The Qualities of Those Who Struggle For Allah’s Sake
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Sifāt al-Mujāhidīn
The Qualities of Those
Who Struggle For Allah’s Sake
Shaykh Dr. Mahmūd Abūl Huda al-Husaynī
Dear beloved brothers! There are two verses in the Book of Allah, the Exalted, that are interconnected: one of them is a condition for the other. In the first verse, the Master, Exalted is He, mentioned a contract that the people of faith hope to attain. In the second verse, He mentioned the conditions that must be met for that contract to be accepted. The first verse was presented in an astounding way that draws the people of faith to it, and the second verse detailed the conditions by which contract is accepted.
It is astonishing that our Umma reads these two verses and separates between them. To separate these two verses from each other is to present an proposal and contract without mentioning its conditions. The Umma reads these verses and frequently uses each of them separately, and most are ignorant to the reality that both verses are interconnected and inseparable.
Dear brothers! These two verses are located in Sūrat al-Tawba and most of you have memorized these two verses. Let us read them together and contemplate them so as to know this contract and its conditions. (Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their wealth [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed. It is a true promise upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur’ān. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And that is the tremendous success. The repentant, the devout worshippers, those who [of Allah], the travellers, those who bow and prostrate, those who command the good and forbid the evil, and those who guard the limits of Allah. And give glad tidings to the believers.) [al-Tawba: 111-112]
Yes, dear brothers: (Indeed, Allah has purchased…)! A purchase is a mutual exchange. He, the Glorified and Exalted, is the Owner of everything; however He affirmed a figurative ownership for the servant and then sought from him that he sells. (Indeed, Allah has purchased…), so where are those who wish to sell? It is nothing more than an ephemeral thing that is given to the King of kings – the One in complete control of the universe; He who grants authority to whom He wills and removes authority from whom He wills; and the One who honours whom He wills and abases whom He wills.
It is a contingent and passing thing granted by the One in whose Hand is all goodness. He requites every soul for what it earns. In whose Hand are the forelocks? Who is the One who is worshipped in the heavens and worshipped on the earth? Who is the One who deserves worship and no one else, and who is praised in reality besides Him? In whose Hand is our entire affair and unto whom is our return? (Indeed, Allah has purchased…) Once, a Bedouin Arab passed by the Prophet sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam as he was reciting this verse. He asked: “Whose speech is this?” They [the Companions] replied: “This is the speech of Allah.” The Bedouin then said: “In that case, by Allah, the transaction of Allah is profitable; I won’t diminish it one bit.” He then went out in Jihād and returned only as a martyr being carried.
(Indeed, Allah has purchased…), so the servant gave up his life and wealth, and in return, Allah granted reward, recompense, and Paradise, the breadth of which is as wide as the heavens and the earth – and the good-pleasure of Allah is even greater.
(Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers…) because those who are not believers do not understand anything but transactions of wealth.
(Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers…) because the non-believer sells his self and wealth for an ephemeral delight or physical or non-physical gain. There are great number of people in this day and age who sell their souls and wealth. They do not sell them for Allah. No, they sell them to other slaves who do not possess any ability to cause harm or bring benefit. It is nothing more than blinding desires that have blinded them.
(Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers…): this quality is only accepted from those who have realized true faith and conviction in their hearts; to the point that they are more confident with that which is with Allah than that which they possess; those who are attached to the unseen and who hold firm conviction in it and have more certainty in it than that which they feel and perceive with their senses. (Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their wealth [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise., so they kill and are killed…) The Chosen One sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam used to say to his Companions: “No one among you is wounded in the path of Allah - and Allah knows best who is wounded in His path - except that it will come on the Day of Judgement with the colour of blood and with the fragrance of musk”, so not every person who is injured is injured in the path of Allah, and not every person who is killed is killed in the path of Allah: “…so whoever fights in order that Allah’s word reigns supreme, he is in the path of Allah.” This meaning does not accept the possibility of false interpretation; it is detailed, explicit, specific, and precise. “Whoever fights in order that Allah’s word reigns supreme, he is in the path of Allah.” (…They fight in the cause of Allah…) Here, the Qur’ān gives us the conception of the future – from the time this verse was revealed until Allah inherits the earth and all that is upon it. Fighting is a must. The verbal form used in this verse is yuqātilūn, which falls under the form mufā‘ala, which indicates two sides.[1] It is said that the first thing Allah, the Exalted, revealed when He legislated fighting was the verse: (Permission is granted to those who are fought because they are wronged…) [al-Hajj: 39]
It is our destiny and decree that we fight. It is decreed for the people of the truth. It is decreed for the people of the straight path. It is decreed for those who do not sell their souls for this world. It is decreed for those who elevate the words: “They do not fear the blame of the blamers”: they fight! Why doesn’t the so-called “authority” fight for the sake of the blessed land of Palestine? It is because its allegiance is to the resolutions of the so-called “security” council. This council is nothing more than a council of fear and terror, striking fear into the weak. It is nothing more than a council that shields the so-called “chosen people” who were chosen by Satan to fulfil his bidding in the earth.
How many resolutions have they passed under the rubric of what they call international law – that is lawless in reality? It is deaf and mute and unwilling to carry out any of their resolutions. Why it is that war not waged against those who are called the “authority” and who gather in that tight and restricted place? What is the secret behind that? One group sold their souls and wealth for Allah, and the other group sold their souls and wealth for other than Allah. There is a world-wide fear. A truthful group has come together, seeking Allah’s pleasure alone. The spectre of an Islamic emirate terrifies [their opponents]. They say: “It might become and Islamic emirate! I might become a field in which there is no compromise!” Alas, do not succumb to the invitations to compromise.
Dear brothers! The believer is scary! He is scary because he seeks one of the two goods. He read the verse and saw only two things in the contract: (… so they kill and are killed…). He didn’t read in this contract: “…so they kill and gain wealth”, or: “…so they kill and gain war booty.” He did not see anything in the contract that mentioned him getting an increase in wealth; he did not see anything in the contract that mentioned him getting more items; and he did not see anything in the contract that mentioned him getting more pleasurable things.
In this contract, he only saw: (…They fight in the cause of Allah.). So, we understand that if we are upon the truth, then we must fight, and that the enemies of Allah will never accept us wherever they are. O believer! You must understand this – far removed from all sorts of fawning flattery, generalities, lies, and hypocrisy. We are tired of lies and fawning flattery. The enemies of Allah – who are upon falsehood – are not ashamed, whereas the people of truth lower their heads in humiliation. I swear by Allah! This is not pleasing to Him, the Exalted. Speak the truth and do not be afraid of what comes after it. Why are you afraid? Listen to the words of the leader of the believers, our liege lord ‘Alī rādiallahu ‘anhu . He taught us a lesson on martyrdom: On which of the two days shall I flee death?On the day it wasn’t decreed or the day it was?I fear it not on the day it wasn’t decreedAnd on the day it was, caution will save me not (They fight in the cause of Allah so they kill and are killed.) They have tried to feed us the so-called peace process and we almost swallowed it, and the simple people who believe what is said to them almost fell for it, but Allah’s command interdicted their plan. He opened the world’s eyes and the people opened their eyes to witness the wholesale slaughter of children, women, and the elderly.
Yes, we fight. And when we fight, we observe rules of warfare that are higher than those found in the Geneva agreement. Our standard is higher: we do not cut down trees and we do not kill the elderly, women, or children. What do those loud-mouths have to say when thousands of children and women have been either killed or injured?
Having said this, a school was demolished, which resulted in large meetings, and out of anger, some – even of our people – have held gatherings in schools. While we are not pleased with the demolition of a school or any other facility, and while we admit that knowledge is sacred, we have to ask: why have meetings and gatherings taken place inside of schools because of the demolition of one school, and we haven’t seen gatherings take place in the Mosques even though over eight Mosques were destroyed? Why is this?
Why are they playing games with us? More than eight Mosques have been destroyed but we have yet to hold any gatherings in the Mosques, yet when a school is demolished we see gatherings in schools. This is because in the secular system, schools are given precedence to Mosques. According to us however, it is the Mosques that graduate scholars, brave heroes, leaders, and decision makers. When Mosques are demolished in Gaza, the land of martyrs, the world is silent. (Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their wealth [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed.) We have already surrendered to the fact that we will both fight and be killed; do you think that this is restricted to Gaza alone? No, it is not, by Allah! There is no one who is truthful and who raises the standard of the truth except that he is included in this verse. It is the Sunna of Allah with respect to the believers. The Prophets fought, and how beautiful indeed is the meeting with Allah, the Exalted, if you are upon the truth. You can either hold fast to the sullen world with humiliation and abasement, or you can have love for the meeting with Allah in order to be in a station of truth with the All-Powerful King. (Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their wealth [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed. It is a true promise upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur’ān.) This is similar to what He said regarding fasting: (Fasting is decreed for you just as it was decree for those before you…) [al-Baqara: 183] The legislation of physical fighting and Jihād is from the laws of old. (And who is truer to his covenant than Allah?) Do you think that Allah will violate the covenant He takes with His servants? Do you think He breaks His promise? (So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted.) Receive glad tidings if you are among those who sold their souls and wealth for the sake of Allah. In other words, manifest you happiness, because glad tidings comes from the manifestation of happiness that shows on the face. Show your happiness if you are among those who have prepared for martyrdom in the path of Allah. Beware of showing any signs of sadness! Show the happiness on your face because you are soon going to your reception! (So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And that is the tremendous success.)
After this, Allah began to explain the qualities of those who are included in this transaction. In the contract He only mentioned one quality: that of faith, however in the second verse, He mentioned qualities in detail so we may know that those who appoint themselves for Jihād are ineligible until they fulfill the conditions found in these qualities mentioned in the Qur’ān.
(The repentant): the repentant one is he who returns to obedience after having been in disobedience. The repentant one is he who takes a covenant with Allah that he will not take the path of disobedience. The repentant one is he who takes a covenant with Allah that his behaviour will be upright upon the Sacred Law of Muhammad sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam. The repentant one is he who places Muhammad sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam directly in front of him. (The repentant): so you have no share in this covenant until you announce a clear and sincere repentance. If you do not, you will remain in a state of lying, false pretentious claims and vain hopes and desires.
Do not let your emotions take a hold of you and do not think that each of you are selected for Jihād. It brings great pleasure and happiness to see the Prime minister of Gaza standing in the tarāwīh prayers, leading the people and crying before Allah. For the longest, we have not seen a politician leading the Umma, leading them in prayer and raising his hands in the qunūt and humbling himself before Allah.
(The repentant): those who realized true purification in their selves and in their behaviour. They repented to Allah from every act of disobedience and odious deed: in transactions, in acts of worship, and in the unlawful matters – in everything!
(… the devout worshippers…): here, this refers to worship according to its broadest understanding and not just prayer – as prayer was mentioned in this verse separately. This refers to the broad understanding of worship in which you do every act, intending thereby to obey Allah. It is the broad understanding of worship that is grasped when you sense the meaning of vice-regency mentioned in the verse: (Indeed, I am placing a vice-regent on the earth.) [al-Baqara:30] You are entrusted with the atmosphere, you are entrusted with the water, and you are entrusted with the trees and the stones. This verse is speaking about the worship that is mastery and perfection of every action; every movement that is done with the intention of obedience to Allah, the Glorified and Exalted. This is worship.
(…those who praise [Allah]…): praise means lauding. For how long will we continue to praise other than Allah? For how long will we act with hypocrisy? For how long will we praise those who demand bribes? How long will we praise thieves, liars, and con-artists? Those who praise know who truly deserves praise. Where are the free men? Where are the men who truly understand the meaning of praise? We are the Umma that was described in the previous scriptures as the nation of those who praise. We are those who praise and who say repeatedly: “all praise belongs to Allah”, so where is this description in us now? Is it even possible for you to praise Allah and praise others along with Him?
It is not possible. You can praise Allah and praise Allah’s servants by Allah’s praise; so whenever Allah praises something you too praise it because you are particular with your praise and you don’t praise other than Allah. And what Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, allowed for you to praise is demonstrated in the clear scales by which He praises His servants. He praised a king named Sulaymān a. He said: (What a good servant he is, indeed he is oft-returning.) [Sād:30] He praised him only on account of his slavehood and return to Allah. He praised another servant of His named Ayūb a: (What a good servant he is, indeed he is oft-returning.) [Sād:44] He praised him because he was patient with the affliction and his heart turned only to Allah.
(…the travellers…): I prefer the interpretation which states that “travel” here refers to Jihād in the path of Allah. To interpret it – as some have – as fasting, changes the outward meaning to a less obvious meaning, not to mention that ‘Atā’ (the famous Qur’ānic exegete) said: “Here, (…the travellers…) are those who wage Jihād.” His proof was the narration of Abū Umāma, which states that a man sought permission from the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam to travel [and the word used here comes from sayyaha which means to travel the earth], and the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam replied: “The tourism [siyyāha] of my Umma is Jihād in the path of Allah.”
The enemies have divided us and cut us off from each other and laughed at us, all the while the rulers of the Islamic world are their guards. The Malaysian is other than the Indonesian, the Indonesian is other than the Pakistani, the Pakistani is other than the Emirati, the Emirati is other than the Algerian, the Algerian is other than the Jordanian, the Jordanian is other than the Palestinian, and so on. We are one Umma. We are the travellers who go about in the earth in pursuit of knowledge or in its dissemination, or in elevating the word of Allah. The best interpretation for “travel” in the verse is travel in pursuit of knowledge or travel for the sake of Jihād in the path of Allah. We are one Umma without borders! (…those who bow and prostrate…): those who do not bow or prostrate before anyone besides Allah.
(…those who command the good and forbid the evil…): their tongues are not severed; they command the good, which is obedience to Allah. They forbid the evil, which is all that Allah detests and hates. The word “good” is not a figurative expression; it is a legal term that is explicitly defined and described.
(…those who command the good…): those who command the people to stick to the commands of the Sacred Law of Islam in economic matters, political matters, social matters, and in acts of worship. Our religion has not left a single facet of human life except that it has legislated something for it. Let the secularists realize that when we speak of the religion, we speak of its sphere in all facets of life; we are not speaking of singing hymns in a Church or Synagogue or chanting in a Buddhist temple. Our religious discourse stems from our conception of the world; our religion has not left anything small or large out except that it has detailed it. (…and forbid the evil…): and how many indeed are the evils that have entered into our behaviour, causing us to fawn flattery so that they go unnoticed! (…and those who guard the limits of Allah…): those who steer clear of falling into that which Allah made unlawful. (And give glad tidings to the believers.): give glad tidings to them if they understand this lesson.
As our Shaykh, al-Qaradāwī – may Allah assist him – called for a day of anger for the sake of Gaza, I say to him: O Shaykh! Let us make it a day of anger for Allah’s sake because of Gaza! Let us make it a day of anger for Allah’s sake. The time has come for this Umma to become angry for Allah’s sake for one day – let the cause of this anger be Gaza. We are in need of anger after it has become forgotten in our character. We have become used to shallow laughs, all the while we are being torn apart inside! How long can this continue? How much longer will it be announced on the official channels, after news of four missiles being fired from Southern Lebanon, that “We are not involved”? Like someone saying: “I wasn’t involved in my prayer”, or: “I wasn’t involved in my fast.”
All of us have become like that, saying in front of the people: “I am not involved or entangled by being a Mujāhid.” O what humiliation and shame! If only he had sufficed himself and said: “I have not been honoured with that.” If only the news report would say: “I have not yet had the honour, and I hope that someday I will.” That is the least that a weak person can do. Saying: “I am not involved” shows a humiliating state, said by someone who can strike but refuses to do so.
The borders surrounding Palestine are guarded and rifles are pointed at Gaza. Palestine shall remain. We will never recognize the Zionist entity, no matter how much the West or the East, North, South, or inside or outside want us to. We will never recognize the Zionist entity. We do not accept for this criminal entity to reside in our Islamic land. It is obligatory for it to be wiped off the map!
If these words will result in imprisonment or murder, then how sweet it is in the path of Allah! We will never recognize this entity, this entity of criminals … Even in Medina they are eradicating the personal effects of Allah’s Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam yet they are safeguarding the relics of the Jews! In Mecca, the Prophet’s house is wiped out of existence and taken down; it is said that the Prophet’s house might become a cause for idolatry! However, the relics of the Jews must be preserved and protected!
In this stage, I do not wish to offend or go into sensitive issues; at this dangerous stage we should not get into sensitive issues about Salafiyya or other than that. No. All of us are Salafīs in that we follow the Messenger of Allah sallallahu `alayhi wa-sallam and adhere to the methodology of his Companions. All of us are the people of ihsān when we worship Allah as if we can see Him. We do not wish for internal conflicts. The real conflict is between Islam and anti-Islam.
Dear brothers! The Book of Allah calls us to offer aid. If you are unable to offer aid except through wealth, then give victory to your brothers with wealth. If you are unable to offer aid except through supplication, then aid them with your supplication: (Allah does not burden a soul more than it can bear.) All of us are in our own particular battle-trench. What I don’t want, dear brothers, is for us to remain after this in a state of play and jest and laziness and heedlessness. We must assert our identity and understand what it means to be committed. O Allah, cause us to return to Your religion in the most beautiful of manners. And make us of those who listen to the word and follow the best thereof. I say this statement of mine and I seek Allah’s forgiveness.
Notes:
[1] Verbs that fit under the generic verbal form of fā‘ala/yufā‘ilu/mufā‘alatan usually indicate that the action is shared between two people or more [mushāraka]. The Shaykh is saying that the verb yuqātilūn indicates that the fighting is two-sided and takes place between two opposing sides. [t]
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