From the daily bloodshed in Palestine to the continued bombing in Afghanistan to the threat of a new war against Iraq, to the attacks on Muslims in India and the harassment of peaceful, law-abiding Muslims in the USA, we should be left in no doubt as to what is meant by the so called “War on Terrorism” It is no less than a war on Islam and Muslims whatever the cost. It is a war that seeks to ensure America’s domination in every corner of the world. It is a war that seeks to eliminate any possible threat to this domination.
Sometimes in March 2002, FBI agents raided several Muslim homes in the US, harassing the women and showing no respect for ordinary citizen’s rights. They say they were merely “searching for terrorists”. But their methods fall far short of what we expect of a tolerant and a civilized country. In South Africa under Apartheid, ordinary people were forced to endure government-sponsored terrorism purely because of the color of their skin. Same thing happened on innocent Palestinian families just because they are Palestinians. The victims were demonized as terrorists and under international pressure, tiny concessions were made. These concessions were dressed up in clever sounding terms like “humanitarian mission”, engineering works involving road openings, school buildings construction in order to get the allusion of fairness and generosity. And this is just the same kind of state terrorism that is being launched here in Lanao del Sur and Marawi City on February 18, 2008.
If the aim of the American troops is the emasculation of the aqeedah of the Bangsamoro people and the erosion of our unique character in order to make us the “ass of the chosen people” then the urgency of this issue should become clear to every Bangsamoro people.
We should all take heed for ourselves and for those who are with us so that we may warn all the Bangsamoro who are slipping away into the abyss of apostasy,warn them of the treacherous call of the Americans (disbelievers) to what they call “humanitarian mission”; warn them of the false claim that religion is for Allah (swt) but that nationhood is for the masses.
The common misconception here is that it is these governments in the Western world that are providing for us sustenance, development projects. Hence, we should therefore, reciprocally befriend them and treat them with courteousness. The consequence of this is that when this government attack and kill Muslims in other parts of the country, we are in no way objective of it and accept their decision to do so without resistance. We are also begun to see Muslims taking positions within these governments believing that what they are doing is for the benefit of the Muslims. Eventually, this had lead to apostasy without then even knowing it.
It must be clear that in the minds of the Muslims that to love, support, ally. Accompany, help, respect, elevate and befriend are attributes that should be directed solely to the Muslims and in no way towards the Kuffar as Allah (swt) states in the Qur’an:” Let not the believers take for friends or helpers unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah, except by way of precaution, that ye may guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah” [3:28].
Furthermore, Allah (swt) warns us of the danger in taking the Kuffar as our friends or allies: “O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protector. They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is for of them” [5:51-57].
Undoubtedly, this is a problem from which the Bangsamoro people suffers from time to time, especially when it is faced with trials and tribulations and these hypocrites feel secure and feel that they will not be punished if they help in the realization of the proposed RP-US Joint Military Exercises. The damage that these people do is greater than these caused by the Kuffar whose Kuffar is obvious as Allah (swt) says (interpretation and meaning) “They are the enemies so beware of them. May Allah curse them! How are they denying (or deviating from) the right path?” [63:4]. Because of that, it is prescribed to wage Jihad against them and to treat them harshly.
Undoubtedly, waging Jihad against these people is one of the greatest acts of obedience and most important obligatory actions. It is better than waging Jihad against those Mushrikeen and people of the Book who do not fight the Muslims, for waging Jihad against these comes under the same heading as waging Jihad against the apostates. Abu Bakr As-Siddique and all the Sahaba started with Jihad against the apostates before they engaged in Jihad against the Kuffar of the people of the Book for Jihad against (the apostates) is a means to protect the lands that re already under Muslims rule and to deter anyone who wants to apostatize. Protecting the capital takes precedence over making profit.
Moreover, the harm that these people (hypocrites) cause to the Muslims is greater than that caused by others (Kaffirs), indeed their harm is like that caused by the Mushrikeen and the people of the Book who fight the Muslims. The damage that they do the religious commitment of many people is worse than the damage done by the Mushrikeen and people of the Book who wage war on us. Every Muslim must as much as he can of his duty. It is not permissible for any one to keep quite about anything that he knows about them; rather he must broadcast it so that the Muslims will know what they really are. It is not permissible for anyone to help them to remain among the troops and government employees, or for anyone to keep quite and refrain from carrying out against them that which Allah (swt) and His Messenger have enjoined. It is not permissible to speak against carrying out what Allah (swt) and His Messenger have enjoined. This is one of the greatest types of enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, and of striving in Jihad for the sake of Allah (swt). Allah (swt) said to His Prophet: “O Prophet (Muhammad) Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them” [9:73].
These people are included in this phrase “the disbelievers and the hypocrites” The one who helps to put a stop to their evil and to guide them as much as he can will have enough of reward that which is known only to Allah (swt), for the primary purpose is to guide them as Allah says (interpretation and meaning): “You are the best of people ever raised for mankind” [Al-Imran 3:110].
The purpose of Jihad and enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil (da’wah) is to guide people to what is best for them in this world and in the Hereafter as much as possible, then whomsoever Allah guides will find happiness in this world and in the Hereafter, and whomsoever He does not guide, his evil will be contined.
Shiek “Abd Al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The Muslim Ummah must respond in kind when it is attacked. So with regard to those who fight Islam with ideas and words, we must explain to them the falseness of what they say using rational evidence as well as Shariah evidence, so that the falseness of what they say will become apparent”.
“With regard to those who fight Islam by economic means, we must ward them off and attack them if possible by using the same means which they attack Islam. We must explain that the best way to strengthen the economy in a just manner is the Islam way” he added.
He further said that Jihad against the hypocrites is not like Jihad against the Kuffar because Jihad against the hypocrites is fought with knowledge and argument, whilst Jihad against the Kuffar is fought with swords and arrows.
