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May 3,
2003
Understanding the Shi'a
Part One: the
Shi'a of Lebanon
By SAM HAMOD
One of the weaknesses in our government and in
the news media is that they know little about the Shi'a and they
know even less about the differences between the Shi'a of Iraq,
Lebanon and Iran. Moreover, few policymakers are aware of the
number of Shi'a in the whole Gulf region; there are large numbers
in Bahrain, Kuwait and even Saudi Arabia--not to mention in other
Arab and Muslim countries.
This is the first of three articles,
and it explores the Shi'a of Lebanon . . . .
The Shi'a in Lebanon were never as extreme
as the Khomeni brand of Islam.
In fact, the Shi'a in Lebanon were very
modern, the young women did not wear the hijab or veils and even
in the mosques, men and women often prayed together without walls
between them. There was also no anger, fear or hatred against
the United States. In general, the Shi'a of Lebanon were a peaceful,
primarily agrarian community that fit well into the Lebanese
Constitution that divided the government among the Maronites,
the Druze, the Sunni and The Shi'a, with lesser posts being given
to the Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox. Of course, there
were also more urbane Shi'a of Beirut who were more sophisticated
than their agrarian counterparts; this group tended to be more
liberal, more western in style and more worldly. At times there
were tensions between these agrarian and urban Shi'a, but when
it came to dealing with those who attacked either group, they
then became united and cooperated to a large degree.
A sea change took place among the Shi'a
of Lebanon after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1981. The
Israelis came in, helped to destroy the government, the fabric
of Lebanese life and chose to occupy the land of the Shi'a. The
Shi'a asked them to leave, but when they wouldn't, they began
their guerrilla warfare. The Shi'a also felt that they'd been
oppressed and not fully represented in the Lebanese government,
so their fighting took on a double significance. However, they
did not have the firepower, the organization of the Phalangists
or the Israelis and thus, they were defeated in the early days
of their battles to push the intruders out of their lands.
Then a new factor entered the picture,
the Iranians. Many of the leading Shi'a clerics of Lebanon had
studied at Najj'af in Iraq, some under Imam Khomeni who had been
one of the leading educators there. They also had friends who
had been part of the revolution against the Shah of Iran and
who were now powerful in the new government. These men decided
the Amal group was not militant enough and that their land had
to be retaken from the Israelis and Phalangists. By now, to cover
their duplicity, the Israelis had set up a phalangist, Maronite
group in southern Lebanon and called it The South Lebanese Army--basically
to occupy the southern 1/5 of Lebanon with the aid of Israel.
Interestingly, the SLA had some Shi'a in it. Basically, those
Shi'a needed jobs, and initially at least, there were few skirmishes
between the SLA and Hezbollah.
The Shi'a, especially around Nabitayeh,
Soar, Machgara became more alarmed, upset and wanted help. So,
they called on their friends in Iran for help. Many Iranians,
who saw themselves as Shi'a Muslims first, and as Iranians second,
came to the aid of their fellow oppressed Shi'a; they saw it
as a holy mission, part of their Muslim world view.
It is important to understand that though
many in the West tend to exaggerate the differences between the
Sunni and the Shi'a in Islam, this reflects their ignorance of
Islam. All Muslims follow the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Islam,
that was sent from God (the Arabic name is Allah, a name also
used by the Christian Arabs) and all revere Mohammad (Peace Be
Upon Him) as a Prophet of God, along with Moses and Jesus. The
only difference is that the Shi'a thought Ali, Mohammed's son-in-law,
should have succeeded the Prophet Mohammed, rather than Abu Bakr.
However, in all fairness to Ali, he did not create a split, rather
the agreed with the democratic majority when they elected Abu
Bakr as the successor, Caliph as he was called, to Mohammed.
Ali later became the 4th Caliph, but unfortunately, because of
infighting in Islam, he was assassinated inside a mosque. This
created a schism within Islam because his sons felt they should
ask for justice on behalf of their father. The Mu'owaeeia family,
who took control on the death of Ali, sought to protect and not
punish the killers. This led to a feud with the sons of Ali.
Finally, after several battles, a truce was arranged where Hussein,
the son of Ali and the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed was to
come make peace. Unfortunately, and tragically, he, his family
and peace retinue were ambushed by Karbala. This was never forgotten,
so the split, that originally was overcome by Ali, was opened
again by this betrayal by Mu'owee has never been forgotten but
has lessened emotionally over time. Nevertheless, every year,
the Shi'a all over the world express their grief at the assassination
of Hussein and his family with Ashura, where they some beat their
backs with chains, others cut themselves, others whip themselves,
all trying to relive symbolically the suffering of Hussein at
Karbala. The Lebanese, prior to the Iranians coming in to Lebanon,
never participated that strongly or that sufferingly in Ashura;
however, since the advent of the Iranians coming in, Ashura and
its severe practices have been more prevalent among some of the
Shi'a. But in the world of Islam, there is a unity that binds
all together beyond the Shi'a/Sunni past, so that there is a
unity of a sort that may be more solid than even the Christian
unity that exists between the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestants.
Thus, when the Shi'a of Lebanon were
under attack, many others from throughout the Muslim world came
to aid them, as in their mind, they were one people--so Sunnis
came from the Gulf, from Syria, from North Africa and Shi'a came
from Iran, the Gulf , North Africa and even Asia and Turkey.
Many of these new fighters came with Islam, but with their own
ethnic customs and Islamic practices--which were often more conservative
and more extreme, especially the Iranians, than were the Lebanese
Muslims, Sunni and Shi'a.
Many of the Shi'a of Lebanon didn't approve
of this new influx of ideas and customs, but they did approve
of the help in reclaiming their lands and autonomy. The Iranians
brought the black chador with them, the stricter separation of
men and women, a less democratic relationship within the community,
with the clerics becoming more powerful and stricter then ever
before and they also brought a new militancy and discipline than
had been seen in centuries. There was resistance at first, but
after seeing how successful and how organized things became,
and the new voice they were achieving in the Lebanese national
picture--they now had a force to be reckoned with, they became
part of this new style of Shi'aism. They had strong groups in
the south and especially in the old Roman style city of Baalbeck.
They also had ties to Syria, because the Assad family is of the
Alawites, a branch of the Shi'a that broke away from the orthodox
Sunni of Islam. In the early days of this influx, the Iranians
dominated the scene with their superior weapons, better training,
discipline, commitment and numbers of fighters.
Later, as the Lebanese became more organized,
they formed Hezbollah, the Party of God, as it's known in the
West. Though some of the cultural influence of Iran remained
in place, as did the determination and pride (for the Shi'a of
Iran had been able to withstand the most powerful nation in the
world, America), the leadership and infrastructure were taken
over by Lebanese. Some of the Iranians stayed on, and are still
in residence to this day, some married Lebanese and others returned
home.
As they became more organized, because
of the many educated and politically aware Lebanese, Hezbollah
became involved in Lebanese politics. They completely overtook
old money families that made up Amal and became one of the strongest
forces in Lebanon--much stronger than the formal Lebanese Army.
However, they did not look to fight with the Lebanese Army, unless
Maronite officers in the Lebanese Army tried to take them on.
After a few minor skirmishes, the Lebanese Government, which
had now once again, divided up the power between the Muslim and
Christian groups, made clear that there would be no fight between
the army and Hezbollah.
Importantly, Hezbollah also turned its
attention to aiding the rest of Lebanon by working with hospitals,
schools, colleges and universities; they were aware that education
and health were important priorities if Lebanon was to regain
its former position of intellectual, financial and political
power in the Middle East, with its own diverse political and
social structure.
The Americans came in to allegedly bring
peace to Lebanon. Unfrtunately, they sided with the Phalangists
and Israeli agents who wanted to dominate Lebanon. The Americans
carried out military missions and supported Phalangist Maronite
attacks on the Muslims (Shi'a and Sunni) and others who maintained
working relationships with the Muslims (Druze, Orthodox Christians,
Catholics and the Protestants). Hezbollah was the strongest group,
so they took upon themselves to try negotiate with the Americans
and to explain to them that the real trouble makers were the
Phalangists and their Israeli allies. Unfortunately, as one American
Colonel later told me, he was himself a Catholic, the Israeli
and Phalangist influence in Washington, DC was so strong that
even officers on the ground were not listened to in DC. Thus,
the situation went from bad to worse; the American troops were
told Hezbollah was the enemy and Hezbollah wanted the Marines
out of Lebanon because they were there to support the hated Israelis
and Phalangists. The Palestinians came into play, because they
also hated the Phalangists and Israelis because of their massacres
of Palestinians in Sabra and Shatilla . Finally, it all came
to a head when the combined anti-Phalangist, anti-Israeli, and
by this time, anti-American forces from all the other religious
groups went to war to force the Americans out. This also included
the Syrians who had allied themselves with Hezbollah and Amal.
Finally, because of their alliance with the Phalangists,this
culminated in the attack on the US Marine barracks in Beirut;
causing the unfortunate death of many American Marines. Finally,
the American troops pulled out of Lebanon and the place of the
non-Phalangists was secure; the Phalangist and Israeli power
base had been broken.
[But the root of all this evil was not
religious. It was socioeconomic. The Shi'a were oppressed, despite
their majority status in Lebanon. Be sure not to get sucked into
these convenient "religious" labels.]
Because of Hezbollah's major role in
this internal warfare, a major media campaign was begun against
them in the United States and Europe by Israel and their Phalangist
allies in Washington and in Lebanon. They painted Hezbollah as
a "terrorist" group, even though their only goal was
to oust the illegal occupying Israelis, the power grabbing Phalangists
and the wrong-headed US from dominating their land! To the best
of my knowledge, the Hezbollah have never launched incursions
into Israel. They have been remarkably consistent in their commitment
to drive Israel out of Lebanon, NOT to take the war to Israel
itself. The Israelis then started bombing raids on Hezbollah
headquarters and Shi'a villages, even attacking Beirut at times.
The Phalangists also participated in sabotage when given the
opportunity in league with the Israelis. The Lebanese struggled
to put together a central government so that much of this could
be kept under control and stopped. Finally, when it was apparent
that the Israelis and Phalangists were planning a major campaign
against Lebanon and the Hezbollah and their allies, the other
Muslim and Christian groups, Syria sent in more troops to help
bring stabilty to the region. At this time, many would like the
Syrians to leave, but the spectre of Israel still hangs in the
air.
Many in the West, especially because
of major propaganda and lies by the Israelis and Phalangists,
called this "an invasion by Syria." Few knew that Syria
and Lebanon were actually one country, Greater Syria, prior to
the colonialist divisions of the Middle East following WWI. The
French chose to split Greater Syria into two countries, landlocking
the stronger Muslim Syria, and giving the seaports and best vegetation
to what they called Lebanon, because there was a significant
Christian population there. Even then, the French kept the Christians
and Muslims apart by allowing only the Christians to attend the
French schools and to learn French, the Muslims were relegated
to only Arabic. Thus, the people of the region were aware of
the centuries old unity of what the French made into the split,
Syria and Lebanon--but few in the West, especially in the government
knew, or cared to know, or to acknowledge this. Thus, the West
was upset about this new Syrian presence in Lebanon, but the
Lebanese, except the Phalangists, were happy to have them there
so that the civil war could finally be brought to an end. Many
in Lebanon accepted the Syrians at first because they helped
to restore order. They are not well liked today because they
are unsophisticated, oppressive, and sometimes violent. They
have also encouraged the narcotics trade in Lebanon, especially
the growing of hashish (this according to some; it is denied
by the Hezbollah and the Syrians).
With the Syrian Army in residence in
Lebanon, and its close ties with the newly formed government,
made up of all the groups of Lebanese religious groups, then
with the Lebanese Parliament in place, the Israelis now faced
a more formidable foe. Thus, the new Israeli invasion never took
place, and some of the moderates among the Maronites came to
the fore and displaced those who were ardent Phalangists; these
people helped to create a government of national unity that exists
to this day.
For years, the Israelis had terrorized
and dominated the south of Lebanon with their troops and their
surrogate South Lebanese Army. Finally, having bought more sophisticated
weapons and with more military experience, as well as having
the security of the Syrians behind them, the Hezbollah fighters
were able, without airplanes or helicopters, to ambush Israeli
tanks and troop carriers, were able to down Israeli planes and
helicopters and to defeat Israeli and South Lebanese Phalangist
troops in major battles. The Syrians stayed out of these battles
so as not to foment a war with Israel, but they were there so
that the Israelis did not get past their 20 mile zone they had
in south Lebanon. When they realized they were up against a group
of fighters willing to die for their land, their country, and
they were no longer just a band of rag tag peasants with antiquated
Russian and East European weapons, the Israelis had enough; they
abandoned southern Lebanon and their own South Lebanese Army.
However, to this day, they have never forgotten their defeat,
and their propaganda machine, and their lobbyists in Washington,
DC and their allies in the major media of the US, have continued
calling Hezbollah a "terrorist organization." As was
said in a past presidential campaign, "Where's the Beef?"
In truth, no evidence has been brought forward to prove that
Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. They can lay claim to
driving Israel out of Lebanon, putting up schools, hospitals,
providing social assistance and helping keep Lebanon intact,
especially in the south. But to this day, no one in the US Congress
can show how they are a "terrorist organization",though
these words are continually being mouthed by Bush and the Congress,
as well as the clique of Wolfowitz, Perle, Feith, Cheney and
now even by Powell.
Even the U.S. media plays into this stereotyping
by not allowing anyone from Hezbollah or the Shi'a to appear
on a major TV or radio network show; the newspapers rarely allow
any statements from them either. Thus, the stereotypes are allowed
to persist, much to the detriment of better international understanding.
Thus, the stereoptyping of the Hezbollah
as Iranian backed, as Syrian backed--which is true, in spirit,
but not so much so that they are under Iranian or Syrian control
or influence. The truth is that EVERYONE in the Middle East is
"backed" by someone, unless they have their own nation-state.
Sheikh Fadlallah and Imam Nasrallah have both made clear that
they are independent operators, to the West and to the Syrians
and Iranians. But the West, especially in DC and in the media,
do not want to hear of this. Furthermore, the Bush administration
has labeled Hezbollah a "terrorist group" without any
evidence, just on the faulty examples and reasoning I pointed
out earlier. The Bush group ignores all the medical, educational
and humanitarian work Hezbollah does, in spite of the fact that
the constitutionally elected and representative Lebanese Government
recognizes them as an important part of the government and recognizes
them as the guardians of the south of Lebanon against Israel.
Even last week, President Lahoud, the Christian president of
Lebanon, made clear that "Hezbollah is a respected part
of Lebanon and responsible for ousting the Israelis. We support
them." Somehow, President Bush , Ashcroft, Rumsfeld, Powell
and their minders, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle and Feith, ignored
the words of President Lahoud and those experts in the US State
Department who support what President Lahoud and I are saying.
The Shi'a of Lebanon, who are most represented
by Hezbollah, are more moderate than the Shi'a of Iran, much
less militant in terms of enforcing heavy penalties against people
who may break certain religious dicta and have no war with America.
However, if Ashcroft, Bush, Powell and Rumsfeld continue their
unwarranted attacks on Hezbollah and threaten military action
against them, then I am sure Hezbollah will become antagonistic
toward America and any of its allies who support an attack on
Hezbollah.
During the advent of the Iraq invasion,
a new group, whose PR man, Ronn Torossian also works for Sharon
and for Israel , calling itself the Lebanese American Council
for Democracy, has been mounting more lobbying and media attacks
on the legitimate government of Lebanon (made up of Christians
and Muslims in their own form of democracy), Hezbollah and Syria.
The group is heavily subsidized by Phalangist Lebanese, pro Zionists
and right wing evangelicals (Torossian is also the link between
this new group and the right wing evangelicals). Thus, we see
a new 3 pronged attack on Lebanon, the Shi'a and Syria from the
fascist Phalangists, the Zionists and the far right evangelicals
through this new group. This information comes to us from Washington
insiders who keep track of the Middle East activities. This does
not bode well for the future because the Shi'a of Lebanon will
no longer allow themselves to be oppressed or made into second
class citizens in Lebanon or in the Middle East because of their
new educated, military and social status.
At this time the Shi'a of Lebanon are
moderate, many with relatives and friends in America. However,
if America attacks them further, either militarily, or through
media or politically, they may help the more radical elements
within the Lebanese Shi'a become more militant and more extreme.
None of us who care for peace in the world, or who care about
the Middle East, the Muslims, Christians, Jews and Armenians
in Lebanon or the Middle East want this--but it could happen.
Sheikh Nasrallah has made this clear, that he has no war with
America, but Hezbollah and the Shi'a of Lebanon, will not countenance
an attack from America, Israel or the Zionists.
If the American government is smart,
they will try to learn more about history, they will understand
why Syria is still in Lebanon and that Hezbollah is not a "terrorist"
organization, but is a Shi'a reaction to terrorism, attacks and
discrimination from the Phalangists and the Isrealis who tried,
and failed, to dominate the Lebanese scene. To quote again from
President Emile Lahoud of Lebanon, " Hezbollah is a respected
and legitimate part of the Lebanese people and government and
is not a terrorist group."
Sam Hamod
is an expert on the Middle East and Islam, he is a former Advisor
to the US State Department; the former Director of The National
Islamic Center in Washington, DC; taught at Princeton, Michigan
and Iowa; he may be reached at shamod@cox.net
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