Dr. Fadl’s First Book Refuting al-Qa`ida's Terrorism

Dr. Fadl—born Sayyid Imam al-Sharif—founded the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and mentored Usama bin Ladin and Ayman al-Zawahiri before al-Qa’ida’s founding.

A dedicated Muslim, medical doctor, and mujahadin commander, Dr. Fadl served on the front lines against communist forces in Afghanistan and Yemen.  He recanted from an Egyptian prison in 2007.

 

Sayyid Imam's "Rationalizing Jihad in Egypt, the world" (2007)

Part One

Cairo Al-Misri Al-Yawm 18 Nov 07

[Headline: "Exclusive, Al-Misri al-Yawm publishes the theological revisions of Jihad. 'Jihad for Allah's Sake' involved religious violations, most importantly killings on the basis of nationality, skin color, and denomination"]

His code name is Dr Fadl.

His given name is Sayid Imam Abd-al-Aziz al-Sharif, born 1950 in the town of Bani Suef. The title is Dr, for he is a physician who graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, in 1974, with an honors degree.

Dr Fadl starts today, on the pages of Al-Misri al-Yawm exclusively in Egypt, to publish his revisions and the revisions of his organization, Al-Jihad, entitled "Rationalization of Jihad in Egypt and the World", by highlighting on the cover that his "document has been adopted by jihadist factions in Egypt as a document for peaceful orientation between it and the Egyptian Government".

The words of Sayid Imam--who says on the cover of his document that he has another code name: Abd-al-Qadir Bin Abd-al-Aziz Fadl--are correct and accurate. Since the former Jihad Emir began his preaching tours and lectures inside prisons, to present his revisions to Jihad cadres, hundreds of them have endorsed these revisions. Actually, this has had positive reflections on their conditions, with the Interior Ministry releasing tens of jihadists.

Fadl, the mentor and former Emir of Ayman al-Zahawiri, bases his document on jihad in Islam as a continuing and persistent farida [religious duty] but says that the "jihadists" have indulged in numerous mistakes that bordered on corruption.

The "Emir" emphasizes that spilling blood and destroying property without justification are among the things that bring God's worst wrath.

 

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Thanks to Allah, the Only [God] and the Conqueror. The God of heavens and earth and what lies between them. The Dignified, the Merciful.

Thanks to Allah, the God of the worlds. We thank him as the grateful ones should do. We invoke prayers and peace on His truthful, honest Prophet, sent by His God as mercy for the worlds, and all his kin and disciples. This having been said, Allah the Almighty sent His Prophet Muhammad, prayers and peace upon him, with enlightenment and with the true religion, so that the people would emerge from darkness to light, with their God's permission, to His straight road. He [Allah] supported him with His great victory and with his loyal disciples, Allah's prayers and peace on all of them. Thus Allah manifested His religion through him, Allah's prayers and peace upon him, and completed the conquest for him, despite his many stubborn enemies. So the Prophet, Allah's prayers and peace upon him, and his disciples, Allah's prayers and peace upon them, created the State of Islam from nothing, until it became a youthful, vast state comprising Arabs, Persians, Turks, Berbers, Kurds, and Frinjah [Westerners]. After this, under the aegis of a super Islamic Caliphate, it extended from Bangladesh in the east to Marakish [Morocco] and Andalusia in the west, and from Tashkent, Azerbaijan, and the Caucus in the north to Yemen and Bahr al-Arab in the south, in a single, awe-inspiring state that survived for 1,300 years until the Ottoman Caliphate collapsed in World War I (1914-1918), when the beads of the Muslims were undone and they grew weak and became scattered everywhere.

With the weakening of the Ottoman Caliphate toward the end of the nineteenth century AD, the European countries seized most of the countries of the Islamic world. They divided and weakened it, pilfered its resources, and denied it industrial progress. They kept its people in a state of division, poverty, and backwardness. Through the force of military occupation, they imposed their culture and laws on the countries of the Muslims. These European nations then created a state for the Jews (Israel) in the heart of the Islamic world in order to exhaust and humiliate it. No doubt all this happened to the Muslims because of their sins. As the Almighty said "Whatever misfortune happens to you is because of the things your hands have wrought" (Surat Al-Shura, verse 30) [Koranic verse]. This hostile alliance still clamps its tutelage on the nations of the Muslims and is asking them for more concessions, in a materialization of the Almighty's saying "Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with thee unless though follow their form of religion" (Surat Al-Baqara, verse 120) [Koranic verse].

The promotion of European culture and the application of its laws led to the spread of corruption and moral decadence in the countries of the Muslims. The virtuous among the Muslims became aware of that danger, and they called for redressing it, before the Divine wrath and general devastation falls. They believed that the return of the countries of the Muslims to the arbitration of the Shari'a of their God was the basis for all reform, both for the nations and their people. Furthermore, going by the arbitration by Shari'a is a duty on every Muslim by virtue of his faith in his God. He would be sinning and his faith would become unbalanced if he abandoned it. This is because of the Almighty's saying "But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) faith until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction" (Surat Al Nisa, verse 65) [Koranic verse]. The Almighty said "It is not fitting for a believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger, to have any option about their decision. If anyone disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path" (Surat Al Ahzab, verse 36) [Koranic verse]. Thus shunning Allah's Shari'a is the origin of ruin on earth and the Hereafter. Conversely, arbitration by His Shari'a combines for the Muslims the best in this world and the Hereafter. As the Almighty said "If the people of the towns had but believed and feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them blessings from heaven and earth" (Surat Al A'raf, verse 96) [Koranic verse]. The Almighty said "If they (the Pagans) had (only) remained on the (right) way, We should certainly have bestowed on them rain in abundance" (Surat Al Jinn, verse 16) [Koranic verse]. The history of the Muslims is ample proof that they had prosperity, victory, and riches when they held on to their Shari'a. This shining Islamic history is the only thing from which Muslims can draw pride in the present age.

There have been diverse routes followed by those seeking to give arbitration to Islam's Shari'a in our present age and to stand up to the superpowers that accept nothing less than humiliating and weakening the Muslims. Some Islamic groups resorted to clashes with the ruling authorities in their countries or with the superpowers and their nationals in the name of jihad for the sake of Allah the Almighty in order to uphold the status of Islam. Clashes spread in various countries from the farthest east to the farthest west. These clashes were mixed with many violations of Shar'i [the principles of religion, a term broader than Shari'a], like killing on the basis of nationality; killing because of the color of skin or hair; killing because of denomination; killing Muslims and non-Muslims who are not to be killed, and exaggeration in citing the issue of Al-Tatarrus [guiltlessness in killing noncombatant or "human shield" civilians and Muslims while targeting an enemy] to expand the circle of killing, make free with the money of those giving a pledge of safety, and sabotaging property. There is nothing that invokes the anger of God and His wrath like spilling blood and wrecking property without justification. This is a sure reason for failure on earth and embarrassment and accountability in the Hereafter. The Almighty said "... let those beware who withstand the Messenger's order, lest some trial befall them or a grievous penalty be inflicted on them" [Surat Al Nur, verse 63) [Koranic verse].

The signatories to this document, in making known their dissatisfaction with those violations of shar'i and the corruption this caused, remind themselves and the general Muslims of some religious controls on the figh [theology] of jihad. They affirm their commitment to these controls as mentioned in this document. They call on other Muslims, especially the young generations of Islam's youth, to be bound by them, and not to fall in the shar'i violations of their predecessors, as a result of ignorance of religion or deliberate action. For they [predecessors] neither upheld religion nor helped the world, especially since jihad is a continuing religious duty in the Nation of the Muslims, since Allah the Almighty ordained it and until the last one of them combats the Imposter together with the Lord Christ peace upon him, at the end of time, as our Prophet Muhammad Allah's prayers and peace upon him told us. The prophet described jihad as "the peak of Islam's hump", for Allah preserves for the Muslims with it their religion and their world, their pride and dignity here and in the Hereafter. Thus it is necessary to rationalize the understanding of the religious duty of jihad.

We formulate these religious guidelines to rationalize acts of jihad, in articles to which we declare our adherence. We call upon the general Muslims, especially the jihadist groups in various parts of the world, to abide by them. In doing so we are fulfilling our duty to provide advice for the sake of Allah and His Book, and His Prophet, Allah's prayers and peace upon him, and Muslims in general. We say this while fully appreciating and acknowledging that the brother mujahidin everywhere are, overall, defenders of a noble cause and bearers of a sublime mission. It is not true that they are seekers of material benefits. Actually, many of them sacrifice self and precious possessions for the pride of Islam and the Muslims.

Articles of the Document:

Firstly: The Religion of Islam

The religion of Islam is the closing religion with which Allah the Almighty concluded all heavenly messages sent from Him in His Heights to guide his creatures. He inspired it to the last of the prophets and the emissaries, Muhammad, on him and on them [emissaries] the best of prayers and the fullest of acknowledgement.

Islam is binding on all those who have been given assignments [to worship God], whether humans or jinnis, from the time of the dispatch of the Prophet, Allah's prayers and peace upon him, until Resurrection Day. The Almighty said: "We have not sent thee but as a universal messenger to men, giving them glad tidings and warning them against sin" (Surat Saba, verse 28) [Koranic verse]. The Almighty said: "Say 'O men I am sent unto you all as the Messenger of Allah'" (Surat Al Al A'raf, verse 158) [Koranic verse]. In the Sahih [with strong attribution] Saying by the Prophet, the Prophet Allah's prayers and peace upon him said "a prophet used to be sent to his people specifically, yet I was sent to the people in general". This is agreed upon, and all humans since the Prophet's Mission until Resurrection Day are "the nation called upon" to join the religion of Islam. They are referred to in the Almighty's saying "O people" in the Koran. Those who heed the call are "the Nation of Response", the Muslims who are referred to in the Almighty's saying in the Koran: "O those who have believed".

This is as far as the humans are concerned. As for the Prophet's mission to the jinnis, this is confirmed at the end of Surat Al Ahqaf and the start of Surat Al Jinn.

The Meaning of the Binding Nature of the Islamic Religion: It is that Allah the Almighty will not take to account all His creatures who have been addressed since the Mission of the Prophet, Allah's prayers and peace upon him until Resurrection Day, except on the basis of the Islamic religion, from the time of seeing the Angel of Death to the time of lying down in the grave, then resurrection and accountability to the final destination in a high paradise or a heated inferno. So those who have not adopted the religion of Islam, or those who have adopted it then broke away from its Shari'a by committing one of the contradictions of Islam, will perish no doubt if they die while in this state. Allah the Almighty said: "If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost" [Surat Al Imran, verse 85) [Koranic verse]. The Almighty said: "... those of the sects who reject it, the fire will be their meeting place ..." (Surat Hud, verse 17) [Koranic verse]. The Almighty said: "If thou wert to join (gods with Allah), truly fruitless will be thy work and thou wilt surely be in the ranks of those who lose" (Surat Al Zumar, verse 65) [Koranic Verse]. The Shaykh of Islam Ibn Taymiyah, Allah's Mercy on his soul, said "it is known indubitably in the religion of Islam--and this is endorsed by all Muslims--that a person who promote the followers of religions other than the Islamic religion, or the following of a shari'a other than the shari'a of Muhammad, Allah's prayers and peace upon him, is a kafir [infidel]" (Collection of Fatwas, volume 28).

The Meaning of the Religion of Islam: It is "istislam" [Arabic for surrender], or allowing one's self to be totally led by the shar'i of Allah the Almighty. This is the dictate of slavery for Allah alone, without any partner. As the Almighty said: "Behold, his Lord said to him, bow (thy will to Me). He said I bow (my will) to the Lord and Cherisher of the Universe" (Surat Al-Baqara, verse 131) [Koranic verse]. Such surrender, such allowing of one's self to be led, and such slavery is achieved by worshipping Allah in the way the Almighty wants, not as we want, by following the Almighty's Shar'i in every aspect of life big or small, not only in faith and worship. This is what the Almighty detailed in His saying: "Say truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life, and my death, are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds. No partner hath he. This I am commanded, and I am the first of those who bow to His Will" [Surat Al An'am, verse 162) [Koranic verse]. The Almighty said: "... and We have sent down to thee a Book explaining all things ..." (Surat Al Nahl, verse 89) [Koranic verse]. Just as the message of Islam is binding on all humans, "this being its temporal and spatial generality" [quotation marks by source], it is also binding on them in all the affairs of their life, "and this is its objective generality". It fulfills all this until Resurrection Day, for there is no Prophet after Muhammad, Allah's prayers and peace upon him.

If Islam is fulfilled by giving precedence to God's objective over one's objective, it is breached or offended by violating this. The violations come in degrees:

-       The one who gives precedence to the quest of self over the quest of his God in trivial matters, this one commits small sins "which is rebellion";

-       The one who gives precedence to the quest of self over the quest of his God in big things is the one who commits big sins "which is debauchery";

-       And the one who gives precedence to the quest of self over the quest of his God in cardinal things is the one who has fallen in "kufr" [infidelity]. This is because Allah the Almighty has described kufr as "wickedness supreme" (Surat Al Waq'iah, verse 46) [Koranic verse]. The Almighty said: " ... To set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed" (Surat Al Nisa, verse 48) [Koranic verse].

 

Allah the Almighty forbade all these violations at their various levels. The Almighty said: "... But Allah has endeared the faith to you, and has made it beautiful in your hearts, and He has made hateful to you unbelief, wickendsss, and rebellion ..." (Surat Al Hujurat, verse 7) [Koranic verse]. All these sins are open to repentance and absolution during one's lifetime. As for those who die while in this state, this is a well-known detail in the books of faith and theology. Al-Bayhaqi referred to this in his book "Shu'ab al-Iman", according to Al-Hulaymi, Allah have mercy on them.

In his book "Concurrences on the Principles of Shari'a", first volume, Imam al-Shatibi, Allah's mercy on him, mentioned that "Allah has formulated Shari'a in such a way that the inclination of minds is to follow the objective of the Legislator [God]". This is the meaning of assignment, so the Muslim should not do the contrary by bending the text of Shari'a to accord with his inclinations, for this would be different from what Allah the Almighty wants.

In the domain of jihad for the sake of Allah the Almighty, this is one of the branches of faith, or "the peak of Islam's hump", as correctly cited from the beloved chosen one, Allah's prayers and peace upon him. In this great domain, the domain of jihad, the slavery of the Muslim to his God the Almighty is by giving precedence to his God's quest from him over his own quest for himself. This is done through the Muslim knowing what Allah has made a duty for him at a certain time, according to his ability. He gets the reward for what he is able to do, and he is absolved from the sin of what he could not do. This is the way of the Muslims in all their affairs, on jihad and other issues. But for the Muslim to place an objective for himself that is beyond his capacity and not suitable to his conditions, even if it is legitimate in itself, and then follow any road to attain his objective, without being bound by the restrictions of Shari'a, then he would have given precedence to his quest from himself over his God's quest from him. This is not the way of the Muslims but the way of revolutionary secularists. In Islam, there is no such thing as "the end justifies the means", even if the end is noble and legitimate to begin with. On the contrary, a Muslim worships Allah through the means used just as he worships Him through the ends sought. If he dies before getting his end, he gets the reward for trying, and he is absolved from the sin of what he could not do. As the Almighty said: "He who forsakes his home for the cause of Allah, finds in the earth many a refuge, wide and spacious. Him who departs from his home as a refugee, for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, then dies, his reward becomes due and sure with Allah, and Allah is oft-forgiving, most merciful" [Surat Al Nisa, verse 100) [Koranic verse]. Any one who follows a road not sanctioned by shar'i, his action is null and unacceptable, and Allah does not accept it from him. As the Almighty in his Glory said: "... Allah doth accept of the sacrifice of (only) those who are righteous." (Surat Al Ma'idah, verse 27) [Koranic verse]. The Prophet, Allah's prayers and peace upon him, said: "Those who undertake an act we have not ordered, their act is rejected", a saying recounted by Muslim [one of the authorities on the Prophet's sayings]. The meaning of "reject" here is that Allah does not accept it. So ascertaining what is right is a duty that should be observed before proceeding with any action, because Allah in His Glory will take us to account on what he wanted from us and what he chose as shar'i for us, not on what we ourselves want or approve of.

A Muslim is required to act according to Shari'a, and he has his reward with Allah in proportion to the effort he made within the limits of his capacity. Allah will not take him to account for what he was unable to do and will not take him to account for not realizing the objective. This is clear in the above mentioned verse "Him who departs from his home as a refugee", and in the saying by the Prophet, Allah's prayers and peace on him, about what will happen on Resurrection Day for the nations of the prophets and their followers. "And a Prophet comes with the two men, and a prophet comes with one man, and a prophet comes with no one with him". This saying by the prophet is agreed upon by Ibn Abbas, Allah be pleased with him. This saying is about obedience to Allah's will, in which there is "Ukasha was ahead of you with it". Each of them, peace upon them, did what Allah ordained for them about communicating His message. In His Glory he will not take them to account on the number of their followers. So a Muslim is required to work according to Shari'a but it is not up to him to attain the objectives, for these are up to Allah's destiny and His Will, in His Glory. The result is attained if the correct reasons are there, unless fate wills otherwise. Thus you realize it is not true that "every action that falls short of attaining its objectives is void". Here is one of the prophets, peace upon them, who carried out the advocacy he was required to do but no one followed him, so his objective or part of it was not achieved. Was his action void? This is because Allah the Almighty said: "We sent not a Messenger but to be obeyed, in accordance with the Will of Allah" (Surat Al Nisa, verse 64) [Koranic verse]. But here is a prophet whom nobody obeyed. Was his action void because it fell short of attaining its objective? With this you know that it is not proper to apply the preceding sentence to every action that fell short of attaining its objective, and consequently say it is void. This is not true. As long as the action is in accordance with Shari'a, a Muslim gets his reward in proportion to the effort he exerted, even if he did not get his objective, as proven in the aforementioned verse. And the Almighty said: "Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it. And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it" (Surat Al Zalzalah, verses 7 and 8) [Koranic verse]