The Allah of Liberation

For my whole life one of the most important Muslim creeds — Allahu Akbar or God is Great — has been maligned, demonized and reviled. Its utterance has been viewed as an automatic indictment. It has been turned into a sign of a Muslim’s complicity with violence and militancy and oppression. It has served as a soundtrack for numerous anti-Muslim films. Much of this was prejudice but much of it had to do with the fact that the only people publicly invoking the creed were thugs and killers. The people of Iran are changing all that. They are showing that while God is misappropriated by the unjust, God can also be called upon by the weak. Please check out this haunting video of a night-time protest where Allahu Akbar is the only sound. At the moment the protestors are planning on chanting Allahu Akbar at 10 pm, 11 pm, and midnight.

[youtube id=ztE-z0ooXd4]

ht/hp.

A translation of what the narrator is saying:

Once again, you hear ‘Allah-u-akbar!’

One of the simplest ways for people to voice themselves collectively.

They might take our internet or even our telephones –

But we will demonstrate our unitedness by keep shouting ‘Allah-u-akbar!’

People are calling God.

Maybe He will hear their voices and be moved by them.

Defenseless people confronting violent thugs.

Defenseless people who are orchestrating a peaceful uprising.

Tonight they ask for His help.