Will Of Abdullah Azzam

The Will of 'Abdullaah Yusuf 'Azzaam From the house of the brave commander Jalaaluddin Haqqani, Monday afternoon, 12th Shaban 1406 H, 20th April 1986 Praise be to Allah we seek his forgiveness and take refuge from our mischievous and bad deeds. If Allah intends to guide someone there will not be anyone to misguide him and if Allah intends to make someone go astray there will not be anyone to guide him away from Allah. I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his slave and messenger. OH, LORD! Nothing is easy except what you make easy and you can make the difficult thing easy if you wish. The love of Jihaad (fighting in the way of Allah) continues to dominate my life, Myself, My feeling, My heart and my senses. The verses of Surah At-Taubah that reveals the final rulings of Jihaad until the day of Judgement filled my heart with pain and sorrow when I see my inability and the unwillingness of all Muslims to fight for the cause of Allah. The Verse of the Sword which abrogated a hundred forty some verses of Jihaad, which were revealed before it, is a definite answer and a decisive reply to anyone who wants to play with the verses of fighting Jihaad in the way of Allah or to try to change its clear meaning or to deviate from its precise definition. The verses of the Sword: "And fight the pagans all together as they fight you all together but know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves." Surah At-Taubah, Verse 36 "But when the forbidden months are passed then fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them and seize them beleaguer them and lie in wait in every stratagem (in war) but if they repent establish regular prayers and pay zakat (alms to the poor) then open the way for them, for Allah is oft-forgiving, most merciful."Surah At-Taubah, Verse "People who are making excuses for not fighting in the way of Allah are mocking and ridiculing the religion of Allah and we are ordered to avoid them leave alone those who take their religion to be mere play and amusement." Surah Al-Anaam, Verse 70 Having great ambitions without doing your utmost to realize them is the characteristic of people who do not seek to reach the high. Maintaining and visiting the sacred mosques is not comparable to Jihaad for it is reported in Sahih Muslim that the reasons for revealing verses 19-22 of Surah At-Taubah : "Do you consider the giving of drink to the pilgrims or maintaining of the Sacred mosque not equal to Those who believe in Allah and the last days and strive with might and means in the cause of Allah They are not equal in the sight of Allah and Allah guides not those who do wrong. Those who believe and immigrate and strive with might and means in the cause of Allah.With their goods and persons have the highest rank in the sight of Allah. They are the Page 1

people who will achieve salvation." Surah At-Taubah, Verse 19-20 "Their Lord doth give them good tidings of mercy from himself of His good pleasure And of gardens for them where in are the delights that endure. They will dwell therein forever Verily with Allah is a reward the greatest of all." Surah At-Taubah, Verse 21-22 The reason being is that some of the companions of the Prophet disagreed among themselves on which of the good deeds, next to iman, is the best in the sight of Allah. Some said maintaining the sacred Mosque, some said giving drinks to pilgrims, others said Jihaad. These verses are a definite and clear answer that Jihaad is better than maintaining and visiting the sacred Mosque, especially when we know that the reason for revealing these verses is the dispute among the companions over this issue. Reasons for revelation cannot be misconstrued, or altered, because its meaning is precise and straight to the point. 'Abdullah Ibn Mubarak ( May Allah have mercy on him) sent a letter to Al-Fudayl ibn Iyaadh in which he says: "Oh you who offer prayer in the sacred mosque! Had you witnessed us in the battlefield You would known that, compared to our jihaad, Your worship is child's play. For every tear you have shed upon your cheek, We have shed in its place blood upon our chests. You are playing with your worship, While worshipers offer your worship Mujahideen offer their blood and person (life)." From this one must understand that Ibn Al-Mubarak believes that offering prayers and maintaining the sacred places while the sanctity of these places is being violated, blood is being shed, honor of Muslim women is being violated and Islam is being uprooted. He believes that offering prayers in such circumstances is playing with the religion of Allah the Almighty, Yes, allowing Muslim to be slaughtered while the only thing that we do is to offer them lip service from a distance and rub our hands together without taking even one step towards elevating the suffering of Muslim. Sure that is playing and ridiculing of the religion. How could a Muslim settle and keep quite while Muslim women are captured by the aggressive enemy? I firmly believe as I wrote in the book (Defense of Muslim land is the most Important Obligation upon each and every Muslim after Iman ) and as Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya saidNext to iman, nothing is more urgent (obligatory) than deterring the aggressor enemy who destroys Islam and the well-being of Muslims. I strongly believe (Allah knows better) that there is no difference between he who does not fight and he who does not pray, fast, or pay Zakat. I believe that all Muslim Ummah is facing a great responsibility before Allah then before future generation. I believe that no Muslim is excused in abandoning Jihaad (fight in way of Allah), no matter what the excuse is: dawah, authoring books, or tarbiyyah. Page 2

I believe that every Muslim on earth bares the responsibility of abandoning Jihaad, and the sin of abandoning the gun. Every Muslim who passes away without a gun in his hand faces Allah with the sin of abandoning fighting. Now fighting ( jihaad) is compulsory upon each and every Muslim on earth except those who are exempted, and by definition a compulsory act is an act that brings reward or punishment. I believe (God knows well) that the people who have legitimate exemptions for not fighting are: The blind, the terminally ill, the lame and the oppressed, men, women and children who cannot get or find their way to the battlefield. All Muslims bear the sin of abandoning Jihaad in Palestine, Afghanistan, or in any other part of the world in whichMuslim Lands are threatened by infidels. I believe that no permission is required to fight in the path of Allah, not the permission of the parents, husband, teacher or Amir . And this is the conscience of all Ullema throughout the history. When Jihaad is compulsory, a son must fight even without the permission of his parents a wife without the permission of the husband. And Anyone who tries to deny this clear ruling has exceeded his limits and followed his desires and wishes with no guidance from Allah. It is a decisive and clear-cut issue that does not leave room for misinterpretation. The Khalifah's permission is not required in three cases: 1. If the Khalifah himself does not call for Jihaad when there is a need for it. 2. If getting permission means missing the opportunity for Jihaad. 3. If we know in advanced that permission cannot be granted.

I believe (God knows better) that the Muslim Ummah is responsible for the honor of every Muslim woman that is being violated in Afghanistan, and responsible for every drop of Muslim blood that is being shed unjustly, therefore, they are an accessory to these crimes. And that is because they can provide them with weapons to protect themselves with, and because they did not provide them with the medical assistance they need, or the money to purchase food, or the tools with which they can dig trenches in which they can seek shelter. All this they could have accomplished, but they did not! It was reported in Hashiat Al Dasoqi Vol. 2,Pages 111-112: 'That if someone had an abundance of food and let someone else starve to death, thinking that he will not die from starvation, he should pay his Deyat (blood Money) from the money of his family but if he knew that person would starve to death, here he should either pay the Deyat from his own money or should be killed as a Qissas.' Thus, we see the punishment that is awaiting for wealthy people who waste their wealth in satisfying their personal desires and in acquiring complementary commodities.

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Oh, you Muslims! Jihaad is your life, your dignity and your existence depend upon it. Oh, you Preachers! You have no value under the sun unless you bare arms and uproot the tyrants, infidels & wrong doers. Those who believe that Islam can flourish be victorious without jihaad, fighting, and blood indeed are illusioned and do not understand the nature of this religion. The Prestige of preachers, the influence of Islam, the dignity of Muslims, cannot be attained without Jihaad. It is reported in the Hadith: 'And Allah will take away the fear of you from the hearts of your enemy and put theWAHN in your hearts and he was asked Oh apostle of Allah what is the WAHN? he answered, the love of this life and the hatred of death.' And it was also narrated "the love of this life and the hatred of Qitaal (fighting)". "Then fight in Allah's cause thou art held responsible only for thyself and rouse the believers." Surah An-Nisa, Verse 84 Without Jihaad, Shirk (joining gods with Allah) will spread and become dominant for Allah says: "And fight them until there is no more (fitna) associating gods with Allah" (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 193). Fitna means shirk means joining gods with Allah. Indeed Jihaad is the only guarantee for the well being of humanity on earth, for Allah says: "And were it not for god 's repelling some people by means of another, the earth would have been filled with corruption, but Allaah is bounteous to the worlds." Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 251 Jihaad is the only guarantee for the preservation of the houses of worship, and the performing of worship to Allah for Allah says: "Did not Allah Check one set of people by means of another they would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure." Surah Al-Hajj, Verse 40 Oh you Preachers of Islam! Seek death and you will be granted life, Never be deceived by Satan, or, with false wishes, never deceive yourselves with books you read, or extra good deeds you do. Never busy yourself with easy tasks rather than confronting the great ones, Allah has Said: "And you wish that the one that is unarmed be yours . . ."Surah Al-Anfal , Verse 7 Never obey anyone in abandoning Jihaad, no permission is required when Jihaad is compulsory, indeed Jihaad is the main foundation and the essence of your Dawah and the protection of your Page 4

religion. Oh! You Muslim Scholars! (Ullema) come forward and lead this generation that is returning to its lord. Do not turn away, do not rely on this immortal life, and beware of the offerings of the tyrants for they cause darkness and death of the hearts and becomes an obstacle between you and this generation. Oh you Muslims! You have slept for a long time, long enough for the tyrants to take control over you. You accepted to live as slaves and submitted to tyrants. Now the time has come to revolt and destroy the shackle of slavery. Oh you Muslim women! Be Aware of extravagance for it is the enemy of jihaad and it causes the death of the human soul. Beware of complementary commodities and stick to the basic necessities. Bring up your children to be brave and courageous. Let your houses be places for lions not chicken farms in which your sons will be fed then slaughtered by tyrants like sheep. Instill in the hearts of your sons the love for Jihaad and the love of battlefields. Share the problems of Muslim Ummah. Live one day a week like refuges and Mujahideen live. They live on dry bread and tea. Oh! You children of Islam! Get accustomed to the noise of bombs, mortar shells and the sounds of jet fighters and tanks and avoid luxury. Oh! You wife of mine! I have too much to say to you, May Allah reward you on my behalf and on the behalf of the Muslims.You were patient with me and you stood by me though out the thick and the thin with patience and courage. From you I got the support I needed to carry on this Jihaad. I let you assume the responsibility of the house in 1969, when we had three small children living in one small room with no kitchen and no utilities. When the family became larger, the children grown up and our guests increased, You tolerated this and much more for Allah and my sake. I pray that Allah reward you on My behalf. Had it not been for your patience, I would have never been able to bear this burden alone, you are a content wife who doesn't care for material things and you never complained about having too little of it. You have never been extravagant when we have had some wealth. The life of Jihaad is the most joyous life, tolerating difficulties is better than living luxuriously. Be content Allah will love you, have no desire for what other people have, people will love you. Qur'an is the joy of life, tahajjud, extra fasting, asking Forgiveness. All these makes the heart transparent and worship sweet. Sticking to the basic needs, lawful goodies, keeping distance from glamour and extravagance brings peace and serenity to the heart. I pray to Allah that he unites us in paradise as he united us in life. Oh, my sons! You have not enjoyed much time with me and I have not enough of a chance to give you guidance and advice. I was too busy to keep you company. While I saw the disasters and catastrophe that struck the Muslim Ummah, I could not bear to live with you like a chicken living with its chicks. I could not live in peace while the impact of a catastrophe burns the hearts of Muslims, I could not stay among you while the problem of the Muslim Ummah tears the hearts and the minds of those who have them. Manhood would not allow me to live the easy life with you. I hated extravagance and luxury all of my life whether in food, clothing, house. I have tried to elevate you as much as I can from that style of life and to make you content with your simple life.

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Believe in what the first generation of Muslims believed in, Practice Wisdom, read Qur'an and memorize it. Be careful of what you say. Offer prayer at night, observe extra fasts, seek good company and join the Islamic movement but... ...Know that the Amir has no power over you to prevent you fromJihaad, or to seduce you to abandon Jihaad by propagating DAWAH, and keep you away from the battlefield where men are made. Never ask for anyone's permission to make Jihaad. Oh, sons! I command you to obey and respect your mother and sisters (Umm Al-Hassan and Umm Yahya). I urge you to seek good religious knowledge. I ask you to obey and respect your older brother Muhammad and love him. Be kind to your Grandfather and Grandmother and have respect for them, be kind to your Aunts (Umm Faez and Umm Muhammad) for they have done me great favors. Reach out for your family members and for the people whom you know. Oh, You Jihaadi Organizations! Care for Sayaff, Hikmateyr, Rabbani, and Khalis we hope that they will carry on the Jihaad in the way of Allah and protect it from deviation of its original goal. Do not Forget the Field Commanders inside Afghanistan specially Jalaaluddin, Ahmed Shah Masud, Eng. Bashir, Saifullah Afzalli,Mualavy Arsllan, Farid and Muhammad Alam, Shir Alam (Paghman) and Said Muhammad Hanif (Logar). Praise and glory be to Allah, I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and I seek his Forgiveness. Abdullah Yusuf Azzaam 12th Shaban 1406 / 20th April 1986

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