There Lies A Beautiful Meadow

The Weirdness Of The People In The End-Times

2009-12-30T02:46:00.000-08:00

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Indeed, the weirdness of the people in the end-times are so many and common. Sometimes we are less alert in noticing them that the world seems to be moving quite well. However, if we observe them closely, we would find a myriad of weirdness and peculiarity in the lives of the people of the end-times and they exist in almost all lines of existence. The weirdness that we mean here are not those related to natural events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, etc. or other kind of strange occurrences, but the paradoxical thought patterns of mankind which are thriving in this end-times.

The followings are a small part of the paradoxical thinkings which are thriving in the general public, as of late. It is even stranger when those paradoxes are possessed by some people in the Islamic ummah along with their notable figures. Examples are:

When entrepreneurs or government high officials commit corruptions worth thousands or even millions of dollars, the law enforcement apparatus will easily say that they don’t have the evidence to arrest and try them.

However, when the one who steals is an old grandma or a low-class (weak) citizen, she’ll easily be arrested, tried and sentenced, despite for only stealing a watermelon or three cocoa fruits from the big plantation belonging to a big firm, maybe due to hunger.

When there are people or a group who clearly harm or deride the fundamental teachings of Islam such as that of God, the Holy Book and the Prophet, in the Muslim countries, they will be easily seen as fulfilling their freedom to speak, express and interpret religion.

However, when there are khatibs, ustadzs or speakers in the Muslim community who invite the jamaah and Islamic ummah to be consistent with the teachings of their religion, then they will easily be accused as radical khatibs, speakers or ustadzs, who do not know how to conduct da’wah with hikmah, in fact they should be suspected as potential terrorists.

Whatever is written in the newspaper will easily be believed by the masses, despite being only human writings in which the truth has not been put to a test. Reading and studying them is considered as a symbol of progress.

However, what have been included in Al-Qur’an might not be believed as certainties, despite claiming to be Muslim. Whereas, the Qur’an is the Kalamullah (Speech of Allah) which is impossible to contain lies. Its truth has been put to a test, in all times, from the aspect of various sciences or knowledge. As of late, there appeared a belief that Al-Qur’an could teach the ideas of terrorism.

Not a few people, including those who claimed to be Muslims are confident and proud with the man-made (jahiliyyah) living system, even though the system they are confident and proud with has caused their lives to be in a mess and made them endure various atrocities and injustices from the rulers of their countries. They are still claiming: “this is the way of life that is compatible with the modern times (end-times)”.

However, when there are people who invite and call upon the ummah to return to the rules of Islam, they will be accused of inviting and calling towards backwardness, radicalism and terrorism, whereas they know that Islam is created by God, their Creator (Allah), for their safety in the dunya and akhira and it is impossible for Allah to be confused and oppressive to His slaves.

When the Jews or people of other religions grow their beards, people will say that they are just practicing the teachings of their religions.

However, when a Muslim maintains his beard, he will easily be accused as a fundamentalist or terrorist who has to be suspected, especially when entering public places like the hotels and so on.

When a nun wears a dress that covers her head and body tidily, people will say that the nun has presented herself for her god.

However, when a Muslimah covers her awrah with a jilbab or hijab, people would accuse her of being backward and not compatible with the modern times, whereas, those who accuse claimed to be following the concept of democracy, which according to them views people as free to practice his/her own religion.

When the Western women stay at home and choose not to work outside due to intending to look after or tend the house and teach the children, people will praise them for willing to sacrifice and not work outside for the interest of the families and households.

However, when the Muslimahs stay at home looking after the properties of the husband, tending the house and children, people will accuse them as oppressed and that they should be freed from being dominated by men or what they also refer as gender equality.

Every Western female university student is free to go to campus with an array of accessories or dresses that she likes, for a reason that it is their basic rights and freedom of self expression.

However, when the Muslimahs go to the campus or workplace wearing their Islamic dresses, people will accuse them of being restricted and narrow minded, incompatible with the regulations and paradigms of the campus or workplace.

When their children are busy with a variety of toys that they invented, they will say that it is talent, intelligence and creativity development for the children.

However, when the Muslim children follow the education of their religious practice, it will be said that that kind of educational pattern has no hope and future.

When the Jews and Christians kill someone or commit aggression against an Islamic country particularly Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. nobody relates it to their religion. In fact, they say that it is their right and for the sake of saving the Muslim community there.

However, when the Muslims fight the Jewish aggression in Palestine, or the Christian Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan, they will surely accuse those Muslims as insurgents and terrorists.

When someone sacrifices himself to save others, everybody will praise him and he will be given the right to be honored or respected.

However, when the people of Palestine do the same thing in order to save their children, brothers and sisters or parents from abductions or slaughtering by the Israeli forces, or to save their houses from destructions by the Israeli rockets, or to save their masjids or holy books from vandalisms or defacements, people will accuse them as TERRORISTS. Why? Because they are simply Muslims.

When Jewish children are taught about war and automatic weapons to kill the Palestinian Muslims, people will say that what they are doing is an effort to defend themselves despite they are the aggressors.

However, when the Palestinian children learn to throw stones to confront the Jewish soldiers who are fully equipped with tanks and other sophisticated weapons to demolish their houses, masjids and villages, people will accuse them as the perpetrators of crime who are fit to be arrested, their hands broken and imprisoned for a dozen years.

See, these are just a bit of the peculiarity of the people in the end-times. Could we extract a good lesson from here, so that we can determine the right attitudes? Otherwise we would fall and become victims of the peculiarity in this end-times? The Prophet SAW said that amongst the signs of the Age of Fitnah (Trials) is that truth and falsehood will change place, falsehood will become truth (and vice versa). Only those blessed by Allah SWT have the knowledge that would enable them to distinguish between truth and falsehood and fight falsehood with truth, otherwise they will be left confused following falsehood.

The Prophet SAW taught us a do’a to this effect:

"O Allah, show me the truth as the truth, and enable me to follow it. O Allah, show me falsehood as falsehood and enable me to stay away from it and do not let it confuses me, so I may not be misguided."

The Prophet SAW also recommended reading Surah al-Kahf which contains very important signs for today, the signs of the End Times, a time near the Hour, during which the practices of systems of unbelief and falsehood become widespread and Allah sends forth the truth to destroy them.

By Allah's will, this time is very near, so much so that it has become crucial for people to reflect upon this matter. Allahul musta’an.

Sour©e: eramuslim

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Death Toll For US Terrorist Forces In Afghanistan Doubles In 2009

2009-12-28T05:31:00.000-08:00

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Alhamdulillah, the number of dead kafir crusader-zionist forces in Afghanistan is increasing this year, as reported by the media.

It was reported that the number of US terrorists killed in Afghanistan this year has increased twofold compared with 2008. However, the small fractions reported are only figures officially admitted by the military, whereas the real overall casualty figures hidden by the military is much bigger than that.

Based on an AFP tally, foreign terrorist forces recorded 506 casualties in Afghanistan this year, 310 of which were US terrorists.The second figure showed that twice as many US invader forces were killed in Afghanistan in 2009 compared to 2008, when 155 US terrorists were killed.

The United States currently commands 113,000 US and foreign terrorist troops in Afghanistan and plans to deploy another 40,000 terrorists to the Central Asian nation.

Go ahead kafirs, the forces of Allah will never stop confronting and destroying you. Allahu Akbar… Indeed, Allah only commands the Muslims to prepare their strength in the best ability they can in mere compliance with Allah’s command: وَأَعِدُّواْ لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم “Make ready for them all you can.” Thereafter, victory is definite in the hand of Allah. The number of forces or war equipments do not mean anything without the help of Allah.

This is the secret behind 313 Companions triumphing over an army of one thousand at Badar. But then, it were the same Companions who set out on the Day of Hunayn, and it occurred to them that "we are in great numbers today; how can we be defeated today while we were not overcome when we were 313?"… And so Allah addressed them in Surah Al-Tawbah, verse 25:

“…and on the day of Hunayn, when you exulted in your multitude but it availed you naught, and the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for you; then you turned back in flight.”

Means were provided and force was present! But Allah says that it did not avail you in the slightest. It has been narrated that other than the Prophet of Allah SAW, nearly the entire army had turned back in flight.

Truly, this verse 126 from Surah Āli `Imrān does require reflection:

“…Victory comes only from Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.”

Therefore, may the number of death amongst the kafir forces keep on rising, in accordance with the thousands of Afghan civilians killed by their barbaric military operations in Afghanistan which have also caused hunger and insecurity to have increased to an alarming level across Afghanistan since the US-led invasion of the country in 2001. Ameen!

Muslim People Of Gaza In Starvation

2009-12-27T03:57:00.000-08:00

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The condition of the Muslims in Gaza, Palestine, is so sad especially after the food aid distribution for the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip was halted by the UN with an excuse of fuel shortages. The people of Palestine had been in hardship to obtain food since Palestine was occupied in 1946. Some even resort to eating grass.

The UN body that manages the aids distribution, the UNRWA, stopped the delivery of food aids to Gaza two weeks ago due to their vehicles experiencing fuel shortages. More than 80% of the population of Gaza rely on the humanitarian aids, with the food supply from the UN meeting the needs of 1.5 million people. A big part of them are children.

Cris Gunness, the spokesman for UNRWA said that the aids to 650,000 people had to be stopped temporarily. The invading Israel and the UN are really cruel, after the land of Palestine was seized, they let the Muslim people of Palestine live in misery and starvation.

From then on until now, the Muslim people of Palestine had been screaming and crying out to their brothers in various parts of the world. In fact, last Friday, thousands of Muslims in Rafah border called on the Muslims in Egypt to free the country of Palestine from the grip of the invading Israel. However, to date, the so-called Muslim governments and military forces in the various parts of the world are still tight-lipped. Where are the liberators of the ummah today?

Until when this humiliating situation will go on? Until one day there exists a noble generation who will free Palestine from occupation. Only the Khilafah Rashidah could bring back the honour of the Ummah, not the OIC, not the rulers of the Muslim countries of today, much less the UN.

My Experience Of Meeting Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin (2)

2009-12-24T02:15:00.000-08:00

. ... cont.

...back to my story about meeting Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin as I had delivered earlier. I began to observe his personality and main characters, how he stands and sits, the way he speaks, the way he walks, the way he eats, his laughter, his smile, his mixing with others, how his language is, the way he dresses, the way he teaches his children, the advices he delivered and so on.

So my conclusion -Wallahu a'lam bis-sowwab- is that he is a man whose thoughts, speeches and actions, as well as movements did not produce anything except that they contain hikmah (wisdom). I am not saying that he is maksum, because the maksum one is only Rasulullah SAW, however thus was my assessment during my association with him and I do not deify anyone except Allah.

I was only assessing from the outside, as for the batin (inner side) Allah SWT is the Most Knowledgeable, and no one can monitor him continuously for 24 hours every day and night, it is something impossible for me to do, but from the association I had experienced, I could give some judgements and may this judgement be not excessive and also not too inadequate (not ifrath and tafrith).

The assessments are more or less as follows:

1. Aqeedah.

He follows the creed of the salaf, with the aqeedah of Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah. This is always expressed by him in his spoken words.

2. Fiqh Madzhab.

I don't have or have not obtained information about the Fiqh madzhab that he follows, whether he follows the Hanafi, Maliki, Syafi'i, Hambali or Dzhahiri, but what's obvious is that the way he performs ibaadah (acts of worship) especially the characteristic of his solat, follows the sunnah of the Prophet SAW.

3. Akhlaq (Morals) and Adab (Manners).

Just like what I have explained earlier, he is one of the people who maintains and observes the akhlaq and adab greatly, whether it be the fundamental akhlaqs or the akhlaq that seems small. Examples of fundamental Akhlaq:

• Al-Wala wal Bara'

He loves the believers very much, where ever they are from or which ever Harakah or Jama'ah they belong to.

Hard on the kafirs. This is very prominent particularly towards the Jewish America and its allies, maybe this is why he is on the first ranking in the history of mankind -wallahu a'lam- to be the most feared and wanted human figure by the enemies of Islam, be it in the East or the West, be it the kafir or mushrik or munafiq and this becomes the virtue that Allah SWT gives him, his position makes the kafirs, who are under this sky, angry.

Allah SWT said in surat At-Taubah (9) : 120.

" …nor do they tread on any ground that enrages the disbelievers, nor do they inflict upon an enemy any infliction but that it is registered for them as a righteous deed.."

Subhanallah – if he is ikhlas, how much reward of good deeds he could bag every second even by merely sleeping in his hiding place.

I also remember the virtues of the Ashabul Kahfi who were put to sleep by Allah for 300 years i.e. if we calculate by the AD year and 309 years if calculated using the Hijriyah year. They were feared even in their sleep.

See Allah’s verse in surat Al-Kahfi (18) : 18.

"If you had looked at them, you would have turned from them in flight and been filled by them with terror."

As for us, even turning upside down would not make the enemies fear us. What is the secret? Because our Imans are weak and there is no ruhul Jihad (spirit of Jihad).

He also takes care of the adab, such as:

• The Adab of Eating.

Most of the Arabs, as well as the Afghans and the majority of people on this earth except those who are blessed by Allah – are less attentive when it comes to clearing or finishing food or minding the food that falls while eating. Whereas, according to a hadith, we are ordered to clear the food that has fallen by eating them, we can’t leave food on its place because who knows there could be barakah (blessings) in them.

He, if he eats - Subhanallah – not even a crumb would fall and be wasted in front of me. I found this truly amazing as he can easily go against the convention that has been entrenched.

• Daily Presentation.

He always carries a small mushaf (a copy of the Qur’an), a weapon (rifle of the AK [Automatic Kalashnikov] or Klashenkov type), as well as a stick or staff which is a part of the Sunnah.

• The Adab of Speaking to Others.

He, if he speaks to others (not in a majelis) normally faces his entire body to the person he speaks to while giving a smile if required and sometimes becoming very serious with an intent look.

Wallahu'alam bis sowab!

When The Palestinian Are Murdered On The Operating Table And Then Their Organs Harvested.

2009-12-23T04:21:00.000-08:00

. Did Israel send their organ mafia to serve as IOF officers in the West Bank so that they could select and hunt Palestinian victims who had traits (and organs) corresponding to specific criteria, like the color of her skin, eyes and …?

This would help to explain many seemingly random murders by the IOF, of children, of people going about their business, people who often had no role in resistance and who were not involved in political activity of any kind.

How many innocent Palestinian were murdered by the IOF organ mafia? Were they executed for the theft of their organs, in order to make millions of gains for the IOF?

The answers to these questions will be more objective after reading the report translated from Arabic newspapers into English.

A video recording of a 57 minutes duration shocked the world. A doctor who was giving instructions to a number of other doctors about how to extract the organs of the dead could be seen in the video.

The technique of transferring the skin from the back of the human body belonging to the dead Palestinian was shown. Those pieces of skin were then given to the Israeli soldiers who had suffered burns and other kind of wounds inflicted from the conflict with the Palestinians.

Besides the skin from the back of the Palestinian bodies, the Israeli doctors also took the corneas, hearts and bones. Not surprising that the government of Israel had set up the skin bank in 1986 for the purpose of healing the wounds of their soldiers using the skin stolen from the bodies of the dead Palestinians.

''The process had already started since the early 1980’s and was going on until the end of 2000,'' Yehuda Hiss, the director and chief pathologist at the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine, who made the film recording, said. The video confirmed accusations that Tel Aviv was illegally stealing organs from the dead bodies of Palestinians.

Hiss, who appeared in the video also handled autopsy problems on unnatural deaths in Israel and the districts that it occupies. He said that the other body organs that always become a target of theft are the bones, especially the long bones, and parts of heart.

The eyes are also the aims of the body organs thieves, though not the whole eyes are stolen. “We don’t take the whole eye, we only take the cornea and close the eyes back,” Hiss explained as quoted from Al-Arabiya.

The stolen body organs are not sold to the international market but are sent to the hospitals in Israel or Jerusalem. Hiss said that the hospitals that they were headed for is like the Tel Hashomer where all the doctors working there are his friends.

He admitted that he was not given incentives for his acts. But, four years ago Hiss was given a microscope. “We also send the organs to the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem and they gave us an instrument in the form of a special video camera that could view the internal organs of the body in return for the organs which we gave to them.”

The video recording becomes an evidence of the involvement of Israel in illegal snatching of body organs from the bodies of the Palestinians who were killed. However, Israel justified the practice in the name of scientific research.

The practice of plundering Palestinian body organs had already been published earlier in the Swedish newspaper, the Aftonbladet, which reported that Israel had been killing Palestinian citizens in order to harvest their body organs. The news right away triggered Israel’s anger.

Nancy Scheper Hughes, an anthropology professor at the University of California Berkeley told that her party had conducted an interview prompted by the news publication in Aftonbladet. That incident had made the diplomatic relation between Israel and Sweden heated for a while. In fact, the foreign minister of Sweden cancelled his supposed visit to Israel.

Scheper charged that the interview had to be done and publicized as stealing skins from the people considered as enemies is something serious and should be judged accordingly.

The exposure of the organ stealing activities should have led to the suspension of Hiss from his post as a director of the medical institute, as a penalty. However, Israel's top attorney decided not to press charges. Hiss was only given a warning and came back to occupy his post at the so-called “Autopsy Institute of Forensic Medicine” in Israel (which in fact should be named Abu Kabir Butchery, as it is a strategic base for the harvesting of human beings – ed).

According to a report in Maan News Agency, the acts were carried out without the knowledge of the families of the deceased. This was admitted by Arieh Eldad, a squatter in Kfar Adumim, who is a medical doctor specializing in plastic surgery and was the chief medical officer of the IOF from 1997-2000, and who is a member of the Knesset for the National Union, said “We had orders not to take the consent of the families while taking the organs of the dead.”

So, Israel continues to show its inhumane face to the world. How is the world going to look at the consequences of the organized Israeli organ theft practiced at Abu Kabir hospital? Is it proper for the world to be silent and ever immuned to the Jewish atrocities?

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The Afghan 80s Are Back

2009-12-22T02:59:00.000-08:00

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It is deja vu on a huge and bloody scale. General Stanley McChrystal, the US commander in Afghanistan, is about to advise his president that "the Afghan people are undergoing a crisis of confidence because the war against the Taliban has not made their lives better", according to leaked reports. Change the word "Taliban" to "Mujahideen", and you have an exact repetition of what the Russians found a quarter of a century ago.

Like Nato today, the Kremlin realised its forces had little control outside the main cities. The parallels don't end there. The Russians called their Afghan enemies dukhy (ghosts), ever-present but invisible, as hidden in death as they were when alive – which echoes Sean Smith's recent photographic account of the fighting in Helmand and the failure of the British units he was with to find a single Talib body.

The Soviet authorities never invited western reporters to be embedded, but you could track down Afghan war veterans in Moscow's gloomier housing estates. They were conscripts, unlike British and US troops, so perhaps they had a heightened sense of anger. But how many British vets would share the sentiments that Igor expressed, as he hung out with his mates one evening in February 1989 and let me listen? "You remember that mother who lost her son. She kept repeating, 'He fulfilled his duty. He fulfilled his duty to the end.' That's the most tragic thing. What duty? I suppose that's what saves her, her notion of duty. She hasn't yet realised it was all a ridiculous mistake. I'm putting it mildly. If she opened her eyes to our whole Afghan thing, she'd probably find it hard to hold out."

Every time I see footage of British troops riding in armoured cars past shuttered bazaars and empty streets, I think of Yuri, who told me that his first glimmerings of the war's futility came when he realised how little contact he and his comrades had with Afghans, the people they were supposed to be helping. "Mainly our contact was with kids in the villages we went through. They were always running some kind of little business. Swapping stuff, selling stuff. Sometimes drugs. It was very cheap. You felt the aim was to get us hooked. There was not much contact with Afghan adults except the sarandoy, the police."

Only when he got back to Moscow did Yuri feel calm enough to reflect. "The first feeling while you're there is you start to get fed up. You get fed up with the shooting. But you don't think about it. You don't want to. Slowly, very slowly, after the war, you begin to think, to imagine, to remember what happened, the ruined villages, the expressions on people's faces. Not all the Afghan vets understand. Many of them, a substantial proportion, think what they did was necessary and right," he told me.

The details of the Soviet war were different from today's. The enemy used primitive mines rather than today's more sophisticated, remotely triggered roadside bombs. Without infrared night-sights for their sentries, Russian outposts were easy to overrun. Troops travelled in long tank-led columns that were prime targets for ambush. But the basic parameters of an asymmetrical war – hi-tech machines versus agile guerrillas – have not changed. It's just that Nato relies more on drones rather than helicopters to fire its missiles – and civilians still get hit.

Nor is there much difference between Nato's prized techniques of "cultural awareness" and Soviet practice. "They gave us a small piece of paper telling us what not to do and a little dictionary," Igor explained. "That was it. 'Don't fraternise. Don't look at women. Don't go into cemeteries. Don't go into mosques.'" The Russians' contempt for their local allies, the Afghan army, sounded just like that of British squaddies. "Many are cowards. If the ghosts shoot, the army runs away," said Igor as he recalled asking one Afghan soldier what he would do when his conscript service ended. "He said he'd join the ghosts. They paid better."

Nato's war aims echo the Soviets' – prop up a modernising and secular government against the threat from fundamentalist tyranny. The Soviet advantage was that they were operating in an age when nation-building by foreigners was in vogue. The Kremlin did not have to fall back on the claim that terrorism had to be stopped in Kabul in order to keep it from it the streets of Moscow.

The big difference, so far, is that after years of remorseless losses the Soviet leadership realised the war was unwinnable. Mikhail Gorbachev tried talking to the enemy to form a coalition Afghan government (shades of the current "Do we talk to the Taliban?" debate), but when they and their western backers refused, he pulled out anyway. Does Obama have the sense to do the same? In January 1989, six weeks before the Russians completed their withdrawal, I wrote in this newspaper: "The Soviet invasion was an outrage which the majority of the world's nations rightly condemned … But the manner of their departure has been nothing but honourable … What led to the U-turn was a combination of factors: the political mistakes of their Afghan allies [in 2009 read "the corrupt Karzai government"], awareness that the entry of Soviet troops had turned a civil war into a holy crusade, and recognition that the mujahideen could not be defeated. It required a new leadership in Moscow to accept what Russians had privately known for months."

Yuri put it graphically: "It wasn't a Soviet-Afghan war. It's a civil war. A powerful country like ours can't be defeated. If we had sent in more men, it would have been outright occupation or genocide. We thought it was better to leave."

By: Jonathan Steele

Sour©e: The Guardian

My Experience Of Meeting Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin

2009-12-21T02:10:00.000-08:00

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This is the story of an ikhwan who conducted jihad in the land of Afghanistan and had the rare opportunity to personally meet and see Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin. How was Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin like in the land of jihad? How is his akhlaq and manners? Here’s the narrative...!

In The Battle Arena

There were a number of jabhah (fronts) that I had plunged into and there were also a number of combat operations that I had participated in, but I feel it is of no use to tell about all of them here, especially for myself.

I am only here to recount a bit of my sweet experience, while at the Front of Joji, Paktia, Afghanistan, especially my meetings and acquaintanceship with Ash-Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin (rhm) around the middle of 1987.

Joji is a mountainous or hilly region located in the Paktia Province, in the South of Afghanistan. The borderline of Afghansitan-Pakistan is a very beautiful place compared to other places I had visited as it is filled with a type of fir or pine trees, whereas there are only rocks in other places, it is also cool there and during winter the snow could reach a height of two meters or more.

This mountainous and hilly region is a very strategic area for defense as well as for attacks for both sides, whether it be the Mujahideen or the kafir communist Russian forces.

It was strategic for the Mujahideen as it was the main access for the transportation of logistics, ammunitions, personnels, etc., and very strategic for attacks as it is made up of high grounds, very advantageous for the Mujahideen to attack the surrounding areas which had not been taken over whether with their infantry forces or artilleries.

As for the kafir communist Russian forces, the area was very important to them, they were prepared to buy the area for any price supposing that it could be bought because by controlling Joji, they would be able to block the movement of the Mujahideen in this area, in other words the Mujahideen would not be able to enter the Afghan territory, if they were to enter it they would be easily prevented and smashed, so the Mujahideen would be forced to position their base in the Pakistani territory.

If the Mujahideen could not enter the territory of Afghanistan, then they would not be able to launch attacks, especially with the artilleries as it was not possible to launch attacks from a neighboring country because it was certainly very sensitive then, in addition to the needs to take care of the neighborly ties with fellow Muslims in Pakistan especially that Pakistan was under the rule of the late Dhiya-Ul-Haq as the President of Pakistan at that time and it could be said that he was like a foster father for the Mujahideen.

Due to such importance of Joji for both fighting sides, the place had always become a battle field, be it on the land or in the airspace, until it was taken over completely by the Mujahideen and it became safe from enemy attacks as its surrounding areas could also be controlled in their entirity, if I am not mistaken it was sometime around the end of 1987 or early 1988.

The ground of Joji was also famous for its bunkers for almost every Mujahideen who were stationed in that front, their camps were made underground, there was a gigantic tunnel under the mountains built by the Mujahideen where thousands of weapons could be brought inside, in fact even dozens of heavy vehicles could also be brought inside.

Meeting Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin

The Arab Mujahideen brothers were writing brilliant records in the history of the Afghan war against the Red Bear kafir forces, then in fighting the bughot (rebellion in Islamic law) people and the munafiqeen, and later fighting the kafir Crusaders led by America today.

Indeed, their services were so significant in the development of the jabhahs (battle fronts) and defense of Joji. They built bunkers and trenches, and worked together with the tandzhims of the Afghan Mujahideen especially the Ittihad Al-Islamiyyah which was led by Ash-Sheikh AbdurRabbi Rasul Sayyaf, they were not only creditable in preparing the facilities but also even in every attack launched from that area, they were the ones who became “the head of the spear”.

Almost every frontal defense of Joji which was close to the enemies was occupied by the Arab brothers, though there were one or two camps which were occupied by the Afghan Mujahideen including those from the tandzhim of Hizbul Islam led by Al-Muhandis Ghulbuddin Hikmatyar, they managed to dig up trenches and build bunkers in the most frontal area which stretched into the enemies’ territory. They named this area "Ma'sadah" (the meeting point of the lions), which means the meeting points of the Mujahideen who were always ready to pounce and devour their enemies. It was in this area that Ash-Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin (hfz) was stationed, he was the general commander of all the Arab Mujahideen in that area, he was the one leading the fight personally.

It was in this Ma'sadah that I was introduced by Allah SWT to him i.e. in an underground bunker which was covered by very thick snow and in a dark condition, only lighted by a small oil lamp.

I did not expect beforehand that he was Ash-Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin, because I had not known him for certain or from near, sure I had seen him in a glance but only from a distance, besides that I did not hear any of the Arab brothers calling him by his name at that time, everybody called him by his Kuniyah name i.e. Abu Abdullah, whereas there were a lot of kuniyah name with the prefix Abu, including Abu Abdullah.

But alhamdulillah, there was one Arab Mujahid who slowly whispered to my ear, he said: "Ta'rif Anta ya Akhi?" (Do you know who that is, brother?), so I asked him back, "Maaza?" (What?), the Akhi said, "Haaza...Huwa Ash-Sheikh Usamah Ibnu Ladin." I was still a bit doubtful, so he added "Uqsimu Billah" (I swear by Allah), thus is the custom of the Arabs in order to convince people of what they say.

With that information, I did not waste the precious chance and opportunity, so I introduced my kuniah name to him with the extra familiar greetings like: "Kaifa Hallukum?", "Kaifa Shihatukum", "Kaifa Akhbarukum?" (how’s your condition, your health, your news), then he responded with a smile and his distinctive look while also asking, "Kaifa Hallukum?", "Kaifa Shihatukum", "Kaifa Akhbarukum?"

My acquaintanceship with him was only limited to this, thus was always the culture of getting to know each other amongst the Mujahideen, each one is guarding their own secrets mostly to the extent they did not know from which country the other was originating from, the most they could do would only be guesses, only certain people know, therefore not even one Mujahid would occupy themselves with asking, for example, "Where are you from?", "With whom?", "How did you come here?" and so on.

Normally, those who occupied themselves with these questions were the assigned intelligence, though not all of them. There were also those who did it due to habit or nature that was very difficult to change. Normally, if it was evident that the person was an assigned intelligence or munafiqeen, it could be seen for sure that he would not stay long in the Front. In fact, there were those who stayed for only a day or two because the bombardments of the enemies had made them cringed like a heated worm and they wanted to go back to their country or to a more secure place. There were even those who admitted that they were actually an intelligence while leaving in full humiliation.

From time to time, from moment to moment, from day to day, I observed Sheikh Usamah’s personality in silence because at that time, I had faith that Allah SWT had blessed my life by allowing me to meet the personage of a servant of Allah who has virtues and advantages not given to others.

Looking at him, I was as if looking at one of the companions of the Prophet SAW i.e. Utsman bin Affan (RA) or Abdurrahman bin Auf (RA) because there were on them (RA) similar characteristic i.e. plunging into the battlefields with their wealth and lives.

Ash-Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin (hfz), as is generally noted is not only a millionaire but a billionaire or even more than that, but he did not use his wealth like how the common wealthy people use their wealth. Instead, he plunged into the battle arena with his properties and life and was prepared to live zuhd (renunciation of the world or abstaining from the pleasures of this world) in the battle arena like the other Mujahideen. So my instinct told me that someone like him was a not just an average person, it might be that in one million there is not one like him and I, up to now, have not found anyone who equals him.

There is one natural character in me, may that character be good in the sight of Allah SWT i.e. I have a high regard for a servant of Allah who has virtues and excellence, especially in the matter of dien, even though that person does not have anything in the sight of others, in fact he could even be seen as insignificant, because it is too difficult to find someone who has advantages and then with those advantages is having an important role in a program, in accordance with his presence, to boost the progress for Islam and the Muslims.

Rasulullah SAW said :

"People are just like camels, out of one hundred, one can hardly find a single camel suitable to ride."

Therefore, if we observe mankind’s journey through history, there are actually not many people who had been given advantages by Allah SWT. The number of men chosen to become His Messengers is only 25. The number of As-Siddiqin, Ash-Shuhada' and As-Solihin is also small compared to the total number of the majority.

The number of fuqaha' ulama, tafseer experts (mufassirin) from the time of the Sahabas (RA), to the tabi'ut-tabi'in (followers of the tabiin) is also very small. The number of transmitters of hadiths with the given title of "mukhorrij" is only small, less than one hundred of them.

To be continued...

Pakistan Court Summons 52 Suspects On Graft Charges

2009-12-19T03:16:00.000-08:00

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It's proven many times that these so-called leaders are not fit to be leaders of the Muslim people. The taghoot puppet governments are all the same where ever they are. They and their supporters are the same. They are indeed enemies of Islam and the Mujahideen!

Amid growing political turmoil, Pakistan's anti-corruption court in the southern city of Karachi has summoned 52 suspects, including high-ranking officials, a report says.

Prosecutors say, among the top officials are Interior Minister Rehman Malik and presidential secretary Salman Farooqi. The Supreme Court on Thursday had also banned Defense Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar and other top officials from leaving the country.

The summons were issued only two days after Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled as illegal an amnesty that protected thousands of Pakistanis from graft charges.

The amnesty, known as the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), was issued by former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf on Oct. 5, 2007. It granted amnesty to politicians, political workers and bureaucrats who were accused of corruption, embezzlement, money-laundering, murder and terrorism between January 1, 1986 and October 12, 1999.

The court has called on the suspects to appear before a judge on January 8. This could also reopen some 8,000 cases against current and former Pakistani officials, including President Asif Ali Zardari.

Sour©e: PTV

Read also: Payback For The Prosecutor Of Amrozi And Company

Amazing Bird Appears at Martyrdom Operation

2009-12-18T19:04:00.000-08:00

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Watch Carefully from 01:00 till 01:1. We can see a bird appearing out of nowhere!!! Where did it come from???

Read also:
The Birds Of Karomah Received The Three Shaheeds

"Foie Gras" and "Treatment of Animals: An Islamic Perspective"

2009-12-16T03:01:00.000-08:00

Foie Gras means "Fatty Liver"

It's A very luxurious delicacy that originates from France

But this dish comes from FORCE FEEDING a goose or duck to make them develop FATTY LIVER DISEASE.

Let's see the source of this wonderful dish

THE GEESE ARE FORCED TO EAT.. EVEN IF IT DOES NOT DESIRE TO

THE METAL PIPE PASSES THROUGH THE THROAT TO THE STOMACH... EVEN IF IT DOES NOT WANT TO EAT ANYTHING

TO MAKE THE LIVER BIGGER AND FATTER

THE CAGES ARE VERY SMALL AND THEY FORCE THE GEESE TO STAY IN ONE POSITION TO PREVENT THEM FROM USING ENERGY, THUS CONVERTING ALL FOOD INTO FAT.

HOW SAD THEIR EYES LOOK

THEIR LEGS BECOME SWOLLEN FROM THE LONG STANDING EVERYDAY. NO NEED TO SLEEP BECAUSE THEY WILL BE CAUGHT TO FEED AGAIN.

ALTHOUGH THEY TRY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, IT IS USELESS

HOW SAD THIS LIFE IS…

THEY ARE FORCED TO EAT UNTIL THEY ARE DEAD OR THEIR BODIES CANT STAND IT ANYMORE

YOU SEE... THE FOOD IS OVER ITS MOUTH

THE REMAININGS THAT SURVIVED HAVE INFLAMED ANUSSES... BLOOD EASILY COME OUT WITH THE STOOL

NOT ONLY THE MOUTH AND THROAT HURT, STOMACH ACHING FROM THE FOOD ALL THE TIME, SWOLLEN AND BLOATED LEGS, NO SLEEP AND NO EXCERCISE BUT ALSO NO FREE MOVEMENT ALL THEIR LIVES TO SEE THE SKY OR RIVER

TO GET THE BEAUTIFUL AND WHITE LIVER THAT BECOMES UNUSUALLY BIG LIKE THIS

AS LIVER-CANNED FROM ABROAD

Foie gras is one of the most sickening examples of humans' using cruelty to get “luxury.”

THIS IS CERTAINLY CRUELTY TO ANIMALS!

STOP THE DAILY TORTURE ON THE POOR ANIMALS.

NOW, WHAT DOES ISLAM SAY ABOUT CRUELTY TO ANIMALS?

Treatment of Animals: An Islamic Perspective

Cruelty to Animals: Excerpt from the book Animals in Islam, written by Al-Hafiz B.A. Masri

According to the teachings of Islam, causing unavoidable pain and suffering to the defenseless and innocent creatures of Almighty Allah is not justifiable under any circumstances. Islam wants us to think and act in the positive terms of accepting all species as communities like us in their own right and not to sit in judgement on them according to our human norms and values.

Prevention of physical cruelty is not enough; mental cruelty is equally important. In the following incident, a bird's emotional distress has been treated as seriously as a physical injury:

"We were on a journey with the Prophet (SAW) and he left us for a while. During his absence, we saw a bird called hummara with its two young and took the young ones. The mother bird was circling above us in the air, beating its wings in grief, when the Prophet (SAW), came back and said: 'Who has hurt the FEELINGS of this bird by taking its young? Return them to her.'" (Narrated by Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah bin Mas'ud- Muslim)

It is reported by the same authority that "A man once robbed some eggs from the nest of a bird. The Prophet (SAW), had them restored to the nest" (id.)

The Islamic concern about cruelty to animals is so great that it has declared the infliction of any unnecessary and avoidable pain "even to a sparrow or any creature smaller than that" as a sin for which the culprit would be answerable to the Almighty on the Day of Judgement.

The Prophet (SAW) told his companions of a woman who would be sent to Jahannam (Hell) for having locked up a cat; not feeding it, nor even releasing it, so that it could feed itself. (Narrated by Abdullah bin 'Umar. Bukhari)

Islam's concern for animals goes beyond the prevention of physical cruelty or even condescending kindness to them, which is a negative proposition. It enjoins on the human species, to take over the responsibility of all creatures in the spirit of a positive philosophy of life and to be their active protectors.

The Prophet (SAW) asked if acts of charity even to the animals were rewarded by the Almighty. He replied: "Yes, there is a reward for acts of charity to every beast alive." (Narrated by Abu Huraira, Bukhari)

Mishkat Al-Masabih concluded from "Bukhari" and "Muslim" to the effect that: "A good deed done to a beast is as good as doing good to a human being; while an act of cruelty to a beast is as bad as an act of cruelty to human beings," and that: "Kindness to animals was promised by rewards in Life Hereafter" (Mishkat al-Masabih; Book 6; Chapter 7, 8:178).

During the pre-Islamic period, certain pagan superstitions and polytheistic practices involving acts of torture and general cruelties to animals used to be common in Arabia. All such practices were condemned and stopped by Islam. The following few sayings of the Holy Prophet (SAW) will serve as an example:

Hazrat Jabir (RA) has reported that Allah's Messenger (SAW) forbade striking the face or branding on the face of animals.…The same companion of the Holy Prophet (SAW) reported him as saying, when an ass which had been branded in its face passed him by, he (SAW) said : "Allah curse the one who branded it." (Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah- Muslim). This Hadith is concerned with causing pain to the animal on the sensitive parts of its body, as well as with the disfigurement of its appearance.

When the Holy Prophet (SAW) migrated to Madinah from Makkah, people there used to cut off camels' humps and the fat tails of sheep. The Prophet (SAW) ordered this barbaric practice to be stopped. The temptation for the people to perform this sort of vivisection on the animals was that the juicy humps and fatty tails could be eaten while the animal remained alive for future use. To remove this avidity, he declared: "Whatever is cut off an animal while it is still alive, is carrion and is unlawful (Haram) to eat." (Narrated by Abu Waqid al-Laithi. Tirmidhi; Hadith No. 1480, Chapt. On Al-At'imah)

To make sure that no injury was inflicted on the animal while there was even a flicker of life in it, it was forbidden by the Holy Prophet (SAW) to molest the carcass in any way, such as: by breaking its neck, skinning, or slicing off any of its parts, until the body is dead cold.

Many Muslim authorities have also given juristic opinions (fatwa) to the effect that, after slaughter, time should be given for the rigor mortis to set in before cutting up the carcass.

Not only physical but also emotional care of animals was so much emphasized by the Holy Prophet (SAW) that he once reprimanded his wife, Hazrat A'ishah (RA), for treating a camel a bit offhandedly. Hazrat A'ishah (RA) herself narrates: "I was riding a restive camel and turned it rather roughly. The Prophet SAW said to me: 'It behooves you to treat the animals gently.'" (Narrated by A'ishah (RA). Muslim, Vol. 4, Hadith No. 2593).

The following Hadith forbids the disfiguration of the body of an animal: The Prophet (SAW) said: "Do not clip the forelock of a horse, for a decency is attached to its forelock; nor its mane, for it protects it; nor its tail, for it is, its fly-flap." (Narrated by 'Utbah ibn Farqad Abu Abdillah al-Sulami. Abu Dawud)

The incidents of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)'s personal grooming of his horse; his wife A'ishah (RA)'s rough handling of her camel; the Holy Prophet (SAW)'s, prohibition of cutting forelocks, the mane or tail; the condemnation of striking and branding on the face or ears — all these and many other such hadiths show that this Prophet of Allah, Muhammad (SAW) had realized even fourteen centuries ago that animals have a sense of adornment and sensitivity and should be treated well.

Allah Ta'ala gave us the free use of the plants and animals of this Earth. He said, "Eat and drink of the good things of the Earth." He also said, "It is Allah Who has provided you livestock of every kind. You can ride some kinds and others you eat..." (Qur'an 40:79) But we must balance our use of animals and plants with our primary role as a caretaker on the Earth.

For example, we are not allowed to harm animals or plants for no reason. The Prophet (SAW) forbade people from capturing baby birds, burning ant hills and whipping animals cruelly. All the people he stopped from doing these things were doing them "for fun." Well, as the Prophet SAW pointed out, it wasn't fun for the animals.

If we use animals for our work, we must feed them and not over work them. If we eat animals we are supposed to slaughter the animals according to Dhabiha rules which prevent all cruelty to animals and if we have them as pets we are to feed them and care for them.

SOME HADITHS ON TREATMENT OF ANIMALS:

The Prophet (SAW) not only preached to the people to show kindness to one another but also to all living creatures. He forbade the practice of cutting tails and manes of horses, of branding animals at any soft spot, and of keeping horses saddled unnecessarily. (Sahih Muslim)
If the Prophet (SAW) saw any animal over-burdened or ill-fed he would pull up alongside the owner and say, "Fear Allah in your treatment of animals." (Abu Dawud, Kitab Jihad)
A companion to the Prophet (SAW) came to him carrying baby chicks in his clothing and mentioned that the mother bird had hovered over them all along. He was directed to return the chicks back to the same bush. (Mishkat, Abu Dawud)
During a journey, someone travelling with the Prophet (SAW) gathered some birds eggs from a nest. The mother bird's painful cries and commotion attracted the attention of the Prophet (SAW) who asked the man to return the eggs to the nest. (Bukhari)
"Allah has ordained kindness (and excellence) in everything. If the killing (of animals) is to be done, do it in the best manner, and when you slaughter, do it in the best manner by first sharpening the knife, and putting the animal at ease." (Muslim)
"If someone kills a sparrow for sport, the sparrow will cry out on the Day of Judgment, 'O Lord! That person killed me in vain! He did not kill me for any useful purpose.'" (Nisai)
"Any part cut off a living animal is dead flesh." (ie. Unlawful to eat. The implication is that it is not allowed to mutilate a living animal.) (Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Hakim)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Whoever kills a sparrow or anything bigger than that without a just cause, Allah will hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment." The listeners asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what is a just cause?" He replied, "That he will kill it to eat, not simply to chop off its head and then throw it away." (Nisai, Hakim)
"When you set your dog (for the chase), mention the name of Allah, if he catches the game, and you reach it while it is still alive, cut, its throat quickly (so it won't suffer)." (Bukhari, Muslim)
Narrated Sa'd bin Jubair (RA): "While I was with Ibn Umar (RA), We passed by a group of young men who had tied a hen and started shooting at it. When they saw Ibn Umar (RA), they dispersed, leaving it. On that Ibn Umar (RA) said, 'Who has done this?' The Prophet (SAW) cursed the one who did so." (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No.423, Vol. 7)

If thus is the stance of Islam on the treatments of animals, fittingly it goes without saying that humane treatments on fellow human beings (who are not hostile to Islam) is more emphasized.

Courtesy: www.everymuslim.com

That's Where Sheikh Usamah Is...

2009-12-15T02:46:00.000-08:00

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Lately, the media world has been shocked by the statement of a Taliban detainee in Pakistan as cited by the BBC. The detainee claimed to have met Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin a few times before the event of WTC on 9th September 2001. Not only that, the detainee also said that he had just conducted a meeting with Sheikh Usamah sometime in January or February 2009, and he could arrange a schedule for a meeting with him.

This statement certainly makes the entire community of the Western intelligence, the CIA and M16 dumbfounded and disturbed. It’s understandable, as it has been more than a tiring 7 years that they had been seeking information about the whereabouts of Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin and they have never had informations like this. So, where is Sheikh Usamah?

The Miracle in Tora Bora

Is Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin still alive? Where is he? The answers to the two questions are the most awaited by all, especially those who are skeptical of his location. The story of his siege in the mountains of Tora Bora in 2001 post the WTC attack is not known by many people, though Sheikh Usamah himself had issued the statement of how he and his companions managed to slip away from the deadly assaults of the Americans and their allies.

The mountains of Tora Bora, Afghanistan, 20th Rajab 1422 H, corresponding to 7th October 2001 AD. Dozens of American fighter planes growled and spat out their hot burning leads into the trenches scattered around the mountains of Tora Bora. Not only that, the bomber aircrafts of the B52 and C130 type rained the mountainous region which only have an area of not more than one square mile, with smart bombs, cluster bombs and cave-busting bombs. They wanted to completely obliterate that tiny area and wipe it out from the surface of the earth. The leaders of America were confident that Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin was inside the area. Days and nights did not pass by except a fighter plane had flown above with terrible bombardments every minute. This continued to happen until the middle of Ramadhan.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin, along with his faithful companion, Sheikh Ayman Az-Zawahiri and around 300 plus Mujahids continued to hold out by only hoping to get the pleasure and help of Allah SWT from the endless American assaults and bombardments. With the temperature being 10 Degrees Celcius below zero, they dug up 100 khandaqs (trenches), with an average of one khandaq for protecting 3 Mujahids in an area of not more than one square mile. They did that in order to avoid more casualties from the American bombardments. One aircraft could fly for more than 2 hours at a time and drop 20 to 30 bombs.

However, Alhamdulillah, despite their dreadful bombardments along with the frightening propaganda of the press that had never happened to such a small area surrounded from all sides, and in addition to the munafiqeen forces who were paid by America to fight continuously for half a month, the enemies were apparently defeated by the forces of Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin. Subhanallah.

In fact, with the blessings of Allah SWT, Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin and the Mujahideen could hold out there and retaliate till they successfully drove the American forces away in defeats, bringing back their corpses and wounded soldiers. This had made the American forces not dared to enter the territory of Sheikh Usamah, i.e. the mountainous region of Tora Bora.

History has recorded the end of the most frightening battle between the evil alliances of the world, with all its might, against a small group of Mujahideen who stood upon haq (truth) i.e. fighting with only 300 Mujahids who were holding out inside the khandaqs. The battle was won by the Ahlul Iman (the people of faith), Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin and his forces, where the losses they sustained on their personnels was only about six percents and on their khandaqs around 2 percents, Alhamdulillah.

Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin, Still Alive?

The heroic story in the mountains of Tora Bora was not the end of a struggle. In fact, it turned to be a turning point for a long struggle of Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin and his Al-Qaeda, which earlier was believed to be ‘finished’ by the Americans and their allies. The event of Tora Bora is a fact and concrete proof that Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin is still alive, to this day.

However, where is he located? Indeed, it is very difficult to find out the whereabouts of this man whose head was valued for $50 million US by the American government. The Taliban detainee who was interviewed by the BBC said that his informantss from the tribe of Mehsud were responsible for arranging the operations of Al-Qaeda. "The Sheikh did not stay in one place. His informants came from Ghazni, so I supposed that’s where the Sheikh is," he explained.

The province of Ghazni is in the east of Afghanistan, which is the strongest base of the Taliban. A big part of that region is protected from the attacks of the foreign coalition forces, as well as the murtad forces of Afghanistan. It’s from there that Sheikh Usamah bin Ladin reconstructed the strength of Al-Qaeda which was quite in disarray for a while after the bombardments in the mountains of Tora Bora.

The American intelligence service and analysts judged that Al-Qaeda under the leadership of Usamah bin Ladin had raised to power and was getting stronger. In fact, in his latest recorded message, Sheikh Usamah issued a message containing a call for new attacks. PJ Crowley, a security analyst from the Center for American Progress thinks that Iraq was a blessing for Al-Qaeda because the US had taken their bait.

This is in the same tune as what was expressed by Mike German, an ex-agent of an anti-terrorism body, the FBI. He revealed that the Iraq war had brought ease to Al-Qaeda to kill more Americans through its affiliation in Iraq. Meanwhile, Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton from the Washington Post believed: "There is no conflict that required the most time, attention, casualties, finances and support other than the Iraq war. It had become the strongest recruitment and training tools for Al-Qaeda."

According to assessments made by analysts, the Al-Qaeda network led by Usamah had developed new and huge headquarters in the remote region of Pakistan during the seven years after the 11th September attack. The mountainous region which is inhabited by the Pashtun tribe was the first objective of Al-Qaeda fighters to save themselves from the American raids that had overthrown the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001.

Rohan Gunaratna, the author of “Inside Al-Qaeda” and a terrorism expert stated that: "The tribal region has become the HQ for the global movement of Al-Qaeda. There are grounds for training, planning and preparation for attacks on targets that reeks of the West". A number of sources said that even though the whereabouts of Usamah cannot be ascertained until now, they have witnessed the son and potential successor of Usamah, Hamza, arriving in the Pashtun tribal region recently.

"Not even one person knows where Usamah bin Ladin is. Two and a half years ago he was in the Province of Kunar, Afghanistan. But we don’t know where he is now," one militiaman said. Capturing Usamah is the American priority, in fact they had valued the head of Usamah for $US 50 million.

Meanwhile, Pakistan explicitly denied the claim that Usamah is in its territory. The PM of Pakistan, Yusuf Raza Gilana, Thursday (3/12), stated that his government had taken a stern action against every insurgence by Al-Qaeda. "I doubt the information that says Usamah is hiding in Pakistan," Gilani said in a press conference with the British PM, Gordon Brown, in London.

The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, agreed with that statement and he admitted that he didn’t know where Usamah is hiding, and whether he is still alive or not.

"Nobody knows his whereabouts. If you have the information we would be very happy," he told the BBC radio.

Meanwhile, Bruce Riedel, an ex-analyst of the CIA assessed and believed that Sheikh Usamah is still alive. "We know that he is still alive. We know that he is hiding in a place that is very difficult to reach, somewhere in the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan."

Sheikh Usamah: Fight To The End

As cited from the book "In The Heart of Al-Qaeda" (Ar Rahmah Media, 2008) Sheikh Usamah Bin Ladin always repeated the statement that he does not want to be captured alive.

America has exhausted millions of dollars and lost thousands of soldiers in trying to capture Sheikh Usamah Bin Ladin by trying to destroy Al-Qaeda. However, day by day, Sheikh Usamah Bin Ladin and Sheikh Aiman Al Zawahiri showed signs of victory in the political arena and propaganda of Al-Qaeda.

Not even a person knows for sure where the two men are hiding, what went around were only theories. Some people believed that the two of them are always changing their locations from one clan to another in the Afghan-Pakistan borders that stretch out as far as 1500 miles. This territory is outside of the rulings of Pakistan and the people there sees Sheikh Usamah as a “Mujahid Warrior” who fights for the freedom of Afghanistan and sacrifices his wealth and comforts for his brothers and sisters in iman, and fight against the enemies of Islam.

General Asad Durrani, chief of Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan is confident that big cities are the best places for Sheikh Usaman Bin Ladin to hide. Cities like Karachi, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Rawalpindi are good hiding places and they have been producing key figures of Al-Qaeda.

It was said by those closest to Sheikh Usamah Bin Ladin that he lived in the same house as Abu Zubaydah who was captured in Faisalabad in March 2002. The sources said that Sheikh Usamah Bin Ladin left the house three days before it was raided by the joined forces of America-Pakistan.

When Sheikh Usamah delivered recorded audio-tape messages in the recent months, he did not give any indication of where he is located. His statements only indicated that he and Sheikh Aiman Al Zawahiri were somewhere in a comfortable and secure place, and that they could follow the political developments in the Arab peninsula, as well as in the whole world.

Sheikh Usamah said that since he returned to Afghanistan after being deported from Sudan, he did not use anymore of the modern equipments such as mobile phones or satellite phones, as well as Internet or e-mail, as a way of communication. He chose to communicate through handwritten messages delivered by couriers. He obtained all the latest news through the couriers who downloaded and copied them from an Internet café.

It is very difficult to track Sheikh Usamah and Sheikh Aiman Al Zawahiri due to their cleverness. They had created their own security systems. Sheikh Usamah was always guarded by a bodyguard and a small group of trusted forces. The proof of his success in creating a security system is that the hiding places of his two wives and around twenty of his sons and daughters are equally unknown. The same goes with the Sheikh Aiman Al Zawahiri’s family, nobody got any clue.

Sheikh Usamah Bin Ladin and Sheikh Aiman Al Zawahiri move about in the regions where the populations are supporting Al-Qaeda and their followers are ready to die in defending them. This is different from Saddam Hussein who was arrogant, careless and moved within the same region. Despite being on the run, he still behaved like a ruler. Saddam visited some tribal chiefs and communicated with disloyal followers and unfaithful bodyguards. Whereas, there were 14,000 personnels from the American forces and three quarter of the populations were against him.

Fittingly, either dead or alive, Sheikh Usamah Bin Ladin will always be a problem for America. If captured alive, the question according to him is how to make himself shaheed and it should be first through a bloody operation. Killing him would only make him a warrior and increase the hatred of the Muslims towards America, especially in the regions controlled and populated by the supporters of Al-Qaeda. The death of the Sheikh would not change the strength of Al-Qaeda, just as the death of Sheikh Abu Musab Al Zarqawi did not have any influence on the condition of Al-Qaeda.

The patterns of the latest attacks carried out Al-Qaeda indicated that the organization has its own vivacity and strength which do not depend on the leader or certain figures in the organization. Only the ideology of Islam alone can make the movement more solid, stronger and able to fight even after the death of its leader. Therefore, either dead or alive, Sheikh Usamah Bin ladin is still an exemplary figure and inspiration to the organization of Al-Qaeda.

Wallahu'alam bis sowab!

Sour©e: Arrahmah.com

Tabligh Akbar (Mass Religious Rally): Zikir, Jihad Vs Terrorism; Who Are The Real Terrorists?

2009-12-13T05:35:00.000-08:00

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INDONESIA - Saturday, 5th December 2009. A Tabligh Akbar with the theme: "Zikr, Jihad Vs Terrorism" was held at Masjid Al Munawwarah. This event which was filled to the brim with Muslims from various places, presented Ustadz Abu M. Jibriel Abdul Rahman and Ustadz Muhammad Arifin Ilham. This nation owes a lot to the word "jihad" and the cry of "Allahu Akbar", as expressed by Ustadz Arifin Ilham in the core of his lecture. Meanwhile, Ustadz Abu Jibriel in his presentation explained that the terror and terrorism in the version of the international ruling (UN which represents America and other superpower states) is a war on Islam and the Islamic ummah!

Relationship between Zikr and Jihad

Is there any connection between zikr and jihad? Ustadz Abu M Jibriel who had the chance to appear first in the event of Tabligh Akbar organized by Majelis Ilmu (Knowledge Council) of Ar Royyyan, explained that zikr which does not bear the fruit of jihad will be hopeless and empty. Whereas, a jihad which is not accompanied by zikr will be far from victory and success. He quoted Allah SWT’s verse:

" O ye who believe! When ye meet a force, be firm, and call Allah in remembrance much (and often); that ye may prosper:." (Qur'an, Al Anfal : 45)

Jihad fie sabilillah is the highest peak of Islamic deeds. But that highness can never be separated from dzikrullah, because dzikrullah itself becomes the essence and ruhul 'amali (the spirit of the deeds) in Islam including jihad fie sabilillah.

In the opportunity, Ustadz M Jibriel also explained that the highness of the of degree of an amal (deed) is related to the type of amal itself, and the extra value gained from it is also related to where that amal is performed. Just like what had been explained in a hadith that solat in the Masjidil Haram has 100 thousand degree higher than solat in other places and if the solat is performed in the jihad arena, then it would reach 2 million degree higher than solat in other places. The same goes with the practice of dzikrullah, if a Mujahid do zikr in the jihad arena, its rewards is multiplied 70 thousand times.

Rasulullah SAW said:

"Blessed are the people who abundantly mention (the name of) Allah in Jihad, because verily with one word (that they utter) they obtain seventy thousand Hasanat (good deeds), and from that every Hasanat, they would obtain ten times of similar things from Allah as an addition." (HR. Thabrani and Hamim)

Ustadz Abu M Jibriel also related an interesting story from a hadith of Rasulullah SAW regarding the importance of jihad. Abu Hurairah RA said:

"A companion passed by a valley wherein was a well with refreshing water which surprised him. After he said: ‘Supposing I removed myself from the company of people and I lived in this place (for the purpose of ‘ibaadah) but I couldn’t do that until I received permission from Rasulullaah (s.a.w). Would that be the most eminent thing to do towards Rasulullaah (s.a.w)?’ The Prophet (s.a.w) said: 'Don’t do that, because the existence of one from amongst you Fie Sabilillaah is more eminent than Solat made at home for 70 years. Don’t you want to receive forgiveness from Allah and for Him to allow you into Jannah? Ughzuu Fii Sabiilillaah (wage war in the way of Allah), whoever fights in the way of Allah for as long as it takes a camel to recover from one milking to the next, surely Jannah is obligatory for him.'" [Narrated by Tirmidhi and he said: Hadith hasan, Baihaqi and Al-Hakim said: Sahih according to Muslim’s methods]. "

Ustadz Abu Jibriel also cited another hadith i.e.:

"Any soul which lefts this world and enters Paradise would not want to go back to the world even if it got everything on the earth, except a Shaheed who wishes to return to the world so that he may be martyred up to ten times because of the dignity he receives (from Allah)." (H Bukhari 2606, Muslim 3489, At Tirmidzi 1585, Ahmad 12309, 13417)

Lastly, Ustadz Abu Jibriel concluded that the relationship between jihad and zikr is very close, similar to the ruh (soul) and the jasad (physical body). Therefore, separating either one of them means removing the completeness of its role.

Meanwhile, Ustadz Arifin Ilham who appeared next, opened his lecture with a tune of zikr like he normally does. According to him, zikr and jihad are the essences, in fact they are even the highest peaks in the teaching of Dienul Islam. The enemies of Islam are purposely creating provocations by showing the teaching of jihad as a symbol of violence and make it an issue of terrorism so that the Muslims will hate and avoid it.

Jihad and zikr are two things that can be differentiated but cannot be separated, he continued. Surely, when the Mujahideen uttered the zikr with the sound of "Allahu Akbar", it knocks out the mental of the enemies and creates an extreme fear in the hearts of the enemies of Allah. He quoted Allah’s verse:

"O ye who believe! When ye meet a force, be firm, and call Allah in remembrance much (and often); that ye may prosper:." (Qur'an, Al Anfal : 45)

Ustadz Arifin Ilham also asserted that this nation is indeed indebted to the word “jihad” and the cries of “Allahu Akbar”. Surabaya became a sea of fire by Bung Tomo’s cries of takbeer - ‘Allahu Akbar’, when he hysterically inflamed the spirit of jihad fie sabilillah on the sacrificing fighters for the independence of the people. They also had the motto of “Live Honorably or Die Shaheed” because they were also made up religious students, just mention the name of the famous General Soedirman.

Who are the real Terrorists?

In his lecture, Ustadz Abu Jibriel also asserted that the term or phrase “terrorism” had been used by America as an instrument of standard policy for beating and oppressing its oppositions from amongst the Muslims. The war against terrorism had become a new terror for the society, especially the Muslims who are carrying out da’wah and seeking to establish and implement the shari’ah in a comprehensive (kaafah) way.

As for Ustadz Arifin Ilham, he clarified that there is no connection between jihad and terrorism. According to him, it needs to be known that the crime of terrorism could also be done by a formal institution or state, or what is termed state terrorism.

The above point was supported by Ustadz Abu Jibriel that terror by a state had been carried out all this time by America. According to Ustadz Abu Jibriel, the American records of events are too many and long which could prove that America is The Real Terrorist. America with the support of its allies the NATO, managed to press the UN to embargo Iraq post the second Gulf War (1991). The Muslims became the victims, not less than 1.5 million people died. Not to mention those who are crippled by the bombardments of the multinational forces in the second Gulf War.

The same instances occurred in other countries of the Muslims such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. In fact, the case of the Muslim state of Palestine which was occupied since 1948 by Israel under the blessing of America and its allies, shows that America is really the genuine terrrorist. A series of terrors perpetrated by Israel on the Muslims of Palestine was never given a sanction. Obviously because Israel was nurtured and raised by America. America gives economic aids to Israel every year for not less than $ 3 Million US. This has not taken into account the military aids used for generating its politic of terror upon the Palestinian Muslim nation which is unarmed.

Lastly, in closing his lecture, Ustadz Abu Jibriel concluded that the terror and terrorism in the version of the international ruling (UN which represents America and other superpower states) is a war on Islam, and the Islamic ummah, especially the Muslims who wish to live in this world with full independence, with tawheed and to defend those people with tawheed, as well as to implement Islam in a comprehensive (kaafah) way.

Ustad Arifin Ilham in his conclusion also reaffirmed that the enemies of Islam are deliberately creating provocations by trying to show jihad as terrorism, so that the Muslims will hate and avoid it. He advised the Muslims to not fear of being jeered at or criticized just because of their endeavours to establish Islam, present the truth and to be confident of the promise of Allah in His verse:

"O ye who believe! if any from among you turn back from his Faith, soon will Allah produce a people whom He will love as they will love Him,- lowly with the believers, mighty against the rejecters, fighting in the way of Allah, and never afraid of the reproaches of such as find fault. That is the grace of Allah, which He will bestow on whom He pleaseth. And Allah encompasseth all, and He knoweth all things." (Qur'an, Al Maidah : 54)

Wallahu'alam bis Sowab!

Read also:
Ustadz Ferry Nur: Zionist Israel Is Waiting For The Muslims’ Inattention

Interview With Ustadz Abu Jibriel Abdul Rahman About The Title Ash-Shaheed Given To Imam Samudra And Friends

Statement Of Al Qaeda In The Arab Peninsula regarding the Flood Disaster in Jeddah

2009-12-09T03:25:00.000-08:00

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“And we will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient. Who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return. Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are (rightly) guided.” (Al-Baqarah: 155-157).

All praises be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, salawat and salam be upon Prophet Muhammad, his households and companions, and those who follow him until the Judgment Day, 'Amma ba'du:

The Mujahideen have received with sadness and grief, the news regarding the tragedy of the torrential rain and flood that had befallen our brothers and sisters in Jeddah, we beg Allah to forgive the victims who had passed away, heal the wounded, increase their patience and replace their losses with better ones. We are also grieving with our brothers and sisters in Jeddah for the actions of the Saudi government on their citizens. They lied and deceived you, and wasted your money when you were in need of them.

It really hurts our feelings to see the “Saudi Government” showing off to the world through their media tools, the aids that they had given to the people of Jeddah, when in reality, the aids did not come a day after the flood disaster, but the people were using their own resources and the calamity indeed came to expose the government’s deceits, that in actuality the area did not have the necessary infrastructures.

And after the torrential rain had stopped, we saw many corpses along the roads, but instead, the Saudi government blamed the residents for the disaster by saying that "the disaster happened because the residents were constructing their own houses and buildings". Then, they promised to form a committee in order to solve the problems, just as they had promised in the years gone by and they are repeating the fake promises and later, the tragedy will reoccur again and again.

We are saying that the immensity of the flood is greater than the promises of Al-Saud. The issues of the flood and drainage in the city should have been solved long time ago, but the money meant for that purpose got lost in the pockets of the bureaucrats, which instead were used for the program of “westernizing” the Muslim citizens. The latest example is the mixing of the male and female in the “Science and Technology University”, where its construction had wasted millions of dollars, while at the same time the issues of Jeddah and the poor citizens who die due to starvation, were neglected.

The Mujahideen are not surprised with the actions of Al-Saud because they have been abandoning it for a long time, because Al-Saud have abandoned the Tawheed to Allah SWT, Who creates mankind, and they have been ruled by the man-made law and they let "interests/riba" to be applied, and they have wasted the wealth of the Muslims, as well as the needs of the Islamic ummah in Palestine, Iraq, Somalia, but instead they presented those money in golden plates for the projects of the Zionist-Crusader in those areas.

And by the name of Allah, we want to be together with you to treat the wounded, administer the orphans and rebuild the houses that had been destroyed and we want to be together with our brothers and sisters in Palestine and all the oppressed Muslim countries, but the puppet governments are preventing us from doing our roles to support the Muslims in many places and we ask Allah to enable us in helping our brothers and sisters.

My brothers and sisters in Islam in the Arab Peninsula particularly and all the Islamic ummah generally: The solution for us is to stand in one rank and attack the criminal government and replace the rules with the law of Islam, until peace and security return and destroy the falsehood that had been causing the mess.

Allah Ta’ala says: “Those who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice - those will have security, and they are (rightly) guided.” (Al-An’am: 82)

Lastly :

We ask Allah so that He forgives those who died in the disaster and so that Allah heals those who were wounded and gives victory to the Mujahideen.

Al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula

Omayya Joha: The Love Story From The Wife Of The Two Gazan Shuhada's

2009-12-08T03:55:00.000-08:00

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Saying goodbye with the painting of “a blood teardrop” for the first husband and “a candle that illuminates the darkness of the blockade” for the second husband.

How many goodbyes are very difficult for a person, especially if it is with the most loved ones. And it is even more painful if the goodbye had to be with someone who had been joining us in the struggle all this time. However, what happened to Omayya Joha was even bitterer than that. She lost a husband, As-Shaheed Romi Saad and later she had to lose her second husband, As-Shaheed Wail Uqailan.

But the parting with the two men whom she loved very much did not shake off the defiance from this great Palestinian woman which proved the firmness of her spirit and the perseverance in enduring the trials from the Almighty.

Life Companion and Jihad

The pen seemed to be unable to illustrate the personality of this Palestinian woman with all the patience and struggles that she had. She had been left by two most beloved souls in her life.

The visit made by yours truly to her residence on the second day of Wail Uqailan’s demise was originally meant for offering a prayer as an act condolence. However, yours truly was very amazed at this figure who seemed to be as strong as the mountain of Palestine. She greeted all the visitors to her house with a friendly smile. Then, she began to tell the story about her husband who at the same time was also a friend, Wail Uqailan, to all those present.

She said, "Wail was a great man. In the sense that I had never found him complaining, even though the sickness that he suffered was extreme, especially the gastric which he had suffered for some months. He always hid it from me. He always showed his strength in front of me. He lived his life in a normal way. A person would not notice any abnormalities. In the past, he had often departed for jihad and was never absent. Joha paused for while as she tried to withhold her tears, but they apparently spilled out somehow."

She continued, "I have seen Wail cried. He was a rare male in this society. He was strong and authoritative, always liked wherever he was." Joha remembered once when Wail cried i.e. when the Zionist forces killed his sibling, Wail Muhammad Abdul Qadir Uqailan. When he carried his janaza, that was when Wail cried. Wail had also cried once when he was on his bed, when he remembered his friends who had been martyred. Often times, he wished to die as a shuhada, not on his bed.

The Promise Of May

Joha was brought to halt for a moment. She had to receive the arrival of a number of guests, and she looked strong as she expressed praises and thanks to Allah SWT for what had happened to her.

She said, “It’s as if I am reminded of the promise of May, when Romi Saad died shaheed in that month in year 2003, at the age of 28. From him, I was blessed with a daughter named Nur, who was only 9 months old. It so happens that Wail also died shaheed on the 3rd of May 2009, at the age of 32. I really hoped that I’d be blessed with a child from Wail, but apparently Allah has not willed it.

“Wail and Romi were two best friends, in fact they were like two brothers who were always together, ate together, slept together, as well as conducting jihad together. The two of them fought under the resistance front of Izzuddin Al-Qossam Brigade.”

Some Attempts Ended in Failure

Then, she turned her face as if scanning the people who were with her, and she drew a smile on her face. She continued her story, “I lived together with Wail for four years. Those were the most beautiful days of my life. We mutually respect each other. He always helped me in finding ideas for my paintings, especially the paintings for my first husband, Romi Saad. My paint brush was as if representing the sufferings of the people. In the past, Romi suggested that I included a drawing of a key into my artworks, as a symbol of the returns of the Palestinian rights. The same thing was asserted by Wail. I felt that there were not so much differences between Romi and Wail. They were always equal in terms of ideas and selection of titles. I am thankful to Allah Ta'ala for the abundance of grace for me to be always able to endure and remaine strong in facing all these trials which would cause anybody’s heart to break. But alhamdulillah, I managed to bear all the pains. I am back to the original habit of stroking my brush on the canvas in order to depict the struggles, resistance, as well as the blockades.”

Joha then narrated the incident on the martyrdom of Wail, “A month earlier, Wail suffered a stomach rupture which had caused him to be treated in the Al-Shifa hospital, for an operation to be performed immediately. However, as a result of the blockade by the Zionist on Gaza and the absence of equipments for a surgical operation, he was referred to be treated outside Gaza. Unfortunately, the dream to get a medical treatment abroad collapsed in front of the Rafah gate. With various excuses, Wail was not allowed to exit Gaza. There had been some mediators from the Arab countries who could send Wail out of the country in order for him to obtain medical treatments. But I was too late in applying for the entry visa that my husband finally passed away before I could settle all the requirements. My husband lied in the hospital for a month, struggling to fight against his illness until Allah finally took his soul away.”

About Wail’s Illness

"Wail’s close companions or even my dear ones did not know about Wail’s illness, except through my article entitled, “When Men Cry”. In that article, I related how much my sick husband had suffered. “Hold my hand tightly”, he said and his tears flowed down his cheeks. During my life with Wail, I had never seen him cry before that, except on two occasions. First, when his younger brother Muhammad Abdul Qodir was martyred and second when he mentioned the names of those who had been martyred in Gaza during the Zionist war. He had said, “I long very much to fight in the frontline guard like before”. I replied, 'No doubt, you will return, Darling! You will fight against the enemies with your weapons. And you will meet Allah after living a long life with the best deeds, insha Allah. I never want to marry except to a mujahid fie sablillah,' I expressed. In a slow voice he asked, “What will you paint tomorrow?” 'I will paint the news about the return of the dialogue and reconciliation negotiators from Cairo.' He did not say anything. He held my hand and shut his eyes, and he felt asleep."

Cries For Wail and Romi

On the third day since Romi Saad’s martyrdom, her first husband, Joha painted a picture which was most awaited by many people. She painted the picture of her husband Romi inside her eye that sheds a teardrop in the form of blood. The teardrop flows and developed into a heart shape. Meanwhile, on the seventh day since the martyrdom of Wail, she painted a picture of herself walking, while carrying a paint brush as a weapon. On her right hand was a candle which writes out Wail’s name and illuminates the darkness of the blockade with love lights. (asy)
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Note: Ommaya Joha is arguably the most well-known female Caricaturist in the Arab world. She is a Palestinian from Gaza, who works for Al-Quds newspaper. She is also the first woman caricaturist in the Arab World. Her works illustrate the daily suffering of the Palestinians, their dreams, hopes and aspirations, and their unyielding will to resist the Israeli occupation. The full exhibition of Omayya Joha's work can be viewed at http://www.omayya.com

American Terrorist Killed By Afghan Kid

2009-12-05T03:34:00.000-08:00

. A brave Afghan kid aged 14 years old killed an American terrorist after he hit his neck with a sword on Tuesday (24/09) in the region of Mamlah, Ninjihar. The kid also managed to escape after the attack.

It was said that this is not the first time Afghan children killed invading terrorists. These heroic acts by the children were as a result of their furious anger against the invader forces who have dishonoured their lives and brought death and destructions to their homeland.

In fact, four years ago Syahid Abdul Karim who was also a kid aged 10 years, succeeded in killing an American terrorist after he beat him with an axe in the town of Bahto, Kandahar.

Last year a kid named Abdullah who was also 10 years old doused fuel on an American terrorist and then burnt him to death at the borderland of Miyunda, Kandahar.

The Story Of A Poor Woman, Old Cow And Gaza

2009-12-04T06:27:00.000-08:00

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The location where this true story occurred is in a district in Yaman and it took place last January (in 2009).

The story of the sufferings and pains suffered by the people of Gaza spread throughout the world. Everybody was fuming in anger, hatred, enmity and rage. Even more people felt sad and were touched when cute little children became victims from the crazy spurt of bullets and bombs, blood were wetting the ground freely.

This terrible tragedy also came to the knowledge of an old lady who lived poorly in one of the villages in Yaman. Just like everybody else, she also felt sad and sorrowful, and she could not help but shed her tears.

One day she was determined to help the best she could. Incidentally, the only ‘asset’ she had was an old cow, it was too sickly, thin and weak.

Equipped with a high spirit and the feeling of extreme sympathy, she intended to give away her cow to the people of Gaza. So she left her house on foot en route to one of the masjids in Yaman while holding her only beloved cow.

Coincidentally, it was Friday and the jama’ah (assemblage) had already swarmed the compound of the masjid to perform the Friday Prayer. The people started to direct their attention and observe the old and poor lady standing outside the masjid with her cow. Some of them nodded, some of them shook their heads and not a few of them smiled cynically or quite the opposite astounded seeing the poor lady standing faithfully beside her cow.

Time passed by and although the jama’ah of the masjid were engrossed listening to the khutbah delivered by the Imam, they from time to time looked curiously at the two creatures of God. The old lady and her cow were still there without even a little sign of embarrassment or reluctance on her face.

After the Imam got down from the mimbar (pulpit), the Friday prayer was then performed. Let the intense sun burn and sweats drip from her face, the old lady and the cow were still there.

As soon as all the jama’ah completed the solat and do’a, the old lady suddenly hurried and dragged her cow towards the front door of the masjid and waited patiently, unperturbed by the jama’ah walking out of the masjid. Many of them stayed and were curious of what the old woman would do next.

When the Imam of the masjid came out, the old lady bounced up and said: "O Imam, I have heard of the sad story of the people of Gaza. I am a poor person but I sympathize and want to help them. Please accept the one and only cow I have to be brought to Gaza, give it to the people there."

Caught by surprise, the Imam was stunned for a moment by the request of the old lady. And predictably, he was reluctant to accept it. Yeah, how to bring the old cow to Gaza, the Imam questioned. All around, the jama’ah started to murmur. There were those who said that it was an impossible thing to do especially that the cow was already old, it surely had no value.

"Please… take this cow to Gaza. This is all I got. I really want to help them," the unknown woman repeated. The Imam was still reluctant. Every jama’ah talked and whispered to each other. All eyes were fixed on the old lady and her old cow.

The eyes of the old lady started to glaze and well up with tears but she was still unyielding and kept on gazing at the Imam. The atmosphere was filled with silence for a while.

Suddenly, someone from the jama’ah voiced out an idea: "Never mind, let me buy this cow for a price of 10,000 riyals and then bring that money to be donated to the people Gaza."

The Imam appeared to be in agreement. The sad old lady wiped her tears that had already flowed down. She remained speechless but seemed to agree with the suggestion of the jama’ah.

Suddenly, a young man got up and offered an even more remarkable suggestion: "What if we all offer the highest bid while contributing that money to buy the cow and the money will then be delivered to Gaza?"

The woman was surprised, as well as the Imam. It appeared that the idea of the young man was accepted by the crowd. And then in a few minutes, the bids started to roll and a lot of the jama’ah hurried to contribute their money to be collected.

There were those who bid starting from 10,000 to 30,000 riyals and it continued for some time. The atmosphere in the compound of the masjid became noisy when the jama’ah continued to bid non-stop while simultaneously donating their money.

Finally, the old, thin, and feeble cow owned by the old and poor lady was bought for a price of 500,000 riyals (around 148,000 USD)!

It was all through the biddings of the jama’ah plus the public who sympathized with the people of Gaza which included the pure intention of the poor woman. What’s even sweeter was that, after the money was surrendered to the Imam, everybody unanimously agreed on a decision... one of the jama’ahs voiced it out to the old lady:

"We have bidden your cow and managed to collect a sum of 500,000 riyals in order to own that cow…

"However, we have agreed that the money that had been collected will be given to the Imam to be sent to the people of Gaza while the cow is to be returned to you," he said while looking at the poor old lady shedding her tears some more… in happiness.

Unexpectedly, Allah destined everything, the intention of the poor woman to help alleviate the burden of the people of Palestine prevailed and was made easy by Allah to the extent that a huge sum of money could be collected while at the same time she could still keep the one and only ‘asset’ she possessed. Subhanallah!

Therefore, the lesson is that every pure and good intention is always under the consideration and reward of Allah especially that it comes from the small heart of a poor human being who wants to help the Muslim community which is suffering as a result of the oppression by the Zionist regime of Israel, even though she herself was in difficulties and scarcities in every way.

NOTE: If you all sympathize, please be willing to extend your contribution for the sake of the people who are oppressed in Palestine through the nearest Humanitarian Fund in your locality.

sour©e: Harakahdaily

Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba'syir Prayed For Urwah At His Grave

2009-12-03T02:50:00.000-08:00

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Even though it is almost two months now that the janaza of Urwah (a victim of the DENSUS88’s raid in Mojosongo last Ramadhan) has been buried, Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba'asyir still found an opportunity to visit his resting place and performed funeral prayer at the grave of Urwah alias Bagus Budi Pranoto, in Kudus, on Saturday 21st November 2009.

Ustadz Abu was filling up the schedule for a lecture in the town of Pati on that day. He departed from Solo heading for Pati at 8AM, while the session in Pati would start after Zuhr prayer and finish at ‘Asr. As usual, some ‘off key’ voices in opposition to the session which represented the elderly Ustadz could be heard, but it could be overcome by the committee by transferring the venue of the session from Masjid Al-Ikhlas to another location.

On his return from the gathering in Pati, Ustadz Abu took the opportunity to visit the grave of Urwah at RT 08/RW 01, Dukuh Madaran, Mijen Village, Kaliwungu Sub-District, Kudus District.

On his arrival at the graveyard, Ustadz Abu got into confusion for a while in locating Urwah’s grave, but luckily there was a youth who was kind enough to show him the site where Urwah was buried. At about 16:30 hour, he performed solat by the grave of Urwah. The weather condition which was drizzling at that time did not restrict his intention to pray for a fellow Muslim brother.

When asked for what reason he visited and prayed for Urwah, Ustadz Abu only said that it was naturally his intention to stop by Urwah’s grave to perform solatul janaza (funeral prayer) and make do'a for him as he could not make it to Urwah’s funeral procession earlier.

After the solatul janaza, Ustadz Abu did not stop by at the residence of Urwah’s parents though the distance between the house and the grave was only about 50 meters. He purposely did not stop by at their house but only entrusted his greeting of 'salam' to Urwah’s relative, to be sent to his family.

[muslimdaily.net]

Related post: Chronology Of Ash-Shaheed Urwah’s Janaza Reception

Eid ul Adha 1430 H Khutbah by Ustadz Abu Bakar Ba’asyir (Amir of Jama’ah Anshorut Tauhid)

2009-12-01T02:24:00.000-08:00

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

إن الحمد لله نحمده نستعينه ونستغفره ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا من يهده الله فلا مضل له ومن يضلله فلا هادي له و أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له و أشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله

أما بعد فإن أصدق الحديث كتاب الله وخير الهدي هدي محمد { ص ع م } وشر الأمور محدثاتها و كل محدثات بدعة و كل بدعة ضلالة وكل ضلالة في النار

The Muslim people rohimakumulloh,

During the Ukuf yesterday, millions of Muslims were assembling in the field of Arafah where there is no other religion besides Islam that could assemble such a many people in one place, one occasion and wearing the same ihram with the same sacred purpose of worshipping Allah SWT. Subhanallah walhamdu lillahi, Allahu Akbar!

And today more than 1 billion people are standing in solat facing one same direction from various locations on the surface of the earth and filling the atmosphere with the same sound of takbeer. And then later, we will slaughter animals of sacrifice (qurban) as a form ibadaah (worship) to Allah SWT alone – and we will continue resounding the takbeer until the end of the days of Tashriq. How noble is this ibaadah of qurban that Shaikhul Islam Ibnu Taimiyyah rahimahullahu said in Majmu’ Fatawa, when explaining the second verse of surah Al-Kautsar (Therefore to thy Lord turn in Prayer and sacrifice), that Allah SWT ordained us to gather the two great ibadaahs (i.e. solat and slaughtering qurban) which signify the attributes of taqarrub (nearness to Allah), tawadhu’ (humility), realization that we are always in need of Allah SWT, husnuzhan (having positive thoughts of Allah), strong faith and tranquillity of the heart towards Allah SWT, His promise, command, as well as His priority over anything else. May Allah accept all of our ibaadahs, ameen!

The Muslim people rohimakumulloh,

However there is a reality that is very difficult for us to accept. Lately, the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics released a data that mentioned the total number of Jewish population in Israel that has now reached 5 million 542 thousands. While the number of Muslims who are splintered in the various nationalistic states (due to misguided ideology of nationalism) is much bigger, i.e. more than 1.57 billion adherents, they are incapable of confronting these people of the apes and swines despite their smaller number. Masjid Al Aqsa which was once the first kiblat of the Muslims is aggressed by the cursed Jews and treated in any manner as they like. Imagine what kind of feeling is crushing and slicing the hearts of the Palestinian Muslims there. It could be that when we are slaughtering the animals of sacrifice, our Palestinian brothers and sisters are being butchered there by the cursed Jews just like the people of Ashabul Ukhdud who were sitting happily at the edge of the trench set ablaze with fire to slaughter the believers. Wallahul Musta’an!

The Muslim people rohimakumulloh,

The suffering of Palestine is the sufferings of all the Muslims. The Muslim people have the responsibility to liberate the land of Palestine from the grip of the enemies of Islam. The current condition of Palestine is indeed requiring the duty of jihad for all the Muslim people, mainly because the two forces had met in Palestine, i.e. the forces of Jewish Israeli kuffar and the Muslims of Palestine. Since the year 1947, the accursed Zionist Israel had attacked and occupied the territories of the Muslims and they keep on expanding their invaded areas by constructing new settlements. Therefore, it is wajib upon all the Muslims especially the Muslim people in the region of Palestine to continue picking up weapons for the sake of conducting jihad against the Jewish Israeli kuffar and not adopting other ways which are not in accordance with the Shari'ah of Islam. And according to the understanding of true Islamic fiqh, this duty of jihad continues to strike the Muslims, starting from the nearest ones to those whose domiciles are far from Palestine, so that the Palestinian Muslims can destroy the Zionist Israel and live peacefully under the banner of Islamic Shari’ah.

It is due to this as well, that we are reminding the leaders and members of HAMAS, especially those ikhlas and gallant ones from the Brigade of Izzudin Al Qossam, that you must return and hold tightly to Dienul Islam and not taking up the kufur path of Democracy. You must repent and unite with other Mujahideen brothers who are istiqomah with the manhaj (methods) of the Salafus Sholeh, such as those from Jund Ansarullah. You cannot attack and be hostile to them because if you do, then you are no different from the other Thoghut Arab rulers around Palestine. A lot of the Arab rulers have become murtad from this noble Dien because they have consciously collaborated and keep on collaborating shoulder to shoulder with America and its allies in fighting the Mujahideen. And being in enmity with the Mujahideen would never make you triumph in the fight against the accursed Jews, in fact you would be trapped to become their lackeys just like what befell those thoghut Arab rulers. Na’udzubillahi min dzalik!

And some of the Arab rulers including those who claimed to be Ulama had betrayed Allah and His Rasul, besides abandoning the Muslim people of Palestine. They acknowledged the existence of the Israeli State, in fact they even allowed agreements with the accursed people. Whereas the first Prime Minister of Israel i.e. David Ben Gurion himself had said, “If I were an Arab ruler, I myself would never sign any agreement with Israel!”

The Muslim people rohimakumulloh,

It is clear that as long as the holy lands of the Muslims are still invaded, be it directly or indirectly, by the power of the kuffar International, the condition of the Muslims in the various aspects of life will still be in crisis. We do not fear the crisis that hit our world in the form of political crisis, economical crisis and other similar crisis. But we fear very much the crisis that hit the Dienul Islam that we believe in, i.e. when the aqeedah of Tauheed is harmed by the variety of ideologies, beliefs, the shirk and misguided thinking streams such as the teachings of Nationalism, Socialism, Democracy, Liberalism and others which are deliberately spread by the enemies of Islam for the purpose of Ghozwul Fikri (War of Ideology) to destroy Islam from within.

In the physical war, like what is now happening in a number of places in the Islamic world, the Mujahids would obtain two goodness i.e. victory or shaheed just as explained by Allah in the verse:

Say: "Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allâh has ordained for us. He is our Maulâ (Lord, Helper and Protector)." And in Allâh let the believers put their trust. Say: "Do you wait for us (anything) except one of the two best things (martyrdom or victory); while we await for you either that Allâh will afflict you with a punishment from Himself or at our hands. So wait, we too are waiting with you." (At-Taubah: 51-52)

However, in the arena of Ghozwul Fikri, the Muslims are trapped in a very dangerous condition for his Dien. Their physiques are not killed but the thinking and beliefs of the Muslims are changed and messed around with as such to the extent that the Muslims have fallen into shirk without them realizing it, just as mentioned by Allah in the verse :

"Those who love the life of this world more than the Hereafter, who hinder (men) from the Path of Allah and seek therein something crooked: they are astray by a long distance." ( Ibrahim : 3)

What other calamity or crisis could be bigger than these things?

Let’s look at the "Jaringan Iblis Liberal" (or Liberal Iblis Network – a sardonic term for Liberal Islam Network -ed) and other similar networks, they work upon the foolishness of the Islamic ummah generally to rebuke, pin down and destroy the Muslims who are consistent in practising Al-Qur’an and Sunnah. They called those who abide by the requirements of Al-Qur’an and Sunnah, especially jihad, with unbecoming names so as to deceive the society. They freely used the words Fundamentalist, Terrorist and so on. Besides that they also diligently spread misguided ideologies through the various medias and publications which are sponsored by America and its accursed allies. Insha Allah, the evil and false moves that they worked on will be a total failure and they will be defeated in shame. Allah SWT says:

"The Unbelievers spend their wealth to hinder (man) from the path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend; but in the end they will have (only) regrets and sighs; at length they will be overcome: and the Unbelievers will be gathered together to Hell;-." (Al-anfal : 36)

"Their intention is to extinguish Allah's Light (by blowing) with their mouths: But Allah will complete (the revelation of) His Light, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it)." (As Saff : 8 )

Who are these people? Some of them were born and raised in the big and renown Islamic organizations, they have become “Malin Kundang” (a local legend that symbolizes a treacherous son –ed). And this type of Malin Kundang is not only treacherous to the Muslim ummah that nurtured and raised them, but they are even treacherous to and against Allah Azza wa Jalla. Indeed, they have become kafir murtadeen and therefore, anyone who doubts their apostasy are undoubtedly the same as they who have become murtad!

The Muslim people rohimakumulloh,

Various misguided teachings continue to appear, grow and blossom everywhere to the extent that the Islamic ummah continues to be participating in misguidance today, except those who are blessed by Allah SWT. There is no doubt that all these misguidance are let to thrive, in fact some of them are even given assistance financially in order to crook the Dienul Islam without many realizing it. The enemies are united and spend their wealth to harm Islam and subjugate the Muslims. They are very afraid and worried if the Muslims return to the true teachings of Islam because the revival of the Muslims is a ghost (that causes fear) for them which would never allow them to enjoy the natural wealth that they could usurp in the lands inhabited by the Muslim majority. Thus are the manhaj (methods) of Fir’aun, in order for their authority to be imperishable, they meddle with the teachings of Islam so that the Islamic ummah will become weak and easily dominated. This manhaj is adopted very well by the invading crusaders in the countries they invaded, the same goes with the puppet government produced by their upbringing.

By using the name of national interests and national unity, they forced the Muslims to accept the polytheism (shirk) and misguidance that they taught. A camp was chosen as the Moderate camp i.e. the camp of the Muslims who are willing to tolerate polytheism and misguidance, the rest are categorised as hard line, radical and even terrorist i.e. the camp of the Muslims who are holding tightly to Al-Qur’an and As-Sunnah, and thus inflaming the spirit of Jihad. Then, they would provoke, not only in the instructional level but also in practical level by racing to claim the Islamic ummah’s assets such as Masjid, madrassas, institutions and so on, to be filled with the misguided teachings. Then, they would accuse and condemn the good and istiqomah Islamic youth cadres who are in the vicinity of the masjid and madrassas that are claimed to be owned by their organizations. Next, they would call those young Islamic activists as the extension of the transnational Islamic organization such as Hizbu Tahrir, Ikhwanul Muslimin and even Al Qaeda. Masha Allah!

The Muslim people rohimakumulloh,

So, dear Jama’ah (assemblage), where is the meaning of the Ibaadah of Hajj and Qurban that we perform? Is it only a process for seeking the title of “haji” and good names? Doesn’t going for hajj indicate that Islam is naturally a transnational or universal religion? Doesn’t doing the qurban signify our sincerity to Allah Azza wa Jalla just like the obedience exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim AS? He was prepared to leave his wife who had just given birth and newly born son in the desert that has no vegetation and water for the sake of carrying out the commandment of Allah SWT just as He says:

"O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: so that they may give thanks." (Ibrahim: 37)

And he also carried out the commandment of Allah to slaughter his one and only son, to be slaughtered simply to obey the commandment of Allah, just as He says:

Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills one practising Patience and Constancy!" (As-Saffat: 102)

Let us all return (repent) to Allah SWT and honestly admit that we are still infected by the disease of Wahn (love of this world and fear of death) that we still have not acquired the earnest efforts to re-establish the dignity of Islam and the Muslims. Then we instil a determination in the heart that, insha Allah, we are prepared to sacrifice anything precious in our lives, be it the properties, occupations or even lives, in order to obtain His maghfirah (forgiveness), rahmah (mercy) and ridha (pleasure) i.e. by continuously advancing and abstaining from retreating in the struggle of da’wah wal jihad for the sake of forming a society that only wants to be ruled by Al-Quran dan As-Sunnah.

Where per se, we must also rigorously reject and fight every misguided teaching and human law that do not want to bow to Allah’s laws in a kaffah (complete) manner such as the ideologies of Nationalism, Socialism, Democracy, Capitalism, Liberalism and so on. Let us build up the strength of the Muslims in the context of I’daadul Quwwah (preparing the strength) in order to carry the sacred duty of liberating the lands and holy places of the Muslims with jihad fii Sabilillah. For the purpose of obeying the commandment of Allah SWT.

"Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly." (Al-Anfal: 60)

And the commandment of Allah SWT:

"And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do." (Al-Anfal: 39)

Hasbunallah wa ni’mal wakiil ni’mal maula wa ni’man nasiir , Allahu Akbar wa lillahil hamd!

Finally, let’s make do’a to Allah Azza wa Jalla:

اللهم لا تجعل مصيبتنا في ديننا ولا تجعل الدنيا أكبر هــمنا ولا مبلغ علمنا ولا تسلط علينا من لا يرحمنا

اللهم انصر المجاهدين في كل مكان واجمع كلمتهم وثبت أقدامهم وانصرهم علي عدوك وعدوهم وانصرهم نصرا مؤزرا

اللهم أنج المجاهدين المسجونين والغارّين بدينهم في كل مكان
اللهم العن كفرة أهل الكتاب الذين يصدون عن سبيلك ويكذبون رسلك و يقاتلون أولياءك . اللهم خالف بين كلمهم وأنزل بهم بأسك الذي لا ترده عن القوم المجرمين
ربنا آتنا في الدنيا حسنة و في الآخرة حسنة وقنا عذاب النار
ربنا تقبل منا إنك أنت السميع العليم و تب علينا إنك أنت التواب الرحيم
سبحان ربك رب العزة عما يصفون و سلام على المرسلين . والحمد لله رب العالمين

والسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

[muslimdaily.net]

A Note To Remember By ...

2009-11-24T04:43:00.000-08:00

Related post: The Unpleasantness Of The Process Of Sakaratul Maut

The Ambition To Obtain The Award Of Shaheed (Insha Allah We Can)

2009-11-24T02:25:00.000-08:00

. Abu Thabit from Sahl bin Hunaif (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (PBUH) said: "He who asks Allah for martyrdom, Allah will raise him to the high status of the martyrs, even if he dies on his bed." [Muslim].

This hadith hinted at the two very high status in the sight of Allah, i.e. martyrdom (shuhada’) and truthfulness (sidq), just as mentioned by Allah:

"All who obey Allah and the apostle are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah, i.e: the Prophets (who teach), the Siddiqeen (the Champions of Truth), the Shuhada’ (who die shaheed), and the Soliheen (who do good): Ah! what a beautiful fellowship!" (an-Nisa’:69)

There are three types of shaheed;

1- Shaheed in the akhirah (hereafter) only; those who die after being affected by calamities, such as those who die in a fire, from drowning and of intestinal ailments.

“There are seven types of martyrdom in addition to being killed in Allah's cause: one who dies of plague is a martyr; one who is drowned is a martyr; one who dies of pleurisy is a martyr; one who dies of an internal complaint is a martyr; one who is burnt to death is a martyr; who one is killed by a building falling on him is a martyr; and a woman who dies while pregnant is a martyr.” (Abu Dawud an-Nasa’I and Ahmad)

The same goes with those who die defending their honor and their own possessions just as Rasulullah SAW said in a hadith:

From Abu Hurairah, he said: there was a man who came to Rasulullah SAW and asked, "O Rasulullah, what is your opinion if someone wants to seize my properties." He (SAW) said, “Don’t give your properties to him.” He asked again, "What is your opinion if he attacks me?" He (SAW) said, “Attack (fight) him.” He asked again, "What is your opinion if he kills me?" He (SAW) said, “You will be shaheed.” He asked again, "What is your opinion if I am able to kill him?" He (SAW) said, “He will be in hell.” (Muslim)

From Sa’id bin Zaid, he said; Rasulullah SAW said; “Whoever dies while defending his own possessions is a martyr, whoever dies fighting in order to defend his own family is also a martyr, and whoever dies guarding his own faith is a martyr; whoever dies defending his blood (own person) is a martyr.” (At-Tirmidzi, an-Nasa’i, and al-Baihaqi)

2- Shaheed in the dunya (world) and akhirah; i.e. those who are killed in the arena of jihad. This is the highest form of shaheed just as Allah SWT explains:

“Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord; They rejoice in the bounty provided by Allah. And with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the (Martyrs) glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve. They glory in the Grace and the bounty from Allah, and in the fact that Allah suffereth not the reward of the Faithful to be lost (in the least).” (Ali Imran:169-171)

The shaheed mentioned in the above verses is meant for those who are killed in struggling to raise high the kalimah of Allah. Fighting the enemies for the purpose of defending the religion of Allah, just as explained by Rasulullah SAW when he was asked by someone about those who are considered as dying fie sabilillah:

From Abu Musa al-Asy’ari RA, he said; A man came to the Prophet and asked, "A man fights for war booty; another fights for fame and a third fights for showing off; which of them fights in Allah's Cause?' The Prophet said, 'He who fights that Allah's Word, Islam, should be superior, fights in Allah's Cause.” (al-Bukhari)

Those who die in the struggle to raise high the kalimah (words) of Allah, they are the ones who achieve victory, whether it be they live or are dead in battle, just as Allah SWT says:

“Say: ‘Can you expect for us (any fate) other than one of two glorious things- (Martyrdom or victory)? But we can expect for you either that Allah will send his punishment from Himself, or by our hands. So wait (expectant); we too will wait with you.’" (at-Taubah:52)

The two goodness meant in the above verse are; achieving victory or dying shaheed. Meanwhile for the kafir Allah guarantees the coming of adzab (chastisement) for them; whether the adzab will come directly from Allah, such as the adzab during the battle of Ahzab, or it is made to come by Allah through the hands of the Mujahideen, in the same manner as the adzab during the battle of Badar.

3- Shaheed in the dunya only; i.e. those who die in the battle arena for defending the religion of Allah, but personally, they advance into the battle field because of worldly goals. Therefore, in this world they are judged as shaheed, to the extent that their janaza are not washed. But in the akhirah they will be thrown into hell….

“The first of people against whom judgment will be pronounced on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who died a martyr, then he will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favours and he will recognize them. [ The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I fought for you until I died a martyr. He will say: You have lied - you did but fight that it might be said [of you]: He is courageous. And so it was said.” He will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire.” (Muslim)

Shaheed is a very high honor, just below the status of Prophethood and Siddiqeen, and above the degree of Solih. But generally, people only aspire for them or their children to become solih. Whereas, the degree of shaheed, just as we have seen in the Qur’anic verse earlier, is above the degree of solih. Therefore, the hadith could be understood as giving encouragement to the Muslimeen so that they aspire to be able to die shaheed.

In that case and as a proof, we must make do’a with all our hearts so that we would die in the state of shaheed fie sabilillah. Amongst the proofs is by always making the do’a:

اللهم إني أسألك الشهادة في سبيلك

“O Allah, verily I am begging from You to give me shaheed in Your path.”

The death of shaheed could not be achieved without conducting a struggle to raise high the religion of Allah. Whereas, the chance to fight in a battle will not be available all the time. If the person begging for shaheed is really truthful in his supplication to Allah, then Allah will raise him to the degree of shaheed, even he dies in his bed.

One of the proofs that one is truthful in his do’a is by following up the do’a with I’dad (carrying out preparations for jihad) according to his ability:

“Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.” (al-Anfal:60)

This i’dad could be accomplished by doing training so as to gain the skills in using weapons, learning the techniques of combats or if these could not be achieved, by taking care of the physical strength and sustaining it always by strengthening the spirits with true iman, as well as true ibaadah and other things that could safeguard the ambition for shaheed.

Another thing that could be a proof of his true ambition is the observation of the occurrences by following the news that come out of the jihad lands. Other than that he is also diligent in contributing his wealth in the way of Allah. He likes to care and provide attentiveness to the families who are left behind for the sake of jihad. And when his turn to depart comes, he will go for jihad.

Jihad itself is of two kinds, offensive jihad and defensive jihad. Offensive jihad is conducted together with the Khalifah or Amirul Mu’mineen, and as long as it is not mobilized by the amir, the ruling is fard kifayah (collective obligation). The defensive jihad is the jihad for the sake of defending a country from the attack of the enemies. The ruling for this type of jihad is fard ‘ayn (individual duty) for the able.

In defending the lands of the Muslims, if the intention is purely for defending the religion of Allah, then his jihad is fie sabilillah. Dying in such kind of struggle is shaheed in the dunya and akhirah. However, if his jihad is only for defending or winning independence for the nation, then he will only attain shaheed in the dunya.

For this reason, in i’dad (preparing for jihad), it is necessary to base it on ‘ilm (knowledge) so that rightful practices in accordance with the demand of shari’ah could be undertaken. Without the foundation on ‘ilm it could be that, before the jihad happens, his desire for shaheed is not siddiq (true) anymore, it’s gone and blown away by the satan’s whisper. Or if the jihad has really happened, his ambition to die shaheed will turn into a desire for the liberation of the country from the enemies on the basis of nationalism only.

Every human being’s age in life has definitely been predetermined by Allah. Advancing into the jihad arena doesn’t mean putting our lives at stake. On the other hand, running away from the jihad arena doesn’t mean that we can free ourselves from the destiny of death. There are a lot of instances where a person repeatedly plunged into the midst of the battle but was never killed. Khalid bin Walid, for an instance, was a warrior in every field, remember Rasulullah SAW named him as Saifullah (Allah’s Sword) but his death happened on a bed.

If one’s ambition to die shaheed is indeed true, it will be evidenced in his various actions which keep on burning fervently until the end of his life. Even if he dies in his bed, he will reap the same rewards as those who die in the jihad arena.

Related posts:
JIHAD IN AN ORDERLY ARRANGED SAF (LINE)
The True Meaning Of Shaheed
The Types Of Martyrs

Dragged To Court Just Because Of 3 Cocoas While Big Time Corruptors Are At Ease

2009-11-21T10:37:00.000-08:00

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INDONESIA - It is so sad to see the implementation of the judicial system in this country. In Indonesia, the upholding of law is carried out unjustly. At a time when many corruptors who steal the money of the people in their millions or even trillion Rupiahs are walking away freely; where that much money could surely provide enough food and free education for the millions of the poor people; an old woman was indicted in criminal court just because of plucking three cocoa fruits that cost Rp 2000 (USD 0.208747).

Minah from Dusun (orchard) Sidoharjo, Desa (village) Darmakradenan, Kecamatan (subdistrict) Ajibarang, Kabupaten (district) Banyumas had to face trial just because of three cocoa fruits which have the value of Rp 2000. (USD 0.208747).

Not like the thieving corruptors who systematically robbed the riches of the state and who always try to evade questions regarding the corruption that they do, Minah admitted that she took the fruits.

"Not surrendering, but just submitting to God’s will," she said. "It’s true, I plucked those cocoa fruits from the tree." She added.

Accused since 19th October, the case of the cocoa stealing that stifles grandma Minah was handled by the Public Prosecutor of Purwokerto County. Really, there is no reason that Minah should be incarcerated in the house arrest given to her in waiting for the trial date. Every day, she could still count her footsteps in the 3 km plus walk from her house to the orchard to work.

She was charged with taking other people’s possession without permission i.e. plucking three cocoa fruits weighing 3 kg from the orchard owned by Rumpun Sari Antan (RSA) 4 PT (Inc., Ltd.). How much loss was inflicted from the theft? Rp 30,000 according to the prosecutor, or Rp 2.000 in the market!

In this proceeding in Purwokerto County Court, Kabupaten Banyumas, Central Java, Thursday (19/11), Madam Minah was present without the accompaniment of any lawyer, she recounted that her reason for plucking the three cocoa fruits at the orchard of RSA 4 PT (Inc., Ltd.), last August was to make them as seedlings.

This illiterate mother/grandmother of seven children and a dozen grandchildren, at times threw glances across at some people in the courtroom in order to gain support and strength. She tried to make sure that her defence could convince the judge.

By using a deep Banyumasan Javanese dialect intermixed with Indonesia language, Minah explained that the three cocoa fruits was intended to be used as seedlings to be added to the cocoa seedlings she already got in her orchard in Dusun Sidoharjo, Desa Darmakradenan, Kecamatan Ajibarang, Kabupaten Banyumas. “I don't want to be imprisoned, your Honour...it was just three cocoas,” Minah said to the judge’s council.

Indeed, it is worrying when seeing a case like this. The laws of this country are executed strictly on the small people, but when it comes to the rampant big thieving corruptors from amongst the government officers and conglomerates, it is as if the law could be played around. The law in this so-called democratic Indonesia looks like it is inclined to let wickedness exist and goodness and honesty are suspected. Those with honest morality will come to nothing and those wicked ones will be safe and even elected to become respected officials. This living system of a country is what’s called “Gangsterism”.

Ibn Taymiyyah, A Bright Star In The World Da’wah & Jihad

2009-11-20T06:58:00.000-08:00

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أنا جنتي و بستاني في صدري ..
أين ما رحت فهي معي ..
أنا حبسي خلوة ..
و نفيي سياحة ..( يعني الترحيل عن البلد )
و قتلي شهادة ..
المأسور من أسره هواه ..
و المحبوس من حبس قلبه عن ربه ..

(translation at the end of this article)

On 20th Dhul Qaidah 1430 H or equivalent to 8th November 2009, it was exactly seven hundred and two (702) years that the Islamic ummah had lost one of its warriors in history. The warrior was also a commander, ulama, mujtahid and mujahid, the defender of Islam. His life was never free from the shadows of the tyrannical government and iron bars. The warrior’s name is Abul-Abbas Taqiyud-Din Ahmad ibn Abdul-Salaam ibn Abdullah ibn Taymiyah al-Harrani or better known by the name Ibn Taymiyyah.

He was born into the circle of a religious family from a strong intellectual background. His father, Shihabuddin bin Taymiyyah was a judge and a khatib (speaker) at the same time. His grandfather named Majduddin Abul Birkan Abdussalam bin Abdullah bin Taymiyyah Al-Harrani was an ulama in fiqh, 'Ilmu 'I-Usul, tafseer, and an ahlul hadith.

Ibn Taymiyyah was born in Harran, on the 10th Rabiul Awwal 661 H when Baghdad was the centre of authority and Islamic culture during the Abbasid Dynasty. When Ibn Taymiyyah was six years old (year 1268), he was taken by his father to Damascus as Iraq was under attack by the Mongol army then.

Like his father and grandfather, Ibn Taymiyyah also possessed a high IQ. The signs of his intelligence could already be seen at a very young age. Once, when he was still a kid, there was a great ulama from Halab (ed- in Syria) who purposely came to Damascus, only to see this prodigious child named Ibn Taymiyyah whose intelligence and marvelous retentive power became the talk of the town. During the meeting, he gave Ibn Taymiyyah a test by means of presenting 11 or 13 matn (text) of hadith at once. Evidently, Ibn Taymiyyah could memorize them precisely in a very short period of time. The same goes when a number of sanad (the chain of narrators of the hadith) were presented to him, he could memorize and repeat them all exactly without a single mistake. Astonished at the feat of the boy's memory he remarked: “If Allah wills him to live, he would be a genius without a peer in the whole world.”

Before reaching his teenage years he had already mastered most of the religious and secular sciences of his time giving special attention to Arabic literature, Nahwu (grammar), mathematics, khat (calligraphy) and lexicography. He also learned the laws of Shari'ah, Jurisprudence, Hadith and Quranic sciences, . At that age, he had already studied the musnad of Imam Ahmad for some times, then the Kutubu-Sittah and Mu’jam At-Thabarani Al-Kabir.

In his youth, he had been stuffed with pouring important knowledge from important personalities. He studied with over 200 sheikhs, among them his own father and four women. As he was endowed by Allah Ta’ala with the ability to easily memorize and hardly forget, he had already memorized the Qur’an since he was young.

Ibn Taymiyyah especially mastered the Rijalul Hadith (narrators of hadith) and Fununul Hadith (varieties of hadith) whether it be the weak, faulty or sahih hadiths. He understood all the hadiths contained in Kutubus Sittah and various Al-Musnad. He had an extraordinary brilliance in presenting the verses as hujjah, to the extent that he could easily bring up the mistakes and weakness of the mufassir. He wrote tafseer, fiqh, ilmu ‘usul every night while at the same time commenting on the philosophers. In one day and night, he managed to write four kurrosah (small book) which contained a variety of his opinion in the field of shari’ah. Ibnl Wardi said in Tarikul Ibnl Warid that Ibn Taymiyyah had written five hundred titles.

Although Ibn Taymiyyah’s love for knowledge was very deep, he did not right away abandon the amaliyah activities of da’wah and jihad like many of today’s ulamas who are only satisfied by involving themselves with books. Ibn Taymiyyah did not remain quiet seeing the munkars that were prevalent in his time. He personally jumped into the midst of society establishing amar ma’ruf and nahi munkar. He did not adopt the uzlah (the breaking off) approach seeing the rampant vices and munkars. Once, on his way to Damascus, in a “café” that normally became a meeting place for the blacksmiths, he saw people playing chess (a game that he considered as immoral - ed). He immediately approached the place, took the chess board and turned it over. Those who were playing the game could only be taken aback and silenced.

Not only that, with his own hands, he had also smashed up a drinking place and harassed its visitors. [Something nearly the same done by the Front Pembela Islam (Islamic Defenders Front) in Indonesia especially in the month of Ramadhan.] In fact, Ibn Taymiyyah and his followers had on one Friday fought the people who lived in the mountain of Jurdu and Kasrawan because they had strayed and their aqeedah had been corrupted as a result of the Tar-Tar army invasion which had destroyed the city. He then explained the truth of Islam to them.

His amaliyah of amar ma’ruf nahi munkar did not stop there. He then continued to conduct jihad, in the sense of “fighting a war”, something that is a far cry from most of today’s ulamas. He was a Mujahid who made Jihad as his way of life. In the year 700 H, when Sham was sieged by the Tar-Tar army, he immediately approached the mayor of Sham in order to crush any possibility that could happen by presenting verses from the Qur’an. He generated the spirit to defend a homeland and drive away the enemies. Because of his determination, he became a trusted person and was able to get help from the forces of the Sultan of Cairo. With mature and precise argumentations he managed to awaken the heart of the Sultan. Then, the sultan deployed his entire army forces to Sham until they achieved victory at last.

In Ramadhan 702 H, he personally jumped into the battle arena during the battle of Syuquq, which became the command centre of the Tar-Tar forces. Together with the army forces from Egypt, they all advanced under the command of the Sultan. With the spirit of “Allahu Akbar” that echoed, they managed to expel the Tar-Tar forces and Syuquq could be reclaimed.

The personality of Ibn Taymiyyah had a lot of different aspects. One role that could always be seen was his activity in fighting all bid’ah (innovation), khurafat (superstitious notion) and views that according to him was astray. It’s not surprising that he received heavy oppositions and hard times from the ahlul bid’ah during his time.

A big part of them wanted to eliminate the pure shari’at of Muhammad, which is above all the other religions and hukm (rules). The leaders of those deviated stream caused the people to be in doubts about the fundamentals of their religion.

“They are the zindiq people who are not confident with their religion. After seeing all those, it was clear to me that it is compulsory for anyone capable to fight their falsehood and overcome their arguments, to muster all energy to expose their ugliness and rebuff their theorems.” Thus was some of his view which had received challenges from those who felt cornered and faulted by him.

Year 705 H, the ability and credibility of Ibn Taymiyyah was tested. The Qadhi’s and the sultan assembled in the palace. After going through a fierce debate between them, it was clear in the end that Ibn Taymiyyah held a true aqeedah. Many amongst them realized the truth in Ibn Taymiyyah.

However, the attempt to discredit the personality of Ibn Taymiyyah continued to happen. In one meeting in Cairo, he was accused of causing restless in the society through his controversial viewpoints. The Qadhi who had been influenced by the gossips pronounced Ibn Taymiyyah as guilty. He was sentenced to one year and a few months in jail.

In the journey of his life, it was not only once that he felt life inside the prison. In the year 726 H, in accordance with twisted facts, the Sultan issued an order of his arrest. Hearing that he said, “I am waiting for it. There is a lot of goodness there.”

That was Ibn Taimiyah, a great ulama who cowered inside the prison of Egypt. He was just freed from prison and then he was arrested again and imprisoned for a second time for another half a year. It was because of his writings in which the contents were about issues of theology that could not be accepted by the many. So, the personality of Ibn Taymiyyah was not one considered as nearer to the government and become a lackey who sucks up to the ruler’s side. Not a few, including ulamas considered him to be deviated and deviating. In the prison, where he only spent for half a year, he managed to enlighten and bring home the occupants of the prison who stayed with him until all of them were repentant and became his faithful followers.

He made the most of the life in prison by reading and writing. His writings were still resounding with the strength of the hujjah and enthusiasm, as well as his strong viewpoints. But it was precisely that stance that restricted Ibn Taymiyyah’s moving space. On 9th Jumadil Akhir 728 H, all his books, papers, pens and ink were confiscated and it became such a big blow to Ibn Taymiyyah. After he was banned from writing, he spent more time reading holy verses (reciting Qur’an) and worshipping, intensifying his tahajjud until his confidence became even more fortified. Despite being a hafidz, he used the Holy Qur’an which was the only book he had left after all the other books were confiscated. He kept reading the Qu’ran until he got tired, then he performed zikr and solat. Thus was his routine, to the extent that he had completed reading the Qur’an 80 times since then.

And when he read for 81st time, when he came to the verse that means, "…Lo! The righteous will dwell among gardens and rivers firmly established in the favor of a Mighty King." [54:54- 55] . He was not able to complete this recitation because he fell ill for 20 days.

At that time he was already 67 years of age and he had been cowering inside the last prison for more than 20 months and his illness was never reducing. The public did not know that he was in an ill condition because the only one who administered him was Ibnl Qayyim Al-Jauziyah, his faithful student. Only when the muadzzin called out from the minaret announcing he had returned to his Lord that people started to come in droves and swarmed the gate of the prison.

A massive crowd was mourning his death in their sobs and cries. They all struggled to get close and see his face, hold his janaza and there were even those who attempted to kiss him.

He passed away on Monday, 20th Dhul Qaidah 728 H (26-28th September 1328 M), at the age of 67, after being ill in the prison for more than 20 days. He breathed his last on his prayer mat while in the state of reading the Qur’an. He eventually had to die defending the truth inside a prison. The baazars and streets of Damascus were quiet. Livelihoods stopped for a while. The Emirs, leaders, ulama and fuqaha, soldiers, men and women and children, they all came down to send off his janaza. According to historians, there had never been a janaza which was prayed upon and honoured by so many people except the janaza of Ibn Taymiyyah and Imam Ahmad bin Hambal. He was buried at about the ‘Asr time beside the grave of his brother Sheikh Jamal Al-Islam Syarafuddin.

There was one short and concise message that he left for the strugglers until the end of time, a message that he constructed in the form of a beautiful and sharp poem:

What could the enemies do to me?!!!!
my garden and orchard (paradise) are inside my breast
Where ever I go, it’s always with me
And it has never left me.
my imprisonment is khalwat
my killing is shaheed
my expulsion from my country is recreation

(Ibn Taymiyyah)

NB:
In order to know more in detail about the life of Ibn Taymiyyah and the condition of the Muslim Ummah in the seventh century after Hijrah i.e. at his time, please read the more complete books that discuss about his life, such as:

1. Shaikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, by Abul Hasan Ali An-Nadwi.
2. Ibn Taymiyyah, Bathal Al-Islah Ad-Diny. Mahmud Mahdi Al-Istambuli, ed. II 1397 H/1977 M. Maktabah Dar-Al-Ma’rifah–Dimasyq

Sour©e: muslimdaily

The Sadistic Serbian Forces Commander Convicted of War Crimes

2009-11-18T03:32:00.000-08:00

SARAJEVO, (Reuters) - Former Serb army commander Predrag Kujundzic was convicted of crimes against humanity -- including murder and rape -- by Bosnia's war crimes court on Friday and sentenced to 22 years in jail.

Judge Saban Maksumic said the court found Kujundzic, 48, guilty of "committing and coercing sexual slavery, rape, severe deprivation of physical liberty, persecution of non-Serb civilians and other inhumane acts."

Kujundzic was the commander of the Bosnian Serb Army unit known as Predini Vukovi (Predo's Wolves) that operated around the northern town of Doboj during the country's 1992-95 war.

"Commanding over the Predo's Wolves unit, he participated in inhumane treatment of 50 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) and Croat civilians who were unlawfully detained and used as human shields during combat operations and 17 were killed," the judge said.

Maksumic said Kujundzic went to the house of a woman in June 1992, armed and accompanied by five members of his unit. He raped the woman's under-age daughter and incited other soldiers to rape the mother.

"After Kujundzic raped the minor female, he told her that as of that day she would comply with all that he requested from her or otherwise he would kill her mother and younger sister," the judge said.

Kujundzic ordered the girl to wear a chain with a cross pendant and a Serb army camouflage uniform. He made her wear a red beret and changed her Muslim name into a Serb name without consent of her parents, Maksumic said.

The judge acquitted Kujundzic of separate charges related to the inhumane treatment of prisoners of a detention camp.

The Bosnian war crimes court was set up in 2005 to relieve the burden on the United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and to try mid- and low-ranking cases from the Bosnian war that claimed an estimated 100,000 lives.

The trial of Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic opened in The Hague this week, with prosecutors accusing him of leading a campaign of genocide against Bosnian Muslims during the 1992-95 Bosnian war.

(Reporting by Maja Zuvela)

Learn To Appreciate Hidayah

2009-11-14T10:32:00.000-08:00

. Do we still remember the personality of one Sumayyah? She is known as the first Shaheedah in Islam. Sumayyah Binti Kahiyyat and Yasir had been tremendously tortured by Abu Jahal Bin Hisham in the middle of the scorching desert. The moment Rasulullah SAW knew about it, he came over and said, “O family of Yasir, be patient! You have been promised the rewards of paradise.”

In fact, they were even threatened to be killed if they did not leave the religion of Islam. Both these parents of Ammar, Yasir and Sumayah, remained holding on tight to Islam and bravely said in front of the mushrikeen, “we, who have been clean with Islam do not want to make ourselves dirty again.” Hearing that, the mushrikeen became angry and ended up killing them both with spears.

Sumayyah chose to hold out though she could just choose to give in and return to ignorance (Jahiliyya). But she was a Muslimah who was conscious of a true choice. She chose to die as the first Shuhada in the history of Islam. And of course the reward for her should be greater, jannah and the pleasure of Allah were over her.

Today, we are also faced with a wondrous incident . A lady in this century chose to remain defiant with the jilbab that she put on. Marwah Al Sharbini, a 32 year old Muslimah, was stabbed to death by a 28 year old Russian-born immigrant from Germany, in a court of law in the German city of Dresden on Wednesday, 1st July 2009. The pregnant lady was stabbed 18 times, before she gave her witness against the German man who had been harassing her for long months, and calling her a “terrorist”. (He also allegedly removed her head scarf by force from her head on several occasions.) Marwa Died on the spot. Her husband who rushed to save her was both stabbed by the man and shot by the police. He remained in coma for 3 days. Her young son Mustafa who is 3 years old was also stabbed by the man but survived. It was all simply because she wore hijab. Tragic!!!

These two incidents gave our hearts a whack, telling us how hidayah is too precious for them. Because they saw that there is no “ilah” that must be obeyed besides Allah. There is no other purpose in life to be looked for except to find the pleasure of Allah. They would do anything as long as it could bring about the pleasure of Allah. In fact, even if they have to die in achieving it, they would certainly do it.

From here we learn that having the religion of Islam means submitting ourselves wholly to the decision of Allah. Whatever Allah wants, whatever Allah wishes, we will endeavour to do it sincerely. Without hoping for profit, no hidden motive and no demand of any kind. We will also avoid words that cause Allah's anger and actions that make Allah displeased with us. We will be very careful in our speeches, in our actions and in our performances. Because for us the hidayah of Allah is so precious and more meaningful than the riches of the whole world.

This is the value that we must inculcate in the Muslimahs and our young daughters. That holding hidayah tightly is as important as seeking hidayah itself. Seek hidayah with our utmost ability and when we have found it don’t let go just like that. Defend it with all the might that we have in our spirits and physical bodies.

by: Burhan Sodiq

An American Millionaire Who Was Also Michael Jackson’s Lawyer Becomes Muslim

2009-11-13T09:23:00.000-08:00

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An American millionaire, Mark Shaffer declared his Islam in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, 17th October 2009. Mark was at that time on a holiday in Saudi Arabia to visit some famous cities like Riyadh, Abha and Jeddah for 10 days.

Mark is a well-known millionaire and also a practiced lawyer in Los Angeles, specializing in cases of civil laws. The last big case he handled was the case of the famous American pop singer, Michael Jackson, a week before he passed away.

A tourist guide who accompanied Mark for 10 days in Saudi Arabia, Dhawi Ben Nashir told: Since he set foot for the first time in Saudi Arabia, Mark already started to ask question about Islam and Solat. As soon as he arrived in Saudi, Mark stayed in Riyadh for two days. While in Riyadh, Mark was very interested in Islam. After moving to Najran, we went to Abha and Al-Ula. There, his fascination on Islam grew more obvious, especially the time when we ventured out into the desert.

Mark was amazed to see three Saudi youths who were in our group in Al-Ula, performing solat in the expanse of the very wide desert. A very fantastic panorama indeed.

After two days in Al-Ula, we went to Al-Juf. As soon as we arrived in Al-Juf, Mark asked if I could get him some books on Islam. I then obtained some books on Islam for him. Mark read all those books. The next morning, he asked me to teach him how to perform solat. I then taught him how to pray and take wudhu (ablution). Then, he joined me and performed solat beside me.

After solat, Mark told me that he felt peace in his soul. On Thursday afternoon, we left Al-Ula heading for Jeddah. He looked very serious throughout the journey reading those books about Islam. On Friday morning, we visited the old town of Jeddah. Before the time for the Friday prayer approached, we went back to the hotel and I excused myself to go for the Friday prayer. Then, Mark told me: I would like to join you for the Friday prayer so that I can witness myself how the Friday prayer is like. So I answered: welcome…

We then went to a masjid which was not far from the hotel where we stayed in Jeddah. Since we were quite late, I and many other jamaah had to pray outside, as the number of jamaah was overflowing. I could see Mark observing the jamaah, especially after the Friday prayer was completed, when everybody was shaking hands and embracing each other with radiant and happy faces. Mark was very impressed with what he saw.

When we return to the hotel, Mark suddenly told me that he wanted to become a Muslim. So I said to him: Please have a shower first. After Mark took the shower, I guided him in saying the kalimah of shahadah (declaration of faith) and then he prayed two rakaah. Later on, Mark expressed his desire to visit the Masjidil Haram in Makkah and perform solat there before leaving Saudi Arabia.

In order to fulfill his wish, we went to the Da’wah and Irshad office in the area of Al-Hamro’, Jeddah, to obtain a formal proof of his conversion to Islam, so that he would be allowed to enter the city of Makkah and Masjidil Haram. Then, Mark was given a temporary certificate of his conversion to Islam. As a number of group members who participated in Mark’s visit to Saudi Arabia had to go back to America on Saturday afternoon, Al-Hamdulillah, Ustadz Muhammad Turkistani was willing to send Mark to the Holy Land of Makkah that same morning.

Regarding Mark’s visit to Masjidil Haram, Ustadz Muhammad Turkistani narrated: After Mark obtained his temporary certificate, we straight away departed heading for the noble Masjidil Haram. When he witnessed the Masjidil Haram, he face looked radiant and it emanated an extraordinary happiness. When we entered the Masjidil Haram and witnessed the Ka’bah for ourselves, his happiness increased. By Allah, I could not express that scene with words. After performing the tawaf around the noble Ka’bah, we performed the sunnah solat and went out of Masjidil Haram. I could see Mark very reluctantly wanting to leave Masjidil Haram.

After Mark declared his Islamic faith, he had the chance to express his happiness in Al-Riyadh Newspaper saying: I could not express my feeling at this time but I am being reborn and my life has just started… then he added: I am very happy. This happiness that I am feeling could not be expressed in words especially when I visited the Masjidil Haram and noble Ka’bah.

Regarding his next step after his conversion to Islam, Mark explained: I will learn more about Islam, I will delve deeper into this religion of Allah (Islam) and come back to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj.

As to what impelled him into converting to Islam, Mark explained: I have already had information about Islam, but it was very limited. When I visited Saudi Arabia and personally witnessed the Muslims there, and saw how they performed the solat, I felt a very strong drive to know more about Islam. When I read true informations about Islam, I became confident that Islam is a religion of haq (truth).

Sunday morning, 18th October 2009, Mark left the Airport of King Abdul Aziz Jeddah heading for America. When filling in the immigration form before leaving Jeddah, Mark wrote ISLAM as his religion.

Farewell Mark… May Allah bless you and make you an obedient Muslim and a Da’i who would invite the American society to benefit from the happiness of being Muslims, just as how you have felt because only Islam could save mankind in this world, as well as in the akhirah later… Ameen. (fj/eramuslim)