News Right Now: Back to Reality

Since its inception in the 1930’s the FIFA World Cup and international football more broadly has been dominated by South American and European teams; most notably the likes of Brazil, Germany, Italy and Argentina. So when Morocco showed the world the importance of a well organised, coached, and disciplined side, who played for one another and the Muslim world - and then went on to win their place in the semi-finals after beating giants of the game like Belgium, Spain and Portugal. The celebrations with their mothers and making the Palestinian cause the centre of every peak they conquered inspired the world, and the Muslim world in particular was unified upon a shared ambition... the vision of World Cup victory.

Morocco’s success was highlighted by its formidable presence and stoic bravery against its ex-colonial occupiers France, Spain and Portugal. Each of whom are responsible for a brutal and destructive occupation of Morocco and the region.

The Spanish Inquisition which lasted from 1478 – 1834 saw anywhere between 300,000 to a million Muslims executed – and in the 1600’s over a million Muslims were expelled and forced to flee to Morocco; continuing their track record of brutality. Spain had sought to control large areas of Morocco, and was joined by Portugal which in the mid 1400’s, seized six Moroccan cities on the Moroccan Atlantic coast between the river Loukos in the north and the river of Sous in the south, with the intent to colonize and enslave the local populations.

When France joined the colonial movement in West Africa, all three countries created protectorates around Morocco’s coastal regions, creating monopolies in the fisheries and forcing locals to work for them. As well as this, the Spanish re-initiated the dying practice of slavery to their own advantage, passing it off as a local custom. France and Spain became brutal colonial occupiers who carved out zones of influence by the early 1900’s. This enabled them both to police vast swathes of the region, and take customs fees from Moroccan citizens. As time went on, they forced Moroccans to work in poor conditions as they gradually stripped the country of its fishing and agricultural wealth and the people’s autonomy.

Likewise the French occupation of neighboring Algeria which lasted for 132 years from 1830 -1962, had a crushing effect on Morocco too. During the course of the colonization over 10 million Algerians were martyred and hundreds of thousands more were injured, missing or were forced from their homes. As well as this, the pivotal role France played in the formation and spoils of the 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement, was to fully destroy the weakened Ottoman State and divide it into British and French spheres of influence after WW1.

It was agreed that each country would be allowed to establish administration or control as they desire. Under Sykes-Picot, the Syrian coast and much of modern-day Lebanon went to France. Britain took direct control over central and southern Iraq. Palestine would have an international administration as other Christian powers like Russia had an interest in it – and the rest of the territory, a huge area including Syria and Jordan—would have local Arab chiefs under French supervision in the north and British in the south.

Only a year later in 1917 the Balfour Declaration was signed and the Zionist entity was created. The criminal French fully enabled its creation and rubber stamped the horrendous and brutal Zionist occupation, as they do till today. Despite the painful associations and memories of these European nations, the Moroccan football team proudly upheld every Islamic value and chivalrous behavior in its victories.

They made Duaa before each game, they repeatedly showed their gratitude to Allah by making Sujood on the pitch, they shared joyous moments with their families and honored their mothers at the time of their happiness. Most dutifully they supported the liberation of Palestine, and rallied the world's football fans from all over the Muslim, Arab world and beyond, to do so too. Together people called for the end of the Zionist occupation, and for freedom for Palestine. All football fans supported the idea like never before and Muslim and non-Muslims alike, snubbed zionist reporters in their zeal and awakening for the Palestinian cause.

Although the events of the World Cup 2022 have been heart-warming for many Muslims, we must remind ourselves that the real victory for Islam is on the battlefield. The true honor and dignity will be returned to us only when we refocus our efforts and prioritize our unity through political and social awakening and action - not only Islamic sentiments. The calling for and supporting the work and steps that will take us closer to the re-establishment of the promised, returning Khilafah upon the way of the Prophethood will change our situation on a macro level. The awakening of Muslims and our yearning to defeat our enemies and reverse our weakened condition for once and for all, has turned into a roar in the Ummah, and InshaAllah soon all that will be necessary is the help from Allah swt.

(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اسْتَجِيبُواْ لِلّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُم لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ)

“O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart and that to Him you will be gathered” [Al-Anfal: 24].

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