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Free Study in the Book {33} Strategies
First Edition
Compilation and Arrangement
Translated by
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Thinking
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
1. I swear by the clear morning,
2. and by the night when it falls still,
3. your Lord has not forsaken you, nor has He been displeased with you.
4. And certainly, the Hereafter will be better for you than this world.
5. And soon, your Lord will give you so much that you will be content.
6. Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter?
7. And He found you lost and guided you?
8. And He found you in need and made you self-sufficient?
9. So, do not oppress the orphan.
10.And do not turn away the beggar.
11.And proclaim the blessings of your Lord and remind others of them
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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Introduction
In the spring of 2017, one of the young men gifted me a copy of the book "The 33
Strategies of War" by Robert Greene and said:
"This book has been widely discussed, so it would be good for you to read it and
share with us the insights it contains."
I carefully read the introduction of the book, then quickly skimmed through its
pages. Not only did I dislike what Greene had presented, but I also found that his
descriptions of reality and the provocations fostering hostility and hatred among
people were blatantly contradictory. In Western societies, he contrasts what is
referred to as the values of democracy (peace) with the prevalence of competition
(war) within their communities, which has spread to the extent that it seems like a
painful battle has cast its shadow over their lives. Greene's promotion of
individualism appears as an invitation leading society toward an abyss.
Within this framework, his call to employ military schemes against adversaries in
public life and against people seems to lack sincerity and integrity. It is marked by
violence, hypocrisy, opportunism, exploitation, and deceit, which pose significant
dangers to a single nation. This perspective on nurturing and educating individuals
creates divisions within society and drives them into a competition whose
consequences are by no means desirable. From an educational and psychological
standpoint, this book is no different from Kalila wa Dimna by Ibn al-Muqaffaʿ and
The Prince by Machiavelli. Much of what Greene advocates is incompatible with
our Islamic principles and upbringing.
For this reason, I set the book aside for a while. However, I was once again
requested to delve into its military aspects, as Greene presents many military
operations that could broaden one’s mind and enhance military awareness and
experience through the study of the military history of various nations, both ancient
and modern.
Thus, the journey began. I gradually engaged with the book more attentively,
initially approaching it cautiously and repeatedly reviewing its contents.
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At the outset, I began reading the book with a particular sensitivity, publishing it
in brief, concise sections. Over time, I advanced with slightly more caution and
hesitancy. Occasionally, the book felt overwhelming, prompting me to set it aside
for extended periods. This prolonged the time it took for me to complete it.
I was concerned about inadvertently overlooking some of the concepts Greene
presented in his book. Thus, I caution you that anything in this account that
contradicts our Islamic values, principles, and culture, I have renounced and
disavowed. I urge anyone who notices such contradictions to inform me so I may
remove them. In this context, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be
upon him) said:
"A believer is the mirror of his brother, and a believer is to another believer like a
structure whose parts reinforce one another."
Additionally, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stated:
"The example of believers in their mutual love, compassion, and empathy is like a
body; if one part is afflicted, the rest of the body responds with sleeplessness and
fever."
These two hadiths are found in Sahih Muslim.
As a result, I approached my engagement with the book under the title: "An
Independent Study of 'The 33 Strategies of War'". I pray that Allah grants success
and that this endeavor proves beneficial to Muslims and the oppressed worldwide.
This does not mean that "The 33 Strategies of War" by Robert Greene is entirely
unusable; such is not my intention. Instead, my goal is to emphasize that those who
delve deeply into this book—or similar works like Kalila and Dimna by Ibn al- Muqaffaʿ—must be people of principles and values, equipped with a clear
benchmark to assess the content. This is necessary to avoid becoming lost in the
opportunistic world vividly portrayed in these books. Such concepts must be
condensed and rearticulated with an ethical approach to benefit all humanity.
To be fair, Greene’s book contains numerous historical accounts of military
operations and intriguing strategic perspectives that merit significant engagement.
Even better is to return to the sources from which these accounts are drawn to gain
a more comprehensive understanding. I recommend readers of this note to actively
seek out these sources and study them instead of relying solely on Greene’s
summaries; this effort will greatly enrich their experience.
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In a specific section of the book, particularly in its military segment, certain
sentences and phrases are written with precision and depth, reflecting the harsh
realities of experience. Among these examples are: "Knowledge... has taught us to
think more rationally and strategically during times of conflict and to channel our
hostile desires instead of denying or suppressing them."
"Strategic fighters operate in a completely different manner. They consider their
long-term objectives before conflict arises, decide which battles to avoid and
which ones to engage in, and know how to channel and control their emotions.
When forced to fight, they do so through clever and indirect maneuvers, making it
difficult to trace their deceptive methods."
"To be peaceable in the face of wolves like these is a source of endless tragedy."
Some of the quoted sentences highlight the superiority of one strategy over
another. For instance, it is observed that Sun Tzu’s understanding, which
emphasizes winning a war without bloodshed, is deeper and more realistic than
what Gandhi advocated [the method of nonviolence, a new way to wage war],
which itself has not been immune to criticism.
In sections of the book that depict the darker side of colonialism, Robert cites:
"The strategy of ignorance (creating ignorance among the attacked)." In the
introduction to his book, Robert writes: "Were soldiers not taught strategy?
Because it would not assist them in the battlefield. Moreover, it was not desirable
for commanders to provide their soldiers with such practical knowledge that might
enable them to organize rebellions or revolutions. During the colonial era, this
principle was applied more broadly. Indigenous people in European colonies were
recruited as soldiers in Western armies and carried out many policing duties.
However, even those who reached high military ranks were deliberately kept
uninformed about strategic knowledge that could become dangerous to them.
Preserving strategy and war techniques as a domain of the ruling authorities was
intentionally aimed at keeping them in the hands of elites and oppressive forces
who were keen on division and conquest."
In the same section, Robert quotes from "Slavery and Freedom" by Frederick
Douglass, where Mr. Hugh references the simplicity...
(The text cuts off here, but the continuation might delve further into Mr. Hugh's
remarks or other related discussions from Douglass's work.)
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He explained to his wife, perhaps for the first time, the true philosophy of slavery
and the peculiar rules that masters needed to understand to manage their human
property. His cold, hard, iron-like words deeply struck my heart. It was a unique
and new revelation, uncovering for me a painful mystery that I had always
pursued in vain: the power of the white man to maintain the slavery of the black
man is rooted in depriving him of knowledge.
But have ordinary people in the West been spared from this process of ignorance?
No. They have been turned into distorted beings. Our struggle today is a struggle
between the people—all people—and the class that rules the world, against the
minority that has seized resources and enslaved people. Worse yet, during the
COVID-19 era, they usurped people’s savings, and during the Russia-Ukraine war,
by fueling the hunger crisis, they stole people’s wealth. What comes after this?
Briefly put, it is their war against humanity—a war that has exceeded their ability
to control. Thus, they must eliminate half of humanity by any means possible
without drawing attention to their schemes.
Dr. Ibrahim al-Maliki, in the introduction to the translation of the book "The
Principle of Power", compiled by the Jew Mark Blasini and presented to Robert
Greene for publication, notes that a significant number of commanders and
officials in the Jewish state apparatus have the greatest interest in Greene’s books
and ideas. Dr. Ibrahim al-Maliki mentioned hearing from an acquaintance of
Robert Greene that "Netanyahu" had offered him a high advisory position, asking
Greene to collaborate in providing strategies for domination, defeating rivals, and
expanding hegemonic influence in the Middle East. However, Greene declined the
offer.
Perhaps what Dr. Ibrahim al-Maliki has highlighted will encourage us to read what
Robert Greene has written—at least to understand the ambitions and anticipate the
intentions of the Jews.
