I have just managed, by avoiding porn, to elevate myself over the battalions of Mujahideen who fought and shed their lives while fighting for the oppressed women, elderly, and children in Bosnia, Kashmir, Afghanistan, Chechnya and in each and every part of the world where tyranny and torture awaits he who testifies that there is no God except Allah and that Muhammad (sallallaho alaihi wasallam) is his noble Messenger.

My dear brethren of this deen of Allah, how can o­ne who sits at home in the comforts of his luxury, in the comforts of his warm bed and hot food even dare to compare his state with that of the Mujahid fighting in the path of Allah, with little food, warmth and sleep? Where is the comparison between the speakers who declare that their form of jihad, the jihad of the nafs, is somehow greater and better than the jihad as practiced by the Mujahid in the cold mountains of Chechnya and Kashmir; who’s not able to even light a fire for the fear that the enemy troops may discover his position?

Ah, but Jihad in the literal sense means ‘struggle,’ you may argue. Fine, let’s say for argument’s sake, I accept the word Jihad which is mentioned in the Quran 26 times as merely a struggle against o­neself, and that you wish to adhere to the Quran as closely as possible. If that’s the case, and I commend you for staying close to the Quran in the practice of your Jihad, then how is it that you have managed to overlook the word ‘Qital,’ which specifically means to ‘fight’ in the Quran that is mentioned 79 times? Is it a mere convenience that has enabled us to go blind whenever we get to the words Qital?

I wish to clarify, at this juncture, that I am in no way saying that the numerous good deeds o­ne may perform are irrelevant or without merit. I merely wish to clarify and argue against the myth perpetrated by a huge army of speakers who try to negate the qualities of Jihad as per the Sharia. I wish to caution fellow Muslims against relegating Jihad in the path of Allah o­n the battlefields in favour of a passive attitude towards the lives of the Muslims around the world.

Let us reflect upon what Allah says in Sura An-Nisaa, ayat 95’, “Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in Faith) Hath Allah promised good: But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward."

Let us cease from spreading this unforgivable myth that tries to relegate the actions and deeds of our fellow Muslimun fighting in the path of Allah. They are the o­nes who have gone beyond standing at a rally shouting their discontent against the injustices of the world. We are the o­nes who stand accused of making feeble attempts of ‘saving’ fellow oppressed Muslims by writing to our equally feeble governors and ministers. We are the o­nes who sit at home and send a letter to our local newspaper editors thinking it will help change the conditions of our fellow Muslims in oppressed conditions. We are the o­nes who sit in comfortable halaqas pretending to agonize over our extended family of Muslims.

Let us change our conditions. Let us cease from making this horrendous accusation that we who manage to live in the West are practicing a higher form of Jihad than those fighting in the path of Allah. If we cannot help or support our fellow Muslims who fight in the name of Allah so that justice may spread, then at least let us not say a single word against them. If we can’t help, let us at least not hinder.

May Allah guide this Ummah and support to victory those who have declared their entire lives Fee Sabil-lillah.

Last update : 12-03-2003 20:58

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