I Have a Question

 

I Have A Question

By: Maulana Mohammed Masood Azhar

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An eloquent speech was being delivered.
Highly rated for its fluency and style. The whole gathering stood still,
listening to this great speech with their full concentration. Sometimes
he would recite the Quran in a beautiful voice to the gathering and at
other times he would perfume the gathering with the scent of the Hadith
of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w). 

 

Sometimes the topic of the speech would
turn towards politics and sometimes touch the golden age of Sahabas. The
Urdu and Persian poems complemented the amazing stories and made the speech
very pleasing. The speaker had become emotionsal. He was creating an enlightenment
in the hearts of the people who were listening attentivel. He was composing
his speech with proper grammar as effortlessly as one places pearls into
a necklace. 

The number of people listening to his speech
was in abundance. the gathering could be seen as far as the eyesight would
allow. The audience was motionless, there was no question of anybody getting
up or looking to the right or left. Everybody’s gaze was on the stage.
The crowd was listening to every sentence of the speaker with full concentration
as they felt themselves being affected. Sometimes the silence would be
broken by the slogans of “Takbeer ! Allah-u-Akbar!” and “Islam Live Forever”.
This would give the speaker time to rest. As soon as the slogans stopped,
the voice of the speaker would thunder out again. The speech continued
in this manner. Every one was making dua that the speech would carry on
all day long and that Allah would give strength to the speaker.

Suddenly the speaker paused. The gathering
was momentarily disturbed, then hid loud voice diverted their attention
towards him again. Only Allah knows what duaa he read during the pause
as the speech had now become even more interesting. His topic had now changed
to the world wide religion of Islam. He quoted this statement in his special
style,

“My respected listeners, I am declaring
with full confidence and faith and I have in my declaration more than the
light of the sun that the religion of Islam is a complete Religion. For
any issue related to the world or the hereafter, Islam had the solution.
The world can change, people’s attitude can change but our religion had
the solution for every era, every need, every class of people of every
attitude. Whether it be for worship, social life, economy or civilisation;
Islam has it’s unchanged laws. Whether we travel above the sky or under
the earth, we will surely find Islamic guidance. If somebody has any doubt
in my claim the he ask any sort of question in Question & answer session,
after my speech.

Two portions of the night had passed by
but tiredness or laziness could not be seen on anybody’s face. The speaker
ended his speech and announced, that whoever wished to leave could do so,
as the Quest & Answer session would now begin, but nobody moved.

A person stood up and said, “ Islam has
laid out regulations for healthy people but what about a sick person like
me who is constantly ill. I have the disease of nose bleeding. My nose
bleeds all day long. I don’t even have time to perform wudhu and perform
my salaah without it bleeding, what should I do? I feel ashamed to perform
Salaah in such an unclean condition in front of my Lord. This is why I
am deprived from salaah. What is the ruling of Shariah regarding myself?”.

The speaker answered in a confident tone,
“You should have not stopped praying salaah. You should perform wudhu and
read your salaah as Allah has forgiven this. The flowing of the blood will
not break your wood.”

Another man stood up and said, “I want
to ask a question regarding my wife and her menses but I always feel shy
so I usually do not ask.” The speaker answered, “ There is no need to be
ashamed in issues relating to Deen, infect to do this is to be unshameful,
our Shariah has set out full details regarding the woman with menses.”
Then he answered his question in detail.

The session continued and the people were
enjoying the gathering. The speaker was answering every question in such
a manner, which was proving satisfactory to everyone. The people were gaining
more confidence with him.

Suddenly a figure stood up from one corner
of the large gathering, he was very thin in appearance, signs of disappointment
were clearly visible on his face. His clothes were also torn. Although
he was in a poor and untidy state he seemed to be quite educated and from
a good household. His age was between 2 and 30. He stood up and said. “Sir
do you have the answer to my question too?”. His strong voice had moved
the hearts of the listeners. The speaker looked towards the young man whose
shiny tears could be seen in his eyes. He said, “Put forward your question,
our religion has the solution to every difficulty Alhamdulillah. Our religion
helps every person in difficulty, has a way out of every calamity. Place
forward your question without any fear.”

The young man after preparing himself spoke
out. “I should introduce myself to you so that it may be easy for you to
understand my issue. I come from the beautiful valley of Kashmir. My question
is not related to myself but today I am standing for a national matter.
Will you permit me to say a few words?”.

The speaker answered in a cheerful voice,
“Yes, of course! You have the right to do so as you are rather our guest.”

The young man was ready but tears were
beginning to cross his eyes. He spoke in a powerful voice. “Respected Moulana
and my Pakistani brothers, do not assume that I am a beggar by looking
at my appearance. I just stood to ask about an issue, which relates to
myself and to all of you. I request you to listen properly otherwise you
may also have the same situation very soon. Do not think of my talk as
a fairy tale as I will relate the truth to you.

Dear scholar! Your claim that our religion
has an answer and solution to every question has urged me to put this question
forward. Before relating to the main topic, I would like to ask you some
questions. I hope you will answer them. My first question is that the word
J*had has been mentioned in the Quran and hadith. What does it mean?”.

The speaker answered straight away, “J*had
is derived from the Juhd which means to make effort. Whatever is made towards
Deen will be J*had, whether it be to answer a religious question or to
teach religion or to write something on an important topic or to deliver
a speech, all will be regarded as J*had.”

The Kashmiri man spoke out in his strong
voice, “Dear sir! I am not asking for the literal definition of J*had or
it’s context of normal usage, infact I am asking with regards to J*had
in the path of Allah. The j*had, which has also been, defined Qital ( fighting).
I am asking about the J*had after which one is called a Mujahid. My question
is regarding the J*had which when used to be announced in the streets of
Madinah the Sahaba fighting, running towards the battlefield equipped with
weapons. I am asking with regards to the J*had, which our Prophet (s.a.w)
was ordered to urge the believers upon, in the obligation in the Quran.
I mean the J*had after which one attains Shahadah, booty and victory.

I was asking regarding the J*had about
which Imam Burkhari (May Allah’s blessings be upon him) has related 241
chapters containing numerous Ahadeeth under the title of J*had. The J*had
for which Imam Muslim ( Rahmatullah alaihi) has mentioned 100 chapters
under the title J*had, Imam Abu Dawood has mentioned 11 chapters regarding
the virtues and importance of J*had, Imam Nasai has mentioned 48 chapters
in Nasai Sharif to prove the importance of this J*had and Imam Ibne Majah
has mentioned 46 chapters consisting of Ahadeeth in his Sunan-Ibne-Majah.

The J*had which has been defined by these
great Muhaditheen in their famous books consists of weapons, Martyrdom,
Horses, Archery, War plans, Intelligence, Spoils of War, Virtues of the
Fighter, Virtues of being wounded, Virtues of Shooting Arrows. The above
mentioned things do not come into the category of speeches and writings
( which you have defined as J*had).

I am asking you regarding the J*had which
can dignify Islam, through which one can differentiate between a Mu’min
(believer) and a Munafiq (Hypocrite), through which the Muslims can terrorise
the Kuffar, through which the Islamic Khilafah system comes into effect.
I am asking about the J*had through which every fitnah is crushed. I am
asking regarding the J*had in which every our Nabi (s.a.w) and his companions
participated, the J*had in which the angels came down from the sky and
in which the Hoorain (women of Jannah) used to be mentioned.

The Prophet (s.a.w) used to send out convoys
for this J*had. I would like information with regards to the J*had in which
the Prophet (s.a.w) participated personally 27 times and sent army expeditions
times. I am relating to the J*had in which Hazrat Kaab Ibne Malik (May
Allah be pleased with him) was boycotted from the Prophet (s.a.w) because
he did not participate.

I am asking about the J*had which discusses
safeguarding borders, when the horses run and Allah is pleased, the blood
flows and becomes scented, the J*had in which “the Mu’min buys Jannah in
exchange of his life and wealth….”

.

The young Kashmir was speaking fluently,
everybody was amazed upon hearing him. His voice echoing gain. “Dear Sir!
My question is regarding the J*had in which nations are humiliated by forsaking
it. The J*had which is the protector of the Deen and its pillars.”

The young Kashmiri stopped upon these words.
The gaze of gathering was on the speaker who was sitting silently with
his head bowed down; it seemed as if he was dumfounded. After a long silence
he lifted his head up and said, “My young friend! Your saying is true.
The true meaning of j*had is to fight in the path of Allah. This is the
same meaning as to what our Fuqaha (jurisprudents) have written. The kuffar
should be invited towards Islam, if they do not accept the dawah nor do
the they pay Jizyah (kufr tax) then they should be fought. This is the
category of the offensive J*had. Fighting is the major part of the true
meaning of the J*had in the path of Allah and in reality the Mujahid is
one who fights in the battlefield to defend Islam.

Dear friend! J*had is an obligation of
Islam and is the most virtuous of deeds. The person who dies in this cause
is called a Shaheed whereas the person who returns alive is called a Ghazi.
J*had is the only way towards the elevation of the greatness of Islam.
The real J*had is the setting out with weapons onto the battlefield to
destroy the enemies of Islam. If the dust touches a person in the path
of J*had the hell fire is haram upon him.

Dear youngster! Your quotation that the
Muhaditheen (experts in the field of hadith) have also derived J*had in
the context of fighting is also correct.” The whole gathering was drowned
in deep thought and affliction after listening to these words from the
speaker’s mouth, this was the first time they had heard that to challenge
the enemy of Islam was also an obligation and an act of worship. The young
Kashmiri was quite satisfied. He said, “dear speaker, I am greatly thankful
to you for expressing the true meaning of J*had which our ancestors understood,
wrote and showed us through their noble actions. My second question is,
what is the shari’iah status of J*had? Is it fardh, wajib, sunnah or Mustahab?
Is it an important act or not?”.

The speaker answered, “There are two types
of J*had, defensive and offensive. Offensive J*had is that the Muslims
should invite the kuffar towards Islam. If they do not accept then they
should be asked to pay Jizyah (kufr tax). If they also deny this then a
war must be waged against them because it is not possible that a kafir,
a rebel against Allah who denies Islam can carry on ruling upon Allah’s
land. This type of J*had is Faradh-e-Kifaya i.e. if one group fulfils this
obligation then it will be sufficient on behalf of the whole Ummah.

The second type of J*had is defensive J*had.
If the kuffar attack an Islamic country then it will be Fard-e-Ain in the
inhabitants of that country to do J*had. If the Muslims of that country
are not sufficient then it will be Fardh on the next country and if they
are weak or lazy then the next country etc, till it will become Fardh-e-Ain
on the whole world, from the East to the West. The definition of Fardh-e-Ain
is that it will be compulsory on every man, in this case of J*had becoming
Fardh-e-Ain there will be no need of the permission of parents or the advice
of anyone. J*had will become Fardh-e-Ain when the kuffar attack a Muslim
land or if they stop the Muslims from spreading Dawah or if they take Muslim
captive or when the Muslims face the kuffar in rows in the battle field.
J*had becomes fardh-e-ain in the above mentioned cases. The ruling of Fardh-e-ain
is whoever will leave it will be a Fasiq (grave sinner).”

The young Kashmiri said, “Dear respected
speaker! Another important question is, was fighting in the path of Allah
only for the time and era of the Prophet (s.a.w) or is it an obligation
for all Muslims to come till the day of judgement? I would also like you
to make clear whether the help of Allah and his power for the mujahid is
for ever or for a specific era and also are the verses of the holy Quran
such as, “If you will not go forth for J*had then He will punish you severely.”
And the Hadith statement such as, “When you will become coward and feared
the death of death of martyrdom and the love of living in the world and
attaining high ranks and honour will overcome you then all the nations
of the world will attack you and chew you to pieces.” And another Hadith
has stated, “When you will leave J*had, you will be humiliated.”. Are all
of the above statements for a specific era or for ever?”.

The speaker answered, “ Dear friend! J*had
in the path of Allah is from the obligations of Islam, infact all of the
obligations are protected through J*had. This act of J*had is ordained
till the dooms day. The Prophet (S.A.W) has stated, “J*had will continue
till the day of judgement.” He also stated in another statement, “ A group
of my ummah will always continue to fight in the name of Allah.” We find
out from these Ahadith that the blessed act of fighting continue till Qiyamah.
The help of Allah will always assist the mujahid. When ever mujahid will
come forth in the battlefield he will never be left alone, he will have
the power of Allah assisting him, whether he be strong or weak, in the
majority or the minority, well equipped or ill-equipped, his Lord will
always be at his side on the condition that he challenges the enemies with
sincerity.

Dear friend! The ahadeeth, which you have
related, and the threats from the Quran are truthful. The order is also
till the day of judgement. This is why a muhaddith (expert in the field
of hadith) or faqeeh (jurisprudent) has never written or said that J*had
or fighting has been abrogated but then of course the British initiated
a scheme and established a false Prophet (S.A.W) so that he may take the
zeal of J*had out from the Muslims minds and so that he may announce that
Muslims are peace lovers. What relation does a Muslim have with regards
to fighting? This was all made to happen so that the British and their
partners may swallow the Muslims easily, so a British grown Prophet, Mirza
Qadiani announced that J*had had been cancelled.”

The speaker remained silent after his knowledgeable
answer. He then added the following new points into the minds of the gathering:

 Fighting is an important obligation
of Islam.

The act of fighting will continue till
the day of judgement. The Muslims will achieve nothing but humiliation
by leaving J*had. The person who denies J*had cannot be a Muslim. A false
Prophet had announced the abrogation of J*had to please the British. Once
again, the voice of young Kashmiri was echoed through the air,”A few days
have passed by since I have come from Kashmir. You probably know that the
Heaven of Kashmir is abode for Muslims. But today this beautiful Heaven
of the Muslims has been changed into a pit of fire. The Muslims are being
wiped out for the offence of being Muslims. The bloodthirsty Hindu wolves
are roaming around freely. Schools are being demolished and our innocent
children are being burnt alive. The story of the destruction of mosques
and madrassas is even more severe.

Respected speaker! The biggest crime in
the valley of Kashmir has become Islam and the biggest culprits are the
Muslims. The Muslim sister of Kashmir who are also our sisters, have become
widows, the children have become orphans.

Dear sir! Such oppression has taken place
in Kashmir that the skies were shaken. Iron rods were placed into the private
parts of young Muslim girls and then bullets were shot. The innocent girls
of this ummah were raped and murdered.

Under such critical conditions we have
made a firm intention of sacrificing everything for Islam and it’s greatness.
Our women have also entered into the battlefield with the men challenging
the enemy. We are fighting a war of protecting Islam and the Quran. We
understand the enemy is well equipped with the latest technological weapons.
They are burning with rage to take revenge. The enemy has entered into
Kashmir with the intention of cleansing the valley of Islam and the Muslims.
The enemy is well equipped with jet fighter bombers, and tanks.

We are weak, inexperienced and ill equipped;
we have entered into the battlefield placing our trust in Allah. We wish
we were told that the order of J*had and it’s preparation exists in the
Quran so that we could answered our enemy with a death blow, but with regret
and sorrow, we were taught everything from the pulpit of the massaged,
we were enlightened with the virtues and rulings of wudhu, Hajj, Zakat
etc. we were informed of the rulings of respecting our elders and having
mercy on our youngsters, but we were not informed of the rulings of Islam
when dealing with the enemy. We were deprived from the history of our ancestors.
Feelings of disgust were not created in our hearts for laziness and cowardice.
We have recently found out our Prophet (S.A.W) used to urge the believers
to fight. He used to invite people towards it and fought himself.

This is why the people of that era attained
dignity and honour. They spent their lives in peace and honour but we were
not informed of this state of affairs nor were we told of this being mentioned
in the Quran. We didn’t know where these inheritances of the Prophet (S.A.W)
were. So we are witnessing a time when our enemy is oppressing us just
because we have asked for a legal right. The honour of our women is being
looted in front of us.

Dear speaker! You may not believe this
but a sister is stripped in front of her brothers. A mother is raped in
front of her sons and a wife is raped in front of her husband.

Respected speaker! If only we were told
that to learn how to use a weapon is an important part our religion but
we don’t know, why these rulings were kept a secret from us, we are now
paying it’s price in punishment.

Alhamdulillah we have now started J*had
without any training or weapons, placing our trust in Allah because we
have faith that we are Muslims and the number of people of our religion
exceeds a billion. We are also the believers of the religion for which
Mohammad bin Qasim travelled from Hijaz to Kabul upon the cry of one girl.

We are the followers of the religion for
which Tariq bin Ziyad waged a historical war on the shores of Andaluse
to give justice to a Christian girl. The same religion for which Mahmood
Ghaznawi and Ahmed Shah Abdaal marched from Afghanistan to India and this
is now inscribed in history.

We had full faith that when the terrible
cries of our mothers and sisters were heard from the Hills of Kashmir,
then the Muslims of Pakistan would become restless. They would surely become
restless after listening to the shrieks of burning Muslim children.

Dear speaker! Our mothers put hope into
the minds of their children who had lost all hope that do not worry! The
dark night of oppression will be over very soon, an Alim of this ummah,
a follower of the Prophet (S.A.W), a youngster with full faith will come
in the form of Salahuddin Ayubi and will change our present existence to
a life of honour and dignity.

Dear Sir! I have come with the same message
to Pakistan. I have begged every individual. Invited them on the relationship
of the blood of Muslims, given them an oath in the name of Allah, warned
them of a dangerous future but nobody’s ears were affected. Nobody listened
to what I was saying. Some listened and shed a few tears. Some felt it
was sufficient to condemn these acts verbally. Some proved their sympathy
by writing an article in a newspaper or arranging a protest or conference
and then sat down contentedly.

But the mothers and sisters of Kashmir,
the destroyed mosques and burnt pages of Holy Quran, the orphaned girls
and boys do not need tears or idle talk, nor will they benefit from these
conferences nor will they attain freedom by these protests.

Respected Moulana! What are the rulings
in our religion for such a critical time? Should we in the place ourselves?
Should we refrain from calling ourselves Muslims? What are the rulings
of Islam in such a time? What is the ruling of Islam for us and the other
Muslims, for yourself and the general public of Pakistan?”

The young Kashmiri has completed his talk
everybody’s eyes were shedding tears, every heart was grieved. Voices of
crying could be heard from some corners. The people were waiting for the
speaker to answer, but everyone was amazed, the speaker was silent. His
face was reflecting the grief of his heart. His tears had crossed his cheeks
and made his beard wet.

Upon witnessing the silence of speaker,
the Kashmiri’s voice echoed once again. His voice was thundering, he said,
“Dear speaker! If Islam is wiped out from the valley of Kashmir then these
same acts of oppression will be repeated in Pakistan.

The intentions of the Hindus are not limited
to Kashmir but they claim Pakistan to be an integral part of their body.
Respected Alim! There is no doubt that Islam is a complete religion but
inform us of what procedures Islam has placed for the safety and protection
of this complete religion and it’s followers?”

The speaker began to answer in a low voice,
“Dear son! You have awakened the emotion of our Iman. Undoubtedly Islam
gives the order of J*had at such a time but the fear of death and enjoying
luxuries has moved us away from this important obligation.

O! Youngster! The true fact is that we
have not been subjected to the fire which you have burnt in. we are living
a peaceful, luxurious life. This is why we are so far away from the true
meaning of J*had. Sometimes we feel that the religion of Allah is being
humiliated. The law of the Quran is beneath the Law of the British but
we stay quiet thinking that our honour is still intact.

Dear youngster! The true meaning of J*had
is only been understood by those Muslims who have witnessed such happenings.
We have witnessed all this from a far distance. To write with the pen or
to say with the mouth is very simple but the person in front of whom his
daughter has been stripped, if he was to be asked the shariah ruling of
J*had then surely he would be able to answer it correctly.

Although our eyes are not blind but the
surrounding circumstances has blinded us.

Dear Son! I also admit to the fact that
the only way for the honour and dignity of knowledge and the Ulamah and
the only way towards the greatness of Islam is J*had. If we will leave
J*had then the enemy of Islam will lead the people astray openly. He will
create disgust in the minds of people for the Ulamah and the Deen. I also
that the admit that to urge people towards J*had and to invite them through
our own action was our obligation but we avoided it.

This is our ill-fortune that when the kuffar
was oppressing the Muslims in Bukhara and Sumarqand, the Ulamah of Afghanistan
were busy in debates of Fardh-e-Ain and Fardh-e-Kifayah, the conditions
of J*had, the shariah J*had etc. when the kuffar attacked them then they
understood what J*had was. They issued a Fatwah (religious verdict) on
time and using their natural strength, they remained stead fast on opposing
the enemy. Today we are doing the same thing. Make duaa that Allah gives
us the understanding of this issue before the time is too late.

Dear young man! May Allah reward you; you
have directed us towards the path through which we may gain honour greatness
and freedom. We may gain the love of Allah and his Prophet (S.A.W). Without
the doubt our Prophet (S.A.W) was the Prophet of peace and the Prophet
with the sword. Undoubtedly our Nabi (S.A.W) went forth into the battlefield
is wearing the full armour and the sword. Our Prophet (S.A.W) also lead
the Sahabahs towards the battlefield, now we shall revise this way. We
shall reach Kasmir to protect our mothers and sisters and we shall sacrifice
our lives to our Lord bearing witness to His oneness and to the greatfulness
of Islam. Inshallah!

O Allah helps us to understand the reality
of our obligation to our ummah and help us to participate and continue
with this struggle of J*had….

Ameen.. Summa-Ameen.