In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Ramadan The Month of Jihad, Preparation and Striving

By Abu Saad Al Aamli
Translated by the Ansarullah English Team

It is a norm among Muslims to prepare for the blessed month of Ramadan. But for many Muslims this month has turned into a month of eating and drinking, late nights and idle talk. My message is not aimed at such people because they will not read this, and even if they do, they will not give it much importance as this message opposes the very habits they have adopted in this month of excellence. The sanctity of Ramadan has been marred by the trivial and base desires of the nafs. It is now no more than a display of cultural trends to gain a few superficial blessings.

Ramadan in the eyes of people Ramadan now translates into hunger and thirst during the day and festive celebrations at night. How true is this Hadith to the situation: Perhaps a fasting person will get nothing from his fast save hunger, and perhaps the one who stands to pray at night will get nothing from his standing except sleeplessness. (an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and al-Hakim) Apart from this, people indulge in acts of disobedience, un-Islamic practices and major sins such as free mixing with non-mahram women, casting unrestrained glances at them and inviting to things which are haram. In their opinion, the disobedience and sinning during the night is legitimised by the restrain practiced during the day. They believe good erases evil and fasting erases the most major of sins. This is the distorted face of Ramadan, which has been presented by the scholars who have legitimatised the oppression and corruption of the leaders of Taghut, to make people heedless of the true spirit and purpose of Ramadan. This purpose is to cure the disease of neglect of the people towards Jihad and their great responsibility towards it. Thus they are prevented from the call to Jihad and its preparation which would deliver them from heedlessness and inaction, and would create in them a great sense of responsibility and bring them to the field of Jihad itself. Certain groups are more cautious than those aforementioned. They understand the sanctity of Ramadan and deem it the month of eman, worship and itkaaf. In their eyes, the main purpose of this month of taqwa, patience and Jihad is to fast during the day and establish prayer during the night.

These people are automatically faced with a question: Do the current times allow us to settle for such small targets or should the month of Ramadan be a means to reach a higher purpose? The example of these people reminds us of a pious scholar, Fazail bin Ayaad who had relinquished Jihad to busy himself in worship in Haram e Nabawi, and to whom Abdullah bin Mubarak sent the following reminder: O worshipper of Harmain, if you could see us, you would realize that your worship is mere jest. Your cheeks are moist with tears, while our chests are coloured with our own blood. So what can the Mujahideen say to an Ummah comprised of millions, which is satisfied with a few rakahs performed during the nights and days, and that too in mosques other than the Harmain, holding back their assistance to the path of Jihad fi sabillilah and to the Mujahideen? To them I can give no better advice than this comprehensive Hadith: Narrated Abu Hurairah: A man came to Allah's Apostle and said, Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward). He replied, I do not find such a deed. Then he added, Can you, while the Muslim fighter is in the battlefield, enter your mosque to perform prayers without cease and fast and never break your fast? The man said, But who can do that? Abu Huraira added, The Mujahid is rewarded even for the footsteps of his horse while it wanders about (for grazing) tied in a long rope. (Bukhari: Volume 4, No. 44) Through my writing, I wish to reach those groups that are upholding the banner of Islam with its due right. Those who have taken the first step on that path of change, a path which we have been waiting to join since childhood, the means and resources of which we had always been searching for. Those groups who have sold their will to Allah, submitting to Him whether it pleases them or not, spending in His way during times of ease and difficulty, without fearing the blame of the blamers, and taking a stand for His sake and for the revival of the Sunnah, protecting it as they would their own children and family, having revived the memory of Bait-e-Aqabah. Those who have migrated in His path, giving up everything haram, so they can safeguard their religion and find a sanctuary to perform their worship purely for Allah and to prepare for Jihad fi sabillilah. And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war... (Surah Al-Anfal: 60) ... But if they seek your help in religion, it is your duty to help them... (Surah Al-Anfal: 72)

Those groups who for the sake of their religion, live according to it, who for the sake of Allah have devoted all their obedience and worship to Him; who are deterred neither by deception nor by fear. They are the addressees of my message.

Ramadan is not the end in itself, but the means to an end Ramadan is the month of patience and purification of the soul, and he who is not able to achieve these during this month is indeed in clear loss. Because patience is the key to success in this world and the Hereafter. Jihad means patience, sacrifice and overcoming the nafs. The one who does not plan to prepare himself for Jihad fi sabilillah is indeed not a part of this group and it becomes obligatory on him to save himself from hypocrisy which will soon take him in its grip, as the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions in a Hadith: Whoever dies without having gone out for Jihad or having thought of doing so, dies on a branch of hypocrisy. (Muslim: 3533) The month of Ramadan prepares one for entering the field of Jihad because in this month, the desire for food and sexual inclinations is curtailed, and it is these very two desires that must be limited during Jihad. However, most people take these two matters lightly and in fact many a fasting person is unable to develop lasting restraint regarding these two during Ramadan, because the effort exerted during the day to abstain from them is wasted by excessive indulgence in them during the night. So all that they missed during the day is compensated for during the night, even if through permissible means. They walk away with no benefit at all in the end. Every passing moment demands that we maximize the benefits of Ramadan and develop patience and taqwa of the highest level, so that when the call of Jihad is pronounced, we are able to respond to it immediately. Just as there are those misguided people who have converted Ramadan into a month of eating and drinking, and others who have abandoned Jihad and sufficed with performing worship in the mosques, the Mujahideen and Ansar must consider this month a chance to correct their weaknesses and strengthen their places of worship and training so that they grow ever closer to Allah, and to Hijrat and Jihad in His cause.

How can we benefit from the month of Ramadan? Indeed every sincere Muslim wishes that the month of Ramadan would last throughout the entire year because of the immense blessing it brings with it. The atmosphere of elevated belief facilitates the soul in achieving great targets and overcoming lethargy in good deeds. But this month requires proper scheduling so that the time between sleeping during the night and fasting during the day is not wasted.

For those engaged in fighting This is the month to enhance their military tactics and increase their efficiency, as is the right on those following in the footsteps of our pious predecessors and those prophets who were also military commanders. I have been sent ahead of the Hour with the sword so that Allah will be worshipped alone, and my provision has been placed in the shade of my spear, and humiliation has been decreed for those who go against my command, and whoever imitates a people is one of them. (Ahmad: 4869) The first battle of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), the Battle of Badr, took place in Ramadan. This was the first confrontation between the Muslims and the Kuffar on the battlefield and is termed as Day of Furqan (the separator between truth and falsehood) due to its immense importance. Hence, fighting the enemies is the most important way to achieve the nearness of Allah. It is the peak of Islam and how much more blessed it becomes if it is done in Ramadan, which is the most honoured of months. By carrying out Qitaal in Ramadan, two great deeds are combined, and only he can achieve the peak of this worship whom Allah selects for this great honour. Fasting and Qitaal are both forms of Jihad. The first prevents the soul from disobedience and transgression while the second prevents the enemy from spreading mischief in the Earth. Therefore whoever is granted the honour of martyrdom in this month will earn the blessed opportunity to fast with the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and his pious companions in the high Illieen. Waiting for him in the royal court of The Mighty King will be 72 wide-eyed maidens (hoors), who will be married to him in the presence of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Sahaba. Tooba (glad tidings of paradise) for such a person. In this month, such Mujahideen should earn Allahs pleasure and closeness by strengthening their ties of faith with each other and by aiding their brothers in the cause of Jihad. This would further strengthen and solidify the ranks of the Mujahideen so that Shaitan is not given any opportunity to cause rifts between them or weaken their resolve. The element of brotherhood and unity is a valuable weapon which needs to be safeguarded. For the Mujahideen, the blessing and serenity of Ramadan is the ideal time to contain human desires, earn the pleasure of Allah and displease Shaitan. Verily, Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in rows (ranks) as if they were a solid structure. (Surah As-Saff: 4) The nafs and Shaitan are arch-enemies of man who can be defeated in this blessed month. Without over powering these two, external enemies cannot be defeated.

This message is for all the Mujahideen engaged in the battlefield. In specific, I would like to mention my brothers in Iraq there is need to make a greater effort to fortify the ranks of the Mujahideen, develop newer and more effective ways to weaken the enemy and expand the channels that continuously fuel the cause of Jihad. As the numbers of groups grow, Islam and Muslims are strengthened, but if these groups were to join under a single leadership with conviction, it would cause even more of an impact. My message is also aimed at those brothers who are in the prisons of the Taghuti forces. They should remember that they are still contributing to the cause of Jihad and this crucial battle, and should remain firm and united. They should not fall prey to the offers or threats of the enemy who is using evil tactics to cause rifts among the Mujahideen and weaken their cause.

To the Ansar (helpers of the Mujahideen) They should utilise this blessed month to speed up their preparation for Jihad and adopt new techniques to help the Mujahideen. They should eagerly look forward to joining the battlefield, although the tasks they are performing are no less important than Qitaal itself, for with their efforts they are filling an important gap of providing the Mujahideen with those resources which they are in dire need of. Similarly they must be extremely wary of the onslaught of the enemy who is waiting to trap them from every side: O you who believe! Take your precautions, and either go forth (on an expedition) in parties, or go forth all together. (Surah An-Nisa: 71) The enemy has devised many ways to penetrate the networks of the Ansar and appointed many spies to track them down and eliminate them. Thus it is crucial for the Ansar to muster equal force to counter these strategies of the enemy, and to exercise great care so that it is impossible for the enemy to track them, or they should limit their activities. In Ramadan, as compared to other months, one feels great closeness to Allah. Thus the Ansar should pray with great sincerity, pleading with Allah to open His doors of mercy for them and make the enemy blind to their presence so they may continuously strive to aid the cause of Jihad and the Mujahideen, and they should hope to one day join their ranks. Also, they should be cautious not to take the pretext of worship to relinquish their responsibilities for aiding Jihad, as this in itself is a great worship; in fact it is the peak of all worship. Here, Id specially like to mention those brothers who are aiding the cause of Jihad through internet websites and forums. It is imperative for them to accelerate their efforts to gather and publish as much news of the battlefield as possible so that the

Muslims pray fervently for the Mujahideen and extend all forms of material support to them, because people are more inclined to generosity in Ramadan as compared to other months. Similarly, Ansar-ul-Jihad should primarily devote this month to spread the message (of Jihad). Because in this blessed month, Allah increases the blessings in righteous deeds and souls are purified, creating an atmosphere of general goodness, leading souls to guidance and steadfastness. The obligation of aiding the cause of Jihad demands the sacrifice of wealth and time equally. The month of Ramadan is the ideal time to train the nafs for supporting Jihad and fortifying its forces. Because without financial support, Jihad is weakened. Thus the responsibility of Jihaad bil maal (spending in the path of Jihad) falls heavily on the Ansar-e-Jihad, and it is hoped that it equals to Jihad bin nafs (Jihad with your own self) which the Mujahideen perform on the battlefield. Thus it can be easily understood that it is of utmost importance to aid the cause of Jihad and Mujahideen in this blessed month of Ramadan by ones own actions and to call others towards this as well. May Allah have mercy upon us and include us amongst those who aid the cause of His religion, those who are sincere in His cause and with whom He will be pleased on the Day of Judgement. And all praise is due to Allah. And may Allah send His peace and blessings upon the beloved Messenger and upon his companions.

Message to aid the cause of Jihad and the Mujahideen: Abu Saad Al Aamli End of Shaban.