Will they teach that Ramadan is the “month of jihad” in Virginia public schools?
The following is from MEMRI, selections from the latest issue of Voice of Jihad, Al-Qaeda’s online magazine. Note the abundant references to the Qur’an and the example of Muhammad:
Sa’ud Bin Hamoud Al-Utaybi, who is wanted by the Saudi authorities, wrote the following in the journal’s opening editorial: “Muslims! Go out to [fight] Jihad for the sake of Allah! Paradise has already flung open its gates and the virgins of paradise are already decked out in anticipation of their grooms – this is Allah’s promise. He [Allah] will not grant peace of mind to anyone who has a heart until he has gone out to fight against Allah’s enemies, as he was commanded. He who does not act [i.e., fight the Jihad ] out of obedience to Allah’s command, and out of zeal for the honor of the Muslim women which was defiled at Abu Ghreib and in the other prisons of the leaders of unbelief, and out of fervor, and out of mortification at [the thought of] shirking [battle] – what else could arouse him [to go to battle] other than all of these?……
” Jihad fighters everywhere! This month of Jihad has come with all its blessings and with the double reward [granted to Jihad fighters] in its course. Come closer to Allah through the blood of infidels, do not relent in spilling [their blood], and through [this blood] wipe out humiliation and disgrace from among your Muslim nation! Make this month like the month of the Battle of Badr, [2] the conquest of Mecca, [3] [the conquest] of Shaqhab, [4] and other Islamic victories.
“We ask Allah to turn this Ramadan into a month of glory, victory, and might, to hoist high in [this month] the banner of religion, to strengthen Islam and the Muslims, to humiliate polytheism and polytheists, to wave the banner of monotheism, to firmly plant the banner of Jihad, and to smite the perverts and the obstinate…”…
Another editorial was penned by Sheikh Aamer Bin Abdallah Al-Aamer, titled “Men of Jihad, This Is Your Festive Season:” “Men of Jihad, this is your festive season since Jihad, in a state of fasting, has a particularly delectable taste for the believers, especially [when together] with the dignity of the month of Ramadan. ….The most courageous and finest forays took place in Ramadan, for in the battle of salvation – the Battle of Badr – the heads of the bravest infidels from the tribe of Quraysh were sent flying, and Allah gave His Messenger and Prophet victory [with the help of] an army of His Hosts….
“In [the month of] Ramadan a great conquest was made, [both] of lands and of hearts – [I mean] the conquest of Mecca – in whose wake people adopted the religion of Allah, whether by choice or by coercion, and the [Arab] tribes adopted Islam … and this is what the Glorious and Exalted One said: ‘You will see the people adopting Allah’s religion in droves.’ [Koran 110:2]
“The Prophet Muhammad – in a prophetic tradition related on the authority of Abu Hurayra, [explaining] God’s words, ‘You are the best community ever raised for mankind’ [ Koran 3:110] – said: ‘That means you are the best people for mankind [because] you lead them, with chains on their necks, so that they accept Islam.’ This tradition is related by Al-Bukhari. Ahmad [Ibn Hanbal] relates a tradition, with a proper line of transmitters, on the authority of Anas, that the Messenger of Allah said to someone: ‘Embrace Islam!’ The man answered: ‘I find myself reluctant.’ So [the Prophet] said: ‘Even if you are reluctant.’
“Is there anything more enraging to the enemies of God than Jihad ? Look at their leader, the Devil, who during the Battle of Badr was encouraging the infidels, making them promises and raising their hopes. When he saw the angels [coming to the aid of the Muslim army] he fled and threw himself into the sea….
“The Devil, the enemy of Allah, tries hard to extinguish the light of Allah and his being viewed as One. To this purpose, he entices his allies, the infidels and the hypocrites, and urges them [to sin]. Nowadays, human devils do the same, as do the tyrants of the Arabian Peninsula, who encourage their slaves in the secret service, the police, and the people as well, and make them promises of money, gifts, and other material comforts. Allah said: ‘He makes promises and stirs them, but all that the Devil promises them is a delusion.’ [ Koran 4:120]…
“Oh, men of Jihad everywhere! There are two types of Jihad in Ramadan: The diurnal Jihad [expressed by] fasting and the nocturnal Jihad [expressed by] prayer. Perform the J ihad against your enemies with your [own two] hands, sacrifice your souls and your property in fighting your enemy, as an imitation of [the acts of] your Prophet [Muhammad] in the month of Ramadan [and in order to] enrage your enemies.
“Oh, men of Jihad, the victory of Allah’s religion will be as [Allah] said: ‘Fight them until there is no civil strife [ fitna ] in the country, and God’s religion shall reign supreme.’ [ Koran 8:39] For the country is full of civil strife and unbelief.
“Oh, men of Jihad, cleanse the country of unbelief and unbelievers by means of Jihad and war [and by means of] the sword and the spear. Do not be led astray by the power of the infidels because their strength, be it what it may, is under Allah’s control and His agenda.
“Know that Allah grants you victory and supports you as He promised. Make use of this glorious month because it brings together great elements: fasting, nocturnal prayer, the reciting of the Quran and other good deeds. Therefore, trust in your Lord, fight your enemies, and cleanse the Arabian Peninsula of the unbelievers.”