A reading of a chapter in Salman al-'Udah's book, "The Jihad of the Victorious Group and Its Effect in Removing Alienation," and Shaykh al-Albani's commentary on it?
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The reader: Titled "The Jihad of the Victorious Group and Its Effect in Removing Alienation"
The student: May Allah reward you with good.
The reader: It says, "If it is established that the victorious group, which is promised to remain and continue until the Hour and until the command of Allah comes, takes on the duties of jihad in the majority of circumstances, even if its final events are in fighting the Dajjal, what is the role of this group in the times when the state of Islam disappears from existence, and the legitimate imam who leads the Muslims with the Book of Allah is lacking, and alienation grows and intensifies? To explain this, we must realize that the jihad of the victorious group is sometimes by attack and sometimes by defense." Please proceed.
The questioner : Allow us, our Shaykh, meaning...
The reader: "So, its jihad by persistence is when a Sunni Muslim state is established that raises the banner of jihad in the path of Allah and fighting the enemies of Allah, and possesses the strength and establishment that enables it to carry out this massive task. Its jihad by defense is when the Muslim state falls, along with its weakness and its exposure to attacks from lurking enemies, such that it cannot take the initiative or launch an offensive, but rather it guards itself against the attacks of its enemies and repels them as much as it can. Its jihad by defense is also when the Muslim state is absent and has disappeared, where the victorious group defends, to the extent of its capacity and ability, the beliefs, morals, honor, blood, and homelands of the Muslims, and bears the sword and weapons in that cause. This includes its earnest effort to establish a Muslim state that declares jihad and maintains this great, neglected duty, and works to remove the obstacles and barriers that prevent the establishment of the state and the declaration of jihad. Indeed, preparing for jihad in the case of its collapse due to incapacity or otherwise is obligatory, for that which is necessary for the completion of an obligation is itself obligatory." It says, "See the Fatawa, Volume Twenty-Eight, page 259. The victorious group is thus in continuous, unceasing jihad. If the existing Muslim state is strong, this group strives to spread Islam, make the religion entirely for Allah, and subject people to the rule of Allah and His Messenger, thereby removing alienation from itself and from all Muslims. If the state is existing but weak, this group strives to protect it, repel enemies from it, work to strengthen it, and remove the causes of its weakness. If there is no state or authority for Islam, the group strives to protect the Muslims in their religion, bodies, and lands, and to defend them on one hand, and to destroy the obstacles that stand in the way of establishing the Muslim state and declaring jihad on the other. Thus, the victorious group is in continuous, unceasing jihad in all circumstances. Therefore, it has become alienated among people because it raises the banner of jihad when it has fallen from the hands of the Muslims, it recalls what has been erased of the signs of the religion, and it spends its soul and wealth in this path. It is not satisfied for itself with what people are satisfied with for themselves, which is preoccupation with the world, contentment with planting, abandoning jihad, enduring humiliation, and allowing the enemies to dominate. If this is its state, it moves from one battle to another and from one field to another. At times it is fighting the enemies of Allah and His Messenger and striving against them, and at times it is enjoining good and forbidding evil. It fights its enemies, and if they are defeated, it is patient, and if they are victorious, it is patient. It does not even consider withdrawing from the field, for it considers that a flight from the peers.
And this constant, diligent jihad has a great effect in removing the alienation of Islam and the Sunnah, and in removing the alienation of the Muslims and the people of the Sunnah, and this is in many ways, among which are:
First, that jihad aims to remove fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) from the believers and protect them from torture and oppression, as in the saying of Allah the Exalted: And connected to the removal of fitnah is the removal of the pressures and barriers that stand between people and Islam. Fitnah is a form of alienation that the early Muslims suffered in Mecca and elsewhere, and it has continued to face generations or groups of Muslims until today. The pressures and barriers that prevent many people from entering Islam have existed and still exist in many lands, whether they are embodied in existing conditions and systems based on disbelief and the pre-Islamic age of ignorance that control public life and in which people are raised, or embodied in laws that prevent entering Islam, or embodied in the torture of those who have become Muslim and their coercion into apostasy. Thus, raising the banner of jihad in the path of Allah is a practical, prescribed movement to remove this alienation and eliminate it completely or alleviate and limit it.
Second, it also aims for the religion to be entirely for Allah. In the fact that the religion is entirely for Allah lies the humiliation of disbelief and its people, their subjugation, the imposition of jizyah (the tax on protected non-Muslims) upon them, and the enslavement of their captives. This is achieved by their submission to the rule of Islam and their obedience to it, and by their leaving the peoples free to choose Islam. When this goal is realized by the existence of a strong, secure Muslim state that performs the duty of jihad in the path of Allah, taking the initiative against the disbelievers nearest to it, Islam becomes noble and manifest, even if its authority is not applied throughout the inhabited world.
Therefore, the first alienation of Islam disappeared, as indicated by the hadith: by implication, even though at the time of the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) it was controlling a limited area of land that did not extend beyond the edges of the Arabian Peninsula. But it carried the banner of jihad and worked to achieve it, and it continued to move from victory to victory and from country to country until most of the inhabited world submitted to it, and Allah made His religion superior through it over all other religions.
Third, if one of the goals of jihad is establishing the Muslim state that implements the law of Allah, protects His religion, and defends the Muslims, then it follows from that that one of its goals is protecting this state and preserving its power. For the state that realizes these great objectives is a security for Islam and the Muslims from alienation. Therefore, it is fitting that the Muslim spend his life in the path of preserving and protecting it, indeed in the path of strengthening it and expanding its territory.
Fourth, through sincere jihad, the believers who perform well in it and sacrifice everything they own for its sake emerge, so that the Muslims recognize their worth, and they become the true leaders entrusted with guiding and guarding the ummah (the Muslim community). The emergence of sincere leaders is tested by the practical trial of jihad, which is a serious matter. For the believers have long been afflicted by empty leaders who claim to love Islam and are eager to honor it and raise its banner, but their actions contradict what they claim in their words. And the believers have long been afflicted by leaders of those who say:[Al-'Ankabut 29:10] "
The Shaykh : Allahu Akbar.
The reader: "And among them are those who, when good befalls them, are reassured by it, and when fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) befalls them, they turn on their faces and lose this world and the Hereafter. The role of these leaders, whatever they are, in alleviating or removing alienation is clearly evident. For among the forms of alienation is that the Muslims follow a handful of hypocrites who feign Islam, grant them absolute trust, and submit to them in what they desire, and have a good opinion of them in what they do. These people destroy the houses of Islam with the hands of the believers, and they are not aware. And what removes alienation and raises or lowers it is that the leaders of the ummah and its leaders be from the sincere men of Islam, who are more enthusiastic for the religion and more sacrificing in its path than others, and who have more knowledge of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) and practice of it and calling to it than others.
Fifth, jihad exposes the hypocrites and reveals their plots against the believers, which manifest in undermining the ranks, weakening resolve, spreading terror among the people, and sowing doubts, doubts, and rumors. Allah the Exalted said:[Ali 'Imran 3:179] And He said: [Muhammad 47:20] And He said: [An-Nisa 4:83] Through this, the Muslim ranks are distinguished, and the infiltrators among them are exposed, those who are rebels against the Muslims. Fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) " Up to here we read last time, the rest is at ... and a person of great status asked me ...
The student: This recording...
The reader: This is a recording, this one...
The Shaykh : Where did you reach in this research?
The student: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
Another student: But we would like to read, if the Shaykh currently has no comment regarding, meaning, the section on the topic of enjoining good and forbidding evil in the conflict between public benefit and harm, or
The Shaykh : I, but I had a comment, which is that our brother, this al-Saman, may Allah reward him with good, for these writings that revive hearts with their strength and clarity, that I had wished he would address, among the things he addresses, the reality of Muslims today, who are at the height of weakness and who are unable to wage the jihad that he used to sing about and explain in a wonderful manner its benefits. I had wished he would speak about what Muslims today, who are strangers, should do. So I hope that he would grace us with a word from him regarding the duty of Islamic callers today, and those who gather around them, what is their duty? For they are surrounded by those rulers he referred to, who do not allow these strangers any room whatsoever to fight their oppression and tyranny by force. So in my opinion, in this situation, jihad is only by calling all Muslims to the two things we always sing about, and we wish the noble brother would join us with the strength of his pen in this field, and I mean by that what we refer to as purification and training. Perhaps the noble brother will grace us, in the near future, not far off, if Allah wills, with a word on this issue, because it is the jihad of the hour. This is all I have as a comment on the wonderful speech I heard.
The student: May Allah preserve you, O Shaykh.
The student: ... says ... last time
The Shaykh : And peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The student: And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings
The Shaykh : ... hehehehe
The student: No, our Shaykh, the lesson is preserved, meaning, what Allah willed
Another student: ... May Allah greet you
The Shaykh : Welcome.
The student: By the way, if you permit me
The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
The student: ... because ... no, this is a hadith
Another student: Do you allow ...
Another student: What we read last time, meaning, the announcement and the
The Shaykh : You hear the word of the combatant
The student: May Allah reward you with good.
The reader: It says, "If it is established that the victorious group, which is promised to remain and continue until the Hour and until the command of Allah comes, takes on the duties of jihad in the majority of circumstances, even if its final events are in fighting the Dajjal, what is the role of this group in the times when the state of Islam disappears from existence, and the legitimate imam who leads the Muslims with the Book of Allah is lacking, and alienation grows and intensifies? To explain this, we must realize that the jihad of the victorious group is sometimes by attack and sometimes by defense." Please proceed.
The questioner : Allow us, our Shaykh, meaning...
The reader: "So, its jihad by persistence is when a Sunni Muslim state is established that raises the banner of jihad in the path of Allah and fighting the enemies of Allah, and possesses the strength and establishment that enables it to carry out this massive task. Its jihad by defense is when the Muslim state falls, along with its weakness and its exposure to attacks from lurking enemies, such that it cannot take the initiative or launch an offensive, but rather it guards itself against the attacks of its enemies and repels them as much as it can. Its jihad by defense is also when the Muslim state is absent and has disappeared, where the victorious group defends, to the extent of its capacity and ability, the beliefs, morals, honor, blood, and homelands of the Muslims, and bears the sword and weapons in that cause. This includes its earnest effort to establish a Muslim state that declares jihad and maintains this great, neglected duty, and works to remove the obstacles and barriers that prevent the establishment of the state and the declaration of jihad. Indeed, preparing for jihad in the case of its collapse due to incapacity or otherwise is obligatory, for that which is necessary for the completion of an obligation is itself obligatory." It says, "See the Fatawa, Volume Twenty-Eight, page 259. The victorious group is thus in continuous, unceasing jihad. If the existing Muslim state is strong, this group strives to spread Islam, make the religion entirely for Allah, and subject people to the rule of Allah and His Messenger, thereby removing alienation from itself and from all Muslims. If the state is existing but weak, this group strives to protect it, repel enemies from it, work to strengthen it, and remove the causes of its weakness. If there is no state or authority for Islam, the group strives to protect the Muslims in their religion, bodies, and lands, and to defend them on one hand, and to destroy the obstacles that stand in the way of establishing the Muslim state and declaring jihad on the other. Thus, the victorious group is in continuous, unceasing jihad in all circumstances. Therefore, it has become alienated among people because it raises the banner of jihad when it has fallen from the hands of the Muslims, it recalls what has been erased of the signs of the religion, and it spends its soul and wealth in this path. It is not satisfied for itself with what people are satisfied with for themselves, which is preoccupation with the world, contentment with planting, abandoning jihad, enduring humiliation, and allowing the enemies to dominate. If this is its state, it moves from one battle to another and from one field to another. At times it is fighting the enemies of Allah and His Messenger and striving against them, and at times it is enjoining good and forbidding evil. It fights its enemies, and if they are defeated, it is patient, and if they are victorious, it is patient. It does not even consider withdrawing from the field, for it considers that a flight from the peers.
And this constant, diligent jihad has a great effect in removing the alienation of Islam and the Sunnah, and in removing the alienation of the Muslims and the people of the Sunnah, and this is in many ways, among which are:
First, that jihad aims to remove fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) from the believers and protect them from torture and oppression, as in the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And fight them until there is no fitnah (trial, discord or temptation)
وقاتلوهم حتى لا تكون فتنةSecond, it also aims for the religion to be entirely for Allah. In the fact that the religion is entirely for Allah lies the humiliation of disbelief and its people, their subjugation, the imposition of jizyah (the tax on protected non-Muslims) upon them, and the enslavement of their captives. This is achieved by their submission to the rule of Islam and their obedience to it, and by their leaving the peoples free to choose Islam. When this goal is realized by the existence of a strong, secure Muslim state that performs the duty of jihad in the path of Allah, taking the initiative against the disbelievers nearest to it, Islam becomes noble and manifest, even if its authority is not applied throughout the inhabited world.
Therefore, the first alienation of Islam disappeared, as indicated by the hadith:
Islam began as a stranger
بدأ الإسلام غريباThird, if one of the goals of jihad is establishing the Muslim state that implements the law of Allah, protects His religion, and defends the Muslims, then it follows from that that one of its goals is protecting this state and preserving its power. For the state that realizes these great objectives is a security for Islam and the Muslims from alienation. Therefore, it is fitting that the Muslim spend his life in the path of preserving and protecting it, indeed in the path of strengthening it and expanding its territory.
Fourth, through sincere jihad, the believers who perform well in it and sacrifice everything they own for its sake emerge, so that the Muslims recognize their worth, and they become the true leaders entrusted with guiding and guarding the ummah (the Muslim community). The emergence of sincere leaders is tested by the practical trial of jihad, which is a serious matter. For the believers have long been afflicted by empty leaders who claim to love Islam and are eager to honor it and raise its banner, but their actions contradict what they claim in their words. And the believers have long been afflicted by leaders of those who say:
"We believe in Allah," but when one [of them] is harmed for [the cause of] Allah, they consider the trial of the people as [if it were] the punishment of Allah
آمنا بالله فإذا أوذوا في الله جعلوا فتنة الناس كعذاب اللهThe Shaykh : Allahu Akbar.
The reader: "And among them are those who, when good befalls them, are reassured by it, and when fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) befalls them, they turn on their faces and lose this world and the Hereafter. The role of these leaders, whatever they are, in alleviating or removing alienation is clearly evident. For among the forms of alienation is that the Muslims follow a handful of hypocrites who feign Islam, grant them absolute trust, and submit to them in what they desire, and have a good opinion of them in what they do. These people destroy the houses of Islam with the hands of the believers, and they are not aware. And what removes alienation and raises or lowers it is that the leaders of the ummah and its leaders be from the sincere men of Islam, who are more enthusiastic for the religion and more sacrificing in its path than others, and who have more knowledge of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) and practice of it and calling to it than others.
Fifth, jihad exposes the hypocrites and reveals their plots against the believers, which manifest in undermining the ranks, weakening resolve, spreading terror among the people, and sowing doubts, doubts, and rumors. Allah the Exalted said:
Allah would not leave the believers in that [state] you are in [presently] until He separates the evil from the good
ما كان الله ليذر المؤمنين على ما أتنم عليه حتى يميز الخبيث من الطيبBut when a precise surah is revealed and fighting is mentioned therein, you see those in whose hearts is hypocrisy looking at you with a look of one overcome by death
فإذا أنزلت سورة محكمة وذكر فيها القتال رأيت الذين في قلوبهم مرض ينظرون إليك نظر المغشي عليه من الموتAnd when there comes to them information about [public] security or fear, they spread it around
وإذا جاءهم أمر من الأمن أو الخوف أذاعوا بهThe student: This recording...
The reader: This is a recording, this one...
The Shaykh : Where did you reach in this research?
The student: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
Another student: But we would like to read, if the Shaykh currently has no comment regarding, meaning, the section on the topic of enjoining good and forbidding evil in the conflict between public benefit and harm, or
The Shaykh : I, but I had a comment, which is that our brother, this al-Saman, may Allah reward him with good, for these writings that revive hearts with their strength and clarity, that I had wished he would address, among the things he addresses, the reality of Muslims today, who are at the height of weakness and who are unable to wage the jihad that he used to sing about and explain in a wonderful manner its benefits. I had wished he would speak about what Muslims today, who are strangers, should do. So I hope that he would grace us with a word from him regarding the duty of Islamic callers today, and those who gather around them, what is their duty? For they are surrounded by those rulers he referred to, who do not allow these strangers any room whatsoever to fight their oppression and tyranny by force. So in my opinion, in this situation, jihad is only by calling all Muslims to the two things we always sing about, and we wish the noble brother would join us with the strength of his pen in this field, and I mean by that what we refer to as purification and training. Perhaps the noble brother will grace us, in the near future, not far off, if Allah wills, with a word on this issue, because it is the jihad of the hour. This is all I have as a comment on the wonderful speech I heard.
The student: May Allah preserve you, O Shaykh.
The student: ... says ... last time
The Shaykh : And peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The student: And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings
The Shaykh : ... hehehehe
The student: No, our Shaykh, the lesson is preserved, meaning, what Allah willed
Another student: ... May Allah greet you
The Shaykh : Welcome.
The student: By the way, if you permit me
The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
The student: ... because ... no, this is a hadith
Another student: Do you allow ...
Another student: What we read last time, meaning, the announcement and the
The Shaykh : You hear the word of the combatant