A new essay by European author Wolfgang Bruno with a useful summation of themes that will be familiar to longtime Jihad Watch readers -- including the three stages of jihad that I outline from Islamic sources in Onward Muslim Soldiers:
When Dutch Islam critic Theo van Gogh was murdered, comments were made that “jihad had arrived” in the Netherlands. Physical fighting is indeed the primary meaning of the concept of jihad, and should be undertaken if one is able. Jihad as Holy War is the geographical expansion of Islamic rule by force of arms. It does not always mean killing those who are conquered, but it does mean the acknowledgment of Islam's supremacy. However, if that is not yet possible, then jihad should be with one's tongue, by speaking out. Simply put, jihad is anything undertaken to advance the spread of Islam, peaceful or not. Which means that jihad is always present, even if there should be an absence of violence. Da’wah, missionary work and calling to Islam, is also part of jihad, and is utilized until such a time that physical jihad is made possible through greater numbers. Until then, it is important to make sure that non-Muslims are not fully aware of the real Islamic agenda. This is where deception comes in.Islam allows deception in war in order to attain victory, and Muhammad himself said "War is deceit". "Taqiyya", with origins in Shi’a Islam but now practiced by non-Shi’a as well, is deliberate dissimulation to protect Islam. “Kitman” consists in telling only a part of the truth. A good example of the use of “kitman” is when a Muslim maintains that “jihad” really means “an inner, spiritual struggle,” and fails to add that this definition is based on one single, “weak” hadith of doubtful authenticity. There are nearly 200 references to jihad in the most standard collection of hadith, Sahih al-Bukhari, and all assume that jihad means warfare. Muhammad himself gave the best example of kitman in the early days of Islam, when the number of Muslims was still small. The command to fight the infidels openly was delayed until the Muslims become strong, but when they were weak they were commanded to endure and be patient.
Allah changed his instructions over time according to this principle. A good example is the case of alcohol consumption. Early on, the consumption of alcohol was permitted (2:219), then restricted (4:43) and eventually banned (5:90). There is no disagreement among Muslims that the latter revelation cancels out the earlier ones (2:106), rendering them invalid, and alcohol is thus prohibited. The Koran includes many such abrogated verses. The early Koran of the Mecca period presented religious tolerance as a divine command simply because Muslims had not yet acquired the physical power to compel conversion. But when Islam became more powerful after the flight to
Medina, the "verses of the sword" were conveniently revealed to the Prophet, verses that sanction and indeed command violence, historically Islam's preferred method of expansion.
Calls to "fight and slay the idolaters wherever you find them" (9:5), "smite at their necks" (47:4), "make war on the unbeliever in Allah, until they pay tribute" (9:29), "Fight until the religion be all of it Allah's" (8:39) or "announce painful punishment to those who disbelieve" (9:3) all contradict "There is no compulsion in religion" (2:256). Note that sura 9 was the last or second last chapter to be revealed to Muhammad. It is also the most aggressive and intolerant sura in the Koran, replacing all the peaceful ones made at times of Muslim weakness. Offensive jihad, attacking, is now fully permissible in Sunni Islam.Mark Gabriel, now Christian, is an ex-Muslim and former professor of Islamic history at Al-Azhar University in Egypt. His books can give an easy and basic introduction to Islamic concepts, also for those who don’t share his religion. In Islam and Terrorism he divides jihad into three stages: The weakened stage, when Muslims are a small minority, the preparation stage and the jihad stage, when Muslims are a large minority with real power. Notice that full-scale, armed jihad can be launched even when Muslim are a minority. They can then wage a jihad to cut off a part of the country for themselves. This is what happened to India when the Muslim minority created Pakistan. And this is what may happen to nations such as France in the not too distant future. Muslims make up 10% of the population in France today, but one in three of newborn babies. When their proportion reaches 15, 20 or 30 percent, France may break down in civil war, as Lebanon did. French Muslims have so far accepted the banning of the veil in schools. This indicates that they still don’t
feel strong enough to wage armed rebellion against the state. It probably also means that they judge time to be on their side, demographically speaking. The clashes in Holland recently could be viewed as passing from the weak stage to the preparation stage, with more open Muslim assertiveness. The fact that this happens already when they make up 6% of the population may be due to what Muslim perceive to be a weak response from the Dutch.However, even when Muslims make up only a very small part of the population, they can affect discourse about Islam. One of the first things Muhammad and his companions did in Medina was to launch an assassination campaign against people such as Asma bint Marwan and Abu Afak, to intimidate critics into submission. Muslims now follow the pattern of their prophet from 1400 years ago, his sunna. Both the Italian translator and the Norwegian publisher of Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses were nearly killed for taking part in “blasphemy” against Islam. The Japanese translator of the book was stabbed to death in July 1991. In the USA, Steven Emerson received death threats for his work “Jihad in America”, whereas the controversial Islamic reformer Rashid Khalifa was declared an apostate and murdered in 1990 in Tuscon, Arizona. In all of these countries, Muslim made up 1- 2 % of the population, or even less. The more recent example of Theo van Gogh further demonstrates how toxic even a minor Muslim presence can be.
As ex-Muslim Muhammad bin Abdulla puts it in the book Leaving Islam: “Islam has two sets of teeth, like elephants. One is ivory. The other set of teeth is hidden inside its jaws and is used to chew and crush. All those sweet peace talks of Islam relate to the time and place of weak Islam in early years. But whenever and wherever Muslims were and are strong, they have another set of cruel laws and conduct”. Today, in the West, we are witnessing the Islamic stage of weakness, but the stage of violent jihad is coming sooner or later. The reality is exactly the opposite of what
multiculturalists claim, who think clashes with Muslims will diminish in time as we “get used to” each other. They won’t. They will become more dangerous, as Muslims grow bolder and work to silence the media and moderates while supporting terrorism. If we fail to understand this, the War against political Islam in 2020 won’t be in Tehran, Riyadh or Baghdad. It will be in Paris, London and Amsterdam, and maybe in Montreal, Sydney, Detroit and New Jersey, too.Wolfgang Bruno is a European author. He is writing a book about the Internet movement of ex-Muslims. All of Bruno's essays can be republished and reproduced for free by anybody who wants to, as long as credit is given to the author.
There seems to be some trouble with some of the Quran links, although I checked them as late as yesterday. The ones that don't work are linked to a Quran browser with many different English translations put together. You can look up any verse from the Quran here:
http://quranbrowser.com/
I will try to stick to this Quran source for the future, if there are problems with the other one:
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/
A corrected version of the essay is available here, where all the Quran links should work:
http://wolfgangbruno.blogspot.com/2005/03/stages-of-jihad.html
Thank you. Very helpful as it is clear and concise. I have passed this essay on to others in need of information given in such a format.
Thank you, Mr. Bruno.
Thanks, Bruno! I posted a link to your excellent article on www.dutchdisease.com/blog as well.
Mr Spencer states "the War against political Islam in 2020 won’t be in Tehran, Riyadh or Baghdad. It will be in Paris, London and Amsterdam, and maybe in Montreal, Sydney, Detroit and New Jersey, too".
Personally I think this is a given. All attempts to supercede Sharia and Islam at the roots isn't goiung to happen ....ever!
Take for example Iran...you say that women are fighting for the right to take off the Hijab...
but in Turkey...women are fighting for the right to wear it
In Indonesis they are fighting for the right to put it on...and theIslamic party want to bring back Sharia in it's purest form.
Now the only really "level playing field" will be in the West.
'Mr Spencer states'~ Naseem
Does he really? Come on, Naseem! We enjoy you coming here, you give us the best time of it, but please take another look at who wrote what.
Naseem,
hey! tell us: How are things going for you Ahmadiyyans? and what about the Ismaelites and other Shi'ites, are you ok? No bombs thrown in your mosques by some Wahabi inspired Sunni madman?
One day, the artificial entity Pakistan will be crushed between Iran and India.
The founding father of that entity, Ali Jinnah, was a hypocrite who ate pork and drank whiskey like the Taleban hypocrites in New York.
You are mental weaklings.
Great post.
I am looking for a good VHS video which can present this darker side of Islam, not the puffball style that treats Islam as another valid religion.
Any ideas?
I walked past a war memorial today in London. A tribute to those who gave their lives for their country fighting against tyranny, fascism, totalitarianism. Somewhere in some far-off land -- Germany, Russia, Singapore -- these brave men made the ultimate sacrifice to defend the liberties that Britain holds so dear. And I shuddered at the thought that their descendants are today, willfully surrendering those same liberties to a foreign invader. An invader that -- with its own book on the art of war and novel approach to conquest -- is intent on achieving the same ends as Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan.
Where is the man with the courage and foresight of Winston Churchill?
Naseem, I am sorry that women in those countries are willing to settle for so little. Freedom and a moral life are not incompatible. However, it requires self-discipline to impose morality from within. In my view, having the ability to regulate one's own behavior is superior to outside rules and regulations, because the moral life is then FREELY CHOSEN, rather then imposed. With choice you have a truly moral individual, as opposed to someone who is moral only out of fear. Unfortunately, it seems that Islam is a religion based on fear rather then love, as evidenced by Sharia law.
Treehugger
"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!"
-Samuel Adams
If all muslims are called to wage jihad then why on earth are we allowing them sanctuary in the West? It is not as if their skills are desired, considering that a large fraction of muslims are unemployed or are in prison.
Naseem:
THERE is no physical evidence to validate ANY of Islam's teachings.
Islam states the world is flat? But, is it? No.
Islam teaches there are talking trees and talking rocks (they will supposedly turn the Jews over to the warring Muslims!!!).
But alas, there are no talking trees or rocks in the real world.
Islam would have us believe the sun drops into a pond on a chain daily... Does it? Of course not.
Followers of Islam tend to believe all this. Why? Because THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING. THEY BELIEVE ALL THEY ARE TOLD. And the only reason they "believe" it is that people like you will kill them if they don't.
The point? Naseem, you are only able to make these comments because you have no knowledge of the actual workings of the universe. You have spent your life tethered to a counterfeit ideology that has turned your conception of reality upside down and deluded you. Your sense of reality is warped.
The western world at any time could shut off all food imports into the muslim nations and cause mass famines and a resulting drastic decline in the human populations there. Because there are only three countries that are able to grow sufficient food for their populations. All of them are western...NONE of them are Islamic.
The same is true of most of the world's medicines and medical procedures. Islam has contributed ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in such fields. Why? Do you see a pattern here?
Could it be that tolitarianism --especially Islam-- is its own greatest enemy?
Islam has devalued human life around the world on the grounds that its moral values are MORE inmportant than life itself. But Islam cannot show any such teachings to be true--it can only CLAIM they are true. I can make the same statements. I could claim Little Red Riding Hood is the true maker of the universe. So what???
Islam therefore has no legitimacy to the mantle of moral authority it ruthlessly slaughters human beings all over the globe to establish. The world actually sees this and therefore Islam will never be able to rule humanity through sharia as you have been misled into believing. And seeing what Muslims trylu KNOW (nothing), why then, Naseem, should anyone pay heed to you either?
As for that Qur'anic passage "Let there be no compulsion in religion," has it occurred to anybody that once an infidel has been slain he is no longer able to be "submitted" or 'compelled'? Muhammed could ONLY have been talking about non-Muslims, so I think we have our explanation. Muhammed was referring to the slain.
Here's another link to a "Honour Killing"
that's denounced as un-Islamic but authorities
don't here a condemnation of the actual murdering
of women the dishonour the family.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4345459.stm
Mr Pyethagoras says "Islam states the world is flat? But, is it? No.
Islam teaches there are talking trees and talking rocks (they will supposedly turn the Jews over to the warring Muslims!!!).
Islam would have us believe the sun drops into a pond on a chain daily... Does it? Of course not."
Be careful...that's a bad road to go down....
Christiny says "Eve was born/concieved from Adam's rib...was she?"
The world/universe was created in 6 days... was it?
Jesus was born although Mary (peace be upon both) was a virgin... how is that possible?
I don't go around having a chip on my shoulder like you (or nippon for that matter).... I want to respect other religions despite any of the teachings....I just wanted to point that out to you.....no offence meant to any christians...
to echo your words "THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING. THEY BELIEVE ALL THEY ARE TOLD".
Islam has contributed ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in such fields. Eh... If I am not mistaken I belive it was a muslim that first said
a*a + b*b = C*C for a triangle....does that ring a bell for you pythagoras.
'Jesus was born although Mary (peace be upon both) was a virgin... how is that possible?' ~Naseem
Wow. You just put Limits on God Himself.
I think allah is going to be displeased with you.
Naseem states,
"If I am not mistaken I belive it was a muslim that first said
a*a + b*b = C*C for a triangle"
You are mistaken. Pythagoras lived a thousand years before Muhammad and he was certainly NOT a muslim.
Naseem,
I posted this link yesterday. You may have missed it, but here it is again. An excellent letter exposing the myths of Islamic and Arabic civilization. I hope your heart doesn't break when you realize that Islam attempts to take credit for any human contribution. Even citing that Shakespeare was a Sufi.
http://www.ninevehsoft.com/fiorina.htm
If seemingly educated muslims such as Naseem believe that Pythagoras (an ancient Greek) was a muslim, then the work of non muslims in combatting this revisionist history scourge is monumental.
This is a blatant attempt at hijacking the scientific, philosophical etc. contributions made to humanity by the Western world.
When I read posts like Naseem's, I feel like I am in an Orwellian world.
When will the West say enough is enough?
shangalla says,
"well the problem with a huge chunk of the western world is not the muslims but the hatred of their own culture,their own civilization."
Yes, it is unfortunate that the secular societies have forsaken their Christian roots on the alter of pluralism.
It is shocking that so many care so little about their own culture, but I forsee a popular nationalistic backlash in Europe if the governments there do not wake up.
Very good essay Mr. Bruno! Why are Muslims so intent on emulating Muhammad's example? Muhammad lead a life of evil after his years in Mecca. Who would want to model himself after such a hideous being?
Are Muslims not informed of the full scope of Muhammad's evil? Do Jihadwatch posters (Mr. Spencer too) know more about Mohammed's life than the average Muslim?
any one see all the anti Syria people in Lebanon today seams the crowd was bigger than the Islamic Terrorist could muster??
100 MS13 members rounded up by the FBI!!
Good Job Guys!!
nasseem the prymids were built by Jews!!
The Egyptians were not mussi??
mussis have only been mussis for 1300 years??
Christians 2000 Yrs!!
Jews about 3000 Years!!
and if you remember mo-ham-od couldn't even read or write????
Italians tell commi Witch with a Capital B to Shut UP!! Was she really kidnapped?? OR just want to give money to Islamic Killers was the bombing in the mosque in Iraq financed by money paid by Italians??
This is a word that the world needs to learn!!
sympathy?
Keep in mind that word sympathy is in the dictionary between the words SH_T and SYPHILIS!!!
Fla. Wants to get rid of the Easter Bunny in Palm Beach and tax Toilet Paper mean while in Iraq a well dug and piped into Iraqis housed give them for the first time ever running water in their houses Courtesy of the USA!!
#s don’t add up in the Smith Nicolas kind of like the commi Witch with a capital B should she really get the 60 grand???
Lets look Friday [mulsum] Monster kills in a courtroom after he got caught with a weapon on Wed.? Friday he kills to escape jail time?[Where are his parents] Parents in Africa??
Tries to and does hijack and pistol whips a reporter? But also asks the reporter how to get to a certain neighborhood? Killer could not get reporter in trunk of car so abondans car in lower leavel of parking lot? Then heads to the certain neighborhood and has a fight with a woman and her boy friend but does not use the gun or take their car??
Then the [mulsum] Monster goes to a certain house and kills the Guy working on this house and this guy monster kills has a badge and a gun takes these along with his car[Turns out to be second in command of HLS in Atlanta and works with Illegal Immigration?]
Mother of [mulsum] Monster works for the IRS??
Monster now has another gun and more ammo a truck and killes no one else?? But??
Smith who is in another town on TV says [in tears] the only Regret the [mulsum] Monster has is the killing of the ICE Agent?? But??
The [Islamic] monster before coming to the home being worked on by agent tried to break-in another home and got into a fight with the boyfriend [didn’t use his bullets there] then he ran to the agents and killed him??
Why didn’t he just kill the boyfriend and take their car??
NO THIS WAS A HIT!!
Monsters Mother works for the IRS???
This guy is an Islamic Monster and he was done for the next thing is to know how far this goes and how deep?? Mother ? Smith?
No do not let the Atlanta Boobs screw this up?? Why did no one look at the video of the Garage exit to see if the car even exited?? No this was a hit the Big Q? is how many are involved??
And remember his Lawyer was not in the courtroom??
Could Smith have been his lover??? Remember Monster kills the agent then goes directly to this complex?? OR could it have been someone else he met there and she was just a real victim??
Remember in mulsum law?
PREDESTINATION:
Qur’an 48:14 “To Allah belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth: He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He pleases.”
Bukhari:V6B60N473 “Every created soul has his place written for him either in Paradise or in the Hell Fire. His happy or miserable fate is predetermined for him.”
Bukhari:V6B60N473 “While we were in a funeral procession, Allah’s Apostle said, ‘Every created soul has his place written for him either in Paradise or in Hell. They have a happy or miserable fate predestined for them.’ A man said, ‘Apostle! Shall we depend upon what is written and give up doing deeds? For whoever is destined to be fortunate, will join the fortunate and whoever is destined to be miserable will go to Hell.’”
So this [mulsum] Monster has completed his duty and wants to give a friend the reward money??
She only crys when she talks about him? She says she feels sorry for him?? When she speaks of his Mother[Works for the IRS] Smith wants the Mother to know Smith is the one who helped save her son?????
NO HOW MANY ARE INVOLED??
America & Egypt Navel exercise Bright Star a go this Year?? Which ass is being kissed??
Bus crash in Kashmir after the Pakistanis sign an agreement to let the buses go back an forth across the border??
Will Condit ask for the case to be dismissed today??
Seams Condit talked to his Arab Friends about Levy? Well that was a Death Sentence for a young Jewish Woman?? Co Condit is connected to Arabs??
Cops lead double life as hit men convicted for 8 murders??
Saw the movie hostage this week-end in the lady’s room long line after the movie? Talking [as usual] said that it reminded me of what the Islamic Terrorist are doing to the Iraqi People?? Gal looked a little shocked but you could see the wheels turning then with a nervous giggle YEA YOU ARE RIGHT??
Israel says it has dismantled 24 settlements!! What are the pallis doing??
For their Hard work they will get??
Koffi going after Israel and their Fence could this be because he is a mussi??
The UN=LON seam he should be going after the palis and their killers?? For blowing up people and shooting babies in their beds??
Not going after the Israelis for trying to keep out the Monsters?
Funny how this comes up after the palis this week-end storm a government building in the west bank demanding money and Jobs???
History channel had OK City Bombing on? The last words why didn’t our government not investigate the Arabs the people saw??
Well should we look back into the money into the Clintons and when was it Hillary Clinton was with the wife of Arafat[YELLOW MONSTER WHO IS CURSED WITH WORMS] after speech calling for the killing of Jews Hillary Clinton gives her a hug??
Then ask why this was not investigated??? Hi kj??
KKK Bird gave a 16 hr speech on the senate floor in the 60s to stop the civil rights Bill [movement]??
What is going on with Sandy Berger [burglar]??
UAE to give an Asian house maid 150 lashes for being Pregnant out of wedlock? Then they will depot her all because of mulsum laws?
Boy how do you think the west will go for this? Hollywood sex out of wedlock how many Floggings will we see??
Swiss has an arson? Set a Jewish Temple & clothing store on Fire? Store owned by a Jew??
Small Earthquake outside Bombay?
Mexico City volcano does a Fart?
Could this be warnings to them to get on the right side of this Fight against Islamic Terrorist???
The press when showing pictures of the ZMonster should show the updated and how fat he is?? A side by side is always good !!
Iraqis say they have grabbed some Russians in Iraq? Could they be mulsum Russians who are terrorist??
Iran to issue a stamp touting their nuclear success??
Italy convicts 4 in plane crash in malano in 2001??
Will they Won’t they Pakistan on nukes to Iran??
Part of the American Tribe
Squirrel Hunter
Spider Killer
God Bless the USA and her Fighting Forces and ALL who Fight with her give them Strength, Wisdom, Sight, and Courage to stay the course to Victory[FREEDOM] to Destroy ALL islamic Terrorist and ALL who Support them Amen
PS
Shoot out in Saudia A. looks like they were going after those who had that web sight??
I am reading a book that contains memoirs of
Henry Martyn, a British missionary who was a chaplain with the East India Company in the beginning of the 19th century and translated
the New Testament into Hindustan and Persian. I was rather surprised to find a reference to abrogation by Mr. Martyn in the book, about 200 years ago.
bgordon,
Sorry, but I do not understand your post. Abrogation of text from the Old and New Testaments?
If I understand your post correctly, didn't Martin Luther abrogate the book of James as an "Epistle of Straw"?
Baruch, I believe, is also a book that does not belong in the Protestant canon of the Bible.
A vivid example of the taqiyya and kitman stage of jihad in action can be seen at the Isralert website, where an instructive article about Islamic deceit brought on an avalanche of jihadists attacking the author's sanity, Jews via all sorts of quotations, whether correct or not, from the Talmud, and Christians as not being without blame. The two religions (Islam is an ideology posing as a religion) are attacked as using deceit--not the "pure" Muslims, as it is "forbidden" in the koran, etc.
The usual Islamic tactics of illogic, attack of non-Muslim person's logic, mental state, integrity, belief, etc. is used to obfuscate, confuse, attempt to make the critic of Islam doubt him/herself, and so on. Same old song. But they are furious! They are livid! How can a follower of Mahomet be accused of deceit!
Worthwhile looking at, joining in with koranic quotes, and logic, to make these jihadists implode.
Here's where you can read the article and the anger of the followers of Islam:
http://www.isralert.com/archives/2005/03/deceit_thy_name.php
unicorns62000,
Interesting link. Thanks.
Read the comments on Unicorns62000's link, the muslims are having fits, saying that lying is always wrong... islam never attacked any other religion. Sure thing, who are you going to believe, muslims or your lying eyes?
I thought this post stood out:
"I am half Christian, half Jewish. I have lived in Europe many years. I am a very well educated person and I know muslims more than you do americans because many of you do not read or have a good education"....
Sounds like this person is under the impression that Americans are uneducated and illiterate. Wrong, you know nothing about the US.
Great essay Bruno! I don't envy the Europeans at all, but since the Muslim minority in the U.S. is so much smaller than that of Europe, it is even harder for us to convince our fellow Americans about the real danger of it happening here. Even my Islam-hating sister has no patience for reading my articles, preferring to disregard them as "screeds." This kind of talk does not "hurt my feelings," but it is particularly disappointing to encounter willful blindness even among those that believe that Islam is evil.
Great essay Bruno! I don't envy the Europeans at all, but since the Muslim minority in the U.S. is so much smaller than that of Europe, it is even harder for us to convince our fellow Americans about the real danger of it happening here. Even my Islam-hating sister has no patience for reading my articles, preferring to disregard them as "screeds." This kind of talk does not "hurt my feelings," but it is particularly disappointing to encounter willful blindness even among those that regard that Islam as evil.
In 1857 there was a general uprising in India against British rule, the object of which was to reinstall Muslim Power in South Asia.
Meanwhile a small bunker in a remote part of India was being defended by 20 Sikhs and a handful of British civilians. Their attackers numbered in their thousands.
At one stage the Sikhs told their Muslim enemies to come forward without fear, as they were finally prepared to change sides. When they casually walked forward the Sikhs opened fire, killing large numbers of their adversaries. The British and Loyalist Sikhs were well supplied with provisions and ammunition but they soon ran out of water. They attempted to dig a well in the centre of their bunker - and succeeded. Nevertheless they could not hold out indefinitely. The Muslims (and Hindus) had rebelled over the use of pig and cow fat on the cartridges of Enfield rifles, which they refused to use. The Sikhs however had no problems with the grease and found that the new rifles which the Muslims refused to touch, were in fact far superior to the old muskets, and they were able to pick off their adversaries at a long distance. (The same accurate weapon was to later produce horrific numbers of casualties in the American Civil war).
The major problem within the bunker was the stench from the ever growing piles of bodies surrounding them, and the health risks which this included. A rescue force had been defeated due to an over enthusiastic commander who walked into an ambush at night. A second tiny force of fewer than 200 was sent soon afterwards on what was considered a suicide mission. The force met several thousand former soldiers (all trained and armed by the British) along with 8,000 auxiliaries, armed with more traditional weapons.
G. O. Trevelyan, 1866.:
The English troops at Buxar certainly were a mere handful. But there was a man there who was neither a novice nor a pedant, neither a young soldier nor an old woman. Wherever hard knocks had been going within the last twenty years -and during that period there was no lack- Vincent Eyre had generally managed to come in for a liberal allowance. In the Afghan war, the roughest of schools, he had learnt to preserve an equal mind in arduous circumstances. When the intelligence of the outbreak, travelling with the proverbial speed of bad news, reached the station of Buxar, Eyre at once made up his mind to march, without waiting to hear whether an expedition had started from Dinapore. Perhaps he was unwilling to leave the fate of the garrison entirely dependent on the energy and promptness of General Lloyd. Perhaps he thought that a good thing like the relief of Arrah would bear doing twice over. His force consisted of a hundred and fifty four English bayonets, twelve mounted volunteers, and three field-pieces, with their complement of artillerymen. The distance to be traversed was fifty miles as the crow flies; and, as the waters were out over the face of the country, and the population was in a state of open hostility, the march proved long and formidable. On the way, Eyre received tidings of the reverse sustained by Dunbar's detachment. It seemed foolhardy indeed to advance to the attack of an enemy who had just cut in pieces a force twice as strong as his own. But, according to his view of the matter, this consideration did not in any wise, affect the result of his reasoning. His axiom was that Arrah must be relieved.
There was no one else now left to do the business; so of necessity it fell to him. He had not many soldiers, and would be glad to have more. He did not share the sentiment of King Henry at Agincourt. He would have been delighted to see at his back a thousand or two of those men at Aldershot who did no work that day. But, as he had only a few, he must perform the work with those few. So on he went, nothing doubting.
On the night of Sunday, the 2nd of August, our force bivouacked at Googerajgunge. In the morning the enemy put in an appearance, and the march was one constant skirmish as far as Bebeegunge, where the road crosses a deep nullah. The bridge had been destroyed; and Eyre had nothing for it but to direct his course towards the railway embankment, along which he hoped to force his way to Arrah. This route, however, was barred by a wood, in and about which was drawn up Coer Singh’s whole force - two thousand five hundred mutineers, and the posse comitatus of the province, estimated at eight thousand men. The rebels, whom their recent success had inspired with unwonted confidence, did not wait to be attacked. The sepoy bugles sounded the 'Assembly,' then 'advance' and finally the 'double'; and their battalions, in columns of companies, charged our guns in front, but were driven back several times with great slaughter. Then they tried a surer game, and endeavoured to crush our line with a heavy point-blank musketry fire. 'And now,' said Major Eyre, 'we had as much on our own hands as we could manage.' Large numbers of the enemy stole round under cover of the trees, and raked our whole array from either flank The men began to fall fast; and, in an army of nine or ten score combatants, men cannot fall fast for many minutes together without serious consequences. Our troops began to be disheartened, and to be painfully aware of the overwhelming odds against which they were contending. It was trying work receiving twenty bullets for every one they fired. At such a moment the man of sterling stuff feels that things cannot go well, unless he personally exerts himself to the utmost. It is this state of mind that wins football matches, and boat-races, and battles. Now or never, was the word. The order was given, and our officers ran forward, sword in hand, towards the point where the enemy stood thickest, with the men shouting at their heels. This appeared to the sepoys a most unaccountable proceeding; but they were not ignorant of the great military truth that 'when two hostile parties find themselves on the same ground one or the other must leave it'; and, as our people kept coming nearer and nearer with the expression on their faces which the Sahibs always wear when they don't intend to turn back, they had no choice but to run for it. That charge saved Arrah. When once natives have given way, it is almost impossible to bring them again to the scratch. Coer Singh retreated, leaving on the ground six hundred of his followers, most of whom had been killed in the attack upon the battery; and our poor little force, which he had expected to devour at a single mouthful, gathered together the wounded, limbered up the guns, and with lightened hearts pressed forward on its mission of deliverance.
When the garrison looked out of their loopholes at dawn, on the 3rd, they were surprised at seeing none of the besiegers stirring in the neighbourhood. As they were not the men to wait tamely for what might befall them without doing something to help themselves, they sallied forth and took this opportunity to get some fresh air and replenish their larder. After a hard chase about the compound, they succeeded in capturing four sheep, which they brought back into the house amidst great rejoicing, together with one of the enemy's cannon. Presently the boom of guns was heard in the distance, and excited a strange hope which, but just now they expected never again to experience. Towards evening the beaten rebels poured into the town in dire confusion. They stayed only to collect their plunder - in the sense in which the word is employed both by a Yankee and an Englishman - and marched off, bag and baggage, never more to visit Arrah, with the exception of a few who returned from time to time in order to be present at their own execution. On the morning of Tuesday, the 4th of August, there was not a sepoy within miles of the station. And then our countrymen came forth, unwashed, unshaved, begrimed with dust and powder, haggard with anxiety and want of sleep, but very joyous and thankful at heart: pleased to stand once more beneath the open sky, and to roam fearlessly through their old haunts, in which the twittering of birds and the chirping of grasshoppers had succeeded to the ceaseless din of musketry; pleased with the first long draught of sherry and soda-water, and with the cool breath of dawn after the atmosphere of a vault without window or punkah, filled to suffocation with the smoke of their rifles With what fervour must they have offered their tribute of praise and gratitude to Almighty God
There are moments when an oppressive sense of the Nineteenth Century weighs heavy on the soul; when we shudder to hear Mr. Cobden pronounce that one number of The Times newspaper is worth the eight books of Thucydides. There are moments when we feel that locomotives and power-looms are not everything. It is good to know that trade, and luxury, and the march of science, have not unnerved our wrists, and dulled our eyes, and turned our blood to water. There is much in common between Leonidas dressing his hair before he went forth to his last fight, and Colvin laughing over his rice and salt while the bullets pattered on the wall like hail. Still, as in the days of old Homer, 'Cowards gain neither honour nor safety; but men who respect themselves and each other for the most part go through the battle unharmed.'
"Naseem states,
"If I am not mistaken I belive it was a muslim that first said
a*a + b*b = C*C for a triangle"
You are mistaken. Pythagoras lived a thousand years before Muhammad and he was certainly NOT a muslim."
Damn, you beat me to it, Degenerated. LOL.
Geoff