn Ka’b al-Madhajiyin. Cette armée ne put pas prendre part à la bataille du fait que les khawarije se retirèrent de Mazar sans que personne ne les voient et ne les poursuivent car Shariq pensa que l’armée de Koufa était suffisante pour leur faire face.

  

Ma’qil Ibn Qays ar-Riyahi se lança à la poursuite des khawarije avant de les rattraper et de pratiquement tous les tuer. Seul ‘AbdAllah Ibn ‘Ouqbah al-Ghanawi qui était petit s’échappa sur un cheval et se rendit à Koufa ou il demanda la sécurité à Moughirah Ibn Shou’bah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) qu’il lui accorda. Mais il allait se rebeller encore une fois lors de la sédition d’AbderRahmane Ibn Muhammad Ibn al-Ash’ath Ibn Qays al-Kindi.

  

Lors de cette révolte eut lieu plusieurs affrontements et ‘AbdAllah Ibn ‘Ouqbah al-Ghanawi fut tué à Dayr Jamajim.

  

Al-Moustawrid Ibn ‘Oullafah sortit avec sa lance à la rencontre de Ma’qil Ibn Qays ar-Riyahi et des gens qui était en la compagnie de Ma’qil lui demandèrent de ne pas sortir contre le khariji et qu’ils allaient régler l’affaire avec Ma’qil. Mais Ma’qil refusa, saisit son sabre et se présenta face à son ennemi.

  

Al-Moustawrid lui transperça la poitrine avec sa lance et en tombant Ma’qil réussit à lui porter un coup sur le sommet de la tête et tous les deux s’effondrèrent morts.

  

Durant cette année, Bousr Ibn Abi Artat partit en campagne contre les Byzantins. Al-Waqidi a rapporté qu’il passa l’hiver dans leur territoire jusqu’à ce qu’il atteignit Constantinople.

  

La mort de ‘Amr Ibn al-‘As et Muhammad Ibn Maslamah

  

Le jour de Fitr de l’année 43 de l’Hégire (663), mourut en Egypte, le respectable Compagnon ‘Amr Ibn al-‘As Ibn Wahil Ibn Sahmi al-Qourayshi (qu’Allah le Très Haut soit satisfait de lui). Lui succéda son fils, le respectable compagnon ‘Abdallah Ibn ‘Amr Ibn al-‘As (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui), au poste de gouverneur d’Egypte.

  

Mourut cette même année, à Médine l’Illuminée, le respectable compagnon Muhammad Ibn Maslamah al-Ansari (qu’Allah le Très Haut soit satisfait de lui).

  

L’Imam Ahmad a rapporté dans son Mousnad, du respectable compagnon ‘Ouqbah Ibn ‘Amir al-Jouhani (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) que le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) a dit : « Les gens se sont soumis et ‘Amr Ibn ‘As a cru ».

  

Il est rapporté dans les Sounan de Tirmidi que Talhah Ibn ‘Oubaydillah a rapporté, que le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) a dit : « ’Amr Ibn al-‘As fait partie des Qouraysh pieux ».

  

Il est aussi connut que ‘Amr Ibn al-‘As fait partie des grands Arabes, de l’Islam et un de ses hommes astucieux, un héros des conquêtes islamiques, un fameux général (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui).

  

Quant à Muhammad Ibn Maslamah Ibn Khalid Ibn ‘Adiyyi al-Awsi al-Ansari (qu’Allah le Très Haut soit satisfait de lui), le respectable Compagnon, il participa à Badr et à toutes les batailles en compagnie du Prophète (saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui), excepté la bataille de Tabouk car le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) l’a laissé responsable de Médine durant son absence. Muhammad Ibn Maslamah fait partie de ceux qui se sont tenu à l’écart de la Grande Fitnah[2] ou il se fabriqua une épée en bois et dit : « Ainsi me l’a ordonné le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) ».

  

En l’an 43 de l’Hégire (663), Bousr Ibn Abi Artat partit en campagne contre les Byzantins. Al-Waqidi a rapporté qu’il passa aussi l’hiver dans leur territoire jusqu’à ce qu’il atteignit Constantinople.

  

La filiation de Ziyad Ibn Soumayah à Abi Soufyan

  

En l’an 44 de l’Hégire (664), les Musulmans commandés par ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Khalid attaquèrent le territoire byzantin par terre durant leur campagne hivernale tandis que Bousr Ibn Abi Artat les attaqua par mer.

  

Cette même année, Mou’awiyah Ibn Abi Soufyan (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) attribua à Ziyad Ibn Soumayah la paternité d’Abi Soufyan, car un homme témoigna qu’Abou Soufyan, à l’époque de l’ignorance, approcha Soumayah Oumm Ziyad qui conçut Ziyad.

  

Le témoignage d’un Musulman saint d’esprit ne peut être rejeté. Soumayah était apparentée à Harith Ibn Kaladah ath-Thaqafi, le docteur des arabes. Beaucoup de gens furent contre et parmi eux le respectable Compagnon ‘Abdallah Ibn ‘Amir Ibn Qourayz Ibn Rabi’ah Ibn Habib Ibn ‘Abd ash-Shams (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui), qui était émir de Basra pour le compte de Mou’awiyah, parce qu’il lui était parvenu que Ziyad disait de lui qu’il était faible dans son poste. Alors ‘Abdallah Ibn ‘Amir fit dire : « J’ai voulu venir avec des gens de Qouraysh qui jureront qu’Abou Soufyan n’a jamais vu Soumayah ».

  

Lorsque Mou’awiyah entendit cela, il se mit en grande colère et lorsqu’un jour Ibn Amir, le fils de son oncle, entra chez lui, Mou’awiyah lui dit des propos très graves : « Par Allah ! Les Arabes ont appris que mon père la visitais dans l’ignorance et l’Islam ne nous a rajouté que grandeur ! Je ne me suis pas contenté de Ziyad à cause du petit nombre (de mon clan) et je n’en tire pas orgueil non plus. J’ai juste reconnu un droit qui lui était dû et je l’ai mis à son rang ».

  

Les Banou Hashim et les Banou Oumayyah étaient les Qouraysh plus nobles à l’époque de l’ignorance. Lorsqu’Allah le Très haut a choisi le meilleur des humains de Sa création Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdillah Ibn ‘Abdel Moutalib Ibn Hashim Ibn ‘Abdel Manaf, le Prophète illettré et qu’Il lui a révélé l’Islam, les Banou Hashim, grâce à la bénédiction du Prophète (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui), se retrouvèrent élevés à un degré que nul ne pourra jamais atteindre.

  

Honorabilité et prestige à l’époque de l’ignorance se transforma en élévation pour les Banou Hashim grâce à la révélation.

  

Le lien entre les Bani Hashim et les Bani Oumayyah

  

Quel est le lien entre les Bani Hashim et les Bani Oumayyah ?

  

Nous avons vu dans la généalogie des Arabes que Hashim Ibn ‘Abdel Manaf, le grand père des Bani Hashim, est le frère jumeau (du père et de la mère) de ‘Abd ash-Shams Ibn ‘Abdel Manaf. Leur mère était ‘Atikah Ibn ‘Ourwah Ibn Hilal as-Soulamiyah.

  

Les Banou Hashim et les Banou Oumayyah ‘Abd ash-Shams sont les gens les plus proches les uns des autres.

  

Celui-ci, est le maitre des humains (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) : Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdillah Ibn ‘Abdel Moutalib Ibn Hashim Ibn ‘Abdel Manaf. ‘Abdel Manaf est le grand père de son grand père. Et Abou Soufyan Ibn Harb Ibn Oumayyah Ibn ‘Abd ash-Shams Ibn ‘Abdel Manaf. Le grand père de son grand père est le même que celui du Prophète (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) : ‘Abdel Manaf.

  

‘Abdel Moutalib est le grand père du Prophète (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) et le fils de l’oncle d’Oumayyah, le grand père d’Abou Soufyan.

  

Et lorsque quelqu’un questionna un jour l’Imam Sha’bi[3] à propos des Banou Hashim et des Banou Oumayyah, il répondit : « Si tu veux, je te répondrais comme l’a dit l’Imam ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) : « Les Banou Hashim, respect et bravoure et les Banou Oumayyah, résolution et finesse ».

  

Lorsque l’on questionna Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) sur le même sujet, il dit : « Aucune différence entre les deux jusqu’au jour, ou ils sont venu avec quelque chose qui les a fait dépasser les premiers et les derniers (sous-entendu la révélation au Prophète (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) ».

  

Un autre jour, on lui posa la question : « Qui d’entre vous, vous et les Banou Hashim, sont les plus nobles ? Il répondit : « Nous étions les plus noble par la quantité et eux étaient plus nobles par l’un d’entre eux dont nous les ‘Abdel Manaf n’avions nul pareil que les Bani Hashim. Nous sommes les plus nobles mais qui nous viendra avec l’équivalent des Banou Hashim. Lorsqu’il mourut nous étions les nombreux et les plus nobles et Il y avait quelqu’un chez les ‘Abdel Moutalib dont nous n’avions nulle équivalence.

  

Lorsqu’il mourut, nous étions les plus nombreux et les plus nobles et il n’y avait chez eux aucun équivalent de l’un d’entre nous. Jusqu’à ce qu’ils aient dit : « Nous avons un Prophète parmi nous ». Et est arrivé un Prophète, dont ni les premiers ni les derniers n’ont connu de semblables, Muhammad (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui). Qui osera nier ses bienfaits ? Et c’est cela la noblesse ».

  

Les paroles de Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) au fils de son oncle, ‘Abdillah Ibn ‘Amir Ibn Qourayz (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui), sont véridiques.

  

Est-ce que Mou’awiyah, qui était le calife des Musulmans et une des personnalités de Qouraysh, avait-il besoin de faire connaitre ouvertement la paternité de Ziyad Ibn Soumayah ? Non, bien sûr que non !

  

Mais lorsque ce Musulman est venu le voir et a attesté, il ne pouvait pas rejeter son témoignage. C’était un devoir juridique pour lui.

  

‘AbderRahmane Ibn Khalid Ibn Walid

  

En l’an 45 de l’Hégire (665), ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Khalid Ibn al-Walid poursuivit son attaque hivernale contre le territoire byzantin.

  

Cette même année, Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) retira ‘Abdillah Ibn ‘Amir Ibn Qourayz du poste de gouverneur de Basra à cause de son incompétence, et le remplaça par al-Harith Ibn ‘Abdillah al-Azdi pour une durée de quatre mois avant de le remplacer par Ziyad Ibn Abi Soufyan.

  

Ziyad Ibn Abi Soufyan devient gouverneur de Basra, du Khourassan, du Sijistan, puis ensuite du Hind, du Bahrayn et de ‘Oman. Ziyad Ibn Abi Soufyan était un gouverneur ferme, vigoureux, puissant, communicatif et craint qui prit fermement sa gouvernance.

  

En l’an 46 de l’Hégire (666), Malik Ibn ‘Oubaydillah razzia le territoire byzantin. D’autres ont rapportés que cette attaque fut menée par ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Khalid Ibn al-Walid ou par Malik Ibn Houbayrah as-Sakouni.

  

‘AbderRahmane Ibn Khalid Ibn Walid attaqua le pays des Romains qui avait alors pour empereur Constantin II avant de retourner à Hims en l’an 46 ou son docteur chrétien lui donna une boisson empoisonnée qu’il but et il mourut.

  

Un jour ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Khalid Ibn Walid partit à Médine l’Illuminée et s’assit en compagnie de ‘Ourwah Ibn Zoubayr Ibn ‘Awwam qui avait les cheveux longs et le salua :

  

- « Qui es-tu », lui demanda ‘Ourwah ?

  

- « Je suis Khalid Ibn ‘AbderRahmane (sous-entendu le fils de Khalid Ibn Walid) ! »

  

- « Qu’a fait Ibn ‘Outhan[4] », le questionna de nouveau ‘Ourwah ?

  

‘AbderRahmane se leva aussitôt et retourna sur le champ à Hims ou il chercha Ibn ‘Outhan. Lorsqu’il le vit enfin, il le frappa de son sabre et le tua. Il fut saisit et amené à Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) qui ordonna son emprisonnement quelques jours.

  

Puis ‘AbderRahmane retourna à Médine voir ‘Ourwah et le salua. ‘Ourwah lui demanda :

  

- « Qu’a fait Ibn ‘Outhan ? »

  

‘AbderRahmane lui répondit :

  

- « Je t’ai débarrassé d’Ibn ‘Outhan ! Mais qu’a fait Ibn Jourmouz ? »

  

‘Ourwah se tut et resta silencieux sachant qu’Ibn Jourmouz est celui qui tua le respectable Compagnon Zoubayr Ibn ‘Awwam (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) par traitrise. ‘AbderRahmane voulait dire : « Tu me demande ce qu’a fait Ibn ‘Outhan alors nous avons fait notre devoir le concernant. Mais qu’en est-il de toi concernant l’assassin de Zoubayr, ton père ?

  

En l’an 47 de l’Hégire (667), le respectable Compagnon Malik Ibn Houbayrah Ibn Khalid Ibn Mouslim as-Sakouni al-Kindi attaqua le territoire byzantin tandis qu’Abou ‘AbderRahmane al-Qayni attaqua Antioche (antakiyah).

  

Certains historiens ont rapporté que durant cette même année, Ziyad nomma al-Hakam Ibn ‘Amr al-Ghifari gouverneur du Khorasan. Il razzia la montagne d’al-Ghour et Farawandah. Il vaincu les gens par le sabre et conquis de force leurs territoires en prenant un immense butin et beaucoup de captifs. Puis après ses raids, al-Hakam Ibn ‘Amr revint à Merv (marw) ou il mourut peu après.

  

Et Il est connu que lorsque les affaires entrèrent en ordre pour Mou’awiyah, lors de l’année de la réunification, le combat dans la voie d’Allah le Très Haut aux frontières des Musulmans ne s’arrêta pas et particulièrement contre le pays des Romains byzantins.

  

En l’an 48 de l’Hégire (668), ‘AbderRahmane al-Qayni attaqua at-Takiyah, ‘AbdAllah Ibn Qays al-Fazari attaqua les Byzantins par terre tandis que Malik Ibn Houbayrah as-Sakouni les attaqua par mer.

  

Cette même année, Khalid Ibn ‘AbderRahmane Ibn Khalid Ibn al-Walid mena une deuxième expédition navale contre les Byzantins avec des Égyptiens sous le commandement de ‘Ouqbah Ibn ‘Amir al-Jouhani et avec des Médinois sous le commandement d’al-Moundir Ibn al-Zouhayr.

  

Certains ont rapporté que Ziyad nomma pour le Khorasan Ghalib Ibn Fadalah al-Leythi le Compagnon du Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui).

  

Le premier siège de Constantinople et le martyr d’Abou Ayyoub al-Ansari

  

En l’an 49 de l’Hégire (669), les Musulmans, sous le commandement de Yazid Ibn Mou’awiyah, attaquèrent Constantinople. Dans cette armée se trouvait ‘AbdAllah Ibn ‘Omar Ibn al-Khattab, ‘AbdAllah Ibn ‘Amr Ibn al-‘As, ‘AbdAllah Ibn ‘Abbas, Abou Ayyoub al-Ansari, ‘AbdAllah Ibn Zoubayr et d’autres compagnons (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux).

  

Le commandant des Romains était l’empereur byzantin Constantin III qui prit la succession à Constantin II après sa mort.

  

Abou Ayyoub al-Ansari (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) trouva le martyr lors de la bataille et fut enterré, selon son souhait, au plus près de l’enceinte de la ville forteresse. Les Musulmans protégés par des boucliers et sous une intense pluie de flèches réussirent à se rapprocher des murs ou ils creusèrent et le déposèrent dans une tombe, avant de revenir saufs dans le camp des Musulmans. Il est le grand Compagnon Khalid Ibn Zayd Ibn Qouray al-Khazraji al-Ansari Abou Ayyoub al-Ansari qui témoigna le pacte de ‘Aqabah, la bataille de Badr et tous les évènements avec le Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) et lorsque l’Envoyé d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) fit l’émigration de la Mecque à Médine, il descendit chez lui.

  

Durant cette année, Malik Ibn Houbayrah as-Sakouni razzia le territoire byzantin et Fadalah Ibn ‘Oubayd attaqua Jarabah qu’il assiégea, conquit et pris beaucoup de captifs.

  

Cette même année, ‘AbdAllah Ibn Kourz al-Bajali attaqua les Byzantins par terre tandis que Yazid Ibn Shajarah ar-Rahawi les attaqua par mer avant de revenir en Syrie.

  

‘Ouqbah Ibn Nafi’ mena aussi une expédition navale contre les Byzantins avant de retourner passer l’hiver avec les Égyptiens.

  

La mort de Moughirah Ibn Shou’bah et la nomination de Samourah Ibn Joundoub pour Basra

  

Cette même année, en l’an 49 de l’Hégire (669), décéda le respectable Compagnon et le général héros al-Moughirah Ibn Shou’bah Ibn Abi ‘Amir Ibn Mas’oud ath-Thaqafi, qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui. Il est mort poignardé et fut enterré à Koufa. D’autres ont rapporté que sa mort fut en l’an 50 (669) et d’autres en l’an 51 de l’Hégire (670).

  

Il est connu que Moughirah Ibn Shou’bah devint musulman l’année de la bataille de la Tranchée. Il était présent à Houdaybiyah et au pacte de Ridwan. Il combattit lors des batailles des Apostats, à Yamamah. Il participa à la conquête de la Syrie, à Yarmouk et à la conquête de la Perse et de l’Iraq à Qadissiyah. Il resta à l’écart de la Fitnah et lors de l’appel au Jugement par le Livre d’Allah sous ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui), il rejoignit les rangs de Mou’awiyah, qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux.

  

Lorsque Moughirah Ibn Shou’bah mourut, Mou’awiyah rajouta à Ziyad Ibn Abi Soufyan la gouvernance de Basra et de Koufa. Ziyad Ibn Abi Soufyan nomma Samourah Ibn Joundoub al-Khazari (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) gouverneur de Basra.

  

Samourah Ibn Joundoub combattit en compagnie du Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) et il était implacable envers les khawarije. S’il était informé de la présence de l’un d’entre eux, il se chargeait de le tuer lui-même tellement il les détestait et disait : « Les pires créatures vivant sous le ciel, ils jettent la mécréance sur les Musulmans et rendent licite leur sang ». Samourah mourut en l’an 59 de l’Hégire (678), puisse Allah lui faire miséricorde.

  

Quand Samourah prit son poste en charge, il alla directement à la mosquée de Koufa, monta sur la chair de prêche et fit un discours. Lorsqu’il eut finit certaines personnes se levèrent et le haranguèrent. Il s’assit le temps de les laisser finir tout en ordonnant à sa garde de se mettre aux portes de la mosquée. Puis il demanda aux gens de Koufa présent de sortir de la mosquée quatre par quatre. Il leur dit : « Quiconque d’entre vous jurera par Allah qu’il n’a pas cherché à me juger sera libre. Quiconque ne jurera pas sera emprisonné et expulsé ».

  

Certains ont rapporté que le nombre de personnes n’ayant pas juré s’éleva à trois tandis que d’autres ont rapporté le nombre de huit. Il ordonna que leurs mains soient tranchées. Le crime de ces gens est d’avoir manqué de respect et de considérer celui en charge de leurs affaires comme moins que rien.

  

A ceux qui se poseront la question, pourquoi une telle violence, il faut se rappeler les graves évènements qui secouèrent la nation islamique de l’époque ou plus de soixante-dix-mille Musulmans trouvèrent la mort suite à la grande Fitnah qui débuta avec l’assassinat du troisième Calife Bien Guidé ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Affan (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui). Samourah voulut empêcher dès son arrivée la résurgence de tels troubles en appliquant à ceux qui seraient tentés et aux fauteurs de troubles un dur châtiment afin qu’ils soient une leçon pour tous.

  

Si le gouverneur perdait le contrôle des évènements, ils pourraient s’ensuivre à nouveau d’inquiétants évènements. Samourah voulut immédiatement couper court à cette éventualité connaissant sa haine des khawarije.

  

Ceci doit servir d’exemple pour faite face à de tels évènements dans le futur. L’histoire des Omeyyades est pleine de révoltes, de guerres, de divisions, de rebellions et de luttes fratricides.

  

Il fallait mettre fin aux troubles, dont les effets furent extrêmement néfastes pour les Musulmans, d’une manière impitoyable et appliquer aux subversifs un très dur châtiment. Il n’y a aucun intérêt à laisser faire les gens d’innovations, de convoitises et les révolutionnaires. Ils ne doivent pas être abandonnés mais traités obligatoirement comme il se doit et rapidement pour éviter les effets funestes qu’entrainent leurs actions, ceci bien évidemment dans l’état islamique ou la Loi d’Allah est appliquée dans son intégralité. Mais vous êtes-vous jamais demandé si vous étiez prêts pour un état islamique ou bien les cœurs cacheraient quelques hypocrisies ?

  

En l’an 50 de l’Hégire (670), décéda le respectable Compagnon Abou Moussa al-Asha’i. Il est ‘Abdallah Ibn Qays Ibn Soulaym des Ash’ariyine qui sont des tribus Kahlan et Qahtaniyah. Abou Moussa al-Asha’i (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) a une grande histoire. Il est le conquérant d’Ispahan, d’al-Ahwaz et un des deux juges lors du conflit suite à l’assassinat de ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Affan (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui). D’autres ont rapporté que sa mort eut lieu en l’an 53 de l’Hégire (673). Nous avons rapporté les deux versions sur lesquels les historiens sont en désaccord et qui ne sont que des désaccords minimes.

  

Durant cette année, Bousr Ibn Abi Artat et Soufyan Ibn Awf al-Azdi attaquèrent conjointement les territoires byzantins tandis que Fadalah Ibn ‘Oubayd al-Ansari les attaqua par mer.

  

La conquête de Tunis et la construction de la ville de Kairouan

  

Durant cette même année, Mou’awiyah Ibn Houdayj, le gouverneur d’Egypte et d’Ifriqiyah[1], fut désisté par Mou’awiyah Ibn Abi Soufyan et remplacé par ‘Ouqbah Ibn Nafi’ al-Fihri pour l’Ifriqiyah et Maslamah pour l’Egypte et ensuite pour Ifriqiyah. ‘Ouqbah conquit Tunis (ifriqiyah) et la ville de Kairouan (qayrawan). Muhammad Ibn ‘Omar a rapporté que l’emplacement de la ville était mauvais à cause du grand nombre de serpents, de fauves, et d’autres animaux du même genre. Quand Allah Exalté Tout Puissant et Grand les appela, aucun animal ne resta et les bêtes de proies emportèrent leurs petits. ‘Ouqbah Ibn Nafi a dit : « Lorsque nous nous sommes installé, les animaux s’enfuirent de leurs repaires en nous blâmant ».

  

Zayd Ibn Abi Habib, un homme de l’armée égyptienne dit : « Nous arrivâmes avec ‘Ouqbah Ibn Nafi’ qui fut la première personne à faire un plan de la ville. Il l’a divisa en quartiers, construisit des maisons pour les gens et la mosquée. Nous restâmes avec lui jusqu’à ce qu’il fut désisté. Il était le meilleur des gouverneurs et le meilleur commandant ».

  

Puis, Mou’awiyah désista Mou’awiyah Ibn Houdayj d’Egypte et ‘Ouqbah Ibn Nafi’ d’Ifriqiyah et nomma à leur place, Maslamah Ibn Moukhallad pour toute l’Afrique du Nord et l’Egypte à l’ouest. Il fut le premier gouverneur pour qui l’ouest entier, l’Egypte, Barqah, Tripoli (tarablous) et Tunis fut combiné. Maslamah Ibn Moukhallad nomma son domestique al-Mouhajir pour Tunis et démit ‘Ouqbah Ibn Nafi’ de ses fonctions. Maslamah resta gouverneur d’Egypte et de l’ouest jusqu’à la mort de Mou’awiyah Ibn Abi Soufyan.

  

Certains ont dit que cette même année, al-Hakam Ibn ‘Amr al-Ghifari décéda à Merv après son retour d’une razzia contre les gens de la montagne d’al-Ashall.

  

Le raid d’al-Hakam Ibn ‘Amr contre al-Ashall

  

Alors qu’al-Hakam Ibn ‘Amr se trouvait au Khorasan. Ziyad lui écrivit : « Les armes des gens de la montagne d’al-Ashall sont de feutre et leurs vaisselles d’or ». Ibn ‘Amr les attaqua, puis se retira et lorsque ses forces atteignirent le milieu du défilé, l’ennemi prit des pistes secrètes et l’encercla. Ne sachant que faire, il délégua le commandement de l’armée à al-Mouhallab qui résista et finit par capturer un de leurs chefs à qui il dit : « Choisis : sois je te tue ou alors tu nous sors de cette passe ». L’homme lui dit alors : « Allume un feu sur l’une de ces routes, ordonne que les bagages soient amenés, et tourne toi vers cette route afin que les gens pensent que tu as commencé à voyager le long de celle-ci. Alors, ils vont se rassembler sur cette route et vous abandonneront les autres. Alors laisse-les, prends une autre route et ils ne pourront vous attaquer avant que vous ayez quitté le défilé. Il fit ainsi et ils purent s’échapper avec un immense butin jusqu’à Hérat avant de retourner à Merv.

  

Ziyad écrivit à al-Hakam et lui dit : « Par Allah, si tu survie, je te décapiterais certainement ! » Parce que Ziyad lui écrivit précédemment lorsqu’il fut informé de l’immense quantité qu’il avait pris, lui disant : « L’émir des croyants m’a écrit pour lui demander de lui choisir de l’or, de l’argent et des objets précieux pour son usage personnel. Ne fait rien avant d’avoir procéder à sa demande. » Al-Hakam lui répondit au dos de sa lettre : « Ta lettre vient de me parvenir dans laquelle tu mentionnes que l’émir des croyants t’a ordonné ceci et cela. Mais sache que le Livre d’Allah Exalté, Tout-Puissant et Grand, est prioritaire au désir de l’émir des croyants. Par Allah, si « les cieux et la terre formaient une masse compacte[2] » un serviteur doit craindre Allah à Lui les Louanges et la Gloire. Allah Exalté et Loué soit-Il, lui fournira une sortie ». Il dit alors aux soldats d’aller prendre leur part du butin, après qu’il eut mis de côté le cinquième, il le divisa équitablement entre eux. Al-Hakam dit alors : « O Grand Seigneur, si Tu considères que ce que j’ai fait est juste alors prends-moi ». Et, il mourut peu après dans la capitale du Khorasan à Merv après avoir nommé Anas Ibn Abi Ounas son successeur.

  

Les Musulmans s’installent au Khorasan

  

En l’an 51 de l’Hégire (671), Fadalah Ibn ‘Oubayd attaqua en hiver le territoire byzantin et Bousr Ibn Abi Artat, en été.

  

Ziyad nomma ar-Rabi’ Ibn Ziyad al-Harithi gouverneur du Khorasan après la mort d’al-Hakam Ibn ‘Amr al-Ghifari. Al-Hakam nomma Anas Ibn Abi Ounas pour lui succéder dans sa juridiction après sa mort et Anas conduisit la prière sur al-Hakam à sa mort et avant de mourir, al-Hakam écrivit à Ziyad pour l’informer de la nomination d’Anas. Ziyad le désista et le remplaça par Khoulayd Ibn ‘AbdAllah al- Hanafi avant d’être remplacé à son tour, après n’être resté qu’un mois gouverneur, par Rabi’ Ibn Ziyad al-Harithi. Les gens partirent avec leurs familles au Khorasan ou ils s’établirent de manière permanente tandis que peu après Ziyad désista ar-Rabi’.

  

Quand ar-Rabi’ arriva au Khorasan, il conquit pacifiquement Balkh après que les gens de la ville l’ai fermée[3] suite au traité de paix conclut avec al-Ahnaf Ibn Qays. Il conquit le Qouhistan par la force et comme il y avait des Turcs dans ses régions, il les combattit. Il en tua certains avant que les autres ne s’enfuient. L’un des survivants étaient Nizak Tarkhan que Qoutaybah Ibn Mouslim tua quand il fut gouverneur. Certains ont rapporté que lors de sa campagne ar-Rabi’ traversa le fleuve Oxus avec son domestique, Farroukh et sa servante Sharifah. Il pilla et revint sans avoir été inquiété si bien qu’il libéra Farroukh.

  

Le premier Musulman qui but de l’eau du fleuve fut un domestique d’al-Hakam à l’aide de son bouclier. Il en donna à al-Hakam qui en but et fit ses ablutions avant d’exécuter deux unités de prières au-delà du fleuve et il fut la première personne à le faire.

  

La mort de Houjr Ibn ‘Adiyy Ibn Jaballah al-Kindi

  

Toujours en l’an 51 de l’Hégire (670) fut tué Houjr Ibn ‘Adiyy Ibn Jaballah al-Kindi. Houjr Ibn ‘Adiyy comme certains l’ont dit était un respectable Compagnon (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) mais la plupart des rapporteurs de Hadith, comme l’a signalé al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir, ne lui reconnaissent pas de mérite.

  

Houjr Ibn ‘Adiyy était un adorateur ascète, un général héros qui prit le parti de ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui). Il était à l’époque de Moughirah Ibn Shou’bah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui), émir de Koufa et un de ceux qui le critiquèrent. Moughirah qui était un homme lucide le mit plusieurs fois en garde contre les conséquences néfastes de tels propos alors que l’obéissance et le respect sont dus au Sultan.

  

Un jour Moughirah lui dit : « O Houjr, soit perdu, crains le Seigneur ! O Houjr, soit perdu, crains le sultan ! Crains sa colère, crains son rang car parfois la colère du sultan met fin à des individus tels que toi ! »

  

Moughirah le mettait en garde mais il l’excusait et lui pardonnait.

  

L’Imam Tabari a rapporté dans son livre d’Histoire que Moughirah, alors qu’il approchait de sa fin, implora le pardon pour ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Affan (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux). Il dit : « O Seigneur pardonne à ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Affan et récompense le des meilleurs récompenses pour ses actions. Il appliqua Tes Lois et suivit la Sounnah de Ton Messager (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui). Il nous unifia, nous protégea et fut tué injustement. O grand Seigneur pardonne à ses partisans, à ses amis, à ceux qui l’aiment et le protégèrent et à ceux qui cherchèrent à le venger puis il implora contre ceux qui l’avait tué ».

  

Houjr se leva un jour dans la mosquée et se mit à crier en mal contre Moughirah si bien que tous ceux qui étaient présents et à l’extérieur l’entendirent. Il dit : « Tu ne fais pas attention à ceux à qui tu portes préjudices par tes actes. Ou sont nos bien que tu as arrêté de nous donner. Viens nous voir et distribuent nous les car ils ne t’appartiennent pas. Tu es devenu renommé avec la mort de l’Emir des Croyants (sous-entendu ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui)) et un support pour les criminels (sous-entendu les partisans de Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) ».

  

At-Tabari a rapporté qu’un tiers de l’assistance s’est levé avec lui et se mirent à scander : « Houjr a dit la vérité ».

  

Al-Moughirah descendit du Minbar et rentra chez lui. Ses gens le rejoignirent et le critiquèrent à propos des sa réaction aux propos de Houjr. Cela allait conduire à deux évènements :

  

- Le premier, l’habitude des gens à se rebeller contre les dirigeants et l’autre la colère du calife à Damas contre Moughirah. Les gens lui demandèrent :

  

- « Après qui tu en as ? » Il répondit :

  

- « Moughirah ! Car je l’ai tué. Comment l’ai-je tué ? Il viendra un émir après moi et il le considérera comme moi et il lui fera comme il a fait avec moi. Il le tuera à sa première remarque. Ma fin approche et je ne veux pas pousser les gens de Syrie à tuer les meilleurs d’entre eux et à faire couler leur sang. Eux seront content tandis que moi je serais perdu. Afin que dans ce monde Mou’awiyah en tire de l’honneur tandis que Moughirah sera humilié le jour de Qiyamah ».

  

Lorsque Ziyad Ibn Abi Soufyan prit en charge son poste, il mit en garde Houjr Ibn ‘Adiyy et lui conseilla de ne pas répéter ce qu’il faisait lors du vivant de Moughirah. Ziyad lui dit : « Sache que je te connais, j’étais en compagnie de ton père pour une affaire que tu connais (sous-entendu qu’ils étaient des partisans de ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui). Si ton sang venait à couler une seule goutte, sache alors que je te viderais de tout ton sang. Retiens ta langue et reste à l’écart des problèmes afin que les ignorants ne te suivent pas ». Et Houjr qui connaissait Ziyad comprit bien ses paroles menaçantes.

  

Ziyad partageait son temps entre Koufa et Basra ou il restait six mois dans chacune des villes pour gérer les affaires des Musulmans.

  

Lorsqu’il partit pour Basra, les shiites de Koufa vinrent trouver Houjr et ils se réunirent régulièrement chez lui ou ils insultaient Mou’awiyah (qu’Allah soit satisfait de lui) et le reniaient.

  

Le secrétaire de Ziyad à Koufa, ‘Amr Ibn Hourayth, le mit en garde contre ses activités et lui envoya un messager qui lui dit :

  

- « Qui sont ces gens qui se réunissent chez toi alors que l’émir t’a mis en garde ? » Houjr Ibn ‘Adiyy lui répondit :

  

- « Ils critiquent ce que vous faites. Maintenant va-t’en ! » Et il le renvoya durement en lui disant :

  

- « Fait attention à toi et surveille ton dos ! »

  

Lorsque l’homme revint à ‘Amr et l’informa, celui-ci fit envoyer un messager à Ziyad lui demandant de revenir sur le champ à Koufa à cause de la gravité de la situation pouvant engendrer rapidement une révolte.

  

Lorsque Ziyad entendu le messager et les graves nouvelles, il revint sur le champ et dit : « Par Allah je vais couper le fil du coup du traitre obtus ».

  

Puis il envoya à Houjr trois compagnons du Messager d’Allah (Saluts et Bénédictions d’Allah sur lui) : ‘Adiyy Ibn Hatim at-Tahi, Jarir Ibn ‘Abdillah al-Bajali et Khalid Ibn ‘Ourfouta al-Leythi, Leythi des Bani Bakr Ibn ‘Abdel Manaf Ibn Kinanah, (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux).

  

D’autres ont dit que c’était Khalid Ibn ‘Ourfouta Ibn Sou’ayr al- ‘Oudri : Hanif Ibn Zouhra (qu’Allah soit satisfait d’eux) et cela n’a pas d’importance.

  

Lorsqu’ils rencontrèrent Houjr, ils parlèrent avec lui mais il ne leur répondit pas. Plutôt, il dit à son serviteur :

  

- « O ghoulam, as-tu attaché le chamelon ? » ‘Adiyy Ibn Hatim lui dit :

  

- « Es-tu possédé ? Nous te parlons de choses sérieuses et tu nous dit : « O ghoulam, as-tu attaché le chamelon ? »

  

Puis, ils retournèrent à Ziyad et ne l’informèrent que de choses légères pour qu’il ne se mette pas en colère contre eux et lui demandèrent d’avoir pitié de lui.

  

Et il lui arriva ce que personne des Arabes n’attendait ni même Moug

The Postcard

 

A postally unused Bamforth Color Gloss Series postcard.

 

Bamforth & Co. (1870-1990)

 

James Bamforth began his career as a manufacturer of lantern slides. In 1890 he started production of illustrated song lyric slides that audiences could sing along to at shows. This quickly became his most popular selling item. In the years following, the Company became the largest producer of life model slides.

 

From this vast photo inventory Bamforth began to publish a variety of postcard types including comics, greetings, propaganda, real photos and views, but especially song sets, many of which were reproduced from lantern slide images.

 

Today they are best remembered for their series of saucy seaside postcards, which may have numbered close to a 100,000 different titles. While this series was begun in 1902, they did not become very popular until the 1930’s.

 

In 1906 Bamforth opened a New York Office at 35 West 21st. Street. By 1910 they had become a Limited company. The Company was sold to E. T. W. Dennis, but in 2000 the rights to their images were purchased by Ian Walker.

 

The Manchester Arena Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017, an Islamist extremist suicide bomber detonated a shrapnel-laden homemade bomb as people were leaving the Manchester Arena following a concert by American singer Ariana Grande.

 

Twenty-three people were killed, including the attacker, and 1,017 were injured, many of them children. Several hundred more suffered psychological trauma.

 

The bomber was Salman Ramadan Abedi, a 22-year-old local man of Libyan ancestry. After initial suspicions of a terrorist network, police later said that they believed Abedi had largely acted alone, but that others had been aware of his plans.

 

In March 2020, the bomber's brother, Hashem Abedi, was found guilty of 22 counts of murder and attempting to murder 1,017 others, and was sentenced to life in prison.

 

The incident was the deadliest terrorist attack and the first suicide bombing in the United Kingdom since the 7th. July 2005 London bombings.

 

The Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017 at 22:15 a member of the public reported Abedi, wearing black clothes and a large rucksack to Showsec security. A security guard observed Abedi, but said that he did not intervene in case his concerns about Abedi were wrong, and out of fear of being considered a racist.

 

The security guard tried to use his radio to alert the security control room, but was unable to get through.

 

Police officers on duty that night were subsequently criticised for their behaviour in the hours leading up to the atrocity - including a two-hour dinner break and a 10-mile round trip to buy a kebab.

 

At one point, when Abedi took his final trip through the train station to his hiding place in the foyer, there were no British Transport Police officers on duty in the area.

 

At 22:31 the suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device, packed with nuts and bolts to act as shrapnel, in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena.

 

The attack took place after a concert by American pop star Ariana Grande that was part of her Dangerous Woman Tour. 14,200 people had attended the concert.

 

Many exiting concert-goers and waiting parents were in the foyer at the time of the explosion. According to evidence presented at the coroner's inquest, the bomb was strong enough to kill people up to 20 metres (66 ft) away.

 

A report by inquiry chair John Saunders blamed “failings by individuals” for “missed opportunities” to detect and stop bomber Salman Abedi.

 

Saunders outlined a “litany” of failures by venue operators SMG, security firm Showsec and British Transport Police (BTP) - failures that included taking unauthorised two-hour meal breaks and ignoring members of the public who tried to raise the alarm:

 

-- Reconnaissance Oversights

 

Abedi went to the arena several times to carry out hostile reconnaissance in the run-up to the bombing, visiting on the 18th. and 21st. May, and also the afternoon on the day of the attack.

 

Although arena operator SMG and security firm Showsec “had experience of identifying and responding to potential hostile reconnaissance effectively”, the system for passing on information about suspicious behaviour was “insufficiently robust”.

 

If the Showsec staff on duty at the time, Kyle Lawler and Mohammed Agha - then aged 18 and 19 respectively - had been aware of previous reports of suspicious activity, “it would have increased the possibility” of Abedi being spotted.

 

Inquiry chair Saunders also noted that SMG could have extended the permitted security perimeter from the entrance doors of the arena to the City Room, the foyer where the bomb detonated:

 

“Had permission to push out the perimeter

been granted, an attack in the City Room

would have been much less likely."

 

-- Absence of Officers

 

Despite five officers being assigned to the arena on the night of the attack, “there was a complete absence of any BTP officer in the City Room” in the half hour before Abedi detonated the bomb. And no officers were policing the public areas of the venue between 8.58pm and 9.36pm.

 

The report found that BTP officers “took breaks substantially and unjustifiably” longer than their authorised one hour. Instructions to stagger breaks between 7.30pm and 9pm - when younger children could be leaving the venue - were also ignored.

 

The public inquiry into the attack had previously heard how two officers on duty at the concert, PC Jessica Bullough and PCSO Mark Renshaw, had taken a “two-hour-and-nine-minute dinner break to get a kebab five miles from the arena”. The Telegraph reported:

 

"Bullough has since admitted that were

she present on her shift as she should

have been, she would have likely stopped

Abedi and asked him what was in his bag”.

 

-- The CCTV Blindspot

 

Saunders' report stated that Abedi chose an “obvious hiding place” in a CCTV blindspot of the arena City Room foyer, having no doubt identified this area as camera-free during his hostile reconnaissance:

 

“Had the area been covered by CCTV so that

there was no blind spot, it is likely this

behaviour by Abedi would have been identified

as suspicious by anyone monitoring the CCTV."

 

Giving evidence to the inquiry, Showsec security guard Agha said that he had noticed Abedi in the City Room, but only because he “liked the look” of Abedi's trainers.

 

-- Inadequate Patrols

 

The inquiry report said that:

 

"A further missed opportunity to spot Abedi

in the half hour before the bomb detonated

arose from the absence of an adequate

security patrol by Showsec at any stage

during this time”.

 

The supervisor charged with carrying out “pre-egress” checks, Jordan Beak, did so “only very briefly”, patrolling for about ten minutes, during which he just “looked towards the staircases up to the mezzanine area”, where Abedi was sitting:

 

The report noted:

 

“He did not consider them a very important

part of the check because it was not an

egress route. Mr Beak did not go up on to the

mezzanine area and so he did not see Abedi.

This was a significant missed opportunity.”

 

-- Concerns ‘Fobbed Off’

 

Saunders wrote that:

 

"The most striking missed opportunity, and the

one that is likely to have made a significant

difference, was an attempt by a member of the

public to raise concerns about Abedi after

becoming suspicious about the bomber's large

and obviously heavy backpack".

 

Christopher Wild told the inquiry how he had spotted Abedi while waiting for his 14-year-old daughter to leave the concert.

 

According to the BBC, Wild recalled how he approached Abedi and said:

 

“It doesn't look very good you know, what you

see with bombs and such, you with a rucksack

in a place like this, what are you doing?”

 

Abedi reportedly told Wild that he was “waiting for somebody, mate”, before asking what time it was.

 

Wild alerted security guard Agha about his suspicions around fifteen minutes before the blast. But according to the inquiry report:

 

"Agha did not take Christopher Wild’s

concerns as seriously as he should have”.

 

Wild felt that he had been “fobbed off” by the guard, who claimed to already be aware of Abedi. Agha is said to have made “inadequate” efforts to flag down his supervisor or pass on the message via his colleague Lawler, who had a radio.

 

Although Agha did share Wild’s concerns with Lawler, the latter “felt conflicted about what to do” and “stated he was fearful of being branded a racist and would be in trouble if he got it wrong”.

 

Lawler ultimately made an attempt to contact a senior supervisor through the radio, but couldn’t get through, and made no further efforts to communicate what he had been told to anyone else. Saunders wrote:

 

“The inadequacy of Mr Lawler’s response

was a product of his failure to take Mr Wild’s

concern and his own observations sufficiently

seriously. Mr Wild’s behaviour was very

responsible. He stated that he formed the

view that Abedi might let a bomb off.

That was sadly all too prescient, and makes

all the more distressing the fact that no effective

steps were taken as a result of his efforts.”

 

Aftermath of the Explosion

 

Three hours after the bombing, police conducted a controlled explosion on a suspicious item of clothing in Cathedral Gardens. This was later confirmed to have been abandoned clothing and not dangerous.

 

Residents and taxi companies in Manchester offered free transport or accommodation via Twitter to those left stranded at the concert.  Parents were separated from their children attending the concert in the aftermath of the explosion.

 

A nearby hotel served as a shelter for people displaced by the bombing, with officials directing separated parents and children there.  Manchester's Sikh temples along with local homeowners, hotels and venues offered shelter to survivors of the attack.

 

Manchester Victoria railway station, which is partly underneath the arena, was evacuated and closed, and services were cancelled. The explosion caused structural damage to the station, which remained closed until the damage had been assessed and repaired, resulting in disruption to train and tram services.

 

Victoria Station reopened eight days later, following the completion of police investigation work and repairs to the fabric of the building.

 

On the 23rd. May, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the UK's terror threat level had been raised to "critical", its highest level. 

 

In the aftermath of the attack, Operation Temperer was activated for the first time, allowing up to 5,000 soldiers to reinforce armed police in protecting parts of the country.

 

Tours of the Houses of Parliament and the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace were cancelled on the 24th. May, and troops were deployed to guard government buildings in London.

 

On the 23rd. May, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, via the Nashir Telegram channel, said the attack was carried out by "a soldier of the Khilafah". The message called the attack:

 

"An endeavor to terrorise the mushrikin,

and in response to their transgressions

against the lands of the Muslims."

 

Abedi's sister said that he was motivated by revenge for Muslim children killed by American airstrikes in Syria.

 

The Manchester Arena remained closed until September 2017, with scheduled concerts either cancelled or moved to other venues. It reopened on the 9th. September 2017, with a benefit concert featuring Noel Gallagher and other acts associated with North West England.

 

Later that month, Chris Parker, a homeless man who stole from victims of the attack whilst assisting them, was jailed for 4 years and three months.

 

Casualties of the Attack

 

The explosion killed the attacker and 22 concert-goers and parents who were in the entrance waiting to pick up their children following the show. 119 people were initially reported as injured. This number was revised by police to 250 on the 22nd. June, with the addition of severe psychological trauma and minor injuries.

 

During the public inquiry into the bombing, it was updated in December 2020 to 1,017 people sustaining injuries.

 

The dead included ten people aged under 20; the youngest victim was an eight-year-old girl, and the oldest was a 51-year-old woman. Of the 22 victims, twenty were Britons and two were British-based Polish nationals.

 

North West Ambulance Service reported that 60 of its ambulances attended the scene, carried 59 people to local hospitals, and treated walking wounded on site.  Of those hospitalised, 12 were children under the age of 16.

 

The first doctor thought to have been on scene was an off-duty consultant anaesthetist, Michael Daley. In recognition of his bravery for the role he played in the immediate medical response to the incident, Daley's name was entered into the BMA's Book of Valour in June 2017.

 

The Attacker

 

The bomber, Salman Ramadan Abedi, was a 22-year-old British Muslim of Libyan ancestry. He was born in Manchester to a Salafi family of Libyan-born refugees who had settled in Manchester after fleeing to the UK to escape the government of Muammar Gaddafi.

 

He had two brothers and a sister. He grew up in Whalley Range and lived in Fallowfield. Neighbours described the Abedis as a very traditional and "super religious" family who attended Didsbury Mosque.

 

Abedi attended Wellacre Technology College, Burnage Academy for Boys and The Manchester College. A former tutor remarked that:

 

"Abedi was a very slow, uneducated

and passive person".

 

He was among a group of students at his high school who accused a teacher of Islamophobia for asking them what they thought of suicide bombers. He also reportedly said to his friends that being a suicide bomber "was OK" and fellow college students raised concerns about his behaviour.

 

Abedi's father was a member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a Salafi jihadist organisation proscribed by the United Nations, and father and son fought for the group in Libya in 2011 as part of the movement to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi.

 

Abedi's parents, both born in Tripoli, remained in Libya in 2011, while 17-year-old Abedi returned to live in the United Kingdom. He took a gap year in 2014, where he returned with his brother Hashem to Libya to live with his parents. Abedi was injured in Ajdabiya that year while fighting for an Islamist group.

 

The brothers were rescued from Tripoli by the Royal Navy survey ship HMS Enterprise in August 2014 as part of a group of 110 British citizens as the Libyan civil war erupted, taken to Malta and flown back to the UK.

 

According to a retired European intelligence officer, Abedi met with members of the ISIS Battar brigade in Libya, and continued to be in contact with the group upon his return to the UK.

 

An imam at Didsbury mosque recalled that Abedi looked at him "with hate" after he preached against ISIS and Ansar al-Sharia in 2015.

 

Abedi's sister said her brother was motivated by the injustice of Muslim children dying in bombings stemming from the American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War.

 

A family friend of the Abedi's also remarked that Salman had vowed revenge at the funeral of Abdul Wahab Hafidah, who was run over and stabbed to death by a Manchester gang in 2016 and was a friend of Salman and his younger brother Hashem. Hashem later co-ordinated the Manchester bombing with his brother.

 

According to an acquaintance in the UK, Abedi was "outgoing" and consumed alcohol, while another said that Abedi was a "regular kid who went out and drank" until about 2016. Abedi was also known to have used cannabis.

 

He enrolled at the University of Salford in September 2014, where he studied business administration, before dropping out to work in a bakery. Manchester police believe Abedi used student loans to finance the plot, including travel overseas to learn bomb-making.

 

The Guardian reported that despite dropping out from further education, he was still receiving student loan funding in April 2017. Abedi returned to Manchester on the 18th. May after a trip to Libya and bought bomb-making material, apparently constructing the acetone peroxide-based bomb by himself. Many members of the IS Battar brigade trained people in bomb-making in Libya.

 

He was known to British security services and police but was not regarded as a high risk, having been linked to petty crime but never flagged up for radical views.

 

A community worker told the BBC he had called a hotline five years before the bombing to warn police about Abedi's views and members of Britain's Libyan diaspora said they had "warned authorities for years" about Manchester's Islamist radicalisation.

 

Abedi was allegedly reported to authorities for his extremism by five community leaders and family members, and had been banned from a mosque; the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, however, said Abedi was not known to the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme.

 

On the 29th. May 2017, MI5 launched an internal inquiry into its handling of the warnings it had received about Abedi and a second, "more in depth" inquiry, into how it missed the danger.

 

On the 22nd. November 2018, a Parliamentary report said that MI5 had acted "too slowly" in its dealings with Abedi. The committee's report noted:

 

"What we can say is that there were a number

of failings in the handling of Salman Abedi's case.

While it is impossible to say whether these would

have prevented the devastating attack on the

22nd. May, we have concluded that as a result of

the failings, potential opportunities to prevent it

were missed."

 

Investigation Into the Bombing

 

The property in Fallowfield where Abedi lived was raided on the 23rd. May. Armed police breached the house with a controlled explosion and searched it. Abedi's 23-year-old brother was arrested in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in south Manchester in relation to the attack.

 

Police carried out raids in two other areas of south Manchester and another address in the Whalley Range area. Three other men were arrested, and police initially spoke of a network supporting the bomber; however they later announced that Abedi had sourced all the bomb components himself, and that they now believed he had largely acted alone. On the 6th. July, police said that they believed others had been aware of Abedi's plans.

 

According to German police sources, Abedi transited through Düsseldorf Airport on his way home to Manchester from Istanbul four days before the bombing. French interior minister Gérard Collomb said that Abedi may have been to Syria, and had "proven" links with IS.

 

Abedi's younger brother and father were arrested by Libyan security forces on the 23rd. and 24th. May respectively. The brother was suspected of planning an attack in Libya, and was said to be in regular touch with Salman, and was aware of the plan to bomb the Manchester Arena, but not the date.

 

According to a Libyan official, the brothers spoke on the phone about 15 minutes before the attack was carried out. On the 1st. November 2017, the UK requested Libya to extradite the bomber's younger brother, Hashem Abedi to the UK in order to face trial for complicity in the murder of the 22 people killed in the explosion.

 

Photographs of the remains of the IED published by The New York Times indicated that it had comprised an explosive charge inside a lightweight metal container which was carried within a black vest or a blue Karrimor backpack.

 

Most of the fatalities occurred in a ring around the bomber. His torso was propelled by the blast through the doors to the arena, indicating that the explosive charge was held in the backpack and blew him forward on detonation. A small device thought to have possibly been a hand-held detonator was also found.

 

The bomb contained the explosive TATP, which had been used in previous bombings. According to Manchester police, the explosive device used by Abedi was the design of a skilled bomb-maker and had a back-up means of detonation. Police also said that Salman Abedi bought most of the bomb components himself, and that he was alone during much of the time before carrying out the Manchester bombing.

 

On the 28th. May, police released images showing Abedi on the night of the bombing, taken from CCTV footage. Further images showed Abedi walking around Manchester with a blue suitcase.

 

According to US intelligence sources, Abedi was identified by the bank card that he had with him and the identification was confirmed using facial recognition technology.

 

A public inquiry into the attack was launched in September 2020. The first of three reports to be produced was a 200-page report published on the 17th. June 2021. It found that:

 

"There were a number of missed opportunities

to alter the course of what happened that night,

and more should have been done by police and

private security guards to prevent the bombing."

 

News Leaks

 

Within hours of the attack, Abedi's name and other information that had been given confidentially to security services in the United States and France was leaked to the news media. This led to condemnation from Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

 

Following the publication of crime scene photographs of the backpack bomb used in the attack in the 24th. May edition of The New York Times, UK counterterrorism police chiefs said the release of the material was detrimental to the investigation.

 

On the 25th. May, Greater Manchester Police said that it had stopped sharing information on the attack with the US intelligence services. Theresa May said she would make clear to President Trump that:

 

"Intelligence that has been

shared must be made secure."

 

Donald Trump described the leaks to the news media as "deeply troubling", and pledged to carry out a full investigation.

 

New York Times editor Dean Baquet declined to apologise for publishing the backpack bomb photographs, saying:

 

"We live in different press worlds.

The material was not classified at

the highest level."

 

On the 26th. May, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States government accepted responsibility for the leaks.

 

Links with the Muslim Brotherhood

 

According to a secret recording unveiled by the BBC, Mostafa Graf, the imam of the Didsbury Mosque where Salman Abedi and his family were regulars, made a call for armed jihad ten days before Abedi bought his concert ticket.

 

Following these revelations, the Manchester Police opened an investigation into the mosque and its imam, who also fought with a Libyan Islamist militia. Mostafa Graf is a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, an organisation founded by the Muslim Brotherhood and Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Al-Qaradawi is known for having claimed:

 

"Suicide bombings are a duty".

 

Haras Rafiq, head of the Quilliam think tank, told The Guardian that the Muslim Brotherhood runs the Didsbury Mosque.

 

The Didsbury Mosque is controlled by The Islamic Centre (Manchester), an English association headed by Dr. Haytham al-Khaffaf, who is also a director of the Human Relief Foundation, a Muslim Brotherhood organisation blacklisted for terrorism by Israel. Between 2015 and 2016, al-Khaffaf's Human Relief Foundation received over £1.5 million from the Qatar Charity, which is also subject to US counterterrorism surveillance.

 

Trial and Sentencing of Hashem Abedi

 

On the 17th. July 2019, Salman Abedi's brother Hashem was charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion. He had been arrested in Libya and extradited to the UK.

 

His trial began on the 5th. February 2020. On the 17th. March, Hashem Abedi was found guilty on 22 charges of murder, on the grounds that he had helped his brother to source the materials used in the bombing, and had assisted with the manufacture of the explosives which were used in the attack.

 

On the 20th. August, Hashem Abedi was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 55 years. The judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, said that sentencing rules prevented him from imposing a whole life order as Abedi had been 20 years old at the time of the offence. The minimum age for a whole life order is 21 years old. Abedi's 55-year minimum term is the longest minimum term ever imposed by a British court.

 

Ismail Abedi

 

In October 2021 it was reported that Salman Abedi's older brother Ismail had left the UK despite being summonsed by Sir John Saunders to testify before the public inquiry into the bombing. Saunders had refused Ismail Abedi's request for immunity from prosecution while testifying.

 

Ariana Grande

 

Ariana Grande posted on Twitter:

 

"Broken. from the bottom of my

heart, i am so so sorry. i don't

have words."

 

The tweet briefly became the most-liked tweet in history. Grande suspended her tour and flew back to her mother's home in Florida.

 

On the 9th. July 2017, a performance to benefit the Manchester bombing victims was held in New York City's The Cutting Room, called "Break Free: United for Manchester", with Broadway theatre and television performers interpreting Ariana Grande songs.

 

On the 4th. June, Ariana Grande hosted a benefit concert in Manchester, entitled "One Love Manchester" at Old Trafford Cricket Ground that was broadcast live on television, radio and social media.

 

At the concert, Grande performed along with several other high-profile artists. Free tickets were offered to those who had attended the show on the 22nd. May. The benefit concert and associated Red Cross fund raised £10 million for victims of the attack, and £17 million by August. New York's Vulture section ranked the event as the No. 1 concert of 2017.

 

The Kerslake Report

 

On the 27th. March 2018, a report by Bob Kerslake named the "Kerslake Report" was published. The report was an independent review into the preparedness for, and emergency response to, the Manchester Arena attack on the 22nd. May 2017.

 

In the report, Kerslake "largely praised" the Greater Manchester Police and British Transport Police, and noted that it was "fortuitous" that the North West Ambulance Service was unaware of the declaration of Operation Plato, a protocol under which all responders should have withdrawn from the arena in case of an active killer on the premises.

 

However, it found that the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was "brought to a point of paralysis" as their response was delayed for two hours due to poor communication between the firefighters' liaison officer and the police force.

 

The report was critical of Vodafone for the "catastrophic failure" of an emergency helpline hosted on a platform provided by Content Guru, saying that delays in getting information caused "significant stress and upset" to families.

 

It also expressed criticism of some news media, saying:

 

"To have experienced such intrusive and

overbearing behaviour at a time of such

enormous vulnerability seemed to us to

be completely and utterly unacceptable".

 

However, it was also noted that:

 

"We recognise that this was some, but by

no means all of the media, and that the

media also have a positive and important

role to play."

 

Memorial to the Bombing

 

The victims of the bombing are commemorated by The Glade of Light, a garden memorial located in Manchester city centre near Manchester Cathedral. The memorial opened to the public in January 2022.

 

The memorial was vandalised on the 9th. February 2022, causing £10,000 of damage. A 24-year-old man admitted to the offence in April and will be sentenced at a later date.

 

The 2018 Manchester Terror Attack

 

The Manchester Arena is next to Victoria Station, and in fact partly above it. Victoria Station witnessed a subsequent terror attack on the 31st. December 2018 at 20.52.

 

Mahdi Mohamud, a 25 year old man from Somalia stabbed three people in a knife attack at the station. He appears to have acted alone.

 

Mohamud shouted "Allah!" and "Long live the Caliphate!" during the attack, and "Allahu Akbar" after being arrested. A witness alleged that during the attack he also shouted a slogan criticising Western governments. BBC producer Sam Clack reported that he heard Mohamud saying:

 

"As long as you keep bombing other

countries this sort of s--- is going to

keep happening,"

 

Mohamud had lived in England for about 10 years, and resided in Manchester's Cheetham neighbourhood with his parents and siblings.

 

Two of the three victims, a couple in their 50's who had come into town to celebrate the New Year, were hospitalised with serious injuries. The third victim was a British Transport Police officer who received a stab wound to his shoulder.

 

Despite suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, Mohamud was convicted of a terror offence and the attempted murder of three people, due to his possession of significant amounts of extremist material and the attack's extensive planning. He pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder and a terror offence.

 

The perpetrator, who was initially detained under the Mental Health Act, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-security psychiatric hospital.

 

The Second Inquiry into the Arena Bombing

 

On the 3rd. November 2022, inquiry chair Sir John Saunders issued a second report into the atrocity. Within the 884 pages he said that the emergency services failed to communicate properly in response to the incident, stemming from 'failures to prepare.'

 

He concluded that "Failing" emergency services thought a terror attack "could never happen" before the Manchester Arena bombing.

 

Sir John Saunders said the majority of those who died were so badly injured they could not have survived. However, it is believed that two of the 22 fatalities could have recovered if they had received better medical care.

 

Pointing the finger at leaders of the police, fire and ambulance services, he said:

 

“On the night of the attack, multi‐agency

communication between the three

emergency services was non‐existent.

That failure played a major part in what

went wrong.”

 

He added:

 

“There had been failures to prepare. There

had been inadequacies in training.

Well-established principles had not been

ingrained in practice.

Why was that? Partly it was because, despite

the fact that the threat of a terrorist attack was

at a very high level on the 22nd. May 2017, no

one really thought it could happen to them.”

 

The report also paid tribute to the “heroic” actions of ordinary members of the public who joined police and security and medical teams trying to save lives in a “war zone”.

 

Sir John said that two fatalities, John Atkinson, 28, and the youngest victim, eight year old Saffie-Rose Roussos, did have a chance of survival. Sir John said:

 

“I have concluded that one of those who

died, John Atkinson would probably have

survived had the emergency response

been better.”

 

He added:

 

“In the case of Saffie Rose Roussos, I have

concluded that there was a remote possibility

that she could have been saved if the rescue

operation had been conducted differently.”

 

The inquiry heard that only three paramedics went into the City Room after the attack. Crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service took more than two hours to attend the Arena.

 

Sir John added:

 

“GMP (Greater Manchester Police) did not

lead the response in accordance with the

guidance that it had been given or parts of

its own plans.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

(GMFRS) failed to turn up at the scene at a

time when they could provide the greatest

assistance.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) failed

to send sufficient paramedics into the City

Room.

NWAS did not use available stretchers to

remove casualties in a safe way, and did not

communicate their intentions sufficiently to

those who were in the City Room.”

 

Despite highlighting a series of failings, he said that:

 

"There were some parts of the emergency

response that worked well, and that no doubt

lives were saved”.

 

Paying tribute to those who helped the victims, he said:

 

“The heroism shown by very many people

that night is striking. I have seen the terrible

footage from the CCTV and body-worn video

cameras of the scene of devastation in the City

Room.

The description of that area as being like a

“warzone” was used by a number of witnesses.

That is an accurate description. To enter the

City Room or remain there to help victims

required great courage.”

 

Sir John added:

 

“At the centre of my Inquiry is the terrible loss

of twenty two lives. Each family and each person

at the Arena has a deeply personal story to tell

about the impact of the attack on them.

My report cannot change what has happened.

My intention is to uncover what went wrong and

find ways of improving practices so that no one

has to suffer such terrible pain and loss again.”

 

The report also stated that responsibility for the deaths lies with suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, and his brother Hashem, 25, who is serving life behind bars for his part in the plot.

 

The inquiry found that the brothers had “planned to cause as much harm to as many people as they could" when Abedi exploded his home made device.

 

  

Pengantar Redaksi :

 

Istilah toleransi dalam kehidupan beragama terlanjur dianggap istilah yang positif. Dalam batas-batas tertentu mungkin iya. Namun, dalam perkembangannya akhir-akhir ini, istilah toleransi ternyata dibajak oleh kalangan sekular-liberal sekadar menjadi alat yang digunakan untuk menyerang Islam dan kaum Muslim. Mengapa begitu? Apa alasannya? Apa pula efek dari propagandakan tolerenasi beragama bagi Islam dan kaum Muslim? Lalu bagaimana sebetulnya Islam mendudukkan toleransi beragama di hadapan para pemeluk agama lain?Untuk menjawab beberapa pertanyaan di atas, kali ini Redaksi mewawancarai Ketua DPP HTI, KH Shiddiq al-Jawi di seputar isu dan wacana toleransi beragama. Ustadz, apakah penggunaan istilah toleransi terlihat sering merugikan Islam dan umat Islam?

 

Ya, sering. Misalnya pada saat Perayaan Natal, banyak para pejabat Muslim bahkan termasuk Presiden, yang menghadiri acara perayaan Natal dengan alasan toleransi. Padahal bagi seorang Muslim, turut merayakan peringatan Natalan hukumnya haram. Mengapa? Karena turut serta merayakan Natalan bagi seorang Muslim adalah perbuatan menyerupai kaum kafir (tasyabbuh bil kuffâr) yang telah diharamkan Islam. Rasulullah saw. telah bersabda dalam hadits riwayat Abu Dawud, “Man tasyabbha bi qawm[in] fahuwa minhum.” Artinya, siapa saja yang menyerupai suatu kaum maka dia termasuk ke dalam golongan mereka.

Jadi seharusnya, dalam hal Natalan ini, toleransi pejabat pemerintah yang Muslim cukup ditunjukkan dengan membiarkan kaum Nasrani merayakannya, yaitu tidak melarangnya, bukan turut serta merayakannya. Kalau toleransi diartikan turut merayakan, berarti istilah toleransi sudah melampaui batas, sudah sesat dan menyesatkan. Jelas ini merugikan Islam dan umat Islam.

Apa saja contoh kasus toleransi yang digunakan untuk menghambat Islam?

 

Kasusnya banyak. Selain perayaan Natal oleh pejabat Muslim tadi, masih ada kasus Kristenisasi, Ahmadiyah dan LGBT. Dalam pandangan Islam, tiga hal tersebut adalah sesuatu yang haram dan mungkar. Seorang Muslim tidak boleh membiarkan atau memberikan toleransi terhadap tiga fenomena tersebut di tengah masyarakat yang mayoritas Muslim di Indonesia. Rasulullah saw. bersabda dalam hadis riwayat Muslim, “Man ra’a minkum munkar[an] fal-yughayyirhu biyadihi, fa in lam yastathi’ fabilisânihi fa in lam yastathi’ fa-biqalbihi wa dzâlika adh’aful îmân.” Artinya, siapa saja yang menyaksikan suatu kemungkaran, hendaklah dia mengubah kemungkaran itu dengan tangannya. Jika dia tak mampu, ubahlah dengan ucapannya. Jika tak mampu juga, ubahlah dengan hatinya, dan itulah selemah-lemahnya iman.

Itulah sabda Nabi saw. yang mewajibkan perubahan atas kemungkaran. Artinya, tidak boleh ada toleransi yang tujuannya membiarkan atau melestarikan kemungkaran.

Namun sekarang, atas nama toleransi, umat Islam dipaksa membiarkan kemungkaran-kemungkaran itu. Kristenisasi, yang berarti upaya pemurtadan orang Islam untuk menjadi orang Kristen, didiamkan saja oleh pemerintah. Ahmadiyah yang memurtadkan orang Islam karena meyakini ada nabi lagi setelah Nabi Muhammad saw. juga didiamkan oleh Pemerintah.

LGBT juga demikian. Walau jelas-jelas haram, dan menjijikkan tentunya, tetap ada sebagian umat Islam yang mendukung LGBT atas nama toleransi.

Walhasil, dengan istilah toleransi, suatu kemungkaran yang mestinya diubah atau dihilangkan, malah dibiarkan, dilestarikan dan terus eksis. Ini jelas menghambat Islam.

Ada beragam alasan untuk membenarkan toleransi model itu. Misal, untuk keharmonisan masyarakat, kita harus menghormati agama lain, kelompok lain. Tidak boleh satu ajaran mendominasi. Masyarakat negeri ini beragam bukan hanya Islam. Menurut ustadz, bagaimana?

Begini. Sebenarnya yang berkembang saat ini adalah toleransi model Barat, bukan toleransi ala Islam. Toleransi Barat ini latar belakang kemunculannya adalah konflik antara agama Katolik dan Protestan dalam masyarakat Barat pada era Reformasi, kira-kira abad ke-16 Masehi. Menurut Prof. Muhammmad Ahmad Mufti dalam kitabnya Naqdu at-Tasâmuh al-Librâli (Kritik Terhadap Toleransi Liberal), ide toleransi Barat didasarkan pada 3 (tiga) gagasan pokok: sekularisme (al-lâdiniyyah), relativisme (an-nisbiyyah) dan pluralisme-demokrasi (at ta’addudiyah wa ad dimuqrathiyyah).

Sekularisme menjadi syarat mutlak bagi terwujudnya toleransi. Sebabnya, kalau agama campur tangan dalam urusan masyarakat, yaitu negara menggunakan suatu agama untuk mengatur masyarakat, maka yang terjadi adalah dominasi satu agama atas agama lain. Dominasi satu agama ini tidak akan dapat dihentikan, kecuali dengan jalan memisahkan agama dari negara.

Relativisme menjadi konsekuensi logis sekularisme. Relativisme merupakan pandangan bahwa kebenaran masing-masing agama itu relative. Tidak ada kebenaran sebuah agama yang absolute. Karena itu tidak boleh ada pemaksaan suatu keyakinan agama kepada penganut agama lain. Pandangan ini tak mungkin ada, kecuali setelah ada sekularisme, yaitu setelah agama dipisahkan dari urusan negara.

Adapun pluralisme-demokrasi, merupakan cara pandang liberal terhadap kemajemukan masyarakat baik kemajemukan secara agama, politik, budaya, dan asal usul, sedemikian sehingga masing-masing kelompok dianggap mempunyai hak legal untuk eksis di tengah kemajemukan yang ada.

Nah, dengan memahami tiga ide dasar itu, kita bisa menjelaskan dan mendudukkan berbagai alasan yang sering dipakai untuk menjustifikasi toleransi ala Barat yang ada saat ini. Misalnya kalau dikatakan toleransi perlu agar “tidak boleh satu ajaran mendominasi”, ini berarti akar idenya adalah relativisme agama. Kalau dikatakan bahwa “harus menghormati agama lain” atau “masyarakat ini beragam bukan hanya Islam” maka akar idenya adalah pluralisme-demokrasi. Demikiran seterusnya.

Bagaimana pandangan Islam terhadap ide-ide yang mendasari toleransi ala Barat tersebut?

 

Ketiga ide tersebut tidak relevan untuk umat Islam dan sekaligus bertentangan dengan Islam. Saya katakan tidak relevan dengan umat Islam karena tiga ide tersebut lahir dalam konteks sosio-historis masyarakat Eropa yang Kristiani, yaitu lahir pada Era Reformasi Gereja abad ke-15 dan ke-16 Masehi. Saat itu terjadi konflik antara raja yang berkolaborasi dengan agamawan Katolik, melawan kelompok reformasi dari golongan Protestan, seperti kelompok Martin Luther King. Jadi ide toleransi Barat itu sungguh tidak lahir dari rahim sejarah umat Islam yang berpegang pada akidah dan syariah Islam. Maka dari itu, menerapkan ide toleransi Barat yang didasarkan pada tiga ide tadi, yaitu sekularisme, relativisme dan pluralisme-demokrasi, jelas tidak relevan sama sekali dengan umat Islam. Kalau toleransi ala Barat itu tetap diterapkan di tengah masyarakat Muslim, jelas itu suatu bentuk pemaksaan, atau tepatnya penjajahan, yang justru paradoks dengan semangat toleransi yang selalu digembar-gemborkan Barat. Wong mau menerapkan ide toleransi kok malah melalui jalan pemaksaan, lalu di mana toleransinya?

Selain tak relevan dengan umat, tiga ide tersebut juga bertentangan dengan Islam itu sendiri. Sekularisme bertentangan dengan Islam, karena Islam tidak mengenal pemisahan agama dari Negara. Sebaliknya, Islam mempunyai sistem pemerintahan yang diwajibkan Islam atas umat Islam, yaitu Khilafah. Relativisme juga bertentangan dengan Islam, karena al-Quran menyatakan dengan penuh ketegasan, bahwa hanya agama Islam sajalah yang benar dan diridhoi Allah (QS Ali Imran [3]: 19). Pluralisme-demokrasi juga bertentangan dengan Islam. Pasalnya, meski Islam mengakui kemajemukan (pluralitas) sebagai realitas empirik, misalnya manusia itu berbangsa-bangsa dan bersuku-suku (QS al-Hujurat: 13), Islam berbeda secara fundamental dengan demokrasi dalam hal cara pandang dan pengaturan atas kemajemukan masyarakat. Dalam demokrasi, pengaturan kemajemukan dijalankan menurut hukum buatan manusia, bukan menurut hukum suatu agama tertentu. Sebaliknya, dalam Islam, kemajemukan masyarakat diatur hanya dengan syariah Islam semata.

Apakah penggunaan toleransi selama ini dilakukan dengan standar ganda? Seperti apa bisa diberikan contohnya?

 

Memang, kalau saya cermati, toleransi di Indonesia diterapkan dengan standar ganda. Tidak ada standar tunggal yang baku dan diterapkan dalam segala keadaan secara adil. Celakanya, standar ganda tersebut banyak merugikan Islam dan umat Islam. Misalnya, saat Nyepi di Bali, umat Islam yang tidak merayakan Nyepi dipaksa untuk tidak beraktivitas seharian penuh, dengan alasan toleransi. Jadi standarnya adalah, “pihak minoritas menghormati agama mayoritas”. Anehnya, pada saat bulan Ramadhan, ada seruan agar “yang berpuasa harus menghormati yang tidak berpuasa”. Ini benar-benar logika aneh bin ajaib, karena seharusnya standarnya adalah “pihak minoritas menghormati agama mayoritas”. Mestinya, “yang tidak berpuasa menghormati yang puasa.” Jadi terbukti toleransi di Indonesia mempunyai standar ganda, yaitu standar pertama “pihak minoritas harus menghormati agama mayoritas” seperti kasus Nyepi di Bali. Lalu standar kedua, “pihak mayoritas harus menghormati yang minoritas” seperti kasus seruan Ramadhan tadi. Ini gila, bukan?

Contoh lain standar ganda toleransi adalah kasus penghapusan tujuh kata Piagam Jakarta, yaitu hapusnya kalimat “dengan kewajiban menjalankan syariat Islam bagi pemeluk-pemeluknya.” Umat Islam sering dipuji sudah bersikap toleran dengan menerima penghapusan tersebut. Padahal jelas penghapusan itu merugikan Islam dan umat Islam. Alasan penghapusan saat itu, sebagaimana disebut Endang Saifuddin Anshari dalam bukunya Piagam Jakarta, karena “ada golongan non-Islam dari Indonesia Timur yang tidak setuju dan akan memisahkan diri kalau tujuh kata itu tidak dihapus.” Ini sungguh aneh karena berarti standarnya adalah “golongan mayoritas harus bersikap toleran terhadap golongan minoritas.” Bukankah standarnya seharusnya “golongan minoritas harus bersikap toleran terhadap golongan mayoritas”? Bukankah seharusnya bangsa Indonesia Timur yang non-Islam itu yang justru toleran terhadap kewajiban menjalankan syariah Islam itu?

Apakah di balik penggunaan toleransi itu ada phobia Islam, phobia syariah dan stigma negatif terhadap Islam?

 

Oh, jelas sekali itu. Penjelasannya begini. Tadi sebelumnya sudah saya jelaskan, bahwa toleransi yang ada sekarang adalah toleransi ala Barat, bukan toleransi yang islami. Maka dari itu, tiga ide pokok yang menjadi dasar toleransi Barat yakni sekularisme, relativisme dan pluralisme-demokrasi sudah pasti menjadi asumsi atau anggapan dasar untuk toleransi saat ini walau sifatnya implisit. Nah, karena landasan toleransi saat ini adalah sekularisme, maka wajar kalau mereka sangat anti terhadap Islam atau syariah atau Khilafah. Mengapa? Karena semua itu jelas akan dianggap bertentangan dengan prinsip sekularisme. Demikian juga karena toleransi yang ada sekarang asasnya adalah relativisme, maka para penganjur toleransi walaupun orang Islam, tidak akan mungkin menganggap Ahmadiyah adalah suatu penyimpangan atau kemungkaran. Mengapa demikian? Karena para penganjur toleransi itu memandang jika Ahmadiyah dianggap menyimpang dari ajaran Islam, berarti itu bentuk pemaksaan agama kepada kaum Ahmadiyah. Begitu juga karena landasan toleransi sekarang adalah pluralisme-demokrasi, yang mengharuskan pengaturan kehidupan berdasar aturan non agama, maka wajar kalau para penganjur toleransi menjadi phobia terhadap syariah.

Jadi, yang menjadi masalah adalah, ide toleransi yang ada sekarang adalah toleransi ala Barat yang liberal, yang didasarkan pada sekularisme, relativisme, dan pluralisme-demokrasi, yang ujung-ujungnya akan membawa pada sikap anti terhadap Islam.

Bagaimana Islam mengatur keragaman dan mengatur non-Muslim dan agama selain Islam?

 

Dalam hal pengaturan keragaman atau kemajemukan masyarakat, secara garis besar ada dua ketentuan syariah Islam. Pertama: Jika yang diatur itu umat Islam, maka yang menjadi aturan adalah syariah Islam. Maka dari itu, umat Islam harus tunduk kepada syariah Islam dalam segala hal yang terkait dengan kehidupan mereka, misalnya adat-istiadat, bahasa, cara berbusana, kesenian, perkawinan, makanan, dan sebagainya.

Kedua: Jika yang diatur adalah umat non-Islam seperti penganut Yahudi, Nasrani, Hindu, Budha, dan sebagainya, maka aturan yang diterapkan ada dua macam. Jika menyangkut kehidupan umum, misalnya dalam bidang kehidupan ekonomi, politik, sosial, dan sebagainya, maka umat non-Islam harus tunduk kepada syariah Islam. Adapun jika menyangkut kehidupan pribadi, seperti agama, ibadah, makanan, pakaian, dan perkawinan, maka umat non-Islam dibolehkan menjalankan agamanya masing-masing. Mereka tidak boleh dipaksa masuk Islam. WalLâhu a’lam. (ABAD KHILAFAH Network)

 

via Abad Khilafah | Mengembalikan Kegemilangan Islam ift.tt/2bt3TYH

via Blogger ift.tt/2amRJ2X

MENUJU MASYARAKAT ISLAMI

Oleh Sebuah Gerakan Kebangkitan pada 4 September 2011 pukul 2:01

  

MASYARAKAT ISLAMI

 

Masyarakat Islami adalah masyarakat yang dinaungi dan dituntun oleh norma-norma Islam, satu-satunya agama Alloh . Masyarakat yang secara kolektif atau orang perorangan bertekad untuk bersungguh-sungguh dalam meniti sirotulmustaqim. Masyarakat yang didominasi oleh istiqomah, kejujuran, kebersihan ruhani dan saling kasih mengasihi. Walaupun mereka berbeda-beda dalam tingkat dan kadar pemahaman terhadap rincian ajaran Islam, tetapi mereka telah memiliki pondasi yang sama untuk menerimanya secara totalitas. Mereka adalah masyarakat yang tunduk dan patuh pada syariat Alloh , dan berupaya mewujudkan syariat Nya dalam semua aspek kehidupan. Saat itu, pada dasarnya mereka sedang berupaya secara serius mewujudkan arti penghambaan yang sebenarnya kepada Robbul ‘alamin. Untuk itulah, mereka bersungguh-sungguh mengamalkan sisi-sisi tuntunan ajaran Islam dalam bentuk amal shalih, dengan upaya yang maksimal dari kemampuan mereka.

Mereka adalah masyarakat yang dengan sungguh-sungguh menjaga diri agar tidak terjatuh secara sengaja dalam bentuk kedurhakaan kepada Alloh . Kalaupun terkadang tergelincir ke dalam bentuk dosa dan ma’siyat, mereka segera kembali kepada-Nya, tersungkur dengan bertaubat memohon maghfirah-Nya yang sangat luas dan bertekad kuat untuk tidak mengulangi-nya kembali. Walaupun pada kenyataannya mungkin saja ketergelinciran itu terulang kembali.

Pada masyarakat seperti ini, amanat dan keamanan akan sangat terjaga. Kerusakan dalam segala bentuknya akan sangat dan sangat terminimalisir. Kemiskinan yang terjadi hanyalah kemiskinan yang benar-benar normal dan tak terhindarkan. Bukan seperti kemiskinan yang merebak bagaikan wabah, disebabkan oleh konspirasi penghisapan darah rakyat jelata. Kemiskinan yang normal dan sangat minimal itu pun teringankan oleh keberkahan segalanya. Kemudian harapan-harapan balasan akhirat atas kesabaran hidup di kemiskinan menjadi pelipur dan penghibur yang besar sekali. Akhirnya hubungan mesra dengan Alloh akan mengguyur seluruh orang dengan hujan kebahagiaan sejati yang tak ada hentinya. Ketika masyarakat telah didominasi dan dituntun oleh norma-norma Islam, maka pasti Alloh akan memenuhi janji-Nya, dengan memberikan kepada mereka keberkahan dalam semua sisi kehidupan mereka.

Alloh berfirman :

“Jika sekiranya penduduk negeri-negeri beriman dan bertaqwa, pastilah Kami akan melimpahkan kepada mereka keberkahan-keberkahan dari langit dan bumi...” (QS. Al-A’raf [7]: 96).

 

Mereka akan mendapatkan kebaikan, ketenangan dan kesejahteraan dalam kehidupan mereka, karena Alloh memberikan kenikmatan-Nya dalam beragam bentuk dan dari berbagai jalan. Seluruh aspek kehidupan; ekonomi, politik, dan sosial kemasyarakatan, dipenuhi sumber-sumber kebaikan yang diberkahi.

 

Alloh berfirman:

“Barangsiapa yang mengerjakan amal saleh, baik laki-laki maupun perempuan dalam keadaan beriman, maka sesungguhnya akan Kami berikan kepadanya kehidupan yang baik dan sesungguhnya akan Kami berikan balasan kepada mereka dengan pahala yang lebih baik dari apa yang telah mereka kerjakan.” (QS. An Nahl [16]: 97)

 

Kenikmatan yang mereka terima bukan hanya sebatas berwujud materi kebendaan, tetapi juga berwujud nonmateri yang mereka rasakan sebagai hasil dari baiknya hubungan interaksi (muamalah) dengan sesama dan buah dari penerapan setiap sisi ajaran Islam yang mulia oleh seluruh komponen masyarakat. Setiap orang, masing-masing dalam kedudukan dan tanggung jawabnya, menunaikan kewajiban sebagaimana mestinya sesuai tuntunan Islam. Semua bergerak, berlomba-lomba mencurahkan segenap kemam-puan dalam menghasilkan amal terbaik mereka. Sehingga tidaklah mereka mendapatkan hasil darinya kecuali kebahagiaan dan kemuliaan. Setiap orang tidak hanya akan menerima manfaat dari orang lain, tetapi juga akan berupaya untuk memberi manfaat kepada orang lain. Saling tolong-menolong dalam kebaikan menjadi budaya yang mendominan di tengah masyarakat. Termasuk dalam bentuk upaya serius dan terus menerus membina dan membimbing saudaranya ke arah penerapan sisi-sisi ajaran Islam, serta meluruskan dan menasihatinya di saat terjadi kekeliruan dan penyimpangan. Setiap gerak aktivitas mereka akan semakin menambah bobot amal shalih yang membuahkan kenikmatan bagi mereka masing-masing.

Dengan demikian, mereka akan mendapatkan manfaat teramat besar berupa terjaganya agama, jiwa, akal, keturunan, dan harta mereka. Hal ini disebabkan faktor-faktor perusak dan penghancur unsur-unsur tersebut tidak lagi mendominasi masyarakat.

Sungguh, seluruh sisi kehidupan mereka akan menjadi hal yang membaha-giakan. Walaupun banyak problem kehidupan yang membawa duka dan melelahkan sebagai salah satu karakter kehidupan di dunia, akan tetapi mereka mampu menghadapinya dengan penuh kesabaran, didasarkan pada keimanan yang mendalam bahwa hal itu adalah salah satu bentuk ujian untuk mencapai derajat kemuliaan yang lebih tinggi.

Semua kerja keras mereka di dunia ini akan mendapatkan balasan berupa jannah dan seluruh kenikmatan yang tiada tara, dalam kehidupan di akhirat yang kekal abadi. Amal-amal kebaikan mengalir deras dan tumbuh lebat dengan hanya satu motivasi, mengharapkan ridho Alloh .

 

MASYARAKAT NON ISLAMI

 

Masyarakat yang non Islami adalah masyarakat yang secara kolektif tidak tunduk kepada syariat Alloh . Dengan demikian ia hanya tunduk kepada selain syariat Alloh . Di dalam suatu masyarakat yang tidak Islami, segala bentuk komponen penjauh manusia dari Alloh akan tumbuh menjamur dengan subur tanpa ada perintang yang berarti. Rangsangan-rangsangan birahi liar dan haram bermunculan di tiap pojok bangunan masyarakat. Rangsangan-rangsangan ini akan menjerumuskan kepada perzinahan-perzinahan yang menghasilkan penyakit-penyakit berat, kerusakan rumah tangga dan menuntun kepada banyak kerusakan-kerusakan lainnya yang tak terbatas.

Transaksi-transaksi riba akan menyebar seluas-luasnya. Kerusakan yang diakibatkan oleh sistem ribawi sudah tidak asing lagi. Krisis-krisis financial global adalah saksi-saksi yang selalu bermunculan dari waktu ke waktu. Sistem ribawi adalah sistem kedzoliman yang menyedot kekayaan kebanyakan umat untuk dipersembahkan kepada segelintir manusia. Dosa sesuap riba sama dengan dosa menyetubuhi ibu kandung sendiri!

Rasa tidak takut kepada Alloh akan terus menjalar dan inilah induk dari semua kedzoliman. Banyak lagi kerusakan-kerusakan yang tidak terhitung banyaknya akan terjadi. Semua itu akan menyebabkan kemurkaan Alloh untuk kemudian akan mengundang bencana-bencana yang tidak ada hentinya.

Di masyarakat non Islami, pembusukan jiwa terus terproses dan bersemi dikarenakan dominasi mesin-mesin kemungkaran. Hasilnya adalah tindakan-tindakan kriminalitas yang kian hari akan semakin meningkat. Perilaku buruk terus menjamur dan mendominasi kehidupan masyarakat menambah panjang deret angka kejahatan yang akan terus melonjak dengan sangat tajam. Pada masyarakat non Islami, motivasi prilaku kebanyakan manusia adalah hawa nafsu, kejahilan dan manfaat sementara untuk individu-individu. Dengan demikian pelanggaran-pelanggaran norma islami akan dilakukan oleh hampir semua tingkatan masyarakat, baik secara perorangan maupun kolektif, berbentuk tindak pidana ringan dari oknum-oknum pribadi maupun kejahatan sistematis dari banyak kelompok terorganisir. Bukan hanya aksi-aksi kriminalitas yang dilakukan dengan sangat halus dan tersembunyi yang akan terjadi, akan tetapi juga tindakan-tindakan yang sangat brutal, ganas dan sadis akan sangat mudah terjadi antar anggota masyarakat, atau bahkan antar anggota satu keluarga. Sedangkan penjara tidak pernah menjadi obat. Bahkan hanya menjadi tempat persemaian penjahat-penjahat kelas berat masa depan dan rumah derita untuk terpidana dan keluarga mereka. Pembunuhan dengan kekerasan yang dilakukan sangat biadab. Perjudian dari yang dilakukan dengan peralatan sederhana sampai paling modern. Perampasan harta dan kehormatan orang lain. Miras dan narkoba yang akan semakin bebas, dikonsumsi oleh kalangan yang tak lagi terbatas. Semua itu akan dilakukan dengan sangat terbuka dan terang-terangan, bahkan pelakunya tak lagi merasa berdosa.

Anak-anak muda akan terus mempertunjukkan gaya hidup hedonis. Tidak takut lagi melakukan pergaulan bebas, dan perbuatan amoral lainnya yang lebih buruk. Para orang tua akan melalui masa tua dengan penuh keresahan, sangat sulit membimbing putra-putri tercinta, disebabkan sang orang tua telah salah arah, karena mereka sendiri membangun hidup keluarga dengan sistim non Islami yang sangat jauh dari nilai ketauladanan. Unsur-unsur perusak yang meracuni buah hati mereka dibiarkan begitu saja, bahkan ditanam dengan sengaja, yang hasilnya mereka dapatkan dengan sangat pahit, mengenaskan dan menyengsarakan. Keluarga bahagia hanya akan tinggal cerita yang tak mungkin terwujud, karena anggotanya tak lagi memegang norma-norma Islami pembawa kebahagiaan sejati. Ketentraman dan kesejahteraan dalam kehidupan masyarakat tak mungkin didapatkan, di saat norma-norma Islam yang memayunginya telah dicampakkan.

Negara akan terus sibuk mengatasi berbagai problem yang terus menggunung. Seluruh aspek kehidupan; ekonomi, politik, dan sosial kemasyarakatan diliputi problem rumit dan tak kunjung dapat diatasi. Berbagai konsep dari para pakar-pun tak mampu mengatasinya. Yang ada hanyalah bencana dan malapetaka.

Semua terjebak oleh perangkap syetan durjana..! Hawa nafsu begitu diagungkan dan disembah. Harta menjadi standar untuk menilai tinggi rendahnya martabat seorang manusia. Ketenangan hidup, rasa aman dan kebahagiaan hakiki menjadi sangat mahal dan sulit dijumpai. Semua merasakan kesempitan, kepedihan, kesengsaraan dan duka mendalam akibat ulah tangan mereka sendiri yang melupakan ayat-ayat Alloh .

 

Alloh berfirman:

“Barangsiapa yang berpaling dari peringatan-Ku, maka sesungguhnya baginya penghidupan yang sempit... .” (QS. Thaha [20]: 124)

 

Sudah menjadi sunnatulloh dalam kehidupan manusia, baik secara pribadi maupun masyarakat bahwa jika mereka mengganti nikmat Alloh yang berupa keislaman dan keimanan dengan kejahiliyahan dan kekufuran, mereka pasti akan mendapatkan bencana-bencana yang sangat mengerikan baik di dunia maupun di akhirat. Suatu sunnatulloh yang tak mungkin akan berubah dan berganti.

 

Alloh berfirman:

“Maka apakah mereka tidak mengadakan perjalanan di muka bumi sehingga mereka dapat memperhatikan bagaimana kesudahan orang-orang sebelum mereka; Alloh telah menimpakan kebinasaan atas mereka serta akan menimpakan pula kebinasaan yang sama atas orang-orang kafir itu.” (QS. Muhammad [47]: 10)

 

Lihatlah sejarah kelam kaum `Ad, Tsamud, kaum Fir`aun yang dihancur leburkan oleh Alloh , serta runtuhnya khilafah Utsmaniyyah di Turki, ketika pada akhir-akhir masa kekuasaannya mulai meninggalkan kemurnian Islam. Ingatlah bencana-bencana dan akibat buruk yang akan diderita suatu masyarakat, saat mereka tidak lagi Islami. Di antaranya bisa kita sebutkan berikut ini:

 

A. Penindasan Sesama.

Misi hadirnya Islam adalah mengeluarkan manusia dari perbudakan sesama hamba menuju pengabdian hanya kepada Alloh , dari kedzaliman agama-agama (selain Islam) menuju keadilan Islam serta dari kesempitan dunia menuju keluasan akhirat.

Hanya dengan Islam, manusia akan mendapatkan kemerdekaannya yang hakiki dari berbagai penindasan, baik penindasan perbudakan, penindasan agama dan penindasan dunia. Tanpa Islam, sebagian komunitas masyarakat hanya akan menjadi pihak penindas bagi komunitas lainnya.

Alloh menggambarkan bencana ini di masa Fir`aun dengan gamblang:

“Sesungguhnya Fir'aun telah berbuat sewenang-wenang di muka bumi dan menjadikan penduduknya berkasta-kasta, dengan menindas segolongan dari mereka, menyembelih anak laki-laki mereka dan membiarkan hidup anak-anak perempuan mereka. Sesungguhnya Fir'aun termasuk golongan para perusak.” (QS. Al-Qosos [28]: 1-4)

 

B. Tidak Ada Rasa Aman.

Alloh akan mencabut rasa aman dan tuma`ninah dari seseorang atau masyarakat jika mereka tidak lagi Islami.

"Dan Alloh telah membuat suatu perumpamaan (dengan) sebuah negeri yang dahulunya aman lagi tenteram, rezkinya datang kepadanya melimpah ruah dari segenap tempat, tetapi (penduduk)nya mengingkari nikmat-nikmat Alloh; Karena itu Alloh menimpakan mereka kondisi kelaparan dan ketakutan, disebabkan apa yang selalu mereka perbuat." (QS. An-Nahl [16]:112)

 

C. Kerusakan di Segala Bidang.

Dosa dan kemaksiatan telah membawa berbagai kerusakan di air, udara, tanam-tanaman dan buah-buahan serta tempat kediaman. Bencana sosial, keruskan moral, kekacauan politik, ekonomi dan budaya akan terus bergulir. Alloh berfirman:

“Telah nampak kerusakan di darat dan di laut disebabkan karena perbuatan tangan manusia, supaya Alloh menimpakan kepada mereka sebahagian dari (akibat) perbuatan mereka, agar mereka kembali (ke jalan yang benar).” (Qs. Ar-Rum [30]: 41)

 

Menurut mujahid (seorang tabi’in):

“Jika orang dzolim berkuasa, dia akan melangkah melakukan kedzoliman dan kerusakan, sehingga Alloh menahan hujan-Nya. Di saat itulah Alloh menghancurkan tanam-tanaman dan anak keturunan, karena Alloh tidak menyukai kerusakan.”

Ibnu Qoyyim menjelaskan :

“bahwa yang dimaksud kerusakan dalam ayat ini adalah kekurangan, keburukan dan bencana-bancana yang dimunculkan Alloh di muka bumi akibat maksiat para hambaNya. Setiap kali mereka menampilkan satu dosa, setiap kali itu pula Alloh munculkan satu hukuman-Nya.”

 

(( فَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ ؛ قَالَ: أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ . فَقَال :يَامَعْشَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ! خَمْسٌ إِذَا ابْتُلِيتُمْ بِهِنَّ، وَأَعُوذُ بِاللهِ أَنْ تُدْرِكُوهُنَّ: لَمْ تَظْهَرِ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي قَوْمٍ قَطُّ حَتَّى يُعْلِنُوا بِهَا، إِلاَّ فَشَا فِيهِمُ الطَّاعُونُ وَالأَوْجَاعُ الَّتِي لَمْ تَكُنْ مَضَتْ فِي أَسْلاَفِهِمُ الَّذِينَ مَضَوْا .وَلَمْ يَنْقَصُوا الْمِكْيَالَ وَالْمِيزَانَ، إِلاَّ أُخِذَوا بِالسِّنِينَ وَشِدَّة الْمَئُونَةِ وَجَوْرِ السُّلْطَانِ عَلَيْهِمْ .وَلَمْ يَمْنَعُوا زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ، إِلاَّ مُنِعُوا الْقَطْرَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، وَلَوْلاَ الْبَهَائِمُ لَمْ يُمْطَرُوا .وَلَمْ يَنْقُضُوا عَهْدَ اللهِ وَعَهْدَ رَسُوِلِهِ، إِلاَّ سَلَّطَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوّاً مِن غَيْرِهِمْ، فَأَخَذُوا بَعْضَ مَافِي أَيْدِيهِمْ .وَمَا لَمْ تَحْكُمْ أَئِمَّتُهُمْ بِكِتَابِ اللهِ، وَيَتَخَّيُروا ممَّا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ، إِلاَّ جَعَلَ اللهُ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ ))

“Dari Abdullah bin Umar bahwasanya Rosululloh menemui kami kemudian Rosululloh bersabda: “Hai orang-orang Muhajirin, lima perkara; jika kamu ditimpa lima perkara ini, aku mohon perlindungan kepada Alloh agar kamu tidak mendapatinya.

- Jika perbuatan keji (seperti: zina, minum khomr, judi, merampok dan lainnya) dilakukan pada suatu masyarakat dengan terang-terangan, maka akan tersebar wabah penyakit tho’un dan penyakit-penyakit lainnya yang tidak ada pada orang-orang dahulu yang telah lalu.

- Orang-orang yang mengurangi takaran dan timbangan, pasti mereka akan disiksa dengan paceklik, kehidupan susah, dan kezholiman pemerintah.

- Ketika orang-orang tidak membayar zakat hartanya, pasti hujan dari langit juga akan ditahan dari mereka. Seandainya bukan karena hewan-hewan, manusia tidak akan diberi hujan.

- Mereka yang membatalkan kesetiaan kepada Alloh dan kepada Rosul-Nya, pasti Alloh akan menjadikan musuh mereka (orang-orang kafir) menguasai mereka dan merampas sebagian yang ada di tangan mereka.

- Dan selama pemimpin-pemimpin (negara, masyarakat) tidak meng-hukumi dengan kitab Alloh, dan memilih-milih sebagian apa yang Alloh turunkan (untuk diterapkan dan tidak diterapkan), Alloh akan menjadikan permusuhan di antara mereka.”

(HR. Ibnu Majah no. 4019, al Bazzar, al Baihaqi; dari Ibnu 'Umar. Dishohihkan oleh Syaikh al Albani dalam ash-Shohihah no. 106, Shohih at-Targhib wat-Tarhib no. 764, Maktabah al Ma’arif)

 

D. Kehancuran umat-umat yang sebelum kita karena penyelisihan mereka terhadap Islam.

Alloh berfirman:

“Sesungguhnya Kami akan menurunkan azab dari langit atas penduduk kota ini, karena mereka berbuat fasik. Dan telah Kami tinggalkan padanya satu tanda yang nyata bagi orang-orang yang berakal. (Kami telah mengutus) kepada penduduk Madyan, saudara mereka Syu'aib, Maka ia berkata: “Hai kaumku, beribadahlah hanya kepada Alloh, harapkanlah (pahala) hari akhir, dan jangan kalian berkeliaran di muka bumi berbuat kerusakan”. Maka mereka mendustakan Syu'aib, lalu mereka ditimpa gempa yang dahsyat, dan jadilah mereka mayat-mayat yang bergelimpangan di tempat-tempat tinggal mereka. (Juga) kaum 'Aad dan Tsamud, dan sungguh telah nyata bagi kalian (kehancuran mereka) dari (puing-puing) tempat tinggal mereka. Syaitan menjadikan mereka memandang baik perbuatan-perbuatan mereka, lalu ia menghalangi mereka dari jalan (Alloh), sedangkan mereka adalah orang-orang berpandangan tajam, (juga) Qorun, Fir'aun dan Haman. Sesungguhnya telah datang kepada mereka Musa dengan (membawa) keterangan-keterangan yang nyata. Akan tetapi mereka berlaku sombong di (muka) bumi, dan tiadalah mereka orang-orang yang luput (dari kehancuran itu). Maka masing-masing (mereka itu) Kami siksa disebabkan dosanya, di antara mereka ada yang Kami timpakan kepadanya hujan batu kerikil dan di antara mereka ada yang ditimpa suara keras yang mengguntur, dan di antara mereka ada yang Kami benamkan ke dalam bumi, dan di antara mereka ada yang Kami tenggelamkan, dan Alloh sekali-kali tidak hendak menganiaya mereka, akan tetapi merekalah yang menganiaya diri mereka sendiri. (QS. Al-`Ankabut [29]: 34-40)

 

REALITA MASYARAKAT KITA

 

Pada bab ini kita ingin menjawab suatu pertanyaan: masyarakat Islami kah masyarakat kita dewasa ini?

Realita memastikan bahwa masyarakat kita bukanlah masyarakat Islami walaupun mayoritas penduduk Indonesia adalah kaum muslimin, walaupun orang-orang soleh seperti Anda, wahai pembaca yang budiman, masih banyak sekali, akan tetapi bukan norma-norma Islam lah yang mendominasi kehidupan kita dalam bermasyarakat. Demikian juga banyak sekali individu-individu kita yang tanpa sadar telah mengadopsi pemikiran sekuler.

Realita keterpurukan ruhani di negeri kita pun sudah sangat mengerikan dan sudah banyak berpotensi mengundang azab dari Alloh . Bahkan azab-azab itu memang sudah berdatangan bertubi-tubi bagaikan gelombang lautan yang terus menerus bergantian menghempas pantai.

Bukankah kita dapati banyak sekali ”tuhan-tuhan palsu” yang dinobatkan untuk diibadahi oleh banyak orang? Kuburan-kuburan tempat berdo'a, pohon-pohon tempat bermohon, keris-keris yang dipelihara karena mengharapkan penjagaannya, simbol-simbol yang dipasang di atap-atap rumah untuk menolak bahaya dan lain-lain.

Bukankah sampai sekarang ruwatan desa atau kampung dengan mempersembahkan sesajen kepada para "penguasa gaib" masih terus berjalan dari waktu ke waktu demi "menyelamatkan" desa atau kampung? Sedangkan secara pasti kita sudah mengikrarkan bahwa tidak ada Tuhan yang sebenarnya selain Alloh dan ditangan-Nya lah semua keputusan. Dia-lah satu-satunya yang berkuasa menentukan apa saja di bumi ini, tiada Tuhan selain Dia!.

Bukankah sihir, yang tak mungkin didapat tanpa menyembah setan, banyak sekali menyebar di pelosok-pelosok negeri? Bahkan media televisi kita yang cukup banyak, gemar sekali menampilkan tayangan-tayangan kesyirikan. Media-media cetak kita memasang iklan-iklan penawaran pelayanan-pelayanan mistik dan semua media memuat ramalan-ramalan nasib manusia di masa depan, suatu kesyirikan menandingi Alloh di ilmu gaib-Nya dan masih banyak dan banyak sekali yang semacam itu. Semua ini menunjukkan adanya kepercayaan batil yang sangat bertentangan dengan kebenaran dan bertentangan dengan kemuliaan manusia. Inilah biang segala keterpurukan !!.

Tidak heran bila pada masyarakat yang mana akal dan pikirannya demikian, kita dapati banyak sekali pelanggaran-pelanggaran susila dari pameran aurat wanita sampai pada perzinahan. Korupsi besar-besaran yang semakin lama semakin marak, narkoba dan miras yang semakin turun lapangan penggunaannya mengarah ke tingkat anak-anak SD.

Adapun bencana-bencana yang bermunculan akibat pelanggaran tersebut sudah bukan rahasia lagi. Tentunya buku setebal apapun tidak akan cukup jika kita ingin mencatat semua musibah yang menimpa negeri ini walaupun hanya sejak kemerdekaan sampai akhir abad ke-20 lalu saja. Di antara rentang waktu antara kembalinya Sekutu tak lama setelah proklamasi kemerdekaan sampai pemberontakan-pemberontakan yang banyak menelan harta dan jiwa yang tak terhitung banyaknya sampai krisis moneter di penghujung abad ke-20 itu, banyak sekali musibah-musibah berupa bencana-bencana alam yang saling susul menyusul. Bencana-bencana yang tambah cepat jarak waktu dari satu ke yang lainnya terus berdesakan sejak kita memasuki abad ke-21 ini. Di antaranya Tsunami yang menelan lebih dari dua ratus ribu jiwa dan memporak-porandakkan habis-habisan sebagian dari negeri ini. Goyangan-goyangan gempa yang mematikan dan letusan-letusan gunung-gunung berapi yang membakar anak-anak bangsa hidup-hidup serta melenyapkan harta benda milik mereka yang tersisa hidup. Banjir yang bukan hanya menghancurkan banyak dari infra struktur negeri ini, akan tetapi juga menjadikan para korban yang masih hidup terpaksa menyandang profesi baru sebagai pengemis, karena kehilangan harta milik mereka. Jatuh-nya pesawat terbang dengan korban-korbannya, kebakaran yang seakan-akan tak kan pernah berhenti, sampai-sampai terjadi di atas laut yang luas, membakar kapal berpenumpang penuh. Sampai sekarang samudra masih terus menggertak dan menakut-nakuti kota Jakarta dengan banjir yang muncul dari waktu ke waktu. Seakan-akan memberi peringatan bahwa amarahnya sudah mendekati batas maksimal. Seakan terdengar lamat-lamat geretakan gigi-gigi nya, sambil bergumam mengancam: “Aku sudah siap, tinggal menunggu perintah Tuhanku!“.

 

Lalu... Lapindo... ya Rawa Lapindo yang sangat aneh! Tidak bisa dicerna oleh akal secara jelas! Menelan korban harta yang tak terhitung banyaknya, terus merayap entah bagaimana jadinya.

 

PENEGAKKAN SYARIAT

 

Yang dimaksud dengan syariat Islamiyyah adalah hukum-hukum Alloh yang berupa perintah-perintah dan larangan-larangan yang terkandung dalam agama Islam.

Penegakkan syariat adalah tulang punggung dari sebuah masyarakat Islami. Penegakkan syariat adalah suatu kewajiban yang besar sekali dan hukum peninggalannya pun berkisar antara beberapa bobot hukum, dimulai dari dosa kecil, dosa besar, kufur asgor, dan kufur akbar.

Akan tetapi jika yang terjadi adalah penolakan syariat atau peninggalan syariat secara total, apapun sebabnya, merupakan suatu kufur akbar, yaitu mengeluarkan seseorang dari Islam. Hal ini sudah menjadi suatu kesepakatan umat Islam sejak dahulu hingga sekarang dengan dalil-dalil yang kuat sekali. Akan tetapi ada sedikit kesalah fahaman di antara banyak orang tentang penegakkan syariat ini. Ketika masalah penerapan syariat diangkat ke permukaan, maka yang pertama-tama terbersit adalah penerapan syariat pada tingkatan institusi (Negara). Padahal sebenarnya syariat meliputi hukum-hukum yang harus diterapkan pada empat tingkatan, yang mana setiap bagian dari ke empat bagian syariat itu mempunyai kekhususannya sendiri-sendiri. Keempat bagian itu adalah sebagai berikut:

 

1. Syari'at Individu

Banyak sekali hukum-hukum syariat yang hanya bersangkutan dengan individu seperti solat, soum, dzikir, nikah, menutup aurat dan lain-lainnya. Bahkan mengucapkan syahadatain yang merupakan syarat keislaman awal seseorang adalah bagian mendasar dari penegakkan syariat di individu. Begitu juga menuntut ilmu, membaca al-Qur’an, serta menjaga kehormatan dan kesucian diri dan akhlaq. Hukum-hukum ini tidak bisa diterapkan oleh sebuah institusi yang namanya Negara, walaupun Negara masih mempunyai kewajiban lain terhadap hukum-hukum itu selain pelaksanaan praktis. Penegakkan syariat individu ini adalah bagian yang sangat mendasar pada penegakkan syariat total.

Dari sisi tehnis, individu yang menerapkan syariat individu ini bisa kita namakan “Individu Islami”.

 

2. Syari'at Keluarga

Hukum-hukum Islam pun sangat penuh dengan hukum-hukum kekeluargaan seperti hukum-hukum yang mengatur hubungan suami istri (banyak sekali!), seperti kewajiban-kewajiban anggota keluarga satu terhadap lainnya, hukum-hukum waris, hadonah (hak pengasuhan dan penyusuan anak), memberikan nafkah harta dan batin, silaturahmi, menghindari sikap dayyuts (mati rasa cemburu) dalam keluarga, birrul walidain (berbakti kepada kedua orang tua) dan lain-lain.

Yang dimaksud penegakkan syariat harus mencakup penegakkan bagian ini juga dan bukan hanya penegakkan syariat institusi! Sebuah keluarga yang berkomitmen terhadap “syariat keluarga” ini kita sebut sebagai “Keluarga Islami”.

 

3. Syari'at Masyarakat

Syariat Islamiyyah pun mempunyai hukum-hukum kemasyarakatan yang harus bisa diterapkan oleh masyarakat tanpa institusi. Seperti misalnya hubungan antar tetangga, pertolongan dari pihak-pihak yang kaya secara kolektif untuk pihak-pihak yang miskin, hubungan jual beli, mendirikan sholat Jum’at, mengurus jenazah, mengurus pendistribusian zakat, amar ma’ruf nahi munkar terbatas, mencetak kader-kader ahli (seperti ulama, guru, ekonom, teknokrat, dan lain-lain) pendirian lembaga-lembaga Islami yang mendukung kehidupan Islami (seperti pekuburan, rumah sakit, lembaga ekonomi syariat, lembaga pendidikan, lembaga riset dan penelitian), membuat media-media cetak maupun elektronik islami (seperti radio, Koran, majalah, website dan lain-lainnya).

Semua itu merupakan bagian penegakkan syariat Islamiyyah. Kalau semua itu ditinggalkan berarti sebagian besar syariat tidak ditegakkan. Sebuah masyarakat yang didominasi oleh pelaksanaan hukum-hukum kemasyarakatan ini, bisa kita namakan sebagai “Masyarakat Muatan Islami”.

 

4. Syari'at Institusi

Yang kami maksud dengan syariat institusi adalah hukum-hukum Islam yang penegakannya menjadi kewajiban dan wewenang Negara (penguasa) seperti mengangkat dan memberhentikan pimpinan negara, mengelola dan menata keuangan umat (seperti jizyah, harta rampasan perang, khoroj, dan lain-lain), mengawasi sistem ekonomi pasar, meng-hukum para perusak agama, penerapan hukum-hukum pidana, melangsungkan jihad serangan, menghukum mereka yang harus dihukum menurut ketentuan syariat, amar ma’ruf dan nahi munkar sampai yang seluas-luasnya, menuruti tuntunan syariat dalam menjaga kemas-lahatan umat dan lain-lain. Penerapan syariat institusi adalah bagian terbesar dari penerapan syariat secara total. Tanpa penerapan bagian ini, maka penerapan-penerapan lainnya akan sangat rawan runtuh. Akan tetapi walaupun demikian, penerapan bagian terpenting ini di suatu negeri sangat sulit dibayangkan jika mayoritas penduduk negeri itu enggan dan tidak mau menerapkan syariat pada tingkat individu-individu, keluarga-keluarga dan pada tingkat masyarakat. Di waktu yang sama, penduduk negerilah yang bisa diandalkan sebagai penegak dan pengawal syariat di negeri masing-masing. Karena itu di suatu negeri Islam yang belum menerapkan syariat institusi, harus terlebih dahulu diadakan penyuluhan yang kuat tentang urgensi penerapan syariat. Penyuluhan ini tidak akan membuahkan tekad dan kemauan untuk menerapkan syariat, jika belum ada pencerahan keimanan yang cukup. Hanya pada suatu masyarakat yang berorientasi kepada keselamatan dan kebahagiaan akhiratlah penyuluhan itu bisa membuahkan tekad dan usaha penegakkan syariat. Dengan kata lain, sebuah dakwah Islamiyyah yang benar dan kuat harus mendahului proses Islamisasi sebuah masyarakat. Bahkan dakwah itu sendiri adalah bagian dari proses. Masyarakat yang menerapkan syariat institusi bisa kita namakan “Masyarakat Islami Struktural” atau bisa juga dinamakan “Negara Islam”.

 

MOTIVASI DAN STRATEGI

 

Pada hakikatnya jiwa atau ruh atau tulang punggung pembentukan masyarakat Islami adalah penegakkan syariat pada ke empat ruasnya. Masyarakat Islami dan penegakkan syariat adalah dua wajah dari satu mata uang. Ketika penegakkan syariat harus dilakukan oleh tangan-tangan manusia yang bergerak di bawah tuntunan jiwa-jiwa mereka dan jiwa-jiwa itu memerlukan motivasi yang benar, maka pemotivasian adalah langkah pertama.

 

A. Motivasi

Motivasi membangun masyarakat Islami bertolak dari dua hal asasi yaitu:

 

Sebagai suatu kewajiban besar yang dituntut oleh Alloh yang mana pelaksanaanya akan menghasilkan ganjaran yang besar sekali dan pengabaiannya akan mengakibatkan hukuman yang berat.

Peraihan keselamatan dan kebahagiaan di dunia dan di akhirat untuk para pelaksana, keturunan mereka dan semua umat.

 

Kedua dasar motivasi di atas tidak akan tumbuh kecuali dengan pencerahan keimanan dan penanaman pemahaman-pemahaman Islam yang benar, yang hanya bisa diwujudkan oleh dakwah yang benar dan memadai. Karena itu strategi yang benar, khususnya di Indonesia saat ini, untuk membentuk masyarakat Islami adalah strategi dakwah.

 

B. Strategi Dakwah

 

Masyarakat Islami yang kita idam-idamkan hanya bisa dibangun oleh jiwa-jiwa yang tercerahkan oleh komitmen kepada Islam yang murni. Jiwa-jiwa itu telah memahami Islam dan bertekad dengan sangat antusias untuk menitinya secara sempurna dan menyeluruh. Jiwa-jiwa seperti ini hanya bisa dibentuk oleh suatu dakwah yang benar dan memadai. Yang kami maksud dengan dakwah yang benar dan memadai adalah dakwah yang mencakup unsur-unsur berikut:

 

1. Mendakwahkan kemurnian Islam

Masyarakat Islami yang kita idam-idamkan hanya bisa dibangun oleh jiwa-jiwa yang tercerahkan oleh komitmen kepada Islam yang murni. Jiwa-jiwa itu telah memahami Islam dan bertekad dengan sangat antusias untuk menitinya secara sempurna dan menyeluruh. Jiwa-jiwa seperti ini hanya bisa dibentuk oleh suatu dakwah yang benar dan kuat. Rosululloh telah mengkhabarkan bahwa umat akan terpecah menjadi tujuh puluh tiga golongan, dan hanya satu golongan yang berada di atas kemurnian. Yaitu mereka yang mengikuti jejak-jejak Rosululloh dan para sahabatnya dalam memahami Islam dan menerapkannya.

Islam adalah agama Alloh satu-satunya. Di atas peta Islamlah alam semesta dibentuk dan fitrah manusia (format dasar cipta manusia) pun dibentuk dengan format Islam, bahkan Islam adalah fitrah manusia dan fitrah manusia adalah Islam itu sendiri. Hanya dengan Islam lah manusia tetap mulia seperti dasar penciptaannya dan tanpa Islam manusia akan menjadi rendah serendah-rendahnya di dunia dan di akhirat.

 

Alloh berfirman:

“Kemudian Kami kembalikan dia ke tempat yang serendah-rendahnya” (QS. At-Tiin [95]: 5)

 

Islam yang menjadikan manusia mulia di dunia dan akhirat adalah Islam yang murni. Dengan Islam yang murni ini lah manusia bisa bangkit dari keterpurukannya. Sedangkan dengan selain Islam atau selain Islam yang murni, manusia akan terpuruk seterpuruk-puruknya. Karena lahir batinnya bertentangan dengan format ciptanya (fitrah) dan berbenturan dengan format struktur alam semesta. Artinya ketika seseorang melanggar suatu peraturan dari syariat Islam maka dia akan menderita lahir batin sekadar pelanggarannya itu di dunia sebelum di akhirat. Demikianlah kita saksikan ketika misalnya seseorang berzina atau minum miras.

Ketika sebuah masyarakat menjadi tidak Islami, terpuruklah masyarakat itu dan tidak akan pernah bangkit tanpa berpegang kepada Islam yang murni. Dari sini kita dapat melihat keharusan mendakwahkan Islam yang murni sekuat-kuatnya sebagai bentuk dari pengawalan terhadap agama Alloh satu-satunya dan sebagai obat untuk menyembuhkan umat dari keterpurukan. Jiwa yang terpuruk dan tidak bangkit, tidak akan mau apalagi mampu untuk membangun masyarakat Islami. Karena kebangkitan itu sendiri adalah suatu dinamika menuju kodrat manusia yang mulia, yang tidak akan pernah mulia tanpa bersenyawa dengan Islam yang murni.

 

2. Dakwah yang berjama’ah dan terorganisir

Dakwah yang tidak berjama’ah dan tidak terorganisir, tidak akan mampu menghadapi musuh-musuh Islam yang menjalankan perusakan-perusakan pada sendi-sendi Islam secara berjama’ah dan sistematis. Di dunia ini ada konspirasi global terhadap Islam dan kaum muslimin. Konspirasi ini sangat besar, terorganisir dan sistematis. Di waktu yang sama kalau hanya untuk memberi nasihat bisa dikerjakan secara individual. Akan tetapi untuk mega proyek membangun masyarakat Islami mustahil dilakukan dengan usaha-usaha dakwah sendiri-sendiri. Walaupun yang demikian tetap ada manfaatnya.

 

3. Dakwah sarat muatan kebangkitan

Muatan kebangkitan yang dimaksud adalah misi pembangkitan jiwa-jiwa para mad’u untuk bangkit menjalankan amanah yang Alloh bebankan pada pundak manusia.

 

Alloh berfirman:

“Sesungguhnya Kami telah mengemukakan amanah kepada langit, bumi dan gunung-gunung, semuanya enggan untuk memikul amanah itu dan mereka khawatir akan mengkhianatinya, lalu dipikullah amanah itu oleh manusia. Sesungguhnya manusia itu amat dzolim dan amat bodoh” (QS. al-Ahzab [33]: 72)

 

Amanat ini mempunyai dua sisi, yaitu:

a. Sisi peribadatan

Manusia diciptakan dengan tujuan menjalankan peribadatan kepada Alloh saja. Inilah yang dinamakan Tauhid. Menjadikan Tauhid sebagai dasar penegakkan syariat, baik individu, keluarga, masyarakat atau institusi adalah bentuk dari pelaksanaan sisi yang satu ini.

Alloh berfirman:

“Dan Aku tidak menciptakan jin dan manusia melainkan supaya mereka beribadah hanya kepada-Ku.” (QS. adz-Dzariyat [51]: 56)

 

b. Sisi Kekhilafahan

Manusia diciptakan sebagai khalifah.

Alloh berfirman:

“Ingatlah ketika Robbmu berfirman kepada para malaikat: “Sesung-guhnya Aku hendak menjadikan seorang khalifah di muka bumi…” (QS. al-Baqoroh [2]: 30)

 

Kekhilafahan manusia dari segi zatnya berarti dia adalah makhluk yang mempunyai kriteria-kriteria yang pantas “dipertuankan” oleh makhluk-makhluk bumi. Seluruh alam semesta pun telah diorbitkan untuk mensuplai kebutuhannya di segala bidang. Adapun kekhilafahan sebagai sebuah tugas, artinya: manusia harus menjalankan tugas sebagai pelaksana syariat atau hukum Alloh di bumi ini.

Untuk mewujudkan kebangkitan di jiwa umat hingga mau, siap dan mampu melaksanakan amanat ini, sebuah mega proyek tarbiyah jangka panjang harus dimulai dengan serius, walaupun dimulai hanya dengan pembentukan jaringan yang masih kosong dari muatan kebangkitan. Tak ada jalan untuk mengisi jaringan itu dengan muatan kebangkitan Islami, kecuali dengan dakwah yang benar dan memadai.

 

STRATEGI ALTERNATIF

 

Di lapangan gerakan kebangkitan kita dapati dua strategi alternatif dalam mencapai tujuan. Yaitu strategi parlementer dan strategi kekerasan. Walaupun dalam langkah-langkahnya sangat bertentangan, akan tetapi kedua strategi ini sama-sama mempunyai target awal yang sama yang mereka yakini akan sangat berguna untuk mewujudkan kebangkitan umat dan membentuk masyarakat Islami. Target itu adalah kekuasaan. Karena itu kedua strategi ini kita namakan “strategi tampuk kekuasaan”.

Paling sedikit ketika strategi ini diterapkan di Indonesia pada kondisi dan zaman seperti sekarang ini kami sangat yakini tidak akan mampu mewujudkan tujuan total akhir, yaitu masyarakat islami. Jangankan mewujudkan masya-rakat Islami, meraih target awal, yaitu tampuk kekuasaan pun pasti tak akan tercapai, kecuali kalau Alloh menghendakinya. Kedua strategi ini mempunyai beberapa sisi negatif yang sejenis, di antaranya:

 

A. Keterbengkalaian dakwah

Keterbengkalaian dakwah berarti kehancuran untuk umat. Kalau kedua strategi alternatif ini masih mempercayai dakwah adalah jalan satu-satunya untuk pencerahan jiwa, maka ini berarti mereka hanya menangguhkan dakwah sampai target awal yaitu tampuk kekuasaan teraihkan. Ini berarti bahwa penyelamatan umat dari ketergelinciran ke jahannam dan dari keterpurukan dunia tertangguhkan sampai mereka menang. Selama penangguhan itu entah berapa jiwa yang akan mati dalam kegelapan. Itupun kalau mereka menang!! Kalau mereka tidak akan pernah menang seperti yang kami yakini, maka dakwah mereka tidak akan pernah ada! Mereka akan mengklaim bahwa mereka pun berdakwah sambil berstrategi tampuk kekuasaan. Tetapi mari kita simak yang berikut:

 

Sangat tidak mungkin, ketika suatu kelompok mencanangkan suatu strategi untuk mencapai tujuan, kemudian kelompok itu tidak mengerahkan seluruh atau mayoritas tenaganya untuk mensukseskan strategi itu. Ketika seluruh tenaga dicurahkan untuk dakwah saja, kita masih melihat banyak yang tidak tertangani. Bagaimana pula ketika seluruh tenaga atau mayoritasnya dicurahkan untuk strategi lain.

Memang sebagian tenaga para penyandang strategi tampuk kekuasaan disalurkan di “amal dakwah”. Hal ini karena strategi mereka memerlukan “amal dakwah” untuk merekrut pengikut. Kita bisa membayangkan apakah usaha dakwah yang motivasinya hanya sekedar merekrut pengikut untuk melaksanakan strategi parlementer atau kekerasan bisa menghasilkan suatu kebangkitan? Berbeda halnya dengan perekrutan pengikut dengan tujuan untuk dakwah pula (strategi dakwah).

Demi mendapatkan suara sebanyak mungkin, strategi parlementer memerlukan siasat perangkulan yang hampir-hampir tidak terbatas. Pada siasat ini mereka harus pandai-pandai tutup mulutdan berbasa-basi dengan penodaan kemurnian dan para penodanya. Dengan demikian kemurnian Islam pun terancam. Di sini terjadi keterbengkalaian dakwah dalam kwalitas.

Sifat dakwah rahasia pada jalur kekerasan akan sangat membatasi dakwah jalur ini. Para perencana dan pelaksana dakwah mereka sudah tidak tertarik untuk mendakwahkan masyarakat umum. Dari sudut ini pun terjadi suatu keterbengkalaian.

 

B. Kemandulan

Kedua jalur ini sangat tidak realistis dalam kondisi seperti sekarang ini. Kedua strategi ini merupakan keterburu-buruan dan keputus asaan. Para peyakin strategi tampuk kekuasaan sebenarnya mempunyai rasa pesimis untuk menjalankan strategi dakwah, lalu melupakan bahwa dakwah bukanlah hanya sekedar strategi, tetapi juga suatu kebutuhan yang sangat. Keselamatan dan kebahagiaan di dunia dan di akhirat banyak bergantung kepada usaha-usaha dakwah. Bahkan dakwah sudah sangat berguna sekali, walaupun “hanya” menyelamatkan umat dari neraka jahannam dan tidak berhasil membentuk masyarakat Islami di dunia ini.

 

LANGKAH-LANGKAH MENUJU TUJUAN

 

A. Langkah Strategi Alternatif

Masing-masing dari kedua jalur peyakin strategi tampuk kekuasaaan, yaitu jalur kekerasan dan jalur parlementer bisa saja mengklaim mempunyai teori yang “jelas” dan “simpel” tentang langkah-langkah riel perealisasian tujuan mereka. Pelaku jalur parlementer akan memetakan langkah-langkah riel perealisasian tujuan mereka sebagai berikut: Pembentukan partai, pembesaran partai, masuk parlemen, peraihan suara terbanyak lalu sampai ke tampuk kekuasaaan untuk kemudian memenej umat secara Islami. Tentunya dengan harus melupakan bahwa: banyak sekali pelanggaran-pelanggaran syariat dalam permainan parlementer, keterbengkalaian dakwah dan fakta lapangan yang menunjukan banyaknya kegagalan walaupun hanya “sekedar meraih” tampuk kekuasaan, apalagi untuk mampu merubah masyarakat menjadi masyarakat Islami. “Kesuksesan” partai Islam Turki memcapai puncak kekuasaan harus diuji lagi kebenarannya dari segi “siapa sebenarnya yang berkuasa” di Turki dewasa ini dan episode apa yang akan dimunculkan oleh angkatan bersenjata Turki setelah ini. Apakah tentara akan tetap menjaga keadaaan seimbang seperti sekarang atau akan melakukan kudeta seperti waktu-waktu sebelum ini. Seandainya terbuktipun kekuasaan ada di tangan partai Islam, itu masih sebatas mendapatkan sarana ampuh dan tidak berarti sebuah kebangkitan telah dicapai. Pembubaran partai-partai Islam Turki di masa lalu ketika mereka “meraih” tampuk kekuasaan dan penjeblosan para pemimpin partai ke penjara serta pembubaran partai Islam (FIS) di Aljazair setelah mereka menang mutlak di pemilu 1992 dan penjeblosan pemimpin-pemimpin mereka ke dalam penjara untuk jangka waktu bertahun-tahun, semua itu membuktikan dengan jelas bahwa status non Islam di negeri-negeri Islam masih dikawal kuat oleh kekuatan-kekuatan konspirasi salibis internasional yang setelah berkorban besar untuk menguasai dunia di perang dunia ke dua tidak akan rela melepaskan cengkramannya dan membiarkan umat Islam terbebaskan hanya dengan senjata suara terbanyak!

 

Jalur kekerasan dengan mudahnya akan mengatakan langkah-langkah kami adalah: pembentukan suatu organisasi (rahasia?), melatih, mem-persenjatai, berperang dan menang, untuk kemudian memegang kendali serta mengatur masyarakat secara Islami.

 

Tentunya harus dilupakan kenyataan bahwa langkah-langkah ini adalah langkah-langkah super sulit, banyaknya ke tidak realistisan di sepanjang jalan, korban-korban yang luar biasa banyaknya yang akan berjatuhan, kehancuran-kehancuran besar-besaran yang akan terjadi, keterbengkalaian dakwah yang merupakan mesin utama pembangkit umat dan hasilnya masih tanda tanya, khususnya dalam kondisi seperti sekarang ini. Bahkan keabsahan amal seperti itu pun masih harus dipertanyakan dengan sangat keras. Memang benar, jika tidak ada jalan lain yang bisa sukses dan hasilnya jauh lebih dari pengorbanannya, maka strategi ini “bisa diterima”. Akan tetapi berpendapat tidak ada jalan lain selain jalan kekerasan pada kondisi seperti sekarang ini adalah hasil penelusuran yang sangat dangkal.

 

Pertumpahan darah manusia pada dasarnya adalah suatu yang dibenci dan dicela Islam, kecuali pada kondisi syar’i yaitu pada hukuman atas pembunuhan disengaja, pezina yang telah menikah, penumpasan pemberontakan terhadap pemerintah Islam yang sah dan Jihad fi sabilillah. Di ketiga kondisi pertama yang berhak melaksanakan hanyalah Negara. Sedangkan Jihad fi sabilillah (jihad kekerasan), telah dilarang ketika umat Islam dalam keadaan lemah seperti kondisi Rosululloh dan para sahabatnya di Mekkah sebelum hijrah ke Madinah. Di waktu itu strategi kekerasan ditinggalkan jauh-jauh. Tidak ada usaha-usaha pembunuhan gelap terhadap pemimpin-pemimpin Quraisy atau serangan malam atau pergi ke gunung-gunung dan gua-gua Makkah untuk melancarkan perang gerilya terhadap para penguasa Makkah. Kekerasan ditinggalkan bukan hanya dalam bentuk serangan, bahkan dalam membela diri pun tidak dilakukan, sehingga banyak para sahabat Rosululloh yang disiksa tanpa menjadikan emosi Rosululloh dan para sahabat lainnya terpancing untuk menggunakan kekerasan dalam menolong mereka. Ketika sesudah dibolehkan untuk berjihad pun, Alloh mencegah terjadinya pertempuran karena kondisi yang memungkinkan terjadinya pertumpahan darah orang-orang Islam yang berbaur dengan penduduk Mekkah yang masih kafir seperti halnya para insiden Hudaibiyyah. Adapun masalah “Tatarrus” (penggunaan orang-orang yang beriman oleh orang-orang kafir sebagai tameng untuk mencegah serangan kaum muslimin) yang mana terbunuhnya orang-orang Islam karena kondisi yang memaksa itu bisa diterima, hanya pada kondisi dimana pertempuran tidak bisa dihindari dan sudah menjadi suatu keharusan.

 

Jadi kita tidak membolehkan jihad?!?

 

Siapa yang melarang Jihad secara umum dan mutlak telah kafir! Na’uzdubillahi min Dzalik!!! Kita sama sekali tidak demikian!! Kita hanya berprinsip kekerasan tidak bisa dipakai sebagai strategi dalam mewujudkan kebangkitan umat ini di negeri yang kondisinya seperti Indonesia sekarang ini!!

 

B. Langkah-Langkah Strategi Da'wah

Langkah-langkah para peniti strategi dakwah adalah langkah-langkah yang penuh kedamaian, kesejukan dan ketentraman. Pada hakikatnya tujuan utama strategi dakwah (tentunya juga tujuan utama strategi alternatif) adalah keselamatan dan kebahagiaan di dunia dan di akhirat. Perwujudan masyarakat Islami adalah dalam rangka melaksanakan tugas suci merealisasikan kedaulatan hukum-hukum Alloh di bumi dan mewujudkan atmosfir peribadatan tauhid yang kondusif untuk mencapai kebahagian dunia dan akhirat.

 

Pada strategi tampuk kekuasaan ada dua hal penting yang tertangguhkan atau terabaikan. Kedua hal ini tidak demikian pada strategi dakwah. Kedua hal itu adalah dakwah dan pengawalan untuk Islam yang murni. Kedua hal itu tetap eksis selalu pada strategi dakwah. Dengan demikian strategi dakwah memetik hasilnya di setiap langkah ketika kemajuan sekecil apapun terwujudkan. Sedangkan strategi alternatif sepanjang jalan baru mengejar sarana atau alat kebangkitan, yaitu kekuasaan.

 

Langkah-langkah strategi dakwah sangat singkat dan sederhana sekali. Langkah pertama adalah mengikut sertakan sebanyak mungkin kaum muslimin dalam sebuah jaringan terdiri dari mereka yang mempunyai keinginan yang serius untuk meniti sirotulmustaqim, terlepas dari tingkatan keimanan dan keislaman mereka. Langkah kedua adalah memupuk keislaman mereka dan mengarahkan mereka untuk menerapkan syariat di ruas syariat individu, kemudian keluarga lalu mendorong terciptanya masyarakat muatan Islami. Adapun penegakkanruas syariat institusi adalah tugas dari masyarakat muatan islami dan bukan tugas sebuah harakah. Peranan dakwah (baca: Harakah) ada pada penyuluhan agar jiwa-jiwa tercerahkan dan timbul padanya keinginan untuk ikut serta dalam usaha-usaha membentuk masyarakat Islami, kemudian menyatukan mereka dalam suatu jaringan Islami dan pada akhirnya mendorong serta membantu mereka untuk menerapkan syariat di ketiga ruasnya tanpa menunggu penerapan syariat institusi terwujudkan. Penegakkan syariat institusi yang berarti terbentuknya masyarakat Islami struktural, telah kita katakan menjadi tugas masyarakat muatan Islami. Sebab hanya sosok sebesar masyarakat muatan Islami lah yang sanggup mewujudkannya tanpa fitnah yang menghancurkan. Kekuatan muatan Islami di dalam masyarakat seperti ini akan melahirkan daya penekan yang mampu meluluh lantakan para penentang berdirinya masyarakat Islami struktural, serta akan melahirkan sebuah muatan panas yang melelehkan semua kendala dan resistant. Hal inilah yang terjadi di Madinah setelah masyaratakat muatan Islami di Madinah di bawah pimpinan Rosululloh mencapai bobot tertentu ketika menang di perang Badar. Ketika itu seluruh komponen masyarakat Madinah pun berbondong-bondong masuk Islam. Hal yang serupa terjadi dalam ukuran yang lebih besar ketika Fathu-Makkah. Ketika itu seluruh kabilah di Jazirah Arab masuk Islam secara massal.

  

The Postcard

 

A postally unused postcard published by 'W' bearing a pre-1918 image of the Midland Hotel in Manchester.

 

The Manchester Arena Bombing

 

The Midland Hotel is 1,100 metres from the Manchester Arena.

 

On the 22nd. May 2017, an Islamist extremist suicide bomber detonated a shrapnel-laden homemade bomb as people were leaving the Manchester Arena following a concert by American singer Ariana Grande.

 

Twenty-three people were killed, including the attacker, and 1,017 were injured, many of them children. Several hundred more suffered psychological trauma.

 

The bomber was Salman Ramadan Abedi, a 22-year-old local man of Libyan ancestry. After initial suspicions of a terrorist network, police later said that they believed Abedi had largely acted alone, but that others had been aware of his plans.

 

In March 2020, the bomber's brother, Hashem Abedi, was found guilty of 22 counts of murder and attempting to murder 1,017 others, and was sentenced to life in prison.

 

The incident was the deadliest terrorist attack and the first suicide bombing in the United Kingdom since the 7th. July 2005 London bombings.

 

The Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017 at 22:15 a member of the public reported Abedi, wearing black clothes and a large rucksack to Showsec security. A security guard observed Abedi, but said that he did not intervene in case his concerns about Abedi were wrong, and out of fear of being considered a racist.

 

The security guard tried to use his radio to alert the security control room, but was unable to get through.

 

Police officers on duty that night were subsequently criticised for their behaviour in the hours leading up to the atrocity - including a two-hour dinner break and a 10-mile round trip to buy a kebab.

 

At one point, when Abedi took his final trip through the station to his hiding place in the foyer, there were no BTP officers on duty in the area.

 

At 22:31 the suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device, packed with nuts and bolts to act as shrapnel, in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena.

 

The attack took place after a concert by American pop star Ariana Grande that was part of her Dangerous Woman Tour. 14,200 people had attended the concert.

 

Many exiting concert-goers and waiting parents were in the foyer at the time of the explosion. According to evidence presented at the coroner's inquest, the bomb was strong enough to kill people up to 20 metres (66 ft) away.

 

A report by inquiry chair John Saunders blamed “failings by individuals” for “missed opportunities” to detect and stop bomber Salman Abedi.

 

Saunders outlined a “litany” of failures by venue operators SMG, security firm Showsec and British Transport Police (BTP) - failures that include taking unauthorised two-hour meal breaks and ignoring members of the public who tried to raise the alarm:

 

-- Reconnaissance Oversights

 

Abedi went to the arena several times to carry out hostile reconnaissance in the run-up to the bombing, visiting on the 18th. and 21st. May, and also the afternoon on the day of the attack.

 

Although arena operator SMG and security firm Showsec “had experience of identifying and responding to potential hostile reconnaissance effectively”, the system for passing on information about suspicious behaviour was “insufficiently robust”.

 

If the Showsec staff on duty at the time, Kyle Lawler and Mohammed Agha - then aged 18 and 19 respectively - had been aware of previous reports of suspicious activity, “it would have increased the possibility” of Abedi being spotted.

 

Inquiry chair Saunders also notes that SMG could have extended the permitted security perimeter from the entrance doors of the arena to the City Room, the foyer where the bomb detonated. “Had permission to push out the perimeter been granted, an attack in the City Room would have been much less likely,” the report says.

 

-- Absence of Officers

 

Despite five officers being assigned to the arena on the night of the attack, “there was a complete absence of any BTP officer in the City Room” in the half hour before Abedi detonated the bomb. And no officers were policing the public areas of the venue between 8.58pm and 9.36pm.

 

The report found that BTP officers “took breaks substantially and unjustifiably” longer than their authorised one hour. Instructions to stagger breaks between 7.30pm and 9pm - when younger children could be leaving the venue - were also ignored.

 

The public inquiry into the attack had previously heard how two officers on duty at the concert, PC Jessica Bullough and PCSO Mark Renshaw, had taken a “two-hour-and-nine-minute dinner break to get a kebab five miles from the arena”. The Telegraph reported:

 

"Bullough has since admitted that were

she present on her shift as she should

have been, she would have likely stopped

Abedi and asked him what was in his bag”.

 

-- The CCTV Blindspot

 

Saunders' report says Abedi chose an “obvious hiding place” in a CCTV blindspot of the arena City Room foyer, having no doubt identified this area during his hostile reconnaissance:

 

“Had the area been covered by CCTV so that

there was no blind spot, it is likely this

behaviour by Abedi would have been identified

as suspicious by anyone monitoring the CCTV."

 

Giving evidence to the inquiry, Showsec security guard Agha said that he had noticed Abedi in the City Room, but only because he “liked the look” of Abedi's trainers.

 

-- Inadequate Patrols

 

The inquiry report says that:

 

"A further missed opportunity to spot Abedi

in the half hour before the bomb detonated

arose from the absence of an adequate

security patrol by Showsec at any stage

during this time”.

 

The supervisor charged with carrying out “pre-egress” checks, Jordan Beak, did so “only very briefly”, patrolling for about ten minutes, during which he just “looked towards the staircases up to the mezzanine area”, where Abedi was sitting.

 

The report notes:

 

“He did not consider them a very important

part of the check because it was not an

egress route. Mr Beak did not go up on to the

mezzanine area and so he did not see Abedi.

This was a significant missed opportunity.”

 

-- Concerns ‘Fobbed Off’

 

Saunders wrote that:

 

"The most striking missed opportunity, and the

one that is likely to have made a significant

difference, was an attempt by a member of the

public to raise concerns about Abedi after

becoming suspicious about the bomber's large

and obviously heavy backpack".

 

Christopher Wild told the inquiry how he had spotted Abedi while waiting for his 14-year-old daughter to leave the concert.

 

According to the BBC, Wild recalled how he approached Abedi and said:

 

“It doesn't look very good you know, what you

see with bombs and such, you with a rucksack

in a place like this, what are you doing?”

 

Abedi reportedly told Wild that he was “waiting for somebody, mate”, before asking what time it was.

 

Wild alerted security guard Agha about his suspicions around fifteen minutes before the blast. But according to the inquiry report:

 

"Agha did not take Christopher Wild’s

concerns as seriously as he should have”.

 

Wild felt that he had been “fobbed off” by the guard, who claimed to already be aware of Abedi. Agha is said to have made “inadequate” efforts to flag down his supervisor or pass on the message via his colleague Lawler, who had a radio.

 

Although Agha did share Wild’s concerns with Lawler, the latter “felt conflicted about what to do” and “stated he was fearful of being branded a racist and would be in trouble if he got it wrong”.

 

Lawler ultimately made an attempt to contact a senior supervisor through the radio, but couldn’t get through, and made no further efforts to communicate what he had been told to anyone else. Saunders wrote:

 

“The inadequacy of Mr Lawler’s response

was a product of his failure to take Mr Wild’s

concern and his own observations sufficiently

seriously. Mr Wild’s behaviour was very

responsible. He stated that he formed the

view that Abedi might let a bomb off.

That was sadly all too prescient, and makes

all the more distressing the fact that no effective

steps were taken as a result of his efforts.”

 

Aftermath of the Explosion

 

Three hours after the bombing, police conducted a controlled explosion on a suspicious item of clothing in Cathedral Gardens. This was later confirmed to have been abandoned clothing and not dangerous.

 

Residents and taxi companies in Manchester offered free transport or accommodation via Twitter to those left stranded at the concert.  Parents were separated from their children attending the concert in the aftermath of the explosion.

 

A nearby hotel served as a shelter for people displaced by the bombing, with officials directing separated parents and children there.  Manchester's Sikh temples along with local homeowners, hotels and venues offered shelter to survivors of the attack.

 

Manchester Victoria railway station, which is partly underneath the arena, was evacuated and closed, and services were cancelled. The explosion caused structural damage to the station, which remained closed until the damage had been assessed and repaired, resulting in disruption to train and tram services.

 

Victoria Station reopened eight days later, following the completion of police investigation work and repairs to the fabric of the building.

 

On the 23rd. May, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the UK's terror threat level had been raised to "critical", its highest level. 

 

In the aftermath of the attack, Operation Temperer was activated for the first time, allowing up to 5,000 soldiers to reinforce armed police in protecting parts of the country.

 

Tours of the Houses of Parliament and the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace were cancelled on 24 May, and troops were deployed to guard government buildings in London.

 

On the 23rd. May, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, via the Nashir Telegram channel, said the attack was carried out by "a soldier of the Khilafah". The message called the attack:

 

"An endeavor to terrorise the mushrikin,

and in response to their transgressions

against the lands of the Muslims."

 

Abedi's sister said that he was motivated by revenge for Muslim children killed by American airstrikes in Syria.

 

The Manchester Arena remained closed until September 2017, with scheduled concerts either cancelled or moved to other venues. It reopened on the 9th. September 2017, with a benefit concert featuring Noel Gallagher and other acts associated with North West England.

 

Later that month, Chris Parker, a homeless man who stole from victims of the attack whilst assisting them, was jailed for 4 years and three months.

 

Casualties of the Attack

 

The explosion killed the attacker and 22 concert-goers and parents who were in the entrance waiting to pick up their children following the show. 119 people were initially reported as injured. This number was revised by police to 250 on the 22nd. June, with the addition of severe psychological trauma and minor injuries.

 

During the public inquiry into the bombing, it was updated in December 2020 to 1,017 people sustaining injuries.

 

The dead included ten people aged under 20; the youngest victim was an eight-year-old girl, and the oldest was a 51-year-old woman. Of the 22 victims, twenty were Britons and two were British-based Polish nationals.

 

North West Ambulance Service reported that 60 of its ambulances attended the scene, carried 59 people to local hospitals, and treated walking wounded on site.  Of those hospitalised, 12 were children under the age of 16.

 

The first doctor thought to have been on scene was an off-duty consultant anaesthetist, Michael Daley. In recognition of his bravery for the role he played in the immediate medical response to the incident, Daley's name was entered into the BMA's Book of Valour in June 2017.

 

The Attacker

 

The bomber, Salman Ramadan Abedi, was a 22-year-old British Muslim of Libyan ancestry. He was born in Manchester to a Salafi family of Libyan-born refugees who had settled in Manchester after fleeing to the UK to escape the government of Muammar Gaddafi.

 

He had two brothers and a sister. He grew up in Whalley Range and lived in Fallowfield. Neighbours described the Abedis as a very traditional and "super religious" family who attended Didsbury Mosque.

 

Abedi attended Wellacre Technology College, Burnage Academy for Boys and The Manchester College. A former tutor remarked that:

 

"Abedi was a very slow, uneducated

and passive person".

 

He was among a group of students at his high school who accused a teacher of Islamophobia for asking them what they thought of suicide bombers. He also reportedly said to his friends that being a suicide bomber "was OK" and fellow college students raised concerns about his behaviour.

 

Abedi's father was a member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a Salafi jihadist organisation proscribed by the United Nations, and father and son fought for the group in Libya in 2011 as part of the movement to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi.

 

Abedi's parents, both born in Tripoli, remained in Libya in 2011, while 17-year-old Abedi returned to live in the United Kingdom. He took a gap year in 2014, where he returned with his brother Hashem to Libya to live with his parents. Abedi was injured in Ajdabiya that year while fighting for an Islamist group.

 

The brothers were rescued from Tripoli by the Royal Navy survey ship HMS Enterprise in August 2014 as part of a group of 110 British citizens as the Libyan civil war erupted, taken to Malta and flown back to the UK.

 

According to a retired European intelligence officer, Abedi met with members of the ISIS Battar brigade in Libya, and continued to be in contact with the group upon his return to the UK.

 

An imam at Didsbury mosque recalled that Abedi looked at him "with hate" after he preached against ISIS and Ansar al-Sharia in 2015.

 

Abedi's sister said her brother was motivated by the injustice of Muslim children dying in bombings stemming from the American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War.

 

A family friend of the Abedi's also remarked that Salman had vowed revenge at the funeral of Abdul Wahab Hafidah, who was run over and stabbed to death by a Manchester gang in 2016 and was a friend of Salman and his younger brother Hashem. Hashem later co-ordinated the Manchester bombing with his brother.

 

According to an acquaintance in the UK, Abedi was "outgoing" and consumed alcohol, while another said that Abedi was a "regular kid who went out and drank" until about 2016. Abedi was also known to have used cannabis.

 

He enrolled at the University of Salford in September 2014, where he studied business administration, before dropping out to work in a bakery. Manchester police believe Abedi used student loans to finance the plot, including travel overseas to learn bomb-making.

 

The Guardian reported that despite dropping out from further education, he was still receiving student loan funding in April 2017. Abedi returned to Manchester on the 18th. May after a trip to Libya and bought bomb-making material, apparently constructing the acetone peroxide-based bomb by himself. Many members of the IS Battar brigade trained people in bomb-making in Libya.

 

He was known to British security services and police but was not regarded as a high risk, having been linked to petty crime but never flagged up for radical views.

 

A community worker told the BBC he had called a hotline five years before the bombing to warn police about Abedi's views and members of Britain's Libyan diaspora said they had "warned authorities for years" about Manchester's Islamist radicalisation.

 

Abedi was allegedly reported to authorities for his extremism by five community leaders and family members, and had been banned from a mosque; the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, however, said Abedi was not known to the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme.

 

On the 29th. May 2017, MI5 launched an internal inquiry into its handling of the warnings it had received about Abedi and a second, "more in depth" inquiry, into how it missed the danger.

 

On the 22nd. November 2018, a Parliamentary report said that MI5 had acted "too slowly" in its dealings with Abedi. The committee's report noted:

 

"What we can say is that there were a number

of failings in the handling of Salman Abedi's case.

While it is impossible to say whether these would

have prevented the devastating attack on the

22nd. May, we have concluded that as a result of

the failings, potential opportunities to prevent it

were missed."

 

Investigation Into the Bombing

 

The property in Fallowfield where Abedi lived was raided on the 23rd. May. Armed police breached the house with a controlled explosion and searched it. Abedi's 23-year-old brother was arrested in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in south Manchester in relation to the attack.

 

Police carried out raids in two other areas of south Manchester and another address in the Whalley Range area. Three other men were arrested, and police initially spoke of a network supporting the bomber; however they later announced that Abedi had sourced all the bomb components himself, and that they now believed he had largely acted alone. On the 6th. July, police said that they believed others had been aware of Abedi's plans.

 

According to German police sources, Abedi transited through Düsseldorf Airport on his way home to Manchester from Istanbul four days before the bombing. French interior minister Gérard Collomb said that Abedi may have been to Syria, and had "proven" links with IS.

 

Abedi's younger brother and father were arrested by Libyan security forces on the 23rd. and 24th. May respectively. The brother was suspected of planning an attack in Libya, and was said to be in regular touch with Salman, and was aware of the plan to bomb the Manchester Arena, but not the date.

 

According to a Libyan official, the brothers spoke on the phone about 15 minutes before the attack was carried out. On the 1st. November 2017, the UK requested Libya to extradite the bomber's younger brother, Hashem Abedi to the UK in order to face trial for complicity in the murder of the 22 people killed in the explosion.

 

Photographs of the remains of the IED published by The New York Times indicated that it had comprised an explosive charge inside a lightweight metal container which was carried within a black vest or a blue Karrimor backpack.

 

Most of the fatalities occurred in a ring around the bomber. His torso was propelled by the blast through the doors to the arena, indicating that the explosive charge was held in the backpack and blew him forward on detonation. A small device thought to have possibly been a hand-held detonator was also found.

 

The bomb contained the explosive TATP, which had been used in previous bombings. According to Manchester police, the explosive device used by Abedi was the design of a skilled bomb-maker and had a back-up means of detonation. Police also said that Salman Abedi bought most of the bomb components himself, and that he was alone during much of the time before carrying out the Manchester bombing.

 

On the 28th. May, police released images showing Abedi on the night of the bombing, taken from CCTV footage. Further images showed Abedi walking around Manchester with a blue suitcase.

 

According to US intelligence sources, Abedi was identified by the bank card that he had with him and the identification was confirmed using facial recognition technology.

 

A public inquiry into the attack was launched in September 2020. The first of three reports to be produced was a 200-page report published on the 17th. June 2021. It found that:

 

"There were a number of missed opportunities

to alter the course of what happened that night,

and more should have been done by police and

private security guards to prevent the bombing."

 

News Leaks

 

Within hours of the attack, Abedi's name and other information that had been given confidentially to security services in the United States and France was leaked to the news media. This led to condemnation from Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

 

Following the publication of crime scene photographs of the backpack bomb used in the attack in the 24th. May edition of The New York Times, UK counterterrorism police chiefs said the release of the material was detrimental to the investigation.

 

On the 25th. May, Greater Manchester Police said that it had stopped sharing information on the attack with the US intelligence services. Theresa May said she would make clear to President Trump that:

 

"Intelligence that has been

shared must be made secure."

 

Donald Trump described the leaks to the news media as "deeply troubling", and pledged to carry out a full investigation.

 

New York Times editor Dean Baquet declined to apologise for publishing the backpack bomb photographs, saying:

 

"We live in different press worlds.

The material was not classified at

the highest level."

 

On the 26th. May, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States government accepted responsibility for the leaks.

 

Links with the Muslim Brotherhood

 

According to a secret recording unveiled by the BBC, Mostafa Graf, the imam of the Didsbury Mosque where Salman Abedi and his family were regulars, made a call for armed jihad ten days before Abedi bought his concert ticket.

 

Following these revelations, the Manchester Police opened an investigation into the mosque and its imam, who also fought with a Libyan Islamist militia. Mostafa Graf is a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, an organisation founded by the Muslim Brotherhood and Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Al-Qaradawi is known for having claimed:

 

"Suicide bombings are a duty".

 

Haras Rafiq, head of the Quilliam think tank, told The Guardian that the Muslim Brotherhood runs the Didsbury Mosque.

 

The Didsbury Mosque is controlled by The Islamic Centre (Manchester), an English association headed by Dr. Haytham al-Khaffaf, who is also a director of the Human Relief Foundation, a Muslim Brotherhood organisation blacklisted for terrorism by Israel. Between 2015 and 2016, al-Khaffaf's Human Relief Foundation received over £1.5 million from the Qatar Charity, which is also subject to US counterterrorism surveillance.

 

Trial and Sentencing of Hashem Abedi

 

On the 17th. July 2019, Salman Abedi's brother Hashem was charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion. He had been arrested in Libya and extradited to the UK.

 

His trial began on the 5th. February 2020. On the 17th. March, Hashem Abedi was found guilty on 22 charges of murder, on the grounds that he had helped his brother to source the materials used in the bombing, and had assisted with the manufacture of the explosives which were used in the attack.

 

On the 20th. August, Hashem Abedi was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 55 years. The judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, said that sentencing rules prevented him from imposing a whole life order as Abedi had been 20 years old at the time of the offence. The minimum age for a whole life order is 21 years old. Abedi's 55-year minimum term is the longest minimum term ever imposed by a British court.

 

Ismail Abedi

 

In October 2021 it was reported that Salman Abedi's older brother Ismail had left the UK despite being summonsed by Sir John Saunders to testify before the public inquiry into the bombing. Saunders had refused Ismail Abedi's request for immunity from prosecution while testifying.

 

Ariana Grande

 

Ariana Grande posted on Twitter:

 

"Broken. from the bottom of my

heart, I am so so sorry. I don't

have words."

 

The tweet briefly became the most-liked tweet in history. Grande suspended her tour and flew back to her mother's home in Florida.

 

On the 9th. July 2017, a performance to benefit the Manchester bombing victims was held in New York City's The Cutting Room, called "Break Free: United for Manchester", with Broadway theatre and television performers interpreting Ariana Grande songs.

 

On the 4th. June, Ariana Grande hosted a benefit concert in Manchester, entitled "One Love Manchester" at Old Trafford Cricket Ground that was broadcast live on television, radio and social media.

 

At the concert, Grande performed along with several other high-profile artists. Free tickets were offered to those who had attended the show on the 22nd. May. The benefit concert and associated Red Cross fund raised £10 million for victims of the attack, and £17 million by August. New York's Vulture section ranked the event as the No. 1 concert of 2017.

 

The Kerslake Report

 

On the 27th. March 2018, a report by Bob Kerslake named the "Kerslake Report" was published. The report was an independent review into the preparedness for, and emergency response to, the Manchester Arena attack on the 22nd. May 2017.

 

In the report, Kerslake "largely praised" the Greater Manchester Police and British Transport Police, and noted that it was "fortuitous" that the North West Ambulance Service was unaware of the declaration of Operation Plato, a protocol under which all responders should have withdrawn from the arena in case of an active killer on the premises.

 

However, it found that the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was "brought to a point of paralysis" as their response was delayed for two hours due to poor communication between the firefighters' liaison officer and the police force.

 

The report was critical of Vodafone for the "catastrophic failure" of an emergency helpline hosted on a platform provided by Content Guru, saying that delays in getting information caused "significant stress and upset" to families.

 

It also expressed criticism of some news media, saying:

 

"To have experienced such intrusive and

overbearing behaviour at a time of such

enormous vulnerability seemed to us to

be completely and utterly unacceptable".

 

However, it was also noted that:

 

"We recognise that this was some, but by

no means all of the media, and that the

media also have a positive and important

role to play."

 

Memorial to the Bombing

 

The victims of the bombing are commemorated by The Glade of Light, a garden memorial located in Manchester city centre near Manchester Cathedral. The memorial opened to the public in January 2022.

 

The memorial was vandalised on the 9th. February 2022, causing £10,000 of damage. A 24-year-old man admitted to the offence in April and will be sentenced at a later date.

 

The 2018 Manchester Terror Attack

 

The Manchester Arena is next to Victoria Station, and in fact partly above it. Victoria Station witnessed a subsequent terror attack on the 31st. December 2018 at 20.52.

 

Mahdi Mohamud, a 25 year old man from Somalia stabbed three people in a knife attack at the station. He appears to have acted alone.

 

Mohamud shouted "Allah!" and "Long live the Caliphate!" during the attack, and "Allahu Akbar" after being arrested. A witness alleged that during the attack he also shouted a slogan criticising Western governments. BBC producer Sam Clack reported that he heard Mohamud saying:

 

"As long as you keep bombing other

countries this sort of s--- is going to

keep happening,"

 

Mohamud had lived in England for about 10 years, and resided in Manchester's Cheetham neighbourhood with his parents and siblings.

 

Two of the three victims, a couple in their 50's who had come into town to celebrate the New Year, were hospitalised with serious injuries. The third victim was a British Transport Police officer who received a stab wound to his shoulder.

 

Despite suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, Mohamud was convicted of a terror offence and the attempted murder of three people, due to his possession of significant amounts of extremist material and the attack's extensive planning. He pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder and a terror offence.

 

The perpetrator, who was initially detained under the Mental Health Act, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-security psychiatric hospital.

 

The Second Inquiry into the Arena Bombing

 

On the 3rd. November 2022, inquiry chair Sir John Saunders issued a second report into the atrocity. Within the 884 pages he said that the emergency services failed to communicate properly in response to the incident, stemming from 'failures to prepare.'

 

He concluded that "Failing" emergency services thought a terror attack "could never happen" before the Manchester Arena bombing.

 

Sir John Saunders said the majority of those who died were so badly injured they could not have survived. However, it is believed that two of the 22 fatalities could have recovered if they had received better medical care.

 

Pointing the finger at leaders of the police, fire and ambulance services, he said:

 

“On the night of the attack, multi‐agency

communication between the three

emergency services was non‐existent.

That failure played a major part in what

went wrong.”

 

He added:

 

“There had been failures to prepare. There

had been inadequacies in training.

Well-established principles had not been

ingrained in practice.

Why was that? Partly it was because, despite

the fact that the threat of a terrorist attack was

at a very high level on the 22nd. May 2017, no

one really thought it could happen to them.”

 

The report also paid tribute to the “heroic” actions of ordinary members of the public who joined police and security and medical teams trying to save lives in a “war zone”.

 

Sir John said that two fatalities, John Atkinson, 28, and the youngest victim, eight year old Saffie-Rose Roussos, did have a chance of survival. Sir John said:

 

“I have concluded that one of those who

died, John Atkinson would probably have

survived had the emergency response

been better.”

 

He added:

 

“In the case of Saffie Rose Roussos, I have

concluded that there was a remote possibility

that she could have been saved if the rescue

operation had been conducted differently.”

 

The inquiry heard that only three paramedics went into the City Room after the attack. Crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service took more than two hours to attend the Arena.

 

Sir John added:

 

“GMP (Greater Manchester Police) did not

lead the response in accordance with the

guidance that it had been given or parts of

its own plans.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

(GMFRS) failed to turn up at the scene at a

time when they could provide the greatest

assistance.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) failed

to send sufficient paramedics into the City

Room.

NWAS did not use available stretchers to

remove casualties in a safe way, and did not

communicate their intentions sufficiently to

those who were in the City Room.”

 

Despite highlighting a series of failings, he said that:

 

"There were some parts of the emergency

response that worked well, and that no doubt

lives were saved”.

 

Paying tribute to those who helped the victims, he said:

 

“The heroism shown by very many people

that night is striking. I have seen the terrible

footage from the CCTV and body-worn video

cameras of the scene of devastation in the City

Room.

The description of that area as being like a

“warzone” was used by a number of witnesses.

That is an accurate description. To enter the

City Room or remain there to help victims

required great courage.”

 

Sir John added:

 

“At the centre of my Inquiry is the terrible loss

of twenty two lives. Each family and each person

at the Arena has a deeply personal story to tell

about the impact of the attack on them.

My report cannot change what has happened.

My intention is to uncover what went wrong and

find ways of improving practices so that no one

has to suffer such terrible pain and loss again.”

 

The report also stated that responsibility for the deaths lies with suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, and his brother Hashem, 25, who is serving life behind bars for his part in the plot.

 

The inquiry found that the brothers had “planned to cause as much harm to as many people as they could" when Abedi exploded his home made device.

 

khilafah - innit ?

The Postcard

 

A postcard posted in Manchester on Monday the 30th. November 1903 to:

 

Miss Edie Whiteside,

Poulton-le-Fylde,

Nr. Blackpool,

Lancashire.

 

The message on the back of the card was as follows:

 

"Dear Edie,

I have not got any photos

yet, but will get them as

soon as possible.

I have about eight in my

album so far.

The postcard shows you

Broad Street and it is the

longest and broadest

street in Manchester.

S. Foulkes".

 

The Manchester Arena Bombing

 

The Midland Hotel is 1,100 metres from the Manchester Arena.

 

On the 22nd. May 2017, an Islamist extremist suicide bomber detonated a shrapnel-laden homemade bomb as people were leaving the Manchester Arena following a concert by American singer Ariana Grande.

 

Twenty-three people were killed, including the attacker, and 1,017 were injured, many of them children. Several hundred more suffered psychological trauma.

 

The bomber was Salman Ramadan Abedi, a 22-year-old local man of Libyan ancestry. After initial suspicions of a terrorist network, police later said that they believed Abedi had largely acted alone, but that others had been aware of his plans.

 

In March 2020, the bomber's brother, Hashem Abedi, was found guilty of 22 counts of murder and attempting to murder 1,017 others, and was sentenced to life in prison.

 

The incident was the deadliest terrorist attack and the first suicide bombing in the United Kingdom since the 7th. July 2005 London bombings.

 

The Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017 at 22:15 a member of the public reported Abedi, wearing black clothes and a large rucksack to Showsec security. A security guard observed Abedi, but said that he did not intervene in case his concerns about Abedi were wrong, and out of fear of being considered a racist.

 

The security guard tried to use his radio to alert the security control room, but was unable to get through.

 

Police officers on duty that night were subsequently criticised for their behaviour in the hours leading up to the atrocity - including a two-hour dinner break and a 10-mile round trip to buy a kebab.

 

At one point, when Abedi took his final trip through the station to his hiding place in the foyer, there were no BTP officers on duty in the area.

 

At 22:31 the suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device, packed with nuts and bolts to act as shrapnel, in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena.

 

The attack took place after a concert by American pop star Ariana Grande that was part of her Dangerous Woman Tour. 14,200 people had attended the concert.

 

Many exiting concert-goers and waiting parents were in the foyer at the time of the explosion. According to evidence presented at the coroner's inquest, the bomb was strong enough to kill people up to 20 metres (66 ft) away.

 

A report by inquiry chair John Saunders blamed “failings by individuals” for “missed opportunities” to detect and stop bomber Salman Abedi.

 

Saunders outlined a “litany” of failures by venue operators SMG, security firm Showsec and British Transport Police (BTP) - failures that include taking unauthorised two-hour meal breaks and ignoring members of the public who tried to raise the alarm:

 

-- Reconnaissance Oversights

 

Abedi went to the arena several times to carry out hostile reconnaissance in the run-up to the bombing, visiting on the 18th. and 21st. May, and also the afternoon on the day of the attack.

 

Although arena operator SMG and security firm Showsec “had experience of identifying and responding to potential hostile reconnaissance effectively”, the system for passing on information about suspicious behaviour was “insufficiently robust”.

 

If the Showsec staff on duty at the time, Kyle Lawler and Mohammed Agha - then aged 18 and 19 respectively - had been aware of previous reports of suspicious activity, “it would have increased the possibility” of Abedi being spotted.

 

Inquiry chair Saunders also notes that SMG could have extended the permitted security perimeter from the entrance doors of the arena to the City Room, the foyer where the bomb detonated. “Had permission to push out the perimeter been granted, an attack in the City Room would have been much less likely,” the report says.

 

-- Absence of Officers

 

Despite five officers being assigned to the arena on the night of the attack, “there was a complete absence of any BTP officer in the City Room” in the half hour before Abedi detonated the bomb. And no officers were policing the public areas of the venue between 8.58pm and 9.36pm.

 

The report found that BTP officers “took breaks substantially and unjustifiably” longer than their authorised one hour. Instructions to stagger breaks between 7.30pm and 9pm - when younger children could be leaving the venue - were also ignored.

 

The public inquiry into the attack had previously heard how two officers on duty at the concert, PC Jessica Bullough and PCSO Mark Renshaw, had taken a “two-hour-and-nine-minute dinner break to get a kebab five miles from the arena”. The Telegraph reported:

 

"Bullough has since admitted that were

she present on her shift as she should

have been, she would have likely stopped

Abedi and asked him what was in his bag”.

 

-- The CCTV Blindspot

 

Saunders' report says Abedi chose an “obvious hiding place” in a CCTV blindspot of the arena City Room foyer, having no doubt identified this area during his hostile reconnaissance:

 

“Had the area been covered by CCTV so that

there was no blind spot, it is likely this

behaviour by Abedi would have been identified

as suspicious by anyone monitoring the CCTV."

 

Giving evidence to the inquiry, Showsec security guard Agha said that he had noticed Abedi in the City Room, but only because he “liked the look” of Abedi's trainers.

 

-- Inadequate Patrols

 

The inquiry report says that:

 

"A further missed opportunity to spot Abedi

in the half hour before the bomb detonated

arose from the absence of an adequate

security patrol by Showsec at any stage

during this time”.

 

The supervisor charged with carrying out “pre-egress” checks, Jordan Beak, did so “only very briefly”, patrolling for about ten minutes, during which he just “looked towards the staircases up to the mezzanine area”, where Abedi was sitting:

 

The report notes:

 

“He did not consider them a very important

part of the check because it was not an

egress route. Mr Beak did not go up on to the

mezzanine area and so he did not see Abedi.

This was a significant missed opportunity.”

 

-- Concerns ‘Fobbed Off’

 

Saunders wrote that:

 

"The most striking missed opportunity, and the

one that is likely to have made a significant

difference, was an attempt by a member of the

public to raise concerns about Abedi after

becoming suspicious about the bomber's large

and obviously heavy backpack".

 

Christopher Wild told the inquiry how he had spotted Abedi while waiting for his 14-year-old daughter to leave the concert.

 

According to the BBC, Wild recalled how he approached Abedi and said:

 

“It doesn't look very good you know, what you

see with bombs and such, you with a rucksack

in a place like this, what are you doing?”

 

Abedi reportedly told Wild that he was “waiting for somebody, mate”, before asking what time it was.

 

Wild alerted security guard Agha about his suspicions around fifteen minutes before the blast. But according to the inquiry report:

 

"Agha did not take Christopher Wild’s

concerns as seriously as he should have”.

 

Wild felt that he had been “fobbed off” by the guard, who claimed to already be aware of Abedi. Agha is said to have made “inadequate” efforts to flag down his supervisor or pass on the message via his colleague Lawler, who had a radio.

 

Although Agha did share Wild’s concerns with Lawler, the latter “felt conflicted about what to do” and “stated he was fearful of being branded a racist and would be in trouble if he got it wrong”.

 

Lawler ultimately made an attempt to contact a senior supervisor through the radio, but couldn’t get through, and made no further efforts to communicate what he had been told to anyone else. Saunders wrote:

 

“The inadequacy of Mr Lawler’s response

was a product of his failure to take Mr Wild’s

concern and his own observations sufficiently

seriously. Mr Wild’s behaviour was very

responsible. He stated that he formed the

view that Abedi might let a bomb off.

That was sadly all too prescient, and makes

all the more distressing the fact that no effective

steps were taken as a result of his efforts.”

 

Aftermath of the Explosion

 

Three hours after the bombing, police conducted a controlled explosion on a suspicious item of clothing in Cathedral Gardens. This was later confirmed to have been abandoned clothing and not dangerous.

 

Residents and taxi companies in Manchester offered free transport or accommodation via Twitter to those left stranded at the concert.  Parents were separated from their children attending the concert in the aftermath of the explosion.

 

A nearby hotel served as a shelter for people displaced by the bombing, with officials directing separated parents and children there.  Manchester's Sikh temples along with local homeowners, hotels and venues offered shelter to survivors of the attack.

 

Manchester Victoria railway station, which is partly underneath the arena, was evacuated and closed, and services were cancelled. The explosion caused structural damage to the station, which remained closed until the damage had been assessed and repaired, resulting in disruption to train and tram services.

 

Victoria Station reopened eight days later, following the completion of police investigation work and repairs to the fabric of the building.

 

On the 23rd. May, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the UK's terror threat level had been raised to "critical", its highest level. 

 

In the aftermath of the attack, Operation Temperer was activated for the first time, allowing up to 5,000 soldiers to reinforce armed police in protecting parts of the country.

 

Tours of the Houses of Parliament and the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace were cancelled on 24 May, and troops were deployed to guard government buildings in London.

 

On the 23rd. May, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, via the Nashir Telegram channel, said the attack was carried out by "a soldier of the Khilafah". The message called the attack:

 

"An endeavor to terrorise the mushrikin,

and in response to their transgressions

against the lands of the Muslims."

 

Abedi's sister said that he was motivated by revenge for Muslim children killed by American airstrikes in Syria.

 

The Manchester Arena remained closed until September 2017, with scheduled concerts either cancelled or moved to other venues. It reopened on the 9th. September 2017, with a benefit concert featuring Noel Gallagher and other acts associated with North West England.

 

Later that month, Chris Parker, a homeless man who stole from victims of the attack whilst assisting them, was jailed for 4 years and three months.

 

Casualties of the Attack

 

The explosion killed the attacker and 22 concert-goers and parents who were in the entrance waiting to pick up their children following the show. 119 people were initially reported as injured. This number was revised by police to 250 on the 22nd. June, with the addition of severe psychological trauma and minor injuries.

 

During the public inquiry into the bombing, it was updated in December 2020 to 1,017 people sustaining injuries.

 

The dead included ten people aged under 20; the youngest victim was an eight-year-old girl, and the oldest was a 51-year-old woman. Of the 22 victims, twenty were Britons and two were British-based Polish nationals.

 

North West Ambulance Service reported that 60 of its ambulances attended the scene, carried 59 people to local hospitals, and treated walking wounded on site.  Of those hospitalised, 12 were children under the age of 16.

 

The first doctor thought to have been on scene was an off-duty consultant anaesthetist, Michael Daley. In recognition of his bravery for the role he played in the immediate medical response to the incident, Daley's name was entered into the BMA's Book of Valour in June 2017.

 

The Attacker

 

The bomber, Salman Ramadan Abedi, was a 22-year-old British Muslim of Libyan ancestry. He was born in Manchester to a Salafi family of Libyan-born refugees who had settled in Manchester after fleeing to the UK to escape the government of Muammar Gaddafi.

 

He had two brothers and a sister. He grew up in Whalley Range and lived in Fallowfield. Neighbours described the Abedis as a very traditional and "super religious" family who attended Didsbury Mosque.

 

Abedi attended Wellacre Technology College, Burnage Academy for Boys and The Manchester College. A former tutor remarked that:

 

"Abedi was a very slow, uneducated

and passive person".

 

He was among a group of students at his high school who accused a teacher of Islamophobia for asking them what they thought of suicide bombers. He also reportedly said to his friends that being a suicide bomber "was OK" and fellow college students raised concerns about his behaviour.

 

Abedi's father was a member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a Salafi jihadist organisation proscribed by the United Nations, and father and son fought for the group in Libya in 2011 as part of the movement to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi.

 

Abedi's parents, both born in Tripoli, remained in Libya in 2011, while 17-year-old Abedi returned to live in the United Kingdom. He took a gap year in 2014, where he returned with his brother Hashem to Libya to live with his parents. Abedi was injured in Ajdabiya that year while fighting for an Islamist group.

 

The brothers were rescued from Tripoli by the Royal Navy survey ship HMS Enterprise in August 2014 as part of a group of 110 British citizens as the Libyan civil war erupted, taken to Malta and flown back to the UK.

 

According to a retired European intelligence officer, Abedi met with members of the ISIS Battar brigade in Libya, and continued to be in contact with the group upon his return to the UK.

 

An imam at Didsbury mosque recalled that Abedi looked at him "with hate" after he preached against ISIS and Ansar al-Sharia in 2015.

 

Abedi's sister said her brother was motivated by the injustice of Muslim children dying in bombings stemming from the American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War.

 

A family friend of the Abedi's also remarked that Salman had vowed revenge at the funeral of Abdul Wahab Hafidah, who was run over and stabbed to death by a Manchester gang in 2016 and was a friend of Salman and his younger brother Hashem. Hashem later co-ordinated the Manchester bombing with his brother.

 

According to an acquaintance in the UK, Abedi was "outgoing" and consumed alcohol, while another said that Abedi was a "regular kid who went out and drank" until about 2016. Abedi was also known to have used cannabis.

 

He enrolled at the University of Salford in September 2014, where he studied business administration, before dropping out to work in a bakery. Manchester police believe Abedi used student loans to finance the plot, including travel overseas to learn bomb-making.

 

The Guardian reported that despite dropping out from further education, he was still receiving student loan funding in April 2017. Abedi returned to Manchester on the 18th. May after a trip to Libya and bought bomb-making material, apparently constructing the acetone peroxide-based bomb by himself. Many members of the IS Battar brigade trained people in bomb-making in Libya.

 

He was known to British security services and police but was not regarded as a high risk, having been linked to petty crime but never flagged up for radical views.

 

A community worker told the BBC he had called a hotline five years before the bombing to warn police about Abedi's views and members of Britain's Libyan diaspora said they had "warned authorities for years" about Manchester's Islamist radicalisation.

 

Abedi was allegedly reported to authorities for his extremism by five community leaders and family members, and had been banned from a mosque; the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, however, said Abedi was not known to the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme.

 

On the 29th. May 2017, MI5 launched an internal inquiry into its handling of the warnings it had received about Abedi and a second, "more in depth" inquiry, into how it missed the danger.

 

On the 22nd. November 2018, a Parliamentary report said that MI5 had acted "too slowly" in its dealings with Abedi. The committee's report noted:

 

"What we can say is that there were a number

of failings in the handling of Salman Abedi's case.

While it is impossible to say whether these would

have prevented the devastating attack on the

22nd. May, we have concluded that as a result of

the failings, potential opportunities to prevent it

were missed."

 

Investigation Into the Bombing

 

The property in Fallowfield where Abedi lived was raided on the 23rd. May. Armed police breached the house with a controlled explosion and searched it. Abedi's 23-year-old brother was arrested in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in south Manchester in relation to the attack.

 

Police carried out raids in two other areas of south Manchester and another address in the Whalley Range area. Three other men were arrested, and police initially spoke of a network supporting the bomber; however they later announced that Abedi had sourced all the bomb components himself, and that they now believed he had largely acted alone. On the 6th. July, police said that they believed others had been aware of Abedi's plans.

 

According to German police sources, Abedi transited through Düsseldorf Airport on his way home to Manchester from Istanbul four days before the bombing. French interior minister Gérard Collomb said that Abedi may have been to Syria, and had "proven" links with IS.

 

Abedi's younger brother and father were arrested by Libyan security forces on the 23rd. and 24th. May respectively. The brother was suspected of planning an attack in Libya, and was said to be in regular touch with Salman, and was aware of the plan to bomb the Manchester Arena, but not the date.

 

According to a Libyan official, the brothers spoke on the phone about 15 minutes before the attack was carried out. On the 1st. November 2017, the UK requested Libya to extradite the bomber's younger brother, Hashem Abedi to the UK in order to face trial for complicity in the murder of the 22 people killed in the explosion.

 

Photographs of the remains of the IED published by The New York Times indicated that it had comprised an explosive charge inside a lightweight metal container which was carried within a black vest or a blue Karrimor backpack.

 

Most of the fatalities occurred in a ring around the bomber. His torso was propelled by the blast through the doors to the arena, indicating that the explosive charge was held in the backpack and blew him forward on detonation. A small device thought to have possibly been a hand-held detonator was also found.

 

The bomb contained the explosive TATP, which had been used in previous bombings. According to Manchester police, the explosive device used by Abedi was the design of a skilled bomb-maker and had a back-up means of detonation. Police also said that Salman Abedi bought most of the bomb components himself, and that he was alone during much of the time before carrying out the Manchester bombing.

 

On the 28th. May, police released images showing Abedi on the night of the bombing, taken from CCTV footage. Further images showed Abedi walking around Manchester with a blue suitcase.

 

According to US intelligence sources, Abedi was identified by the bank card that he had with him and the identification was confirmed using facial recognition technology.

 

A public inquiry into the attack was launched in September 2020. The first of three reports to be produced was a 200-page report published on the 17th. June 2021. It found that:

 

"There were a number of missed opportunities

to alter the course of what happened that night,

and more should have been done by police and

private security guards to prevent the bombing."

 

News Leaks

 

Within hours of the attack, Abedi's name and other information that had been given confidentially to security services in the United States and France was leaked to the news media. This led to condemnation from Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

 

Following the publication of crime scene photographs of the backpack bomb used in the attack in the 24th. May edition of The New York Times, UK counterterrorism police chiefs said the release of the material was detrimental to the investigation.

 

On the 25th. May, Greater Manchester Police said that it had stopped sharing information on the attack with the US intelligence services. Theresa May said she would make clear to President Trump that:

 

"Intelligence that has been

shared must be made secure."

 

Donald Trump described the leaks to the news media as "deeply troubling", and pledged to carry out a full investigation.

 

New York Times editor Dean Baquet declined to apologise for publishing the backpack bomb photographs, saying:

 

"We live in different press worlds.

The material was not classified at

the highest level."

 

On the 26th. May, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States government accepted responsibility for the leaks.

 

Links with the Muslim Brotherhood

 

According to a secret recording unveiled by the BBC, Mostafa Graf, the imam of the Didsbury Mosque where Salman Abedi and his family were regulars, made a call for armed jihad ten days before Abedi bought his concert ticket.

 

Following these revelations, the Manchester Police opened an investigation into the mosque and its imam, who also fought with a Libyan Islamist militia. Mostafa Graf is a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, an organisation founded by the Muslim Brotherhood and Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Al-Qaradawi is known for having claimed:

 

"Suicide bombings are a duty".

 

Haras Rafiq, head of the Quilliam think tank, told The Guardian that the Muslim Brotherhood runs the Didsbury Mosque.

 

The Didsbury Mosque is controlled by The Islamic Centre (Manchester), an English association headed by Dr. Haytham al-Khaffaf, who is also a director of the Human Relief Foundation, a Muslim Brotherhood organisation blacklisted for terrorism by Israel. Between 2015 and 2016, al-Khaffaf's Human Relief Foundation received over £1.5 million from the Qatar Charity, which is also subject to US counterterrorism surveillance.

 

Trial and Sentencing of Hashem Abedi

 

On the 17th. July 2019, Salman Abedi's brother Hashem was charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion. He had been arrested in Libya and extradited to the UK.

 

His trial began on the 5th. February 2020. On the 17th. March, Hashem Abedi was found guilty on 22 charges of murder, on the grounds that he had helped his brother to source the materials used in the bombing, and had assisted with the manufacture of the explosives which were used in the attack.

 

On the 20th. August, Hashem Abedi was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 55 years. The judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, said that sentencing rules prevented him from imposing a whole life order as Abedi had been 20 years old at the time of the offence. The minimum age for a whole life order is 21 years old. Abedi's 55-year minimum term is the longest minimum term ever imposed by a British court.

 

Ismail Abedi

 

In October 2021 it was reported that Salman Abedi's older brother Ismail had left the UK despite being summonsed by Sir John Saunders to testify before the public inquiry into the bombing. Saunders had refused Ismail Abedi's request for immunity from prosecution while testifying.

 

Ariana Grande

 

Ariana Grande posted on Twitter:

 

"Broken. from the bottom of my

heart, i am so so sorry. i don't

have words."

 

The tweet briefly became the most-liked tweet in history. Grande suspended her tour and flew back to her mother's home in Florida.

 

On the 9th. July 2017, a performance to benefit the Manchester bombing victims was held in New York City's The Cutting Room, called "Break Free: United for Manchester", with Broadway theatre and television performers interpreting Ariana Grande songs.

 

On the 4th. June, Ariana Grande hosted a benefit concert in Manchester, entitled "One Love Manchester" at Old Trafford Cricket Ground that was broadcast live on television, radio and social media.

 

At the concert, Grande performed along with several other high-profile artists. Free tickets were offered to those who had attended the show on the 22nd. May. The benefit concert and associated Red Cross fund raised £10 million for victims of the attack, and £17 million by August. New York's Vulture section ranked the event as the No. 1 concert of 2017.

 

The Kerslake Report

 

On the 27th. March 2018, a report by Bob Kerslake named the "Kerslake Report" was published. The report was an independent review into the preparedness for, and emergency response to, the Manchester Arena attack on the 22nd. May 2017.

 

In the report, Kerslake "largely praised" the Greater Manchester Police and British Transport Police, and noted that it was "fortuitous" that the North West Ambulance Service was unaware of the declaration of Operation Plato, a protocol under which all responders should have withdrawn from the arena in case of an active killer on the premises.

 

However, it found that the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was "brought to a point of paralysis" as their response was delayed for two hours due to poor communication between the firefighters' liaison officer and the police force.

 

The report was critical of Vodafone for the "catastrophic failure" of an emergency helpline hosted on a platform provided by Content Guru, saying that delays in getting information caused "significant stress and upset" to families.

 

It also expressed criticism of some news media, saying:

 

"To have experienced such intrusive and

overbearing behaviour at a time of such

enormous vulnerability seemed to us to

be completely and utterly unacceptable".

 

However, it was also noted that:

 

"We recognise that this was some, but by

no means all of the media, and that the

media also have a positive and important

role to play."

 

Memorial to the Bombing

 

The victims of the bombing are commemorated by The Glade of Light, a garden memorial located in Manchester city centre near Manchester Cathedral. The memorial opened to the public in January 2022.

 

The memorial was vandalised on the 9th. February 2022, causing £10,000 of damage. A 24-year-old man admitted to the offence in April and will be sentenced at a later date.

 

The 2018 Manchester Terror Attack

 

The Manchester Arena is next to Victoria Station, and in fact partly above it. Victoria Station witnessed a subsequent terror attack on the 31st. December 2018 at 20.52.

 

Mahdi Mohamud, a 25 year old man from Somalia stabbed three people in a knife attack at the station. He appears to have acted alone.

 

Mohamud shouted "Allah!" and "Long live the Caliphate!" during the attack, and "Allahu Akbar" after being arrested. A witness alleged that during the attack he also shouted a slogan criticising Western governments. BBC producer Sam Clack reported that he heard Mohamud saying:

 

"As long as you keep bombing other

countries this sort of s--- is going to

keep happening,"

 

Mohamud had lived in England for about 10 years, and resided in Manchester's Cheetham neighbourhood with his parents and siblings.

 

Two of the three victims, a couple in their 50's who had come into town to celebrate the New Year, were hospitalised with serious injuries. The third victim was a British Transport Police officer who received a stab wound to his shoulder.

 

Despite suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, Mohamud was convicted of a terror offence and the attempted murder of three people, due to his possession of significant amounts of extremist material and the attack's extensive planning. He pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder and a terror offence.

 

The perpetrator, who was initially detained under the Mental Health Act, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-security psychiatric hospital.

 

A Deadly Fire

 

So what else happened on the day that the card was posted?

 

Well, on the 30th. November 1903, fire destroyed the original Brooklyn Academy of Music building on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. One person was killed.

 

American Football Deaths

 

Also on that day, the Chicago Tribune reported that nineteen players had sustained fatal injuries during the 1903 American football season.

 

The Nadir of American Race Relations

 

Also on the 30th. November 1903, three African-American men – Phil Davis, Walter Carter and Clint Thomas – were lynched near Belcher, Louisiana for the shooting death of businessman Robert Adger.

 

The three men were allowed to pray before being hanged.

 

Louise-Marie Simon

 

The day also marked the birth in Paris of the French composer Louise-Marie Simon.

 

Louise, whose pseudonym was Claude Arrieu, died in 1990.

 

Madame Grès

 

Also born in Paris on that day was the French couturier and costume designer Madame Grès.

 

Madame Grès, who was born Germaine Émilie Krebs, died in 1993.

 

Joseph Kellogg

 

The 30th. November 1913 also marked the death of the Canadian-born American steamboat captain and businessman Joseph Kellogg.

 

Kellogg, who was born on the 12th. June 1812, died of old age at the age of 91. Joseph was laid to rest at the Greenwood Hills Cemetery, Portland, Oregon along with his wife Estella.

via Blogger ift.tt/2a3AWHI

Allah T’ala says in the Holy Quran,

     

إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللّهِ الإِسْلاَمُ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِينَ أُوْتُواْ الْكِتَابَ إِلاَّ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ وَمَن

   

يَكْفُرْ بِآيَاتِ اللّهِ فَإِنَّ اللّهِ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ

     

3:19 The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will): Nor did the People of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account.

The Arabic word “Deen” is not just religious rituals, it includes guidance and rules for social, economic, political, and other aspects of life.

  

In another place in the Holy Quran, Allah T’ala tells us:

  

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ادْخُلُواْ فِي السِّلْمِ كَآفَّةً وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

  

O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the evil one (Satan); for he is to you an avowed enemy. (2:208)

  

Enter into the fold of Islam fully. Islam is it! This is your home. Don’t look elsewhere for anything. Look it up right here in the fold of Islam and be happy and satisfied with it. Islam is the complete way of life and the only way for success.

  

We did begin our life on earth on Deen-ul-Islam, as one Ummah. We were an Islamic Muslim community. With time, atheists, idol-worshippers (Mushriks) and ascetics, materialists, servants of Satan came out of the Muslim community.

  

كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ اللّهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُواْ

   

فِيهِ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ فَهَدَى اللّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لِمَا اخْتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ مِنَ

   

الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِ وَاللّهُ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاء إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

    

2:213 Mankind was one single nation, and Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed; but the People of the Book, after the clear Signs came to them, did not differ among themselves, except through selfish contumacy. Allah by His Grace Guided the believers to the Truth, concerning that wherein they differed. For Allah guided whom He will to a path that is straight.

  

Allah T’ala sent Prophet Muhammad (s.a.a.w.) as a Mercy for the world and by the Grace of Allah T’ala, he successfully established one Islamic ummah. It stayed that way during the period of khulufa-ur-Rashidoon. But then soon after the martyrdom of Ali ibne Abi Talib (karamullah wajhu), the khilafah changed into kingship. That is when in the Ummah of Muhammad (s.a.a.w.), for the first time, Deen-ul-Islam was sliced as what the westerners call “Separation of Church and State.” That is when the focus of the people shifted from aspiring for Akhirah to worldly lusts and ambitions. So in the history, for example, you will find during the time of a caliph, houses became the topic of the town. In another caliph’s time, sex became the topic of the town.

  

All this happened at a time, when millions of people of the world have come into the fold of Islam and they needed proper Islamic education. The Muslim government was the best source to provide that education and it failed. No doubt, the task of educating the masses was taken up by great Imams, but obviously, it had its limitations.

 

These caliphs unfortunately, instead of leaving behind a Sadaqa-Jariah, left behind a Fitnahe-Jariah. What a terrible thing to do!

  

Be happy and grateful to Allah T’ala that you are not one of those. There is a blessing to be an ordinary person.

 

Muslim ummah remained in the hands of such caliphs for centuries. Great punishments thru crusaders and Mongols came to the ummah. Then came slavery and colonialism by the western powers. Eventually, freedom came, but what a freedom. Western powers left behind anti-Islamic systems of governments and their minions and cronies. That is how one can describe today’s governments of most of the Muslim countries.

  

When the system of government, the constitution, the by-laws, judgments and rulings in a country or community are not based on the Holy Quran and Sunnah, the rulers and administrators of that country or community are nothing but kafirs, Zalims and Fasiqs. That is not what I say. That is what Allah T’ala says.

  

Fourteen centuries ago, Allah T’ala revealed ayaat 44-47 in Surah Al-Maidah (Chapter 5), which speak about the deviations of the Jews and Christians. They were revealed for the Muslim ummah to learn a lesson and not fall into the same errors.

  

Ayat 44 in Surah 5 says:

   

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُواْ لِلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَالرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالأَحْبَارُ بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُواْ

   

مِن كِتَابِ اللّهِ وَكَانُواْ عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَاء فَلاَ تَخْشَوُاْ النَّاسَ وَا خْشَوْنِ وَلاَ تَشْتَرُواْ بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا

   

أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ

   

5:44 It was We who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah's will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah's book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are Unbelievers.

 

In the next Ayat, Allah T’ala says:

   

وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأ ُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

   

And if any fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are Zalimoon (wrong-doers, unjust, oppressors).

     

Then two verses down in Ayaat 47:

   

وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

   

If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are Fasiqoon (rebels, disobedients).

   

Kufr is unbelief. Kafir is unbeliever. Zulm is injustice and oppression. Oppression can be against others like you see violations of basic human rights committed by Muslim rulers and the so-called most civilized countries. Oppression can be self-oppression also. Oppression against one’s own self leads oneself into misery and punishment by Allah T’ala.Zulm can be so severe that it can put the person into the Jahannum. In Surah Luqman, Shirk is given as Zulmun-Azeem. And shirk is unforgivable sin. Fisq is disobedience. Fisq is rebellion, breaking the Law of Allah T’ala.Fisq can also be so great that it makes a person Kafir and puts him in Jahannum. When Allah T’ala ordered angels to prostrate to Adam (a.s.) and Shaitan refused to prostrate, as Allah T’ala says in Surah Kahf, Ayat 50, he committed Fisq.

   

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاء مِن دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ بِئْسَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ بَدَلًا

   

18:50 Behold! We said to the angels, "Bow down to Adam": They bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrong-doers!

     

It is evident that non-Muslim governments do not follow Islamic Shariah. We don’t expect them to, as they are disbelievers. The more serious problem is that Muslim countries are doing the same. Today, you will find secular Muslim governments, socialist Muslim governments, communist Muslim governments, Democratic Muslim governments, but hardly any Islamic Muslim government.

  

Muslim rulers, instead of prostrating to Allah T’ala, the One and Only Deity, prostrate to the false deities of democracy, secularism, nationalism, socialism, communism, the deities of their own lust and Baghi (iniquity). That has put the Muslim ummah into such a terrible state that we find it difficult to get back to the Straight path.

  

As the great poet of Islam, Allamah Iqbal said:

 

The one Sajdah that you find cumbersome, is the Sajdah that saves man from thousands of prostrations. The prostrations to democracy, secularism and the like have brought nothing but ruins to the Muslim Ummah. When Muslim countries leave Islamic Shariah, they are competing with non-Muslim countries in sin!

 

The ayaat of Surah Al-Maidah I have read to you are not just for rulers of nations and communities. They do apply on all of us. Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, "All of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards. The ruler is a guardian and responsible for his subjects; the man is a guardian and responsible for his family; the woman is a guardian and is responsible for her husbands house and his offspring; and so all of you are guardians and are responsible for your wards.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

 

We all have to worry about falling into the traps of kufr, zulm and fisq.Let us do our best to seek guidance in all affairs of our life from the Holy Quran and the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.a.w.).Standing still in the face of the wind of troubling time will push us back. Let us try to move forward. Let us read Quran for guidance, seek knowledge and act upon it.

 

May Allah T'ala forgive our sins and have a lot more of His Mercy on the Muslim Ummah. Ameen

    

#ALERT 'Hervé Gourdel' French Tourist Beheaded 'Trying to Cow & Bait ignorant dimmis [nonmuslims] : alqaeda #algerian terrorists 'Jund al-Khilafah' www.nydailynews.com/news/world/algerian-terrorists-behead...

 

The Postcard

 

A postally unused postcard bearing an early image of Manchester Royal Infirmary.

 

The Manchester Arena Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017, an Islamist extremist suicide bomber detonated a shrapnel-laden homemade bomb as people were leaving the Manchester Arena following a concert by American singer Ariana Grande.

 

Twenty-three people were killed, including the attacker, and 1,017 were injured, many of them children. Several hundred more suffered psychological trauma.

 

The bomber was Salman Ramadan Abedi, a 22-year-old local man of Libyan ancestry. After initial suspicions of a terrorist network, police later said that they believed Abedi had largely acted alone, but that others had been aware of his plans.

 

In March 2020, the bomber's brother, Hashem Abedi, was found guilty of 22 counts of murder and attempting to murder 1,017 others, and was sentenced to life in prison.

 

The incident was the deadliest terrorist attack and the first suicide bombing in the United Kingdom since the 7th. July 2005 London bombings.

 

The Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017 at 22:15 a member of the public reported Abedi, wearing black clothes and a large rucksack to Showsec security. A security guard observed Abedi, but said that he did not intervene in case his concerns about Abedi were wrong, and out of fear of being considered a racist.

 

The security guard tried to use his radio to alert the security control room, but was unable to get through.

 

Police officers on duty that night were subsequently criticised for their behaviour in the hours leading up to the atrocity - including a two-hour dinner break and a 10-mile round trip to buy a kebab.

 

At one point, when Abedi took his final trip through the station to his hiding place in the foyer, there were no BTP officers on duty in the area.

 

At 22:31 the suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device, packed with nuts and bolts to act as shrapnel, in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena.

 

The attack took place after a concert by American pop star Ariana Grande that was part of her Dangerous Woman Tour. 14,200 people had attended the concert.

 

Many exiting concert-goers and waiting parents were in the foyer at the time of the explosion. According to evidence presented at the coroner's inquest, the bomb was strong enough to kill people up to 20 metres (66 ft) away.

 

A report by inquiry chair John Saunders blamed “failings by individuals” for “missed opportunities” to detect and stop bomber Salman Abedi.

 

Saunders outlined a “litany” of failures by venue operators SMG, security firm Showsec and British Transport Police (BTP) - failures that include taking unauthorised two-hour meal breaks and ignoring members of the public who tried to raise the alarm:

 

-- Reconnaissance Oversights

 

Abedi went to the arena several times to carry out hostile reconnaissance in the run-up to the bombing, visiting on the 18th. and 21st. May, and also the afternoon on the day of the attack.

 

Although arena operator SMG and security firm Showsec “had experience of identifying and responding to potential hostile reconnaissance effectively”, the system for passing on information about suspicious behaviour was “insufficiently robust”.

 

If the Showsec staff on duty at the time, Kyle Lawler and Mohammed Agha - then aged 18 and 19 respectively - had been aware of previous reports of suspicious activity, “it would have increased the possibility” of Abedi being spotted.

 

Inquiry chair Saunders also notes that SMG could have extended the permitted security perimeter from the entrance doors of the arena to the City Room, the foyer where the bomb detonated. “Had permission to push out the perimeter been granted, an attack in the City Room would have been much less likely,” the report says.

 

-- Absence of Officers

 

Despite five officers being assigned to the arena on the night of the attack, “there was a complete absence of any BTP officer in the City Room” in the half hour before Abedi detonated the bomb. And no officers were policing the public areas of the venue between 8.58pm and 9.36pm.

 

The report found that BTP officers “took breaks substantially and unjustifiably” longer than their authorised one hour. Instructions to stagger breaks between 7.30pm and 9pm - when younger children could be leaving the venue - were also ignored.

 

The public inquiry into the attack had previously heard how two officers on duty at the concert, PC Jessica Bullough and PCSO Mark Renshaw, had taken a “two-hour-and-nine-minute dinner break to get a kebab five miles from the arena”. The Telegraph reported:

 

"Bullough has since admitted that were

she present on her shift as she should

have been, she would have likely stopped

Abedi and asked him what was in his bag”.

 

-- The CCTV Blindspot

 

Saunders' report says Abedi chose an “obvious hiding place” in a CCTV blindspot of the arena City Room foyer, having no doubt identified this area during his hostile reconnaissance:

 

“Had the area been covered by CCTV so that

there was no blind spot, it is likely this

behaviour by Abedi would have been identified

as suspicious by anyone monitoring the CCTV."

 

Giving evidence to the inquiry, Showsec security guard Agha said that he had noticed Abedi in the City Room, but only because he “liked the look” of Abedi's trainers.

 

-- Inadequate Patrols

 

The inquiry report says that:

 

"A further missed opportunity to spot Abedi

in the half hour before the bomb detonated

arose from the absence of an adequate

security patrol by Showsec at any stage

during this time”.

 

The supervisor charged with carrying out “pre-egress” checks, Jordan Beak, did so “only very briefly”, patrolling for about ten minutes, during which he just “looked towards the staircases up to the mezzanine area”, where Abedi was sitting:

 

The report notes:

 

“He did not consider them a very important

part of the check because it was not an

egress route. Mr Beak did not go up on to the

mezzanine area and so he did not see Abedi.

This was a significant missed opportunity.”

 

-- Concerns ‘Fobbed Off’

 

Saunders wrote that:

 

"The most striking missed opportunity, and the

one that is likely to have made a significant

difference, was an attempt by a member of the

public to raise concerns about Abedi after

becoming suspicious about the bomber's large

and obviously heavy backpack".

 

Christopher Wild told the inquiry how he had spotted Abedi while waiting for his 14-year-old daughter to leave the concert.

 

According to the BBC, Wild recalled how he approached Abedi and said:

 

“It doesn't look very good you know, what you

see with bombs and such, you with a rucksack

in a place like this, what are you doing?”

 

Abedi reportedly told Wild that he was “waiting for somebody, mate”, before asking what time it was.

 

Wild alerted security guard Agha about his suspicions around fifteen minutes before the blast. But according to the inquiry report:

 

"Agha did not take Christopher Wild’s

concerns as seriously as he should have”.

 

Wild felt that he had been “fobbed off” by the guard, who claimed to already be aware of Abedi. Agha is said to have made “inadequate” efforts to flag down his supervisor or pass on the message via his colleague Lawler, who had a radio.

 

Although Agha did share Wild’s concerns with Lawler, the latter “felt conflicted about what to do” and “stated he was fearful of being branded a racist and would be in trouble if he got it wrong”.

 

Lawler ultimately made an attempt to contact a senior supervisor through the radio, but couldn’t get through, and made no further efforts to communicate what he had been told to anyone else. Saunders wrote:

 

“The inadequacy of Mr Lawler’s response

was a product of his failure to take Mr Wild’s

concern and his own observations sufficiently

seriously. Mr Wild’s behaviour was very

responsible. He stated that he formed the

view that Abedi might let a bomb off.

That was sadly all too prescient, and makes

all the more distressing the fact that no effective

steps were taken as a result of his efforts.”

 

Aftermath of the Explosion

 

Three hours after the bombing, police conducted a controlled explosion on a suspicious item of clothing in Cathedral Gardens. This was later confirmed to have been abandoned clothing and not dangerous.

 

Residents and taxi companies in Manchester offered free transport or accommodation via Twitter to those left stranded at the concert.  Parents were separated from their children attending the concert in the aftermath of the explosion.

 

A nearby hotel served as a shelter for people displaced by the bombing, with officials directing separated parents and children there.  Manchester's Sikh temples along with local homeowners, hotels and venues offered shelter to survivors of the attack.

 

Manchester Victoria railway station, which is partly underneath the arena, was evacuated and closed, and services were cancelled. The explosion caused structural damage to the station, which remained closed until the damage had been assessed and repaired, resulting in disruption to train and tram services.

 

Victoria Station reopened eight days later, following the completion of police investigation work and repairs to the fabric of the building.

 

On the 23rd. May, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the UK's terror threat level had been raised to "critical", its highest level. 

 

In the aftermath of the attack, Operation Temperer was activated for the first time, allowing up to 5,000 soldiers to reinforce armed police in protecting parts of the country.

 

Tours of the Houses of Parliament and the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace were cancelled on 24 May, and troops were deployed to guard government buildings in London.

 

On the 23rd. May, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, via the Nashir Telegram channel, said the attack was carried out by "a soldier of the Khilafah". The message called the attack:

 

"An endeavor to terrorise the mushrikin,

and in response to their transgressions

against the lands of the Muslims."

 

Abedi's sister said that he was motivated by revenge for Muslim children killed by American airstrikes in Syria.

 

The Manchester Arena remained closed until September 2017, with scheduled concerts either cancelled or moved to other venues. It reopened on the 9th. September 2017, with a benefit concert featuring Noel Gallagher and other acts associated with North West England.

 

Later that month, Chris Parker, a homeless man who stole from victims of the attack whilst assisting them, was jailed for 4 years and three months.

 

Casualties of the Attack

 

The explosion killed the attacker and 22 concert-goers and parents who were in the entrance waiting to pick up their children following the show. 119 people were initially reported as injured. This number was revised by police to 250 on the 22nd. June, with the addition of severe psychological trauma and minor injuries.

 

During the public inquiry into the bombing, it was updated in December 2020 to 1,017 people sustaining injuries.

 

The dead included ten people aged under 20; the youngest victim was an eight-year-old girl, and the oldest was a 51-year-old woman. Of the 22 victims, twenty were Britons and two were British-based Polish nationals.

 

North West Ambulance Service reported that 60 of its ambulances attended the scene, carried 59 people to local hospitals, and treated walking wounded on site.  Of those hospitalised, 12 were children under the age of 16.

 

The first doctor thought to have been on scene was an off-duty consultant anaesthetist, Michael Daley. In recognition of his bravery for the role he played in the immediate medical response to the incident, Daley's name was entered into the BMA's Book of Valour in June 2017.

 

The Attacker

 

The bomber, Salman Ramadan Abedi, was a 22-year-old British Muslim of Libyan ancestry. He was born in Manchester to a Salafi family of Libyan-born refugees who had settled in Manchester after fleeing to the UK to escape the government of Muammar Gaddafi.

 

He had two brothers and a sister. He grew up in Whalley Range and lived in Fallowfield. Neighbours described the Abedis as a very traditional and "super religious" family who attended Didsbury Mosque.

 

Abedi attended Wellacre Technology College, Burnage Academy for Boys and The Manchester College. A former tutor remarked that:

 

"Abedi was a very slow, uneducated

and passive person".

 

He was among a group of students at his high school who accused a teacher of Islamophobia for asking them what they thought of suicide bombers. He also reportedly said to his friends that being a suicide bomber "was OK" and fellow college students raised concerns about his behaviour.

 

Abedi's father was a member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a Salafi jihadist organisation proscribed by the United Nations, and father and son fought for the group in Libya in 2011 as part of the movement to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi.

 

Abedi's parents, both born in Tripoli, remained in Libya in 2011, while 17-year-old Abedi returned to live in the United Kingdom. He took a gap year in 2014, where he returned with his brother Hashem to Libya to live with his parents. Abedi was injured in Ajdabiya that year while fighting for an Islamist group.

 

The brothers were rescued from Tripoli by the Royal Navy survey ship HMS Enterprise in August 2014 as part of a group of 110 British citizens as the Libyan civil war erupted, taken to Malta and flown back to the UK.

 

According to a retired European intelligence officer, Abedi met with members of the ISIS Battar brigade in Libya, and continued to be in contact with the group upon his return to the UK.

 

An imam at Didsbury mosque recalled that Abedi looked at him "with hate" after he preached against ISIS and Ansar al-Sharia in 2015.

 

Abedi's sister said her brother was motivated by the injustice of Muslim children dying in bombings stemming from the American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War.

 

A family friend of the Abedi's also remarked that Salman had vowed revenge at the funeral of Abdul Wahab Hafidah, who was run over and stabbed to death by a Manchester gang in 2016 and was a friend of Salman and his younger brother Hashem. Hashem later co-ordinated the Manchester bombing with his brother.

 

According to an acquaintance in the UK, Abedi was "outgoing" and consumed alcohol, while another said that Abedi was a "regular kid who went out and drank" until about 2016. Abedi was also known to have used cannabis.

 

He enrolled at the University of Salford in September 2014, where he studied business administration, before dropping out to work in a bakery. Manchester police believe Abedi used student loans to finance the plot, including travel overseas to learn bomb-making.

 

The Guardian reported that despite dropping out from further education, he was still receiving student loan funding in April 2017. Abedi returned to Manchester on the 18th. May after a trip to Libya and bought bomb-making material, apparently constructing the acetone peroxide-based bomb by himself. Many members of the IS Battar brigade trained people in bomb-making in Libya.

 

He was known to British security services and police but was not regarded as a high risk, having been linked to petty crime but never flagged up for radical views.

 

A community worker told the BBC he had called a hotline five years before the bombing to warn police about Abedi's views and members of Britain's Libyan diaspora said they had "warned authorities for years" about Manchester's Islamist radicalisation.

 

Abedi was allegedly reported to authorities for his extremism by five community leaders and family members, and had been banned from a mosque; the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, however, said Abedi was not known to the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme.

 

On the 29th. May 2017, MI5 launched an internal inquiry into its handling of the warnings it had received about Abedi and a second, "more in depth" inquiry, into how it missed the danger.

 

On the 22nd. November 2018, a Parliamentary report said that MI5 had acted "too slowly" in its dealings with Abedi. The committee's report noted:

 

"What we can say is that there were a number

of failings in the handling of Salman Abedi's case.

While it is impossible to say whether these would

have prevented the devastating attack on the

22nd. May, we have concluded that as a result of

the failings, potential opportunities to prevent it

were missed."

 

Investigation Into the Bombing

 

The property in Fallowfield where Abedi lived was raided on the 23rd. May. Armed police breached the house with a controlled explosion and searched it. Abedi's 23-year-old brother was arrested in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in south Manchester in relation to the attack.

 

Police carried out raids in two other areas of south Manchester and another address in the Whalley Range area. Three other men were arrested, and police initially spoke of a network supporting the bomber; however they later announced that Abedi had sourced all the bomb components himself, and that they now believed he had largely acted alone. On the 6th. July, police said that they believed others had been aware of Abedi's plans.

 

According to German police sources, Abedi transited through Düsseldorf Airport on his way home to Manchester from Istanbul four days before the bombing. French interior minister Gérard Collomb said that Abedi may have been to Syria, and had "proven" links with IS.

 

Abedi's younger brother and father were arrested by Libyan security forces on the 23rd. and 24th. May respectively. The brother was suspected of planning an attack in Libya, and was said to be in regular touch with Salman, and was aware of the plan to bomb the Manchester Arena, but not the date.

 

According to a Libyan official, the brothers spoke on the phone about 15 minutes before the attack was carried out. On the 1st. November 2017, the UK requested Libya to extradite the bomber's younger brother, Hashem Abedi to the UK in order to face trial for complicity in the murder of the 22 people killed in the explosion.

 

Photographs of the remains of the IED published by The New York Times indicated that it had comprised an explosive charge inside a lightweight metal container which was carried within a black vest or a blue Karrimor backpack.

 

Most of the fatalities occurred in a ring around the bomber. His torso was propelled by the blast through the doors to the arena, indicating that the explosive charge was held in the backpack and blew him forward on detonation. A small device thought to have possibly been a hand-held detonator was also found.

 

The bomb contained the explosive TATP, which had been used in previous bombings. According to Manchester police, the explosive device used by Abedi was the design of a skilled bomb-maker and had a back-up means of detonation. Police also said that Salman Abedi bought most of the bomb components himself, and that he was alone during much of the time before carrying out the Manchester bombing.

 

On the 28th. May, police released images showing Abedi on the night of the bombing, taken from CCTV footage. Further images showed Abedi walking around Manchester with a blue suitcase.

 

According to US intelligence sources, Abedi was identified by the bank card that he had with him and the identification was confirmed using facial recognition technology.

 

A public inquiry into the attack was launched in September 2020. The first of three reports to be produced was a 200-page report published on the 17th. June 2021. It found that:

 

"There were a number of missed opportunities

to alter the course of what happened that night,

and more should have been done by police and

private security guards to prevent the bombing."

 

News Leaks

 

Within hours of the attack, Abedi's name and other information that had been given confidentially to security services in the United States and France was leaked to the news media. This led to condemnation from Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

 

Following the publication of crime scene photographs of the backpack bomb used in the attack in the 24th. May edition of The New York Times, UK counterterrorism police chiefs said the release of the material was detrimental to the investigation.

 

On the 25th. May, Greater Manchester Police said that it had stopped sharing information on the attack with the US intelligence services. Theresa May said she would make clear to President Trump that:

 

"Intelligence that has been

shared must be made secure."

 

Donald Trump described the leaks to the news media as "deeply troubling", and pledged to carry out a full investigation.

 

New York Times editor Dean Baquet declined to apologise for publishing the backpack bomb photographs, saying:

 

"We live in different press worlds.

The material was not classified at

the highest level."

 

On the 26th. May, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States government accepted responsibility for the leaks.

 

Links with the Muslim Brotherhood

 

According to a secret recording unveiled by the BBC, Mostafa Graf, the imam of the Didsbury Mosque where Salman Abedi and his family were regulars, made a call for armed jihad ten days before Abedi bought his concert ticket.

 

Following these revelations, the Manchester Police opened an investigation into the mosque and its imam, who also fought with a Libyan Islamist militia. Mostafa Graf is a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, an organisation founded by the Muslim Brotherhood and Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Al-Qaradawi is known for having claimed:

 

"Suicide bombings are a duty".

 

Haras Rafiq, head of the Quilliam think tank, told The Guardian that the Muslim Brotherhood runs the Didsbury Mosque.

 

The Didsbury Mosque is controlled by The Islamic Centre (Manchester), an English association headed by Dr. Haytham al-Khaffaf, who is also a director of the Human Relief Foundation, a Muslim Brotherhood organisation blacklisted for terrorism by Israel. Between 2015 and 2016, al-Khaffaf's Human Relief Foundation received over £1.5 million from the Qatar Charity, which is also subject to US counterterrorism surveillance.

 

Trial and Sentencing of Hashem Abedi

 

On the 17th. July 2019, Salman Abedi's brother Hashem was charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion. He had been arrested in Libya and extradited to the UK.

 

His trial began on the 5th. February 2020. On the 17th. March, Hashem Abedi was found guilty on 22 charges of murder, on the grounds that he had helped his brother to source the materials used in the bombing, and had assisted with the manufacture of the explosives which were used in the attack.

 

On the 20th. August, Hashem Abedi was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 55 years. The judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, said that sentencing rules prevented him from imposing a whole life order as Abedi had been 20 years old at the time of the offence. The minimum age for a whole life order is 21 years old. Abedi's 55-year minimum term is the longest minimum term ever imposed by a British court.

 

Ismail Abedi

 

In October 2021 it was reported that Salman Abedi's older brother Ismail had left the UK despite being summonsed by Sir John Saunders to testify before the public inquiry into the bombing. Saunders had refused Ismail Abedi's request for immunity from prosecution while testifying.

 

Ariana Grande

 

Ariana Grande posted on Twitter:

 

"Broken. from the bottom of my

heart, i am so so sorry. i don't

have words."

 

The tweet briefly became the most-liked tweet in history. Grande suspended her tour and flew back to her mother's home in Florida.

 

On the 9th. July 2017, a performance to benefit the Manchester bombing victims was held in New York City's The Cutting Room, called "Break Free: United for Manchester", with Broadway theatre and television performers interpreting Ariana Grande songs.

 

On the 4th. June, Ariana Grande hosted a benefit concert in Manchester, entitled "One Love Manchester" at Old Trafford Cricket Ground that was broadcast live on television, radio and social media.

 

At the concert, Grande performed along with several other high-profile artists. Free tickets were offered to those who had attended the show on the 22nd. May. The benefit concert and associated Red Cross fund raised £10 million for victims of the attack, and £17 million by August. New York's Vulture section ranked the event as the No. 1 concert of 2017.

 

The Kerslake Report

 

On the 27th. March 2018, a report by Bob Kerslake named the "Kerslake Report" was published. The report was an independent review into the preparedness for, and emergency response to, the Manchester Arena attack on the 22nd. May 2017.

 

In the report, Kerslake "largely praised" the Greater Manchester Police and British Transport Police, and noted that it was "fortuitous" that the North West Ambulance Service was unaware of the declaration of Operation Plato, a protocol under which all responders should have withdrawn from the arena in case of an active killer on the premises.

 

However, it found that the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was "brought to a point of paralysis" as their response was delayed for two hours due to poor communication between the firefighters' liaison officer and the police force.

 

The report was critical of Vodafone for the "catastrophic failure" of an emergency helpline hosted on a platform provided by Content Guru, saying that delays in getting information caused "significant stress and upset" to families.

 

It also expressed criticism of some news media, saying:

 

"To have experienced such intrusive and

overbearing behaviour at a time of such

enormous vulnerability seemed to us to

be completely and utterly unacceptable".

 

However, it was also noted that:

 

"We recognise that this was some, but by

no means all of the media, and that the

media also have a positive and important

role to play."

 

Memorial to the Bombing

 

The victims of the bombing are commemorated by The Glade of Light, a garden memorial located in Manchester city centre near Manchester Cathedral. The memorial opened to the public in January 2022.

 

The memorial was vandalised on the 9th. February 2022, causing £10,000 of damage. A 24-year-old man admitted to the offence in April and will be sentenced at a later date.

 

The 2018 Manchester Terror Attack

 

The Manchester Arena is next to Victoria Station, and in fact partly above it. Victoria Station witnessed a subsequent terror attack on the 31st. December 2018 at 20.52.

 

Mahdi Mohamud, a 25 year old man from Somalia stabbed three people in a knife attack at the station. He appears to have acted alone.

 

Mohamud shouted "Allah!" and "Long live the Caliphate!" during the attack, and "Allahu Akbar" after being arrested. A witness alleged that during the attack he also shouted a slogan criticising Western governments. BBC producer Sam Clack reported that he heard Mohamud saying:

 

"As long as you keep bombing other

countries this sort of s--- is going to

keep happening,"

 

Mohamud had lived in England for about 10 years, and resided in Manchester's Cheetham neighbourhood with his parents and siblings.

 

Two of the three victims, a couple in their 50's who had come into town to celebrate the New Year, were hospitalised with serious injuries. The third victim was a British Transport Police officer who received a stab wound to his shoulder.

 

Despite suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, Mohamud was convicted of a terror offence and the attempted murder of three people, due to his possession of significant amounts of extremist material and the attack's extensive planning. He pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder and a terror offence.

 

The perpetrator, who was initially detained under the Mental Health Act, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-security psychiatric hospital.

 

The Second Inquiry into the Arena Bombing

 

On the 3rd. November 2022, inquiry chair Sir John Saunders issued a second report into the atrocity. Within the 884 pages he said that the emergency services failed to communicate properly in response to the incident, stemming from 'failures to prepare.'

 

He concluded that "Failing" emergency services thought a terror attack "could never happen" before the Manchester Arena bombing.

 

Sir John Saunders said the majority of those who died were so badly injured they could not have survived. However, it is believed that two of the 22 fatalities could have recovered if they had received better medical care.

 

Pointing the finger at leaders of the police, fire and ambulance services, he said:

 

“On the night of the attack, multi‐agency

communication between the three

emergency services was non‐existent.

That failure played a major part in what

went wrong.”

 

He added:

 

“There had been failures to prepare. There

had been inadequacies in training.

Well-established principles had not been

ingrained in practice.

Why was that? Partly it was because, despite

the fact that the threat of a terrorist attack was

at a very high level on the 22nd. May 2017, no

one really thought it could happen to them.”

 

The report also paid tribute to the “heroic” actions of ordinary members of the public who joined police and security and medical teams trying to save lives in a “war zone”.

 

Sir John said that two fatalities, John Atkinson, 28, and the youngest victim, eight year old Saffie-Rose Roussos, did have a chance of survival. Sir John said:

 

“I have concluded that one of those who

died, John Atkinson would probably have

survived had the emergency response

been better.”

 

He added:

 

“In the case of Saffie Rose Roussos, I have

concluded that there was a remote possibility

that she could have been saved if the rescue

operation had been conducted differently.”

 

The inquiry heard that only three paramedics went into the City Room after the attack. Crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service took more than two hours to attend the Arena.

 

Sir John added:

 

“GMP (Greater Manchester Police) did not

lead the response in accordance with the

guidance that it had been given or parts of

its own plans.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

(GMFRS) failed to turn up at the scene at a

time when they could provide the greatest

assistance.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) failed

to send sufficient paramedics into the City

Room.

NWAS did not use available stretchers to

remove casualties in a safe way, and did not

communicate their intentions sufficiently to

those who were in the City Room.”

 

Despite highlighting a series of failings, he said that:

 

"There were some parts of the emergency

response that worked well, and that no doubt

lives were saved”.

 

Paying tribute to those who helped the victims, he said:

 

“The heroism shown by very many people

that night is striking. I have seen the terrible

footage from the CCTV and body-worn video

cameras of the scene of devastation in the City

Room.

The description of that area as being like a

“warzone” was used by a number of witnesses.

That is an accurate description. To enter the

City Room or remain there to help victims

required great courage.”

 

Sir John added:

 

“At the centre of my Inquiry is the terrible loss

of twenty two lives. Each family and each person

at the Arena has a deeply personal story to tell

about the impact of the attack on them.

My report cannot change what has happened.

My intention is to uncover what went wrong and

find ways of improving practices so that no one

has to suffer such terrible pain and loss again.”

 

The report also stated that responsibility for the deaths lies with suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, and his brother Hashem, 25, who is serving life behind bars for his part in the plot.

 

The inquiry found that the brothers had “planned to cause as much harm to as many people as they could" when Abedi exploded his home made device.

 

The Postcard

 

A postcard published by Hunt of Manchester which was posted in Manchester on the 12th. September 1904 to:

 

Miss Shardlow,

23, St. Ann's Well Road,

Nottingham

 

The message on the back of the card was as follows:

 

"Dear Lizzie,

Lovely day for the event,

exciting times in the city.

Home tonight.

With love, P.B."

 

The Manchester Arena Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017, an Islamist extremist suicide bomber detonated a shrapnel-laden homemade bomb as people were leaving the Manchester Arena following a concert by American singer Ariana Grande.

 

Twenty-three people were killed, including the attacker, and 1,017 were injured, many of them children. Several hundred more suffered psychological trauma.

 

The bomber was Salman Ramadan Abedi, a 22-year-old local man of Libyan ancestry. After initial suspicions of a terrorist network, police later said that they believed Abedi had largely acted alone, but that others had been aware of his plans.

 

In March 2020, the bomber's brother, Hashem Abedi, was found guilty of 22 counts of murder and attempting to murder 1,017 others, and was sentenced to life in prison.

 

The incident was the deadliest terrorist attack and the first suicide bombing in the United Kingdom since the 7th. July 2005 London bombings.

 

The Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017 at 22:15 a member of the public reported Abedi, wearing black clothes and a large rucksack to Showsec security. A security guard observed Abedi, but said that he did not intervene in case his concerns about Abedi were wrong, and out of fear of being considered a racist.

 

The security guard tried to use his radio to alert the security control room, but was unable to get through.

 

Police officers on duty that night were subsequently criticised for their behaviour in the hours leading up to the atrocity - including a two-hour dinner break and a 10-mile round trip to buy a kebab.

 

At one point, when Abedi took his final trip through the station to his hiding place in the foyer, there were no BTP officers on duty in the area.

 

At 22:31 the suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device, packed with nuts and bolts to act as shrapnel, in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena.

 

The attack took place after a concert by American pop star Ariana Grande that was part of her Dangerous Woman Tour. 14,200 people had attended the concert.

 

Many exiting concert-goers and waiting parents were in the foyer at the time of the explosion. According to evidence presented at the coroner's inquest, the bomb was strong enough to kill people up to 20 metres (66 ft) away.

 

A report by inquiry chair John Saunders blamed “failings by individuals” for “missed opportunities” to detect and stop bomber Salman Abedi.

 

Saunders outlined a “litany” of failures by venue operators SMG, security firm Showsec and British Transport Police (BTP) - failures that include taking unauthorised two-hour meal breaks and ignoring members of the public who tried to raise the alarm:

 

-- Reconnaissance Oversights

 

Abedi went to the arena several times to carry out hostile reconnaissance in the run-up to the bombing, visiting on the 18th. and 21st. May, and also the afternoon on the day of the attack.

 

Although arena operator SMG and security firm Showsec “had experience of identifying and responding to potential hostile reconnaissance effectively”, the system for passing on information about suspicious behaviour was “insufficiently robust”.

 

If the Showsec staff on duty at the time, Kyle Lawler and Mohammed Agha - then aged 18 and 19 respectively - had been aware of previous reports of suspicious activity, “it would have increased the possibility” of Abedi being spotted.

 

Inquiry chair Saunders also notes that SMG could have extended the permitted security perimeter from the entrance doors of the arena to the City Room, the foyer where the bomb detonated. “Had permission to push out the perimeter been granted, an attack in the City Room would have been much less likely,” the report says.

 

-- Absence of Officers

 

Despite five officers being assigned to the arena on the night of the attack, “there was a complete absence of any BTP officer in the City Room” in the half hour before Abedi detonated the bomb. And no officers were policing the public areas of the venue between 8.58pm and 9.36pm.

 

The report found that BTP officers “took breaks substantially and unjustifiably” longer than their authorised one hour. Instructions to stagger breaks between 7.30pm and 9pm - when younger children could be leaving the venue - were also ignored.

 

The public inquiry into the attack had previously heard how two officers on duty at the concert, PC Jessica Bullough and PCSO Mark Renshaw, had taken a “two-hour-and-nine-minute dinner break to get a kebab five miles from the arena”. The Telegraph reported:

 

"Bullough has since admitted that were

she present on her shift as she should

have been, she would have likely stopped

Abedi and asked him what was in his bag”.

 

-- The CCTV Blindspot

 

Saunders' report says Abedi chose an “obvious hiding place” in a CCTV blindspot of the arena City Room foyer, having no doubt identified this area during his hostile reconnaissance:

 

“Had the area been covered by CCTV so that

there was no blind spot, it is likely this

behaviour by Abedi would have been identified

as suspicious by anyone monitoring the CCTV."

 

Giving evidence to the inquiry, Showsec security guard Agha said that he had noticed Abedi in the City Room, but only because he “liked the look” of Abedi's trainers.

 

-- Inadequate Patrols

 

The inquiry report says that:

 

"A further missed opportunity to spot Abedi

in the half hour before the bomb detonated

arose from the absence of an adequate

security patrol by Showsec at any stage

during this time”.

 

The supervisor charged with carrying out “pre-egress” checks, Jordan Beak, did so “only very briefly”, patrolling for about ten minutes, during which he just “looked towards the staircases up to the mezzanine area”, where Abedi was sitting:

 

The report notes:

 

“He did not consider them a very important

part of the check because it was not an

egress route. Mr Beak did not go up on to the

mezzanine area and so he did not see Abedi.

This was a significant missed opportunity.”

 

-- Concerns ‘Fobbed Off’

 

Saunders wrote that:

 

"The most striking missed opportunity, and the

one that is likely to have made a significant

difference, was an attempt by a member of the

public to raise concerns about Abedi after

becoming suspicious about the bomber's large

and obviously heavy backpack".

 

Christopher Wild told the inquiry how he had spotted Abedi while waiting for his 14-year-old daughter to leave the concert.

 

According to the BBC, Wild recalled how he approached Abedi and said:

 

“It doesn't look very good you know, what you

see with bombs and such, you with a rucksack

in a place like this, what are you doing?”

 

Abedi reportedly told Wild that he was “waiting for somebody, mate”, before asking what time it was.

 

Wild alerted security guard Agha about his suspicions around fifteen minutes before the blast. But according to the inquiry report:

 

"Agha did not take Christopher Wild’s

concerns as seriously as he should have”.

 

Wild felt that he had been “fobbed off” by the guard, who claimed to already be aware of Abedi. Agha is said to have made “inadequate” efforts to flag down his supervisor or pass on the message via his colleague Lawler, who had a radio.

 

Although Agha did share Wild’s concerns with Lawler, the latter “felt conflicted about what to do” and “stated he was fearful of being branded a racist and would be in trouble if he got it wrong”.

 

Lawler ultimately made an attempt to contact a senior supervisor through the radio, but couldn’t get through, and made no further efforts to communicate what he had been told to anyone else. Saunders wrote:

 

“The inadequacy of Mr Lawler’s response

was a product of his failure to take Mr Wild’s

concern and his own observations sufficiently

seriously. Mr Wild’s behaviour was very

responsible. He stated that he formed the

view that Abedi might let a bomb off.

That was sadly all too prescient, and makes

all the more distressing the fact that no effective

steps were taken as a result of his efforts.”

 

Aftermath of the Explosion

 

Three hours after the bombing, police conducted a controlled explosion on a suspicious item of clothing in Cathedral Gardens. This was later confirmed to have been abandoned clothing and not dangerous.

 

Residents and taxi companies in Manchester offered free transport or accommodation via Twitter to those left stranded at the concert.  Parents were separated from their children attending the concert in the aftermath of the explosion.

 

A nearby hotel served as a shelter for people displaced by the bombing, with officials directing separated parents and children there.  Manchester's Sikh temples along with local homeowners, hotels and venues offered shelter to survivors of the attack.

 

Manchester Victoria railway station, which is partly underneath the arena, was evacuated and closed, and services were cancelled. The explosion caused structural damage to the station, which remained closed until the damage had been assessed and repaired, resulting in disruption to train and tram services.

 

Victoria Station reopened eight days later, following the completion of police investigation work and repairs to the fabric of the building.

 

On the 23rd. May, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the UK's terror threat level had been raised to "critical", its highest level. 

 

In the aftermath of the attack, Operation Temperer was activated for the first time, allowing up to 5,000 soldiers to reinforce armed police in protecting parts of the country.

 

Tours of the Houses of Parliament and the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace were cancelled on 24 May, and troops were deployed to guard government buildings in London.

 

On the 23rd. May, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, via the Nashir Telegram channel, said the attack was carried out by "a soldier of the Khilafah". The message called the attack:

 

"An endeavor to terrorise the mushrikin,

and in response to their transgressions

against the lands of the Muslims."

 

Abedi's sister said that he was motivated by revenge for Muslim children killed by American airstrikes in Syria.

 

The Manchester Arena remained closed until September 2017, with scheduled concerts either cancelled or moved to other venues. It reopened on the 9th. September 2017, with a benefit concert featuring Noel Gallagher and other acts associated with North West England.

 

Later that month, Chris Parker, a homeless man who stole from victims of the attack whilst assisting them, was jailed for 4 years and three months.

 

Casualties of the Attack

 

The explosion killed the attacker and 22 concert-goers and parents who were in the entrance waiting to pick up their children following the show. 119 people were initially reported as injured. This number was revised by police to 250 on the 22nd. June, with the addition of severe psychological trauma and minor injuries.

 

During the public inquiry into the bombing, it was updated in December 2020 to 1,017 people sustaining injuries.

 

The dead included ten people aged under 20; the youngest victim was an eight-year-old girl, and the oldest was a 51-year-old woman. Of the 22 victims, twenty were Britons and two were British-based Polish nationals.

 

North West Ambulance Service reported that 60 of its ambulances attended the scene, carried 59 people to local hospitals, and treated walking wounded on site.  Of those hospitalised, 12 were children under the age of 16.

 

The first doctor thought to have been on scene was an off-duty consultant anaesthetist, Michael Daley. In recognition of his bravery for the role he played in the immediate medical response to the incident, Daley's name was entered into the BMA's Book of Valour in June 2017.

 

The Attacker

 

The bomber, Salman Ramadan Abedi, was a 22-year-old British Muslim of Libyan ancestry. He was born in Manchester to a Salafi family of Libyan-born refugees who had settled in Manchester after fleeing to the UK to escape the government of Muammar Gaddafi.

 

He had two brothers and a sister. He grew up in Whalley Range and lived in Fallowfield. Neighbours described the Abedis as a very traditional and "super religious" family who attended Didsbury Mosque.

 

Abedi attended Wellacre Technology College, Burnage Academy for Boys and The Manchester College. A former tutor remarked that:

 

"Abedi was a very slow, uneducated

and passive person".

 

He was among a group of students at his high school who accused a teacher of Islamophobia for asking them what they thought of suicide bombers. He also reportedly said to his friends that being a suicide bomber "was OK" and fellow college students raised concerns about his behaviour.

 

Abedi's father was a member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a Salafi jihadist organisation proscribed by the United Nations, and father and son fought for the group in Libya in 2011 as part of the movement to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi.

 

Abedi's parents, both born in Tripoli, remained in Libya in 2011, while 17-year-old Abedi returned to live in the United Kingdom. He took a gap year in 2014, where he returned with his brother Hashem to Libya to live with his parents. Abedi was injured in Ajdabiya that year while fighting for an Islamist group.

 

The brothers were rescued from Tripoli by the Royal Navy survey ship HMS Enterprise in August 2014 as part of a group of 110 British citizens as the Libyan civil war erupted, taken to Malta and flown back to the UK.

 

According to a retired European intelligence officer, Abedi met with members of the ISIS Battar brigade in Libya, and continued to be in contact with the group upon his return to the UK.

 

An imam at Didsbury mosque recalled that Abedi looked at him "with hate" after he preached against ISIS and Ansar al-Sharia in 2015.

 

Abedi's sister said her brother was motivated by the injustice of Muslim children dying in bombings stemming from the American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War.

 

A family friend of the Abedi's also remarked that Salman had vowed revenge at the funeral of Abdul Wahab Hafidah, who was run over and stabbed to death by a Manchester gang in 2016 and was a friend of Salman and his younger brother Hashem. Hashem later co-ordinated the Manchester bombing with his brother.

 

According to an acquaintance in the UK, Abedi was "outgoing" and consumed alcohol, while another said that Abedi was a "regular kid who went out and drank" until about 2016. Abedi was also known to have used cannabis.

 

He enrolled at the University of Salford in September 2014, where he studied business administration, before dropping out to work in a bakery. Manchester police believe Abedi used student loans to finance the plot, including travel overseas to learn bomb-making.

 

The Guardian reported that despite dropping out from further education, he was still receiving student loan funding in April 2017. Abedi returned to Manchester on the 18th. May after a trip to Libya and bought bomb-making material, apparently constructing the acetone peroxide-based bomb by himself. Many members of the IS Battar brigade trained people in bomb-making in Libya.

 

He was known to British security services and police but was not regarded as a high risk, having been linked to petty crime but never flagged up for radical views.

 

A community worker told the BBC he had called a hotline five years before the bombing to warn police about Abedi's views and members of Britain's Libyan diaspora said they had "warned authorities for years" about Manchester's Islamist radicalisation.

 

Abedi was allegedly reported to authorities for his extremism by five community leaders and family members, and had been banned from a mosque; the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, however, said Abedi was not known to the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme.

 

On the 29th. May 2017, MI5 launched an internal inquiry into its handling of the warnings it had received about Abedi and a second, "more in depth" inquiry, into how it missed the danger.

 

On the 22nd. November 2018, a Parliamentary report said that MI5 had acted "too slowly" in its dealings with Abedi. The committee's report noted:

 

"What we can say is that there were a number

of failings in the handling of Salman Abedi's case.

While it is impossible to say whether these would

have prevented the devastating attack on the

22nd. May, we have concluded that as a result of

the failings, potential opportunities to prevent it

were missed."

 

Investigation Into the Bombing

 

The property in Fallowfield where Abedi lived was raided on the 23rd. May. Armed police breached the house with a controlled explosion and searched it. Abedi's 23-year-old brother was arrested in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in south Manchester in relation to the attack.

 

Police carried out raids in two other areas of south Manchester and another address in the Whalley Range area. Three other men were arrested, and police initially spoke of a network supporting the bomber; however they later announced that Abedi had sourced all the bomb components himself, and that they now believed he had largely acted alone. On the 6th. July, police said that they believed others had been aware of Abedi's plans.

 

According to German police sources, Abedi transited through Düsseldorf Airport on his way home to Manchester from Istanbul four days before the bombing. French interior minister Gérard Collomb said that Abedi may have been to Syria, and had "proven" links with IS.

 

Abedi's younger brother and father were arrested by Libyan security forces on the 23rd. and 24th. May respectively. The brother was suspected of planning an attack in Libya, and was said to be in regular touch with Salman, and was aware of the plan to bomb the Manchester Arena, but not the date.

 

According to a Libyan official, the brothers spoke on the phone about 15 minutes before the attack was carried out. On the 1st. November 2017, the UK requested Libya to extradite the bomber's younger brother, Hashem Abedi to the UK in order to face trial for complicity in the murder of the 22 people killed in the explosion.

 

Photographs of the remains of the IED published by The New York Times indicated that it had comprised an explosive charge inside a lightweight metal container which was carried within a black vest or a blue Karrimor backpack.

 

Most of the fatalities occurred in a ring around the bomber. His torso was propelled by the blast through the doors to the arena, indicating that the explosive charge was held in the backpack and blew him forward on detonation. A small device thought to have possibly been a hand-held detonator was also found.

 

The bomb contained the explosive TATP, which had been used in previous bombings. According to Manchester police, the explosive device used by Abedi was the design of a skilled bomb-maker and had a back-up means of detonation. Police also said that Salman Abedi bought most of the bomb components himself, and that he was alone during much of the time before carrying out the Manchester bombing.

 

On the 28th. May, police released images showing Abedi on the night of the bombing, taken from CCTV footage. Further images showed Abedi walking around Manchester with a blue suitcase.

 

According to US intelligence sources, Abedi was identified by the bank card that he had with him and the identification was confirmed using facial recognition technology.

 

A public inquiry into the attack was launched in September 2020. The first of three reports to be produced was a 200-page report published on the 17th. June 2021. It found that:

 

"There were a number of missed opportunities

to alter the course of what happened that night,

and more should have been done by police and

private security guards to prevent the bombing."

 

News Leaks

 

Within hours of the attack, Abedi's name and other information that had been given confidentially to security services in the United States and France was leaked to the news media. This led to condemnation from Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

 

Following the publication of crime scene photographs of the backpack bomb used in the attack in the 24th. May edition of The New York Times, UK counterterrorism police chiefs said the release of the material was detrimental to the investigation.

 

On the 25th. May, Greater Manchester Police said that it had stopped sharing information on the attack with the US intelligence services. Theresa May said she would make clear to President Trump that:

 

"Intelligence that has been

shared must be made secure."

 

Donald Trump described the leaks to the news media as "deeply troubling", and pledged to carry out a full investigation.

 

New York Times editor Dean Baquet declined to apologise for publishing the backpack bomb photographs, saying:

 

"We live in different press worlds.

The material was not classified at

the highest level."

 

On the 26th. May, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States government accepted responsibility for the leaks.

 

Links with the Muslim Brotherhood

 

According to a secret recording unveiled by the BBC, Mostafa Graf, the imam of the Didsbury Mosque where Salman Abedi and his family were regulars, made a call for armed jihad ten days before Abedi bought his concert ticket.

 

Following these revelations, the Manchester Police opened an investigation into the mosque and its imam, who also fought with a Libyan Islamist militia. Mostafa Graf is a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, an organisation founded by the Muslim Brotherhood and Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Al-Qaradawi is known for having claimed:

 

"Suicide bombings are a duty".

 

Haras Rafiq, head of the Quilliam think tank, told The Guardian that the Muslim Brotherhood runs the Didsbury Mosque.

 

The Didsbury Mosque is controlled by The Islamic Centre (Manchester), an English association headed by Dr. Haytham al-Khaffaf, who is also a director of the Human Relief Foundation, a Muslim Brotherhood organisation blacklisted for terrorism by Israel. Between 2015 and 2016, al-Khaffaf's Human Relief Foundation received over £1.5 million from the Qatar Charity, which is also subject to US counterterrorism surveillance.

 

Trial and Sentencing of Hashem Abedi

 

On the 17th. July 2019, Salman Abedi's brother Hashem was charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion. He had been arrested in Libya and extradited to the UK.

 

His trial began on the 5th. February 2020. On the 17th. March, Hashem Abedi was found guilty on 22 charges of murder, on the grounds that he had helped his brother to source the materials used in the bombing, and had assisted with the manufacture of the explosives which were used in the attack.

 

On the 20th. August, Hashem Abedi was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 55 years. The judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, said that sentencing rules prevented him from imposing a whole life order as Abedi had been 20 years old at the time of the offence. The minimum age for a whole life order is 21 years old. Abedi's 55-year minimum term is the longest minimum term ever imposed by a British court.

 

Ismail Abedi

 

In October 2021 it was reported that Salman Abedi's older brother Ismail had left the UK despite being summonsed by Sir John Saunders to testify before the public inquiry into the bombing. Saunders had refused Ismail Abedi's request for immunity from prosecution while testifying.

 

Ariana Grande

 

Ariana Grande posted on Twitter:

 

"Broken. from the bottom of my

heart, i am so so sorry. i don't

have words."

 

The tweet briefly became the most-liked tweet in history. Grande suspended her tour and flew back to her mother's home in Florida.

 

On the 9th. July 2017, a performance to benefit the Manchester bombing victims was held in New York City's The Cutting Room, called "Break Free: United for Manchester", with Broadway theatre and television performers interpreting Ariana Grande songs.

 

On the 4th. June, Ariana Grande hosted a benefit concert in Manchester, entitled "One Love Manchester" at Old Trafford Cricket Ground that was broadcast live on television, radio and social media.

 

At the concert, Grande performed along with several other high-profile artists. Free tickets were offered to those who had attended the show on the 22nd. May. The benefit concert and associated Red Cross fund raised £10 million for victims of the attack, and £17 million by August. New York's Vulture section ranked the event as the No. 1 concert of 2017.

 

The Kerslake Report

 

On the 27th. March 2018, a report by Bob Kerslake named the "Kerslake Report" was published. The report was an independent review into the preparedness for, and emergency response to, the Manchester Arena attack on the 22nd. May 2017.

 

In the report, Kerslake "largely praised" the Greater Manchester Police and British Transport Police, and noted that it was "fortuitous" that the North West Ambulance Service was unaware of the declaration of Operation Plato, a protocol under which all responders should have withdrawn from the arena in case of an active killer on the premises.

 

However, it found that the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was "brought to a point of paralysis" as their response was delayed for two hours due to poor communication between the firefighters' liaison officer and the police force.

 

The report was critical of Vodafone for the "catastrophic failure" of an emergency helpline hosted on a platform provided by Content Guru, saying that delays in getting information caused "significant stress and upset" to families.

 

It also expressed criticism of some news media, saying:

 

"To have experienced such intrusive and

overbearing behaviour at a time of such

enormous vulnerability seemed to us to

be completely and utterly unacceptable".

 

However, it was also noted that:

 

"We recognise that this was some, but by

no means all of the media, and that the

media also have a positive and important

role to play."

 

Memorial to the Bombing

 

The victims of the bombing are commemorated by The Glade of Light, a garden memorial located in Manchester city centre near Manchester Cathedral. The memorial opened to the public in January 2022.

 

The memorial was vandalised on the 9th. February 2022, causing £10,000 of damage. A 24-year-old man admitted to the offence in April and will be sentenced at a later date.

 

The 2018 Manchester Terror Attack

 

The Manchester Arena is next to Victoria Station, and in fact partly above it. Victoria Station witnessed a subsequent terror attack on the 31st. December 2018 at 20.52.

 

Mahdi Mohamud, a 25 year old man from Somalia stabbed three people in a knife attack at the station. He appears to have acted alone.

 

Mohamud shouted "Allah!" and "Long live the Caliphate!" during the attack, and "Allahu Akbar" after being arrested. A witness alleged that during the attack he also shouted a slogan criticising Western governments. BBC producer Sam Clack reported that he heard Mohamud saying:

 

"As long as you keep bombing other

countries this sort of s--- is going to

keep happening,"

 

Mohamud had lived in England for about 10 years, and resided in Manchester's Cheetham neighbourhood with his parents and siblings.

 

Two of the three victims, a couple in their 50's who had come into town to celebrate the New Year, were hospitalised with serious injuries. The third victim was a British Transport Police officer who received a stab wound to his shoulder.

 

Despite suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, Mohamud was convicted of a terror offence and the attempted murder of three people, due to his possession of significant amounts of extremist material and the attack's extensive planning. He pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder and a terror offence.

 

The perpetrator, who was initially detained under the Mental Health Act, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-security psychiatric hospital.

 

The Second Inquiry into the Arena Bombing

 

On the 3rd. November 2022, inquiry chair Sir John Saunders issued a second report into the atrocity. Within the 884 pages he said that the emergency services failed to communicate properly in response to the incident, stemming from 'failures to prepare.'

 

He concluded that "Failing" emergency services thought a terror attack "could never happen" before the Manchester Arena bombing.

 

Sir John Saunders said the majority of those who died were so badly injured they could not have survived. However, it is believed that two of the 22 fatalities could have recovered if they had received better medical care.

 

Pointing the finger at leaders of the police, fire and ambulance services, he said:

 

“On the night of the attack, multi‐agency

communication between the three

emergency services was non‐existent.

That failure played a major part in what

went wrong.”

 

He added:

 

“There had been failures to prepare. There

had been inadequacies in training.

Well-established principles had not been

ingrained in practice.

Why was that? Partly it was because, despite

the fact that the threat of a terrorist attack was

at a very high level on the 22nd. May 2017, no

one really thought it could happen to them.”

 

The report also paid tribute to the “heroic” actions of ordinary members of the public who joined police and security and medical teams trying to save lives in a “war zone”.

 

Sir John said that two fatalities, John Atkinson, 28, and the youngest victim, eight year old Saffie-Rose Roussos, did have a chance of survival. Sir John said:

 

“I have concluded that one of those who

died, John Atkinson would probably have

survived had the emergency response

been better.”

 

He added:

 

“In the case of Saffie Rose Roussos, I have

concluded that there was a remote possibility

that she could have been saved if the rescue

operation had been conducted differently.”

 

The inquiry heard that only three paramedics went into the City Room after the attack. Crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service took more than two hours to attend the Arena.

 

Sir John added:

 

“GMP (Greater Manchester Police) did not

lead the response in accordance with the

guidance that it had been given or parts of

its own plans.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

(GMFRS) failed to turn up at the scene at a

time when they could provide the greatest

assistance.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) failed

to send sufficient paramedics into the City

Room.

NWAS did not use available stretchers to

remove casualties in a safe way, and did not

communicate their intentions sufficiently to

those who were in the City Room.”

 

Despite highlighting a series of failings, he said that:

 

"There were some parts of the emergency

response that worked well, and that no doubt

lives were saved”.

 

Paying tribute to those who helped the victims, he said:

 

“The heroism shown by very many people

that night is striking. I have seen the terrible

footage from the CCTV and body-worn video

cameras of the scene of devastation in the City

Room.

The description of that area as being like a

“warzone” was used by a number of witnesses.

That is an accurate description. To enter the

City Room or remain there to help victims

required great courage.”

 

Sir John added:

 

“At the centre of my Inquiry is the terrible loss

of twenty two lives. Each family and each person

at the Arena has a deeply personal story to tell

about the impact of the attack on them.

My report cannot change what has happened.

My intention is to uncover what went wrong and

find ways of improving practices so that no one

has to suffer such terrible pain and loss again.”

 

The report also stated that responsibility for the deaths lies with suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, and his brother Hashem, 25, who is serving life behind bars for his part in the plot.

 

The inquiry found that the brothers had “planned to cause as much harm to as many people as they could" when Abedi exploded his home made device.

 

The Postcard

 

A postally unused postcard bearing an early image of the Manchester Royal Exchange.

 

The Manchester Arena Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017, an Islamist extremist suicide bomber detonated a shrapnel-laden homemade bomb as people were leaving the Manchester Arena following a concert by American singer Ariana Grande.

 

Twenty-three people were killed, including the attacker, and 1,017 were injured, many of them children. Several hundred more suffered psychological trauma.

 

The bomber was Salman Ramadan Abedi, a 22-year-old local man of Libyan ancestry. After initial suspicions of a terrorist network, police later said that they believed Abedi had largely acted alone, but that others had been aware of his plans.

 

In March 2020, the bomber's brother, Hashem Abedi, was found guilty of 22 counts of murder and attempting to murder 1,017 others, and was sentenced to life in prison.

 

The incident was the deadliest terrorist attack and the first suicide bombing in the United Kingdom since the 7th. July 2005 London bombings.

 

The Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017 at 22:15 a member of the public reported Abedi, wearing black clothes and a large rucksack to Showsec security. A security guard observed Abedi, but said that he did not intervene in case his concerns about Abedi were wrong, and out of fear of being considered a racist.

 

The security guard tried to use his radio to alert the security control room, but was unable to get through.

 

Police officers on duty that night were subsequently criticised for their behaviour in the hours leading up to the atrocity - including a two-hour dinner break and a 10-mile round trip to buy a kebab.

 

At one point, when Abedi took his final trip through the station to his hiding place in the foyer, there were no BTP officers on duty in the area.

 

At 22:31 the suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device, packed with nuts and bolts to act as shrapnel, in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena.

 

The attack took place after a concert by American pop star Ariana Grande that was part of her Dangerous Woman Tour. 14,200 people had attended the concert.

 

Many exiting concert-goers and waiting parents were in the foyer at the time of the explosion. According to evidence presented at the coroner's inquest, the bomb was strong enough to kill people up to 20 metres (66 ft) away.

 

A report by inquiry chair John Saunders blamed “failings by individuals” for “missed opportunities” to detect and stop bomber Salman Abedi.

 

Saunders outlined a “litany” of failures by venue operators SMG, security firm Showsec and British Transport Police (BTP) - failures that include taking unauthorised two-hour meal breaks and ignoring members of the public who tried to raise the alarm:

 

-- Reconnaissance Oversights

 

Abedi went to the arena several times to carry out hostile reconnaissance in the run-up to the bombing, visiting on the 18th. and 21st. May, and also the afternoon on the day of the attack.

 

Although arena operator SMG and security firm Showsec “had experience of identifying and responding to potential hostile reconnaissance effectively”, the system for passing on information about suspicious behaviour was “insufficiently robust”.

 

If the Showsec staff on duty at the time, Kyle Lawler and Mohammed Agha - then aged 18 and 19 respectively - had been aware of previous reports of suspicious activity, “it would have increased the possibility” of Abedi being spotted.

 

Inquiry chair Saunders also notes that SMG could have extended the permitted security perimeter from the entrance doors of the arena to the City Room, the foyer where the bomb detonated. “Had permission to push out the perimeter been granted, an attack in the City Room would have been much less likely,” the report says.

 

-- Absence of Officers

 

Despite five officers being assigned to the arena on the night of the attack, “there was a complete absence of any BTP officer in the City Room” in the half hour before Abedi detonated the bomb. And no officers were policing the public areas of the venue between 8.58pm and 9.36pm.

 

The report found that BTP officers “took breaks substantially and unjustifiably” longer than their authorised one hour. Instructions to stagger breaks between 7.30pm and 9pm - when younger children could be leaving the venue - were also ignored.

 

The public inquiry into the attack had previously heard how two officers on duty at the concert, PC Jessica Bullough and PCSO Mark Renshaw, had taken a “two-hour-and-nine-minute dinner break to get a kebab five miles from the arena”. The Telegraph reported:

 

"Bullough has since admitted that were

she present on her shift as she should

have been, she would have likely stopped

Abedi and asked him what was in his bag”.

 

-- The CCTV Blindspot

 

Saunders' report says Abedi chose an “obvious hiding place” in a CCTV blindspot of the arena City Room foyer, having no doubt identified this area during his hostile reconnaissance:

 

“Had the area been covered by CCTV so that

there was no blind spot, it is likely this

behaviour by Abedi would have been identified

as suspicious by anyone monitoring the CCTV."

 

Giving evidence to the inquiry, Showsec security guard Agha said that he had noticed Abedi in the City Room, but only because he “liked the look” of Abedi's trainers.

 

-- Inadequate Patrols

 

The inquiry report says that:

 

"A further missed opportunity to spot Abedi

in the half hour before the bomb detonated

arose from the absence of an adequate

security patrol by Showsec at any stage

during this time”.

 

The supervisor charged with carrying out “pre-egress” checks, Jordan Beak, did so “only very briefly”, patrolling for about ten minutes, during which he just “looked towards the staircases up to the mezzanine area”, where Abedi was sitting:

 

The report notes:

 

“He did not consider them a very important

part of the check because it was not an

egress route. Mr Beak did not go up on to the

mezzanine area and so he did not see Abedi.

This was a significant missed opportunity.”

 

-- Concerns ‘Fobbed Off’

 

Saunders wrote that:

 

"The most striking missed opportunity, and the

one that is likely to have made a significant

difference, was an attempt by a member of the

public to raise concerns about Abedi after

becoming suspicious about the bomber's large

and obviously heavy backpack".

 

Christopher Wild told the inquiry how he had spotted Abedi while waiting for his 14-year-old daughter to leave the concert.

 

According to the BBC, Wild recalled how he approached Abedi and said:

 

“It doesn't look very good you know, what you

see with bombs and such, you with a rucksack

in a place like this, what are you doing?”

 

Abedi reportedly told Wild that he was “waiting for somebody, mate”, before asking what time it was.

 

Wild alerted security guard Agha about his suspicions around fifteen minutes before the blast. But according to the inquiry report:

 

"Agha did not take Christopher Wild’s

concerns as seriously as he should have”.

 

Wild felt that he had been “fobbed off” by the guard, who claimed to already be aware of Abedi. Agha is said to have made “inadequate” efforts to flag down his supervisor or pass on the message via his colleague Lawler, who had a radio.

 

Although Agha did share Wild’s concerns with Lawler, the latter “felt conflicted about what to do” and “stated he was fearful of being branded a racist and would be in trouble if he got it wrong”.

 

Lawler ultimately made an attempt to contact a senior supervisor through the radio, but couldn’t get through, and made no further efforts to communicate what he had been told to anyone else. Saunders wrote:

 

“The inadequacy of Mr Lawler’s response

was a product of his failure to take Mr Wild’s

concern and his own observations sufficiently

seriously. Mr Wild’s behaviour was very

responsible. He stated that he formed the

view that Abedi might let a bomb off.

That was sadly all too prescient, and makes

all the more distressing the fact that no effective

steps were taken as a result of his efforts.”

 

Aftermath of the Explosion

 

Three hours after the bombing, police conducted a controlled explosion on a suspicious item of clothing in Cathedral Gardens. This was later confirmed to have been abandoned clothing and not dangerous.

 

Residents and taxi companies in Manchester offered free transport or accommodation via Twitter to those left stranded at the concert.  Parents were separated from their children attending the concert in the aftermath of the explosion.

 

A nearby hotel served as a shelter for people displaced by the bombing, with officials directing separated parents and children there.  Manchester's Sikh temples along with local homeowners, hotels and venues offered shelter to survivors of the attack.

 

Manchester Victoria railway station, which is partly underneath the arena, was evacuated and closed, and services were cancelled. The explosion caused structural damage to the station, which remained closed until the damage had been assessed and repaired, resulting in disruption to train and tram services.

 

Victoria Station reopened eight days later, following the completion of police investigation work and repairs to the fabric of the building.

 

On the 23rd. May, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the UK's terror threat level had been raised to "critical", its highest level. 

 

In the aftermath of the attack, Operation Temperer was activated for the first time, allowing up to 5,000 soldiers to reinforce armed police in protecting parts of the country.

 

Tours of the Houses of Parliament and the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace were cancelled on 24 May, and troops were deployed to guard government buildings in London.

 

On the 23rd. May, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, via the Nashir Telegram channel, said the attack was carried out by "a soldier of the Khilafah". The message called the attack:

 

"An endeavor to terrorise the mushrikin,

and in response to their transgressions

against the lands of the Muslims."

 

Abedi's sister said that he was motivated by revenge for Muslim children killed by American airstrikes in Syria.

 

The Manchester Arena remained closed until September 2017, with scheduled concerts either cancelled or moved to other venues. It reopened on the 9th. September 2017, with a benefit concert featuring Noel Gallagher and other acts associated with North West England.

 

Later that month, Chris Parker, a homeless man who stole from victims of the attack whilst assisting them, was jailed for 4 years and three months.

 

Casualties of the Attack

 

The explosion killed the attacker and 22 concert-goers and parents who were in the entrance waiting to pick up their children following the show. 119 people were initially reported as injured. This number was revised by police to 250 on the 22nd. June, with the addition of severe psychological trauma and minor injuries.

 

During the public inquiry into the bombing, it was updated in December 2020 to 1,017 people sustaining injuries.

 

The dead included ten people aged under 20; the youngest victim was an eight-year-old girl, and the oldest was a 51-year-old woman. Of the 22 victims, twenty were Britons and two were British-based Polish nationals.

 

North West Ambulance Service reported that 60 of its ambulances attended the scene, carried 59 people to local hospitals, and treated walking wounded on site.  Of those hospitalised, 12 were children under the age of 16.

 

The first doctor thought to have been on scene was an off-duty consultant anaesthetist, Michael Daley. In recognition of his bravery for the role he played in the immediate medical response to the incident, Daley's name was entered into the BMA's Book of Valour in June 2017.

 

The Attacker

 

The bomber, Salman Ramadan Abedi, was a 22-year-old British Muslim of Libyan ancestry. He was born in Manchester to a Salafi family of Libyan-born refugees who had settled in Manchester after fleeing to the UK to escape the government of Muammar Gaddafi.

 

He had two brothers and a sister. He grew up in Whalley Range and lived in Fallowfield. Neighbours described the Abedis as a very traditional and "super religious" family who attended Didsbury Mosque.

 

Abedi attended Wellacre Technology College, Burnage Academy for Boys and The Manchester College. A former tutor remarked that:

 

"Abedi was a very slow, uneducated

and passive person".

 

He was among a group of students at his high school who accused a teacher of Islamophobia for asking them what they thought of suicide bombers. He also reportedly said to his friends that being a suicide bomber "was OK" and fellow college students raised concerns about his behaviour.

 

Abedi's father was a member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a Salafi jihadist organisation proscribed by the United Nations, and father and son fought for the group in Libya in 2011 as part of the movement to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi.

 

Abedi's parents, both born in Tripoli, remained in Libya in 2011, while 17-year-old Abedi returned to live in the United Kingdom. He took a gap year in 2014, where he returned with his brother Hashem to Libya to live with his parents. Abedi was injured in Ajdabiya that year while fighting for an Islamist group.

 

The brothers were rescued from Tripoli by the Royal Navy survey ship HMS Enterprise in August 2014 as part of a group of 110 British citizens as the Libyan civil war erupted, taken to Malta and flown back to the UK.

 

According to a retired European intelligence officer, Abedi met with members of the ISIS Battar brigade in Libya, and continued to be in contact with the group upon his return to the UK.

 

An imam at Didsbury mosque recalled that Abedi looked at him "with hate" after he preached against ISIS and Ansar al-Sharia in 2015.

 

Abedi's sister said her brother was motivated by the injustice of Muslim children dying in bombings stemming from the American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War.

 

A family friend of the Abedi's also remarked that Salman had vowed revenge at the funeral of Abdul Wahab Hafidah, who was run over and stabbed to death by a Manchester gang in 2016 and was a friend of Salman and his younger brother Hashem. Hashem later co-ordinated the Manchester bombing with his brother.

 

According to an acquaintance in the UK, Abedi was "outgoing" and consumed alcohol, while another said that Abedi was a "regular kid who went out and drank" until about 2016. Abedi was also known to have used cannabis.

 

He enrolled at the University of Salford in September 2014, where he studied business administration, before dropping out to work in a bakery. Manchester police believe Abedi used student loans to finance the plot, including travel overseas to learn bomb-making.

 

The Guardian reported that despite dropping out from further education, he was still receiving student loan funding in April 2017. Abedi returned to Manchester on the 18th. May after a trip to Libya and bought bomb-making material, apparently constructing the acetone peroxide-based bomb by himself. Many members of the IS Battar brigade trained people in bomb-making in Libya.

 

He was known to British security services and police but was not regarded as a high risk, having been linked to petty crime but never flagged up for radical views.

 

A community worker told the BBC he had called a hotline five years before the bombing to warn police about Abedi's views and members of Britain's Libyan diaspora said they had "warned authorities for years" about Manchester's Islamist radicalisation.

 

Abedi was allegedly reported to authorities for his extremism by five community leaders and family members, and had been banned from a mosque; the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, however, said Abedi was not known to the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme.

 

On the 29th. May 2017, MI5 launched an internal inquiry into its handling of the warnings it had received about Abedi and a second, "more in depth" inquiry, into how it missed the danger.

 

On the 22nd. November 2018, a Parliamentary report said that MI5 had acted "too slowly" in its dealings with Abedi. The committee's report noted:

 

"What we can say is that there were a number

of failings in the handling of Salman Abedi's case.

While it is impossible to say whether these would

have prevented the devastating attack on the

22nd. May, we have concluded that as a result of

the failings, potential opportunities to prevent it

were missed."

 

Investigation Into the Bombing

 

The property in Fallowfield where Abedi lived was raided on the 23rd. May. Armed police breached the house with a controlled explosion and searched it. Abedi's 23-year-old brother was arrested in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in south Manchester in relation to the attack.

 

Police carried out raids in two other areas of south Manchester and another address in the Whalley Range area. Three other men were arrested, and police initially spoke of a network supporting the bomber; however they later announced that Abedi had sourced all the bomb components himself, and that they now believed he had largely acted alone. On the 6th. July, police said that they believed others had been aware of Abedi's plans.

 

According to German police sources, Abedi transited through Düsseldorf Airport on his way home to Manchester from Istanbul four days before the bombing. French interior minister Gérard Collomb said that Abedi may have been to Syria, and had "proven" links with IS.

 

Abedi's younger brother and father were arrested by Libyan security forces on the 23rd. and 24th. May respectively. The brother was suspected of planning an attack in Libya, and was said to be in regular touch with Salman, and was aware of the plan to bomb the Manchester Arena, but not the date.

 

According to a Libyan official, the brothers spoke on the phone about 15 minutes before the attack was carried out. On the 1st. November 2017, the UK requested Libya to extradite the bomber's younger brother, Hashem Abedi to the UK in order to face trial for complicity in the murder of the 22 people killed in the explosion.

 

Photographs of the remains of the IED published by The New York Times indicated that it had comprised an explosive charge inside a lightweight metal container which was carried within a black vest or a blue Karrimor backpack.

 

Most of the fatalities occurred in a ring around the bomber. His torso was propelled by the blast through the doors to the arena, indicating that the explosive charge was held in the backpack and blew him forward on detonation. A small device thought to have possibly been a hand-held detonator was also found.

 

The bomb contained the explosive TATP, which had been used in previous bombings. According to Manchester police, the explosive device used by Abedi was the design of a skilled bomb-maker and had a back-up means of detonation. Police also said that Salman Abedi bought most of the bomb components himself, and that he was alone during much of the time before carrying out the Manchester bombing.

 

On the 28th. May, police released images showing Abedi on the night of the bombing, taken from CCTV footage. Further images showed Abedi walking around Manchester with a blue suitcase.

 

According to US intelligence sources, Abedi was identified by the bank card that he had with him and the identification was confirmed using facial recognition technology.

 

A public inquiry into the attack was launched in September 2020. The first of three reports to be produced was a 200-page report published on the 17th. June 2021. It found that:

 

"There were a number of missed opportunities

to alter the course of what happened that night,

and more should have been done by police and

private security guards to prevent the bombing."

 

News Leaks

 

Within hours of the attack, Abedi's name and other information that had been given confidentially to security services in the United States and France was leaked to the news media. This led to condemnation from Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

 

Following the publication of crime scene photographs of the backpack bomb used in the attack in the 24th. May edition of The New York Times, UK counterterrorism police chiefs said the release of the material was detrimental to the investigation.

 

On the 25th. May, Greater Manchester Police said that it had stopped sharing information on the attack with the US intelligence services. Theresa May said she would make clear to President Trump that:

 

"Intelligence that has been

shared must be made secure."

 

Donald Trump described the leaks to the news media as "deeply troubling", and pledged to carry out a full investigation.

 

New York Times editor Dean Baquet declined to apologise for publishing the backpack bomb photographs, saying:

 

"We live in different press worlds.

The material was not classified at

the highest level."

 

On the 26th. May, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States government accepted responsibility for the leaks.

 

Links with the Muslim Brotherhood

 

According to a secret recording unveiled by the BBC, Mostafa Graf, the imam of the Didsbury Mosque where Salman Abedi and his family were regulars, made a call for armed jihad ten days before Abedi bought his concert ticket.

 

Following these revelations, the Manchester Police opened an investigation into the mosque and its imam, who also fought with a Libyan Islamist militia. Mostafa Graf is a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, an organisation founded by the Muslim Brotherhood and Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Al-Qaradawi is known for having claimed:

 

"Suicide bombings are a duty".

 

Haras Rafiq, head of the Quilliam think tank, told The Guardian that the Muslim Brotherhood runs the Didsbury Mosque.

 

The Didsbury Mosque is controlled by The Islamic Centre (Manchester), an English association headed by Dr. Haytham al-Khaffaf, who is also a director of the Human Relief Foundation, a Muslim Brotherhood organisation blacklisted for terrorism by Israel. Between 2015 and 2016, al-Khaffaf's Human Relief Foundation received over £1.5 million from the Qatar Charity, which is also subject to US counterterrorism surveillance.

 

Trial and Sentencing of Hashem Abedi

 

On the 17th. July 2019, Salman Abedi's brother Hashem was charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion. He had been arrested in Libya and extradited to the UK.

 

His trial began on the 5th. February 2020. On the 17th. March, Hashem Abedi was found guilty on 22 charges of murder, on the grounds that he had helped his brother to source the materials used in the bombing, and had assisted with the manufacture of the explosives which were used in the attack.

 

On the 20th. August, Hashem Abedi was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 55 years. The judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, said that sentencing rules prevented him from imposing a whole life order as Abedi had been 20 years old at the time of the offence. The minimum age for a whole life order is 21 years old. Abedi's 55-year minimum term is the longest minimum term ever imposed by a British court.

 

Ismail Abedi

 

In October 2021 it was reported that Salman Abedi's older brother Ismail had left the UK despite being summonsed by Sir John Saunders to testify before the public inquiry into the bombing. Saunders had refused Ismail Abedi's request for immunity from prosecution while testifying.

 

Ariana Grande

 

Ariana Grande posted on Twitter:

 

"Broken. from the bottom of my

heart, i am so so sorry. i don't

have words."

 

The tweet briefly became the most-liked tweet in history. Grande suspended her tour and flew back to her mother's home in Florida.

 

On the 9th. July 2017, a performance to benefit the Manchester bombing victims was held in New York City's The Cutting Room, called "Break Free: United for Manchester", with Broadway theatre and television performers interpreting Ariana Grande songs.

 

On the 4th. June, Ariana Grande hosted a benefit concert in Manchester, entitled "One Love Manchester" at Old Trafford Cricket Ground that was broadcast live on television, radio and social media.

 

At the concert, Grande performed along with several other high-profile artists. Free tickets were offered to those who had attended the show on the 22nd. May. The benefit concert and associated Red Cross fund raised £10 million for victims of the attack, and £17 million by August. New York's Vulture section ranked the event as the No. 1 concert of 2017.

 

The Kerslake Report

 

On the 27th. March 2018, a report by Bob Kerslake named the "Kerslake Report" was published. The report was an independent review into the preparedness for, and emergency response to, the Manchester Arena attack on the 22nd. May 2017.

 

In the report, Kerslake "largely praised" the Greater Manchester Police and British Transport Police, and noted that it was "fortuitous" that the North West Ambulance Service was unaware of the declaration of Operation Plato, a protocol under which all responders should have withdrawn from the arena in case of an active killer on the premises.

 

However, it found that the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was "brought to a point of paralysis" as their response was delayed for two hours due to poor communication between the firefighters' liaison officer and the police force.

 

The report was critical of Vodafone for the "catastrophic failure" of an emergency helpline hosted on a platform provided by Content Guru, saying that delays in getting information caused "significant stress and upset" to families.

 

It also expressed criticism of some news media, saying:

 

"To have experienced such intrusive and

overbearing behaviour at a time of such

enormous vulnerability seemed to us to

be completely and utterly unacceptable".

 

However, it was also noted that:

 

"We recognise that this was some, but by

no means all of the media, and that the

media also have a positive and important

role to play."

 

Memorial to the Bombing

 

The victims of the bombing are commemorated by The Glade of Light, a garden memorial located in Manchester city centre near Manchester Cathedral. The memorial opened to the public in January 2022.

 

The memorial was vandalised on the 9th. February 2022, causing £10,000 of damage. A 24-year-old man admitted to the offence in April and will be sentenced at a later date.

 

The 2018 Manchester Terror Attack

 

The Manchester Arena is next to Victoria Station, and in fact partly above it. Victoria Station witnessed a subsequent terror attack on the 31st. December 2018 at 20.52.

 

Mahdi Mohamud, a 25 year old man from Somalia stabbed three people in a knife attack at the station. He appears to have acted alone.

 

Mohamud shouted "Allah!" and "Long live the Caliphate!" during the attack, and "Allahu Akbar" after being arrested. A witness alleged that during the attack he also shouted a slogan criticising Western governments. BBC producer Sam Clack reported that he heard Mohamud saying:

 

"As long as you keep bombing other

countries this sort of s--- is going to

keep happening,"

 

Mohamud had lived in England for about 10 years, and resided in Manchester's Cheetham neighbourhood with his parents and siblings.

 

Two of the three victims, a couple in their 50's who had come into town to celebrate the New Year, were hospitalised with serious injuries. The third victim was a British Transport Police officer who received a stab wound to his shoulder.

 

Despite suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, Mohamud was convicted of a terror offence and the attempted murder of three people, due to his possession of significant amounts of extremist material and the attack's extensive planning. He pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder and a terror offence.

 

The perpetrator, who was initially detained under the Mental Health Act, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-security psychiatric hospital.

 

The Second Inquiry into the Arena Bombing

 

On the 3rd. November 2022, inquiry chair Sir John Saunders issued a second report into the atrocity. Within the 884 pages he said that the emergency services failed to communicate properly in response to the incident, stemming from 'failures to prepare.'

 

He concluded that "Failing" emergency services thought a terror attack "could never happen" before the Manchester Arena bombing.

 

Sir John Saunders said the majority of those who died were so badly injured they could not have survived. However, it is believed that two of the 22 fatalities could have recovered if they had received better medical care.

 

Pointing the finger at leaders of the police, fire and ambulance services, he said:

 

“On the night of the attack, multi‐agency

communication between the three

emergency services was non‐existent.

That failure played a major part in what

went wrong.”

 

He added:

 

“There had been failures to prepare. There

had been inadequacies in training.

Well-established principles had not been

ingrained in practice.

Why was that? Partly it was because, despite

the fact that the threat of a terrorist attack was

at a very high level on the 22nd. May 2017, no

one really thought it could happen to them.”

 

The report also paid tribute to the “heroic” actions of ordinary members of the public who joined police and security and medical teams trying to save lives in a “war zone”.

 

Sir John said that two fatalities, John Atkinson, 28, and the youngest victim, eight year old Saffie-Rose Roussos, did have a chance of survival. Sir John said:

 

“I have concluded that one of those who

died, John Atkinson would probably have

survived had the emergency response

been better.”

 

He added:

 

“In the case of Saffie Rose Roussos, I have

concluded that there was a remote possibility

that she could have been saved if the rescue

operation had been conducted differently.”

 

The inquiry heard that only three paramedics went into the City Room after the attack. Crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service took more than two hours to attend the Arena.

 

Sir John added:

 

“GMP (Greater Manchester Police) did not

lead the response in accordance with the

guidance that it had been given or parts of

its own plans.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

(GMFRS) failed to turn up at the scene at a

time when they could provide the greatest

assistance.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) failed

to send sufficient paramedics into the City

Room.

NWAS did not use available stretchers to

remove casualties in a safe way, and did not

communicate their intentions sufficiently to

those who were in the City Room.”

 

Despite highlighting a series of failings, he said that:

 

"There were some parts of the emergency

response that worked well, and that no doubt

lives were saved”.

 

Paying tribute to those who helped the victims, he said:

 

“The heroism shown by very many people

that night is striking. I have seen the terrible

footage from the CCTV and body-worn video

cameras of the scene of devastation in the City

Room.

The description of that area as being like a

“warzone” was used by a number of witnesses.

That is an accurate description. To enter the

City Room or remain there to help victims

required great courage.”

 

Sir John added:

 

“At the centre of my Inquiry is the terrible loss

of twenty two lives. Each family and each person

at the Arena has a deeply personal story to tell

about the impact of the attack on them.

My report cannot change what has happened.

My intention is to uncover what went wrong and

find ways of improving practices so that no one

has to suffer such terrible pain and loss again.”

 

The report also stated that responsibility for the deaths lies with suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, and his brother Hashem, 25, who is serving life behind bars for his part in the plot.

 

The inquiry found that the brothers had “planned to cause as much harm to as many people as they could" when Abedi exploded his home made device.

 

A Valentine's Series postcard which was posted in Manchester on the 13th. September 1906 to:

 

Miss Windsor,

7 Brazil Street,

Holderness Road,

Hull

 

The message on the back of the card was as follows:

 

"Dear Claudia,

I hope Ida is better.

I am enjoying myself

very much.

Love from Marnie."

 

The Manchester Arena Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017, an Islamist extremist suicide bomber detonated a large shrapnel-laden homemade bomb as people were leaving the Manchester Arena following a concert by American singer Ariana Grande.

 

Twenty-three people were killed, including the attacker, and 1,017 were injured, many of them children. Several hundred more suffered psychological trauma.

 

The bomber was Salman Ramadan Abedi, a 22-year-old local man of Libyan ancestry. After initial suspicions of a terrorist network, police later said that they believed Abedi had largely acted alone, but that others had been aware of his plans.

 

In March 2020, the bomber's brother, Hashem Abedi, was found guilty of 22 counts of murder and attempting to murder 1,017 others, and was sentenced to life in prison.

 

The incident was the deadliest terrorist attack and the first suicide bombing in the United Kingdom since the 7th. July 2005 London bombings.

 

-- The Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017 at 22:15 a member of the public reported Abedi, wearing black clothes and a large rucksack to Showsec security. A security guard observed Abedi, but said that he did not intervene in case his concerns about Abedi were wrong, and out of fear of being considered a racist.

 

The security guard tried to use his radio to alert the security control room, but was unable to get through.

 

Police officers on duty that night were subsequently criticised for their behaviour in the hours leading up to the atrocity - including a two-hour dinner break and a 10-mile round trip to buy a kebab.

 

At one point, when Abedi took his final trip through the station to his hiding place in the foyer, there were no BTP officers on duty in the area.

 

At 22:31 the suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device, packed with nuts and bolts to act as shrapnel, in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena.

 

The attack took place after a concert by American pop star Ariana Grande that was part of her Dangerous Woman Tour. 14,200 people had attended the concert.

 

Many exiting concert-goers and waiting parents were in the foyer at the time of the explosion. According to evidence presented at the coroner's inquest, the bomb was strong enough to kill people up to 20 metres (66 ft) away.

 

A report by inquiry chair John Saunders blamed “failings by individuals” for “missed opportunities” to detect and stop bomber Salman Abedi.

 

Saunders outlined a “litany” of failures by venue operators SMG, security firm Showsec and British Transport Police (BTP) - failures that include taking unauthorised two-hour meal breaks and ignoring members of the public who tried to raise the alarm:

 

-- Reconnaissance Oversights

 

Abedi went to the arena several times to carry out hostile reconnaissance in the run-up to the bombing, visiting on the 18th. and 21st. May, and also the afternoon on the day of the attack.

 

Although arena operator SMG and security firm Showsec “had experience of identifying and responding to potential hostile reconnaissance effectively”, the system for passing on information about suspicious behaviour was “insufficiently robust”.

 

If the Showsec staff on duty at the time, Kyle Lawler and Mohammed Agha - then aged 18 and 19 respectively - had been aware of previous reports of suspicious activity, “it would have increased the possibility” of Abedi being spotted.

 

Inquiry chair Saunders also notes that SMG could have extended the permitted security perimeter from the entrance doors of the arena to the City Room, the foyer where the bomb detonated. “Had permission to push out the perimeter been granted, an attack in the City Room would have been much less likely,” the report says.

 

-- Absence of Officers

 

Despite five officers being assigned to the arena on the night of the attack, “there was a complete absence of any BTP officer in the City Room” in the half hour before Abedi detonated the bomb. And no officers were policing the public areas of the venue between 8.58pm and 9.36pm.

 

The report found that BTP officers “took breaks substantially and unjustifiably” longer than their authorised one hour. Instructions to stagger breaks between 7.30pm and 9pm - when younger children could be leaving the venue - were also ignored.

 

The public inquiry into the attack had previously heard how two officers on duty at the concert, PC Jessica Bullough and PCSO Mark Renshaw, had taken a “two-hour-and-nine-minute dinner break to get a kebab five miles from the arena”. The Telegraph reported:

 

"Bullough has since admitted that were

she present on her shift as she should

have been, she would have likely stopped

Abedi and asked him what was in his bag”.

 

-- The CCTV Blindspot

 

Saunders' report says Abedi chose an “obvious hiding place” in a CCTV blindspot of the arena City Room foyer, having no doubt identified this area during his hostile reconnaissance:

 

“Had the area been covered by CCTV so that

there was no blind spot, it is likely this

behaviour by Abedi would have been identified

as suspicious by anyone monitoring the CCTV."

 

Giving evidence to the inquiry, Showsec security guard Agha said that he had noticed Abedi in the City Room, but only because he “liked the look” of Abedi's trainers.

 

-- Inadequate Patrols

 

The inquiry report says that:

 

"A further missed opportunity to spot Abedi

in the half hour before the bomb detonated

arose from the absence of an adequate

security patrol by Showsec at any stage

during this time”.

 

The supervisor charged with carrying out “pre-egress” checks, Jordan Beak, did so “only very briefly”, patrolling for about ten minutes, during which he just “looked towards the staircases up to the mezzanine area”, where Abedi was sitting:

 

The report notes:

 

“He did not consider them a very important

part of the check because it was not an

egress route. Mr Beak did not go up on to the

mezzanine area and so he did not see Abedi.

This was a significant missed opportunity.”

 

-- Concerns ‘Fobbed Off’

 

Saunders wrote that:

 

"The most striking missed opportunity, and the

one that is likely to have made a significant

difference, was an attempt by a member of the

public to raise concerns about Abedi after

becoming suspicious about the bomber's large

and obviously heavy backpack".

 

Christopher Wild told the inquiry how he had spotted Abedi while waiting for his 14-year-old daughter to leave the concert.

 

According to the BBC, Wild recalled how he approached Abedi and said:

 

“It doesn't look very good you know, what you

see with bombs and such, you with a rucksack

in a place like this, what are you doing?”

 

Abedi reportedly told Wild that he was “waiting for somebody, mate”, before asking what time it was.

 

Wild alerted security guard Agha about his suspicions around fifteen minutes before the blast. But according to the inquiry report:

 

"Agha did not take Christopher Wild’s

concerns as seriously as he should have”.

 

Wild felt that he had been “fobbed off” by the guard, who claimed to already be aware of Abedi. Agha is said to have made “inadequate” efforts to flag down his supervisor or pass on the message via his colleague Lawler, who had a radio.

 

Although Agha did share Wild’s concerns with Lawler, the latter “felt conflicted about what to do” and “stated he was fearful of being branded a racist and would be in trouble if he got it wrong”.

 

Lawler ultimately made an attempt to contact a senior supervisor through the radio, but couldn’t get through, and made no further efforts to communicate what he had been told to anyone else. Saunders wrote:

 

“The inadequacy of Mr Lawler’s response

was a product of his failure to take Mr Wild’s

concern and his own observations sufficiently

seriously. Mr Wild’s behaviour was very

responsible. He stated that he formed the

view that Abedi might let a bomb off.

That was sadly all too prescient, and makes

all the more distressing the fact that no effective

steps were taken as a result of his efforts.”

 

-- Aftermath of the Explosion

 

Three hours after the bombing, police conducted a controlled explosion on a suspicious item of clothing in Cathedral Gardens. This was later confirmed to have been abandoned clothing and not dangerous.

 

Residents and taxi companies in Manchester offered free transport or accommodation via Twitter to those left stranded at the concert.  Parents were separated from their children attending the concert in the aftermath of the explosion.

 

A nearby hotel served as a shelter for people displaced by the bombing, with officials directing separated parents and children there.  Manchester's Sikh temples along with local homeowners, hotels and venues offered shelter to survivors of the attack.

 

Manchester Victoria railway station, which is partly underneath the arena, was evacuated and closed, and services were cancelled. The explosion caused structural damage to the station, which remained closed until the damage had been assessed and repaired, resulting in disruption to train and tram services.

 

Victoria Station reopened eight days later, following the completion of police investigation work and repairs to the fabric of the building.

 

On the 23rd. May, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the UK's terror threat level had been raised to "critical", its highest level. 

 

In the aftermath of the attack, Operation Temperer was activated for the first time, allowing up to 5,000 soldiers to reinforce armed police in protecting parts of the country.

 

Tours of the Houses of Parliament and the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace were cancelled on 24 May, and troops were deployed to guard government buildings in London.

 

On the 23rd. May, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, via the Nashir Telegram channel, said the attack was carried out by "a soldier of the Khilafah". The message called the attack:

 

"An endeavor to terrorise the mushrikin,

and in response to their transgressions

against the lands of the Muslims."

 

Abedi's sister said that he was motivated by revenge for Muslim children killed by American airstrikes in Syria.

 

The Manchester Arena remained closed until September 2017, with scheduled concerts either cancelled or moved to other venues. It reopened on the 9th. September 2017, with a benefit concert featuring Noel Gallagher and other acts associated with North West England.

 

Later that month, Chris Parker, a homeless man who stole from victims of the attack whilst assisting them, was jailed for 4 years and three months.

 

-- Casualties of the Attack

 

The explosion killed the attacker and 22 concert-goers and parents who were in the entrance waiting to pick up their children following the show. 119 people were initially reported as injured. This number was revised by police to 250 on the 22nd. June, with the addition of severe psychological trauma and minor injuries.

 

During the public inquiry into the bombing, it was updated in December 2020 to 1,017 people sustaining injuries.

 

The dead included ten people aged under 20; the youngest victim was an eight-year-old girl, and the oldest was a 51-year-old woman. Of the 22 victims, twenty were Britons and two were British-based Polish nationals.

 

North West Ambulance Service reported that 60 of its ambulances attended the scene, carried 59 people to local hospitals, and treated walking wounded on site.  Of those hospitalised, 12 were children under the age of 16.

 

The first doctor thought to have been on scene was an off-duty consultant anaesthetist, Michael Daley. In recognition of his bravery for the role he played in the immediate medical response to the incident, Daley's name was entered into the BMA's Book of Valour in June 2017.

 

-- The Attacker

 

The bomber, Salman Ramadan Abedi, was a 22-year-old British Muslim of Libyan ancestry. He was born in Manchester to a Salafi family of Libyan-born refugees who had settled in Manchester after fleeing to the UK to escape the government of Muammar Gaddafi.

 

He had two brothers and a sister. He grew up in Whalley Range and lived in Fallowfield. Neighbours described the Abedis as a very traditional and "super religious" family who attended Didsbury Mosque.

 

Abedi attended Wellacre Technology College, Burnage Academy for Boys and The Manchester College. A former tutor remarked that:

 

"Abedi was a very slow, uneducated

and passive person".

 

He was among a group of students at his high school who accused a teacher of Islamophobia for asking them what they thought of suicide bombers. He also reportedly said to his friends that being a suicide bomber "was OK" and fellow college students raised concerns about his behaviour.

 

Abedi's father was a member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a Salafi jihadist organisation proscribed by the United Nations, and father and son fought for the group in Libya in 2011 as part of the movement to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi.

 

Abedi's parents, both born in Tripoli, remained in Libya in 2011, while 17-year-old Abedi returned to live in the United Kingdom. He took a gap year in 2014, where he returned with his brother Hashem to Libya to live with his parents. Abedi was injured in Ajdabiya that year while fighting for an Islamist group.

 

The brothers were rescued from Tripoli by the Royal Navy survey ship HMS Enterprise in August 2014 as part of a group of 110 British citizens as the Libyan civil war erupted, taken to Malta and flown back to the UK.

 

According to a retired European intelligence officer, Abedi met with members of the ISIS Battar brigade in Libya, and continued to be in contact with the group upon his return to the UK.

 

An imam at Didsbury mosque recalled that Abedi looked at him "with hate" after he preached against ISIS and Ansar al-Sharia in 2015.

 

Abedi's sister said her brother was motivated by the injustice of Muslim children dying in bombings stemming from the American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War.

 

A family friend of the Abedi's also remarked that Salman had vowed revenge at the funeral of Abdul Wahab Hafidah, who was run over and stabbed to death by a Manchester gang in 2016 and was a friend of Salman and his younger brother Hashem. Hashem later co-ordinated the Manchester bombing with his brother.

 

According to an acquaintance in the UK, Abedi was "outgoing" and consumed alcohol, while another said that Abedi was a "regular kid who went out and drank" until about 2016. Abedi was also known to have used cannabis.

 

He enrolled at the University of Salford in September 2014, where he studied business administration, before dropping out to work in a bakery. Manchester police believe Abedi used student loans to finance the plot, including travel overseas to learn bomb-making.

 

The Guardian reported that despite dropping out from further education, he was still receiving student loan funding in April 2017. Abedi returned to Manchester on the 18th. May after a trip to Libya and bought bomb-making material, apparently constructing the acetone peroxide-based bomb by himself. Many members of the IS Battar brigade trained people in bomb-making in Libya.

 

He was known to British security services and police but was not regarded as a high risk, having been linked to petty crime but never flagged up for radical views.

 

A community worker told the BBC he had called a hotline five years before the bombing to warn police about Abedi's views and members of Britain's Libyan diaspora said they had "warned authorities for years" about Manchester's Islamist radicalisation.

 

Abedi was allegedly reported to authorities for his extremism by five community leaders and family members, and had been banned from a mosque; the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, however, said Abedi was not known to the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme.

 

On the 29th. May 2017, MI5 launched an internal inquiry into its handling of the warnings it had received about Abedi and a second, "more in depth" inquiry, into how it missed the danger.

 

On the 22nd. November 2018, a Parliamentary report said that MI5 had acted "too slowly" in its dealings with Abedi. The committee's report noted:

 

"What we can say is that there were a number

of failings in the handling of Salman Abedi's case.

While it is impossible to say whether these would

have prevented the devastating attack on the

22nd. May, we have concluded that as a result of

the failings, potential opportunities to prevent it

were missed."

 

-- Investigation Into the Bombing

 

The property in Fallowfield where Abedi lived was raided on the 23rd. May. Armed police breached the house with a controlled explosion and searched it. Abedi's 23-year-old brother was arrested in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in south Manchester in relation to the attack.

 

Police carried out raids in two other areas of south Manchester and another address in the Whalley Range area. Three other men were arrested, and police initially spoke of a network supporting the bomber; however they later announced that Abedi had sourced all the bomb components himself, and that they now believed he had largely acted alone. On the 6th. July, police said that they believed others had been aware of Abedi's plans.

 

According to German police sources, Abedi transited through Düsseldorf Airport on his way home to Manchester from Istanbul four days before the bombing. French interior minister Gérard Collomb said that Abedi may have been to Syria, and had "proven" links with IS.

 

Abedi's younger brother and father were arrested by Libyan security forces on the 23rd. and 24th. May respectively. The brother was suspected of planning an attack in Libya, and was said to be in regular touch with Salman, and was aware of the plan to bomb the Manchester Arena, but not the date.

 

According to a Libyan official, the brothers spoke on the phone about 15 minutes before the attack was carried out. On the 1st. November 2017, the UK requested Libya to extradite the bomber's younger brother, Hashem Abedi to the UK in order to face trial for complicity in the murder of the 22 people killed in the explosion.

 

Photographs of the remains of the IED published by The New York Times indicated that it had comprised an explosive charge inside a lightweight metal container which was carried within a black vest or a blue Karrimor backpack.

 

Most of the fatalities occurred in a ring around the bomber. His torso was propelled by the blast through the doors to the arena, indicating that the explosive charge was held in the backpack and blew him forward on detonation. A small device thought to have possibly been a hand-held detonator was also found.

 

The bomb contained the explosive TATP, which had been used in previous bombings. According to Manchester police, the explosive device used by Abedi was the design of a skilled bomb-maker and had a back-up means of detonation. Police also said that Salman Abedi bought most of the bomb components himself, and that he was alone during much of the time before carrying out the Manchester bombing.

 

On the 28th. May, police released images showing Abedi on the night of the bombing, taken from CCTV footage. Further images showed Abedi walking around Manchester with a blue suitcase.

 

According to US intelligence sources, Abedi was identified by the bank card that he had with him and the identification was confirmed using facial recognition technology.

 

A public inquiry into the attack was launched in September 2020. The first of three reports to be produced was a 200-page report published on the 17th. June 2021. It found that:

 

"There were a number of missed opportunities

to alter the course of what happened that night,

and more should have been done by police and

private security guards to prevent the bombing."

 

-- News Leaks

 

Within hours of the attack, Abedi's name and other information that had been given confidentially to security services in the United States and France was leaked to the news media. This led to condemnation from Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

 

Following the publication of crime scene photographs of the backpack bomb used in the attack in the 24th. May edition of The New York Times, UK counterterrorism police chiefs said the release of the material was detrimental to the investigation.

 

On the 25th. May, Greater Manchester Police said that it had stopped sharing information on the attack with the US intelligence services. Theresa May said she would make clear to President Trump that:

 

"Intelligence that has been

shared must be made secure."

 

Donald Trump described the leaks to the news media as "deeply troubling", and pledged to carry out a full investigation.

 

New York Times editor Dean Baquet declined to apologise for publishing the backpack bomb photographs, saying:

 

"We live in different press worlds.

The material was not classified at

the highest level."

 

On the 26th. May, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States government accepted responsibility for the leaks.

 

-- Links with the Muslim Brotherhood

 

According to a secret recording unveiled by the BBC, Mostafa Graf, the imam of the Didsbury Mosque where Salman Abedi and his family were regulars, made a call for armed jihad ten days before Abedi bought his concert ticket.

 

Following these revelations, the Manchester Police opened an investigation into the mosque and its imam, who also fought with a Libyan Islamist militia. Mostafa Graf is a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, an organisation founded by the Muslim Brotherhood and Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Al-Qaradawi is known for having claimed:

 

"Suicide bombings are a duty".

 

Haras Rafiq, head of the Quilliam think tank, told The Guardian that the Muslim Brotherhood runs the Didsbury Mosque.

 

The Didsbury Mosque is controlled by The Islamic Centre (Manchester), an English association headed by Dr. Haytham al-Khaffaf, who is also a director of the Human Relief Foundation, a Muslim Brotherhood organisation blacklisted for terrorism by Israel. Between 2015 and 2016, al-Khaffaf's Human Relief Foundation received over £1.5 million from the Qatar Charity, which is also subject to US counterterrorism surveillance.

 

-- Trial and Sentencing of Hashem Abedi

 

On the 17th. July 2019, Salman Abedi's brother Hashem was charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion. He had been arrested in Libya and extradited to the UK.

 

His trial began on the 5th. February 2020. On the 17th. March, Hashem Abedi was found guilty on 22 charges of murder, on the grounds that he had helped his brother to source the materials used in the bombing, and had assisted with the manufacture of the explosives which were used in the attack.

 

On the 20th. August, Hashem Abedi was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 55 years. The judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, said that sentencing rules prevented him from imposing a whole life order as Abedi had been 20 years old at the time of the offence. The minimum age for a whole life order is 21 years old. Abedi's 55-year minimum term is the longest minimum term ever imposed by a British court.

 

-- Ismail Abedi

 

In October 2021 it was reported that Salman Abedi's older brother Ismail had left the UK despite being summonsed by Sir John Saunders to testify before the public inquiry into the bombing. Saunders had refused Ismail Abedi's request for immunity from prosecution while testifying.

 

-- Ariana Grande

 

Ariana Grande posted on Twitter:

 

"Broken. from the bottom of my

heart, i am so so sorry. i don't

have words."

 

The tweet briefly became the most-liked tweet in history. Grande suspended her tour and flew back to her mother's home in Florida.

 

On the 9th. July 2017, a performance to benefit the Manchester bombing victims was held in New York City's The Cutting Room, called "Break Free: United for Manchester", with Broadway theatre and television performers interpreting Ariana Grande songs.

 

On the 4th. June, Ariana Grande hosted a benefit concert in Manchester, entitled "One Love Manchester" at Old Trafford Cricket Ground that was broadcast live on television, radio and social media.

 

At the concert, Grande performed along with several other high-profile artists. Free tickets were offered to those who had attended the show on the 22nd. May. The benefit concert and associated Red Cross fund raised £10 million for victims of the attack, and £17 million by August. New York's Vulture section ranked the event as the No. 1 concert of 2017.

 

-- The Kerslake Report

 

On the 27th. March 2018, a report by Bob Kerslake named the "Kerslake Report" was published. The report was an independent review into the preparedness for, and emergency response to, the Manchester Arena attack on the 22nd. May 2017.

 

In the report, Kerslake "largely praised" the Greater Manchester Police and British Transport Police, and noted that it was "fortuitous" that the North West Ambulance Service was unaware of the declaration of Operation Plato, a protocol under which all responders should have withdrawn from the arena in case of an active killer on the premises.

 

However, it found that the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was "brought to a point of paralysis" as their response was delayed for two hours due to poor communication between the firefighters' liaison officer and the police force.

 

The report was critical of Vodafone for the "catastrophic failure" of an emergency helpline hosted on a platform provided by Content Guru, saying that delays in getting information caused "significant stress and upset" to families.

 

It also expressed criticism of some news media, saying:

 

"To have experienced such intrusive and

overbearing behaviour at a time of such

enormous vulnerability seemed to us to

be completely and utterly unacceptable".

 

However, it was also noted that:

 

"We recognise that this was some, but by

no means all of the media, and that the

media also have a positive and important

role to play."

 

-- Memorial to the Bombing

 

The victims of the bombing are commemorated by The Glade of Light, a garden memorial located in Manchester city centre near Manchester Cathedral. The memorial opened to the public in January 2022.

 

The memorial was vandalised on the 9th. February 2022, causing £10,000 of damage. A 24-year-old man admitted to the offence in April and will be sentenced at a later date.

 

-- The 2018 Manchester Terror Attack

 

The Manchester Arena is next to Victoria Station, and in fact partly above it. Victoria Station witnessed a subsequent terror attack on the 31st. December 2018 at 20.52.

 

Mahdi Mohamud, a 25 year old man from Somalia stabbed three people in a knife attack at the station. He appears to have acted alone.

 

Mohamud shouted "Allah!" and "Long live the Caliphate!" during the attack, and "Allahu Akbar" after being arrested. A witness alleged that during the attack he also shouted a slogan criticising Western governments. BBC producer Sam Clack reported that he heard Mohamud saying:

 

"As long as you keep bombing other

countries this sort of s--- is going to

keep happening,"

 

Mohamud had lived in England for about 10 years, and resided in Manchester's Cheetham neighbourhood with his parents and siblings.

 

Two of the three victims, a couple in their 50's who had come into town to celebrate the New Year, were hospitalised with serious injuries. The third victim was a British Transport Police officer who received a stab wound to his shoulder.

 

Despite suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, Mohamud was convicted of a terror offence and the attempted murder of three people, due to his possession of significant amounts of extremist material and the attack's extensive planning. He pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder and a terror offence.

 

The perpetrator, who was initially detained under the Mental Health Act, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-security psychiatric hospital.

source:

Miracle of hand lines

ref:

community.livejournal.com/khilafah/78185.html

 

as u know 18 and 81 are written in our hands in Arabic.

 

u must have heard these 2

 

18+81=99=Al Asma'ul Husnaa

 

81-18=63=the hijri years Muhammad(saw)lived.

 

now he found this:

 

when we write it like this:

 

18 81=1881=19x99

 

19 is the miracle of Quran(we are not submitters,if you want to see really Quran is coded somehow with 19,check www.quranmiracles.com

it is the miracle of Quran,not the miracle of Rashid Khalifa.)

 

99 is Al Asma'ul Husnaa (again) :)

 

and suddenly,i found this

 

81 18=8118=123x66

 

66 is the abjad of Allah(swt)

 

123 also means something but what?

   

The Amazing Facts of Quran

Check this out, very interesting findings of Dr. Tariq Al Swaidan might

grasp your attention:

 

Dr.Tarig Al Swaidan discovered some verses in the Holy Qur'an that mention

one thing is equal to another, i.e. men are equal to women.

  

Although this makes sense grammatically, the astonishing fact is that the

number of times the

word man appears in the Qur'an is 24 and number of times the word woman

appears is also 24, therefore not only is this phrase correct in the

grammatical sense but also true mathematically, i.e. 24 = 24.

  

Upon further analysis of various verses, he discovered that this is

consistent throughout the whole Qur'an, where it says one thing is like

another. See below for astonishing result of the words mentioned number of

times in Arabic Qur'an:

  

Dunia (one name for life) 115. Aakhirat (one name for the life after this

world) 115

Malaika (Angels) 88 . Shayteen (Satan) 88

Life 145 .... Death 145

Benefit 50 . Corrupt 50

People 50 .. Messengers 50

Eblees (king of devils) 11 . Seek refuge from Eblees 11

Museebah (calamity) 75 . Thanks 75

Spending (Sadaqah) 73 . Satisfaction 73

People who are mislead 17 . Dead people 17

Muslimeen 41 . Jihad 41

Gold 8 . Easy life 8

Magic 60 . Fitnah (dissuasion, misleading) 60

Zakat (Taxes Muslims pay to the poor) 32 . Barakah (Increasing or blessings

of wealth) 32

Mind 49 . Noor 49

Tongue 25 . Sermon 25

Desite 8 . Fear 8

Speaking publicly 18 . Publicising 18

Hardship 114 .... Patience 114

Muhammed 4 . Sharee'ah (Muhammed's teachings) 4

Man 24. Woman 24

 

And amazingly enough have a look how many times the following words appear:

  

Salah 5, Month 12, Day 365,

Sea 32, Land 13

  

Sea + land = 32+13= 45

  

Sea = 32/45*100=71.11111111%

Land = 13/45*100 = 28.88888889%

Sea + land =100.00%

  

Modern science has only recently proven that the water covers 71.111% of the

earth, while the land covers 28.889%.

  

Is this a coincidence?

 

Question is that Who taught Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) all this?

  

A postally unused postcard published by Stewart, Patricroft.

 

Although the card was not posted, someone has written a message on the back:

 

"Dear Dad & Mamma,

This is the place where we

are staying.

There are some very nice

shops and we went for a

lovely drive in the coach.

Love from Dorothy".

 

No address was given for the recipients.

 

The Manchester Arena Bombing

 

The Midland Hotel is 1,100 metres from the Manchester Arena.

 

On the 22nd. May 2017, an Islamist extremist suicide bomber detonated a shrapnel-laden homemade bomb as people were leaving the Manchester Arena following a concert by American singer Ariana Grande.

 

Twenty-three people were killed, including the attacker, and 1,017 were injured, many of them children. Several hundred more suffered psychological trauma.

 

The bomber was Salman Ramadan Abedi, a 22-year-old local man of Libyan ancestry. After initial suspicions of a terrorist network, police later said that they believed Abedi had largely acted alone, but that others had been aware of his plans.

 

In March 2020, the bomber's brother, Hashem Abedi, was found guilty of 22 counts of murder and attempting to murder 1,017 others, and was sentenced to life in prison.

 

The incident was the deadliest terrorist attack and the first suicide bombing in the United Kingdom since the 7th. July 2005 London bombings.

 

The Bombing

 

On the 22nd. May 2017 at 22:15 a member of the public reported Abedi, wearing black clothes and a large rucksack to Showsec security. A security guard observed Abedi, but said that he did not intervene in case his concerns about Abedi were wrong, and out of fear of being considered a racist.

 

The security guard tried to use his radio to alert the security control room, but was unable to get through.

 

Police officers on duty that night were subsequently criticised for their behaviour in the hours leading up to the atrocity - including a two-hour dinner break and a 10-mile round trip to buy a kebab.

 

At one point, when Abedi took his final trip through the station to his hiding place in the foyer, there were no BTP officers on duty in the area.

 

At 22:31 the suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device, packed with nuts and bolts to act as shrapnel, in the foyer area of the Manchester Arena.

 

The attack took place after a concert by American pop star Ariana Grande that was part of her Dangerous Woman Tour. 14,200 people had attended the concert.

 

Many exiting concert-goers and waiting parents were in the foyer at the time of the explosion. According to evidence presented at the coroner's inquest, the bomb was strong enough to kill people up to 20 metres (66 ft) away.

 

A report by inquiry chair John Saunders blamed “failings by individuals” for “missed opportunities” to detect and stop bomber Salman Abedi.

 

Saunders outlined a “litany” of failures by venue operators SMG, security firm Showsec and British Transport Police (BTP) - failures that include taking unauthorised two-hour meal breaks and ignoring members of the public who tried to raise the alarm:

 

-- Reconnaissance Oversights

 

Abedi went to the arena several times to carry out hostile reconnaissance in the run-up to the bombing, visiting on the 18th. and 21st. May, and also the afternoon on the day of the attack.

 

Although arena operator SMG and security firm Showsec “had experience of identifying and responding to potential hostile reconnaissance effectively”, the system for passing on information about suspicious behaviour was “insufficiently robust”.

 

If the Showsec staff on duty at the time, Kyle Lawler and Mohammed Agha - then aged 18 and 19 respectively - had been aware of previous reports of suspicious activity, “it would have increased the possibility” of Abedi being spotted.

 

Inquiry chair Saunders also notes that SMG could have extended the permitted security perimeter from the entrance doors of the arena to the City Room, the foyer where the bomb detonated. “Had permission to push out the perimeter been granted, an attack in the City Room would have been much less likely,” the report says.

 

-- Absence of Officers

 

Despite five officers being assigned to the arena on the night of the attack, “there was a complete absence of any BTP officer in the City Room” in the half hour before Abedi detonated the bomb. And no officers were policing the public areas of the venue between 8.58pm and 9.36pm.

 

The report found that BTP officers “took breaks substantially and unjustifiably” longer than their authorised one hour. Instructions to stagger breaks between 7.30pm and 9pm - when younger children could be leaving the venue - were also ignored.

 

The public inquiry into the attack had previously heard how two officers on duty at the concert, PC Jessica Bullough and PCSO Mark Renshaw, had taken a “two-hour-and-nine-minute dinner break to get a kebab five miles from the arena”. The Telegraph reported:

 

"Bullough has since admitted that were

she present on her shift as she should

have been, she would have likely stopped

Abedi and asked him what was in his bag”.

 

-- The CCTV Blindspot

 

Saunders' report says Abedi chose an “obvious hiding place” in a CCTV blindspot of the arena City Room foyer, having no doubt identified this area during his hostile reconnaissance:

 

“Had the area been covered by CCTV so that

there was no blind spot, it is likely this

behaviour by Abedi would have been identified

as suspicious by anyone monitoring the CCTV."

 

Giving evidence to the inquiry, Showsec security guard Agha said that he had noticed Abedi in the City Room, but only because he “liked the look” of Abedi's trainers.

 

-- Inadequate Patrols

 

The inquiry report says that:

 

"A further missed opportunity to spot Abedi

in the half hour before the bomb detonated

arose from the absence of an adequate

security patrol by Showsec at any stage

during this time”.

 

The supervisor charged with carrying out “pre-egress” checks, Jordan Beak, did so “only very briefly”, patrolling for about ten minutes, during which he just “looked towards the staircases up to the mezzanine area”, where Abedi was sitting:

 

The report notes:

 

“He did not consider them a very important

part of the check because it was not an

egress route. Mr Beak did not go up on to the

mezzanine area and so he did not see Abedi.

This was a significant missed opportunity.”

 

-- Concerns ‘Fobbed Off’

 

Saunders wrote that:

 

"The most striking missed opportunity, and the

one that is likely to have made a significant

difference, was an attempt by a member of the

public to raise concerns about Abedi after

becoming suspicious about the bomber's large

and obviously heavy backpack".

 

Christopher Wild told the inquiry how he had spotted Abedi while waiting for his 14-year-old daughter to leave the concert.

 

According to the BBC, Wild recalled how he approached Abedi and said:

 

“It doesn't look very good you know, what you

see with bombs and such, you with a rucksack

in a place like this, what are you doing?”

 

Abedi reportedly told Wild that he was “waiting for somebody, mate”, before asking what time it was.

 

Wild alerted security guard Agha about his suspicions around fifteen minutes before the blast. But according to the inquiry report:

 

"Agha did not take Christopher Wild’s

concerns as seriously as he should have”.

 

Wild felt that he had been “fobbed off” by the guard, who claimed to already be aware of Abedi. Agha is said to have made “inadequate” efforts to flag down his supervisor or pass on the message via his colleague Lawler, who had a radio.

 

Although Agha did share Wild’s concerns with Lawler, the latter “felt conflicted about what to do” and “stated he was fearful of being branded a racist and would be in trouble if he got it wrong”.

 

Lawler ultimately made an attempt to contact a senior supervisor through the radio, but couldn’t get through, and made no further efforts to communicate what he had been told to anyone else. Saunders wrote:

 

“The inadequacy of Mr Lawler’s response

was a product of his failure to take Mr Wild’s

concern and his own observations sufficiently

seriously. Mr Wild’s behaviour was very

responsible. He stated that he formed the

view that Abedi might let a bomb off.

That was sadly all too prescient, and makes

all the more distressing the fact that no effective

steps were taken as a result of his efforts.”

 

Aftermath of the Explosion

 

Three hours after the bombing, police conducted a controlled explosion on a suspicious item of clothing in Cathedral Gardens. This was later confirmed to have been abandoned clothing and not dangerous.

 

Residents and taxi companies in Manchester offered free transport or accommodation via Twitter to those left stranded at the concert.  Parents were separated from their children attending the concert in the aftermath of the explosion.

 

A nearby hotel served as a shelter for people displaced by the bombing, with officials directing separated parents and children there.  Manchester's Sikh temples along with local homeowners, hotels and venues offered shelter to survivors of the attack.

 

Manchester Victoria railway station, which is partly underneath the arena, was evacuated and closed, and services were cancelled. The explosion caused structural damage to the station, which remained closed until the damage had been assessed and repaired, resulting in disruption to train and tram services.

 

Victoria Station reopened eight days later, following the completion of police investigation work and repairs to the fabric of the building.

 

On the 23rd. May, Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the UK's terror threat level had been raised to "critical", its highest level. 

 

In the aftermath of the attack, Operation Temperer was activated for the first time, allowing up to 5,000 soldiers to reinforce armed police in protecting parts of the country.

 

Tours of the Houses of Parliament and the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace were cancelled on 24 May, and troops were deployed to guard government buildings in London.

 

On the 23rd. May, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, via the Nashir Telegram channel, said the attack was carried out by "a soldier of the Khilafah". The message called the attack:

 

"An endeavor to terrorise the mushrikin,

and in response to their transgressions

against the lands of the Muslims."

 

Abedi's sister said that he was motivated by revenge for Muslim children killed by American airstrikes in Syria.

 

The Manchester Arena remained closed until September 2017, with scheduled concerts either cancelled or moved to other venues. It reopened on the 9th. September 2017, with a benefit concert featuring Noel Gallagher and other acts associated with North West England.

 

Later that month, Chris Parker, a homeless man who stole from victims of the attack whilst assisting them, was jailed for 4 years and three months.

 

Casualties of the Attack

 

The explosion killed the attacker and 22 concert-goers and parents who were in the entrance waiting to pick up their children following the show. 119 people were initially reported as injured. This number was revised by police to 250 on the 22nd. June, with the addition of severe psychological trauma and minor injuries.

 

During the public inquiry into the bombing, it was updated in December 2020 to 1,017 people sustaining injuries.

 

The dead included ten people aged under 20; the youngest victim was an eight-year-old girl, and the oldest was a 51-year-old woman. Of the 22 victims, twenty were Britons and two were British-based Polish nationals.

 

North West Ambulance Service reported that 60 of its ambulances attended the scene, carried 59 people to local hospitals, and treated walking wounded on site.  Of those hospitalised, 12 were children under the age of 16.

 

The first doctor thought to have been on scene was an off-duty consultant anaesthetist, Michael Daley. In recognition of his bravery for the role he played in the immediate medical response to the incident, Daley's name was entered into the BMA's Book of Valour in June 2017.

 

The Attacker

 

The bomber, Salman Ramadan Abedi, was a 22-year-old British Muslim of Libyan ancestry. He was born in Manchester to a Salafi family of Libyan-born refugees who had settled in Manchester after fleeing to the UK to escape the government of Muammar Gaddafi.

 

He had two brothers and a sister. He grew up in Whalley Range and lived in Fallowfield. Neighbours described the Abedis as a very traditional and "super religious" family who attended Didsbury Mosque.

 

Abedi attended Wellacre Technology College, Burnage Academy for Boys and The Manchester College. A former tutor remarked that:

 

"Abedi was a very slow, uneducated

and passive person".

 

He was among a group of students at his high school who accused a teacher of Islamophobia for asking them what they thought of suicide bombers. He also reportedly said to his friends that being a suicide bomber "was OK" and fellow college students raised concerns about his behaviour.

 

Abedi's father was a member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a Salafi jihadist organisation proscribed by the United Nations, and father and son fought for the group in Libya in 2011 as part of the movement to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi.

 

Abedi's parents, both born in Tripoli, remained in Libya in 2011, while 17-year-old Abedi returned to live in the United Kingdom. He took a gap year in 2014, where he returned with his brother Hashem to Libya to live with his parents. Abedi was injured in Ajdabiya that year while fighting for an Islamist group.

 

The brothers were rescued from Tripoli by the Royal Navy survey ship HMS Enterprise in August 2014 as part of a group of 110 British citizens as the Libyan civil war erupted, taken to Malta and flown back to the UK.

 

According to a retired European intelligence officer, Abedi met with members of the ISIS Battar brigade in Libya, and continued to be in contact with the group upon his return to the UK.

 

An imam at Didsbury mosque recalled that Abedi looked at him "with hate" after he preached against ISIS and Ansar al-Sharia in 2015.

 

Abedi's sister said her brother was motivated by the injustice of Muslim children dying in bombings stemming from the American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War.

 

A family friend of the Abedi's also remarked that Salman had vowed revenge at the funeral of Abdul Wahab Hafidah, who was run over and stabbed to death by a Manchester gang in 2016 and was a friend of Salman and his younger brother Hashem. Hashem later co-ordinated the Manchester bombing with his brother.

 

According to an acquaintance in the UK, Abedi was "outgoing" and consumed alcohol, while another said that Abedi was a "regular kid who went out and drank" until about 2016. Abedi was also known to have used cannabis.

 

He enrolled at the University of Salford in September 2014, where he studied business administration, before dropping out to work in a bakery. Manchester police believe Abedi used student loans to finance the plot, including travel overseas to learn bomb-making.

 

The Guardian reported that despite dropping out from further education, he was still receiving student loan funding in April 2017. Abedi returned to Manchester on the 18th. May after a trip to Libya and bought bomb-making material, apparently constructing the acetone peroxide-based bomb by himself. Many members of the IS Battar brigade trained people in bomb-making in Libya.

 

He was known to British security services and police but was not regarded as a high risk, having been linked to petty crime but never flagged up for radical views.

 

A community worker told the BBC he had called a hotline five years before the bombing to warn police about Abedi's views and members of Britain's Libyan diaspora said they had "warned authorities for years" about Manchester's Islamist radicalisation.

 

Abedi was allegedly reported to authorities for his extremism by five community leaders and family members, and had been banned from a mosque; the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, however, said Abedi was not known to the Prevent anti-radicalisation programme.

 

On the 29th. May 2017, MI5 launched an internal inquiry into its handling of the warnings it had received about Abedi and a second, "more in depth" inquiry, into how it missed the danger.

 

On the 22nd. November 2018, a Parliamentary report said that MI5 had acted "too slowly" in its dealings with Abedi. The committee's report noted:

 

"What we can say is that there were a number

of failings in the handling of Salman Abedi's case.

While it is impossible to say whether these would

have prevented the devastating attack on the

22nd. May, we have concluded that as a result of

the failings, potential opportunities to prevent it

were missed."

 

Investigation Into the Bombing

 

The property in Fallowfield where Abedi lived was raided on the 23rd. May. Armed police breached the house with a controlled explosion and searched it. Abedi's 23-year-old brother was arrested in Chorlton-cum-Hardy in south Manchester in relation to the attack.

 

Police carried out raids in two other areas of south Manchester and another address in the Whalley Range area. Three other men were arrested, and police initially spoke of a network supporting the bomber; however they later announced that Abedi had sourced all the bomb components himself, and that they now believed he had largely acted alone. On the 6th. July, police said that they believed others had been aware of Abedi's plans.

 

According to German police sources, Abedi transited through Düsseldorf Airport on his way home to Manchester from Istanbul four days before the bombing. French interior minister Gérard Collomb said that Abedi may have been to Syria, and had "proven" links with IS.

 

Abedi's younger brother and father were arrested by Libyan security forces on the 23rd. and 24th. May respectively. The brother was suspected of planning an attack in Libya, and was said to be in regular touch with Salman, and was aware of the plan to bomb the Manchester Arena, but not the date.

 

According to a Libyan official, the brothers spoke on the phone about 15 minutes before the attack was carried out. On the 1st. November 2017, the UK requested Libya to extradite the bomber's younger brother, Hashem Abedi to the UK in order to face trial for complicity in the murder of the 22 people killed in the explosion.

 

Photographs of the remains of the IED published by The New York Times indicated that it had comprised an explosive charge inside a lightweight metal container which was carried within a black vest or a blue Karrimor backpack.

 

Most of the fatalities occurred in a ring around the bomber. His torso was propelled by the blast through the doors to the arena, indicating that the explosive charge was held in the backpack and blew him forward on detonation. A small device thought to have possibly been a hand-held detonator was also found.

 

The bomb contained the explosive TATP, which had been used in previous bombings. According to Manchester police, the explosive device used by Abedi was the design of a skilled bomb-maker and had a back-up means of detonation. Police also said that Salman Abedi bought most of the bomb components himself, and that he was alone during much of the time before carrying out the Manchester bombing.

 

On the 28th. May, police released images showing Abedi on the night of the bombing, taken from CCTV footage. Further images showed Abedi walking around Manchester with a blue suitcase.

 

According to US intelligence sources, Abedi was identified by the bank card that he had with him and the identification was confirmed using facial recognition technology.

 

A public inquiry into the attack was launched in September 2020. The first of three reports to be produced was a 200-page report published on the 17th. June 2021. It found that:

 

"There were a number of missed opportunities

to alter the course of what happened that night,

and more should have been done by police and

private security guards to prevent the bombing."

 

News Leaks

 

Within hours of the attack, Abedi's name and other information that had been given confidentially to security services in the United States and France was leaked to the news media. This led to condemnation from Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

 

Following the publication of crime scene photographs of the backpack bomb used in the attack in the 24th. May edition of The New York Times, UK counterterrorism police chiefs said the release of the material was detrimental to the investigation.

 

On the 25th. May, Greater Manchester Police said that it had stopped sharing information on the attack with the US intelligence services. Theresa May said she would make clear to President Trump that:

 

"Intelligence that has been

shared must be made secure."

 

Donald Trump described the leaks to the news media as "deeply troubling", and pledged to carry out a full investigation.

 

New York Times editor Dean Baquet declined to apologise for publishing the backpack bomb photographs, saying:

 

"We live in different press worlds.

The material was not classified at

the highest level."

 

On the 26th. May, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States government accepted responsibility for the leaks.

 

Links with the Muslim Brotherhood

 

According to a secret recording unveiled by the BBC, Mostafa Graf, the imam of the Didsbury Mosque where Salman Abedi and his family were regulars, made a call for armed jihad ten days before Abedi bought his concert ticket.

 

Following these revelations, the Manchester Police opened an investigation into the mosque and its imam, who also fought with a Libyan Islamist militia. Mostafa Graf is a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, an organisation founded by the Muslim Brotherhood and Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Al-Qaradawi is known for having claimed:

 

"Suicide bombings are a duty".

 

Haras Rafiq, head of the Quilliam think tank, told The Guardian that the Muslim Brotherhood runs the Didsbury Mosque.

 

The Didsbury Mosque is controlled by The Islamic Centre (Manchester), an English association headed by Dr. Haytham al-Khaffaf, who is also a director of the Human Relief Foundation, a Muslim Brotherhood organisation blacklisted for terrorism by Israel. Between 2015 and 2016, al-Khaffaf's Human Relief Foundation received over £1.5 million from the Qatar Charity, which is also subject to US counterterrorism surveillance.

 

Trial and Sentencing of Hashem Abedi

 

On the 17th. July 2019, Salman Abedi's brother Hashem was charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion. He had been arrested in Libya and extradited to the UK.

 

His trial began on the 5th. February 2020. On the 17th. March, Hashem Abedi was found guilty on 22 charges of murder, on the grounds that he had helped his brother to source the materials used in the bombing, and had assisted with the manufacture of the explosives which were used in the attack.

 

On the 20th. August, Hashem Abedi was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 55 years. The judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, said that sentencing rules prevented him from imposing a whole life order as Abedi had been 20 years old at the time of the offence. The minimum age for a whole life order is 21 years old. Abedi's 55-year minimum term is the longest minimum term ever imposed by a British court.

 

Ismail Abedi

 

In October 2021 it was reported that Salman Abedi's older brother Ismail had left the UK despite being summonsed by Sir John Saunders to testify before the public inquiry into the bombing. Saunders had refused Ismail Abedi's request for immunity from prosecution while testifying.

 

Ariana Grande

 

Ariana Grande posted on Twitter:

 

"Broken. from the bottom of my

heart, i am so so sorry. i don't

have words."

 

The tweet briefly became the most-liked tweet in history. Grande suspended her tour and flew back to her mother's home in Florida.

 

On the 9th. July 2017, a performance to benefit the Manchester bombing victims was held in New York City's The Cutting Room, called "Break Free: United for Manchester", with Broadway theatre and television performers interpreting Ariana Grande songs.

 

On the 4th. June, Ariana Grande hosted a benefit concert in Manchester, entitled "One Love Manchester" at Old Trafford Cricket Ground that was broadcast live on television, radio and social media.

 

At the concert, Grande performed along with several other high-profile artists. Free tickets were offered to those who had attended the show on the 22nd. May. The benefit concert and associated Red Cross fund raised £10 million for victims of the attack, and £17 million by August. New York's Vulture section ranked the event as the No. 1 concert of 2017.

 

The Kerslake Report

 

On the 27th. March 2018, a report by Bob Kerslake named the "Kerslake Report" was published. The report was an independent review into the preparedness for, and emergency response to, the Manchester Arena attack on the 22nd. May 2017.

 

In the report, Kerslake "largely praised" the Greater Manchester Police and British Transport Police, and noted that it was "fortuitous" that the North West Ambulance Service was unaware of the declaration of Operation Plato, a protocol under which all responders should have withdrawn from the arena in case of an active killer on the premises.

 

However, it found that the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was "brought to a point of paralysis" as their response was delayed for two hours due to poor communication between the firefighters' liaison officer and the police force.

 

The report was critical of Vodafone for the "catastrophic failure" of an emergency helpline hosted on a platform provided by Content Guru, saying that delays in getting information caused "significant stress and upset" to families.

 

It also expressed criticism of some news media, saying:

 

"To have experienced such intrusive and

overbearing behaviour at a time of such

enormous vulnerability seemed to us to

be completely and utterly unacceptable".

 

However, it was also noted that:

 

"We recognise that this was some, but by

no means all of the media, and that the

media also have a positive and important

role to play."

 

Memorial to the Bombing

 

The victims of the bombing are commemorated by The Glade of Light, a garden memorial located in Manchester city centre near Manchester Cathedral. The memorial opened to the public in January 2022.

 

The memorial was vandalised on the 9th. February 2022, causing £10,000 of damage. A 24-year-old man admitted to the offence in April and will be sentenced at a later date.

 

The 2018 Manchester Terror Attack

 

The Manchester Arena is next to Victoria Station, and in fact partly above it. Victoria Station witnessed a subsequent terror attack on the 31st. December 2018 at 20.52.

 

Mahdi Mohamud, a 25 year old man from Somalia stabbed three people in a knife attack at the station. He appears to have acted alone.

 

Mohamud shouted "Allah!" and "Long live the Caliphate!" during the attack, and "Allahu Akbar" after being arrested. A witness alleged that during the attack he also shouted a slogan criticising Western governments. BBC producer Sam Clack reported that he heard Mohamud saying:

 

"As long as you keep bombing other

countries this sort of s--- is going to

keep happening,"

 

Mohamud had lived in England for about 10 years, and resided in Manchester's Cheetham neighbourhood with his parents and siblings.

 

Two of the three victims, a couple in their 50's who had come into town to celebrate the New Year, were hospitalised with serious injuries. The third victim was a British Transport Police officer who received a stab wound to his shoulder.

 

Despite suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, Mohamud was convicted of a terror offence and the attempted murder of three people, due to his possession of significant amounts of extremist material and the attack's extensive planning. He pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder and a terror offence.

 

The perpetrator, who was initially detained under the Mental Health Act, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-security psychiatric hospital.

 

The Second Inquiry into the Arena Bombing

 

On the 3rd. November 2022, inquiry chair Sir John Saunders issued a second report into the atrocity. Within the 884 pages he said that the emergency services failed to communicate properly in response to the incident, stemming from 'failures to prepare.'

 

He concluded that "Failing" emergency services thought a terror attack "could never happen" before the Manchester Arena bombing.

 

Sir John Saunders said the majority of those who died were so badly injured they could not have survived. However, it is believed that two of the 22 fatalities could have recovered if they had received better medical care.

 

Pointing the finger at leaders of the police, fire and ambulance services, he said:

 

“On the night of the attack, multi‐agency

communication between the three

emergency services was non‐existent.

That failure played a major part in what

went wrong.”

 

He added:

 

“There had been failures to prepare. There

had been inadequacies in training.

Well-established principles had not been

ingrained in practice.

Why was that? Partly it was because, despite

the fact that the threat of a terrorist attack was

at a very high level on the 22nd. May 2017, no

one really thought it could happen to them.”

 

The report also paid tribute to the “heroic” actions of ordinary members of the public who joined police and security and medical teams trying to save lives in a “war zone”.

 

Sir John said that two fatalities, John Atkinson, 28, and the youngest victim, eight year old Saffie-Rose Roussos, did have a chance of survival. Sir John said:

 

“I have concluded that one of those who

died, John Atkinson would probably have

survived had the emergency response

been better.”

 

He added:

 

“In the case of Saffie Rose Roussos, I have

concluded that there was a remote possibility

that she could have been saved if the rescue

operation had been conducted differently.”

 

The inquiry heard that only three paramedics went into the City Room after the attack. Crews from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service took more than two hours to attend the Arena.

 

Sir John added:

 

“GMP (Greater Manchester Police) did not

lead the response in accordance with the

guidance that it had been given or parts of

its own plans.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

(GMFRS) failed to turn up at the scene at a

time when they could provide the greatest

assistance.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) failed

to send sufficient paramedics into the City

Room.

NWAS did not use available stretchers to

remove casualties in a safe way, and did not

communicate their intentions sufficiently to

those who were in the City Room.”

 

Despite highlighting a series of failings, he said that:

 

"There were some parts of the emergency

response that worked well, and that no doubt

lives were saved”.

 

Paying tribute to those who helped the victims, he said:

 

“The heroism shown by very many people

that night is striking. I have seen the terrible

footage from the CCTV and body-worn video

cameras of the scene of devastation in the City

Room.

The description of that area as being like a

“warzone” was used by a number of witnesses.

That is an accurate description. To enter the

City Room or remain there to help victims

required great courage.”

 

Sir John added:

 

“At the centre of my Inquiry is the terrible loss

of twenty two lives. Each family and each person

at the Arena has a deeply personal story to tell

about the impact of the attack on them.

My report cannot change what has happened.

My intention is to uncover what went wrong and

find ways of improving practices so that no one

has to suffer such terrible pain and loss again.”

 

The report also stated that responsibility for the deaths lies with suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, and his brother Hashem, 25, who is serving life behind bars for his part in the plot.

 

The inquiry found that the brothers had “planned to cause as much harm to as many people as they could" when Abedi exploded his home made device.

AlAl-Husayn (Al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlīy ibn ʾAbī Ṭālib, 626-680) was the son of 'Ali c.600-661, the Prophet Muhammad's cousin, son-in-law, companion & fourth & last of the orthodox caliphs (al-Khilāfah al-Rāšidin; r.656–661). After his father was assassinated, Husayn was urged to claim the caliphate, but was killed at the Battle of Karbala in Iraq in 680. His head was, reportedly, buried in Askolon and was brought to Cairo in 1153 during the Crusades & a shrine was built for it on the site of this Mosque.

 

Patron, mosque: designed by 'Ali Mubarak on instructions from 'Abbas I ('Abbas Hilmi Paşa) 1812-1854, son of Tusun Pasha (son of Ali) & grandson of Muhammad 'Ali, Wāli of Egypt & Sudan (r.1849-1854), & Isma'il (İsmail Paşa, Ismail the Magnificent) 1830-1895, grandson of Muhammad 'Ali, Wali of Egypt & Sudan (r.1863-1867) & Khedive of Egypt & Sudan (r.1867-1879).

 

Mawlid Imam al-Husayn (the celebration of the birthday of al-Husayn) who is considered a saint by Sufis, is celebrated on the 3rd day of Sha'ban (the eighth month of the Islamic calendar).

Kisah Sahabat: Abu Ayyub Al-Anshari, Pahlawan Konstantinopel – Sahabat Nabi Muhammad Saw yang bernama Khalid bin Zaid bin Kulaib bin Tsa’labah bin Abdi ‘Amr bin ‘Auf bin jasym bin Ghanam bin Malik bin an-Najjar bin Tsa’labah bin al-Kazraj merupukan keturunan dari bani Najjar, adapun ibunya yang bernama Hindun binti Sa’id bin Amru keturunan dari Bani al-Harits bin al-Khazraj. Sahabat Nabi ini lebih populernya dengan nama Abu Ayyub Al-Anshari Al-Khazraj Al-Badri. Beliau seorang yang sudah tidak lagi muda, di usianya yang ke 80 tahun hampir tak menyurutkannya untuk selalu membela Rasul dan berjihad di jalan Allah SWT, sampai ia wafat menghadap ilahi sesuai dengan apa yang telah ia idam-idamkan dari sejak muda.

 

Kisah Sahabat: Abu Ayyub Al-Anshari, Pahlawan Konstantinopel ini merupakan penduduk Madinah, ia berasal dari kabilah Anshar. Walaupun ia tidak tinggal di Mekkah dan menjadi seorang yang pertama masuk Islam, akantetapi pancaran keimanan juga kecintaan terhadap Rasulullah Saw begitu teramat besar, sehingga ia ikut hadir dalam perjanjian setia Aqabah.

 

Tatkala Rasulullah Saw beserta Abu Bakar melaksanakan hijrah dari Mekkah menuju Madinah, maka rumah Abu Ayyub lah yang pertama disinggahi oleh Rasulullah. Abu Ayyub juga telah dipersaudarakan oleh Rasulullah Saw dengan Mus’ab bin Umair, seorang sahabat dari Muhajirin yang sekaligus menjadi utusan Rasul untuk mengajarkan Islam dan berdakwah kepada penduduk Madinah sebelum hijrahnya Rasulullah Saw.

 

[caption id="attachment_8272" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Kisah Sahabat: Abu Ayyub Al-Anshari, Pahlawan Konstantinopel[/caption]

 

Dalam itinerary Paket Wisata Muslim Aqsa selain anda berwisata di palestina-jerussalem, anda pun akan dibawa ke Istanbul Turki dan berziarah ke makam Kisah Sahabat: Abu Ayyub Al-Anshari. Menapaki bukti-bukti sejarah Islam bersama Wisata Muslim Rabbani Tour. tak hanya berwisata tapi Rabbani Tour menyediakan Paket Umroh Plus.

 

Abu Ayyub senantiasa menyertai Rasulullah Saw dalam segala pertempuran antara Muslimin dengan orang-orang kafir, diawali dengan ikut serta dalam perang Badar, kemudian perang Uhud dan pertempuran-pertempuran sesudahnya. Ia tidak pernah absen berjihad di jalan Allah SWT bersama Rasulullah Saw dan para Khalifah sesudahnya hingga akhir hayatnya.

 

Kisah Sahabat: Abu Ayyub Al-Anshari, Pahlawan Konstantinopel

 

Setibanya Nabi Saw di Madinah semua orang-orang Anshar berharap rumahnya disinggahi oleh Rasulullah Saw, setiap melewati rumah pasti tali kekang onta Rasul dipegang oleh mereka karena menginginkan untuk disinggahi, namun beliau bersabda “berilah jalan untuk onta ini, karena ia adalah onta yg sudah diperintah”

 

Yang akhirnya unta Rasulullah Saw berhenti tepat di depan rumah Bani Malik bin Najjar, beliau pun turun dari untanya. Tampak seorang muslim yang berseri-seri karena merasa bergembira, kemudian seseorang tersebut membawakan barang muatan yang dibawa Rasulullah dan mempersilahkan beliau masuk ke rumah. Seseorang yang beruntung tersebut adalah Abu Ayyub Al-Anshari Khalid bin Zaid, merupakan cucu dari Malik bin Najjar.

 

Pertemuan kali ini bukanlah yang pertama, karena sebelumnya sewaktu utusan Madinah pergi menuju kota Mekkah untuk berbaiat Aqobah, Abu Ayyublah salah satu dari 70 orang Mukmin yang mengulurkan tangan kanannya untuk berjabat ke tangan Rasulullah Saw, berjanji setia dan siap menjadi pembela Rasul. Janji yang dilandasi atas kecintaan dan mengharap ridho Allah SWT.

 

Setelah itu Rasulullah bermukim di Madinah, menjadikan kota tersebut sebagai pusat penyebaran agama Allah SWT. begitu beruntungnya sahabat Abu Ayyub yang rumahnya dijadikan tempat pertama yang didiami oleh Rasulullah Saw. Beliau akan tinggal beberapa waktu di rumah Abu Ayyub hingga selesainya pembangunan Masjid dan rumah beliau di sampingnya.

 

sejak itu pula kaum kafir Quraisy berniat untuk berbuat jahat, diadakannya penyerangan-penyerangan ke kota Madinah, karena mereka tidak rela Islam menyebar di luar Mekkah. Abu Ayyub pun selalu ikut serta dalam berjihad di jalan Allah SWT. mulai dari perang Badar, perang Uhud dan juga Khandaq. Setiap kali ada perang, Abu Ayyub tidak pernah absen, ia tampil sebagai pahlawan yg siap mengorbankan harta dan jiwanya. Firman Allah SWT yang senantiasa Abu Ayyub ulang-ulang dalam kehidupannya, baik siang maupun malam, “Berangkatlah kamu, baik dengan rasa ringan maupun dengan rasa berat” (Surat at-Taubah: 41)

 

ketika terjadi pertikaian antara Ali dan Muawiyah, Abu Ayyub berdiri di pihak Ali tanpa ada sedikitpun keraguan di dadanya. Tatkala Khalifah Ali bin Abi Thalib syahid, khilafah pun berpindah kepada Muawiyah, Abu Ayyub menyendiri dalam kezuhudannya. Tidak ada harapan dari dunia selain untuk hanya berjihad di jalan Allah SWT bersama barisan kaum Muslimin.

 

Ketika ada kabar bahwa tentara Islam akan bergerak menyerang ke konstantinopel, ia pun bersegera memegang kudanya dan membawa pedang, pergi untuk mencari syahid di jalan Allah SWT yang telah lama ia damba-dambakan. Padahal umur Abu Ayyub sudah tidak lagi muda, umurnya sudah 80 tahun.

 

Dengan kondisi badan yang tak lagi muda itu Abu Ayyub tidak bisa berlama-lama bertempur, ia menderita sakit yg mengharuskannya beristirahat. Didatangilah ia oleh panglimanya. Nafas Abu Ayyub sudah begitu tersengal-sengal berlomba dengan keinginannya untuk menghadap ilahi. Panglima pasukan yaitu Yazid bin Muawiyah mendekatinya dan kemudian bertanya kepada Abu Ayyub, “Apa keinginan anda wahai Abu Ayyub?”

 

[caption id="attachment_8279" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Kisah Sahabati: Abu Ayyub Al-Anshari, Pahlawan Konstantinopel[/caption]

 

Kemudian Abu Ayyub meminta kepada panglima Yazid untuk menyampaikan salamnya kepada seluruh kaum muslimin dan juga berpesan kepada para pasukan agar terus maju ke daerah musuh dan agarmembawanya ke tengah-tengah pasukan musuh, bila ia meninggal agar jasadnya dikuburkan di bawah dinding batu kontantinopel. Pasukan musliminpun menerobos pasukan musuh dan mendapatkan kemenangan, namun di waktu itu pulalah Abu Ayyub dimakamkan. Wasiat Abu Ayyub telah dilaksanakan oleh Yazid, tepat di jantung kota Konstantinopel yang sekarang bernama Istanbul, disanalah terdapat makam Kisah sahabat: Abu Ayyub Al-Anshari seorang laki-laki besar yang berjihad di jalan Allah SWT, seorang yang sudah tua yang bercita-cita mati syahid. Abu ayyub wafat pada tahun 52 H.

 

[caption id="attachment_8278" align="aligncenter" width="375"] Kisah Sahabat: Abu Ayyub Al-Anshari, Pahlawan Konstantinopel[/caption]

 

 

 

[caption id="attachment_8281" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Kisah Sahabat: Abu Ayyub Al-Anshari, Pahlawan Konstantinopel[/caption]

 

Jasad Abu Ayyub memang terkubur disana, namun ringkikan kuda dan gemerincing pedang tak akan lagi terdengar di telinga kita. Waktu yang telah berlalu begitu lama, risalah-risalah islam yang dibawa estapet dari Rasul kemudian kepada para sahabat yang akhirnya sampai kepada kita. kini kita merasakan manisnya Islam dan bisa menyaksikan bukti-bukti sejarah yang tersebar di belahan dunia.

 

Demikian sejarah singkat Kisah Sahabat: Abu Ayyub Al-Anshari, Pahlawan Konstantinopel semoga ada manfaat yang bisa dipetik. Mari bergabung bersama Rabbani Tour dan dapatkan promo-promo menarik mengenai Umroh. Diantaranya promo Peket Umroh Hebat [Hemat dan Bersahabat] + CAIRO MESIR, juga ada promo Daftar 10 paket Umroh “GRATIS 1 PAKET UMROH”, dan ada promo Umroh Ekslusif HOTEL *5 di setiap awal bulan. Segera daftarkan diri dan keluarga anda untuk mengambil Paket Umroh di Rabbani Tour, hubungi atau datangi langsung ke kantor Rabbani Tour. umroh yuk !!! Asyiiiikkk . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Al-Husayn (Al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlīy ibn ʾAbī Ṭālib, 626-680) was the son of 'Ali c.600-661, the Prophet Muhammad's cousin, son-in-law, companion & fourth & last of the orthodox caliphs (al-Khilāfah al-Rāšidin; r.656–661). After his father was assassinated, Husayn was urged to claim the caliphate, but was killed at the Battle of Karbala in Iraq in 680. His head was, reportedly, buried in Askolon and was brought to Cairo in 1153 during the Crusades & a shrine was built for it on the site of this Mosque.

 

Patron, mosque: designed by 'Ali Mubarak on instructions from 'Abbas I ('Abbas Hilmi Paşa) 1812-1854, son of Tusun Pasha (son of Ali) & grandson of Muhammad 'Ali, Wāli of Egypt & Sudan (r.1849-1854), & Isma'il (İsmail Paşa, Ismail the Magnificent) 1830-1895, grandson of Muhammad 'Ali, Wali of Egypt & Sudan (r.1863-1867) & Khedive of Egypt & Sudan (r.1867-1879).

The Sultan's Janissaries Army, created by Murad I, consisted in forcibly kidnapped Christian boys, converted to Islam, through the Devşirme system (or the "Collection of Children"),

 

first taken up from Anatolia then from annexed lands in the Balkans: Serbian, Greek, Bulgarian, Romanian, Hungarian, Ukrainien, etc (Bosnians and Albanians were the chief recruits in the Janissary system), Armenian etc, in Mamelukes, (arabic mamluk: 'owned') - captured soldiers - to then be used against their own born-countries, in the ferocious brutal élite of the Ottoman Empire fighting force.

 

The large flap of the headdress was in imitation of the sleeve of Hajji Bektash, founder of the Bektashi dervishes, who laid his hand on early Janissaries to give his blessing

  

Al-Husayn (Al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlīy ibn ʾAbī Ṭālib, 626-680) was the son of 'Ali c.600-661, the Prophet Muhammad's cousin, son-in-law, companion & fourth & last of the orthodox caliphs (al-Khilāfah al-Rāšidin; r.656–661). After his father was assassinated, Husayn was urged to claim the caliphate, but was killed at the Battle of Karbala in Iraq in 680. His head was, reportedly, buried in Askolon and was brought to Cairo in 1153 during the Crusades & a shrine was built for it on the site of this Mosque.

 

Patron, mosque: designed by 'Ali Mubarak on instructions from 'Abbas I ('Abbas Hilmi Paşa) 1812-1854, son of Tusun Pasha (son of Ali) & grandson of Muhammad 'Ali, Wāli of Egypt & Sudan (r.1849-1854), & Isma'il (İsmail Paşa, Ismail the Magnificent) 1830-1895, grandson of Muhammad 'Ali, Wali of Egypt & Sudan (r.1863-1867) & Khedive of Egypt & Sudan (r.1867-1879).

 

Mawlid Imam al-Husayn (the celebration of the birthday of al-Husayn) who is considered a saint by Sufis, is celebrated on the 3rd day of Sha'ban (the eighth month of the Islamic calendar).

via Blogger ift.tt/1YLlvBu

CLIENT: Ilm Path Academy

 

[dp] www.dawahposters.com

[e] info@dawahposters.com

CLIENT: Ilm Path Academy

 

[dp] www.dawahposters.com

[e] info@dawahposters.com