Year: 2011

New statement from Anṣārullah: "Message to the Muslims on the Occasion of ‘Īd al 'Aḍḥā, 1432"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin


All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon all his family and companions. To proceed:
As Muslims throughout the world reenact the sacrifice of Ibrahim (AS), the blessed servant of Allah, both those who have been blessed with performing Hajj as well as others, images of the life of this great Prophet come to mind, that Prophet who Allah Most High described as being an “Ummah” in himself. The sacrifices of Ibrahim (AS) can be summarized in the saying of Allah, “Indeed my prayers, my rites, my life and my death are for Allah, the Lord of all that exists.”
The trials which Ibrahim (AS) bore patiently were what led to him receiving the title of “Al-Khaleel” and that of the “Father of the Prophets”; trials too surreal for us Muslims to even imagine. Rebelling and calling against the religion of his people and forefathers, openly declaring his disassociation and hatred of idolatry and its people, being physically tortured for his beliefs, and Hijrah from his land in order to practice and implement Tawheed, in addition to the various personal trials, one after another, through which Allah tested His beloved servant; all these are the core beliefs and sacrifices required by this blessed religion… aspects unthought of by most Muslims today.
As Muslims offer their sacrificial animals to Allah on this magnificent and global event of Eid, they bring to mind the unbelievable trial of Ibrahim (AS), being told to sacrifice his only son who, after many other trials, had become a young lad. It was this moment which was the epitome of servitude to Allah, both father and son submitting to a command which had come in the form of a dream. Indeed words cannot describe the feelings stirred up by these images…
As we Muslims offer these sacrificial animals, we need to reflect upon what sacrifices we are making in our own lives to Allah Most High. Are we fulfilling what is required from us by our religion? Have we rebelled against the status quo and called to truth, or do we still fear chastisement? Have we openly declared our disavowal of disbelief, of both the forces of kufr and apostasy, in our hearts and in our actions, or do we sweet-talk and maybe even show allegiance to it? Have we made Hijrah from those who have shown enmity to Islam and the Muslims, or do we dwell in their lands and enjoy this lowly life which they have made into a Paradise?
Are we exerting proper effort and time for the establishment of Tawheed, or do we take part in the rat race and give what is left over for Islam and its Cause? Are we ready to sacrifice even some worldly comforts, which is yet a far cry from giving one’s life for Allah?
As we sacrifice these animals for Allah in these blessed days, we must never forget those who offer the required sacrifices every day for Allah, placing their souls in the palms of their hands for Allah to take when He pleases. Indeed we salute those soldiers of Allah, the Ibrahims of our time, who have left their lands, the lands of apostasy and kufr, to make the word of Allah supreme, or those who have left such lands in their hearts, waging Jihad within them… those who have left their families, jobs, money, friends, homelands, security and comfort, and have traversed long distances, whether physically or mentally, exposing themselves to death and imprisonment, and have divorced this life thrice, offering their souls to Allah for Paradise. Indeed it is only they who have truly implemented the Millah of Ibraheem of Pure Tawheed, and purified their hearts and deeds from all blemishes of Shirk and Kufr.
We pray that Allah accepts the sacrifices of these pure monotheists, and of their leader and role model, he who has shown us the meaning of sacrifice in these dark times, the leader of martyrs and the Lion of Islam, Sheikh Usamah bin Muhammad bin Laden, may Allah raise him in the highest levels of Jannah. Indeed in his life and times is a lesson for all people, and a proof against the opposers and deserters.
We also ask Allah that He accepts the sacrifices of all Muslims, and that he guides us to offer as sacrifice all what is expected of as Muslims.
And our final prayer, is that all praise be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.
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New statement from the Amīr of the Teḥrīk-ī-Ṭālibān Pākistān Ḥakīmullah Meḥsūd: “Message to the Muslim Ummah on the Blessed Occasion of ‘Īd al 'Aḍḥā"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin


Click the following links for safe PDF copies:
Ḥakīmullah Meḥsūd — “Message to the Muslim Ummah on the Blessed Occasion of ‘Īd al ‘Aḍḥā” (En)
Ḥakīmullah Meḥsūd — “Message to the Muslim Ummah on the Blessed Occasion of ‘Īd al ‘Aḍḥā” (Ar)
Ḥakīmullah Meḥsūd — “Message to the Muslim Ummah on the Blessed Occasion of ‘Īd al ‘Aḍḥā” (Ur)
Ḥakīmullah Meḥsūd — “Message to the Muslim Ummah on the Blessed Occasion of ‘Īd al ‘Aḍḥā” (Pashto)
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New statement from Anṣār al-Islām: "Letter Issued By The Leadership To All Muslims On The Occasion Of ‘Īd al 'Aḍḥā"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

UPDATE 11/11/11 10:11 AM: Here is an English translation of the below Arabic statement:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, the Trustworthy and Truthful, and upon all his family, companions, soldiers and followers. To proceed:

Muslim Ummah!
Indeed the obligation of Jihad is the true Eid of the Ummah which has been lost, its lands fragmented and abandoned by its people. Only a few are left, defending it with their bare chests, selling their blood and souls to Allah for a great price that mentioned in the Quran:

{إِنَّ اللَّهَ اشْتَرَى مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ وَالْقُرْآنِ وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَاسْتَبْشِرُوا بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِي بَايَعْتُمْ بِهِ وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ}

Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties; for the price that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah’s Cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and the Qur’an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success. (Al-Tawbah: 111)
Allahu Akbaru Kabeera (I greatly magnify the greatness of Allah), walhamduliallah katheeran (many praises are for Allah), wa subhanallahi buktratan wa aseela (and glory be to Allah all morning and evening).
Labaik Allahuma Labaik. Labaik la shareeka laka labaik. Innal-hamda, wan-nimata laka wal-mulk. Laa shareeka lak.
At your service, O Allah, at Your service. At Your service, You have no partner, at Your service. Indeed all praise, all blessings and all dominion is solely Yours. You have no partner.
We congratulate the Ummah of the Quran, the Ummah of obedience, and the Ummah of the sword on Eid-ul-Adha, the apparent symbol of Allah, the religion of Muhammad, the path of Ibrahim, and the guidance of the Prophets sallallahu alaihim wa sallam.
Muslims!
Indeed the monotheist religion brought by Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam is the complete structure for the religions and ways of the Prophets. Books of all times have firmly consolidated the Fiqh of Governance for the Muslims, and the milestones of change in the ruling governments. They based it upon established principles, from them the legitimate right of decision and its independence, the legitimacy of the employed methodology and its accordance with the way of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, and the correctness of the goal, the results and the end. It is from these principles which we must create a political vision for the generation of reform in the Muslim Ummah.
Mujahideen all over the Muslim world!
Indeed the Spring Reforms with which all Muslims identified was a reaction to a bitter and miserable reality they were living due to the Taghuti governments. But the global forces of kufr stepped in between them and their goal with the Bernard Lewis plot for a new division of the Muslim world. Our view regarding these events is that various opportunists and agents who seek to prepare the way for newborn governments of the global Zio-Christian Crusader imperialists took advantage of it. People who have failed Jihad and the Sharia from those who identify themselves with moderate Islam from the Ikhwan-ul-Muslimeen also stepped into the game, and the first victim of this conspiracy will be the Muslims, and the first aspect which will be sidelined is that of governance. The only losers are Ahl-us-Sunnah, and specifically the Mujahideen, then Islam as a whole, its methodology, its aspirations and its laws. The cost of Crusader support of newborn governments is the building of their permanent transatlantic interests and military bases in Muslim lands which safeguard the borders of its new division, working to solidify the uni-polarity of the Crusaders across the world.
Indeed these times and events is another page from the pages of the Will of Allah for this nation, and the prophetic guidance in the likes of these events is to place all of one’s trust in Allah, trust as defined by Jihad, which is to take all means possible and then to leave all matters to Allah Almighty.
From the most important religious means is to form military groups which will impose its presence in the arena at this stage. This imposition is an obligation. Indeed Allah has preserved the potential energy of Muslims for the likes of these times. The likes of these times and events bear one of the greatest opportunities to seize and fight for land which is slipping away. Gaining land area is one of the greatest of obligations, and defending it is even greater. However, wisdom must cloak this lofty palace, as working according to the best interest balanced between the religion and its implementation is one of the most apparent favors of Allah granted to the Muslims.
O sword-bearers in the Muslim lands! Do your best and utmost, and indeed Allah is with you. Allah has said:

فَلَا تَهِنُوا وَتَدْعُوا إِلَى السَّلْمِ وَأَنْتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ وَاللَّهُ مَعَكُمْ وَلَنْ يَتِرَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ

So be not weak and ask not for peace (from the enemies of Islam), while you are having the upper hand. Allah is with you, and will never decrease the reward of your good deeds. (Muhammad: 35)
O Allah! Send prayers upon Muhammad and his family, as You have sent prayers upon Ibrahim, indeed You are All-Praiseworthy, All-Majestic.
O Allah! Send blessings upon Muhammad and his family, as You have sent blessings upon Ibrahim, indeed You are All-Praiseworthy, All-Majestic.
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Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Anṣār al-Islām — “Letter Issued By The Leadership To All Muslims On The Occasion Of ‘Īd al ‘Aḍḥā”
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Check out my new post at al-Wasat: "On Flags, Islamic History, and al-Qa’ida"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

After writing my post on Libya, AQIM, and the spotting of a flag that appeared to be al-Qa’ida in Iraq’s (AQI) hanging over a court building in Benghazi there has been much written over the past few days regarding this flag as well as one waved at a rally also held in Libya that showed the Islamic State of Iraq’s (AQI’s successor group) flag.[1] Earlier this morning, it sparked an interesting debate between Ed Husain and Will McCants on Twitter. The flags in question were the following two:

al-Qa’ida in Iraq’s flag. This was the one that appeared on top of the court house in Benghazi. Islamic State of Iraq’s flag.

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Husain contended that one should not describe this flag as an “al-Qa’ida flag,” stating: “By calling it AQ flag we give them what is not theirs. The Prophet used those colours in his raids against pagans.” On the other hand, McCantsargued that Muhammad may have used similar colors (i.e. black and white), but no other Islamic movement uses the exact same styled flag as the Islamic State of Iraq. Husain mentioned Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) as a counter example, yet that does not hold up to scrutiny, see:

Hizb ut-Tahrir’s flag

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Indeed, in the case of the AQI and HuT flags they both use black as the background and contain theshahada (Islamic testament of faith: ‘There is no God, but God; and Muhammad is the Messenger of God’). While the Islamic State of Iraq’s only has the first half of the shahada at the top while on the bottom is the seal that Muhammad used in official documents. They all differ a bit though since they have different styled typeface. Further, if one were to contend as Husain did that “we” are giving al-Qa’ida something that is not theirs then we should look back and see what flags the Muslim prophet Muhammad actually used as well as the Rashidun Caliphate, Ummayad Caliphate, and the Abbasid Caliphate.
Click here to read the rest.