The Order of the Golden Dawn

The Ameth, the Pentagram, the Monad and the Rose Cross Lamen. All seem like mystical symbols or a bunch of shapes in a game or cartoon. However, once upon a time, these symbols and figures were once the headlines of every-day news in the 19^th and 20^th century. Magic is one of mankind’s oldest forms of religion. From the sculpture of the “Venus of Hohle Fels” to the cave paintings of the Stone Age, which said to bring good luck, magic has always found itself written in human history. However, some took magic a lot more serious than others. An example of the level of seriousness is The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. 

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was said to have been founded in the late 19^th century by three British Freemasons: William Westcott, William Woodman and Samuel Mathers. However, documents show that it was then later taken over by a man from the inside, also known as “The Wickedest man in the world” Aleister Crowley. 

According to the book of secret societies written by Ellen Fanning she says “Aleister Crowley claimed he seduced a kitchen maid at the age of 14, butchered a cat to see if it had 9 lives, his mother called him “The Beast” so he one-upped her by styling himself “The Beast Whose Number is 666”. He also spent his inherited fortune pursuing his creed, and his first law was “There is no law beyond Do What Thou Wilt”. “ Crowley was all about black magic and trickery. He used to convince men and woman to join the cult by rambling mystical words, writing pornographic poems and more, while dosing them with Opium, Hashish and Pharmaceuticals. Quoted by the British Newspaper, Crowley said “I want blasphemy, murder, rape, revolution, anything, bad or good, but strong!” however his desire for strength and power led him to the use of Satanism, animal sacrifice, sex magic and become a heroin addiction.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn soon later became the leading secret society in Britain. Unlike masonic societies back then, The Order of the Golden Dawn accepted both men and woman, in addition they taught them the complete principal and fundamentals of the cult, and practices and theories of occultism. Members of the cult were taught Magic, alchemy and divination.

However, in 1899 a rebellion within the cult broke the cult into three orders. “The Stella Matutina (The Order of the Morning Star), The Order of the Golden Dawn and the Alpha et Omega. Soon later all three cults were disbanded, however, in 1914 the Holy Order had reopened with a new name called The Fellowship of the Rosy Cross, which didn’t last till World War 2.

However, more than half of the modern day secret societies still use the fundamental and philosophical practices of the Golden Dawn. Its ideology and occultism is being practiced by Cults in Australia, America, Europe and New Zealand.

Saladin, The Man of unspoken character

Salah al-Din Yusif ibn Ayyub. Many, even his enemies, knew him as a wise and brave man. Saladin was a man of faith, respect and courage. both his strategic tactics in war and his peaceful diplomacy to the west caused him to be an iconic figure in the Muslim era.

Computerized image
of Saladin ibn Ayyub

Saladin was born into a Kurdish family in Tikrit, Iraq in 1138. He succeeded his uncle as Vizier of Egypt in 1169 and them assumes title of Sultan of Egypt in 1174. Saladin was well known to have fought against the crusade in Palestine, notably against his well-known foe Richard the Lion Heart. Saladin united the Muslims in 1187 and took back the city of Jerusalem after the defeat of its king in the battle of Hattin. However, Saladin continues to astonish the west even after his victory when he ordered neither man, woman, child, Christian or Jew be harmed inside the walls of Jerusalem.

Saladin’s tactics in battle continues to astonish many historians day by day. One of the most famous strategies was The Battle of Hattin in 1187. Saladin had approximately 17,000 troops against Guy of Lusignan with 20,000 troops. Guy heard that Saladin laid camp near Jerusalem by Lake Tiberias, in retaliation, Guy sent all his army of 20,000 from the gates of Jerusalem to head out in combat with Saladin. However, a very unwise move this was, as it left Jerusalem unguarded and Guy, unknowingly was marching towards his own death. 

Horns of Hattin

Guy’s greatest mistake was to fight Saladin in his own backyard; this made Guy easily fall into a trap. Whilst being lured by Saladin, Guy’s army marched towards Lake Tiberias, desperate for water. however, unaware of their surroundings, Saladin sent small Skirmishers against Guy’s army. The Skirmishers however did not attack directly, all they did was light bush fires around the Crusade to lower the army’s moral, increase their thirst and lead them right towards Saladin’s army. By the time Guy’s army reached the Horns of Hattin, the solders were thirsty and exhausted, and knew you had already fallen into Saladin’s trap. Right away, Saladin’s forces attacked the Crusade leaving them crumbled with heavy casualties and very few survivors who escaped. After their defeat, Saladin was easily able to recapture the lost forts in Palestine, including Jerusalem itself, in addition to, Acre. However, the Fortress of Krak des chevaliers remained in Crusaders hands.

Saladins brave and cunning strategic tactics and politics caused the end of the 2^nd  crusade. After Saladin recaptured Jerusalem the west was outraged, thus the 3^rd crusade took place. Richard I the Lionheart, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa of Germany and King Philip II of France united against the Muslim Sultan, Saladin al Ayyub. However, Saladin’s wise and brave leadership had caused a treaty  during the 3^rd crusade with King Richard the Lion heart, to keep Jerusalem under Muslim control and open for every Jew and Christian.

By: Nasser bin Khalifa AlFalasi




More info about Saladin AlAyyub:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saladin
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/Saladin.htm
http://muslimminds.wordpress.com/2006/08/11/salah-el-deen-el-ayoubi/


More info about the battle of Hattin and the 2nd Crusade:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hattin
http://hksw.org/despatches_106_1_a.htm
http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/the-second-crusade.htm

The Forgotten Era

History is sometimes written in favor of those who now appose it. Not many realize that the greatest, most prospers times in human history were between the year c. 750 CE - c. 1258. Many agree that the fundamental of our modern day technologies have derived from the well-known era of the Renaissance. However, the Renaissance was but a result from the forgotten and lost Golden age of the Islamic Caliphate.
 

When Europe was long lost in the midst of tribal wars and darkened ages, the Islamic empire awakened by the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) had flourished the plains, cultivated the deserts and molded walls of brick and clay. 

However, the thought of our forefathers have long been forgotten throughout generations. For many forgot the morals of Ibn Khaldun, the philosophies of Ibn Sina, the transmutations of Jabir ibn Haiyan or even the famous inventions of Ibn al Haitham. Many of those scholars have given mankind the gift of knowledge, in which now its unappreciated for or taken for granted.

And so it’s the goal of every Muslim, every Scholar and every human being to learn, know and educate themselves about the famous scholars of the Islamic Golden Age. Only then when understanding your past can the future flourish and bend by your will....  

By: Nasser bin Khalifa AlFalasi

Sites about Famous Muslim Scholars: 

http://amaana.org/ISWEB/contents.htm#pos10

http://ibnfarooq.tripod.com/Ullima.htm

http://www.netplaces.com/understanding-islam/a-faith-of-exploration-and-discovery/famous-muslim-scientists.htm