He spoke about the Muslims in Algeria who want to go to Iraq to fight individually.

The Shaykh : How are you?

The questioner : Praise be to Allah.

The Shaykh : May you be well. There is no god but Allah. It was mentioned to me at the very beginning that I had heard from one of the Algerians who called me and asked about going to Iraq for jihad. As you know, we advise the Muslim states to be a support to the Iraqi people against the disbelievers fighting them and those allied with them. This has always been our view, and it will always be so. Perhaps this was part of what we mentioned to Shaykh Ali, for he had visited us here, albeit briefly due to the circumstances of his travel. We told him that we do not see the legitimacy of individual enthusiastic Muslims going to Iraq, because that would not strengthen the Iraqi army; rather, it would place burdens and obligations on their shoulders when they are in need of those who lighten their load, not those who add weight to their weight. This was my answer to the questioner. This questioner then told our brother here what he had heard from me, and there was some alteration in the transmission, which is inevitable. We clarified to this brother that our view was and remains that it is obligatory for the Muslim states to assist the Iraqi army in preserving the Iraqi people, not in support of the Ba'ath Party or its leader. Then one of those present said, "Perhaps Saddam can speak now." It is 11 o'clock. They repeated his statement in which he explicitly announced the withdrawal of the Iraqi army from Kuwait. I wanted to speak with them. Now, if you go there, what can you do? In my opinion, and in the opinion of many, the Iraqi army numbers in the millions; perhaps two million are equipped for combat. If you go as individuals, what will be your impact in favor of the Iraqi army? I do not think that will accomplish anything. Rather, as you may know, the Muslim peoples, especially here, are sending supplies of food and drink to the Iraqi army, and you are likely aware of that. So I said to our companion whom you referred to earlier: If you leave Algeria, will you leave with your food, drink, weapons, and whatever else is needed for the mujahideen? Or will you be a burden on the Iraqi people and the Iraqi army? This was before the announcement you heard from Saddam. Now, do you think you will be a support to the Iraqi army, which will defend its country, Iraq, and has withdrawn from Kuwait? Do you think you will be a support to it? I said that it is obligatory for the Muslim governments, and I said to many of those who asked: If the Algerian army had gone with its numbers and equipment, with its air and land forces, protecting its army until it reached Iraq, that would be the obligation. But as individuals, that is something that neither fattens nor satisfies hunger. And now, unfortunately, we have been surprised by Saddam's order for the Iraqi army to withdraw from Kuwait. So how do you imagine that if you go, you will be a support to the Iraqi army, which is not in need of numbers but of equipment? Please, what do you have?

The questioner : Shaykh, regarding the fact that we will bring weapons and a lot of things from Algeria, we in Algeria do not own anything...

The Shaykh : I know this, and therefore I advised the Algerians, and in the person of Shaykh Ali, that if the state does not respond to this obligation, individuals do not benefit anything, except doctors and nurses, for their benefit is clear, if Allah wills. As for jihad and fighting, you are now, praise be to Allah, six individuals. Have you all been trained in combat with modern military means? I am asking the brother here, starting from the right. What is your training?

Another questioner : Praise be to Allah, and may blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. I was trained, Shaykh, in civil protection, in rescue, and I am one of the firefighters.

The Shaykh : Good, and you?

Another questioner : Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace.

Another questioner : I am in civil protection.
The Shaykh: What role in civil protection?

The questioner : In civil protection, and I am a truck driver and crane operator.

The Shaykh : And you?

Another questioner : I am a mechanic and a truck driver.

The Shaykh : And you?

Another questioner : I have two specialties: I specialize in car electricity and I am a cook. When our brother Ali Belhadj said that jihad is not just going and carrying weapons, for they may need someone to cook in the middle of the city or to go out to fight, we liked this idea to help our brothers in Allah, the Iraqi people. This is our intention.

The Shaykh : And you?

Another questioner : I specialize in driving trucks, meaning large trucks.

The Shaykh : A large truck, okay.

Another questioner : In the name of the Most Merciful, the Merciful. I specialize in water.

The Shaykh : In water, meaning what?

Another questioner : Repairing water pipes.

The Shaykh : We wanted to know what you mean by water?

Another questioner : Repairing water channels and driving all types of trucks.

The Shaykh : Okay, and are the rest of your brothers like this?

The questioner : Yes, Shaykh, they are all skilled and from the Islamic Salvation Front. Most of them are doctors specializing in civil protection and they participated in national service.

The Shaykh: Yes.

Another questioner : Shaykh, I said a moment ago that we came, meaning individually and not as a group, but that is not the case, Shaykh. We came with an organization, which is the Islamic Salvation Front, and in my opinion, it represents approximately a government in Algeria.

The Shaykh : No, it does not represent a government.

Another questioner : The government is only formal.

The Shaykh : No, no, do not exaggerate. In reality, the government is represented only by those who are in the government, not by those from the people who oppose the government because it does not rule by what Allah has revealed. You know this truth, without doubt. But I say and repeat what you heard earlier: We say states, because they have more preparations for jihad and fighting than individuals, more than parties. Because parties, in all Muslim governments, unfortunately, are not allowed to be armed and prepared for fighting, is that not so? So if a certain party is a group and a block, it does not achieve the goal that I am circling around and speaking of. We want the states, each state with its air or land weapons or weapons of various types and shapes, and so on. So now, according to what you have explained and described, it falls under what I see as appropriate that your going there is beneficial, because assistance, medical care, nursing, and the like, without doubt, the Iraqi army is now in greatest need of such help. But as for direct fighting, that has not been my view from before, because these individuals do not have the weapons and strength that correspond to the ferocity of the war waged on the Iraqi people. So if the individuals who left Algeria have such specialties, that is a good thing, and I mean I said it to Shaykh Ali. But as for direct fighting, we do not see that it should be by individuals, but rather by governments. And unfortunately, as you see, the governments are withdrawn into themselves and have no assistance for the Iraqi people or the Iraqi army except words and encouragement and the like. But with this, knowing that you have different specialties, I see that you should contact Shaykh Ali by phone. You must have a responsible person as a leader.