Islamisation of Historical Non-Muslim Figures
Traditionally, Muslim hierarchy employ Christians to certain
assignments in order to ascribe their attainments to Islamic
achievements. If they decline or resist, such an offer, they are
either ostracised or eliminated. Antoun Sa’ada, founder of the Hizb
Al-Qawmi Al-Souri Al-Ijtima’e (The National Syrian Socialist Party)
was apprehended while transiting through Lebanon to Syria in the
summer of 1949. He was arrested and summarily tried and hanged.
Anton’s personal assistant Abdul Msayyeh was hunted down through the
Chouf region in Lebanon and eliminated.
Michael Aflaq, founder of Hizb Al-Ba’ath Al-Arabi Al-Ishtiraki (The
Arab Resurrection Socialist Party) in Syria, had to defect to Iraq
to escape persecution by the Syrian Government. To survive in Iraq,
he had to compromise his religion. Earlier, while in Syria, he had
named his first son: Issa (Christian) and the second: Muhammad
(Muslim). He was estranged from his family and died in banishment in
Iraq. To honour him, the Government of Iraq gave Michael Aflaq the
Islamic name: Ahmed, and an official Islamic burial service. The
Iraqi Government described his services as Islamic achievements.
Other Christians like George Habash, Leader of the Popular Front for
the Liberation of Palestine (PLFP) and several splinters, and names
like Nayef Hawatmeh of the Popular Democratic Front and Wadi'e’
Haddad, have lost their shine and live in obscurity. Many Egyptian
Copts that performed acts of bravery during the liberation period
and Israeli-Egyptian wars, have since disappeared from the scene and
been forgotten. They were all Christians, treated as Janissaries.
For a Christian to act and effectuate change on his own and
represent his Christian people, independent of the mainstream
Arab/Islamic interest, is suicidal. To choose the lesser of the two
evils does not help much either. Such capable persons, not being
able to openly help their Christian community, contribute their
efforts to introduce social reforms in the hope of improving the lot
of the overall majority of the people from which the Christians
would also hope to benefit.
Because of difference in ideology, Christian contribution always
tilts towards social reform. Islamic governments dismiss them as
communistic or of Western trend, and as being in conflict with the
Islamic culture. Whatever leeway these Christian Janissaries are
permitted, they must exercise their personal freedom and judgment in
accordance with the Islamic tradition as established by the Islamic
(Shari’ah) law. Any deviation, results in Christian contributors
being ignored. They are shunned and fall from favour. They often end
up being trampled underfoot. Whatever benefit is derived from such
brilliant people, in the aftermath of the events, is attributed to
an Islamic era and enters the annals of history as Islamic reforms.
They are the neo-Janissaries of modern times -- intellectuals, born
and bred in a discriminatory hostile environment, conditioned and
maintained to perform errands and tasks that please their Islamic
masters for the spread of the Islamic cause.
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