The Importance of the position & role held by the Mujaahideen in the Current International stage.
The important position and role held by the Mujaahideen in today’s International arena has been greatly undermined by the Muslim world. There are some, unfortunately, who will repeat claims that, “Jihaad [today] is a very, very small part of Islaam.” The problem with such a mentality is that it ignores the mammoth conflict that is occurring between truth and falsehood, belief and disbelief. It is a type of conflict which is deciding how the world will be shaped within the coming decades for our future generations.
The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wassallam, has said, “The head of the matter is Islaam, its pillar is Salaat, and its peak is jihaad.” [1] Indeed, there are many aspects to this noble Religion which hold great importance such as the Salaat, Hajj, Ramadan, Seeking Knowledge, Da’wah and so on. But the one thing which is unmatched in reward and in some circumstances, the greatest priority after Imaan [2], is the implementation of Jihaad against the enemies of Allah that are fighting us. When the enemies of the Religion gather around the Muslim lands like a plate of food, it is incumbent upon the Muslims to resist that pressure and slavery. [3]
What the Muslims in the West have failed to acknowledge is the “world stage” itself. The “world stage” is not limited to the borders of ‘Iraaq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Chechnya; rather, they extend all around the world and are essentially border-less. The battle takes us to the limitless boundaries of the “war of ideas” which can be campaigned anywhere from the Pentagon to a small mud house in Uzbekistan that has Internet access. This war is being fought with bombs, guns, rockets, websites, hackers, spies, forums, blogs and minbar’s. It is a massive battlefield which only accepts the victorious to wipe out every aspect of the opponent’s capabilities. In turn, future generations will be living off of the fruits of this war and present mankind – after the dust has settled – with the victorious system of life to live by. Today, it is Western Democracy based on a pseudo-Crusade for the sake of oil and Israel [4] put against the Islaamic Caliphate based on the Islaamic Religion for the sake of Allah [5]. Both sides wish to see its influence and power in the regions of the far earth, and both sides wish to see the people acknowledging their system.
In this globalized world of ours, it is nearly impossible to not be a part of the societal fabric that is affected by this “war on terror.” It is affecting nearly each and every single community either directly or indirectly. For a person to not have an opinion on this war is an insult to intelligence. Surely, the Muslim Communities in the West have an opinion on the war – some valid and some invalid – but overall, it is limited to the apparent injustices and atrocities of the Western Superpowers. A classic case one will find within the tea-drinking Pakistani dinner tables is the saying, “This war is unjust” and “Israel is…” and they give off the feeling of being betrayed and the hope is very shallow in most of these atmospheres. In addition to it, there is always wide ignorance portrayed by them regarding the status of the Mujaahideen around the world; for some reason, our Uncles think that we are still in the 80’s where the Muslim world was just beginning to find out its abilities in warfare. Sometimes, one would find themselves in the situation of explaining to them what an IED is – which clearly portrays their immense ignorance on the current global Jihaad – and then only to be shot down by them with their words, “The CIA has funded many of these groups… money was given to Usaamah bin Laadin by the Saudi Regime via the CIA…” Besides the weak verification process [6] and baseless rumors that they were fed from Newsweek and the Times, it is an abhorrent weakness to see such words coming out of a Muslim when the current day reality no longer reflects what was of the past.
The face of al-Qaa’idah has changed dramatically so, for instance. From being a movement of having a reputation of being slightly anti-US Government – more anti than the Afghans in the Soviet war – to a movement that is leading the slaughter of the soldiers of the US Government in different parts of the world. Now, various independent Jihaadi movements around the world have joined hands with them in that struggle from Libya, Algeria, Egypt, ‘Iraaq and other lands. Thus, it can be no longer argued that there is something fishy about the Usaamah and CIA connection when in reality, the only thing between the two is the sword.
In addition to the change from the past and how its reflection today is no longer the same mirror, the opinions of the Muslims have changed with time. The urge for Jihaad for the sake of Jihaad has ended with the conflict in Bosnia [7] and now the fruits of that experience and awareness of current day problems have modified and created modern-day Jihaad movements all across the world. The Jihaad from Algiers to the Philippines is now focused strictly on Jihaad for the Caliphate. We are seeing constant reports of the Shari’ah established in Mujahid-controlled areas and the number of Shari’ah courts increasing alongside. Giving such glad tidings to these ignorant Muslims usually ends up with them not believing in it full-heartedly or not having much hope in it; and this is due to the lack of Imaan.
With all of this in mind, how can the Western Muslims live in a bubble acting as if the “war on terror” is not a decisive battle? How is it that they downplay this battle and make their struggles in the local community seem greater? They become extremely upset upon seeing the Abu Ghraib photos yet they are not willing to confront this injustice due to their fear of losing their jobs; and many of them are the same ones who preach on the Friday pulpit that it is Allah who is Ar-Razzaaq (The Provider) and not your Company or Government. And even amongst these people are groups who say that their goal (of the organization) will eventually be met with Government disapproval, therefore the Muslims are told to have Sabr and to prepare themselves for extreme difficulty such as losing ones job, chaos in the family, etc. Yet, for the sake of the greater Islaamic good – which part of it is to speak the uncensored truth in front of the tyrant – is heavily shunned by these people; they put their organization’s agenda before the agenda of the Qur’aan and Sunnah.
Why is there an attitude of “seek knowledge of the religion and worldly affairs and seek understanding between the people of other faiths” yet when it comes to the affairs of those Mujaahideen that are turning the tables on the “war on terror,” destroying America militarily, economically and socially (through the use of media and sympathy with the oppressed) there is an attitude of “we are satisfied in our ignorance… those terrorists are hurting the image of Islaam.” Do these people not see that it is the Mujaahideen who will be from at-Taa’ifah al-Mansoorah [8] and not the Western Muslims who are satisfied in their openly ignorant criticisms of supporting the current Jihaad and the soldiers of Islaam?
The bubble that these Muslims live in is one of Wahn. It is the culture of hating death and loving wealth. By default, it is embedded into the minds of the Western people. People who hate death will never take risks to live a life that is constantly encircled and harassed by death. They don’t want to fling themselves into the spears of the enemies when they could be playing their PlayStation 3 or enjoying their favorite television show or sport whilst eating their favorite dinner meal. They don’t see a need nor have an urge to meet Allah. To meet Allah as soon as one can should be the dream of every believer; if this is not the intention of the Muslim, then it is Satan who is standing on the doorway of their hearts. The hadeeth of not wishing to meet one’s enemy is not even applicable here as some have tried to indulge in. [9]
Do we profess to love martyrdom the way our noble Sahaabah loved martyrdom? Or do we shun it in our meetings, give an alternative to it in our Khutbaat, and look down upon it in our annual conferences? Ishaaq bin Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqaas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that his father told him that ‘Abdullah bin Jahsh told him before the battle of Uhud: “Let’s go and make du’aa (supplications).” So they went aside and Sa’ad went first. He said: “O Allah if we meet our enemy tomorrow then let me face a tough fighter so I can fight him for your sake and he can fight me. Then let me defeat him and kill him.” ‘Abdullah then made his prayers: “O Allah let me face a tough fighter so I can fight him for your sake and he can fight me. Then let him kill me and after that cut my nose and ears. So when I meet You, You will ask me: “O Abdullah! Why were your nose and ears cut off?” I would reply: “They where cut off for Your sake and for Your Messenger” And then you would say: “Yes, you spoke the truth”. Ishaaq bin Sa’ad said: My father said: “O my son, the prayer of ‘Abdullah was better than mine. I found him the end of the day with his nose and ears tied in a string.” [10]
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[1] There are quite a few narrations of this hadeeth with varied levels of authenticity. The most authentic being the one narrated from at-Tirmidhi from Mu’aath ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, where the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wassallam, said, “Should I not inform you of the head of all of the matter, its pillar and tip and its camel hump?” I said, “Of Course, O Mesenger of Allah.” He said, “The head of the matter is Islaam, and its pillar is the Salaat, and the tip of its camel hump is Jihaad.” This narration was declared “Hassan Saheeh” by at-Tirmidhi in his “Jaami” #2616. It was declared “Saheeh” by Al-Albaanee in “Saheeh at-Tirmidhi” #2616. See “I’laam al-Muwaaqi’een” 4/259 by Ibn al-Qayyim, and “Saheeh ibn Maajah” #3224 by Al-Albaanee for more information.
[2] In reference to the saying from Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, “The first obligation after Imaan is the repulsion of the enemy aggressor who assaults the religion and the worldly affairs.” [Al-Fataawa al-Kubra 4/608]
[3] See the books: “Defense of the Muslim Lands: the first obligation after Imaan” by Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Yusuf ‘Azzam & “Fundamental Concepts Regarding al-Jihaad” by Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qaadir ibn ‘Abd al-’Azeez & “Mashari Al-Ashwaq Ila Masari Al-Ushaaq Wa Mutheer Al-Gharaam Ila Daar Assalaam” by Shaykh ibn an-Nuhaas; these three titles are considered to be amongst the most authentic and important Jihaad subject-related books by the ‘Ulema and Mujaahideen.
[4] See, “Forcing God’s Hand” by Grace Halsell and “Jerusalem in the Qur’aan” by Shaykh Imran Nazar Hosein.
[5] There are quite a few books, articles, statements and fataawa on the purpose of the Mujaahideen today; most of them being in Arabic. So an English book that would suffice is, “Are the Taliban from Ahl as-Sunnah?” by At-Tibyan Publications & an English-based documentary from the Mujaahideen that would suffice is, “State of the Ummah” by As-Sahab Media.
[6] It is a weak form of verifying the reality because it is a one-sided view empty of any verification from the other side (in this case, Usaamah bin Laadin). See the Qur’aan, 49:6
[7] That is not to say that the Muslim fighters did not want to establish a Caliphate or didn’t have it on their minds. Nay, it was even Bill Clinton who said in his autobiography that the US troops were sent to Bosnia because of the fear of having an Islaamic Caliphate in the Balkans. The struggle for it slowly diminished and the focus was on killing the enemies; this eventually spread to Chechnya and it was only recently when this mentality died there and the establishment of the “Islaamic Emirate of the Caucauses” revived the intention and goal for the Caliphate.
[8] The victorious group as prophesized by Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wassallam. See “Characteristics of the Victorious Party in the Foundation of the State of the Believers” by Shaykh Abu Qataadah al-Filistinee.
[9] And we will discuss its reasons in the upcoming article, “‘Do not wish to meet the enemy’ cannot be generalized“.
[10] Al-Haakim; authenticated by al-Thahabi.
