August 2nd: From Trial to Survival (3-3)

How did Kuwaitis preserve their state? From the Walls to Legitimacy… A Reading of the Sunan of National Cohesion: From Jahra to Liberation.

The strength of a state lies not merely in the land, resources, and institutions it possesses, but in the society it commands—a society that understands the meaning of belonging and recognizes that the preservation of the homeland is a shared responsibility. Protecting the state is not the exclusive duty of the authorities; rather, it is a legacy passed down through generations. States are not tested in times of prosperity; rather, hardships reveal the true nature of their foundation. Some societies fracture during calamities, thereby weakening themselves, while others unite in the face of danger, growing stronger and more steadfast. Among the divine laws governing the establishment and survival of states is unity around higher objectives, foremost among which are the preservation of religion, life, and the homeland. These are among the greatest causes of a state’s endurance and stability.

Ibn Khaldun alluded to this concept when he identified social cohesion and mutual support as key factors in the establishment and continuity of sovereignty. A state is not built by power alone, but by the will of a society that sees itself as a partner in its preservation. When reviewing Kuwaiti history, we find this principle present at pivotal moments, united by a single spirit: rallying around the homeland in times of danger and prioritizing the public interest above all else.

In 1920, Kuwait faced a significant threat in the Battle of Jahra. The true character of Kuwaiti society emerged; the people rallied around their leadership, united in defending their land, and realized that protecting the state was everyone’s responsibility. The construction of the Third Wall following these events was not merely a defensive project, but a symbol of a deeper meaning: when a society feels threatened, it transforms into a cohesive force. Kuwaitis participated in its construction according to their means, making the wall a witness to social unity and an embodiment of a special relationship between the homeland and its sons, based on responsibility and sacrifice.

The state, in building its modern institutions, recalled the early stages of national formation, including the 1920 phase, as part of the national memory in which the meanings of belonging and collective responsibility crystallized. In modern Kuwait, citizenship remains an inclusive framework for all Kuwaitis, founded on the Constitution and the rule of law, under which rights and duties are equal.

Time passed, and after approximately seven decades, Kuwait faced another distinct trial. In 1990, it was subjected to a brutal Iraqi invasion. The challenge was no longer about protecting borders or building walls around a city, but about preserving the state itself, maintaining its legitimacy, and safeguarding its political entity. Just as Kuwaitis rallied in 1920 around the construction of the wall, they rallied in 1990 around protecting legitimacy and restoring the state. The nature of the threat differed, but the national response remained the same: unity of purpose, adherence to the homeland, and rallying around legitimate leadership.

The occupation seized the territory, but the state did not fall; legitimacy endured, legitimate leadership continued to represent the state, institutions maintained their presence, and the international community continued to recognize Kuwait as a sovereign state until liberation was achieved. Domestically, Kuwaitis embodied the finest examples of resilience. Citizens stood firm in their national identity, rejecting attempts by the occupiers to erase Kuwait’s personality. Kuwaiti resistance emerged in various forms, with martyrs and prisoners falling, while networks of solidarity and cooperation among society’s members continued. Thus, clinging to identity and legitimacy became a daily act of resistance.

Abroad, Kuwaitis united behind their legitimate leadership. The Kuwaiti government continued to perform its constitutional functions, Kuwaiti diplomacy operated with competence, and Kuwaiti communities in various countries contributed to defending their nation’s cause. Consequently, Kuwait remained present in the international conscience as an occupied state that must fully reclaim its sovereignty.

The Jeddah Popular Conference in 1990 was a pivotal moment in this context. It embodied the unity of national will and affirmed that unity around legitimacy and prioritizing the supreme interest are among the greatest causes of overcoming crises. The unity of the people and leadership was the true wall that preserved the state until liberation. Just as the wall of 1920 protected the land, the unity of the people in 1990 protected the state and its legitimacy. The former was built of stone and clay; the latter was built of faith, awareness, loyalty, and mutual trust. Both expressed a single truth: whenever Kuwait faced danger, its sons united to preserve it.

The link between Jahra and Liberation is not a connection between two separate events, but between enduring national values. In the first, the challenge was protecting an emerging entity; in the second, it was protecting an established state from attempts to erase its existence. Both experiences proved that nations are not measured by the size of their crises, but by their ability to transform adversity into a source of strength and unity. Here lies one of the laws of state survival: a state that builds a relationship of trust between its leadership and its people during times of prosperity, strengthens its institutions, and instills a sense of national responsibility in its citizens, will find a reserve of loyalty and belonging during hardships that protects it from collapse.

The Quran succinctly captures this meaning with His statement: “And do not dispute, [ lest ] you lose courage and your power departs” (8:46). Dispute is a cause of weakness, while unity is a cause of strength. Thus, the Kuwaiti experience offers a profound lesson in the jurisprudence of states. Homelands are not preserved by hard power alone, but by possessing a national identity, constitutional legitimacy, mutual trust between the state and society, entrenched institutions, and citizens who believe that defending their homeland is a responsibility that does not end with the conclusion of crises.

Perhaps the greatest lesson derived from the transition from walls to legitimacy is that the tools for protecting the homeland change with the times, but the essence of protection remains constant. Yesterday, Kuwait needed a wall to protect its borders; today, it needs awareness to protect the minds of its sons, education to build the human being, institutions to safeguard the rule of law, and an economy that enhances national decision-making independence. Preserving this legacy is not the responsibility of a single generation, but an amanah (trust) passed down through generations. Every era has its wall, and every generation has its duty. States are not preserved by the height of walls alone, but by the height of awareness; they are protected not merely by the expanse of land, but by the continuity of loyalty in the hearts of their sons.

From walls to legitimacy, and from Jahra to Liberation, Kuwait remains a testament that the greatest fortresses of homelands are not made of stone, but of people who believe in their homeland, legitimate leadership, entrenched institutions, and unshakable national unity.

Summary:

1. The survival of states relies on the unity of legitimacy, social cohesion, and the entrenchment of national identity.

2. The Kuwaiti wall following the 1920 Jahra events symbolized societal solidarity and the acceptance of responsibility to protect the homeland.

3. The modern state was founded on citizenship, the Constitution, and the rule of law.

4. In 1990, the challenge shifted from protecting the land to protecting the state and its legitimacy.

5. Kuwaitis, both domestically and abroad, preserved their cause until liberation was achieved.

6. The Kuwaiti experience confirms that trust between leadership and the people, along with strong institutions, is the state’s safety valve.

7. The wall of the modern era is the building of human capital and the enhancement of awareness and national identity.

8. Reading history is extracting the sunan of national cohesion to shape the future.

Dr. Abdul Hamid Khalifa Al-Shaiji