Free the Prisoner!

From the things that the Ummah should wake up to and be worried about are the affairs of the Muslim prisoners all over the world, especially the scholars and callers to Allah amongst them – those who took it upon themselves to openly speak the truth and confront falsehood. This applies to those imprisoned by the treacherous apostate slave regimes in the Muslim lands – and they are many, and they are put through immense torture and humiliation in these dark oppressive prisons – as well as those being held in the prisons of the Romans in America and the Western countries. I am especially referring to the Muslim youths who are unjustly held at Guantanamo Bay, as well as the elderly blind scholar, Shaykh ‘Umar ‘Abd ar-Rahman, who is put through so many types of harm, humiliation, and subjugation in prison. They pay no regard to his weakness, old age, or status with the Ummah, and they do not intend with this except to subjugate Islam and the Muslims! May Allah hasten his release and the release of all of the Muslims all over the world!

O nation of Muslims, do you think that if the other nations had in the prisons of the Muslims what we have in their prisons that they would remain silent? Do you think that they would live in comfort or relaxation?!

Wearing a Cross

Ibn Taymiyyah said (‘Iqtida’ as-Sirat al-Mustaqim’; 1/237):

” And the least that can be said regarding his situation is that it falls under the prohibition of imitating them (the kuffar), even though the apparent implication is the kufr of the one who is imitating them (by wearing the Cross).”

The Lajnah ad-Da’imah (Permanent Council), under the presidency of Shaykh Ibn Baz, said (‘Fatawa al-Lajnah ad-Da’imah’; 2/119):

“If the ruling on wearing the Cross is clarified for him, and that it is from the rituals of the Christians and that wearing it is proof of one’s acceptance of being ascribed to them, and it is proof of being pleased with what they are upon, and he insists on wearing it, he is ruled to be a kafir, as Allah – the Exalted – Said: {“…and whoever allies himself with them, he is one of them…”} [al-Ma'idah; 51]…”

Also, Shaykh Hamid al-’Ali was asked about this, to which he replied:

“Wearing the Cross is kufr and apostacy from the religion of Islam, and it is not allowed for a Muslim to wear it, unless he is coerced into doing so under the threat of death, severe beating, etc. – something that he cannot bear. So, he can commit this kufr outwardly, while his heart is secure with faith.”

Finally, Abu Basir said:

“The imitation of the kuffar that expels its doer from Islam is the imitation that reaches the level of kufr, and being pleased with kufr, such as imitating them by wearing the Cross, and what is similar. So, this is a type of imitation that constitutes kufr, and it expels its doer from Islam…”

And Allah Knows best.

A Grave and Mistaken Understanding That Must Be Corrected

Praise be to Allah, Alone, and may prayers and peace be upon the one after whom there is no Prophet.

As for what follows:

For a long time, I have been noticing a mistaken attitude held by some of the youth who carry zeal and enthusiasm for the affairs of Jihad, where you would see them – out of emotion, fanaticism, and ignorance – rejecting every statement – even if correct – that goes against that which the people of the frontlines and Jihad are upon. In their eyes, the truth is that which the people of the frontlines and Jihad are upon, even if they might do that which is in opposition to the Book and Sunnah. It is unacceptable to them for it to be said of a fighting Mujahid that he made a mistake, and that the correct opinion is such-and-such. It is as if they are saying that the Mujahidin are infallible and can never make mistakes, whether they have knowledge or do not have knowledge. They do not accept any statement or opinion – even if true and correct – from anyone who is not fighting – even if he is from the people of taqwa and knowledge – against he who is fighting, even if he is prone to ignorance and mistakes!

These Are the Ones from Whom I Fear for the Jihad and the Mujahidin…!

Praise be to Allah, alone, and may peace and blessings be upon the one after whom there is no Prophet.

As for what follows:

Indeed, those who are quick to demoralize and abandon their cause are known from their ambiguous words, as well as from their clear words. They are known, and are not hidden from anyone, and their evil is avoided. At the same time, there is another group that harms the Jihad and the Mujahidin, and severely damages the Jihadi manhaj – in the name of Jihad, claiming to love Jihad and the Mujahidin, defending them, etc. – and few are those who have come to know of them. So, it becomes a must to come to know them and some of their characteristics and traits, in order that we avoid them and warn from them!

And from the most common traits of this group of people:

A Discussion Regarding the Targeting of Women and Children

“1 – The principles of the Shar’i texts indicate that a man is not to be taken to account for the sins of others, as in the Saying of Allah: {“…and none shall carry the burdens of another…”} [al-An'am; 16]

And this verse has been repeated five times in the Noble Qur’an in order to communicate and confirm the importance and significance of its meaning.

And it is in the hadith of Abi Ramthah that he said: “My father and I went out with the Prophet, and the Messenger of Allah said to my father: “Is this your son?” He said: “Yes, by the Lord of the Ka’bah.” The Prophet asked: “Really?” My father said: “I bear witness to it.” So, the Messenger of Allah smiled and laughed from the strong resemblance that I bore to my father, and from my father’s oath that I was his son, and said: “Verily, he is not taken to account for your deeds, and you are not taken to account for his deeds,” and he recited: {“…and none shall carry the burdens of another…”}

And in another narration: “Verily, you are not taken to account for his deeds, and he is not taken to account for your deeds.”

And the Prophet said, in his farewell Hajj: “…and everyone shall reap only what they sow, and the father will not be taken to account for his son’s deeds, and the son will not be taken to account for the father’s deeds.”

Regarding the Illness of Shaykh Safar al-Hawali

Q: You know of what happened to Shaykh Safar al-Hawali (of illness). So, is there a word that you can direct to the Ummah, especially since there are those who slander the people of Jihad and those who love it, saying that they were joyous because of what had befallen Shaykh Safar? In fact, it is not hidden from you that there are some on the Jihadi forums who actually were happy because of this. So, I repeat my request for you to provide some commentary on this, and may Allah preserve you.

A: I found myself pulled to answer this request. So, I say: we do not accept what was mentioned in your message. We do not accept that what you have mentioned be ascribed to Jihad or the manners of the Mujahidin. May Allah prevent them from having such manners! The Shaykh - may Allah preserve and heal him – despite our differences with him on some issues and directions, we hold for him complete affection and respect, and nobody denies the virtues of the Shaykh, and his efforts and Jihad in the path of aiding the truth and its people, except one who is unjust (dhalim).

And I have been supplicating for the Shaykh ever since I came to know of his illness, and if I had been within his vicinity, I would not have hesitated for a moment in visiting him. So, since this is now known to you, say ‘Amin’ to my supplication: O Allah, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, O Owner of Majesty and Nobility, You are the Healer. There is no healing except Your Healing. Heal Your servant, Safar al-Hawali, a healing that does not leave behind any sickness, and make what he has been stricken with a cause for him to be purified of his sins, and raise his status on the day that he shall meet You. Verily, our Lord, are All-Hearing, Close, and Responding, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and his Household and Companions.

Abu Basir at-Tartusi
5/5/1426

Original Arabic

The Ruling Upon Saddam

Q: Our Shaykh…you know – may Allah Bless you – the intensity of the tests that the Islamic Nation is experiencing, and Allah is the source of Assistance. And we know, with certainty, the level of effort and sacrifice on your part in answering various doubts and statements, so, we will not take too much of your time, with Allah’s Permission. We have come across a great difference of opinion regarding the issue of the disbelief of the former Iraqi president, Saddam Husayn. So, from the brothers are those who refrain from declaring him to be a disbeliever, and supplicating against him, as we have been cut off from any trustworthy news in regards to him, and they have attributed their position to some of the edicts of the contemporary scholars, and they also say this because of some apparent signs of repentance on Saddam’s part, taking into account his ignorance of the fundamentals of the Religion, as well as some bits of news of his situation that indicate some hint of rectification on his part.

On the other hand, you have some who have insisted upon specifically declaring him to be a disbeliever, supplicating against him that he enter Hell, etc. They support their position by pointing to the clearcut disbelief on the part of Saddam, and the lack of news that they hear of any true repentance. So, they say that his ruling remains that of kufr, and they said that it is necessary for him to openly announce his repentance in order for us to refrain from declaring him a disbeliever. Otherwise, he remains a disbeliever that we supplicate against.

And because of our great confidence in your opinions and fatawa, and our desperate need for a decisive word, we hope from Allah that He makes your guiding of us as mountains in the scale of your good deeds. And it is not hidden from you that we require some explanation, along with evidences, may Allah Bless us with you, and benefit the youth of this Ummah by you, and make us those who hear a statement and follow the good in it.