Bayn al-Aqida wa al-Qiyada

Bayn al-Aqida wa al-Qiyada (Between Creed and Leadership) is a military and Islamic treatise by the Iraqi military commander and historian Mahmud Sheet Khattab (d. 1419 AH / 1998 CE) examining the relationship between religious faith and military command Bayn al-Aqida wa al-Qiyad…+1.

Background and Purpose

Khattab authored the work based on his reflections and experiences within the Iraqi military, seeking to refute what he described as a widespread misconception among contemporary officers that religious devotion is incompatible with military life or that commanders should be irreligious al-Liwa al-Rukn Mahmoud S…+1. The book aims to demonstrate that sound leadership must be anchored in firm faith and moral restraint, arguing that military morale is inherently tied to creed, and that historical armies have faltered primarily due to ideological weakness rather than material shortages al-Liwa al-Rukn Mahmoud S….

The author dedicated the book to the leader who raises the banner of Islam over the Al-Aqsa Mosque and reclaims the Holy Land Bayn al-Aqida wa al-Qiyad….

Structure and Contents

The book exceeds six hundred pages and opens with an extensive preface by the Egyptian scholar Muhammad Abu Zahra, followed by the author's own introduction al-Liwa al-Rukn Mahmoud S…+1. Its main sections include:

• Creed (al-Aqida): Defines creed in the military sphere as supreme ideals for which an individual is willing to sacrifice life and wealth al-Liwa al-Rukn Mahmoud S…+1. It explores the concept through Arab-Islamic heritage and contrasts it with modern Western military writings, including the work of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery (The Path to Leadership) and figures such as Archibald Wavell and Dwight D. Eisenhower, to show that modern Western military doctrines also recognize the role of faith and moral convictions in command al-Liwa al-Rukn Mahmoud S…+1.
• Islam and Victory (al-Islam wa-l-Nasr): Analyzes the historical impact of Islam on the Arabs and discusses military education, covering individual and collective training, just war principles, psychological warfare, and Islamic military pride Bayn al-Aqida wa al-Qiyad….
• Practical Application in the Era of Prophethood: Studies the leadership and military conduct of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ during his time in Mecca and Medina, highlighting the Battle of Badr and his role as an exemplar for soldiers Bayn al-Aqida wa al-Qiyad….
• Conclusion: Discusses leadership in both its general and specialized forms, maintaining that firm belief is the bedrock upon which all other essential qualities of a victorious commander must be built Bayn al-Aqida wa al-Qiyad…+1.

Reception and Publication

In his foreword, Muhammad Abu Zahra commended the book and its author, endorsing its thesis that righteous command relies upon faith and moral rectitude, and describing it as an important response to passive trends within contemporary Arab armies Qadat Fath al-Andalus+1. The book was published in 1392 AH / 1972 CE, and later reissued in 1419 AH / 1998 CE by Dar al-Qalam in Damascus and al-Dar al-Shamiyya in Beirut Bayn al-Aqida wa al-Qiyad…+1.