Shaykh al-Bakri: "(The Jews) Are Infidels...the Dregs of Mankind"

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Translated from the original Arabic by Al Mutarjim


This comes from al-Raya, an online Arabic newspaper published in the Gulf. This article is a collection of Friday sermons from mosques in Qatar the previous Friday. The following is a translation of a portion of the remarks of Shaykh 'Abdallah al-Bakri, the Friday prayer leader from the Hamid Ibn Khalid Al Thani Mosque in Doha, which is possibly the largest mosque in Qatar. In this sermon, delivered from Qatar, Shaykh al-Bakri rails against the Jews. He quotes copiously from the Qur'an in doing so.

Shaykh ‘Abdallah al-Bakri, the Friday speaker [i.e. he who leads the Friday prayers] at the Hamid Ibn Khalid Al Thani Mosque [Doha, Qatar], said that the monumental events through which the ummah [Islamic nation] is currently passing should evoke its sense of mission and awaken its determination. He added that the history of Islam declares that times of weakness, decline, and subjugation to its enemies have motivated the ummah to cooperate in peaceful thought and good works, in order to repel its aggressors and restore its strength and glory.

In times of historic proportions, the ummah has given birth to heroic mujahidin, effective scholars, and faithful leaders. This is an ummah which will never die, no matter how intense its pain or varied its ills, for it is promised with triumph and victory, once it realizes the means for such. It has also been characterized by charity stretching back generations, as the Prophet (PBUH) said: “My people is as the rain: no good is known (which equals) the first or the last.” He also said: “Allah continues to plant (seeds) in this religion, using the plants for (their) obedience to him.” He again said: “Allah folded the earth so that I could see its eastern and western ends. I saw that my people’s reign extended over all that which was folded for me (to see).”

From the chain of transmission of Imam Ahmad, the Prophet (PBUH) said: “While I was sleeping, I beheld the column of a book, possibly from under my head, for I supposed that I was out of my mind. I followed it with my eyes and was taken thereby to the Levant. So also the true faith, when the fitna [sedition] occurs, will be in the Levant.” Also from that transmitted by Abu-‘Ali, (the Prophet) (PBUH) said: “A band of my people will continue to fight at the gates of Damascus and the surrounding area, as well as at the gates of Jerusalem and the surrounding area. They will not be distressed by their setbacks, manifesting the truth until the (final) hour comes.” (This came) from an extremely reliable source on whom there is no doubt.

Al-Bakri pointed out that the painful events and crucial days through which the ummah is passing is a destiny written for this ummah, which should be a motive to cause it to rise up from its fallen state, remember its message, and close ranks under the banners of tawhid [oneness, i.e. the monotheistic nature of Allah] and sunnah [i.e. the tradition and sayings of the Prophet], putting trust in Allah and not in the world or the enemies of Allah: “If ye will aid the cause of Allah, he will aid you, and plant your feet firmly” [Qur’an 47.7]. Whoever is fortunate enough to have read the Qur’an and sunnah knows without a doubt that the conflict between us and the Jews, as well as with the Christians, is ideological more than anything else. This is the case with all of the enemies of Islam. Whoever errs on this point has the left the side of reason, and has failed to understand the truth, as the Most High has said: “Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans” [Qur’an 5.82], as well as, “Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with thee unless thou follow their form of religion” [Qur’an 2.120]. Whoever wants to interpret the conflict with them [i.e. the Jews] in any way other than on this divine foundation, will continue to run after every mirage which appears on the horizon, but they will never obtain [even] one drop of water.

The prudent reader of history understands that the Jews of yesterday, whose infamies are told to us in the Qur’an, were but bad ancestors to even worse descendants. They are infidels, corrupters of the word, worshipers of the calf, murderers of the prophets, slanderers of the message, enemies of the Islamic call, breakers of agreements, (even) the dregs of mankind. As our Lord said of them: “…those who incurred the curse of Allah and his wrath, those of whom some He transformed into apes and swine, those who worshipped evil;- these are (many times) worse in rank, and far more astray from the even path!" [Qur’an 5.60].

(Al-Bakri) said: “These are the Jews, an unbroken chain of vileness, craftiness, obstinacy, injustice, wickedness, and corruption: “…they (ever) strive to do mischief on the earth. Allah loveth not those who do mischief” [Qur’an 5.64]. They are an unbroken chain of treachery, deception, baseness, and inferiority. They (even) dared to attack the position of the divine: “Allah hath heard the taunt of those who say: ‘Truly, Allah is indigent and we are rich!’ [Qur’an 3.181], and “The Jews say: '(Allah)'s hand is tied up.' Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for the (blasphemy) they utter” [Qur’an 5.64]. They charged the Apostle with terrible things, accusing him of the most hideous crimes. They annoyed Moses, deceived ‘Isa [Jesus], killed Zakariyah and Yahya, and tried to kill Muhammad—they worked magic on him and poisoned him: “Is it that whenever there comes to you an apostle with what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride?- Some ye called impostors, and others ye slay!” [Qur’an 2.87]. This is their reality. It is not strange to see them commit any sort of crime or vile deed. What is strange is to see Muslims who make agreements with them or trust them, or run after their mirage and deception.”

He stated that, “Your brethren, who are stationed under the shelter of the al-Aqsa Mosque and throughout all of Palestine, who resist in beautiful diligence and self-sacrifice, have been daily offering up those whom we consider as martyrs, for a long time. Those stationed in the land of Muhammad’s midnight journey have taught the ummah how to be strong and noble, and die a great death as a martyr. To the ummah which knows how to die the honorable death, Allah will give a great life in this world, and eternal comfort in the next. Regarding the defense of the al-Aqsa Mosque—be patient, persevere, and take up your positions, for the victory of Allah is near. The more intense the darkness, the closer the outbreak of dawn.”