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Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear questioner, thanks for your confidence in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.
In the early days of Islam, women accompanied the armies and participated by cooking and procuring water, nursing the wounded, encouraging the fighting men with songs and verse. Not only that, but also some Muslim women fought the enemies of Islam. Umm `Imarah defended the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) during the Battle of Uhud after the Muslims were defeated. `Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, “On the day of Uhud, I never looked right or left without seeing Umm `Imarah fighting to defend me.”
Another famous female warrior was Nusaibah bint Ka`b, who fought and wounded twelve persons at the Battle of Uhud. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) praised her fighting by saying "Never did I look right or left but she (Nusaibah) was there defending me and fighting before me.” Nusaibah also fought in the Apostasy War under Abu Bakr.
It is also reported that Umm Salim (may Allah be pleased with her) carried a dagger to fight in the Battle of Al-Khandaq.
Today, Muslim men and women outside Iraq can support their brothers and sisters in Iraq by various means. They can offer charity, pay zakah, champion the Iraqi cause in the world mass media, exercise pressure on public opinion in the countries where they live, as well as earnestly imploring Allah to grant Muslims in Iraq, Palestine and in every corner of the world victory over their enemies.
In her response to the question, the prominent Muslim Scholar and Da`iyah, Zienab Mostafa, states the following:
Jazaki Allah khayran for your concern about your sisters in Iraq and all over the Muslim world. It is really an obligatory duty to support Muslims, especially at hard times and moments of trials.
We have the great examples of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When Muslims emigrated from Makkah to Madinah, the Ansar (the Helpers, i.e., Muslims of Madinah) accommodated, supported, and helped them in every possible way.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made a pledge of brotherhood and sisterhood among Muslims, that it is our duty towards each other, not a volunteer help, in order to achieve the highest level of iman.
The Ansar gave us a brilliant example when they loved and supported the Muhajirun more than themselves.
It is the duty of Muslims, especially Muslim women in these days, to help our sisters in Iraq, Palestine and Kashmir and everywhere in the world where Muslims are oppressed by doing the following:
1. Making du`aa’ or supplication for them, especially during our daily prayers.
2. Offering charity to the trusted specialist institutions to help alleviate their suffering.
3. Sharing in different events that oppose the occupation of Iraq, such as joining demonstrations, writing articles that denounce the American occupation of Iraq, as well as holding meetings to inform everyone about the aggressive and unfair attacks against Muslims.
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