|
The following text is provided as a source of
information as to the nature of Hamas and their intentions and
is in no manner or form representative of the beliefs of the
author of this Web site. |
This material
has been provided courtesy of: Rafael Yisraeli, in Y. Alexander and
H. Foxman, eds., The 1988-1989 Annual on Terrorism (The Netherlands:
Kluwer Academic Publishers)
To
appreciate the baseness of these people's beliefs, read the text
excerpted from their 'charter.'
"I
swear The Charter of
the Hamas
THE CHARTER OF
ALLAH: THE PLATFORM OF THE ISLAMIC RESISTANCE MOVEMENT (HAMAS)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the
Compassionate
You are the best community that has
been raised up for mankind. Ye enjoin right conduct and forbid
indecency; and ye believe in Allah. And if the People of the
Scripture had believed, it had been better for them. Some of them
are believers; but most of them are evil-doers.
They will not harm you save a
trifling hurt, and if they fight against you they will turn and
flee. And afterward they will not be helped.
Ignominy shall be their portion
wheresoever they are found save [where they grasp] a rope from Allah
and a rope from man. They have incurred anger from their Lord, and
wretchedness is laid upon them. That is because they used to
disbelieve the revelations of Allah, and slew the Prophets
wrongfully. That is because they were rebellious and used to
transgress." Surat Al-Imran (III), verses 109-111
Israel will rise and will remain
erect until Islam eliminates it as it had eliminated its
predecessors.
The Islamic World is burning. It is
incumbent upon each one of us to pour some water, little as it may
be, with a view of extinguishing as much of the fire as he can,
without awaiting action by the others.
INTRODUCTION
Grace to Allah, whose help we seek,
whose forgiveness we beseech, whose guidance we implore and on whom
we rely. We pray and bid peace upon the Messenger of Allah, his
family, his companions, his followers and those who spread his
message and followed his tradition; they will last as long as there
exist Heaven and Earth.
O, people! In the midst of
misadventure, from the depth of suffering, from the believing hearts
and purified arms; aware of our duty and in response to the decree
of Allah, we direct our call, we rally together and join each other.
We educate in the path of Allah and we make our firm determination
prevail so as to take its proper role in life, to overcome all
difficulties and to cross all hurdles. Hence our permanent state of
preparedness and our readiness to sacrifice our souls and dearest
[possessions] in the path of Allah.
Thus, our nucleus has formed which
chartered its way in the tempestuous ocean of creeds and hopes,
desires and wishes, dangers and difficulties, setbacks and
challenges, both internal and external.
When the thought matured, the seed
grew and the plant took root in the land of reality, detached from
temporary emotion and unwelcome haste, the Islamic Resistance
Movement erupted in order to play its role in the path of its Lord.
In so doing, it joined its hands with those of all Jihad fighters
for the purpose of liberating Palestine. The souls of its Jihad
fighters will encounter those of all Jihad fighters who have
sacrificed their lives in the land of Palestine since it was
conquered by the Companion of the Prophet, be Allah's prayer and
peace upon him, and until this very day. This is the Charter of the
Islamic Resistance (Hamas) which will reveal its face, unveil its
identity, state its position, clarify its purpose, discuss its
hopes, call for support to its cause and reinforcement, and for
joining its ranks. For our struggle against the Jews is extremely
wide-ranging and grave, so much so that it will need all the loyal
efforts we can wield, to be followed by further steps and reinforced
by successive battalions from the multifarious Arab and Islamic
world, until the enemies are defeated and Allah's victory prevails.
Thus we shall perceive them approaching in the horizon,
and this will be known before long: "Allah has decreed: Lo! I
very shall conquer, I and my messenger, lo! Allah is strong,
almighty.:"
PART I - KNOWING THE
MOVEMENT
The Ideological Aspects
Article One
The Islamic Resistance Movement draws
its guidelines from Islam; derives from it its thinking,
interpretations and views about existence, life and humanity; refers
back to it for its conduct; and is inspired by it in whatever step
it takes.
The Link between Hamas and
the Association of Muslim Brothers
Article Two
The Islamic Resistance Movement is one
of the wings of the Muslim Brothers in Palestine. The Muslim
Brotherhood Movement is a world organization, the largest Islamic
Movement in the modern era. It is characterized by a profound
understanding, by precise notions and by a complete
comprehensiveness of all concepts of Islam in all domains of life:
views and beliefs, politics and economics, education and society,
jurisprudence and rule, indoctrination and teaching, the arts and
publications, the hidden and the evident, and all the other domains
of life.
Structure and Essence
Article Three
The basic structure of the Islamic
Resistance Movement consists of Muslims who are devoted to Allah and
worship Him verily [as it is written]: "I have created Man and
Devil for the purpose of their worship" [of Allah]. Those
Muslims are cognizant of their duty towards themselves, their
families and country and they have been relying on Allah for all
that. They have raised the banner of Jihad in the face of the
oppressors in order to extricate the country and the people from the
[oppressors'] desecration, filth and evil.
Article Four
The Movement welcomes all Muslims who
share its beliefs and thinking, commit themselves to its course of
action, keep its secrets and aspire to join its ranks in order to
carry out their duty. Allah will reward them.
Dimensions of Time and Space
of the Hamas
Article Five
As the Movement adopts Islam as its way
of life, its time dimension extends back as far as the birth of the
Islamic Message and of the Righteous Ancestor. Its ultimate goal is
Islam, the Prophet its model, the Qur'an its Constitution. Its
special dimension extends wherever on earth there are Muslims, who
adopt Islam as their way of life; thus, it penetrates to the deepest
reaches of the land and to the highest spheres of Heavens.
Peculiarity and Independence
Article Six
The Islamic Resistance Movement is a
distinct Palestinian Movement which owes its loyalty to Allah,
derives from Islam its way of life and strives to raise the banner
of Allah over every inch of Palestine. Only under the shadow of
Islam could the members of all regions coexist in safety and
security for their lives, properties and rights. In the absence of
Islam, conflict arises, oppression reigns, corruption is rampant and
struggles and wars prevail. Allah had inspired the Muslim poet,
Muhammad Iqbal, when he said:
When the Faith wanes, there is no
security
There is no this-worldliness for those who have no faith
Those who wish to live their life without religion
Have made annihilation the equivalent of life.
The Universality of Hamas
Article Seven
By virtue of the distribution of
Muslims, who pursue the cause of the Hamas, all over the globe, and
strive for its victory, for the reinforcement of its positions and
for the encouragement of its Jihad, the Movement is a universal one.
It is apt to be that due to the clarity of its thinking, the
nobility of its purpose and the loftiness of its objectives.
It is in this light that the Movement
has to be regarded, evaluated and acknowledged. Whoever denigrates
its worth, or avoids supporting it, or is so blind as to dismiss its
role, is challenging Fate itself. Whoever closes his eyes from
seeing the facts, whether intentionally or not, will wake up to find
himself overtaken by events, and will find no excuses to justify his
position. Priority is reserved to the early comers.
Oppressing those who are closest to
you, is more of an agony to the soul than the impact of an Indian
sword.
"And unto thee have we revealed
the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever scripture was
before it, and a watcher over it. So judge between them by that
which Allah hath revealed, and follow not their desires away from
the truth which has come unto thee. For each we have appointed a
divine law and a traced-out way. Had Allah willed, He could have
made you one community. But that He may try you by that which he has
given you [He has made you as you are]. So vie with one another in
good works. Unto Allah, you will all return. He will then inform you
of that wherein you differ."
Hamas is one of the links in the
Chain of Jihad in the confrontation with the Zionist invasion. It
links up with the setting out of the Martyr Izz a-din al-Qassam and
his brothers in the Muslim Brotherhood who fought the Holy War in
1936; it further relates to another link of the Palestinian Jihad
and the Jihad and efforts of the Muslim Brothers during the 1948
War, and to the Jihad operations of the Muslim Brothers in 1968 and
thereafter.
But even if the links have become
distant from each other, and even if the obstacles erected by those
who revolve in the Zionist orbit, aiming at obstructing the road
before the Jihad fighters, have rendered the pursuance of Jihad
impossible; nevertheless, the Hamas has been looking forward to
implement Allah's promise whatever time it might take. The prophet,
prayer and peace be upon him, said:
The time will not come until Muslims
will fight the Jews (and kill them); until the Jews hide behind
rocks and trees, which will cry: O Muslim! there is a Jew hiding
behind me, come on and kill him! This will not apply to the
Gharqad, which is a Jewish tree (cited by Bukhari and Muslim).
The Slogan of the Hamas
Article Eight
Allah is its goal, the Prophet its
model, the Qur'an its Constitution, Jihad its path and death for the
case of Allah its most sublime belief.
PART II - OBJECTIVES
Motives and Objectives
Article Nine
Hamas finds itself at a period of time
when Islam has waned away from the reality of life. For this reason,
the checks and balances have been upset, concepts have become
confused, and values have been transformed; evil has prevailed,
oppression and obscurity have reigned; cowards have turned tigers,
homelands have been usurped, people have been uprooted and are
wandering all over the globe. The state of truth has disappeared and
was replaced by the state of evil. Nothing has remained in its right
place, for when Islam is removed from the scene, everything changes.
These are the motives.
As to the objectives: discarding the
evil, crushing it and defeating it, so that truth may prevail,
homelands revert [to their owners], calls for prayer be heard from
their mosques, announcing the reinstitution of the Muslim state.
Thus, people and things will revert to their true place.
Article Ten
The Islamic Resistance Movement,
while breaking its own path, will do its utmost to constitute at the
same time a support to the weak, a defense to all the oppressed. It
will spare no effort to implement the truth and abolish evil, in
speech and in fact, both here and in any other location where it can
reach out and exert influence.
PART III - STRATEGIES
AND METHODS
The Strategy of Hamas:
Palestine is an Islamic Waqf
Article Eleven
The Islamic Resistance Movement believes
that the land of Palestine has been an Islamic Waqf throughout the
generations and until the Day of Resurrection, no one can renounce
it or part of it, or abandon it or part of it. No Arab country nor
the aggregate of all Arab countries, and no Arab King or President
nor all of them in the aggregate, have that right, nor has that
right any organization or the aggregate of all organizations, be
they Palestinian or Arab, because Palestine is an Islamic Waqf
throughout all generations and to the Day of Resurrection. Who can
presume to speak for all Islamic Generations to the Day of
Resurrection? This is the status [of the land] in Islamic Shari'a,
and it is similar to all lands conquered by Islam by force, and made
thereby Waqf lands upon their conquest, for all generations of
Muslims until the Day of Resurrection. This [norm] has prevailed
since the commanders of the Muslim armies completed the conquest of
Syria and Iraq, and they asked the Caliph of Muslims, 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab,
for his view of the conquered land, whether it should be partitioned
between the troops or left in the possession of its population, or
otherwise. Following discussions and consultations between the
Caliph of Islam, 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab, and the Companions of the
Messenger of Allah, be peace and prayer upon him, they decided that
the land should remain in the hands of its owners to benefit from it
and from its wealth; but the control of the land and the land itself
ought to be endowed as a Waqf [in perpetuity] for all generations of
Muslims until the Day of Resurrection. The ownership of the land by
its owners is only one of usufruct, and this Waqf will endure as
long as Heaven and earth last. Any demarche in violation of this law
of Islam, with regard to Palestine, is baseless and reflects on its
perpetrators.
Hamas in Palestine: Its Views
on Homeland and Nationalism
Article Twelve
Hamas regards Nationalism (Wataniyya) as
part and parcel of the religious faith. Nothing is loftier or deeper
in Nationalism than waging Jihad against the enemy and confronting
him when he sets foot on the land of the Muslims. And this becomes
an individual duty binding on every Muslim man and woman; a woman
must go out and fight the enemy even without her husband's
authorization, and a slave without his masters' permission.
This [principle] does not exist under
any other regime, and it is a truth not to be questioned. While
other nationalisms consist of material, human and territorial
considerations, the nationality of Hamas also carries, in addition
to all those, the all important divine factors which lend to it its
spirit and life; so much so that it connects with the origin of the
spirit and the source of life and raises in the skies of the
Homeland the Banner of the Lord, thus inexorably connecting earth
with Heaven.
When Moses came and threw his baton,
sorcery and sorcerers became futile.
Peaceful Solutions, [Peace]
Initiatives and International Conferences
Article Thirteen
[Peace] initiatives, the so-called
peaceful solutions, and the international conferences to resolve the
Palestinian problem, are all contrary to the beliefs of the Islamic
Resistance Movement. For renouncing any part of Palestine means
renouncing part of the religion; the nationalism of the Islamic
Resistance Movement is part of its faith, the movement educates its
members to adhere to its principles and to raise the banner of Allah
over their homeland as they fight their Jihad: "Allah is the
all-powerful, but most people are not aware."
From time to time a clamoring is
voiced, to hold an International Conference in search for a solution
to the problem. Some accept the idea, others reject it, for one
reason or another, demanding the implementation of this or that
condition, as a prerequisite for agreeing to convene the Conference
or for participating in it. But the Islamic Resistance Movement,
which is aware of the [prospective] parties to this conference, and
of their past and present positions towards the problems of the
Muslims, does not believe that those conferences are capable of
responding to demands, or of restoring rights or doing justice to
the oppressed. Those conferences are no more than a means to appoint
the nonbelievers as arbitrators in the lands of Islam. Since when
did the Unbelievers do justice to the Believers?
"And the Jews will not be
pleased with thee, nor will the Christians, till thou follow their
creed. 'Say: Lo! the guidance of Allah [himself] is the Guidance.
And if you should follow their desires after the knowledge which has
come unto thee, then you would have from Allah no protecting friend
nor helper." Sura 2 (the Cow), verse 120
There is no solution to the
Palestinian problem except by Jihad. The initiatives, proposals and
International Conferences are but a waste of time, an exercise in
futility. The Palestinian people are too noble to have their future,
their right and their destiny submitted to a vain game. As the
hadith has it:
"The people of Syria are Allah's
whip on this land; He takes revenge by their intermediary from
whoever he wished among his worshipers. The Hypocrites among them
are forbidden from vanquishing the true believers, and they will die
in anxiety and sorrow." (Told by Tabarani, who is traceable in
ascending order of traditionaries to Muhammad, and by Ahmed whose
chain of transmission is incomplete. But it is bound to be a true
hadith, for both story tellers are reliable. Allah knows best.)
The Three Circles
Article Fourteen
The problem of the liberation of
Palestine relates to three circles: the Palestinian, the Arab and
the Islamic. Each one of these circles has a role to play in the
struggle against Zionism and it has duties to fulfill. It would be
an enormous mistake and an abysmal act of ignorance to disregard
anyone of these circles. For Palestine is an Islamic land where the
First Qibla and the third holiest site are located. That is also the
place whence the Prophet, be Allah's prayer and peace upon him,
ascended to heavens.
"Glorified be He who carried His
servant by night from the Inviolable Place of worship to the Far
Distant Place of Worship, the neighborhood whereof we have blessed,
that we might show him of our tokens! Lo! He, only He, is the
Hearer, the Seer." Sura XVII (al-Isra'), verse 1
In consequence of this state of
affairs, the liberation of that land is an individual duty binding
on all Muslims everywhere. This is the base on which all Muslims
have to regard the problem; this has to be understood by all
Muslims. When the problem is dealt with on this basis, where the
full potential of the three circles is mobilized, then the current
circumstances will change and the day of liberation will come
closer.
"You are more awful as a fear in
their bosoms than Allah. That is because they are a folk who
understand not." Sura LIX, (Al-Hashr, the Exile), verse 13
The Jihad for the Liberation
of Palestine is an Individual Obligation
Article Fifteen
When our enemies usurp some Islamic
lands, Jihad becomes a duty binding on all Muslims. In order to face
the usurpation of Palestine by the Jews, we have no escape from
raising the banner of Jihad. This would require the propagation of
Islamic consciousness among the masses on all local, Arab and
Islamic levels. We must spread the spirit of Jihad among the
[Islamic] Umma, clash with the enemies and join the ranks of the
Jihad fighters.
The 'ulama as well as educators and
teachers, publicity and media men as well as the masses of the
educated, and especially the youth and the elders of the Islamic
Movements, must participate in this raising of consciousness. There
is no escape from introducing fundamental changes in educational
curricula in order to cleanse them from all vestiges of the
ideological invasion which has been brought about by orientalists
and missionaries. That invasion had begun overtaking this area
following the defeat of the Crusader armies by Salah a-Din el Ayyubi.
The Crusaders had understood that they had no way to vanquish the
Muslims unless they prepared the grounds for that with an
ideological invasion which would confuse the thinking of Muslims,
revile their heritage, discredit their ideals, to be followed by a
military invasion. That was to be in preparation for the Imperialist
invasion, as in fact [General] Allenby acknowledged it upon his
entry to Jerusalem: "Now, the Crusades are over." General
Gouraud stood on the tomb of Salah a-Din and declared: "We have
returned, O Salah-a-Din!" Imperialism has been instrumental in
boosting the ideological invasion and deepening its roots, and it is
still pursuing this goal. All this had paved the way to the loss of
Palestine. We must imprint on the minds of generations of Muslims
that the Palestinian problem is a religious one, to be dealt with on
this premise. It includes Islamic holy sites such as the Aqsa
Mosque, which is inexorably linked to the Holy Mosque as long as the
Heaven and earth will exist, to the journey of the Messenger of
Allah, be Allah's peace and blessing upon him, to it, and to his
ascension from it.
"Dwelling one day in the Path of
Allah is better than the entire world and everything that exists in
it. The place of the whip of one among you in Paradise is better
than the entire world and everything that exists in it. [God's]
worshiper's going and coming in the Path of Allah is better than the
entire world and everything that exists in it." (Told by
Bukhari, Muslim Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja)
I swear by that who holds in His
Hands the Soul of Muhammad! I indeed wish to go to war for the sake
of Allah! I will assault and kill, assault and kill, assault and
kill (told by Bukhari and Muslim).
Article Sixteen
We must accord the Islamic [young]
generations in our area, an Islamic education based on the
implementation of religious precepts, on the conscientious study of
the Book of Allah; on the Study of the Prophetic Tradition, on the
study of Islamic history and heritage from its reliable sources,
under the guidance of experts and scientists, and on singling out
the paths which constitute for the Muslims sound concepts of
thinking and faith. It is also necessary to study conscientiously
the enemy and its material and human potential; to detect its weak
and strong spots, and to recognize the powers that support it and
stand by it. At the same time, we must be aware of current events,
follow the news and study the analyses and commentaries on it,
together with drawing plans for the present and the future and
examining every phenomenon, so that every Muslim, fighting Jihad,
could live out his era aware of his objective, his goals, his way
and the things happening round him.
"O my dear son! Lo! though it be
but the weight of a grain of mustard-seed, and though it be in a
rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth.
Lo! Allah is subtle. Aware. O my dear son! Establish worship and
enjoin kindness and forbid inequity, and persevere, whatever may
befall thee. Lo! that is of the steadfast heart of things. Turn not
thy cheek in scorn toward folk, nor walk with pertness in the land.
Lo! Allah loves not braggarts and boasters." Sura XXXI (Luqman),
verses 16-18
The Role of Muslim Women
Article Seventeen
The Muslim women have a no lesser role
than that of men in the war of liberation; they manufacture men and
play a great role in guiding and educating the [new] generation. The
enemies have understood that role, therefore they realize that if
they can guide and educate [the Muslim women] in a way that would
distance them from Islam, they would have won that war. Therefore,
you can see them making consistent efforts [in that direction] by
way of publicity and movies, curricula of education and culture,
using as their intermediaries their craftsmen who are part of the
various Zionist Organizations which take on all sorts of names and
shapes such as: the Freemasons, Rotary Clubs, gangs of spies and the
like. All of them are nests of saboteurs and sabotage. Those Zionist
organizations control vast material resources, which enable them to
fulfill their mission amidst societies, with a view of implementing
Zionist goals and sowing the concepts that can be of use to the
enemy. Those organizations operate [in a situation] where Islam is
absent from the arena and alienated from its people. Thus, the
Muslims must fulfill their duty in confronting the schemes of those
saboteurs. When Islam will retake possession of [the means to] guide
the life [of the Muslims], it will wipe out those organizations
which are the enemy of humanity and Islam.
Article Eighteen
The women in the house and the family of
Jihad fighters, whether they are mothers or sisters, carry out the
most important duty of caring for the home and raising the children
upon the moral concepts and values which derive from Islam; and of
educating their sons to observe the religious injunctions in
preparation for the duty of Jihad awaiting them. Therefore, we must
pay attention to the schools and curricula upon which Muslim girls
are educated, so as to make them righteous mothers, who are
conscious of their duties in the war of liberation. They must be
fully capable of being aware and of grasping the ways to manage
their households. Economy and avoiding waste in household
expenditures are prerequisites to our ability to pursue our cause in
the difficult circumstances surrounding us. Therefore let them
remember at all times that money saved is equivalent to blood, which
must be made to run in the veins in order to ensure the continuity
of life of our young and old.
"Lo, men who surrender unto
Allah, and women who surrender and men who believe and women who
believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the
truth and women who speak the truth and men who persevere (in
righteousness) and women who persevere and men who are humble and
women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms,
and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their modesty
and women who guard [their modesty], and men who remember Allah much
and women who remember Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a
vast reward." Sura 33 (Al-Ahzab, the Clans), verse 35
The Role of Islamic Art in
the War of Liberation
Article Nineteen
Art has rules and criteria by which one
can know whether it is Islamic or Jahiliyya art. The problems of
Islamic liberation underlie the need for Islamic art which could
lift the spirit, and instead of making one party triumph over the
other, would lift up all parties in harmony and balance.
Man is a strange and miraculous
being, made out of a handful of clay and a breath of soul; Islamic
art is to address man on this basis, while Jahili art addresses the
body and makes the element of clay paramount. So, books, articles,
publications, religious exhortations, epistles, songs, poems, hymns,
plays, and the like, if they possess the characteristics of Islamic
art, have the requisites of ideological mobilization, of a
continuous nurturing in the pursuance of the journey, and of
relaxing the soul. The road is long and the suffering is great and
the spirits are weary; it is Islamic art which renews the activity,
revives the movement and arouses lofty concepts and sound planning.
The soul cannot thrive, unless it knows how to contrive, unless it
can transit from one situation to another. All this is a serious
matter, no jesting. For the umma fighting its Jihad knows no
jesting.
Social Solidarity
Article Twenty
Islamic society is one of solidarity.
The Messenger of Allah, be Allah's prayer and peace upon him, said:
What a wonderful tribe were the
Ash'aris! When they were overtaxed, either in their location or
during their journeys, they would collect all their possessions, and
then would divide them equally among themselves.
This is the Islamic spirit which
ought to prevail in any Muslim society. A society which confronts a
vicious, Nazi-like enemy, who does not differentiate between man and
woman, elder and young ought to be the first to adorn itself with
this Islamic spirit. Our enemy pursues the style of collective
punishment of usurping people's countries and properties, of
pursuing them into their exiles and places of assembly. It has
resorted to breaking bones, opening fire on women and children and
the old, with or without reason, and to setting up detention camps
where thousands upon thousands are interned in inhuman conditions.
In addition, it destroys houses, renders children orphans and issues
oppressive judgements against thousands of young people who spend
the best years of their youth in the darkness of prisons. The Nazism
of the Jews does not skip women and children, it scares everyone.
They make war against people's livelihood, plunder their moneys and
threaten their honor. In their horrible actions they mistreat people
like the most horrendous war criminals. Exiling people from their
country is another way of killing them. As we face this misconduct,
we have no escape from establishing social solidarity among the
people, from confronting the enemy as one solid body, so that if one
organ is hurt the rest of the body will respond with alertness and
fervor.
Article Twenty-One
Social solidarity consists of extending
help to all the needy, both materially and morally, or assisting in
the execution of certain actions. It is incumbent upon the members
of the Hamas to look after the interests of the masses the way they
would look after their own interests. They must spare no effort in
the implementation and maintenance of those interests, and they must
avoid playing with anything that might effect the future generations
or cause damage to their society. For the masses are of them and for
them, their strength is [ultimately] theirs and their future is
theirs. The members of Hamas must share with the people its joys and
sorrows, and adopt the demands of the people and anything likely to
fulfill its interests and theirs. When this spirit reigns,
congeniality will deepen, cooperation and compassion will prevail,
unity will firm up, and the ranks will be strengthened in the
confrontation with the enemy.
The Powers which Support the
Enemy
Article Twenty-Two
The enemies have been scheming for a
long time, and they have consolidated their schemes, in order to
achieve what they have achieved. They took advantage of key elements
in unfolding events, and accumulated a huge and influential material
wealth which they put to the service of implementing their dream.
This wealth [permitted them to] take over control of the world media
such as news agencies, the press, publication houses, broadcasting
and the like. [They also used this] wealth to stir revolutions in
various parts of the globe in order to fulfill their interests and
pick the fruits. They stood behind the French and the Communist
Revolutions and behind most of the revolutions we hear about here
and there. They also used the money to establish clandestine
organizations which are spreading around the world, in order to
destroy societies and carry out Zionist interests. Such
organizations are: the Freemasons, Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs, B'nai
B'rith and the like. All of them are destructive spying
organizations. They also used the money to take over control of the
Imperialist states and made them colonize many countries in order to
exploit the wealth of those countries and spread their corruption
therein.
As regards local and world wars, it
has come to pass and no one objects, that they stood behind World
War I, so as to wipe out the Islamic Caliphate. They collected
material gains and took control of many sources of wealth. They
obtained the Balfour Declaration and established the League of
Nations in order to rule the world by means of that organization.
They also stood behind World War II, where they collected immense
benefits from trading with war materials and prepared for the
establishment of their state. They inspired the establishment of the
United Nations and the Security Council to replace the League of
Nations, in order to rule the world by their intermediary. There was
no war that broke out anywhere without their fingerprints on it:
"...As often as they light a
fire for war, Allah extinguishes it. Their efforts are for
corruption in the land and Allah loves not corrupters." Sura V
(Al-Ma'ida - the Tablespread), verse 64
The forces of Imperialism in both the
Capitalist West and the Communist East support the enemy with all
their might, in material and human terms, taking turns between
themselves. When Islam appears, all the forces of Unbelief unite to
confront it, because the Community of Unbelief is one.
"Oh ye who believe! Take not for
intimates others than your own folk, who would spare no pain to ruin
you. Hatred is revealed by [the utterance of] their mouth, but that
which their breasts hide is greater. We have made plain for you the
revelations if you will understand." Sura III, (Al-Imran),
verse 118
It is not in vain that the verse ends
with God's saying: "If you will understand."
PART IV
Our Position Vis-a-Vis the
Islamic Movements
Article Twenty-Three
The Hamas views the other Islamic
movements with respect and appreciation. Even when it differs from
them in one aspect or another or on one concept or another, it
agrees with them in other aspects and concepts. It reads those
movements as included in the framework of striving [for the sake of
Allah], as long as they hold sound intentions and abide by their
devotion to Allah, and as along as their conduct remains within the
perimeter of the Islamic circle. All the fighters of Jihad have
their reward.
The Hamas regards those movements as
its stock holders and asks Allah for guidance and integrity of
conduct for all. It shall not fail to continue to raise the banner
of unity and to exert efforts in order to implement it, [based] upon
the [Holy] Book and the [Prophet's] Tradition.
"And hold fast, all of you
together, to the cable of Allah, do not separate. And remember
Allah's favor unto you how ye were enemies and He made friendship
between your hearts so that ye became as brothers by His grace; and
(how) ye were upon the brink of an abyss of fire, and He did save
you from it. Thus Allah makes clear His revelations unto you, that
happily ye may be guided." Sura III (Al-'Imran), verse 102
Article Twenty-Four
Hamas will not permit the slandering and
defamation of individuals and groups, for the Believers are not
slanderers and cursers. However, despite the need to differentiate
between that and the positions and modes of conduct adopted by
individuals and groups whenever the Hamas detects faulty positions
and modes of conduct, it has the right to point to the mistake, to
denigrate it, to act for spelling out the truth and for adopting it
realistically in the context of a given problem. Wisdom is roaming
around, and the Believer ought to grasp it wherever he can find it.
"Allah loves not the utterance
of harsh speech save by one who has been wronged. Allah is ever
Hearer, Knower. If you do good openly or keep it secret, or give
evil, lo! Allah is forgiving, powerful." Sura IV (Women),
verses 147-148
The National (wataniyya)
Movements in the Palestinian Arena
Article Twenty-Five
[Hamas] reciprocated its respect to
them, appreciates their condition and the factors surrounding them
and influencing them, and supports them firmly as long as they do
not owe their loyalty to the Communist East or to the Crusader West.
We reiterate to every one who is part of them or sympathizes with
them that the Hamas is a movement of Jihad, or morality and
consciousness in its concept of life. It moves forward with the
others, abhors opportunism, and only wishes well to individuals and
groups. It does not aspire to material gains, or to personal fame,
nor does it solicit remuneration from the people. It sets out
relying on its own material resources, and what is available to it,
[as it is said] "afford them the power you can avail yourself
of." [All that] in order to carry out its duty, to gain Allah's
favor; it has no ambition other than that.
All the nationalist streams,
operating in the Palestinian arena for the sake of the liberation of
Palestine, may rest assured that they will definitely and resolutely
get support and assistance, in speech and in action, at the present
and in the future, [because Hamas aspires] to unite, not to divide;
to safeguard, not to squander; to bring together, not to fragment.
It values every kind word, every devoted effort and every
commendable endeavor. It closes the door before marginal quarrels,
it does not heed rumors and biased statements, and it is aware of
the right of self-defense.
Anything that runs counter or
contradicts this orientation is trumped up by the enemies or by
those who run in their orbit in order to create confusion, to divide
our ranks or to divert to marginal things.
"O ye who believe! If an
evil-liver bring you tidings, verify it, lest ye smite some folk in
ignorance and afterward repent of what ye did." Sura XLIX (al
Hujurat, the Private Apartments), verse 6
Article Twenty-Six
The Hamas, while it views positively the
Palestinian National Movements which do not owe their loyalty to the
East or to the West, does not refrain from debating unfolding events
regarding the Palestinian problem, on the local and international
scenes. These debates are realistic and expose the extent to which
[these developments] go along with, or contradict, national
interests as viewed from the Islamic vantage point.
The Palestine Liberation
Organization
Article Twenty Seven
The PLO is among the closest to the
Hamas, for it constitutes a father, a brother, a relative, a friend.
Can a Muslim turn away from his father, his brother, his relative or
his friend? Our homeland is one, our calamity is one, our destiny is
one and our enemy is common to both of us. Under the influence of
the circumstances which surrounded the founding of the PLO, and the
ideological invasion which has swept the Arab world since the rout
of the Crusades, and which has been reinforced by Orientalism and
the Christian Mission, the PLO has adopted the idea of a Secular
State, and so we think of it. Secular thought is diametrically
opposed to religious thought. Thought is the basis for positions,
for modes of conduct and for resolutions. Therefore, in spite of our
appreciation for the PLO and its possible transformation in the
future, and despite the fact that we do not denigrate its role in
the Arab-Israeli conflict, we cannot substitute it for the Islamic
nature of Palestine by adopting secular thought. For the Islamic
nature of Palestine is part of our religion, and anyone who neglects
his religion is bound to lose.
"And who forsakes the religion
of Abraham, save him who befools himself?" Sura II (Al-Baqra -
the Co), verse 130
When the PLO adopts Islam as the
guideline for life, then we shall become its soldiers, the fuel of
its fire which will burn the enemies. And until that happens, and we
pray to Allah that it will happen soon, the position of the Hamas
towards the PLO is one of a son towards his father, a brother
towards his brother, and a relative towards his relative who suffers
the other's pain when a thorn hits him, who supports the other in
the confrontation with the enemies and who wishes him divine
guidance and integrity of conduct.
Your brother, your brother! Whoever
has no brother, is like a fighter who runs to the battle without
weapons. A cousin for man is like the best wing, and no falcon can
take off without wings.
Article Twenty-Eight
The Zionist invasion is a mischievous
one. It does not hesitate to take any road, or to pursue all
despicable and repulsive means to fulfill its desires. It relies to
a great extent, for its meddling and spying activities, on the
clandestine organizations which it has established, such as the
Freemasons, Rotary Clubs, Lions, and other spying associations. All
those secret organizations, some which are overt, act for the
interests of Zionism and under its directions, strive to demolish
societies, to destroy values, to wreck answerableness, to totter
virtues and to wipe out Islam. It stands behind the diffusion of
drugs and toxics of all kinds in order to facilitate its control and
expansion.
The Arab states surrounding Israel
are required to open their borders to the Jihad fighters, the sons
of the Arab and Islamic peoples, to enable them to play their role
and to join their efforts to those of their brothers among the
Muslim Brothers in Palestine.
The other Arab and Islamic states are
required, at the very least, to facilitate the movement of the Jihad
fighters from and to them. We cannot fail to remind every Muslim
that when the Jews occupied Holy Jerusalem in 1967 and stood at the
doorstep of the Blessed Aqsa Mosque, they shouted with joy:
"Muhammad is dead, he left
daughters behind."
Israel, by virtue of its being Jewish
and of having a Jewish population, defies Islam and the Muslims.
"Let the eyes of the cowards not
fall asleep."
National and Religious
Associations, Institutions, the Intelligentsia, and the Arab and
Islamic Worlds
Article Twenty-Nine
Hamas hopes that those Associations will
stand by it on all levels, will support it, adopt its positions,
boost its activities and moves and encourage support for it, so as
to render the Islamic peoples its backers and helpers, and its
strategic depth in all human and material domains as well as in
information, in time and space. Among other things, they hold
solidarity meetings, issue explanatory publications, supportive
articles and tendentious leaflets to make the masses aware of the
Palestinian issue, the problems it faces and of the plans to resolve
them; and to mobilize the Islamic peoples ideologically,
educationally and culturally in order to fulfill their role in the
crucial war of liberation, as they had played their role in the
defeat of the Crusades and in the rout of the Tartars and had saved
human civilization. How all that is dear to Allah!
"Allah has decreed: Lo! I verily
shall conquer, I and my messengers. Lo! Allah is strong,
Almighty." Sura LVIII (Al-Mujadilah), verse 21
Article Thirty
Men of letters, members of the
intelligentsia, media people, preachers, teachers and educators and
all different sectors in the Arab and Islamic world, are all called
upon to play their role and to carry out their duty in view of the
wickedness of the Zionist invasion, of its penetration into many
countries, and its control over material means and the media, with
all the ramifications thereof in most countries of the world.
Jihad means not only carrying arms
and denigrating the enemies. Uttering positive words, writing good
articles and useful books, and lending support and assistance, all
that too is Jihad in the path of Allah, as long as intentions are
sincere to make Allah's banner supreme.
"Those who prepare for a raid in
the path of Allah are considered as if they participated themselves
in the raid. Those who successfully rear a raider in their home, are
considered as if they participated themselves in the raid."
(Told by Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)
The Members of Other
Religions
The Hamas is a Humane
Movement
Article Thirty-One
Hamas is a humane movement, which cares
for human rights and is committed to the tolerance inherent in Islam
as regards attitudes towards other religions. It is only hostile to
those who are hostile towards it, or stand in its way in order to
disturb its moves or to frustrate its efforts.
Under the shadow of Islam it is
possible for the members of the three religions: Islam, Christianity
and Judaism to coexist in safety and security. Safety and security
can only prevail under the shadow of Islam, and recent and ancient
history is the best witness to that effect. The members of other
religions must desist from struggling against Islam over sovereignty
in this region. For if they were to gain the upper hand, fighting,
torture and uprooting would follow; they would be fed up with each
other, to say nothing of members of other religions. The past and
the present are full of evidence to that effect.
"They will not fight you in body
safe in fortified villages or from behind wells. Their adversity
among themselves is very great. Ye think of them as a whole whereas
their hearts are diverse. That is because they are a folk who have
no sense." Sura 59 (al-Hashr, the Exile), verse 14
Islam accords his rights to everyone
who has rights and averts aggression against the rights of others.
The Nazi Zionist practices against our people will not last the
lifetime of their invasion, for "states built upon oppression
last only one hour, states based upon justice will last until the
hour of Resurrection."
"Allah forbids you not those who
warred not against you on account of religion and drove you not out
from your houses, that you should show them kindness and deal justly
with them. Lo! Allah loves the just dealers." Sura 60 (Al-Mumtahana),
verse 8
The Attempts to Isolate the
Palestinian People
Article Thirty-Two
World Zionism and Imperialist forces
have been attempting, with smart moves and considered planning, to
push the Arab countries, one after another, out of the circle of
conflict with Zionism, in order, ultimately, to isolate the
Palestinian People. Egypt has already been cast out of the conflict,
to a very great extent through the treacherous Camp David Accords,
and she has been trying to drag other countries into similar
agreements in order to push them out of the circle of conflict.
Hamas is calling upon the Arab and
Islamic peoples to act seriously and tirelessly in order to
frustrate that dreadful scheme and to make the masses aware of the
danger of coping out of the circle of struggle with Zionism. Today
it is Palestine and tomorrow it may be another country or other
countries. For Zionist scheming has no end, and after Palestine they
will covet expansion from the Nile to the Euphrates. Only when they
have completed digesting the area on which they will have laid their
hand, they will look forward to more expansion, etc. Their scheme
has been laid out in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and their
present [conduct] is the best proof of what is said there.
Leaving the circle of conflict with
Israel is a major act of treason and it will bring curse on its
perpetrators.
"Who so on that day turns his
back to them, unless maneuvering for battle or intent to join a
company, he truly has incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation
will be hell, a hapless journey's end." Sura 8 (al-Anfal -
Spoils of War), verse 16
We have no escape from pooling
together all the forces and energies to face this despicable
Nazi-Tatar invasion. Otherwise we shall witness the loss of [our]
countries, the uprooting of their inhabitants, the spreading of
corruption on earth and the destruction of all religious values. Let
everyone realize that he is accountable to Allah.
"Whoever does a speck of good
will bear [the consequences] and whoever does a speck of evil will
see [the consequences]."
Within the circle of the conflict
with world Zionism, the Hamas regards itself the spearhead and the
avant-garde. It joins its efforts to all those who are active on the
Palestinian scene, but more steps need to be taken by the Arab and
Islamic peoples and Islamic associations throughout the Arab and
Islamic world in order to make possible the next round with the
Jews, the merchants of war.
"We have cast among them enmity
and hatred till the day of Resurrection. As often as they light a
fire for war, Allah extinguishes it. Their effort is for corruption
in the land, and Allah loves not corrupters." Sura V (Al-Ma'idah
- the Table spread), verse 64
Article Thirty-Three
The Hamas sets out from these general
concepts which are consistent and in accordance with the rules of
the universe, and gushes forth in the river of Fate in its
confrontation and Jihad waging against the enemies, in defense of
the Muslim human being, of Islamic Civilization and of the Islamic
Holy Places, primarily the Blessed Aqsa Mosque. This, for the
purpose of calling upon the Arab and Islamic peoples as well as
their governments, popular and official associations, to fear Allah
in their attitude towards and dealings with Hamas, and to be, in
accordance with Allah's will, its supporters and partisans who
extend assistance to it and provide it with reinforcement after
reinforcement, until the Decree of Allah is fulfilled, the ranks are
over-swollen, Jihad fighters join other Jihad fighters, and all this
accumulation sets out from everywhere in the Islamic world, obeying
the call of duty, and intoning "Come on, join Jihad!" This
call will tear apart the clouds in the skies and it will continue to
ring until liberation is completed, the invaders are vanquished and
Allah's victory sets in.
"Verily Allah helps one who
helps Him. Lo! Allah is strong, Almighty." Sura XXII
(Pilgrimage), verse 40
PART V - THE TESTIMONY OF HISTORY
Confronting Aggressors
Throughout History
Article Thirty-Four
Palestine is the navel of earth, the
convergence of continents, the object of greed for the greedy, since
the dawn of history. The Prophet, may Allah's prayer and peace be
upon him, points out to that fact in his noble hadith in which he
implored his venerable Companion, Ma'adh ibn Jabl, saying:
"O Ma'adh, Allah is going to
grant you victory over Syria after me, from Al-Arish to the
Euphrates, while its men, women, and female slaves will be dwelling
there until the Day of Resurrection. Those of you who chose [to
dwell in one of the plains of Syria or Palestine will be in a state
of Jihad to the Day of Resurrection."
The greedy have coveted Palestine
more than once and they raided it with armies in order to fulfill
their covetousness. Multitudes of Crusades descended on it, carrying
their faith with them and waving their Cross. They were able to
defeat the Muslims for a long time, and the Muslims were not able to
redeem it until their sought the protection of their religious
banner; then, they unified their forces, sang the praise of their
God and set out for Jihad under the Command of Saladin al-Ayyubi,
for the duration of nearly two decades, and then the obvious
conquest took place when the Crusaders were defeated and Palestine
was liberated.
"Say (O Muhammad) unto those who
disbelieve: ye shall be overcome and gathered unto Hell, an evil
resting place." Sura III (Al-Imran), verse 12
This is the only way to liberation,
there is no doubt in the testimony of history. That is one of the
rules of the universe and one of the laws of existence. Only iron
can blunt iron, only the true faith of Islam can vanquish their
false and falsified faith. Faith can only be fought by faith.
Ultimately, victory is reserved to the truth, and truth is
victorious.
"And verily Our word went forth
of old unto Our Bordmen sent [to warn]. That they verily would be
helped. And that Our host, they verily would be the victors."
Sura 38 (Al-saffat), verses 171-3
Article Thirty-Five
Hamas takes a serious look at the defeat
of the Crusades at the hand of Saladin the Ayyubid and the rescue of
Palestine from their domination; at the defeat of the Tatars at Ein
Jalut where their spine was broken by Qutuz and Al-Dhahir Baibars,
and the Arab world was rescued from the sweep of the Tatars which
ruined all aspects of human civilization. Hamas has learned from
these lessons and examples, that the current Zionist invasion had
been preceded by a Crusader invasion from the West; and another one,
the Tatars, from the East. And exactly as the Muslims had faced
those invasions and planned their removal and defeat, they are able
to face the Zionist invasion and defeat it. This will not be
difficult for Allah if our intentions are pure and our determination
is sincere; if the Muslims draw useful lessons from the experiences
of the past, and extricate themselves for the vestiges of the
[western] ideological onslaught; and if they follow the traditions
of Islam.
EPILOGUE
The Hamas are Soldiers
Article Thirty-Six
The Hamas, while breaking its path,
reiterates time and again to all members of our people and the Arab
and Islamic peoples, that it does not seek fame for itself nor
material gains, or social status. Nor is it directed against any one
member of our people in order to compete with him or replace him.
There is nothing of that at all. It will never set out against any
Muslims or against the non-Muslims who make peace with it, here or
anywhere else. It will only be of help to all associations and
organizations which act against the Zionist enemy and those who
revolve in its orbit.
Hamas posits Islam as a way of life,
it is its faith and its yardstick for judging. Whoever posits Islam
as a way of life, anywhere, and regardless of whether it is an
organization, a state, or any other group, Hamas are its soldiers,
nothing else.
We implore Allah to guide us, to
guide through us and to decide between us and our folk with truth.
"Our Lord! Decide with truth
between us and our folk, for Thou are the best of those who make
decisions." Sura VII (Al-A'raf - the Heights), verse 89
Our last call is: Thanks to Allah,
the Lord of the Universe.
(From Rafael Yisraeli, in Y.
Alexander and H. Foxman, eds., The 1988-1989 Annual on Terrorism
(The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers)
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