Pragmatism - Syria's New Direction
(Translated)
News:
On August 25, 2025, the Syrian President, Ahmed Al-Shara, announced during a meeting with a high-level Arab media delegation, that he does not consider himself an extension of any of the Islamic parties or movements, whether the jihadist, the Muslim Brotherhood, or even the Arab Spring. According to Nadeem Qutaish, the General Manager of Sky News Arabia, Al-Shara also revealed that there are high-level talks underway regarding a security agreement with the Zionist entity, with the support of the United States and the Gulf states. While acknowledging that the conditions are not yet ripe for a comprehensive peace treaty, Al-Shara stated that he would not hesitate to pursue such an agreement if it serves Syria's "interests." (The Syrian Observer).
Comment:
Ahmed Al-Shara's disavowal of Islamic groups is not surprising, given his path of abandoning the perspective of governing by Islam, granting supporters of Bashar al-Assad immunity under the slogan of "national reconciliation," and now engaging in negotiations with the Jewish entity. These steps highlight that his political legacy is not from Islam or the Arab Spring, but from the secular nationalist tradition that has long dominated the ruling class in Syria.
In contrast, the people of Syria and their blessed revolution have consistently expressed their Islamic identity and aspiration. Their slogans embodied faith and determination: "It is for Allah, it is for Allah, not for power or prestige," and "O Allah, we have no one but You, O Allah," and "A Caliphate forever, against your will, O Assad." While the people embodied sincerity, sacrifice, and idealism, Ahmed Al-Shara's statements and actions reflected political pragmatism, concessions, and disregard for the Islamic vision of the revolution.
It is extremely tragic to witness a revolution that has made immense sacrifices - families, livelihoods, and lives sacrificed for the sake of Allah and His rule - being usurped by a regime that now seeks legitimacy with the approval of America and the Jewish entity. These are the very forces complicit in the destruction of Syria and the ongoing genocide of our nation in Gaza. The words of the Prophet ﷺ resonate powerfully in this context: «Whoever seeks the pleasure of Allah at the expense of the people, Allah will be pleased with him and will make the people pleased with him, and whoever seeks the pleasure of the people at the expense of Allah, Allah will be angry with him and will make the people angry with him».
As followers of our beloved Prophet ﷺ, Muslims never give in to despair. The Battle of the Trench is a timeless reminder: when the Quraysh and their allies besieged Medina, the Muslims were in dire straits due to hunger and hardship, but in that adversity, the Prophet ﷺ foretold victory; the keys to the Levant, Persia, and Yemen. This history teaches us that even in the heart of the storm, the believers remain steadfast and optimistic, aware that calamities are fleeting and that Allah's victory is inevitable.
The duty upon the Ummah, therefore, is to continue building momentum towards the inevitable victory by uniting around Islam and rejecting compromises that weaken our principles. The true liberation of Syria and all Islamic lands will only be achieved by establishing the Rightly Guided Caliphate on the Prophetic method, the system that guarantees justice, accountability, and dignity for the Ummah.
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
Muhammad Al-Shami
