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The Taliban: The Verdict of Ten
Islamic Scholars Important Declaration
From Ten Scholars After Taliban Withdrawal
We consider the divine retribution and
punishment which struck the land of kufr and the ensuing formation of an
alliance and its aggression upon Muslim Afghanistan that has resulted in
the destruction of tithe and life to be a magnanimous calamity through
which our Umma is passing. There is no way out of it except by holding
fast to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger. Analysis of
these events and a viewpoint concerning them should be based on the Qur’an
and Sunnah. That is because the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His
Messenger contain the fundamentals of aqeeda which are rooted in singling
out Allah’s tawheed and enslaving humanity to their Sustainer. In them is
acquaintance with Allah’s Names of Utmost Beauty and His sublime
Attributes which manifest themselves in divine commands, creation, and
whatever He decrees and judges. In them is knowledge of the Ways of Allah
(Sunnan-ullah) in bringing about change.
We make this declaration, in the light of
the Book of our Sustainer and Sunna of our Prophet Muhammad, peace and
blessings be on him, to record our view concerning the events and the
ensuing alliance in the following points:
(1) The destruction which befell the land
of kufr, regardless of the identity of its perpetrator and Shariah
legality of such an act, was the manifestation of Allah’s Names and
Attributes. He, the Most Exalted, is al-Qawee (The Omnipotent), al-‘Aziz
(The Almighty), al-Qaahir (The Irresistible) whose might and strength is
greater than the strength of the world’s superpower which proclaims, "Who
is mightier than us?" Its pride was shattered and it was humbled when its
most prized possessions by which it threatens the rest of the world were
struck. It had never imagined that one day its symbol of economic and
military might will be hit. Yet, Allah is al-Qawee, al-‘Aziz who brought
it from where they never imagined, striking awe in their hearts. Indeed in
this is a lesson for those who reflect. It is Allah’s Way in dealing with
His creation to recompense the wrongdoers, the arrogant on earth. Every
nation has an appointed term and everything is set by a measure with Him.
He says:
"Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) towns
while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful and severe."
And He says,
"And many a township did I give
respite while it was given to wrong-doing. Then (in the end) I seized it
(with punishment). And to Me is the (final) return (of all)."
He says,
"Have they not traveled through the
earth, and seen what was the end of those before them? Allah destroyed
them completely and a similar (fate awaits) the disbelievers."
Abu Musa al-‘Ash-aree reports, as
collected by Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet said:
"Allah gives respite to the
oppressor, but when He takes him over, He never releases him."
Then he recited,
"Such is the Seizure of your Lord
when He seizes the (population of) towns while they are doing wrong.
Verily, His Seizure is painful and severe."
The events that befell America and the
fear and outbreak of diseases in its aftermath are the Ways of Allah as He
says,
"That
has been the Way of Allah already with those who passed away before. And
you will not find any change in the Way of Allah."
And He says,
"Then, can they expect anything
(else), but the Sunnah (way of dealing) of the peoples of old? So no
change will you find in Allah’s Sunnah (way of dealing), and no turning
off will you find in Allah’s Sunnah (way of dealing)."
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taimiyya writes,
"The texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah
which constitute the da’wa of Muhammad, peace and blessings be on him,
include and address the entire creation either by the generality of their
wording and meaning or just by the generality of their meaning. So, the
promises of Allah in His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger apply to the
later part of this Umma just as they applied the earlier one. Allah has
narrated to us stories of ancient nations as a lesson for us. Out state of
affairs resembles theirs and the nations that appeared later are similar
to the ones of the past. Therefore, a believer from the times bygone is
similar to the believer of the later times. Also, an unbeliever and a
hypocrite from times bygone is also similar to the unbeliever and the
hypocrite of later times."
(2) The events that Allah caused to occur
contain great wisdoms which are the manifestation of His Name al-Hakeem
(The All-Wise). Sometimes we know them, sometimes we don’t. Yet, at other
times, we know only part of the divine wisdom. It appears to us that some
the wisdoms of these events have been: revelation of the true reality of
Eeman, distinction between the ranks to believers and hypocrites, expose
of the enemies of the believers, drawing attention to the injustice and
transgression of America to the extent that it is even being mentioned
within America itself, a renewed interest in knowing about Islam in
non-Muslim countries, a sense of honor, and a departure of hopelessness of
the possibility of confrontation between Islam and the kafir West.
(3) We want to warn the Umma of the
nature of this conflict: it is a conflict between Islam and kufr,
especially after they made an open rallying cry calling it a Crusade.
Also, the clear pronouncements made by their major leaders and thinkers
are an evidence of this. For instance, what was said by Bush and by the
Italian prime minister, in addition to what their thinkers and senior
editors have written in journals and magazines. We find the provocative
language is setting the tone of this conflict, like "them and us," "clash
of civilizations," "forces of good and forces of evil." America is
assaulting anyone who has any link with Islam as it is not hidden. It is a
war against those who fought Jihad in Afghanistan in the past, it is a war
against Jihad organizations, it is a war against Islamic banks, it is a
war against relief organizations, it is a war against Islamic Internet
sites, it is a war against Islamic companies based in Europe and the US,
it is a war against Islamic education system, it is a war against the
verses of Jihad in the Qur’an, it is a war against Islamic institutions of
learning. So, Muslims must be warned about the nature of this conflict.
(4) Based on the aforementioned, we will
like to remind the Umma of the duty to have bar’a towards the unbelievers.
We warn against having allegiance towards them and in trusting them, for
this presents one of the greatest perils to a slave’s Eeman. Allah says:
"You (O Muhammad) will not
find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, making friendship
with those who oppose Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), even though they
were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred
(people). For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened
them with Rûh (proofs, light and true guidance) from Himself. And We will
admit them to Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever.
Allah is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of
Allah. Verily, it is the Party of Allah that will be the successful."
He says:
"Let not the believers take the
disbelievers as Auliyâ (supporters, helpers) instead of the believers, and
whoever does that will never be helped by Allah in any way."
He says:
"Give to the hypocrites the tidings that
there is for them a painful torment. Those who take disbelievers for
Auliyâ' (protectors, helpers, friends) instead of believers, do they seek
honor, power and glory with them? Verily, then to Allah belongs all
honour, power and glory."
He says:
"O you who believe! Take not the Jews and
the Christians as Auliyâ' (friends, protectors, helpers), they are but
Auliyâ' to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as Auliyâ', then
surely he is one of them. Verily, Allah guides not those people who are
the wrongdoers."
We caution against aiding them and
assisting them against Muslims in any form whatsoever, even by the tongue,
for such is apostasy from Islam. Refuge is sought with Allah. The people
of knowledge are unanimous on this as Sheikh Abd al-‘Aziz bin Baz, may
Allah have mercy on him, wrote:
"The ‘ulama of Islam are united that
one who aids the unbelievers against the Muslims and helps them in any
way, is an unbeliever like them as Allah says,
‘O you who believe! Take
not the Jews and the Christians as Auliyâ' (friends, protectors, helpers),
they are but Auliyâ' to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as
Auliyâ', then surely he is one of them. Verily, Allah guides not those
people who are the wrongdoers.’
(5: 51)"
The main enemy in the later events is the
Jews and the Christians. They are awliya to one another. How about when
polytheists, atheists, and hypocrites join under their banner as it has
occurred in this ill fated alliance being led by kafir America?
(5) The duty of being loyal towards the
believers even if they are geographically disparate and not to let
political boundaries divide them because the bonds formed by Eeman are
stronger than national ties, as Allah says:
"Verily, your Walî (Protector, Helper) is
Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, - those who establish the Salât
and give Zakât, and they bow down. And whosoever takes Allah, His
Messenger, and those who have believed, as Protectors, then the party of
Allah will be the victorious."
Allah says,
"The believers, men and women, are
Auliyâ' (helpers, friends) of one another, they enjoin (on the people)
Ma'rûf (Tawheed and all that Islam orders), and forbid people from Munkar
(Shirk, kufr, and all that Islam has forbidden); they establish Salât and
give the Zakât, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His
Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise."
Allah says,
"Certainly, the believers are but
one brotherhood."
It is confirmed the Prophet said:
"A Muslim is the brother
of a Muslim: he neither oppresses him nor does he fail him."
In another report from No’man ibn Basheer
he said:
"You see the believers as regards their
being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and
being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not
well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever
with it."
Abu Musa reports he said:
"’A believer to another
believer is like a building whose different parts enforce each other.’ The
Prophet then clasped his hands with the fingers interlaced."
Given this, it is a an obligation on all
Muslims to stand by their brethren in Afghanistan and to aid them in all
forms that they need, whether they be physical or spiritual, whether they
be in the arena of Jihad, media, medical assistance, relief, or defeating
the enemies.
We remind them to implore Allah, and to
call upon Him at times and places when supplications are granted, to aid
them and make them victorious, to defeat and destroy the alliance of kufr
and hypocrisy, especially in this noble month in which the doors of mercy
are flung open the supplications are granted.
(6) We also want to address the scholars
of this ‘Umma and the preachers (du’aat) to clarify the Truth to the
people and not to fear the reproach of the blamers in doing so. Lay folk
follow their ‘ulama and when the ‘ulama become silent, the common folks go
astray. Allah has made a covenant and taken a pledge from them that they
will explain to people and will not hide as Allah says:
"(And remember) when Allah
took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture to make it
(religious knowledge) known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it."
Allah says,
"And who is more unjust than he
who conceals the testimony he has from Allah?"
Allah says,
"Verily, those who conceal the
clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after
We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed
by Allah and cursed by the cursers."
Allah says,
"Verily, those who conceal what
Allah has sent down of the Book, and purchase a small gain therewith (of
worldly things); they eat into their bellies nothing but fire. Allah will
not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor purify them, and theirs
will be a painful torment."
Allah has threatened the one who hides
knowledge with being cursed and a severe torment. It is an obligation to
explain the Truth to people regarding this great calamity of the
obligation to aid the believers, to support them against the unbelievers,
not to abandon them, and the obligation of bar’a from the unbelievers, and
the ruling of aiding unbelieevrs against the Muslims.
(7) We counsel the mujahideen in
Afghanistan to make their intentions pure for the sake of Allah for Jihad
is the apex of Islam, its merit is great, and its reward is immense. Only
the best among the Muslims establish it, as Allah says,
"As for those who wage
Jihad in Our Cause, We will surely guide them to Our Paths."
In an authentic hadith Abu Musa reports,
"The one who fights to
make the Word of Allah supreme is ‘in the Path of Allah.’"
We counsel them to obey Allah and His
Messenger; to single out Allah in Tawheed; to stick to what the Prophet
and his Companions were upon, both inwardly and outwardly; to unify their
word; to abandon dispute; to be firm in the face of the enemy; to make
much Dhikr of Allah; and not to be proud of themselves. These are the
means wherewith victory comes with Allah’s permission as He says,
"O you who believe! When
you meet an enemy force, take a firm stand against them and remember the
Name of Allah much (with tongue and heart), so that you may be successful.
And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute with one another lest
you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allah
is with those who are patient. And be not like those who come out of their
homes boastfully and to be seen of men, and hinder from the Path of Allah.
And Allah is Muhîtun (encircling and thoroughly comprehending) all that
they do."
The Prophet said,
"Victory comes with patience,
relief comes with hardship, and ease comes with difficulty."
We remind them to implore Allah, beseech
Him, trust Him, make much du’a to Him in earnest. This is prophetic
guidance during his battles. During the battle of Badr when the pagans
were many folds in quantity than Muslims, the Prophet implored Allah and
supplicated Him much with humility such that his mantle slipped down. It
was then that divine aid came!
We remind them the assault of the
confederation of unbelievers from all sides is a divine tribulation
(ibtilaa) to raise their status, to purify the believers, and to destroy
the unbelievers as Allah says,
"And that Allah may test (or purify) the
believers (from sins) and destroy the disbelievers."
This is Allah’s Way among His believing
slaves. The confederation of unbelievers against them is just like the
alliance made by the pagans and the Jews against the Messenger of Allah
and his Companions as Allah says,
"When they came upon you from above you and
from below you, and when the eyes grew wild and the hearts reached to the
throats, and you were harboring doubts about Allah."
Allah made the end for the believers as
He says,
"And Allah drove back those who disbelieved in their rage, they gained no
advantage (booty, etc.). Allah sufficed for the believers in the fighting
(by sending against the disbelievers a severe wind and troops of angels).
And Allah is Ever All Strong, All Mighty."
We remind them of Allah’s statement,
"Those (believers) unto
whom the people (hypocrites) said, "Verily, the people (pagans) have
gathered against you a great army, therefore, fear them." But it only
increased them in Faith, and they said: "Allah alone is Sufficient for us,
and He is the Best Disposer of affairs for us." So they returned with
Grace and Bounty from Allah. No harm touched them; and they followed the
good Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty."
We also send them glad tidings that the
vast majority of ‘ulama, students of knowledge, and preachers are on their
side. They are making du’a for their victory and steadfastness and for the
defeat and loss of their opponents who have allied to war them.
(8) Some folks of weak faith and those
with sick hearts view the conflict between America and Afghanistan as a
settled affair, thinking the stand of the Taliban government is sheer risk
and assured destruction. They are saying what their brethren said of
afore,
"When the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was a disease (of
disbelief) said: "These people (Muslims) are deceived by their religion."
It is not possible for this feeble,
besieged nation to stand in front of America with its greatness, material
might, confederation of military forces, alliance of the nations, and
facilities provided to it by other nations. We say to them, ‘It is a duty
not to ignore the spiritual means of victory which must be brought forth
in this event and be remembered: when a small band of believers adopts the
Shariah causes of victory along with dispensing all their physical effort
- to the best of their ability – and adopt the physical means as well,
then they are promised victory and establishment even if they are few in
numbers and less equipped than their enemies. Remember the situation of
the prophets and their followers when they were made victorious in battles
which were disproportionate in physical strength. The history of the clash
between Truth and Falsehood is replete with narratives of a small band of
believers being victorious over large armies of unbelievers. Take for
instance the story of Saul and Goliath, Moses and Pharaoh, Prophet
Muhammad and the pagans of Quraish, and the battles fought by the Muslims
thereafter. Allah says of Saul and his people,
"He and those who believed with
him, they said: "We have no power this day against Jalût (Goliath) and his
hosts." But those who knew with certainty that they were to meet their
Lord, said: "How often a small group overcame a mighty host by Allah’s
Leave?" And Allah is with the patient ones. And when they advanced to meet
Jalût (Goliath) and his forces, they invoked: "Our Lord! Pour forth on us
patience and make us victorious over the disbelieving people."
Furthermore, most people limit victory to
physical victory over the enemies by killing them and taking over
territory and seizing their wealth. They neglect another type of victory
which is actually the greatest and most noble form of victory: winning
over one’s love of this life and one’s self and considering them cheap in
the Path of Allah and in making the Word of Allah supreme. The best form
of victory is the victory of the aqeeda settled in the souls and being
firm upon it till death without wavering, becoming weak or impotent like
the young boy in the story of the Companions of the Ditch (Ashaab
al-‘Akhdud) and others who embraced Eeman with him. They remained
steadfast on their Eeman and did not lag behind when they saw the fire lit
in front of their eyes till the point they were all hurled into it. They
had the option of leaving their aqeeda and to be saved from death by fire,
but the victory was for the aqeeda and steadfastness. This is why Allah
calls it ‘the supreme success!’
The believer in Allah will be foremost
and almost victorious even if he is killed, imprisoned, or driven out as
Allah addresses the believers after the debacle of Uhad,
"So do not become weak
(against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if
you are indeed (true) believers."
(9) We will also like to address in this
declaration the Sunnis among the Northern Alliance, in particular Rabbani,
Sayyaf, and their likes. We say to them,
Rectify yourselves before you die from
what you are doing. The ‘ulama of Muslims are agreed on the apostasy of
one who aids the unbelievers against the Muslims. Remember your Jihad
against the Russians and your heroic struggle. Do not put it to waste. Do
not make it vain. Do not end with the worst and ugliest of deeds.
We counsel you to have taqwa of Allah,
turn back to your deen, and join hands with the Islamic Emirate of
Afghanistan so perchance Allah might give you a good end. It will suffice
you to unite with your friends and the friends of the Taliban instead of
uniting with your enemies and theirs to know the right from the wrong. We
ask Allah by His Names of Utmost Beauty and sublime Attributes to guide
you for He hears and responds.
(10) In the end of this declaration, we
counsel the rest of the Muslims:
(a) Truly return to Allah. Repent. Give
up sins. Be eager to perform obedience and worship as it is confirmed in
Sahih Muslim, the Prophet said,
"Worship in times of fitna is like making
hijra to me."
These are among the greatest causes of
salvation in this life and in the Hereafter.
We remind you of the Ways of Allah in
bringing change and that is the statement of Allah,
"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)."
(b) Be cautious against the slippery
ground in times of tribulation (fitna). In these times one slips, ideas go
astray, struggle becomes harder, minds become confused, and attitudes
change. It is only from divine providence (tawfeeq) that a Muslim holds
onto the ground firmly and his mind stays secure in these tribulations.
Come back to Allah with taqwa and ask for steadfastness and firmness upon
Truth. Allah says,
"O you who believe! If you obey and fear
Allah, He will grant you Furqân (criterion to judge between right and
wrong), and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you, and Allah is
the Owner of the Great Bounty."
(c) Caution against falling for the
deception of the media in changing some of the symbols of the deen which
the forces of disbelief and their subordinates who ascribe themselves to
Islam are working hard to accomplish: Jihad in Allah’s Path is being
called terrorism, bar’a from the unbelievers and animosity against them is
being called extremism, allegiance with the unbelievers and dependence on
them is being called peace and co-existence, international taghooti laws
and its resolutions and judgments are being called justice and
international law, unbelieving states are being called friends, and more
deception. Also, one must be cautious against viewing Islam as being
pacifist, thinking it is only a religion of toleration, love and mercy. It
must be emphasized that it is also a religion of dawa calling people to
enter its fold of aqeeda and Shariah, a religion of Jihad against its
opponents, of bara’a from the unbelievers, a religion whose adherents are
described as,
"Humble towards the believers, stern towards
the disbelievers, fighting in the Way of Allah, and never afraid of the
blame of the blamers."
(d) We consul the Muslims to unify their
ranks and not to be divided. The target of this confrontation is Islam,
not a small organization or nation. This necessitates unifying the ranks,
co-ordination between them, unifying their views, and giving up
argumentation. Allah says,
"And do not dispute (with one another) lest
you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allah
is with those who are the patient ones."
(e) We remind the Muslims of the
necessity of having good thoughts about Allah’s aid coming to His
believing slaves, Allah says,
"And, verily, Our Word has gone forth of old
for Our slaves, the Messengers that they verily would be made triumphant.
And that Our hosts, they verily would be the victors."
Allah’s religion will be victorious no
matter what. Allah says,
"They (the Jews and the Christians) want to
extinguish Allah’s Light (Shariah sent through Muhammad) with their
mouths, but Allah will not allow except that His Light should be perfected
even though the unbelievers hate it."
Allah’s religion is not to be feared for,
rather fear should be for us Muslims that we might give up and abandon
aiding the deen. It is a duty not to forget the reports from the Prophet
about the ‘Victorious Group’ (al-Taifa al-Mansura) of whom no era will be
void of. It has been reported in Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet said,
"A group from my Umma
will not cease to be manifestly upon the Truth, The one who abandons it
will not hurt it, nor the one who opposes, it till the Command of Allah
comes and they are like that."
It is called ‘victorious’ (mansura)
because when it will plunge in combat with its enemies and opponents it
will be aided against them either by evidence and clarification or by the
sword and the spear. Hence, there is no fear for the da’wa of Allah being
crushed, this group being vanquished, or the battlegrounds of Jihad being
eliminated. Such thoughts are from the Shaitan about whom Allah says,
"It is only Shaitân that
suggests to you the fear of his Auliyâ', so fear them not, but fear Me, if
you are true believers."
(11) While this declaration was being
drafted, news came in that the oppressive forces of the Northern Alliance
under the cover provided by America have entered Mazar-e-Sharif, Kabul,
and some other cities. The Taliban have withdrawn to the south to engage
the unbelievers and their allies in battle. We will like to respond to
those who hated the Islamic Taliban government and wished for its defeat
by the Northern Alliance: maybe you have heard of the crimes committed by
the Northern Alliance consisting of Communists, Shias, and hypocrites
against the Muslims in the cities they entered. They opened up shrines of
Shirk which the Taliban had shut, shaved the beards, threw away the hijab,
spread music and singing, along with showing movies. This is what you
preferred over Taliban?
This news have exposed and laid bare the
Northern Alliance and, all praise is due to Allah, shown the excellence of
the Taliban and its truthfulness in theory and in practice to rule by the
Shariah of Islam. This government was unfortunately forsaken by some who
ascribe to knowledge and wished for its fall! Indeed in it are lessons for
those who reflect.
We ask Allah to make His deen prevail,
raise His Word, aid His allies, fail His enemies, unite the Muslims, and
unify their ranks on the Truth…
Signed by:
Sheikh Dr. Abd al-Rahman bin Salih al-Mahmud
Sheikh Ahmad bin Salih al-Sinani
Sheikh Dr. Sa’d al-Homaid
Sheikh Dr. Abd al-‘Aziz bin Muhammad Aal Abd
al-Lateef
Sheikh Abd al-‘Aziz bin Naasir al-Jalil
Sheikh Hamd bin Rees al-Rees
Sheikh Fareeh bin Salih al-Bihlaal
Sheikh Hamd bin Abdullah al-Homaidi
Sheikh Nasir bin Hamd al-Fahd
1422 AH |
