Category: Aceh Jihād

NOTE: Below is an essay written by an online jihādi about the Aceh Jihād in Indonesia. It was originally written on the website Arrahmah.com, which is not in English. The essay is unedited and reflects what the jihādi wrote. If you want a copy of Parts 1 & 2 feel free to email me.
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Formulating The Map Of Contributions Of The Islamic Ummah

The Mujahideen need to formulate the map of contributions of the ummahwhich is required for the establishment of Islam, in order to make sure that all elements of the ummah can play their roles according to interests and abilities. Because, in the reality such as Indonesia today (2010), it is unlikely that we can be imagining that the entire Islamic ummah are supporting jihad, let alone to go to the jihad arena.
Unless if the reality is like Iraq or Afghanistan, when the kafir enemies are savagely attacking the Islamic ummah, then as many cadres as possible are required to come to the jihad arena. In a situation like this, the most needed and effective contribution is the picking up of weapons to expel thekafir invaders as immediately as possible.
The map of contributions that we meant is, for example, on how to answer the query of a Muslim journalist; what kind of contribution could he give for jihad and the establishment of Islam if he does not plunge directly into the battlefield? As well as, a similar query from the traders, teachers, farmers, drivers, sailors, IT experts, engineers and all kind of human professions and expertise.
Does inflaming jihad in Indonesia mean summoning them all to abandon their professions and come in droves towards the jihad arena? Once again, in the case of a country with the size of Indonesia, where the total population is more than 200 millions, and with the absence of a “trigger” to ignite the fight, is that a wise choice of method in the establishment of Islam here?
Or will there be tolerance for them to pursue their professions but are still able to contribute for the establishment of Islam? If the answer is yes, then what they need is a map of contributions. They could still work in each of their field, while giving contributions in a chain of links that culminates in jihad fie sabilillah. As far as I know, there has never been a blueprint of the map of contribution made, which covers the entire fields and expertise of the Islamic ummah, at least in Indonesia.
The Islamic ummah in Indonesia have a number of websites which are incessant in voicing out the jihad theme and news, such as Arrahmah.com, Muslimdaily.net, Eramuslim.com and others. The Mujahideen do not need to provoke the admins of those websites to leave their posts and go to the battle hills. Because, the existence of those posts is very vital in educating the ummah about jihad and in advocating the Mujahideen from the cases that are ever ready to ensnare them.
The same goes with the doctors, whether it be the general practitioners or the specialists. Their expertise needs to be maintained in each of their workplace, to be used one day. The cadres of the ummah who are engaging in the technical and engineering field, let them develop in each of their workplace, because jihad really needs their expertise when the time comes one day.
In fact, the da’wah bodies which are alive in the midst of the ummah, with all their diversities and focuses of attention, are also required to be maintained. For example, the institution which focuses in eradicatingmunkar (FPI), pursuing educations for Muslim children (pesantrens and schools), specialization in dealing with the deviated sects (LPPI), specialization in fighting Liberalism and Pluralism (INSIST: Adian Husaini and Co.), specialization in fighting Shiah, specialization in fighting Christianization (FAKTA, etc.) and all other elements of the ummah which have the roles of guarding the big house from the gnawing of the rats ofmunkar and falsehood.
This paradigm is founded on the view that jihad is not the medicine for every disease. Jihad is not like the advertisement of a drink product:“whatever the food, the drink is always Sosro- the Bottled Tea.” To oppose the Shiah in Indonesia, it can’t be done by threatening them with weapons from the battle hills. Because, they are like a chameleon, cleverly infiltrating all lines of livelihood in the cities and villages. They have the kind of aqeedah called Taqiyah, i.e. the necessity of appearing just like the enemies in order to defeat them. The best and most effective way to disclose their guise is by al-kitab, not by as-saif.
Exposing their evils is through ‘ilm and da’wah, not challenging them to gunfights, whereas their own existence itself is hard to detect. Wasn’t Islam established on two mediums; al-kitab al-hadiy and as-saif an-nasir(the Kitab that functions as guidance provider, and the sword that functions as helper). The kitab symbolizes ‘ilm and da’wah, while the saifsymbolizes jihad fie sabilillah. Without the blend of both, the journey of Islam will be imbalanced. If only featuring the kitab, Islam will be abused by the enemies. If only featuring the saif, Islam will appear fierce like a gangster, thus people will be scared to approach it.
The region of Indonesia, with its Muslim majority, is best to be made as the object of da’wah, not the object of jihad yet. Not just any da’wah, but the da’wah that supports the journey of jihad. The ummah are guided so that they are able to understand, practice and defend Islam in the right way. If their expertise and professions are well managed, the strength of the ummah could be used to establish Islam in time, when the momentum has arrived. Unfortunately, mankind are always unable to subdue their true nature; isti’jal (in hurry). Wanting to establish Islam like a magician. Or at least wanting to achieve results like the thugs; point the guns, all will be done.
Careful In Recruiting The Jihad Cadres

The jihad that is interpreted as fighting in the battlefields, should choose the best cadres who have a high level of security. Because, it had already been repeated times that armed jihad was proclaimed in Indonesia, but it always ended up in pitiful arrests. We must always be careful and selective in choosing the cadres who are prepared to conduct jihad with weapons, because, the character of jihad is different from the character of da’wah.
Not all people whose speeches are sweet in supporting jihad are right to be invited to jihad in the battlefield. The intelligence are swarming about, many of whom looking very “salafi” and very “jihadi”. It is too difficult to tell those who are really truthful and safe to be invited for jihad from those we are harming jihad instead.
The intelligence are working very seriously in order to sabotage the ranks of the Mujahideen. We cannot just rely on the cadres of jihad by looking at the external appearances, but we must really feel safe and very familiar with the persons who would become our partners in jihad. Be careful with the questionable jihad cadres i.e. those who are only enthusiastic in talking about jihad, but are reluctant when invited to talk about the correct ways of making wudhu’ as per the sunnah of the Prophet SAW, about the subject of cleanliness (thaharah), and the subject of uncleanliness. They are averse and not enthusiastic in talking about the subject of jilbab on their wives and children, the subject of the school of choice for his children, the subject of the Islamic home interior, the subject of crying due to the fear of Allah, the subject of zuhd, the subject of wara’ , the subject of halal activities, the subject of riba, the subject of ittiba’ to Rasulullah SAW and so on.
Indonesia is not a place that is currently raging with conflicts like Afghanistan, Iraq or Somalia. In the regions of conflict, carefulness that is too tight is not really required in recruiting the cadres of jihad. Anyone who have enough bravery to come to the battlefield and who want to participate in jihad along with the Mujahideen, should be received with open hands.
But for a case like Indonesia, which is not a country of conflict, we cannot instantly feel safe working with the questionable cadres of jihad. Not all who show their interest in the theme of jihad are suitable to be invited to the jihad arena.
This is the character of jihad. Different from the character of da’wah, which is very open. Anyone could be invited to join in the ranks of da’wah. It is compulsory upon us to explain to anyone who enquires about Islam, we cannot refuse it. In fact, even if those enquiring are from amongst the intelligence who want to entrap a da’ie. Anyone who are interested inda’wah and spreading Islam, as long as their good faith is observed, we must appreciate them.
Meanwhile, in jihad, the ranks of Mujahideen can (in fact, must) refuse themunafiq who want to participate in jihad, if they would apparently harm the