Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear brother in Islam, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.
Allah Almighty created this life and laid down for it certain fixed laws. He has ordained that the believers strive against their enemies and prepare all they can for that purpose. They are to follow the ways that bring about victory. This is to say, they are to believe in Allah, prepare as much force as they can, be always on the alert, take prompt action on hearing the call to jihad, have a sincere wish and enthusiasm to participate in jihad in Allah’s cause, unite and join hands with one another, obey the Muslim leader and keep order, be courageous and steadfast in fighting, and have confidence that Allah will grant them victory.
The late prominent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Ash-Sharabasi, professor of `Aqeedah and Philosophy at Al-Azhar University, stated:
There is no doubt that the first way to victory is to believe in Allah, the Creator of the universe, and the Only One Who can revive nations and breathe life into souls?. Almighty Allah says: “Lo! Allah defendeth those who are true. Lo! Allah loveth not each treacherous ingrate.” (Al-Hajj: 38) He also says: “… To help believers is incumbent upon Us …” (Ar-Rum: 47) and “Lo! We verily do help Our messengers, and those who believe, in the life of the world and on the day when the witnesses arise …” (Ghafir: 51)
Belief in Allah does not mean only to utter the Shahadah (the Testimony of Faith) and words and expressions in remembrance of Allah. True belief in Allah is to have unshakeable, firm belief that Allah is the Supporter of all in the heavens and the earth; to follow all His teachings; to obey His commands regarding the necessary measures to preserve our honor and (national) sovereignty; and to join efforts with one another as believers to hold fast to Allah’s law. He who does so is guided to the Straight Path.
The second way to achieve victory is to prepare as much force as we can to confront our enemies, without underestimating the force of the enemies and the treacherous intrigues they may plot against us. We should also not be deluded regarding our ability to gain victory while we have no firm bases for that. Allah Almighty says: “Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others beside them whom ye know not. Allah knoweth them. Whatsoever ye spend in the way of Allah it will be repaid to you in full, and ye will not be wronged.” (Al-Anfal: 6)
“Whatsoever ye spend in the way of Allah…” in the above Qur’anic verse indicates that every Muslim can contribute directly or indirectly to the cause of jihad. He who is able to fight directly in the battlefield is to do so, and he who cannot may support the cause in other ways. Whatever the individual’s position in society, he can contribute to the cause of his nation, and each will be rewarded by Allah according to his contribution. Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), said: “Anybody who equips a warrior (going to fight) in Allah’s cause is like one who actually fights. And anybody who looks well after his (the warrior’s) family in his absence is also like one who actually fights.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would also send some of his Companions on missions in the interest of the nation at times of battles. He (peace and blessings be upon him) would regard those Companions as fighters in Allah’s cause and would give them shares of the booty equal to that of those who fought in the battlefield, though they had not actually participated in fighting. He (peace and blessings be upon him) would regard them all as fighters in Allah’s cause, for they had contributed directly or indirectly to the cause of jihad. May Allah be pleased with them all.
The third way to victory is to be always on the alert so that the enemy cannot deceive us. We are to bear always in mind the hadith: “War is deceit.” We should also remember always that our enemy is treacherous and may use every cunning way to dominate us. Hence, we are to take into consideration Allah’s words: “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and beware …” (Al-Ma’idah: 92) and “Those who disbelieve long for you to neglect your arms and your baggage that they may attack you once for all …” (An-Nisa’: 102) We are also to take into account the Hadith: “The best among people is the one who holds the reins of his horse (ever ready to march) in the cause of Allah, flies on its back whenever he hears a fearful shriek or a call for help, flies to it, seeking death at places where it can be expected.”
The fourth way to victory is to be ready to take prompt action on hearing the call to jihad to fight against the enemies, without delay or recoil from participating in fighting. Allah says: “O ye who believe! What aileth you that when it is said unto you: Go forth in the way of Allah, ye are bowed down to the ground with heaviness. Take ye pleasure in the life of the world rather than in the Hereafter? The comfort of the life of the world is but little in the Hereafter.” (At-Tawbah: 38-39)
The fifth way is to unite, join hands with one another, obey the Muslim leader, keep the order, and face the enemy courageously and steadfastly. Almighty Allah says: “O ye who believe! When ye meet an army, hold firm and think of Allah much, that ye may be successful. And obey Allah and His Messenger, and dispute not one with another lest ye falter and your strength depart from you; but be steadfast! Lo! Allah is with the steadfast.” (Al-Anfal: 45-46) and “Lo! Allah loveth those who battle for His cause in ranks, as if they were a solid structure.” (As-Saff: 4)
The sixth way is to fight sincerely in Allah’s cause, which includes fighting to defend one’s freedom, honor, dignity, homeland, family, sacred places, property. Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said: “By He in Whose Hands Muhammad’s soul is, he who fights against them (the enemies) today patiently and courageously for Allah’s sake and is killed (while doing so), Allah will admit him into Paradise.” He (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “He who is killed while protecting his property is a martyr; and he who is killed while defending his family or his blood or his religion is a martyr.”
The seventh way to victory is to have sincere wish and enthusiasm to participate in jihad in Allah’s cause till we either gain victory or are martyred, depending heart and soul on Allah, after taking all preparations in that regard. Almighty Allah says: “Say: Naught befalleth us save that which Allah hath decreed for us. He is our protecting Friend. In Allah let believers put their trust! Say: Can ye await for us aught save one of two good things (death or victory in Allah's way )? while we await for you that Allah will afflict you with a doom from Him or at our hands. Await then! Lo! we are awaiting with you.” (At-Tawbah: 51-52)
These are the true ways that can bring about victory. It is not beyond Allah’s power to bestow on the true believers, who fight sincerely in His cause, resounding victory. “… and in that day believers will rejoice in Allah's help to victory. He helpeth to victory whom He will. He is the Mighty, the Merciful.” (Ar-Rum: 4-5)
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