Fazl-e-Umar — Page 371
Fazle Umar 371 protect the Islamic States from the flames of war and may He open the eyes of those brothers who have made a mistake so that they may themselves become remorseful over their error and begin to correct their mistake. “In my opinion the rebellion in Iraq is not just a reproof for Muslims but is a cause for concern for all the people of India because the arrival of war in Iraq has brought the fighting close to India and India is not as secure as it used to be. Any occupying army in Iraq can easily make its way to India. Hence, the people of India must forget their own quarrels and help the British government to safeguard their own country. Helping the British ultimately means helping India. Maybe Rashid Ali Jilani is thinking that in the last World War the Arabs were assured assistance to establish a united Arab government. However, what actually happened was that the Arabs who were initially one nation under Turk- ish rule have now been divided into four or five groups. Although the British government granted Iraq a degree of independence it must not be forgotten that the Arabs also made big sacrifices during the last War. If a commitment is made to right this wrong then I believe the whole Arab world will unite in their efforts to protect their lands from war. Consequently, this will greatly favour the British government. After this war, not only the question of the independence of Poland and Czechoslovakia, but the independence of all the Arab lands should also be resolved. There is no harm if Yemen, Hijaz and Nadj are excluded how- ever, Syria, Palestine and Iraq must be given the chance to prosper as a single unified and independent State. The dictates of justice demand this action and I am convinced that the British government will become even stronger when this demand is fulfilled. ” (Al-Fazl, 27 May 1941, pg 2). A non-Muslim journalist, Sardar Diwaan Singh, enamoured by Huzur’s coura- geous and insightful broadcast wrote: