Tarek Ibn Ziyad, man of valor, a man of extraordinary
courage and a true leader.
General Tarek was an experienced warrior well known for his unconquerable
courage and bravery. He was also looked upon as a hero by the rest of
Muslims soldiers who were proud to serve under his leadership.
Tarek's warrior skills are mostly highlighted in the Jabal Tarek's battle (Tarek's
Hill), when the Muslims' army defeated the Romans.
The narrow stretch of sea separating Spain from the African coast was
crossed by Tarek and his men in small boats. They were ready for battle as
soon as they landed on the shore.
King Roderick of Spain was both surprised and angry at the daring of the
Muslims. Placing himself at the head of a huge army, the king publicly took
an oath that he will defeat the Muslims army and throw them into the sea
through which they had come.
Tariq at once noticed the uneasiness among his soldiers, but he knew that
this was not caused by any feeling of fear, for they were perfectly trained
soldiers, and the heroes of many famous battles. They were waiting for his
lead to support them and give them strength.
The conflict was a bloody one, but Tarek was victorious, he acted quickly.
After praying to Allah, the General gave orders that will always be
remembered in the military history of the world. He ordered that all the
boats that brought him and his men across the straits be burnt.
When this was done, he turned to his soldiers and said his famous quote:
"Brothers in Islam! We now have the enemy in front of us and the deep sea
behind us. We cannot return to our homes, because we have burnt our boats.
We shall now either defeat the enemy and win or die a coward's death by
drowning in the sea. Who will follow me?"
The soldiers gave a mighty cry of "Allahu Akbar" and rushed towards the
enemy like a whirlwind driving everything with them.
The Spaniards turned and ran bewildered and defeated leaving the battlefield
to the Muslims.
This marked the beginning of the Muslim conquest of Spain. Muslims ruled the
country for hundreds of years so gloriously and well that Spain became
afterwards the fountain-head of culture and civilisation for the whole
continent of Europe.
Sheikh Abdulfattah Abu-Abdullah Adelabu (Ph. D. Damas),
a West African Islamic Academic founded AWQAF Africa, of
which he's the first al Amir (i.e. President).
Sheikh Dr. Adelabu was studying Postgraduate Degrees in
Damascus early 1990's during when Syria reviewed its
national security after an ‘Oslo Accord'...
Syria like many other countries around the world
witnessed, during this period, the flood of refugees
from war troubled nations like Somalia, arrival of
people from Algeria during the brutal struggling between
the Mujahidun and the government, resettlement of the
Palestinians fleeing from sophisticated guns of the
Israelis as well as adventure of African migrants for
reasons uncountable…