Learning to use weapons is from the way of the Salaf

Learning to Use Weapons is from the Way of the Salaf



by Shaykh Dr. Abdullah Azzam ash-Shahîd

Extract from Nida'ul-Islam vol.5 issue 23

Translated by Abu Zayd


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Indeed the Lord of Honour has obligated preparation (for Jihâd) in the Wise Remembrance (i.e. the Qur'ân). He says,
"And make ready against them all you can of Quwwah, including steeds of war to threaten the enemy of Allâh and your enemy." [Qur'ân 8]
Ibn 'Abbas said, " 'al-Quwwah' (lit. Power) here is the weapon and the shield, and he sallallâhu 'alayhi wa sallam said, 'Verily, indeed al-Quwwah is firing.' " [Related by Muslim]


As-Sa'dî said, " 'al-Quwwah' is the weapon you terrorize the enemy of Allâh and your enemy with; Ibn Abbas said, 'You pierce the enemy of Allâh and your enemy with it.' "


So the Lord of Honour has obligated preparation with a weapon and a horse to affront the enemies of Allâh and humiliate them. A man met Imâm Mujâhid (the scholar of tafsîr) in Makkah (and Mujâhid was) with saddle-bags; Mujâhid said, "This is from al-Quwwah", and Mujâhid was making ready for battle.


The Companions use to praise al-Quwwah and compete in the field of honour and jihâd; 'Urwah al-Bâriqî use to have seventy horses ready for jihâd.


The hadîth, "Verily, indeed al-Quwwah is firing" reflects the evidence and miraculous nature of Prophethood, as the large part of recent wars are established by firing, from bullets to cannons to rockets. All of them are (forms of) firing, whereas the wars of old and his time sallallâhu 'alayhi wa sallam, their load relied upon swords, spears and horses, and as for the use of arrows, it was much less than them (i.e. the sword, spears and horses).


Therefore we see the horse, sword and spear have many names occurring in the poetry of the pre-Islâmic Arabs and then in their poetry after Islâm. Indeed, very often they used to boast about the sword, spear and stallion, praising them, (but) as for the occurrence of arrows in their poetry, then it was very seldom and rare compared to the sword and spear.


The fact is that when we used to use this language, it was understood by all races; awe used to be in the hearts of our enemies from us; victory used to come to use by a month's journey through fear. The enemies' shoulders trembled, their limbs shivered and their joints quaked in the face of the mention of the Muslims, whose enemies used to described them as, "Monks by night, Warriors by day."


RELATED (as at 10th March 2001):
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Barakallaahu feek ya ukhti I have a few questions though. Can women these days learn these techniques from non-mahrems? It's difficult to find women teaching self-defense these days. also, what forms of battle techniques should we learn in this age, ideally speaking?

There are two situations where women could participate in Jihad.
First, if the enemies invade Muslims in their homes, all Muslims who could carry weapons (women, men, and children) must participate in fighting to chase away the enemies and protect Muslim territorial integrity. In this situation, they should participate in any way they can.

Second, if the Muslims invade their enemies, in this case, the Muslim women can participate and go with the Muslim army if the latter is a strong and powerful army and if there is no fear that Muslim women would be taken prisoners. Ibn-Abdel Bar said: 'They (the women) can go with the army if the army is strong enough to take hold of the enemy's army'.
This is the opinion of all scholars and it is an imitation of a Sunnah that the Prophet(saw) did and his companions followed. In fact the Prophet took his wives and some of the wives of the Muslims in several Ghazawa, as narrated in a sound Hadith.

But the role of women was limited mostly in looking after the wounded and providing food and drink to the men. However, whenever they are requested to carry weapons or fight they should do so, especially now when women can participate in war without having to travel. If she has to travel it should be within the limits of her nature.

Referring - Um Umara Nasiba Bint Kaab (may Allaah be pleased with her) fought in Uhud and also fought with the army that killed Musailimah, the liar. She was wounded in thirteen places that day and her hand was cut off.

Originally war was a male affair. But women can participate in it if there is dire need for it and provided that they would not be made prisoners.

So, the roles of men and women are complementary and without this balance, life will be spoiled. and Allah knows best.

Afreet wrote:

There are two situations where women could participate in Jihad.
First, if the enemies invade Muslims in their homes, all Muslims who could carry weapons (women, men, and children) must participate in fighting to chase away the enemies and protect Muslim territorial integrity. In this situation, they should participate in any way they can.

Second, if the Muslims invade their enemies, in this case, the Muslim women can participate and go with the Muslim army if the latter is a strong and powerful army and if there is no fear that Muslim women would be taken prisoners. Ibn-Abdel Bar said: 'They (the women) can go with the army if the army is strong enough to take hold of the enemy's army'.
This is the opinion of all scholars and it is an imitation of a Sunnah that the Prophet(saw) did and his companions followed. In fact the Prophet took his wives and some of the wives of the Muslims in several Ghazawa, as narrated in a sound Hadith.

But the role of women was limited mostly in looking after the wounded and providing food and drink to the men. However, whenever they are requested to carry weapons or fight they should do so, especially now when women can participate in war without having to travel. If she has to travel it should be within the limits of her nature.

Referring - Um Umara Nasiba Bint Kaab (may Allaah be pleased with her) fought in Uhud and also fought with the army that killed Musailimah, the liar. She was wounded in thirteen places that day and her hand was cut off.

Originally war was a male affair. But women can participate in it if there is dire need for it and provided that they would not be made prisoners.

So, the roles of men and women are complementary and without this balance, life will be spoiled. and Allah knows best.

Jazakallaahu khair for the contribution yo! I have a few questions to ask though

1) In the site www.islam-qa.com, I happened to come across a fatwa where the Sheikh said that women aren't supposed to take part in the Jihad where the muslim ummah is seeking to conquer non-muslim lands (invading the enemy land). Is it okay if you could back your post with some proof from Qur'an and Sunnah? actually, I'm still extremely confused about the rulings of Jihad on women. Here's the link anyhow---> http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/45618/jihad

2) The same site says we're allowed to defend the ummah if the enemies of Islam come and invade our land. In this case it becomes a duty on every muslim, who's able to pick up a weapon, to fight. So in this particular case; in today's world- we can see violence in countries like Palestine, Chechnya, afghanistan, etc, at the hands of the non-muslims. Now if a woman happens to reside somewhere else- but is essentially a muslim- is it a fardh on her to go to the lands where her sisters and brothers are being tortured and to defend them in fight and every other means possible? Should she migrate for this purpose? Is she supposed to be married to make hijrah (as in, does she need to go with her husband)?

3)The same site says that young women aren't supposed to help with wounds and stuff, and that this is what old women can do instead (as it causes fitnah). Is that so? What if a young woman is learned in medicine (is a doctor), can she heal the wounds of male warriors in times when it is a duty of every person in the ummah to help in jihad (in the first case you mentioned- where the muslim land is under danger at the hands of the non-muslims)?

4) Can you chose which land you want to defend, as a woman? Or do you have to go defend the land closest to you in ethnicity?

5) What about the ruling on 'martyr belts'? Is this a permissable act/way of fighting? People in the West call it 'suicide bombing'.

So yeah. Please hook me up with some fatawaa (and proof from Qur'an and ahadeeth) that answer these questions; I'm finding it really difficult to actually come across them on the net :/

Barakallaahu feek, and soz for le trouble!

Ukhti 3ayoosh wrote:

1) In the site www.islam-qa.com, I happened to come across a fatwa where the Sheikh said that women aren't supposed to take part in the Jihad where the muslim ummah is seeking to conquer non-muslim lands (invading the enemy land). Is it okay if you could back your post with some proof from Qur'an and Sunnah? actually, I'm still extremely confused about the rulings of Jihad on women. Here's the link anyhow---> http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/45618/jihad

There is no specific proof from the Qur'an. But that from Hadith narrated by Aisha(ra). Which itself Does NOT Directly point towards women fighting on the front lines but we DO notice from the hadith narrated about the Ghazwas, that Prophet(saw) used to take his wives into battle, to take care of the wounded and specifically in managing female prisoners.

Quote :

2) The same site says we're allowed to defend the ummah if the enemies of Islam come and invade our land. In this case it becomes a duty on every muslim, who's able to pick up a weapon, to fight. So in this particular case; in today's world- we can see violence in countries like Palestine, Chechnya, afghanistan, etc, at the hands of the non-muslims. Now if a woman happens to reside somewhere else- but is essentially a muslim- is it a fardh on her to go to the lands where her sisters and brothers are being tortured and to defend them in fight and every other means possible? Should she migrate for this purpose? Is she supposed to be married to make hijrah (as in, does she need to go with her husband)?

Reminds me of Caliphate. We being Muslims/brothers in islam. We ought to be living in a SINGLE ISLAMIC STATE. But God willingly, what partitions we suffer now, were predicted by our Prophet(saw). It is a stage when we all now wait for our beloved IMAAM. The one who will bring all the Muslim Ummah together, God willingly. palestine, chechnya, afghan, these are mere borders drawn on a map.

Jihad becomes compulsory on an individual if both the following conditions are fulfilled:

i. The rulers give a call to each and every citizen of their country to participate in Jihad.*
ii. The individual himself is convinced that his rulers are waging war on the only legitimate basis on which war can now be waged.

*Qur’an (9:38-9), in the Prophet’s times, such a call was given by the Islamic state to the each and every Muslim before the battle of Tabuk.

So basically, we lack a Muslim leader we can trust. We live in different states and different Cultures. We ask Allah to send upon us a Muslim leader for our State, and every other Muslim state of this world. If the time is late, we ask for our beloved Imaam. Ameen

Quote :

3)The same site says that young women aren't supposed to help with wounds and stuff, and that this is what old women can do instead (as it causes fitnah). Is that so? What if a young woman is learned in medicine (is a doctor), can she heal the wounds of male warriors in times when it is a duty of every person in the ummah to help in jihad (in the first case you mentioned- where the muslim land is under danger at the hands of the non-muslims?

One of the blessings of our religion is that, most rulings are not completely specific, it’s a blessing in a way that we can follow what our conscience tells us is true within the limits of the teachings.

I hope you have heard the story of three brothers leaving their sister with the most pious man of israel, as they were going for Jihad and Neither could they leave her alone at home, nor trust anyone else to look after her, except for this pious man. And how shaitan drove such a pious man into doing what was forbidden.

Plus, a narration from Aisha (ra),
"Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) used to kiss (his wives) while fasting and embraced (them) while fasting*; but he had the greatest mastery over his desire among you."[Muslim Book 6, #2439]

*Which is often restricted for the Ummah, Because, Everyone has a Jinn(devil) companion assigned to him and although we all have a free will, we might still have people who would lack control on their desires.

"And We assigned them comrades, who made their present and their past fair seeming unto them"(fusilat:25)

Except for the Prophet Muhammad(saw), who was safe by Allah's Will, and therefore had the greatest mastery over his desires.

So what I'm trying to show here is that, the above (young women helping men) DOES cause fitna, if not for all but some. Since we are mere human and all this is natural. But that's not all,
Young Women do not necessarily have to help the young men, unless it is a matter of life and death. Which itself should be in a way that the sister covers herself.
Allah knows best.

Quote :

4) Can you chose which land you want to defend, as a woman? Or do you have to go defend the land closest to you in ethnicity?

This again points to the issue of lacking a Muslim leader. Old, and even Current Muslim scholars put forth fatwa's about this ruling but other scholars do not agree to it. Calling the loss of honor among nations as a punishment for our negligence to Allah. Even at the time of Ibn Taimiyya, He told his people that Jihad was obligatory against the Mongols, Since they(mongols) had fabricated a lot of the rulings/teachings of Islam to their ways of life. Even then, Taimiyya being the most famous scholar, was not listened to. One scholar can never call himself wiser than the other and that is what has caused all these misunderstandings. But an Imaam, the one with the knowledge of the rulings of islam + the personality of a Leader – Both; only He can make a difference.

However MY personal opinion about Jihad is that, if one wishes to please Allah with Jihad, Jihad-e-nafs is the Best among the all the three Jihads. May Allah bless us with the strength for all. Ameen

Quote :

5) What about the ruling on 'martyr belts'? Is this a permissable act/way of fighting? People in the West call it 'suicide bombing'.
Barakallaahu feek, and soz for le trouble!

As we all know from the teachings of the Prophet(saw). Suicide is a Major SIN,

“Whoever kills himself with something in this world will be punished with it on the Day of Resurrection.”( al-Bukhaari, 5700; Muslim, 110)

“Among those who came before you there was a man who was wounded and he panicked, so he took a knife and cut his hand with it, and the blood did not stop flowing until he died. Allaah said: ‘My slave hastened to bring about his demise; I have forbidden Paradise to him.” (al-Bukhaari, 3276; Muslim, 113)

“It was narrated that Jaabir ibn Samurah (ra) said: A man who had killed himself with a broad arrow-head was brought to the Prophet (saw) and he did not offer the funeral prayer for him” (Narrated by Muslim, 978)

We are taught to even pray for the infidels to convert to our religion but are forbidden to pray for those who kill themselves. It defines the level of Shirk.
Most scholars are afraid to put forth a fatwa for this just because they are holding for their dear life. But I personally have a strong opinion on this issue.

First of all, Suicide bombing is nothing different than to
-picking up a gun -killing some targets(could be disbelievers) –and eventually killing yourself with it. Which AGAIN relates to the above 5700,110.

Secondly,
“Prophet! Rouse the believers to wage war. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will subdue two hundred: if a hundred, they will subdue a thousand of the Disbelievers: for these are a people without understanding. [From] now, God has lightened your [task] for He knows that there is now weakness amongst you: But [ever so], if there are a hundred of you, patient and persevering, they will subdue two hundred, and if a thousand, they will subdue two thousand, with the leave of God: for God is with those who patiently persevere.” (8:65-6)

20 Muslims for 200 Disbelievers

1 Muslim for 10 Disbelievers. But we cannot imagine the level of belief the Companions of Muhammad(saw) had, without a doubt they could conquer 20 times more but for times like these. Allah then sent the second statement, for

1 Muslim for 2 Disbelievers.

One is NOT sure of killing a Single disbeliever with such an act. That too is failure of one’s determination for his honor. More as if one cannot do ANYTHING to defeat his enemy, this does not mean he should kill himself, or consider this the only option. That is similar to Killing oneself from depression, which was narrated in the Sahih chain, how Prophet (saw) denied to offer the funeral prayers for.

One would rather pick up a gun, ambush/run for the mission, which one is determined to accomplish in the name of Allah, and if he gets shot, he’s a martyr. But Suicide bombing, it is not only an insult to their person but our religion. Are we really so weak that this is now the ONLY way out? Fabi’aye alaa-e-rabbi kuma tukadhibaan.

We are stronger and more capable than any of the disbeliever and we shall prove it Inshallah. Trying to kill ourselves in hope to kill UNKNOWN number of people is nothing more than to tell the world “I’m tired of my life”. Whatever we suffer/go through is from Allah, as a Test in this life. Our reactions, disregarding the wordly consequences, are the ones that will matter to Allah.

And Allah knows Best.


Ali

^
Asalamoualaikum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakatu!

Guess what? I stumbled across a for-the-win book that answers a lot about jihad, by the Will of Allaah; alhamdulillaah. It seems reliable (the arguments are backed up by Ahadeeth and Qur'anic verses) as far as I've read (I haven't managed to read the entire thing just yet).

It even adresses the whole deal about whether Jihad of the nafs is more superior in quality than actually fighting on the battlefield (refer to page 10, and read on if you please).

http://www.hoor-al-ayn.com/Books/6)%20Mashari%20Al-Ashwaq%20ila%20Masari%20al-Ushaaq%20%5BRevised%20Edition%5D.pdf]http://www.hoor-al-ayn.com/Books/6)%20Mashari%20Al-Ashwaq%20ila%20Masari%20al-Ushaaq%20%5BRevised%20Edition%5D.pdf

Hope this helps, insha Allaah.