Why Daang Matuwid is not enough for Mindanao?

MRT - Luzon

Mamasapano Bridge - Mindanao

Like many, I have never been interested in a Philippine presidential election until now. As a Muslim from Mindanao - I am all too weary of the way the Philippine government handled the Bangsamoro issue - both the recent and the bygone. As far as I can remember, there had been no good solution to satisfy both the Bangsamoro people and the rest of the Philippines. Frankly, I didn't believe that there will be any in the future. I say this because even with the best effort of current Gov. Hataman, the poorest areas in the Philippines are still located in ARMM.

However, all these changed when Duterte finally decided to run for the presidency. I know he has many shortcomings both as a person, a statesman and as a leader, but deep in my heart I believe that he can make changes in the country more than any of his running mates. So for a Muslim Mindanaoan like me, this is the most logical and reasonable decision to make. However, I wanted to understand why a Mindanaoan or a Muslim in the Philippines clamoring for change wouldn't vote for Duterte? Hence, I am writing this piece as a mental exercise in trying to know the 'other' as I attempt to 'climb inside their skin and walk around therein'.

The way the campaigning has been done is to present a dichotomy of ideas. The candidate is either good or bad, angel or devil, clean or corrupt, black and white and no gray areas between. For the voter, this is the easier cognitive task, rather than having to choose a harder mental choice that all candidates have something to offer, though some of them are better or worse than the other. For the voting mind or the naturally lazy brain for that matter, a black and white choice is much easier. This is termed as 'cognitive ease' in the sciences of the mind and the politicians and their campaign managers knew this all too well.

After watching the first and second presidential debate, it dawned on me that these presidentiables do have something to offer to the country. Unlike many, I do not want to preoccupy myself in the negative images that each candidate wants to project upon the other - although I believe they are necessary at one point - because these can cloud my judgment regarding their merits.

Daang Matuwid is ok but not enough. I remember feeling some kind of relief when the word 'Bangsamoro' came out from the mouth of President Pnoy himself repeatedly last year. It sounded like music to my ears, that the highest government official of the land is acknowledging the Bangsamoro narrative. At last, I said to myself, I can already feel that there is a chance that the Filipino people could now understand and perhaps even empathize with the Bangsamoro. It was when the BBL was conceived in the Philippines' aging womb - a sort of late pregnancy - after forty years of courtship, off again - on again relationship between the Bangsamoro and the Philippine government.  It was somehow too good to be true until the Mamasapano incident reopened old wounds. Just few days before the BBL's formal deliberation in the congress, it has already died a tragic death that broke the hearts of peace advocates from all over Philippines. Whether Mamasapano was deliberately done for the abortion of BBL is subject to another investigation and as people say - when you are an investigating detective you don't have the right to believe in coincidence.

For the Luzon's intellectual elite and thriving middle class, Daang Matuwid seems to be really the right path to traverse. The economy is on the rise and graft and corruption is improving, we even have sent our own satellite to space to monitor weather patterns to be more prepared for super typhoons - to those outside of the Mindanao's grinding poverty and cycles of violence - this could only mean that Daang Matuwid is a road worthy of being continued to be tread upon.

However, the people of Mindanao cannot wait anymore. Because while the people of Luzon is complaining about the MRT, the people of Mindanao doesn't even have a coal-powered train to complain about, how much more of an electrically powered urban train! While the people of Luzon complain about a loss of wallet from the pickpockets, the people of Mindanao, specifically the evacuees don't even have a home to return to. 

For the people of Mindanao, Daang Matuwid might be the right way - pero matraffic parang EDSA, the birth place of Daang Matuwid! We are clamoring for a radical change in the way the Philippine government has been treating us for a century. Yes a Century! We have been treated like this since the last stand of our ancestors in the Battle of Bud Bagsak in 1913 and being annexed to the Philippines, until the brutal dictatorship of Marcos during the martial law. How many peace talks do we have to take? How many agreements do we have to make? Marcos had the Tripoli agreement; Cory had the Jeddah Accord; Ramos had the SPCPD; Erap was bullshit with his all-out-war; GMA had the MOA-AD; Pnoy had the BBL! For the proponents of Daang Matuwid, what can Mar Roxas offer this time after 40 years, six presidents and more than 120000 killed? The people of Mindanao are exhausted and desperate; and looking for a paradigm shift in approaching the problem.

The way the campaigning is being done - character assassination, negative ads and dehumanization of the candidates clouds the minds of the people including the intellectuals. It is easy to lose track of what the candidates want to do and what values they represent. Arguably, apart from his Yolanda's performance and Zamboanga Siege, I don't have anything against Mar. I honestly think he can be a good president. Will Mar's supporters do the same for Duterte? Is it possible for them to recognize his merits? Will they empathize with the people of Mindanao?

However, in my opinion, it is nothing less than a constitutional amendment that can bring peace, order and prosperity not only in Mindanao but for the rest of the Philippines. There might not be a utopic solution but federalism brings the best promise. Will the guardians of Daang Matuwid call for constitutional amendment when they cannot even pass the BBL?

Another lesson I learned from the debates is that the discussions are confined to a certain spectrum - all skewed to the Right. The issue of climate change, divorce, FOI are important but the debate is missing a lot of issues that beset the Philippine society today. If we are to grow together as a country we need to include the positions of the Left and find common grounds along the way. Even the issue of China is being predicated from a pro-western liberal democracy point of view.

All the other candidates are just somehow a shadow of Daang Matuwid: Poe would be Daang Deretso and Binay could be Daang... I still honestly don't know what Binay represents! :) It was just an increase of budget here and there; reallocating resources here and there, etc. etc. Except from a change in strategy all of then don't have anything new to offer. The Philippines need a change from a fundamental level.

A nation that truly celebrates diversity provides opportunities to all to prosper, offer avenues for grievances to be heard and delivers justice to the oppressed minorities. Unless the Filipino people - specifically the elite intellectuals and thriving middle class of Luzon - will empathize with the downtrodden people of war torn Mindanao, there will never be a lasting peace in the Philippines. That is a condition that only benefits a few billionaires and families. And this is why Daang Matuwid is not enough for Mindanao - and for that matter the whole Philippines.

Photo credits:

http://mrt3.com/index.php/news-page.html
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/676012/tukanalipao-bridge-and-its-symbols

Mulings about Bud Uwak

Bud Uwak literally means Crow Mountain though it is neither a mountain nor a place where one hears the raucous crows crowing, cawing or squawking. It might as well have been a place of counting crows before the time of Martial Law when several villages of Jolo were declared a no man's land whereby Tausug Men were summarily executed. 

Mango Farming in Jolo

Yes you heard it right.People from Jolo actually do other things than kidnapping.

This is probably an attempt - sort of an anti-media attempt - to present Jolo as a place where real people live, who yearns for peace and order to come back so that they can exploit the rich natural resouces that Sulu has to offer.

There are a lot of reasons why people in Jolo should return to farming. But, there are also a lot of reasons why they do not or can not.

Sulu is part of chain of Islands that is volcanic in origin and as such, the soil is fertile for farming. Additionally, it is out of the tropical cyclones (typhoons) areas that usually hit the Philippines.

Farming and fishing are the main livelihood activities although fishing is predominant because the Sulu Sea is one of the richest fishing grounds in the country.

However, there are vast tract of lands that remain undeveloped to produce varieties of agricultural products due to several reasons. Many people are afraid of cultivating the land because of the peace and order situation. Many a times, successful individuals may receive ‘love letters’ – a sarcastic term that refers to the letters sent by gangs to solicit for money. Rejection of  such may lead to harassment and threats of kidnapping and even death. More often than not, military operations against rebels and bandits make it unsustainable for farmers to invest in new agricultural ventures. Mostly, farmers just harvest what is already planted like coconuts or invest in plants that requires shorter time to plant and harvest such as sweet potatoes and others.

So instead of cows and goats being herd by farmers to populate the agricultural land,  wild boars multiply and roam about which makes the armies stationed in those areas happy, as it would make for a less fat and exotic meal.

Further, people have less access to modern technologies in agricultural practice. In contrast to other places in ARMM, I cannot even find a contact number for the office of Department of Agriculture in the Island. There is a great deal of poverty of information and this prevents people from diversifying their produce. For instance, Abaca and coconut have been the main crop produce of the island but the rest of Mindanao have already diversified to other more lucrative produce such as palm oil, cacao and mango.

Years ago, when my father was still an OFW, he dreamt of a mango farm in his native place Bud Uwak, a hill located just within the boundaries of Jolo and Patikul. Thus he instructed relatives to plant mango seedlings in the few hectares of his land.

Thus here we are now, a few weeks time from the first harvest. God Willing.

What do I remember about Jabidah massacre?

How do I remember thee? Let me count the ways.


I remember my Inna, our grand aunt, (may Allah have mercy on her) used to scare us to sleep by saying "naa yan na in mawis" (the Maoist [rebels] are coming).




I remember Mimi used to recount her close encounter with the labud kind (millipedes) during their 'escape' from fighting between the rebels and the army: How she would shriek loudly much to my father's bewilderment for his new bride.




I remember an old picture of my grand father Ustadh Ghalib Jundam shaking hand with then president Marcos because of his effort for peace.




I remember my father used to tell us the story how the army massacred innocent civilians during a wedding including her sister babu Rahma who perished with her husband. This was supposedly a revenge act of the army when general Bautista was ambushed days previously.




I remember my aunts Inah Nanah and Inah Illang telling us that their husbands, including other men, were asked to step out from public transports at check points and that they haven't seen them again until this very day.


I remember Amah Papi (Dad's father) used to have hectares and hectares of farmed land including coconuts that were burned down by the army thinking that the rebels may hide in them. That before the war he would have so much produce he had to export lanzones and other exotic fruits out from Jolo to mainland Mindanao.




I remember our elders talk about the' burning of jolo', how horrible it was.


I remember migrating to Manila at a tender age of ten and being nauseated with jeepney's fumes so that Dad had to rent a Calesa to bring me back home from school.




I remember how my classmates in Saint Rita College asked me on the first day of school : How many have I killed already?




  I remember SPCPD during my college days when Nur Misuari and President Ramos shared nomination for a peace prize.




I remember Ustadh Hashim Salamat.


I remember I used to write under  pseudonyms 'Meem Aliph' and 'albangsamori'




I remember the Mamasapano incident and how senator AP Cayetano grilled Mohagher Iqbal, a man entrusted with peace by a large section of Bangsamoro people.




Truth is I wasn't around when Jabidah happened. It was after full seven years and seven months less one day that I was born. But its effect shaped my memory of my self, my family, my people.




Truth is my cousins were orphaned after the Jabidah massacre when Muslims organized themselves to fight back. Orphaned not because their fathers joined the rebels but because they were just randomly chosen as potential rebels. My aunts until now are silently mourning. Widowed forty seven years before the widows of SAF 44 mourned.




Truth is my grand father haven't recovered financially after the war. How until now, the orphans made by the aftermath of Jabidah, my cousins and even some of their children are working as domestic helpers exposed to potential abused by their employers.




Truth is we Muslims are still suffering from discrimination. That the dream of many Bangsamoro generations of peace in my home land are just like a play thing in the hands of lawmakers headed by an irate senator who seemed to believe he is fighting a crusade against the moors of old.




Fact is Philippines hasn't harnessed its full economic potential to develop Mindanao and its vast resources because of instability in the region.




I remember Jabidah massacre at this very moment because in front of me is an empty bottle of soft drink. Particularly the fact that I don't have to pay for its deposit. Ahh I'm not in the Philippines where I have to pay for its deposit. I'm an OFW because my resource rich homeland cannot sustain me and my family. It reminds me that I am separated from my parents. It reminds me of Jabidah massacre.   

Shifting Narrative of #Fallen44: From Marwan's Finger to Crying Generals

February 10, 2015

After today's emotional plea by PNP's Espina, the narrative of #Fallen44 has been shifted from 'why were they there in the first place?' to 'how gruesome the killing was?'.

This shift is very strategic: hitting multiple birds with one stone.

On one hand, it drowns the difference between the leadership of AFP and PNP concerning whether the MILF did coddle Marwan or not. This is a very important if not the most important issue. Because if indeed Marwan was not in Mamapasano this would render this whole BBL-suspending, nationwide mourning, nation-dividing, senate-hearing soap-like unfolding drama , a catastrophic blunder of PNP. Add this the high number of casualty and  to the fact that this high-risk operation was not coordinated with the MILF despite the peace agreement contract, then one can easily imagine that this is blunder upon blunder upon blunder. The agreement stipulates that there is no exception in coordinating law enforcement operations even for high-value targets according to OPAPP.

On the other hand, one issue that's not even being mentioned, except as a side issue to be discussed only as an executive privilege is the role of the USA in the OPLAN: Exodus operation. Is this a part of the US government JSOC operation? Or part of the Dirty Wars or Blackwater (now known as Academi) bounty hunting operation exposed by the award winning journalist, Jeremy Scahill? According to a report, several american planned the operation in a beach resort in Zamboanga City  to neutralize Marwan . As far as government is concerned these entities don't exist although they could have hundreds of covert operations, in multiple continents around the world. In essence, their bounty-hunting missions are targeted killings of high value targets that may at times lead to disasters killing innocent civilians in the process. Due to their covert nature, their missions are not acknowledged publicly and their failures are covered up.

Exposing this alternate narrative is important because the Filipino masses, the voters, and the king makers are still bellowing in the post 911 global anti-terror mindset. Global war on Terror - as defined by both Bushes the father and the son are not accepted anymore. To limit the Bush Doctrine (attacking countries with terrorists and preemptive strikes) , Obama continued a targeted killing strategy such as drone strikes and special operations. The Obama administrate just contracted Academi-Blackwater to provide services for the CIA for 250 million dollars.

There are many questions left unanswered related to Mamapasano clash:

How many times Marwan has to die? Just like the death of Bin Laden, we just have to accept he is dead because the authorities said so, Although unlikely if he turns alive again somewhere, it may turn out that Marwan only left us his middle finger.

Thus the issue of justice and accountability that the Filipino people clamor may end in two directions. Firstly, with the PNP. Senator Meriam could be so justified in blaming solely Purisima and the PNP as a whole. Or it may go even beyond Pnoy and the Philippines and may even reach Obama himself where the buck stop.  Then it started with the US and ends with the US.  

In the meantime, the nation's mood is undulating between the borders of Islamophobia and soap opera like drama in the Senate Hearing. The BBL hearing has been indefinitely stalled.

Now I can understand why a seasoned, battle-hardened police general could cry like Judy Ann Santos in her Mara Clara days. And yes back to status quo.

Today History Happened: Bangsamoro United for Peace

Watching politicians in the Senate Hearing grilling those who were involved in one way or another in the Bangsamoro peace agreement and Mamapasano clash, gives a feeling of not only of nausea but also of despair.

Judging from the words and tone of politicians like Cayetano or Marcos, and add to that the withdrawal of support of many law makers for the Bangsamoro Basic Law, and even more, adding insult to the injury - that this process is actually 17 years in the making - one can really say that the peace process, the BBL is at its lowest point.

But as  the famous saying goes "that once at the bottom, there is no way but to go up".

Indeed all the negative emotions that came from the nationally televised senate hearing on the Mamasapano clash must have had ignited something. For the first time in the Philippines' recent history, ten cities, nine in Mindanao and one in Luzon, Muslims, Lumads and Christians were united to support peace - to support BBL.

This is, by all means, a historic day. When was the last time that Muslims all over Philippines united for a single cause? Amidst all the division, tribal, political even sectarian, they came out and marched and raised their voice. They want peace.

There is indication that this is only the beginning. That the anti-BBL may have unwittingly awaken a sleeping dragon - ten million strong. With their brothers Muslims in the Middle East and North Africa already underwent their own Arab Spring - Can this be a start of the Bangsamoro Spring, the Bangsamoro Awakening?

If this is the case - the politicians, especially those who are ambitiously pandering to the anger of the misled Filipino massess, should take into account that they have awaken something in the hearts of the Bangsamoro. Like the story of an oppressive king who eventually killed the boy in the story found in Soorah Al Burooj (Quran 85) , thinking that by killing the boy he will win. The people eventually realized that the boy was right - that only Allah has the power over all things.

Photo source: www.interaksyon.com

Could this be the real reason why Dr. Bilal Philips was deported from the Philippines?

I wasn't at all surprised when a catholic news website was one of the first to report Dr. Bilal's Philips deportation from the Philippines. If you, dear reader, were to read until the end of my article you shall know the reason why I feel this way. Insha Allah. I might be in danger of being labelled as 'conspiracy theorist' after this piece but I will take my chances.

Dr. Bilal is one of the most successful callers to Islam today. He founded Islamic Online University, a tuition free that offers several Islamic sciences degrees to everyone in the planet. The online educational site boasts a hundred thousand students to date. He is one of the first English authors to write Islamic books now numbering more than fifty.

His success in calling non Muslims to Islam started in the early nineties.  In the first gulf war, he helped in guiding over 3000 American soldiers to Islam. In 1993, he was suspected but remained an unindicted co conspirator in the 1993 bombing of World Trade Center. The fact that until now, there is no formal charge made against him by the US authorities - hence unindicted - is a big proof that no evidence can be found against him (or can they just admit that he was innocent). Although the US government is now infamous for going to war even without evidence (weapons of mass destruction, anyone?) back then they didn't seem to bother to charge Dr. Bilal even without evidence. He's banned from entering the US after this and probably this  seems to be the starting point of banning of Dr. Bilal's travels to the rest of the world.

Reportedly, when he went to Germany, many Germans converted to Islam in one of his public gatherings. Contrary to the report from the catholic news website, Dr. Bilal wasn't banned from Germany because of Terrorism; it was because of his remark concerning Homosexuality - not when he was in Germany but taken from one of his previous works. He defended himself that his opinion concerning homosexuality is only applicable in countries where Islamic law is being applied and he didn't incite the people in western countries to persecute homosexuals. This website claims that Germany now reversed the ruling and allows him to enter again.

Of course, the Philippines doesn't want  to be left behind in this band wagon. Rumors are now circulating in social media that it was the Zamboanga mayor Bing Climaco who started to alert the authorities in the Philippines tagging Dr. Bilal as a danger to national security that even the normally Muslim-friendly Davao City mayor Duterte had to 'invite' him to the police station.

I remember few months back when Mufti Menk visited Davao City and few days after his visit, the terror alert was raised in the same city. The two events could be inconsequential but one couldn't resist but to connect the dots.

Thus, it seems as though that the end result of this banning and deportation is Muslims and Non Muslims alike are prevented from attending the lectures of the likes Dr. Bilal who are successful, charismatic and convincing in their call to Islam. I wouldn't be surprised if other prominent Islamic preachers in the future are going to be banned as well. Can Mufti Menk come back to the Philippines again? Or will he even want to come back knowing what happened to Dr. Bilal Philips?

Maybe it's hard for some people to believe what is being written here but here is an assignment for those who wants to delve more:

What are the religious affiliations of the Chiefs of Police, Mayors, Chiefs of Intelligence at the forefront of this deportation? Who are the priest to whom they make their confessions? Who are the preachers that influence their religious views? If there is really no evidence to indict Dr. Bilal in 1993 why continue to mimic US intelligence?

After all there are reasons why the Filipino religious leaders should be alarmed by the visits of Islamic preachers. In the Middle East, Filipinos are probably the biggest converters to Islam in terms of nationality (statistics should be available somewhere- calling on Muslim statistician). And with Dr. Bilal's deportation being reported in a catholic news website even before the mainstream news is something that should spark light bulbs in any curious minds.


So really I don't know what is happening with the Philippine Intelligence. This could be a new oxymoron in the list folks! Philippine - Intelligence: Where is the Intelligence?

The Sun in the Philippine Flag fails to Illuminate Bangsamoro History

Philippine Flag proposed by President Fidel Ramos

If flags are symbolic of nationhood and identity that seeks to represents the history and future of a country, then the current Philippine Flag fails dismally in representing the Bangsamoro's seven hundred years of existence and contribution to the Philippine history.

According to Wikipedia:

Each ray represents one of the first eight provinces that started the 1896 Philippine Revolution against Spain. Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, who wrote the Philippine Declaration of Independence and who read it on the occasion of its proclamation on June 12, 1898, has listed the eight provinces as Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga,Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna, and Batangas. 

As you can see none of these listed provinces were in Mindanao which left me wondering 'wait a minute, didn't the moros fight Spain for over three hundred years?' I know there weren't twitter and facebook during Emilio Aguinaldo's time, but as the designer of the flag, it's too unreasonable to think that he didn't know the moros in the south fighting the spaniards. It is as though that the history of the Philippines only started in 1898 when these eight provinces revolted.

The reality is, Aguinaldo wasn't making a flag for a country that includes the Moros so we can excuse him for limiting the sun's rays to only eight. The Pilipinas of Aguinaldo is not the same of Philippines of today with its 'mula Apari hanggang Jolo' connotation.

But history has it that the Bangsamoros were illegally and immorally annexed to the Philippine islands by the Americans and you already know what happened.

The Philippine Flag has undergone evolution to accomodate symbolisms appropriate to its history but to this day I find it revolting that the Bangsamoro narrative is ever so absent in the very symbol of Philippine nationhood. We can excuse Aguinaldo but not the recent Philippine law makers and guardians of the Philippine narrative.

This can be explained by the policy of assimilation rather than accomodation where three centuries of untold sacrifices and heroism of moros to preserve their identity and religion are just ignored in several levels of Philippine scheme of things.

One can say that, yes, we have moved in history by signing of the Comprehensive Agreement for the Bangsamoro, but we have miles to go. In the meantime, don't expect me to raise the Philippine Flag soon in my balcony to celebrate Philippine Independence when I know that this very flag reminds me that I'm still not represented in it.

Beware of ‘thank goodness’

Indeed, all praises are for Allah subhaanahu wa ta’ala. We praise Him, we seek His help, we seek His forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls and our evil actions. Whosoever Allah guides then none can misguide and whosoever Allah misguides then none can guide aright. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone, having no partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace be upon him) is His servant and  Messenger.

Perhaps every Muslim who has a grasp of both English and Arabic  languages knows that the English translation of the Arabic word ‘al-Hamdulillah’, is ‘Praise be to Allah or All praises and thanks are  to Allah alone’ or something similar to them. However, today, we find stickers on the cars and vehicles of people, used as decoration or perhaps as a sort of reminder, with the word ‘al-Hamdulillah’ written in

Arabic and immediately below or above it the words ‘thank goodness’ are placed. In this article, we shall endeavour to prove that the translation is not accurate both in its literal sense and in its meaning. And we shall also, Insha-Allah, try to unveil its contradiction with the principles of Islam.

Before we do that, it is important to note that the Qur’anic ‘translations’ we read in English are not the Qur’an. “Neither the translator nor his audience believe that the translation is the Qur’an.” This is because the Qur’an itself, in about 11 references, explained that it was revealed in the language of the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam, which is in Arabic. With this in mind, whenever we say 

the English translation of ‘al-Hamdulillah’, we mean the translation of the meaning of ‘al-Hamdulillah’ translated as ‘thank goodness.’

Interestingly, in a span of two centuries of translation of the Qur’an, none of the translators rendered ‘al-Hamdulillah’ into English as ‘thank goodness’. In the 18th century, George Sale translated ‘al-Hamdulillahi-Rabbil-’alameen’ as “Praise be to God the Lord of all creatures”. Likewise, in the 19th century, J M Rodwell translated it as “Praise be to Lord, Lord of the Worlds”. Also, in first half of the 20th century, M Pickthall translated it as “Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds”. In recent times, The Interpretation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur’an in the English language by Al-Hilali et al translated ‘al-Hamdulillah’ as ‘All the Praises and Thanks be to Allah.”

The English translation of the Araword ‘al-Hamdulillah’, is ‘Praise be to Allah or All praises and thanks are to Allah alone’ or something similar to them. However, today, we find stickers on the cars and vehicles of people, used as decoration or perhaps as a sort of reminder, with the word ‘al-Hamdulillah’ written in Arabic and immediately below or above it the words ‘thank goodness’ are placed.

Also if one looks through Arabi-English dictionaries, the Arabic word ‘Hamd’ is translated as ‘praising’ or ‘thanking’ or something similar to them, and I have yet to find a dictionary that translate the word ‘Allah’ as ‘goodness.’

Due to this unusual translation, the intended meaning of ‘al-Hamdulillah’ has been severely corrupted.

To know the intended meaning of ‘al-Hamdulillah’, we quote some of the Tafseer (Explanation of the Qur’an) of the scholars.

Al-Haafidh Ibn Kathir, rahimahullah, in his Tafseer of the Qur’an, quoted at-Tabari (Tafseer of the Qur’an by at-Tabari 1:135) regarding the meaning of ‘al-Hamdulillah’ as follows:

The meaning of ‘al-Hamdulillah’ is “All thanks are due purely to Allah, alone, not any of the objects that are being worshipped instead of Him, nor any of His creation. These thanks are due to Allah’s innumerable favours and bounties that only He knows the amount of. Allah’s bounties include creating the tools that help the creation worship Him, the physical bodies with which they are able to implement His commands, the sustenance that He provided them in this life, and the comfortable life He has granted them, without anything or anyone compelling Him to do so. Allah also warned His creation and alerted them about the means and methods with which they can earn eternal dwelling in the residence of everlasting happiness. All thanks and praises to Allah for these favours from beginning to end.”

Shaykh Muhammad Ameen Shanqeetee, rahimahullah, explained in his Tafseer of the Qur’an, Adwaa’ul Bayaan, the meaning of ‘al-hamdulillah’ as follows:

“The saying of the Exalted, ‘all the praises and thanks are for Allah’: there is no mention here as to when this praise is said or where this praise comes from, but in Surah Ar-Rum there is mention that from amongst the ‘wheres’ are the heavens and the earth – in His saying, ‘ and His is all the praises and thanks in the heavens and the earth.’ 

(30:18).

And in Surah Qasas there is mention that from amongst the ‘whens’ are in this world and in the Hereafter – in His sayings, ‘And He is Allah, none has the right to be worshipped besides Him. To Him belongs all praise in the beginning (ie this world) and in the end (ie the Hereafter).’ (28:70).

And He said in the beginning of Surah Saba’a,

‘His is all the praise in the Hereafter, and He is the All-Wise, All-Aware.’ (34:1).

The Alif (letter A) and Laam (letter L) (ie the definite article ‘the’) in al-Hamd is so as to include all the different manners of praise, and it is an extolling with which Allah has praised Himself and ordered His 

servants to praise Him with.”

It is clear, without any doubt from the above translations of the Qur’an (by Muslims and non-Muslims), and as well as from the Tafseer of the Mufassiroon, that translating ‘al-Hamdulillah’ as ‘thank goodness’ is not accurate both from the linguistic point of view or from the meaning of the Tahmid (al-Hamdulillah). It is absolutely clear that nothing deserves ‘al-Hamd’ except Allah alone.

In addition, regarding ‘al-Hamd, Dr Muhammad Khalil Harras in his commentary of Aqeedat-il-Waasitiyah by Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, rahimahullah, says:

“Hamd means praising orally a grace regardless of being benefited by it, be it a favour or anything else, such as a sfavour or anything else, such as a statement that ‘I did hamd of a certain person in connection with the prize he had been awarded or for his feat of boldness.’ Shukr (thanking) is that praise which is done orally or emotionally or by any other organ of the body in lieu of some favour. This shows that the word hamd is commonly used in one situ.”

If ‘al-Hamdulillah’ means to praise and thank Allah for His bounties, therefore, the translation should mention Allah being thanked and praised or else we would be praising or thanking someone or something other than Allah. If Allah should be acknowledged first when being grateful for some fortune, then all the more so the translation should mention the word Allah or at least put the word ‘God’ for those who don’t know the word ‘Allah.’

In the translation, however, Allah is not mentioned, instead, ‘goodness’ is mentioned.

The danger in translating ‘al-Hamdulillah’ as ‘thank goodness’ has this implication: That the translation of the word ‘al-Hamd’ is ‘thanks’ and the English word for ‘Allah’ is ‘goodness.’ It is obvious that both 

words ‘al-Hamd’ and ‘Allah’ don’t mean ‘thanks’ and ‘goodness’ as the conscious translation of the meaning of ‘al-Hamdulillah’ in the English language is like saying thanks for the bounties we receive to some abstract idea like ‘goodness.’ This is because ‘Allah’ does not mean ‘goodness.’

Moreover, some might say that goodness could be one of Allah’s names. If this is the case then we say ‘produce your proof.’ We describe Allah the way He describes Himself and the way His Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) described Him.

Imaam Aboo ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Abdur-Rahman As-Saboonee in describing what the people of the Sunnah believe concerning the names and attributes of Allah, says:

They affirm what Allah, the Most Majestic, has affirmed for Himself in His Book or through the tongue of His Messenger, (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam).

Imaam Ibn Qudaamah says about the obligation of sticking to the Qur’an and authentic Hadith concerning the names and attributes of Allah:

We are obliged to believe in and to welcome with submission and acceptance everything that is mentioned in the Qur’an or that is correctly transmitted from the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) 

concerning the attributes of Allah. And we must not oppose it (which is done) by radd (rejection), ta’weel (distortive interpretation), tashbeeh (comparison) and tamtheel (representation).

Furthermore, Shaykh ‘Umar Sulaiman al-Ashqar says:

“It is not permitted to talk about the unseen except with a clear proof.”

And do not follow that of which you have no knowledge. Surely the hearing, the sight and heart, about each of these you will be questioned. (17:36)

In addition, Allah criticised those who claimed that the angels are female and He made what they said a testimony about which they are going to be asked when He brings them to stand in front of Him.

And they made the angels, who themselves are slaves to the Most Merciful, females. Did they witness their creation? Their testimony will be recorded and they will be questioned? (43:19)

If such matter of speaking about the angels without knowledge is such, then consider the seriousness of speaking about Allah without knowledge. It is a sin, considered as one of the major sins according to the scales of Truth and His Law.

Say: What my Lord has forbidden you are all acts of indecency, whether committed openly or in secret, sin and wrongful oppression, that you associate with Allah that which has not been sanctioned by Him and that you say concerning Allah something about which you have no knowledge. (7:33)

THE reliable and safe way that will lead us to knowledge of Allah, the Most High, is through revelation, which brought this knowledge to light in the clearest possible manner. It is the clear and distinct method whose results are reliable and trustworthy because the source of it is the All-Knowing the All-Aware and His Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam).

There is no-one more knowledgeable about Allah than Allah Himself just as no-one in creation is more knowledgeable about Allah than His Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam).” 

The names of Allah are the matters of al-ghaib (unseen) and as such that they can’t be known except through revelation from Allah. Hence we require proof from the revelation – the Qur’an and authentic Hadith – that says that ‘goodness’ is one of the Names of Allah.

It must be emphasised, however, that in no way we mean that Allah is not “good”. No doubt that Allah is the Creator and the Source of all good. In fact, there is a hadith in which Allah is described as At-Tayyib, The Good. But ‘The Good’ is entirely different from ‘goodness’.

One of the Names of Allah is Ar-Rahman (The Merciful) but we don’t say that Allah is Rahmah (mercy). And Allah is Al-Hakeem (The All-Wise), but we don’t say that Allah is Hikmah (wisdom). Likewise, Allah is At-Tayyib(The Good) but we don’t say that He is ‘goodness’. Ar-Rahman, Al-Hakeem, At-Tayyib are Names of Allah, therefore we may say At-Tayyib is Allah. However ‘mercy’, ‘wisdom’, and ‘goodness’ are characteristics ascribed to Allah, but we don’t say ‘mercy’ is Allah. ‘wisdom’ is Allah, or ‘goodness’ is Allah. And besides the meaning of At-Tayyib is closer to mean “Pure’ than to the meaning of ‘goodness’. Hence, we can say ‘all praises and thanks to Ar-Rahman;’ but we can’t say ‘all praises and 

thanks to Rahmah’. Likewise, we can say ‘all praises and thanks to At-Tayyib’ but we can’t say ‘all praises and thanks to ‘goodness’.

Thus, the final analysis is, neither the word ‘Allah’ means ‘goodness’, nor can ‘goodness’ be established from any angle to mean ‘Allah’. Hence, saying ‘thank goodness’ instead of saying ‘thank Allah’ is close to committing Shirk (polytheism) because ‘goodness’ doesn’t deserve the thanks and praises of the creatures between the heavens and earth. Even though we may thank someone who’s done something good at the same time we must recognise or acknowledge that ultimately all good comes from Allah. Therefore, He is the One Who deserves to be praised.

It could tantamount to Shirk because ‘goodness’ replaced the word ‘Allah’ as if ‘goodness’ is the translation of the word ‘Allah’, or as if ‘goodness’ is Allah Himself! This, by necessity, gives a connotation that ‘goodness’ can avert or inflict harm or can grant good or wishes when undoubtedly this Ability is the prerogative of Allah. Allah says in the Qur’an, the English translation of its meaning is:

Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Wakil (Trustee, Disposer of affairs, Guardian, etc) over all things. (39:62)

The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam), the one sent to explain the Qur’an in detail, says in a hadith reported by Ibn Abbas (radi-allahu-anhuma):

Know that if the whole nation united in an effort to benefit you with something, they would only be able to benefit you with something that Allah has destined for you. Likewise, if the whole nation united to harm you with something, they would only be able to do so if Allah had destined it to happen to you. 

If this could be Shirk, then, Muslims must be very far from this because Shirk is the greatest Zulm (Wrong). 17 Allah doesn’t forgive Shirk if one did not repent before death. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.” (4:48)

In addition, ‘al-Hamdulillah’ is a Speech of Allah, His Word, and should be considered with utmost care when translating and not taken lightly. Saying ‘al-Hamdulillah’ is the best form of supplication as was recorded in this hadith: “The most excellent dhikr (remembrance) is [the statement] laa ilaaha illallaah and the most excellent du’a (supplication) is [the statement] al-Hamdulillaah.” 

Therefore, we must translate it in the best possible manner.

The origin of the expression ‘thank goodness’

The origin of the expression ‘thank goodness’ is from Western societies in which the predominant life’s philosophy is secular in nature, and science is the ultimate yardstick in life (i.e. what can’t be proven by science is non-existent). Instead of saying the word ‘God’, they replaced it with the word ‘goodness’ or with other words, since ‘God’ according to science can’t be proven by physical experiment. They do this even though the whole of Creation points to the existence of God. And belief in God in these societies is not something that one can really be proud of, instead, religion is viewed as a shackle to one’s mind (the opium of the masses).

The danger in imitating the Kuffar (disbelievers)

The Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said: “Whoever imitates a people, then he is from them.”

This expression (thank goodness) is actually an imitation of the Kuffar because this is what some of them say when something good happened to them or some harm was removed from them. While in Islam, Allah is acknowledged first as the ultimate cause of everything. Meaning if something good happens then it is from Allah, and if some calamities happen, then they are tests from Allah. That is why there are words tosay in times of happiness (ie alhamdulillah) and in times of disaster (Qaddarallah, it is Allah’s decree).

Perhaps the one who translated this had in mind: That the reason for the translation is for the non-Muslims – who don’t believe in God – to understand the expression ‘al-Hamdulillah’ in a frame of mind they are familiar with. If he (the translator) is a Muslim he must understand that He is required to speak about Allah and His Greatness. If he is a non-Muslim, then he has blundered in his translation.

Conclusions

Trivial as it may be to non-Muslims, translating ‘al-Hamdulillah’ to ‘thank goodness’ has grave implications to Muslims because it strikes at the very foundation of Islam, which is Tawheed (Islamic Monotheism, Affirmation of the Uniqueness and Perfection of Allah). That is because the expression ‘thank goodness’ as the English for ‘al-Hamdulillah’ is not accurate, and because of that, and at the least, it is ascribing an inappropriate name to Allah, or carries some form of Shirk.

Lastly, this saying ‘thank goodness’ has deep psychosocial roots in Western societies that are permeated with, and anchored upon, atheism and upon the belief that religion is divorced from mundane life, and Muslims must be aware of this