Raise your children to love Jihad and its people

One’s family and children are the preparation for the future and are themselves the future generation, so it is a must to raise one’s family and children upon the love of Jihâd and the Mujâhidîn, and the concepts of martyrdom and sacrifice for the Religion of Allâh, so that when they finally desires to go out in the Path of Allâh, you would be of those who cooperated with them upon obedience.

And from the additional benefits of this is that it makes the family ready and willing to serve the Mujâhidîn and to shelter the fugitives from amongst them. And from the additional benefits of this is that it one’s sons will carry on the Jihâd even after he himself has left this life.

‘Abdullâh bin az-Zubayr’s father, az-Zubayr bin al-‘Awwâm, would bring him along to witness battles from an early age, and he would help tend to the injured Mujâhidîn. So, when he came of age, he became who he was: a man of bravery and courage. Likewise, whoever is brought up upon something, he grows up to become it.

And from the methods of raising one’s children and family upon Jihâd are:

• Teaching them the biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the stories of the battles that he took part in
• Teaching them of the heroic feats of the Companions and the Tâbi’în that are authentically reported in the books of history
• Bringing to them tapes (both video and audio) of Jihâd and the Mujâhidîn so that they would increase in their love of Jihâd and attachment to the Mujâhidîn
• Telling them the stories from the news and the lives of the Mujâhidîn – both past and present
• Listening to tapes that admonish and speak of issues related to Jihâd and martyrdom, as well as the virtue of martyrdom
• Naming one’s children after the past and present heroes of Jihâd

Muhammad bin Ahmad as-Sālim (‘Īsā al-‘Awshin) – 19/5/1424 H

On tarbiya in modern age

On tarbiya in modern age…

In the age of open media and technology, the fitnah (trials) of desires is among the greatest challenges facing our children. We need more than just passing advice and temporary monitoring… we need to see the big picture; consider early marriage, work on strengthening faith, encourage self-censorship, work on cleansing schools and neighbourhoods, fill their free time with serious or permissible matters while trying to strengthen our relationship with them.

Sh. Salih al-Munajjid

The Civilised Family System

By Sayyid Qutb

If the family is the basis of the society, and the basis of the family is the division of labour between husband and wife, and the upbringing of children is the most important function of the family, then such a society is indeed civilised. In the Islamic system of life, this kind of a family provides the environment under which human values and morals develop and grow in the new generation; these values and morals cannot exist apart from the family unit. If, on the other hand, free sexual relationship and illegitimate children become the basis of a society, and if the relationship between man and woman is based on lust, passion and impulse, and the division of work is not based on family responsibility and natural gifts; if the role of women is merely to be attractive, sexy and flirtatious, and if women are freed from their basic responsibility of bringing up children; and if, on her own or under social demand, she prefers to become a hostess or a stewardess in a hotel or ship or air company, thus using her ability for material productivity rather than the training of human beings, because material production is considered to be more important, more valuable and more honourable than the development of human character, then such a civilisation is ‘backward’ from the human point of view, or ‘jahili’ in Islamic terminology.

The family system and the relationship between the sexes determine the whole character of a society and whether it is backward or civilised, jahili or Islamic. Those societies which give ascendance to physical desires and animalistic morals cannot be considered civilised, no matter how much progress they may make in industry or science. This is the only measure which does not err in guarding true human progress.

In all modern jahili societies, the meaning of ‘morality’ is limited to such an extent that all those aspects which distinguish man from animal are considered beyond its sphere. In these societies, illegitimate sexual relationships even homosexuality, are not considered immoral. The meaning of ethics is limited to economic affairs or sometimes to political affairs which fall into the category of ‘government interests’.

Among jahili societies, writers and journalists advise both married and unmarried people that free sexual relationships are not immoral. However, it is immoral if a boy uses his partner, or a girl uses her partner, for sex, while feeling no love in his or her heart. It is bad if a wife continues to guard her chastity while her love for her husband has vanished; it is admirable if she finds another lover…

From the point of view of ‘human’ progress, all such societies are not civilised but are backward.

The line of human progress goes upward from animal desires toward higher values. To control the animal desires, a progressive society lays down the foundation of a family system in which human desires find satisfaction, as well as providing for the future generation to be brought up in such a manner that it will continue the human civilisation, in which human characteristics flower to their full bloom. Obviously a society which intends to control the animal characteristics, while providing full opportunities for the development and perfection of human characteristics, requires strong safeguards for the peace and stability of the family, so that it may perform its basic task free from the influences of impulsive passions. On the other hand, if in a society immoral teachings and poisonous suggestions are rampant, and sexual activity is considered outside the sphere of morality, then in that society the humanity of man can hardly find a place to develop.

Thus, only Islamic values and morals, Islamic teachings and safeguards, are worthy of mankind, and form this unchanging and true measure of human progress, Islam is the real civilisation and Islamic society is truly civilised.

A woman better than a thousand men!

Shaikh Khalid Alrashed (may Allah hasten his release) speaks about the great woman and sahabiyya Um ‘Imaarah (may Allah be pleased with her) and her role in giving victory to Islam and defending RasulAllah (sallallahu alayhi wa salam).

Umm Nidal (may Allah have mercy on her): “Do not respond to my tears!”

Written by Umm Ahmad

(Narrations in this story are based completely on firsthand information from the family of Umm Nidal)

The Ummah today is in need of contemporary examples. Examples which will inspire and educate us about the nature of our religion and the deep impact it needs to have on the lives of every member of the Ummah that we may pause for a moment and observe our own lives and examine where we stand against those who were true to their covenant with Allah.

Known as a mother of the mujahideen and the Khansaa of Palestine, Sister Mariam Farhaat (commonly known as Umm Nidal) lived a life of service to the Ummah of La ilaha illallah seeking only the pleasure of Allah.

It was said before her passing away (we ask Allah to accept as one of His righteous servants) and during the last years of her life she was always preoccupied with asking Allah to accept her deeds and her only request to her children and loved ones was to pray to Allah that Allah is merciful with her, forgives her shortcomings and accepts any deeds she had reaped. Such was her humility and character.

She was the mother of three martyrs, and we will mention here the story of the youngest of them who became a martyr at the young age of 17 years only. She was also the softest of mothers towards her children, such that her sons would say that even as kids they would caution one another to avoid mentioning any physical injury or pain they felt as their mother would feel very sad. Even if they had a stomach pain they would conceal it from her as she would weep out of her love and softness towards them.

The difference though is that her love for Allah and Jihad was much greater than her deep love for her children! It was in only this way that she was pleased and took pride in sacrificing her three children as a Qurban for Allah and for the sake of His Deen.

When her sons were asked about how she brought them up. They responded by saying that their mother brought them up by instilling the love of Allah, Islam and the Ummah, trained them in the understanding that being a Muslim meant submitting to Allah in every aspect of life and in every situation, and instilled in them the love and commitment to the path of Jihad fee sabeelillah!

And here is the story of her 17-year old son Muhammad and his martyrdom operation. As we can imagine all her sons where involved in Jihad in one way or the other and she was the first to make sure they would spend their time with the mujahideen from a young age. At one stage the mujahideen made plans to carry out a martyrdom operation in the midst of the Israeli military quarters. It was initially meant to be a two man operation wherein two mujahids would break into the military quarters and open fire and exhaust all their ammunition against the Israeli soldiers they find. After which it is expected that they would be martyred.

So the mujahideen were making shura about which two mujahids would be most suitable to carry out this operation and were willing. They finally settled two boys, the first being Muhammad (son of Umm Nidal) and the other was the closest childhood friend of Muhammad who was also called Muhammad!

And what followed were days and weeks of intensive training for the two close friends until the appointed time would come.

As the weeks and months went by however, the mujahideen reassessed their plans and found out that they were no longer capable to send in two people for the operation but would only be able to send in one.

So naturally the decision had to be made- who would be chosen from the two?

The boys were informed of the new change and were told that when the day came for the operation to be carried out, the one who will undertake it will be informed accordingly.

In the final week before the scheduled time of the operation, the mother of 17-year old Muhammad, Umm Nidal was found sleeping on a mattress next to her son every night through that week. Not only did she want to stay close to him in what could be his final days in this dunya but a night did not pass except that her tears were flowing, out of love for her son.

It was so much that on one of those nights, her son turned around and pleaded to his mother saying that if really this matter is causing her so much sorrow, then out of his deep love for his best friend Muhammad to enter Paradise before him, he can request the mujahideen to pull him out of this specific operation.

His mother responded strongly, asking him to do no such thing. And that it was not for him to request the mujahideen on this matter but that they were more suitable to make the best decision about this. She then asked him to excuse her for she was unable to hold back her tears, and she told him firmly: “Oh my son! Do not respond to my tears!”

The day had arrived and Muhammad (son of Umm Nidal) awoke in the early morning to the phone ringing. He was informed that today was the day and for him to be ready. His mother awoke immediately and was waiting eagerly to hear from him. He told her he was chosen and then went on to narrate to her the dream he had just before the phone call. He said he saw the hoor alayn approaching him and they told him that they will be meeting him in the afternoon and that by the will of Allah his mother will join their gathering after 10 years!

SubhanAllah! It was exactly 10 years from the martyrdom of Muhammad that his mother passed away! And she was known over the past years to frequently remind her sons that she only had 5 years left, 3 years, 2 years… and so on! She was eagerly waiting to meet Allah and rejoin with the truthful believers.

Such was the sincerity, yaqeen and truthfulness of our mother Umm Nidal. As Allah says:

Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah, so of them is he who accomplished his vow, and of them is he who yet waits, and they have not changed in the least (AlAhzaab:23)

May Allah have mercy on her and accept her from the truthful believers.

Umm Osama, Palestinian mother of shaheed: A Woman’s Role Is to Instill Love of Jihad and Martyrdom in Her Children

Mothers: Producers of Heroes

“…Mothers play a great role in building a generation. The better a mother is at raising her children, the more successfully the Ummah is built and the more successful it is at producing heroes. You hardly ever see a great man except that a great woman is behind him who left some of her traits in his personality by way of the milk from which he was fed and the warm embrace in which he sought refuge.

Most men find it hard to remove these shining images from their minds that they retain of their mothers. These outstanding images that ran through his veins from a young age remain engraved in his mind, and he cannot help but to remember them with veneration and pride. He recalls the simple, clear words that his mother left his spirit with, and these words grow to become milestones on his path and guiding lights on his quest.

He cannot help but to place himself under the vast shade that his mother provided for him throughout the long course of his life, nurtured by the pleasant emotions and mixed with the eternal days of his life. These realities grow in his spirit and become an inseparable part of his personality that he cannot let go of without letting go of his humanity.

This is why preserving this affection and repaying this kindness with kindness is an obligation in Islam that is

directly partnered with Tawhid: {“…and your Lord ordained that you worship only Him, and that you treat your parents with excellence…”} [al-Isra’; 32] And disobedience to them is directly partnered with kufr.

Respect for mothers occupies a very high position on the ladder of Islam, and is very heavy in its scales. It is reported in the ‘Sahih’ that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (saw) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, who is most deserving of my kind treatment?” He replied:“Your mother.” The man asked: “Then who?” He replied: “Your mother.” The man asked again: “Then who?” He replied: “Your mother.” The man asked again: “Then who?” He replied: “Your father.”

I once said to Ibrahim al-Akhdar – the imam of the Haram in Makkah – “Why do you prevent your sweet voice from being heard by the Muslims who come from everywhere to hear it? How can you request to return to Madinah when some people say that hearing you recite the Qur’an is like hearing it descending fresh from the heavens?”

So, he replied: “My treasures in this world are my grandmother and mother, and I must fulfill my responsibilities to them and treat them well. Nobody can do this but me.”

I said: “Why don’t you bring your grandmother here?”

He said: “She refuses to leave Madinah out of fear that she might die outside of it, and her greatest wish is to be buried in the graveyard of al-Baqi’.”

And indeed, Ibrahim actually left the Haram in Makkah and went back to leading a small mosque in Madinah, sticking to the Paradise that is at the foot of his mother and grandmother…”

[‘Majallat al-Jihad’; #36, Rabi’ al-Awwal 1408]

Courtesy of Iskandrani.wordpress.com