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PART TWO: O'ISLAM! O' Muslims! Peace be
upon you and the Mercy of Allah and His Blessings. The enormous sacrifices apportioned to the Afghan
Muslim people are no secret to you. To date,
nine years and some have passed since the start of the illustrious revolution
against the Communist invasion. During this
time, the Muslims in Afghanistan have endured as much as mortals can endure
in the course of protecting their religion, honour and children. Not a single house remains in Afghanistan which
has not been transformed into a funeral home or an orphanage. These people have an excuse before Allah, and
have called to Allah to bear witness, on the basis of their skulls, cripples,
souls and blood, that there has not remained a single arrow in the bow,
and the arrows of the quiver have almost broken through. Through the course of this long period of time,
the Afghans had expectations of their Muslim brethren in case their numbers
became decreased, and also so that the Muslim brotherhood could be aroused
in their midst. Yet, until now, the Muslims
have not heeded their call. In the ears of the
Muslims is a silence, rather than the cries of anguish, the screams of virgins,
the wails of orphans and the sighs of old men. Many
well-off people have deemed it sufficient to send some of the scraps from
their tables and crumbs from their food. But the situation is more serious, and gravely
momentous, and the Muslims in Afghanistan are in severe distress and definite,
menacing peril. This blessed Jihad was established
by a handful of youths who were nurtured in Islam, and by a group of scholars
who devoted themselves to Allah. However, most
of this first generation has fallen in martyrdom, and the second generation
has advanced. This second generation has not
been fortunate enough to receive the same share of upbringing and guidance,
and has not come across an outstretched hand showing an interest in teaching
and training them. Such people are in dire need
of somebody who can live amongst them to direct them toward Allah and teach
them religious regulations. According to our modest experience and knowledge,
we believe that Jihad in the present situation in Afghanistan is individually
obligatory (Fard Ain), with one's self and wealth as has been confirmed
by the jurists of the four schools
of Islamic jurisprudence, without any exception. Along
with them, the same opinion has been given by the majority of exegetes
(scholars of Tafseer), hadith-scholars and scholars of religious principles
(Usool). Ibn Taymiyyah said 48, "When the enemy wants to attack the
Muslims, defence becomes obligatory on all those upon whom the attack is
intended, and on others besides them, just as Allah has said,
(translated) 'And if they seek your help in the matter
of religion, then
you must help them " [Quran 8:72] This is
just as the Prophet (SAWS) has ordered the individual to help Muslims,
whether or not he has been recruited for fighting.
It is obligatory on every individual according to his capability
and wealth, little or plenty, whether walking or riding. When the enemy proceeded towards the Muslims in
the Battle of the Trench, Allah did not excuse anybody.
The texts of the four juristic schools are explicit and definite
in this respect, and leave no room for interpretation, ambiguity or uncertainty. Ibn Abidin,
the Hanafi scholar says 50: "Jihad is Fard Ain when the enemy has attacked
any of the Islamic heartland,
at which point it becomes Fard Ain on those closest to the enemy ...
As for those beyond them, at some distance ftom the enemy,
it is Fard Kifayah for them unless they are needed The need
arises when those closest to the enemyfail to counter the
enemy, or if they do notfail but are negligent and fail
to perform Jihad In that case it becomes obligatory on those around them Verdicts in the same vein were issued also by the Hanafi scholars Al-Kasani 51, Perhaps some people find justification for themselves for avoiding Jihad by the fact that many of the Afghans are not at an acceptable level of Islamic upbringing, and they therefore make excuses for themselves, on the basis of some irregularities, to sit back. But the refutation of this is that the jurists have documented that it is obligatory to perform Jihad even with an extremely sinful army. This is one of the principles of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamah, "to perform Jihad with every pious and sinful man ", for Allah will support this religion through a sinful man, and by means of disgraceful people who have no morals. This is in fact the way of the prime of the Unimah, of recent as well as of old. In fact, to abstain from fighting behind one's leaders, even if they are corrupt, or with a highly unrighteous army, is the practice of the Hururiyyah (one of the sects of the Khawarij) and their like; people who adopt the way of vain cautiousness emanating from lack of knowledge. 57 Some others excuse themselves by claiming that their presence in their country is necessary for the purpose of education and upbringing. For such people, we present the words of Az-Zuhri: "Saeed bin Al-Musayyib went out to battle at the point where he had lost the use of one of his eyes. He was told, Allah has summonedforth the light and the heavy. So if I cannot fight, I will swell the ranks and guard belongings. So, whose position and job can measure up to the rank of the Master of the The jurists used to rule, as has been reported in Al-Bazzaziyyah, that, "If a Muslim woman is captured in the West, it is obligatory on the people of the East to rescue her." What then would our scholars say about the thousands of women who are being raped in their homes? How would they respond to the women who cast themselves in the Kunar River in Laghman, fleeing from rape at the hands of the Red Army, in order to guard their chastity? (It is not permissible for a woman, by the agreement of scholars, to surrender to captivity if she fears for her modesty.) Do you not fear that your turn may come, and that the matter will concern your own honour? Abu Dawud narrates on the authority of Jabir 59: "There is no man who forsakes another Muslim man in a situation in which his honour is being disparaged and his respect is being violated, except that Allah willforsake him in a position in which he would like to be helped Nor is there anybody who helps a Muslim in a situation where his honour is being disparaged and his respect is being violated, except that Allah will help him in a position where he would like to be helped So fear Allah with regard to your honour. Hibban bin Musa says: "We went out for ribat 60 to Syria with Ibn Al-Mubarak. When he saw how the people were worshipping, making battle and sending out expeditions every day, he turned to me and said, 'We belong to Allah and to Him shall we return. Alasfor the part of our lives that we have spent, andfor the nights and This is Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak, who used to perform ribat for two months or more every year - leaving aside his trade and the lessons of hadith and going out for ribat - bewailing the fact that he has not performed ribat all his life, and that he has occupied himself with leaming instead. What then should those who have not fired a single shot in the Path of Allah, say? When the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) was afflicted with his terminal illness, he did not let it prevent him from reminding the Companions to dispatch the mission of Usama bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him). When Abu Bakr As-Siddiq tried to dispatch Usamah's expedition, the Companions attempted dissuade him from his resolution, whereupon he uttered the famous words 61 : "By He beside Whom there is no god! Even if the dogs rove around the feet of the wives of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS), I will not turn back an army which has been sent out by the Messenger of Allah (SAWS). And Allah willed that the final advice of the Companion of the Messenger of "Listen, Umar! I am telling you, and so act upon it afterwards, for I believe that I shall die today (and that day was Monday); so if I die today, do not let the evening reach you without having taken over leadership of the people, and if I live till the night, do not let morning reach you without having taken over leadership of the people. Let not a calamity, great as it may be, distract you from matters pertaining to your religion, and the advice of your Lord. You saw me at the death of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS), and surely creation has never suffered such a misfortune. By Allah! If I were to delay in executing an order of His Messenger, Allah would forsake us, and afflict us with punishment and Madinah would be set ablaze." Indeed, Abu Bakr, the best of men after the Prophet (SAWS), felt that delay in enforcing the command of Allah and the command of His Messenger (SAWS) in going out for Jihad was liable to invite destruction and loss. This is the Book of Allah making judgement between us, and the Sunnah of His Messenger (SAWS) speaking and testifying before us, and the way of the Companions in their understanding of the importance of Jihad in this religion. Do we then have any comment on these ample, plain, clear, decisive, mutawatir 63 texts? The villain has reached the depths of the Muslim women's chamber - shall we then leave him be? Shall we allow him to violate honours, spoil values and uproot principles? Perhaps a woman might utter, 'O'Multasim!' And such cries fill the mouths of the orphans. Her cry has reached the ears of the people, But she has not touched the dignity of (any like) Al-Mu'tasim. The Russians have taken 5200 Afghan Muslim children to rear them on the Communist ideology, and to sow heresy deep within them. The Americans have confirmed the opening of six hundred schools, and they are maintaining, educating and raising 150,000 Afghan children inside and outside the country. Where then are the propagators of Islam? Where are the Muslim educators and what have they prepared for saving this Muslim generation and for safeguarding this great and blessed people? The jurists have documented that the lands of the Muslims are like a single land, so that whichever region of the Muslims' territory is exposed to danger, it is necessary that the whole body of the Islamic Ummah rally together to protect this organ which is exposed to the onslaught of the microbe. What is the matter with the scholars, that they do not arouse the youths for Jihad, especially since arousal is compulsory? ("And arouse the believers (to fight). [Quran 4:841] What is the matter with the propagators that they do not dedicate a year of their lives to live amongst the Mujahideen, giving guidance and direction? What is the matter with the students that they do not take a year off from their studies in order to attain the distinction of Jihad, and contribute with their own selves to the establishment of Allah's religion on Earth? "They are content to be among those who remain behind (eg. women, children, etc.), and their hearts have been sealed from all good and guidance, so that they do not comprehend. However, the Messenger and those who believe with him perform Jihad with their possessions and their lives; they are the ones r whom there are blessings and reward, and they are the successful ones." [Quran 9:87- 881 What is the matter with the Imams, that they do not sincerely advise those who seek counsel from them regarding going out with blood and soul in the Path of Allah? For how long will the believing youths be held back and restrained from Jihad? These youths, whose hearts are burning with a fire, spurting forth enthusiasm, and blazing with zeal that their pure blood may irrigate the earth of the Muslims. The one whoforbids a young man from Jihad is no different from the one who forbids him from Prayer and Fasting. Does the one who forbids people from Jihad not fear that he falls under the implication (albeit indirectly) of the noble verse in which Allah says, (translated): "Perhaps Allah knows those among you who restrain others (from fighting in Allah's Cause), and those who say to their brethren, 'Come to us,'while they come not to the battle except a little, being miserly towards you. Then, when fear comes, you see them looking towards you, their eyes rolling like one over whom hovers death. Then, when the fear departs, they will smite What is the matter with the mothers, that one of them does not send forward one of her sons in the Path of Allah, that he might be a pride for her in this World and a treasure for her in the Hereafter through his intercession? And what is the matter with the fathers that they do not urge one of their sons, so What is the matter with the Muslims that they do not record some days of frontier-guarding, and some hours of battle in the books of their deeds and the chronicles of their virtues? It has been confirmed in an authentic hadith narrated by Muslim on the authority of Salman that 64 : "Guarding the frontier for a day in the Path of Allah is better than the fasting and prayer of a month." And in a hasan hadith by At-Tinnidhi on the authority of Uthman 65 "Guarding the frontier for a day in the Path of Allah is better than a thousand days spent in other abodes, during which the nights are spent in prayer and the days infasting." And in the authentic hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi 66: "Standing for an hour in the ranks of battle is better than standing (in prayer) for sixty years." O' brothers of Islam! Come, therefore, to the defence of your religion, the victory of your Lord, and the elevation of the way of your Prophet! Beloved brother! Draw your sword, climb onto the back of your horse and wipe the blemish off your Ummah. If you do not assume this responsibility, then who will? Kind brother! The dream of disgrace has gone on long enough Where, then, is the roar of lions? The party of the small birds have become eagle-like And we are under the subjugation of slaves - The subjugation of slaves out of submissiveness And not as a result of military defeat. Dear brother! "Surely, in their stories is a moral for intelligent people." [Quran 12:111] So, the bloody tale of Bukhara, the narrative of mutilated Palestine, blazing Aden, enslaved peoples, the sorry stories of Spain, the terrible accounts of Eritrea, sore Bulgaria, the tragedy of Sudan, the devastated remnants of Lebanon, Somalia, Bunna, Caucasia and its deep wounds, Uganda, Zanzibar, Indonesia, Nigeria ... All these slaughters and tragedies are the best lesson for us. Will we take admonishment from the past before we lose the present? Or will history repeat itself over us while we swallow degradation, fall into oblivion as those before us did, and lose just as they lost? We hope that Allah defeats the Russians in Afghanistan, and that the Muslims do not turn back on their heels in failure. If the latter occurs, then I wish I knew what catastrophe will befall the Muslims. Abu Dawud has reported, with a strong chain of narration, on the marfu' authority of Abu Umamah, "Whoever did not go outfor Jihad, nor helped equip a fighter, nor treated a "Surely, therein is a reminderfor anybody with a heart, or who listens while bearing witness (to the truth)." [Quran 50:37] Have I not conveyed the message? O' Allah, bear witness then! Have I not conveyed the message? O' Allah, bear witness then! Have I not conveyed the message? O' Allah, bear witness then! 68 |