VERDICT CONCERNING THE DISBELIEF OF THOSE WHO ASSIST UNITED STATES AGAINST THE MUSLIMS OF IRAQ

Translators Preface

All Praises be to Allah Azzawa Jal and His Salat and Salam be upon His Prophet, Muhammad SallaAllahu Allayhi Wassalam and his companions, may Allah be pleased with them all. In the midst of the ongoing events taking place between the United States and the Muslims of Iraq, there are innumerable verdicts that are emerging from the Muslim world. Various scholars throughout the Muslim world in general and in the Arabian Peninsula in particular, have recognized the duty that lies upon their shoulders; therefore, they are freeing themselves from the blame that may fall upon them on the Day of Judgment by informing us of what our stance should be towards this impending war.

The verdict given below is just one of the many verdicts that have emerged from the land of the two holy mosques. Seven well-known scholars gave this verdict. Allah Ta'ala granted me the ability to translate it into English so that some of my fellow brothers can also benefit from it. I hope that Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala makes us benefit from what is mentioned in this verdict.

Your brother in Islam,

Abu Qatada

VERDICT

All praises belong to the Lord of the universe, and may His Salat and Salam be upon the noble Prophets, the Messengers and upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his companions (May Allah be pleased with them all).

To proceed:

Whoever supports the disbelievers, i.e. Americans, or the British, or anyone besides them against the Muslims in Iraq or elsewhere, by any means of support, then it will be considered assisting the disbelievers (Mudhahara) against the believers. Such is disbelief and apostasy that takes one out of the realm of Islam (Millah) as is evident from the book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Prophet and the consensus of the scholars.
 

Evidences from the Quran:
 

Allah Ta'ala says:
O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliya' (friends, protectors, helpers, etc.), they are but Auliya' to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya', then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allah guides not those people who are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong­doers and unjust). (The Quran 5:51).
 

Allah Ta'ala also says:

Those of the children of Israel who went astray were cursed by the tongue of David, and of Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they rebelled and used to transgress. They restrained not one another from the wickedness they did. Verily evil was that they used to do! You see many of them making friends with those who disbelieve. Surely ill for them is that which they themselves send on before them: that Allah will be wroth with them and in the doom they will abide. (The Quran 5:78-80)

Evidences from the Sunnah:

Jarir narrated that I came to the Prophet SallaAllahu Alayhi Wasallam and gave allegiance upon his hand on the conditions that I will worship Allah alone, establish Salat, and pay Zakat, that I will be sincere to every Muslim and that I will leave the Mushriks (polytheists). (An-Nisaai)

Jarir narrated that Allah does not accept the deeds of a disbeliever after he accepts Islam until he separates himself from the disbelievers. (An-Nisaai)

Amr bin Al-'Aas may Allah be pleased with him narrated that I heard Allah's Apostle SallaAllahu Alayhi Wasallam stating overtly and not secretly that the people of Bani such and such are not my friends (Awliyya), for surely my friend is Allah and the righteous believers. (Bukhari)

Ibn Ishaq and others have narrated an incident on the authority of Yazid bin Roman who narrated on the authority of 'Urwa, who narrated on the authority of Az-Zuhri, who narrated on the authority of others that he named that Abbas, (the uncle of the Prophet SallaAllahu Alayhi Wasallam) came out with the disbelievers on the day of Badr and was taken as a captive. Abaas said: "O messenger of Allah, (in reality) I was a believer. The Prophet SallaAllahu Allayhi Wassalam said, "Allah is well aware of your Islam. As for your apparent action, it was against us." The Prophet took the ransom of Abbas's freedom just as he took it from the rest of the disbelievers. "You also have to pay for both your own and your nephew's freedom." (Ibn Hisham) [1]

Evidences From the Consensus of the Scholars:

Ibn Hazm Stated in Al-Muhalla (11/138):

"What is correct is that His statement, the Most High, "And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya', then surely he is one of them." (The Quran 5:51), should be understood on the basis of its apparent meaning. The person being referred to is a disbeliever from the generality of disbelievers, and no two Muslims disagree regarding this."

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab, may Allah have mercy on him, gathered ten actions that negate one's Islam (Nawaqid ul-'Ashr), the eighth one of which states:

"Assisting the disbelievers (against the believers) (Mudhaharatul Mushrikeen) and supporting them against the believers (is from the actions that negates of one's faith). The Proof being the statement of Allah, "And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya', then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allah guides not those people who are the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers and unjust). (The Quran 5:51)."

Sheikh Abdul Latif bin Abdur Rahman bin Hassan Aal-Sheikh, may Allah have mercy on him stated (Ad-Durrar 8/326):

"Whosoever helps the disbelievers or draws them to the country of Ahl Al-Islam (People of Islam), then such is a manifest apostate by consensus."

Sheikh Abdullah ibn Humaid may Allah have mercy on him, stated(Ad-Durrar 15/479):

"Whoever expresses Tawalli [2] towards the disbelievers (Tawalli Kuffar) and supports and helps them against the believers, then such constitutes apostasy by one's (proceeding) actions. It is obligatory to apply the rules of apostasy upon such a person as is proved by the book, the sunnah and the consensus of the scholars.

 

Sheikh Ibn Baz stated (Al-Fatawa 1/274):

"There is a consensus amongst the scholars that whoever supports the disbelievers against the believers (Dhahar Al-Kuffar 'Ala Al-Muslimeen), and assists them by any means of assistance, then he is a disbeliever just like them (the disbelievers he supported)…"

Innumerable scholars both from the past and the present have passed multiple verdicts that helping the disbelievers against the believers is an act of clear apostasy.

We are well-aware that the reality of this current conflict that is taking place between the Americans and their allies against the Muslims in Iraq is only a segment from the segments of the crusade that was announced last year by the head of the crusaders, George Bush. It began in Afghanistan, and this upcoming war on Iraq will be its second segment. The Americans, and their allies will fight against Islam and the Muslims in order to achieve various objectives. Allah Ta'ala says:

Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him) till you follow their religion. (The Quran 2:120)

Some of the desired objectives of this war are as follows:
1. Continuation of the crusades against the awakening of As-Salafia and Al-Jihadiyaa
2. Curtailing the growth of Salafi Jihadi thought and facilitating its abolishment in the Persian Gulf region, specifically, the Arabian Peninsula and Northern Iraq.
3. Assuring the destruction of any strength that might later gain significance.
4. Gaining complete control over the oil wells.
5. Guaranteeing the security of the Jewish state
6. Terrorizing the Muslims continuously till they submit to the American Taghoot [3].
7. Attempting to divert attention from the devastation that occurred in Afghanistan by achieving a speedy victory in Iraq
8. Altering the geographic map of the area to achieve their own personal benefits.
9. Compensating for the economic loss caused by the Mujahideen (in America)

Knowing such, we should also know that our animosity for the Taghoot of Iraq i.e. Saddam Hussein, and the disbelieving Bathists party does not necessitate that we must help United States against our weak Muslim brothers in Iraq. Neither does our animosity towards America necessitate that we must grant victory to Saddam Hussein, the Taghoot of Iraq and his disbelieving party (Hizb-ul-ba'ath).

On the other hand, we are undoubtedly obliged to assist our Muslim brothers in Iraq (and not the disbelieving government) as is mentioned by Allah Ta'ala:

And what is wrong with you that you fight not in the Cause of Allah, and for those weak, ill-treated and oppressed among men, women, and children, whose cry is: "Our Lord! Rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from You one who will protect, and raise for us from You one who will help." (The Quran 4:75)

Muslims in all places are obliged to assist their Muslim brothers in Iraq. Such assistance includes: financial assistance, assisting them in military strength, assisting them with one's own self, with one's speech, by one's pen, with one's counsel and prayer, making dua' ul Qunoot, enticing others to help them, and warning against those who assist against them. Allah Ta'ala says:

And verily! This your religion (of Islamic Monotheism) is one religion (The Quran 23:52)

The Prophet said, "The example of the Believers in their mutual love, mercy and compassion is like the example of a single body; if one part of the body feels pain, then all the body responds with sleeplessness and fever."(Muslim recorded it, narrated by Nu'man ibn Bashir)

We also advise our Muslim brothers in Iraq and elsewhere that they take the appropriate measures (Asbab) for the achievement of victory and establish Tawheed by singling out Allah in worship, abandoning shirk, they must disbelief in Taghoot, and that they perform the obligatory deeds and leave the prohibitions.

Allah Ta'la says:

Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship (The Quran 4:36)

O you who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm. (The Quran 47:7)

(Verily, Allah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty. The Quran 22:40 )

Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah). (The Quran 13:11)

Wa Salla Allahu 'Ala Nabeena Muhammad Wa 'Ala alihi Wa Sahbihi Ajma'een

Names of the Signatories
Ali Al-Khudair
Hamd bin Raees Ar-Raees
Abdullah bin Abdur Rahman As Sa'd
Hamd bin Abdullah Al-Hamdi
Ahmad bin Salih As-Sanani
Nasir bin Hamd al-Fahd
Ahmad bin Hamood Al-Khalidi

[1] Ibn Ishaq narrates an incident in which he mentions that Quraish sent their representatives to negotiate the release of their prisoners. When the deal was finally negotiated, Abbas, (Uncle of the Prophet SallaAllahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: "O messenger of Allah SallaAllahu Alayhi Wasallam, I was compelled to come out with the disbelievers in the battle of Badr, but in reality I was a believer. The Prophet SallaAllahu Alayhi Wasallam said, "Allah is well aware of your Islam and if it is as you have just stated, then your reward is with Allah. As for your apparent action, it was against us. You also have to pay for your personal and your nephew's freedom." Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) was compelled to come along with the disbelievers and fight the believers but the Prophet SallaAllahu Alayhi Wasallam dealt with him according to what was apparent for him. He SallaAllahu Alayhi Wasallam dealt with Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) the same way he dealt with other disbelievers. Then how severe would be the case of those who voluntarily rally to support the disbelievers and give victory to them?

[2] Some scholars have differentiated between Al-Muwalat and Tawalli. Such was the opinion of the scholars of Najd. They have mentioned that Muwalat is like soft speech, and to appear cheerful towards them. As for Tawalli, that entails honoring them (the disbelievers), praising them, to assist and support them over the believers, and other similar actions. For detailed discussion, see (Ad-Durar 15/479)

[3] Taghoot refers to all false gods and leaders. The Taghoot of every people is whoever they worship besides Allah, judge to besides Allah and His Messenger SallaAllahu Alayhi Wasallam; obey in what is not the obedience of Allah and His Messenger SallaAllahu Alayhi Wasallam.
Disbelief in Taghoot implies five matters:
1. Believing that it is false to worship others besides Allah.
2. Forsaking the worship of others besides Allah.
3. Hating the worship of all others besides Allah.
4. Calling those who worship others besides Allah infidels (kuffar).
5. Showing enmity to those who worship others besides Allah.