The Trade of Jihaad Written by: Shaykh `Umar `Abdur Rahmaan. (Published by: Maktabah al-himmah lid-dowlah Al-Islaamiyyah fil `Iraaqi wash-shaam.) Translated by: Muhammad Huzaifah ibn Adam aal-ebrahim. (Completed: 13 th of Dhu'l Qa`dah, 1435. - 7 th of September, 2014.)
Indeed, all praises are due to Allaah (Alone); we praise Him, we seek Him aid and His forgiveness. We seek protection with Allaah from the evil of our own selves and the evil consequences of our actions. Whoever Allaah guides, none can misguide, and whoever Allaah misguides, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no Ilaah besides Allaah, Who is One and has no partner, and I testify that Muhammad Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam is His slave and Rasool. O Allaah, send Salaah and Salaam upon our Master Muhammad Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam, upon his family and companions, and upon all those who follow his guidance until the Day of Qiyaamah. Thereafter: Rabb-ul-`Izzah, Tabaaraka wa Ta`aalaa says: { O people of Imaan, should I not guide you to such a trade which will save you from a painful punishment? (It is that) you believe in Allaah and His Rasool (Sallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam) and fight in Jihaad in his path with your wealth and your selves; that is better for you, if only you knew. (If you do so) He will forrgive your sins and enter you into Jannaat (Beautiful Gardens) beneath which rivers flow, and (most) pleasant dwellings in Gardens of `Adn (Eternity); that is the greatest achievement. } [Soorah as-saff: 61: 10, 11, 12.] Respected brothers, Indeed, Allaah has made Fardh upon us certain Faraa'idh which must be carried out, and from these Faraa'idh is one which has been obscured from the people for a long time and many have distanced themselves far from it, and this is the Fareedhah (Obligation) of Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah. Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah is the pinnacle of Islaam, and Islaam has exhorted greatly the carrying out of this Fareedhah, the same way it has threatened those who abandon it with a most severe threatening. The Kitaab (i.e. Qur'aan) and the Sunnah exhort greatly towards Jihaad, and there are many Aayaat of this Great Kitaab which makes clear to us that the greatest trade which a Muslim can carry out is Al-Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah, and the One Who points us to this is none other than the Rabb of all things which exist, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the One Who created all lives and granted (them) wealth. He seeks from us the lives and the wealth (which He has granted us) and in return, He will grant us a great reward. He purchases from us our lives and our wealth whilst He is the Creator of those lives and that wealth, and then He grants us Jannah as the price of this purchase. { Indeed, Allaah has purchased from the Mu'mineen their lives and their wealth in return for Jannah; they fight in the Path of Allaah, so they kill and get killed... } [Soorah al-baraa'ah, 9: 111.] This is such a trade in which there is only profit; there can be no loss whatsoever. There is only gain. There is no harm in it and no destruction. Allaah points us to it in a loving manner and calls us with the name of Imaan, i.e.:
{ O people of Imaan, should I not guide you to such a trade which will save you from a painful punishment? } [Soorah as-saff, 61: 10.] The first profit made in this trade is the salvation from a painful punishment. The second is the forgiveness of sins, thereafter the entry into Jannaat (Beautiful Gardens) beneath which rivers flow, and residence in the most pleasant of dwellings. So what achievement can be greater than this? { That is the greatest achievement. } [Soorah as-saff, 61: 12.] The Creator of the human beings knows that humans love instant payment and profit which is not delayed, so He made for us (an additional) instant profit: { (And also, if you do so, He will grant you) another (blessing) which you love: help from Allaah and a near victory. And give glad tidings to the Mu'mineen. } [Soorah as-saff, 61: 13.] So which trade is more profitable than this trade? Imaan in Allaah and His Rasool Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam and Jihaad in the Path of Allaah with one's wealth and one's life. { (It is that you) Believe in Allaah and His Rasool (Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam) and fight in Jihaad in the Path of Allaah with your wealth and your lives; that is better for you, if only you knew. } [Soorah as-saff, 61: 11.] Our noble Rasool Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam has made clear to us that there is no deed which can equal Jihaad in reward. A man who knew from the Ahaadeeth of Rasoolullaah Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam that the reward for Jihaad is immense, asked him, Show me a deed which equals Jihaad? So Rasoolullaah Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam said, I do not find (any such deed). Thereafter, Rasoolullaah Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam explained this concise answer (he had given) and explained what he meant by I do not find such a deed by saying, Are you able to, when the Mujaahid leaves (for Jihaad), to enter your Masjid and stand in Salaah without weakening? (i.e. stopping or becoming tired) And fast without breaking your fast? (i.e. continuously, until the time that the Mujaahid returns.) The man responded, And who could be capable of doing that?! Who would be capable of entering the Masjid and performing Salaah continuously without weakening and fasting continuously without breaking his fast ever? Who could be capable of that? Yet, ALL of this reward (that a person would get if he were capable of doing it) does not equal Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah! Similarly, the beloved Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam also explained what is the reward of the Mujaahid, that he does not return expect with one of two good things: Either victory or Shahaadah (Martyrdom) in the Path of Allaah. { Say: (to the Kuffaar) do you wait for us except one of two good things (, i.e. victory or martyrdom)? } [Soorah al-baraa'ah, 9:52.] Rasoolullaah Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam said, The example of the Mujaahid in the Path of Allaah and Allaah knows best who does Jihaad in His Path is like the example of one who stands in
Salaah whilst fasting, and Allaah has guaranteed the Mujaahid in His Path that if He (Allaah) takes his life, He will enter him into Jannah, otherwise He will return him safely, with both the reward (of Jihaad) and the spoils of war. Similarly has our intercessor Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam explained to us what there is in Jannah from the various levels. He said, Indeed, there are 100 levels in Jannah. The distance between each two levels is like the distance of the heavens and the earth. Allaah has prepared it for the Mujaahideen in His Path. Therefore, when you ask Allaah, ask Him for al-firdows al-a`laa (the highest level of Jannah), for from him flows the rivers of Jannah, and above it is the `Arsh of Ar-Rahmaan. These levels are for the Mujaahideen. So when you ask Allaah, ask Him for al-firdows al-a`laa. However, do not ask Him (for this level) whilst you are sitting back from Jihaad! Ask him (for it) while you are marching forth, not turning your back. Rasoolullaah Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam said, No man will fight today and be killed whilst he is patient and expectant of the reward, marching forward and not turning his back, except that Allaah will enter him into Jannah. Ask Him (Allaah) for Jannah whilst you are travelling for Jihaad, or marching forth, or are a Mujaahid in one of the battlefields of Jihaad. Just as Islaam has exhorted Jihaad, so has it threatened those who abandon it, and promised the most painful punishment, the punishment of the Faasiqeen (flagrant transgressors) to those who abandon Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah. We find these punishments descending upon the Ummah since the time it has abandoned this obligation and distanced itself from it. No nation abandons Jihaad except that Allaah will bring upon them disgrace which will not be removed until they return to Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah, as our honourable Rasool Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam has informed us. This disgrace which has entered upon the Ummah from every place, and its enemies surround it, advance upon them and invite one another to attack them like people inviting one another to share food. The Sahaabah asked Rasoolullaah Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam, Will that be because of our small numbers at that time, Yaa Rasoolallaah Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam? He said, No, rather, you will be numerous at that time, but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent... We are today more than one billion (Muslims). However, scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent. If we were insects, we (being so many in number) could have swarmed our enemy! If we were flies, we could have ruined their lives! This Ru`b (Terror; fear) which used to be cast into the hearts of the Kaafireen on account of their enmity towards the Muslimeen, has been removed. This Ru`b used to be cast into the hearts of those who commit Kufr, as Allaah Ta`aalaa says:
{ I shall cast Ru`b (fear; terror) into the hearts of those who disbelieve... } [Soorah al-anfaal, 8:12.] And also: { We shall cast Ru`b into the hearts of those who ascribe partners to Allaah, (a thing) for which they have no authority, and their (final) abode is the fire (of Jahannam). Evil is the final abode of the Zhaalimeen (wrong-doers; transgressors; oppressors). } [Soorah Aal-e-Imraan, 3:151.] This Ru`b has been removed from the hearts of the Kaafireen, and the awe for us has been taken out of them. Rasoolullaah Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam said, Allaah will remove from the hearts of your enemies the awe for you, and will cast into your hearts Wahn. The Sahaabah asked, And what is al-wahn, Yaa Rasoolallaah Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam? He said, Love of of the Dunyaa and hatred of death. Indeed, the love of the Dunyaa has taken control over us, as well as clinging to the earth, following desires, inclining towards this worldly life, loving peace, loving earning (i.e. business) and safety. All of those are from the qualities of the Munaafiqeen and the Yahood. These qualities have crept into the hearts of the Muslimeen. The Qur'aan describes to us the qualities of the Yahood (Jews), saying: { So wish for death if indeed you are truthful. But they (the Jews) will never ever wish for it (death), because of what their hands have produced (i.e. the sins they have committed). } [Soorah al-baqarah, 2:95.] We have become such that we no longer wish for death, and we dislike to meet Allaah. Allaah Ta`aalaa dislikes meeting one who dislikes to meet Him. We have fallen into all of that. We dislike death and love the Dunyaa. We have run away from the eternal (i.e. the Aakhirah) and ran towards this worldly life. The Qur'aan says: { Indeed, these (people) love the present, worldly life and put behind them a very heavy (i.e. difficult) day (i.e. the Day of Qiyaamah). } [Soorah al-insaan, 76:27.] So what is the matter with this Ummah that the qualities of the Yahood has crept into it and it has picked up the traits of the Munaafiqeen who used to seek permission (to stay back from Jihaad) and make excuses. The Muslims have become such that they no longer love Jihaad, out of fear for death. The Qur'aan makes clear to us that Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah, and throwing oneself into the heat of the battles, does not reduce one's life, and that sitting back (from Jihaad), cowardice and weakening, having a defeatist nature, does not increase one's life whatsoever. { Say (to the Kuffaar and Munaafiqeen): 'That death which you are (attempting) to flee from, will (one day) meet up with you. Thereafter you will be returned to the Knower of the Ghayb (Unseen)
and the Seen, and He will inform you of what you used to do. } [Soorah al-jumu`ah, 62:8.] And Allaah Ta`aalaa says: { Say (to the Kuffaar and Munaafiqeen), 'Fleeing (from death) will not avail you, if you (attempt to) flee from death or killing (i.e. being killed in Jihaad). And thereafter (if you were to flee), you would not enjoy (a life in this Dunyaa) except for a little while. Say: Who can protect you from Allaah if He intends to harm you or intends to have mercy upon you? And they (the Kuffaar and Munaafiqeen) will not find for themselves any supporter or helper besides Allaah. } [Soorah al-ahzaab, 33:16, 17.] These Aayaat make clear that all lifespans are in the Hand of Allaah, and that lives by the Permission of Allaah do not decrease by going to the battlefields and marching forth for Jihaad. { It is not possible for any person to die except by the Permission of Allaah, at an appointed term... } [Soorah Aal-e-Imraan, 3:145.] Indeed, cowardice, weakness and defeatism does not increase one life's whatsoever. How many a person who has sat back from Jihaad has died long before those who headed to the battlefields for Jihaad. He dies on his bed, the death of a weakling, a coward. So may the eyes of a coward never rest. On the other hand, the Mujaahid in the Path of Allaah dies at his appointed time, or is killed at that moment which has been decreed for him. He dies with the death of honour and nobility. He dies and is met by the Hoor-ul-`Een, and towards Jannah is his destination. Thus has the Rasool of Allaah Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam taught us: Bravery and marching forth. As Hadhrat `Ali Karramallaahu Wajhah (May Allaah ennoble his face) used to say, When the battle would be at its fiercest, we would look for Rasoolullaah Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam to seek shelter by him, and we would find that there is no one closer to the enemy than him. Such was the bravery of the beloved Nabi Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam, and he said on one occasion, when some companions who were with him fled, I am the Nabi, and this is no lie. I am the son of `Abdul Muttalib! (He would say this, whilst fighting the Kuffaar in the heat of the battle, alone.) He is the one who taught us bravery and marching out (in Jihaad), so why has cowardice and weakness overtaken the Ummah in this manner?! When this Ummah held fast to Jihaad, the Dunyaa was opened up for them. They conquered continents for Islaam, such as Africa and Asia. They possessed the keys to the oceans. However, when they abandoned Jihaad, Allaah Ta`aalaa put such disgrace upon them which will not be removed, and all the various nations marched against them, colonised them, kicked them out of Andalus, like how the Abbasid Khilaafah was broken apart. All of that was because they left off Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah. The Qur'aan warns, threatens and reprimands severely those who abandon Jihaad:
{ O people of Imaan! Why is it, that when it is said to you 'March for in the Path of Allaah', you cling fast to the earth? } [Soorah al-baraa'ah, 9:38.] What is wrong with you?! What has happened to you?! What has befall you?! What has afflicted you?! Why, when you are being called to march forth in the Path of Allaah, are you flinging yourselves down upon the earth, clinging fast heavily, not desiring to depart with it? As though you were large stones which, when lifted into the air falls back down forcefully! { You cling fast to the earth... } [Soorah al-baraa'ah, 9:38.] The Qur'aan conveys, in this Aayah, a rhetorical question: { Are you pleased with the life of this Dunyaa over the Aakhirah? The life of this Dunyaa, in comparison to the Aakhirah, is very little. } [Soorah al-baraa'ah, 9:38.] What has caused you to abandon Jihaad? (It is) your being pleased with the Dunyaa, enjoying it, abandoning the Aakhirah and turning away from it. (You do this) despite every person knowing that the enjoyment of the Aakhirah is everlasting, whilst the enjoyment of the Dunyaa is finite, bound to vanish. { Nay, you have preferred the life of this Dunyaa, but the Aakhirah is better and everlasting... } [Soorah al-a`laa, 87:16, 17.] { What is with you will come to an end, and what is with Allaah will last forever... } [Soorah an- Nahl, 16:96.] { What is wrong with you, that when it is said to you, 'March forth in the Path of Allaah', you cling fast to the earth? } [Soorah al-baraa'ah, 9:38.] Indeed, the one who abandons Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah is committing a sin from the Kabaa'ir (Major Sins). Such an enormous sin which he cannot simply make Tawbah from alone (and be forgiven), but he has to carry out this Fareedhah (Obligation). It is such an enormous sin that, if he were to die, he dies upon a branch of Nifaaq. So beware! Fear Allaah! Fear dying upon a branch of Nifaaq! Fear dying whilst committing a major sin from the Major Sins (Kabaa'ir)! Fear contributing towards the downpour of disgrace and humiliation upon this Ummah by abandoning the obligation of Jihaad. After the Qur'aan reprimands those who abandon Jihaad, it goes on to give a stern warning: { If you do not go out (in the Path of Allaah), He (Allaah) will punish you with a painful punishment and substitute you for a people other than yourself, and you will not harm Him in the least, and Allaah has full power over everything. } [Soorah al-baraa'ah, 9:39.] If you do not go out in Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah, Allaah will punish you with a painful punishment. This does not only refer to `Adhaab in the Aakhirah, but it includes `Adhaab in the Dunyaa which will come very swiftly.
It is this `Adhaab of the Dunyaa which the Muslimeen have fallen into you, and thus their difficulties and problems have become so many, in food, medicine, clothes, houses and transportations...what remains in their lives in which they do not experience problems? { If you do not march forth in Jihaad, He (Allaah) will punish you with a painful punishment and substitute you for a people other than yourselves... } [Soorah al-baraa'ah, 9:39.] (Allaah will substitute you with a people who will) raise the Flag of Jihaad and march towards fighting in the Path of Allaah, and { You will not harm Him (Allaah) in the least... }. You have no weight and no value so long as you remain turned away from Jihaad. { And Allaah has full power over all things. } This painful punishment which has surrounded us from all sides, and which is especially severe in the Islaamic world, wherein a person's life, honour and blood is not safe, and the life is extremely difficult in every facet; this `Adhaab has followed us, so why do we not fight in Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah?! Indeed, the battlefields of Jihaad are calling you, so hasten towards them. Hasten your footsteps to Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah. Do not abandon your brothers and do not surrender them to their enemies. Your honourable Rasool Sallallaahu `Alayhi wa Sallam said, The Muslim is the brother of the (next) Muslim: he does not oppress him, abandon him or surrender him. How do you abandon your brothers? How do you hand them over to your enemies? The Ummah of Islaam, by abandoning Jihaad, has reached rock bottom. However, when the Afghans raised the Banner of Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah as the Palestinians and Eritreans and other than them from the Islaamic groups had raised it the Muslimeen became strong, they acquired honour and their side became powerful. So why have we abandoned them? Why have we chosen (to surrender, in some attempt at) living peacefully and safely? Why have we loved and preferred sticking fast to the earth? Why have we followed desires? Why do we love the Dunyaa and hate the Aakhirah? Why do we hate death whilst death will most definitely come, and there is no doubt therein? So O respected brothers... Stand up for a Jannah the vastness of which is the vastness of the heavens and the earth...hasten towards al-firdows al-a`laa. Hasten towards Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah. Enter the battlefields of Jihaad. Raise the Flag! Raise the Kalimah of Allaah! Carry out your duty! Do not forfeit that Amaanah (Trust) which is upon your necks (i.e. Jihaad). Hasten your footsteps to Jihaad and Ribaat fee Sabeelillaah. Do not abandon your brothers. Your enemies are lying in wait for you. It is their desire that the Muslims continue to delay (Jihaad) and lie docile until they became like a tasty morsel to be seized. And then, if they were to take over Afghanistan may Allaah Ta`aalaa never make it as such they would move on to Pakistan and the rest of the countries.
Similar is the case in Palestine and Eritrea. So beware (O Muslims) the end result of these matters and hasten your footsteps to Jihaad fee Sabeelillaah. { O people of Imaan! Have Sabr and be more patient (than your enemy), safeguard your territories (in Ribaat) and have the Taqwaa of Allaah, so that you may be successful. } [Soorah Aal-e-Imraan, 3:200.] و ل لك و م ل و ي ا و ست غوف ل ر هذا ق و ول ي اقل ول و ال و ال وشام الوع ر ا ق ف و ي اول و سل م يوةل ال ودولةل الهم ة مكتبة