My Dearest Najiyya

Ghazi Anwar Pasha’s Last Letter to his wife Ghazi Anwar Pasha was from amongst those great Mujahideen of Turkey who had spent all his life fighting against the enemies of Islam. Eventually he was martyred by the Russians. Only a day prior to this he sent a letter to his wife, Najiya Sultana. This letter was published by her in the Turkish newspapers, and after being transferred was published by her in the newspapers in India on the 22 April 1923.My Dearest Najiyya,

This letter is so touching and thought provoking that every young man should read it. An inspiring account of Mujahideen from the Ottaman period.

 

My life companion and fountain of happiness and joy dearest Najiya. The Almighty Allah is your guardian. Your last letter is in front of me at this moment. Believe me, this letter of yours will always be close to my heart. I cannot see your face but in between the lines and words of your letter I can see your beautiful fingers which used to play with my hair in the dark interior of tent, occasionally your picture fills my eyes. Alas, you write that I have forgotten you and that i do not care for your love.

You say that I have broken your loving heart and playing with fire and blood in a distant forsaken and I am unmindful of a woman who spends the night anxiously counting the stars.

You also say that I like war and my sword. But little did you realise when writing these words of yours, which undoubtedly were written with sincerity, out of deep love and devotion for me, will my heart.! How can I convince you [words are inadequate] that there is no one dearer to me in this world than you. You are the culmination of all my love and affection. I have never loved anyone before but you have stolen my heart.

Then what has separated me from You? O the joy of my heart! You can ask this question in a proper manner. Listen! I am not away from you because I desire material gains of wealth nor is it because I wish to establish a kingdom or throne for myself as my enemies have publicly intimated. The only reason that I am away from you is that Allah’s Obligatory Command has brought me here [battlefield] There is no greater fardh of Allah than Jihad Fi Sabilillah{to fight in the path of Allah}. It is this command of Allah, the intention of fulfilling it entitles a person a place in Jannah.

Alhumdulillah I not only have the intention to fulfil this command but am actively carrying it out in the battlefield.

Your absence{judai} , like an arrow is cutting my heart into pieces every moment. Notwithstanding this I am happy in this separation as it is your true love, and your love which is the greatest test, a challenge to my intention and resolution of fighting in the path of Allah Subhanu Wata’aala.

I thank Allah Ta’ala a thousand times that I have been victorious in this test and have been successful in putting Allah’s love and command before my live, love and the pleasure of my desire{nafs} . You also, my darling must thank Allah Ta’ala and be happy that your husband possesses such a strong Emaan that he can ever sacrifice your love for the love of Allah.

Although Jihad with the sword is not compulsory on you, my love lest you are not exempted from it, no muslim male or female is exempted from Jihad. Your Jihad is that you must put Allah’s love before your love and pleasure and you must make the bond of love between your husband and you stronger.

Look, never ever pray that your husband must come safe and sound from the battlefield into your loving arms. This prayer is selfish and Allah will not be pleased. Rather let your prayer be this, that Allah accept the Jihad of your husband and bring him back successfully otherwise let his lips imbibe the cup of martyrdom. These lips you know my darling have never been touched or dirtied by alcohol, but have always been kept busy with reciting the Holy Qur’an and hymming the glory and praises of Allah Subhanu Wata’aalah.

Dearest Najiya! How blessed will that moment be when in the path of Allah this head which you affectionately called beautiful will be separated from the body which in your eyes was not a soldier’s body but a beloved’s body!

Anwar’s greatest wish is to be martyred and be judged on the day of Qiyammah with Hadrat Khalid bin Waleed {R.A.}, This world is a temporary one, Death will definitely come, Then why fear death? If death is definite, then why should a man die lying on a bed? Death in the path of Allah is not death but indeed life everlasting life.

Najiayya listen to my will! If I am martyred you must marry by brother Noori Pasha. After you, the dearest peron to me is Noori. It is my wish that after my demise he will faithfully care for you during your lifetime. My next wish is that all the children you bear tell them about my life and send all of them to the battlefield of Jihad for Islam. Remember if you do not fulfil this wish of mine, I will be angry with you in Jannah.

Farewell, my dearest! I don’t know why my inner feelings tell me that after this letter I will never be able to write another lettter to you. It is no wonder that I may be martyred tomorrow.

Look! make sabr, on my death be happy and do not mourn, because my death in the path of Allah is an honour for you. Najiyya! I beg leave of you and in the world of thought I am embracing you.

Insha’Allah we will meet in Jannah and thereafter we will never part.

Your Anwar,
*Ghazi Anwar Pasha was martyred the following day*

Short Biography of Ibn al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyya

691AH – 751 AH (1292- 1350 CE )

  Sham Al-din  Muhammad Ibn Abi Bakr, Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya. He was born in a small farming village near Damascus, Syria in 691 A.H/.1292 C.E, and he studied under his father who was the local attendant (qayyim) of al-Jawziyya school. Later on, he pursued his quest for knowledge at the hands of renowned masters and scholars of his epoch, as well as he studied the works and teachings of sufi masters known in his time. His schooling centered around Islamic jurisprudence, theology, and the science of prophetic traditions.
In the year 712/ 1312 at the age of 21 he  joined the study circle of Imam Ibn Taimiyyah who kept him in his company as his closest student and disciple, who later on became his successor.

Ibn al-Qayyim was fervent in his devotion to his teacher, and he was an excellent student and disciple of the great Muslim scholar Imam Taqiyyu-Deen Ahmad Ibn Taimiyyah. He defended his religious opinions and approaches, and he compiled and edited most of his works, and taught the same.

Because of their perception and opinions, both the teacher and the student were unjustly persecuted, tortured, and humiliated in public by the local authorities then, and they were imprisoned in a single cell, while other disciples were kept separate in the central prison of Damascus, still known to-date as al-Qal‘a. Among the imprisoned scholars, there also was a young man named Ibn Kathïr  who later on became as the most renowned Muslim scholar and compiler of the most comprehensive Qur’anic commentaries ‘Tafsïr Ibn Kathïr.’

Upon the death of Imam Ibn Taimiyyah, the disciples were set free from prison, and Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya furthered his studies, and held study circles and classes for his own students. Ibn Jawziyya taught Islamic Jurisprudence at al-Sadriyya school, in Damascus, before he held the position of the Imam of the Jawziyya school for a long period. Most of his writings were compilations, although he authored several books himself, and manuscripts with his own handwriting are preserved today in the central Library of Damascus.

In fact, it was considered an honor and a privilege to study in his circle. Among the renowned Muslim scholars who studied under him, we mention Ibn ‘Abd al-Hãdï  and Ibn Rajab  and others who oft-frequented his circles, and sought his company, such as Imam Ibn Kathïr.
Most scholars of the time have acknowledged the author’s excellence, and profound knowledge of Qur’anic interpretation, commentaries on the prophetic traditions, and theology. His extensive knowledge and understanding of Qur’anic commentaries surpassed even some renowned theologians in Islamic history.

Ibn Kathïr spoke of him in his book ‘Al-Bidãya wa-’Nihãya, saying: “He was most friendly and kindhearted, he never envied anyone, he never caused harm to anyone, he never bore prejudice against anyone, and I was the closest to his heart. Furthermore, I do not know anyone who is more devout in his worship than him in our time.” A similar opinion also was quoted by Ibn Hijr.

Ibn al-Qayyim catered to all the branches of Islamic science, and was particularly known and commended for his commentaries. Al-Hãfiz Ibn Rajab spoke of his teacher, saying: “He was an  accomplished scholar of Islamic science, and no one could rival him in his deep understanding of the Qur’an and prophetic saying, and his interpretations were unique in accuracy.”

Ibn Rajab narrated that his teacher Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya learned the science of prophetic sayings (Hadïth) from al-Shahãb al-Nãbulsi, Qãdhï Taqiyyu-Deen Sulaimãn, and Fãtima Bint Jawhar, among others. During his early student life, Imam Ibn al-Qayyim sought the company of most shaikhs of his period, and he was particularly proficient in interpreting the Hanbali Muslim school of thoughts.
 

His Spiritual Life

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya was an avid and a resolute worshipper. He devoted long hours to his supererogatory nightly prayers, he was in a constant state of remembrance (zikr), and he was known for his extended prostrations. One could see on his face the clear expressions of piety, and constant solicitation of God’s bounty and favors.

During Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya’s imprisonment in al-Qal‘a prison in Damascus, he was constantly reading the Qur’an, and studying its meanings. Ibn Rajab noted that during that period of seclusion, he gained extensive spiritual success, as well as he developed a great analytical wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the prophetic traditions.

Upon his release, he performed the pilgrimage to Mecca several times, and sometimes he stayed in Mecca for a prolonged period of devotion and circumambulation of the holy Ka‘aba.
 

His Works

Al-Nu‘mãn al-Alüsï al-Baghdãdï once said: “His interpretations are unique in accuracy.” The renowned Muslim scholar al-Thahabi once said about him: “He gave great attention to details and references of the prophetic traditions.” Furthermore, Shaikh Burhãn al-Deen al-Zãri’ spoke of him saying: “No one is as cognizant as Ibn al-Qayyim was in his time.”

Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya’s contributions to the Islamic library are extensive, and they particularly deal with the Qur’anic commentaries, and understanding and analysis of the prophetic traditions (fiqh-u Sunnah).

He compiled a large number of studies besides his own books, including: 

1- Tahthïb Sunan Abi Dãwoud (Emendation of Sunan Abi Dãwoud); 2- Al-Kalãm al-Tayyib wa-al-‘Amal al-Sãlih (The Essence of Good Words and Deeds); 3- Commentaries on the book of Shaikh ‘Abdullãh al-Ansãri: Manãzil-u Sã’ireen (Stations of the Seekers), which is considered the epitome of knowledge of sufi books; and, Zãd al-Ma‘ãd (Provisions of the Hereafter), from which this book on the medicine of the prophet is extracted, besides other manuscripts copied with his own handwriting, and which are preserved in the Central Library in Damascus, Syria.

Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya died in the city of Damascus the year 751 AH/1350 C.E.,when he was scarcely 60 years old, and was buried  at the cemetery of Bab- al-Saghir, near the grave of  his father – Rahimahuma Allah

Dua Request for Our Beloved Shaykh ‘Ali at-Tamimi

The following is a forwarded message from Sister Ziyana al-Rawahi, Shaykh ‘Ali at-Tamimi’s wife:

Dear brothers:

Assalamu alaikum:

Inshallah you had a nice Ramadan and Eid holiday with your families.

I would like to let you know that there is a hearing on Ali’s behalf on October 23 Inshaallah. As the lawyer stated there will be two classified motions to address and the Judge will have to will have to decide whether she is going to order serious relief in the case. The hearing will be closed to the public.

Please spread and make dua.

Salam,

Ziyana

You can learn more about the Shaykh and his case here: http://freeali.wordpress.com/

Elmhurst College rallies in support of Our Muslim Sister attacked by masked Kafir

By Gerry Smith and Russell Working | Chicago Tribune reporters

October 12, 2008

Tensions that had been boiling at Elmhurst College spilled over this week amid reports that a Muslim student had been physically assaulted by a masked gunman.

The 19-year-old sophomore said she was hit with a gun in a bathroom in the college’s science center Thursday night, authorities said. Anti-Muslim graffiti was written on the wall, authorities said, similar to a threat written on the same student’s locker the week before that said: “Die Muslims, Rid us of your filth.”

As officials at the private college affiliated with the United Church of Christ on Friday called the incident a hate crime, hundreds of students rallied to show solidarity with their Muslim peers, who are about 25 of the school’s 3,300 students.

Elmhurst police are investigating, but declined to comment. Friends said the student had hired a lawyer, who did not return calls for comment.

 

A college spokesman said authorities have not found any witnesses of the attacker, who was described by the woman as a 5-foot-8 male wearing a mask and gloves.

The woman’s father said Friday that she said the gunman asked her: ” ‘Now who is going to protect you?’ ” He said his daughter replied: ” ‘God will protect me. . . . You can kill me, but you cannot take my soul.’ “

Students have reported tensions on campus since students held a Sept. 18 rally to protest the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, and several witnesses reported that three female Muslim students, including the woman who reported the attack, were harassed and verbally threatened.

Since then, “it’s all kind of spiraled out of control,” said Soofia Ahmed, president of the Muslim Students Association.

After students were outraged by the graffiti on the woman’s locker, they staged a second rally Thursday, and the woman read a poem she had written about the events. Afterward, she said she was attacked.

“This is a blow against our entire community,” Elmhurst College President Alan Ray told students at Friday’s rally.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-elmhurst-folo-both-11oct12,0,129065.story

Two Suitors Seeking to Marry the Same Girl

The Prophet (peace be upon him) disapproved of two persons competing with one another to secure marriage with the same girl. This is because such a situation is likely to develop bitter enmity between two Muslim brothers.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

 

“A believer is a brother of a believer. Hence it is not lawful for him to bargain upon the bargain of a brother, nor propose for (the hand of a girl) after the marriage proposal of his brother, until the latter (voluntarily) withdraws the proposal.”

Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafi’i, and Imam Malik, all hold the view that it is a sin to put a proposal of marriage against the proposal of another Muslim brother. However, if a marriage is contracted in this wrongful way it will be sufficient if the second suitor who was successful seeks the forgiveness of the first suitor and of Allah. But Imam Dhahiri considers such a marriage void. It is respectfully submitted that the former view is more rational and sound.

Benefits of Dates

All the prophet’s (Peace be upon him) kindness on his nation is shown in Dates and in recommending­ them as he explained the useful things even in such matters.

The benefits and utilities of dates are shown as some doctors mentioned the benefits of Iftar on Dates and said: (starting Iftar with dates has a lot of healthy and nutritional benefits, some of these benefits are:

Dates are easy to digest so they don’t exhaust the fasting person stomach.

Dates decrease the great hunger feeling of the fasting person and so he doesn’t rush into excessive food eating which causes digestion disorders.

Dates prepare the stomach to receive the food after being inactive through out the day with activating the release of digestive secretions and juices.

Dates are very rich with sugary energy and so the body is supplied with the most important nutrients which is sugar that is irreplaceabl­e as a nutrient for the brain cells and nerves.

Dates protect the fasting person from having constipation­ as a result of changing meals times or as a result of having low fiber amounts in meals.

The alkaline salts in dates adjust the acidity of blood which result from excessivenes­s eating of meat and carbohydrate­s which causes a lot of hereditary diseases as diabetes, gout, renal stones, gall bladder inflammation­s, high blood pressure and hemorrhoids)­.

The research of date’s benefits, prepared by nutrition department of hospitals administrati­on in the health ministry in Kuwait

Fasting in the Month of Shawwal

Abu Ayyoub reported that the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam said

“Whoever fasts the month of Ramadhan and then follows it by fasting six days during the month of Shawwal will be rewarded as if he had fasted the entire year.”

[Muslim, at-Tirmithi, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood and Ahmad by way of Jabir].

Brotherhood- characteristics of a Muslim

The believers are commanded to preserve the spirit of brotherhood and friendship and to avoid anything that may induce enmity and hatred. As Allah said:

“The believers are nothing else than brothers” [Qur`an, 49:10] and

“Shaytan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from Salat. So will you not abstain?” [Qur`an 5:91]

Allah has also granted the believers a favour by joining their hearts. He said:

“And remember Allah’s favour upon you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together so that by His Grace you became brethren.” [Qur`an 3:103]

Further, He said:

“He it is Who has supported you with His help and with the believers and He has united their hearts. If you had spent all that is in earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah has united them.” [Qur`an 8:62-63]

Every Mukallaf (competent person in control of all faculties) should safeguard his tongue against all kinds of loose talk, except when it is evident that talking will be a means of beneficence. When talking and being quiet are both equal as a prudent measure, then the Sunnah is to abstain from speech.

Abu Hurairah (Radhiallahu `anhu) reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu `Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: “Whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak what is good or be silent.” (Agreed upon)

Imam Shafi`ee said: “If a person wishes to say something then he should think before he starts talking. If there is good, then he should speak, otherwise he should not.”

Sayings Of The Salaf

· Bakr Bin `Abdullah is reported to have said: “Always do something where if you do it and you’re right then you will be rewarded and if you are wrong, you will not be punished. And avoid doing something where if you are right, you will not be rewarded and if you are wrong, you will be punished.” They asked: “What is that thing?” He said: “Ill suspicions of people; if you are right, you will not be rewarded; but if you are wrong, you are sinners.”

· Muhammad Bin Ka`b was asked what qualities are low and not fitting for a believer. He said: “Talking too much, uncovering the secret and accepting the sayings of everyone.”

· A man said to `Amr Bin `Ubaid, “A man has been saying bad things about you.” `Amr said to him: “Listen! You have not honoured the sitting in this man’s company because you conveyed to me his speech. Further, you did not consider brotherly rights when you informed me what I dislike about my brother. But inform him that we all are dying. The grave will surround us all and the Day of Resurrection will collect all of us and Allah will judge amongst us; He is the best of judges.”

· Luqman said to his son: “My son, I admonish you with qualities that if you hold to, you will always be honoured as the head of your people: Be good (have good manners) with the near and far; do not lose your temper with the respected people; protect your brothers and their honour; and join your kin. Have your brothers and relatives trust about you that you would not accept any tales from any person who intends to deceive you and corrupt the relationships. Take friends in a way that if you leave them, you will not say bad about them, neither will they say bad about you.”

Form the Muwatta of Imam Malik

Yahya related to me from Malik that Muadh ibn Jabal said, “The last advice the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, gave me when I put my foot in the stirrup was that he said, ‘Make your character good for the people, Muadh ibn Jabal!’ Book 47, Number 47.1.1

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Ali ibn Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Part of the excellence of a man’s Islam is that he leaves what does not concern him.” Book 47, Number 47.1.3

Yahya related to me from Malik that Yahya ibn Said said that he heard Said ibn al-Musayyab say, “Shall I tell you what is better than much prayer and sadaqa?” They said, “Yes.” He said, “Mending discord. And beware of hatred – it strips you (of your deen).” Book 47, Number 47.1.7

The traps of Iblees

Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah

It is not possible to encompass one of Iblees’ evils, let alone all of them. Since Iblees’ evil is of six types, Iblees remains behind the son of Adam until he gets him to do one or more of these six evils.

THE FIRST EVIL IS THE EVIL OF KUFR AND SHIRK and enmity to Allaah (SWT) and His Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). If he gains this from the son of Adam, his moaning is eased, and he rests from his ordeal with this man. Further, this is the first thing Iblees wants from the worshipper (al-’Abd). If Iblees gains this, he makes this person part of his army, one of his soldiers, and he appoints him as a deputy or agent against other human beings. Then, this person becomes one of the deputies or callers of Iblees.

If he despairs of enticing him with the first evil, and if this person is one of those for whom it was written that he would be a Muslim in his mother’s womb, Iblees tries the SECOND CLASS OF EVIL.

This is BID’AH (innovation). Iblees loves Bid’ah more than debauchery and disobedience because the harm of Bid’ah is in the essence of the religion. Moreover, it is an unrepentable sin and is against the call of the messengers and is a call to a message different from the one conveyed by Ar-Rasool. Bid’ah is a gate to Kufr and Shirk. Therefore, if Iblees gains the performance of Bid’ah from a person and makes him one of the people of Bid’ah, he also becomes one of his agents and a caller of his.

If Iblees fails and is unable to trap Al-’Abd at this class, and if he is one of those who were granted by Allaah (SWT) the gift of As-Sunnah and hatred of the people of Bid’ah and error, he proceeds to the THIRD CLASS OF EVIL, which is the class of MAJOR SINS in their various forms.

Iblees is very covetous of letting a person fall into major sin, especially if he is a scholar who is followed. Iblees is covetous of that, so that he may repel people from him and spread his sins and disobedience amongst the people. He uses some people as his agents to spread this person’s sins under the false pretence that this will help them to get closer to Allaah. But in fact this person is the deputy of Iblees without knowing it. For those who would like abomination to be spread amongst the believers there is a great torment in this life and in the Hereafter especially if they take charge of spreading about enormities, not out of advice, but by obeying Iblees and being his agent. All this is to repel people from the Scholar and from his benefit.

Furthermore, the sins of this person (scholar), even if they reach the sky, are less to Allaah (SWT) than the sins of those who would like to spread his sins about. The scholar’s sins are wrongdoing to himself. If he seeks forgiveness from Allaah (SWT) and repents, Allaah (SWT) will accept his repentance, and He will change his bad deeds to good deeds. However, the sin of those who spread about abominations are doing wrong to the believers by looking for their mistakes and by intending to expose them. Allaah (SWT) is in close observation, and He knows about this ambuscade. Nothing hidden in the chest or soul is hidden to Allaah (SWT).

If Iblees is unable to snare Al-’Abd at this degree he moves him to the FOURTH CLASS, or the MINOR SINS. These sins may ruin a person if they accumulate. That is why Ar-Rasool (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, Be aware of the minor sins, because the simile of the minor sin is like the people who went to a desert. Then he (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) mentioned a Hadeeth the meaning of which is that every one of them brought a stick of wood until they had kindled a huge fire (just as the minor sins add up little by little until they become a major sin). The person continues taking the matter of minor sins easily until he considers them inconsequential. Therefore, a person who commits major sins but fears their effect is in a better condition than he is.

If the Al-’Abd has prevented Iblees from trapping him at this level, he moves him to the fifth level. The FIFTH LEVEL IS TO OCCUPY HIM WITH PERMISSIBLE THINGS that do not gain him reward or punishment. However, the punishment of this level is caused by passing the reward missed by being occupied with these deeds.

If Al-’Abd has kept Iblees from succeeding at this level, and if he is careful about his time, being covetous with it, knows the value of moments, and knows the value of what comes of comfort or torment, Iblees transfers him to the sixth level. The SIXTH CLASS is to OCCUPY HIM WITH DEEDS OF LESSER REWARD to keep virtue away from him and to prevent him from attaining the reward of the favoured deed.

Therefore, he orders him to do a good action with less reward if that includes leaving a better action. Very few people are aware of this. Because if a person feels a strong urge to some kind of obedience, he does not doubt that it is true obedience and that he is getting closer to Allaah (SWT).. He never thinks that this call is from Iblees because he believes that Iblees never calls one to do good. Therefore, he thinks that this call is from Allaah (SWT).. Actually he is excused because he never knew that Iblees would call one to seventy doors of good deeds either to get him to one door of evil or to let a better deed than these seventy deeds pass away from him.

This cannot be known except by a light from Allaah (SWT),, a light he instils in the heart of Al-’Abd. The source of this type of knowledge is following the way of Ar-Rasool (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and taking care of the levels of deeds with Allaah (SWT),, the deeds of His favoured ones, the deeds more pleasing to Him, and those more beneficial to Al-’Abd, and deeds that have more Naseehah (guidance) from Allaah (SWT),, His Rasool, His Book, and His believing worshippers. No one has this type of knowledge except the inheritors of Ar-Rasool (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), his deputies in the Ummah, and his successors on earth. In addition, most of the creation is screened from this. This call does not come to their hearts. Allaah (SWT) gives His favour to whomever He wills from among His worshippers.

If Al-’Abd prevents Iblees from trapping him at any of these six levels, and if it becomes difficult for Iblees, he empowers his party of jinn and human beings with different kinds of harm, IMPUTING DISBELIEF TO HIM, CALLING HIM MISGUIDED AND AN INNOVATOR, WARNING PEOPLE AGAINST HIM, and intending to weaken him and to disturb his heart. Iblees, by using this method, tries to confuse this person’s thinking and tries to PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BENEFITING FROM HIM.

Therefore Iblees expends his utmost effort to empower the defenders of falsehood, from human beings and from jinn, against him. Then the believer is at war until death. Whenever he gives up, he is hurt or is taken captive. Hence the believer is in Jihad until he meets with Allaah (SWT).

Finally, I hope you take note of this chapter and think about its great benefit. Moreover, make this knowledge your balance to weigh people and deeds. This shows you some universal realities and the level of people. Allaah (SWT) is the one from whom I seek aid, and on Him I depend.

The camp of Imaan and Kufr

We have above us a cloud of fitan. We are surrounded by waves of death and very dark days. Long nights of corruption enshroud us and the falsehood has prevailed to the level that the deen of Islam has become strange, and those who practise it have become strangers. Different types of people, groups and sects have all risen with their different beliefs and backgrounds and united to attack the Muslims and the ummah and invade us with their corruption and mischief; with their fashion and customs, in order to destroy Islam. Those who hate Islam and are enemies to it throw their arrows together with one hand-deceiving and threatening and mocking anyone who wants to rise to revive Islam. The Shayateen are shouting loudly and proudly that they should shoot their arrows directly into the heart of the Muslim ummah and prevent it from rising again. It is calling out prevent the ummah from producing children like Khattab or Abu Mus’ab (rha) or like the Sahabah (raa). The skies are full of extremely dark clouds and the atmosphere is full of poison. Birds have run away and all we can see is that the smoke of deception is everywhere and the hypocrites and kuffar have gathered together in one camp and attack us by the sea, air and land. They fight together as the ummah of shirk against the ummah of Islam and gather around us with their technology, artillery and jets, fighting day and night against the Muslims. Now, the camp of iman, instead of rising to fight the camp of kufr they fight each other, letting their horses run away. They put away their swords and today we find that there are even groups of people within the camp of Islam who gather against the Muslims and mujahideen because they do not want to be attacked by the kuffar, so they stand with them in this tough confrontation between the camp of Islam and kufr.

Our situation in the ummah is so vulnerable for the camp of kuffar and all their helpers to attack us, and this open attack we see everyday, every hour, every minute. We see a new calamity, a new crisis, a new massacre and the fitan comes everyday. Whenever we are saved from one, we face another – everyday something new happens. We have become so weak and vulnerable to be attacked by the kuffar in the way they like. If we look to our situation compared to those who dont care about any covenant and distort the conflict; they mix the cards any way they wish in order to make the Muslims confused. They have no clear method or understanding to make them even start to praise the kuffar and their society. Many people put their fingers in their ears and close their eyes, not caring about what is happening anywhere. Most of them speak only falsehood and call for democracy and say that Islam is democracy; that we must obey the law of the land. Others follow superstition all they want to do is stop all their duties and be involved in some yoga for the soul, some dhikr and tareeqat that has nothing to do with the wahi. Another portion of people swim in the sea of desires as if the deen has nothing to do with them, or with life’s affairs at all! Another portion of people want only to concentrate on one thing and commit themselves to one particular duty, even if everything else is destroyed. They only want to fulfill the duty that keeps them safe and sound, without being attacked from the kuffar or faced with any bad consequences or conflict. With their own interest at heart, they spread the ideas of Madhabism following scholars regardless of whether or not they commit kufr. Other people do not want to do any action, rather they simply want to talk about tawheed, wala and baraa etc as long as they do not have to engage in any form of confrontation with the kufr. Other people have complete allegiance to kufr regimes wherever they are. Some people just want to be part and parcel with the government and will raise their banner, whether it be nationalistic or kufr, so long as they can be close to the government. They do not care what they concede or compromise.

Then there are those who rise with any group and fight against kufr and sacrifice their wealth and life and make themselves Qurbani for the sake of Allah and to establish his deen. The only one who can help us in this situation is Allah (swt) and He will help us by designating among us a portion of people who will continue to fight and struggle against the kufr. Today we are needy for the manhaj of the Qur’an and Sunnah and launch our campaign against the kufr; to stand against it. The question is, how many people are willing to sacrifice their lives and blood? How many people are willing to enter the battlefield and speak the truth and fight for the truth and die for it? We know many people have risen in order to bring the change and on the other hand how many people want to be peaceful and avoid conflict by joining the government etc. So when there are people like these who are in between, or those who are confused, obsessed with the western culture, it has become so difficult to see the Caravan of Haq. We need to go back to the example of the people of the Salaf and we will find similar examples of struggle and conflict between the Muslims and the kuffar. The Muslim ummah has faced many examples of conspiracies from the kuffar, like that of Mustafa Kamal Ataturk who destroyed the Islamic State.

Allah (swt) then made from this ummah, sincere groups of Muslims who were willing to rise with the haq and there were also many moderate who called themselves Sufis – they made it their shield from the responsibility and stood with the kuffar against the Muslims. We are in need of putting our hands together and make our hearts hug each other, and make our lines firm and put all our resources together in order to face the challenge and expose their plots and mockery. We must make their plots return to their necks and strike their hearts.

We must spend a lot of time and effort to put the Muslims together and establish the tawheed, walaa and baraa in their hearts and their minds. We have a long way yet to go, and we must pray to Allah that we do not take the wrong train, for the light at the end of the tunnel could be that of Jannah or Hellfire. There is a great responsibility on our necks and we must make sure that the deen is established in the mind and hearts of the Muslims. Our struggle is very difficult nowadays, but we cannot continue to moan about it all the time, rather we need to remove the obstacles from the way look for the solution-for the right manhaj-which is that of the Salaf-the manhaj of tawheed-testifying that there is none worthy to be worshipped except for Allah and to engage in the jihad verbally, financially and physically as much as we can. Many groups have risen, but unfortunately the people on the middle of the way have become tired and confused and others have become defeated. The job of the da’ee is to encourage the believer and

remove the obstacle from the minds. We must remind everyone that the result is in the hands of Allah-that we only make the effort. Whenever you command good and forbid evil, remember that you are working as part of an entire Muslim ummah and that giant Muslim ummah inshaa Allah will rise,

The manhaj of the Salaf has such a beautiful character and characteristics that every Muslim looks forward to implementing and it will make us keen to follow the Salaf and practise our deen how the Salaf used to. They would fight the shirk without falling down as a result of any individuals or any bid’ah, and there is no doubt that the issue of tawheed is the head of all issues as a matter of complete submission to Allah, both in the inner and the outer. That is the path and the only way, the centre of which in the struggle is the tawheed. So be brave in the way you convey the haq to the people- it is not enough for you to understand La ilaaha illallah-you need to have the bravery to offer the haq to society. Never worry about the result or consequences because you do it for the sake of Allah and you should thus reject any middle solutions, even the idea to sit with the kuffar. You should reject that there can be any common ground with the kuffar because the haq will never remain haq unless it continues to struggle against the falsehood and vice versa. So those who want to remove our identity and want to make us relax and empty us of any values in order to destroy our vital issues-to destroy the call for jihad and the Khilafah. In this case the kuffar will prevail because Ahl al Haq will have sat back-the only policy that we can follow that of the Prophet (saw) said when He (saw) said, “The best century is my century and then those who follow them and then those who follow them.”

Allah (swt) says, “If you support Allah’s deen, Allah will support you”. We need to always be equipped with the Qur’an and Sunnah and counter any argument with an argument that is even stronger, according to the understanding of the Salaf al Saalih. The ultimate aim for you is to please Allah, and there is no way to do so without following the manhaj and may Allah accept it from all of us.