Fatwa: Concerning the US War and Taliban
BY SHEIKH ABDUR-RAHMAAN AL-BARRAAK
Question: What are the ways in which all the Muslims - everyone according to his own situation - can help their Muslim brethren in Afghanistan?
Answer: The Eminent Shaykh AbdurRahman bin Barraak replied saying:
In the Name of Allah the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy - All praise is due to Allah, whose Seizure is severe, who does as He wishes. May salutations be upon our Prophet Muhammad who said, "I was sent along with the hour as a bringer of glad tidings and as a warner. My provision has been put under the shade of my spear. Humiliation and belittlement have been made for those who oppose my command. Whoever imitates a people is from them."
There is no doubt, that America's declaration of war upon the Taliban government of Afghanistan is [an act of] oppression and transgression. It is a crusade against Islam, as the President of the United States of America has [himself] been quoted [as saying]. The Nation-States in the Muslim World's lack of assistance to them in this critical situation is a major tragedy, let alone helping the infidels against them, which is taking them as allies. The Most High says,
"O You who believe, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are allies of each other. If any of you takes them as allies, then he is one of them. Indeed Allah does not guide the wrongdoers." (Al-Ma'idah:51)
Because of this verse, the scholars have regarded helping the disbelievers against the Muslims as one of those things which invalidate one's Islam.
It is obligatory upon the Muslims to aid thier oppressed brothers against the oppressive infidels. The Messnger of Allah - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam - said, "The Muslim is his fellow Muslim's brother. He does not oppress him and he does not surrender him". [However], killing a "mu'aahid" (one who has a pact with the Muslims), or a "musta'min" (one who has been granted security by the Muslims in their lands), is not [a legitimate way] of assisting the Muslims, nor is it Jihad in the path of Allah. No aggression is to be shown against them. Such [aggression] is from the greatest of sins. The Most High says,
"If you fear treachery from a people, throw back [their covenant] to them, [so as to be] on equal terms. Indeed, Allah does not love the treacherous" (Al-Anfal:58).
It has been related in authentic hadith that the Prophet - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam - said, "He who kills a "mu'aahid" will not smell the fragrance of paradise"
It is well known that the Taliban Governments first crime - as far as the United States are concerned - is that they did not submit to their leadership, that they did not abide by the laws of the United Nations, which are refered to as "International Law" that gives the United States the right to veto a decision. Whoever goes outside these regulations undergoes sanctions, which every nation is obliged to abide by. This is the most perfect form of domineering and enslavement.
It is obligatory upon the Muslims to take on the [necessary] means of [attaining] honour, which Allah has made for his believing servants. The Most High says,
"And to Allah belongs the honour, and to his Messenger, and to the believers, but the Hypocrites do not know."
The only reason for the humiliation of the Muslims, and their following of their enemies is that they have turned away from their religion, the weakness of their Iman, and their disunity, to the extent that they left Jihad in the path of Allah. The Prophet - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam - said,
"When you deal with 'eenah' (a very subtle usurious transaction), and become satisfied with agriculture, and leave Jihad in the path of Allah, He will send humilation upon you, and he will not remove it from you until you return to your religion."
This Coalition against the Taliban government along with its weakness, its hardships, and the hardships of the Afghan people is a disaster, which makes obligatory assisting them and extending to them the hand of help. At the very least, one should pray for them, and perform "Qunut" prayer in order to lift the disaster, the effects and harms of which are not restricted to them alone.
We ask Allah that He aids His Religion, that He raises His Cause, that He unites the Muslims upon the Truth, that He disunites the infidels, and that He ruins them completely. Indeed He is Ever-Strong, Ever Powerful. He his capable of all things. May saluations be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions.
Dictated by AbdurRahman bin Nasir al-Barraak
Written : 20/7/1422H (8th October, 2001)