[Editor’s Note: This article is a reprint that was published online on November 14, 2006; and The Final Call will continue to publish articles written by our late and dear Mother Tynnetta Muhammad.]
“O you who believe, call to mind the favour of Allah to you when there came against you hosts, so We sent against them a strong wind and hosts that you saw not. And Allah is ever Seer of what you do. When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes turned dull and the hearts rose up to the throats, and you began to think diverse thoughts about Allah. There were the believers tried and they were shaken with a severe shaking.” –Holy Qur’an, Surah 33, verses 9-11
As I continue this engaging series on the Mongolian nation and history and its striking comparisons to our own Nation’s history coming to birth in America, I wish to quote the following words from the book, “Modern Mongolia, Reclaiming Genghis Khan.” This book, edited by Paula L.W. Sabloff, is a publication made possible by the joint effort of the University of Pennsylvania, Museum of Archeology and Anthropology and the National Museum of Mongolian History in 2001.
“In the 13th century, Mongolia reached its zenith of power and fame when Genghis Khan established the great Mongolian empire, the largest empire to exist on the face of the Earth under one man’s rule following a hiatus of several centuries, the Manchu Dynasty of China ruled Mongolia for more than 200 years from 1691 to 1911. In 1921, Mongolia broke free of foreign rule and declared its independence, only to become a Communist satellite state of the Soviet Union. In 1990, Mongolia became an independent, democratic nation. It is always a shock for people in the West to realize that Genghis Khan, whose rule predates the Magna Carta, affirmed basic democratic principles that continue to guide the Mongolian people, but he did.”
Approximately 600 years earlier, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received the revelation of the Holy Qur’an in the Arabian peninsula; and nearly 600 years after the conquest made under the Mongolian Empire established by Genghis Khan and his successor’s domination and rule, the American nation and people established her own democratic republic, which is now giving birth to the Nation of Islam in her midst as a nation within a nation upon the Coming of the Great Mahdi, Master W.F. Muhammad. In the perspective of history, it was exactly 600 years before the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when Jesus was born and completed his ministry.
On the concluding day of this year’s observance of Ramadan and on the last Night of Power, I vowed a continual fast of silence, prompted by a series of unusual events that led me to the conclusion that this period of our Nation’s test and examination, along with the retreat of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan into a semi-state of silence, is the necessary condition that precedes the Presence and Manifestation of the Power from Almighty God Allah in our stages of purification and healing.
During this period, we may anticipate a new revelation of truth. In the history of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he was guided by Almighty God Allah to entreat his followers to be disciplined in the military, in order to defend themselves against opposing forces. In the Battle of Uhud, the Prophet rose early in the morning to assign his followers their respective places on the battlefield, which took place in the open field rather than in the confines of Medina, which he would have preferred.
This decision made on the part of Muhammad in counsel with his followers proved to be a great trial for them in which they manifested both their weaknesses and strengths. He assigned 50 archers to a particular hillock called Uhud and strictly ordered them to remain on their posts regardless to what was taking place in the field. At a certain point in the battle, most of the archers abandoned their posts, thinking that victory had been achieved, and they ran swiftly to join the other part of the army, without knowing that the Prophet had been wounded. It was during that battle that the Prophet (PBUH) was severely wounded, almost unto death. It was then rumored that he was killed and was dead.
This announcement caused great havoc and confusion on the battlefield, until it was discovered that he had survived and was being healed of his severe wounds. In the study of the arts of war and military strategies, masterfully carried out by Genghis Khan, he utilized a decimal system based on the number 10, in which all of his armies were divided into units of tens, hundreds and thousands. Attached to these units were entire households of women and children prepared to aid their men in battle and when necessary to dress and nurse their wounds. In the final stages of battle, he appeared on an ox-driven cart accompanied by a 50-man detachment and other units made up of cavalry forces.
This appearance of Genghis Khan with these units of soldiers marked the final victory over the opponent. Might this period of severe testing for the Nation, which involves Minister Farrakhan being severely afflicted, parallel the circumstances of the Battle of Uhud and the physical affliction that fell upon Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?
The sign of Genghis Khan’s military strategy with the 50-men detachment, along with his cavalry, manifested a victory at the end of the battle. Most historians’ commentary, based upon the verses of the Holy Qur’an, shows that, in spite of the failures and shortcomings of the followers of the Prophet (PBUH), the Battle of Uhud turned out to be a victory. Today, in the latter fulfillment of these histories, our ultimate victory will come under the Guidance and Presence of Almighty God Allah Himself.
“And they had indeed made a covenant with Allah before, (that) they would not turn (their) backs. And a covenant with Allah must be answered for. Say: Flight will not profit you, if you flee from death or slaughter, and then you will not be allowed to enjoy yourselves but a little. Say: Who is it that can protect you from Allah, if He intends harm for you or He intends to show you mercy?And they will not find for themselves a guardian or a helper besides Allah.” –Holy Qur’an, Surah 33, verses 15-17
