Advice to all Muslims on the occasion of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait
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Q: Your Eminence, Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Baz, there is panic and fear that has struck some Muslims in this country due to the imminent expectation of war. Many have rushed to buy goods and foodstuffs in large quantities with the intention of storing them, and others have prepared to leave the city of Riyadh out of fear of the outbreak of war. Do you have any words of advice for them regarding this matter?
A: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon His Messenger, his family, his Companions, and whoever follows his guidance.
As for what follows: My advice to all Muslims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the Gulf states, and everywhere is that they should fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and that they should be upright in His religion at all times, especially in circumstances like these, which are not hidden from anyone, namely the events that have occurred in the Gulf due to the aggression of the ruler of Iraq against the State of Kuwait.
It is obligatory for Muslims always to fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), to be upright in His religion, and to beware of what Allah has forbidden them in speech and action. This is because obedience is the cause of good in this world and the Hereafter, and it is the cause of security, happiness, and the extinguishing of trials. As for sins, they are the causes of evil in this world and the Hereafter. Every good in this world and the Hereafter is caused by obedience to Allah and following His Shari'ah, and every evil in this world and the Hereafter is caused by disobedience to Allah, disbelief in Him, and deviation from His religion.
The causes of these events that occurred in the Gulf are the disobedience to the command of Allah and the violation of the prohibitions of Allah that the hands of the servants have brought about, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said in His Noble Book: [Al-Shura: 30]. And He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: [Ar-Rum: 41]. And He, the Exalted, said: [An-Nisa: 79].
Therefore, it is obligatory for every Muslim to account for himself and to watch over his Lord, by doing the commands and leaving the prohibitions, and by hastening to sincere repentance from all sins, as Allah, the Exalted, said: [An-Nur: 31]. And He, the Exalted, said: [At-Tahrim: 8].
Sincere repentance includes regret for the sins that have passed, ceasing from them and leaving them and being cautious of them, and a sincere resolve not to return to them; in obedience to Allah, in exalting Him, in being sincere to Him, in desiring what is with Him, and in fearing His punishment, the Exalted. By this, evils are repelled, security is achieved, and Allah scatters the enemies and humiliates them and makes the circle of evil surround them, as He, the Exalted, said: [Muhammad: 7].
Among the means of Allah's victory is being upright in His obedience, repenting to Him from all sins, preparing for the jihad against the enemies, and patience and perseverance in their jihad. By this, victory and support are achieved for the awliya (close friends of Allah) and the people of His obedience, and humiliation and defeat are achieved for the enemies of Allah; due to the saying of Allah, the Exalted: [Al-Hajj: 40 - 41].
So my advice to everyone is to repent to Allah, to supplicate to Him, and to seek victory and support from Him, the Exalted, over the enemies of Allah, and to hasten to do everything that pleases Allah and brings one closer to Him, outwardly and inwardly, and to believe that He, the Exalted, is the One in whose hand is victory, as He, the Exalted, said: [Aal 'Imran: 126]. So victory is not by the means, but they are means; and victory is not by the armies, but they are means. He, the Majestic and Exalted, said in His Great Book: [Al-Anfal 8:9] And Allah made it only a good message for you, and that your hearts may be at rest thereby. And victory is not except from Allah. Indeed, Allah is Mighty, Wise [Al-Anfal: 9 - 10].
So victory is from Him (Glorified and Exalted is He), but He, the Exalted, commanded the means, and commanded preparing whatever strength we can against the enemies of Allah, and commanded taking caution, and commanded preparing armies and suitable weapons, as He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: [Al-Anfal: 60]. And He, the Exalted, said: [An-Nisa: 71]. Thus, it is obligatory for Muslims to prepare and to fight their enemy with whatever types of weapons and perseverance they can. And I give good news to all my brothers that Allah will support His religion, and He will support His party, and He will defeat His enemy.
There is no doubt that the ruler of Iraq transgressed, wronged, and rebelled against his neighbors, and he caused a great trial for which he will find its punishment and retribution in the immediate and the distant future, unless he repents to Allah with sincere repentance and gives the right to its people.
It is obligatory to fight him until he leaves Kuwait and returns to the right and the correct path, and the mujahideen against this tyrant are upon great good. So whoever is sincere to Allah in his jihad, if he lives, he will live with a good reputation and a great reward, and if he is killed, he will be killed as a martyr, because he fought in the path of Allah to save a Muslim homeland, to support the oppressed, and to deter a wrongdoer who transgressed, rebelled, and wronged, along with his disbelief and the corruption of his atheistic creed.
And my advice to all Muslims is that they should have good opinion of Allah and be reassured by His victory (Glorified and Exalted is He), for He, the Exalted, is the Victor for His awliya (close friends of Allah) and the people of His obedience, and He is the One who says, the Majestic and Exalted: [Hud: 49]. So the outcome is for the people of faith who fear Allah, as He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Hajj: 38].
This tyrant - the tyrant of Iraq - betrayed the trust, denied the favor, and wronged his neighbors after they had been good to him and helped him in his critical times. But he denied the favor, was a bad neighbor, and wronged and transgressed. And he will find the wretched outcome, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 4211Sahih (Darussalam) And this one has rebelled and wronged, and Allah, the Majestic and Exalted, says: [Al-Furqan: 19]. And He, the Exalted, says: [Al-Shura: 8].
It is obligatory to take the means during war, so Muslims should take the means that benefit them during war. They are commanded to take the means in all matters, just as they are commanded to take weapons and prepare for the enemy. They are also commanded to take the other means, such as their needs and the needs of their homes, like food and provisions and the like. All of this is commanded and there is no blame in it, but with good opinion of Allah, and with being upright in His religion, and with repentance to Him, the Exalted, from all sins. This is what is obligatory for everyone. The means are commanded, and they are a right, but they are part of reliance (tawakkul). Reliance on Allah is obligatory in all matters, and it includes two things:
The first is: trust in Allah and reliance upon Him, and belief that He is the Victor, and that He is the disposer of affairs, and that everything is in His hand (Glorified and Exalted is He).
The second thing is: taking the means in all aspects; because Allah commanded them. He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Anfal: 60]. And He, the Exalted, said: [An-Nisa: 71]. And He, the Exalted, said: [An-Nisa: 102]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wore two coats of armor on the day of Uhud, and he took the means on the day of Badr and on the day of the Trench (the day of the Confederates), and likewise on the day of the Conquest. All of this is from the category of means.
So preparing for the enemy with the means that prevent the evil of wars, and preparing what the families and homes need, all of this is a required matter and there is no contradiction with the command of Allah in it. Nor is there any neglect of reliance (tawakkul) in it. Rather, reliance includes both things: trust in Allah and reliance upon Him, and belief that He is the Victor, the Majestic and Exalted, along with taking the means. This is what is obligatory for Muslims.
And we ask Allah to support His religion and to exalt His word, and to defeat the ruler of Iraq and scatter his assembly, and to make the circle of evil surround him, and to support the Muslims against him and help them in every good, and to support the oppressed and return their land to them, and to guide them and all Muslims to the straight path.
And that He make the outcome good for everyone, and that He make these events a lesson for the believers and a cause for their uprightness in their religion, and a cause for the repentance of everyone from every sin. Indeed, He, the Majestic and Exalted, is Generous and Kind. And may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions, and his followers with excellence.
A: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon His Messenger, his family, his Companions, and whoever follows his guidance.
As for what follows: My advice to all Muslims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the Gulf states, and everywhere is that they should fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and that they should be upright in His religion at all times, especially in circumstances like these, which are not hidden from anyone, namely the events that have occurred in the Gulf due to the aggression of the ruler of Iraq against the State of Kuwait.
It is obligatory for Muslims always to fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), to be upright in His religion, and to beware of what Allah has forbidden them in speech and action. This is because obedience is the cause of good in this world and the Hereafter, and it is the cause of security, happiness, and the extinguishing of trials. As for sins, they are the causes of evil in this world and the Hereafter. Every good in this world and the Hereafter is caused by obedience to Allah and following His Shari'ah, and every evil in this world and the Hereafter is caused by disobedience to Allah, disbelief in Him, and deviation from His religion.
The causes of these events that occurred in the Gulf are the disobedience to the command of Allah and the violation of the prohibitions of Allah that the hands of the servants have brought about, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said in His Noble Book:
And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.
وَمَا أَصَابَكُمْ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَنْ كَثِيرٍCorruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].
ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُمْ بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَWhat comes to you of good is from Allah, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself
مَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِنْ نَفْسِكَTherefore, it is obligatory for every Muslim to account for himself and to watch over his Lord, by doing the commands and leaving the prohibitions, and by hastening to sincere repentance from all sins, as Allah, the Exalted, said:
And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.
وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَO you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحًاSincere repentance includes regret for the sins that have passed, ceasing from them and leaving them and being cautious of them, and a sincere resolve not to return to them; in obedience to Allah, in exalting Him, in being sincere to Him, in desiring what is with Him, and in fearing His punishment, the Exalted. By this, evils are repelled, security is achieved, and Allah scatters the enemies and humiliates them and makes the circle of evil surround them, as He, the Exalted, said:
O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْAmong the means of Allah's victory is being upright in His obedience, repenting to Him from all sins, preparing for the jihad against the enemies, and patience and perseverance in their jihad. By this, victory and support are achieved for the awliya (close friends of Allah) and the people of His obedience, and humiliation and defeat are achieved for the enemies of Allah; due to the saying of Allah, the Exalted:
And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might. (41) [And they are] those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish prayer and give zakah and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allah belongs the outcome of [all] matters.
وَلَيَنْصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ الَّذِينَ إِنْ مَكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الْأُمُورِSo my advice to everyone is to repent to Allah, to supplicate to Him, and to seek victory and support from Him, the Exalted, over the enemies of Allah, and to hasten to do everything that pleases Allah and brings one closer to Him, outwardly and inwardly, and to believe that He, the Exalted, is the One in whose hand is victory, as He, the Exalted, said:
And victory is not except from Allah, the Exalted in Might
وَمَا النَّصْرُ إِلا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ[Remember] when you asked help of your Lord, and He answered you, "Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, following one another."
إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّي مُمِدُّكُمْ بِأَلْفٍ مِنَ الْمَلائِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ So victory is from Him (Glorified and Exalted is He), but He, the Exalted, commanded the means, and commanded preparing whatever strength we can against the enemies of Allah, and commanded taking caution, and commanded preparing armies and suitable weapons, as He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said:
And prepare against them whatever you are able of power
وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍO you who have believed, take your precaution
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا خُذُوا حِذْرَكُمْThere is no doubt that the ruler of Iraq transgressed, wronged, and rebelled against his neighbors, and he caused a great trial for which he will find its punishment and retribution in the immediate and the distant future, unless he repents to Allah with sincere repentance and gives the right to its people.
It is obligatory to fight him until he leaves Kuwait and returns to the right and the correct path, and the mujahideen against this tyrant are upon great good. So whoever is sincere to Allah in his jihad, if he lives, he will live with a good reputation and a great reward, and if he is killed, he will be killed as a martyr, because he fought in the path of Allah to save a Muslim homeland, to support the oppressed, and to deter a wrongdoer who transgressed, rebelled, and wronged, along with his disbelief and the corruption of his atheistic creed.
And my advice to all Muslims is that they should have good opinion of Allah and be reassured by His victory (Glorified and Exalted is He), for He, the Exalted, is the Victor for His awliya (close friends of Allah) and the people of His obedience, and He is the One who says, the Majestic and Exalted:
So be patient; indeed, the [best] outcome is for the righteous.
فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ الْعَاقِبَةَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَIndeed, Allah defends those who have believed. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone treacherous and ungrateful.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُدَافِعُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ خَوَّانٍ كَفُورٍThis tyrant - the tyrant of Iraq - betrayed the trust, denied the favor, and wronged his neighbors after they had been good to him and helped him in his critical times. But he denied the favor, was a bad neighbor, and wronged and transgressed. And he will find the wretched outcome, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
There is no sin more deserving that Allah hasten the punishment in this world, in addition to what is stored up for him in the Hereafter – than injustice and severing the ties of kinship.
ما من ذنب أجدر من أن يعجل الله به العقوبة من البغي وقطيعة الرحمAnd whoever commits injustice among you - We will make him taste a great punishment.
وَمَنْ يَظْلِمْ مِنْكُمْ نُذِقْهُ عَذَابًا كَبِيرًاAnd the wrongdoers have not any protector or helper.
وَالظَّالِمُونَ مَا لَهُمْ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلا نَصِيرٍIt is obligatory to take the means during war, so Muslims should take the means that benefit them during war. They are commanded to take the means in all matters, just as they are commanded to take weapons and prepare for the enemy. They are also commanded to take the other means, such as their needs and the needs of their homes, like food and provisions and the like. All of this is commanded and there is no blame in it, but with good opinion of Allah, and with being upright in His religion, and with repentance to Him, the Exalted, from all sins. This is what is obligatory for everyone. The means are commanded, and they are a right, but they are part of reliance (tawakkul). Reliance on Allah is obligatory in all matters, and it includes two things:
The first is: trust in Allah and reliance upon Him, and belief that He is the Victor, and that He is the disposer of affairs, and that everything is in His hand (Glorified and Exalted is He).
The second thing is: taking the means in all aspects; because Allah commanded them. He, the Exalted, said:
And prepare against them whatever you are able of power
وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ قُوَّةٍO you who have believed, take your precaution
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا خُذُوا حِذْرَكُمْAnd when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms.
وَإِذَا كُنْتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلاةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا أَسْلِحَتَهُمْSo preparing for the enemy with the means that prevent the evil of wars, and preparing what the families and homes need, all of this is a required matter and there is no contradiction with the command of Allah in it. Nor is there any neglect of reliance (tawakkul) in it. Rather, reliance includes both things: trust in Allah and reliance upon Him, and belief that He is the Victor, the Majestic and Exalted, along with taking the means. This is what is obligatory for Muslims.
And we ask Allah to support His religion and to exalt His word, and to defeat the ruler of Iraq and scatter his assembly, and to make the circle of evil surround him, and to support the Muslims against him and help them in every good, and to support the oppressed and return their land to them, and to guide them and all Muslims to the straight path.
And that He make the outcome good for everyone, and that He make these events a lesson for the believers and a cause for their uprightness in their religion, and a cause for the repentance of everyone from every sin. Indeed, He, the Majestic and Exalted, is Generous and Kind. And may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions, and his followers with excellence.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.