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Answer
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Name
Zelimkhan
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Respected Sheikh, the recent declaration of the International Association of Muslim Scholars seems somehow groundbreaking, in the sense that it calls for Jihad as fard `ayn (individual obligation) on the entire Muslim ummah, rather than merely on the Muslims of neighboring states. This seems logical, as the people of Iraq have so far failed to repel the invasion of their country… however, we feel it is necessary to ask, why do esteemed scholars such as yourself reiterate this ruling of Jihad as fard `ayn only in Palestine and Iraq, both of which are Arab countries, while you do not make similar statements about, for example, Chechnya, which has suffered genocide and occupation for more than a century? In Chechnya, 200,000 people have died in the last ten years, out a population of less than two million, yet we do not hear Muslim scholars commanding the Ummah to mobilize for Jihad to save our brothers and sisters in the Caucuses. Why is that, Sheikh Faysal? The Muslims of the Caucuses have been screaming for help for years, but we Arabs forget them because they are so far away.
Answer
In the name of God Most Gracious Most Merciful,
Jihad is declared as fard `ayn (individual duty) on every capable Muslim around the globe. If any aggression falls on Muslims in any country, and the people of this country could not face this aggression, it becomes fard on their near brothers, then on whoever is farther, till this fard falls upon all Muslims on Earth. This is what scholars from all around the world have agreed upon.
But the obligation of jihad does no necessarily mean participating in the fighting itself, because Muslims can help their brethren politically, through the media or financially, and they might be able to cause a greater effect this way than by actually participating in armed conflict.
Moreover, people’s traveling from some country to another to take part in battles is not possible because of the restraints put by most countries. This is why taking part in jihad can take many forms, the most important of which is financial support that helps the mujahedeen continue their jihad. And the hadeeth says, "Whoever prepares a mujahid gets the same of his reward."
From this perspective, the situation in Iraq, Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan, and Chechnya is the same, and Muslims everywhere have to help their brethren under attack. But the circumstances surrounding jihad today in Palestine and Iraq, and the magnitude of aggression on these two countries, has made most scholars focus on jihad in them.
Name
Nayef
- Qatar
Profession
Question
Sheikh Mawlawi, how practical is this latest statement by the IAMS? We have called for Jihad for a long time, but given the obstacles in our paths placed by our puppet rulers, this has been impossible for a long time. How do you expect Muslims to obey this call and reach the land of Jihad? And even if they succeed, isn’t it true that they’ll never be able to return to their homes and families, because they would face arrest and prosecution? And alternatively, even if the American invasion is repelled, haven’t we seen too many incidents where Arab Mujahideen were shipped back to their countries as prisoners, betrayed by the people of the very lands they went to protect?
Answer
There are many obstacles that prevent the mujahedeen from helping their brothers in Palestine, Iraq or elsewhere. And when scholars state that jihad is fard `ayn if an aggression is inflicted upon a Muslim country, they are rather stating that we are one Ummah, and that we refuse to admit that we are fragmented into many states. If the physical participation in the battle was not feasible, then participating through other means becomes also fard `ayn. This is what we call for, and insist on—especially donating money to help the Palestinian and Iraqi people.
Name
Suad
-
Profession
Question
I am originaly from Bosnia. But I live in a Western country, where I would
get arrested if I said I'm planning to go to Iraq and fight. In our local
masjid they tell us that making da`wah (inviting people to Islam) here is better than going off to fight against the transgressors in Iraq. I disagree with them and I'm planning to go to Iraq when I turn 18, which is in about 2 years. Some people at the masjid tell me they wouldn't go off to fight, especially in Iraq , because they don’t know what's really going on there. Is jihad more important than da`wah in a Western country? But when you are from Bosnia and you saw your brothers and sisters being killed, you know what you are fighting for in jihad. But they don't understand that, because they never saw a Muslim being killed in front of their eyes. But is making da`wah better than going off to fight?
Answer
Comparing between jihad in Iraq and da`wah (inviting people to Islam) in Western countries is not right, because things differ according to differences between people and their abilities. As for Muslims in Bosnia or in Europe in general, I believe that their duty now is da`wah—especially that a Muslim can help his mujhedeen brothers in Iraq in many ways, the most important of which is financial assistance. So one can be carrying out both tasks—da`wah in the West and helping the mujahideen in Iraq. But if the person moves to Iraq to fight with his brothers, he will lose his da`wah work in Europe, which is a big loss, because da`wah in these times is becoming one of the most basic tasks a capable Muslim has to perform.
Name
Umm Mustafa
- United States
Profession
Question
As-Salamu `alaykum. I have just read the translation of the IAMS statement. In it you say "He (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: 'Do not kill children or wage earners.' Wage earners applies to any person whose services are hired for purposes that do not have to do with war."
Wouldn't this mean that it IS allowed to attack such wage-earners if they are doing something that directly helps the war effort, such as driving trucks that carry supplies for the army?? Please clarify this point.
Answer
When war erupts between two sides, it is natural for each side to try to achieve victory. This is why they are ready to kill anybody who fights them, or helps their enemies in their fight. This is acknowledged in contemporary international treaties. So, whoever drives a truck that carries soldiers, weapons, or army supplies is directly assisting in war and it is allowed to kill him/her.
As for those who deal with the enemy in business or services that are not directly related to warfare, as selling them food for example, they should not be killed on purpose. It is permissible, religiously speaking, and also in international law, that they die during battles or gunfight by mistake.
Name
Salman
- Algeria
Profession
Question
Respected scholar, this war has been raging since March of 2004… what has changed since then that prompted the Association to issue such an unprecedented fatwa? Why now?
Answer
This fatwa is not new. It was issued by many Muslim scholars hundreds of years ago, and most scholars in Iraq and around the Muslim world have declared it since the the American invasion. This fatwa applies to all similar incidents, but the procedure of application may change with circumstances. I have stated, during my previous answers, that participation in jihad in these times can be through financial help specifically, and this is what all Muslims can do.
Name
Rachid
- France
Profession
Question
Do you expect a large-scale response to this declaration? Will we see a mass mobilization of Muslim youth towards Jihad in Iraq? And secondly, if so, won't this make you and all the other Sheikhs of the Association internationally wanted as advocates of "terror"?
Answer
I expect a large-scale response from Muslims all around the world towards helping their brothers, the mujahideen in Iraq. The statement of the IAMS did not call for Muslims to go to Iraq and fight. It rather called for jihad with our Iraqi brothers for the sake of dispelling the enemies. This jihad, as I stated above, has many forms. And I expect the emergence of a widespread donations campaigns to help the Iraqi people and assist them in their resistance.
As for the accusation of advocating terror, it is something that does not scare us because we are the ones who have been attacked. We consider the American soldier who has come to Iraq to kill and destroy a terrorist, and his commanders are the leaders of international terror; and that the Iraqi people who are fighting foreign occupiers have the legal right to resist the occupation of their country. Even president Bush himself announced that if he were an Iraqi he would have participated in the resistance movement to free Iraq. We object to accusing resistance movements of terrorism. We did not call for fighting any other state in its territories; we just called for fighting the forces that occupy our lands in Iraq, Palestine or ay other place.
Name
Raed
- United States
Profession
Engineer
Question
Salam alykhom our Dear Shiekh Faisal. We love you for Allah' sake and we miss your godly guidance. When is it permissible for Muslims to declare war, who has the right to do so and what do you say about the saying of (Tarsheed Al-jihad), or only deploying peaceful solutions to occupations and colonizations?
Answer
Jihad that exists today in Muslim countries against foreign occupation, as in the case of Palestine, Iraq, and other places, is called by scholars "Jihad for Expulsion." It is jihad that is aimed at expelling enemies from a Muslim country. Such jihad does not need a leader (or Amir) to call for it, and any Muslim person can take part in it.
As for using political solutions to expel enemies, it is theoretically possible if it could lead to their exit. But we know that the occupiers have goals they want to achieve, whatever they are, and it is impossible for them to leave before attaining their objectives. Since we cannot agree that foreign enemies achieve their goals in our countries, we are obliged to expel them through resistance. Moreover, it is well-known that the existence of resistance movements helps, effectively, in achieving political goals.
Name
noureddine
- Belgium
Profession
Question
Dear sir ,
My zakat has to be paid within a month. How can I help financialy? Can you please be specific?
Jazakoem Allah
Answer
You can send your financial help through Islamic Relief in Birmingham, UK, or through any Islamic aid agency working for the sake of Palestine, Iraq, or other countries.
Name
Br.
-
Profession
Question
Assalamualaikum,May Allah reward you and all people who advise our brothers and sisters and who share the teachings of truth,
With all the atrocities being commited against our brothers and sisters in Iraq, what can American muslims do to help. I mean even though it has been urged by scholars to resist and fight back against the oppressors in Iraq. What about countering them in their own backyard. Aren't all able muslims urged to take arms and all available resources to fight the oppressors. Of course we pray for Iraq's victory, but is it hypocritical to not help our brothers and sisters by fighting against the source of the problem. Yeah we vote, and they steal the election. Some protest, and they bring out armored policeman and yes a tank was even driven around a protest! Hundreds, maybe thousands of muslims have even been taken away from their loved ones because of so called "security threats." To say to use the advantage of democracy is out of the question, because America is not a democracy in the least, it is a hypocrisy, where the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and freedom of speech doesn't exist(Patriot act), freedom of press is completely gone(look at today's mainstream media). It saddens my heart that our brothers and sisters are dying while I feel caged and at times like a hypocrite when I laugh and play and eat as I wish, and then I read the news and read about dozens more of our brethren dying. You can also say to support our brothers financially, but I think we'd be labeled as terrorist helpers.
But most importantly to summarize what I am saying... Why should we focus on the stems of the problem instead of the root of the problem. Is it time for a ruling for Americans to arm against the real thieves behind the war? Or do we owe it to our country ruled by tyrants, oppressors, thieves, and murderers to obey them when they themselves are who the war should be against?
May Allah grant the entire muslim ummah success in this and in the hereafter, unite us, and grant us steadfastness in all the trials he has decreed for us.
To all my war driven brothers and sisters around the world, despair not! For Allah has granted you a great blessing in war! That you should be victorious over the wrong doers by his will. Or that if you gain not a victory in this life but are steadfast and strive for his cause you shall attain victory in the hereafter with what Allah has promised.This life is but a test and the hereafter is the real life. Truly, Allah loves the steadfast, and to Him is our return.
Answer
American Muslims’ primary role now is to exert political pressure on their government in order to ease its withdrawal from Iraq. This is their primary duty, which is considered a support to their brothers and sisters in Iraq, and a share for them in Jihad; this role does not contradict their stance as good American citizens. In addition, your duty also is to make dua`a’ (supplication) for your brothers in Iraq that Allah helps them overthrow the occupation. And if Muslims in America could help their Iraqi brothers and rescue them, even through Iraqi institutions available in the US, then this is also another duty. Allah obliges a Muslim to do only what s/he affords, and He excuses his worshipers for what they cannot afford. Each Muslim knows his/her capabilities.
