We are constantly told in the West that the Taliban and other jihad groups have nothing to do with Islam, and that they twist and distort the concept of jihad. In this statement, however, they respond to plans by Islamic scholars to denounce them by making their case on Islamic grounds. They deny intentionally targeting civilians, and point out that Muhammad himself sometimes killed civilians unintentionally. They couch their jihad in defensive terms, invoking historical examples and pointing out that jihad becomes obligatory when a Muslim land is attacked.
All this is entirely mainstream and non-controversial Islamic theology, as well as Islamic practice, as I show in my book The History of Jihad From Muhammad to ISIS. It will be interesting to see how the Islamic scholars who are set to condemn the Taliban will respond, if they do.
“Statement of the Islamic Emirate regarding scheduled US conferences under the name of Islamic Scholars,” Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, June 26, 2018:
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
Seventeen years have passed since invasion of the blessed land of Afghanistan by America and her allies and the toppling of the legitimate Islamic government. In response to this invasion, Jihad started against them and consequently, as a result of huge sacrifices of our nation; the invading forces are now being compelled to accept defeat in the war and leave the Islamic country of Afghanistan.
But, yet frustrated infidels have resorted to other conspiracies to silence the voice of independence of our pious and freedom-loving nation and thus spoil our enormous sacrifices.
On March 18, 2018, the commander of American invading forces, General John Nicholson said during a press conference that US has a plan to apply different pressures on Taliban this year. He added, “a combination of religious, social, diplomatic and military pressure will be applied on the Taliban”. Religious pressure means that conferences under the name of religious scholars from Afghanistan, Pakistan and other Islamic countries will be held and they will issue a Fatwa (Islamic verdict) against the Taliban in these conferences to undermine legitimacy of their struggle from a religious perspective.
In this series, according to the US plan, first gathering of religious scholars was convened in Bogor, Indonesia on 11 May of the current year. They were considering similar conferences to be held in Kabul, Islamabad and Saudi Arabia after this conference.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers this process under the title of conferences of the Islamic Scholars as an absolute anti-Islamic US process whereas its idea, logistical support and implementation is directly led by the US itself. The US wants through these conferences to find justification for their military occupation, legitimize their stooge Kabul Administration and thus weaken the Jihadic resistance of Afghan Muslim nation being put up against them.
But, Americans and their allies should understand that as they have failed in fighting, political sphere and in the field of propaganda, likewise, Allah, the Almighty will stymie this scheme of invaders as well. Allah, the Almighty says:
يريدون ليطفئوا نورالله بأفواههم والله متم نوره ولو كره الكافرون.الصف ۸
They seek to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths; but Allah will complete His light, much as the disbelievers may dislike it (Chapter 61, Verse: 8)
The Islamic Emirate urges religious scholars to reject these conferences which are a scheme of the invaders. We wish to convey to those scholars who might argue that they are participating in such gatherings to speak the truth and defend the cause of Mujahideen, that even if you will speak the truth in such conferences, the final declaration, propaganda and media are in the hands of the invaders. They can distort your assertions and utilize it for their own interests. As you have witnessed that rational views and opinions of some religious scholars were omitted by the media, and to humiliate the scholars, they propagated that dollars were distributed to the participants of the conference in specific envelops.
Similarly, as you witnessed in the Kabul conference that some scholars were invited and then a pre-written statement was announced under the name of Fatwa and was labeled as the agreed upon verdict of all scholars. As far as we have followed the process of these conferences and studied their decisions, this Fatwa is not Sharia–based and holds no rational argument to de-legitimize the current lawful Jihad. They spokes generally about moral values, criticized civilian casualties in the fighting and placed the blame on Mujahideen for killing innocent civilians, children and women. We wish to make is clear that the goal of our jihad is not to kill innocent people. We are expending our utmost efforts to avoid civilian causalities in our Jihadic attacks. For this reason, we have established a separate commission for the prevention of civilian casualties. Our hot line number is active and we have punished our Mujahideen in cases of negligence. But these are the reciprocal effects of a war that civilian casualties will happen. Sometimes civilians were even killed unintentionally by the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during Ghazawat. Religious scholars have never rejected legitimate Jihad because of unintentional civilian casualties.
Secondly, the argument put forward during these conferences to de-legitimize the current Jihad is that Jihad can only be declared by the ruling government or a head of a state who is in power otherwise it has no justification in Shariah (Islamic Law). We say, lets deeply study the contemporary history of Islamic resistance. During eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when Islamic world was under occupation by Spain, France, British, Russia, Holland, Italy and other European countries and from northern Africa to Caucasus, from central Asia to Middle East and the Indian sub-continent, all Islamic lands were occupied by European colonialists and the invaders established their tyrant governments in these countries and continued their political, military, ideological and economical occupation until a military resistance was launched against them in these areas. In fact, no one can deny that this resistance is a golden chapter of our Islamic history. These military resistances against invaders were not declared by any government rather such movements were started by the individual efforts of Saeed Ahmad Shaheed, Imam Shamil Daghistani, Abdul Qadir Aljazairi, Mullah Mushk Alam, Omar Mukhtar, Izzuddin Qassam, Muhammad Ahmad Al-Mahdi Al-Sudani, Ibrahim Baig, Sheikh ul hind Mullana Mahmood ul Hassan (may Allah be pleased with them) and other heroes worried who felt the pain of the Muslim Ummah. But after a passage of time, these resistances turned into national uprisings and forced foreign colonialists to leave the Muslim lands.
None of the scholars of the Islamic world have criticized the Jihad of these heroes so far nor has any scholar called it illegitimate because it was a popular resistance not permitted by a government. Similarly three decades ago, Afghan Mujahideen started Jihad against Soviet Union and all religious scholars of the world defended their resistance whereas Mujahideen had no government at the beginning of their Jihad.
Furthermore, our current Jihad is defensive because infidels have invaded our Muslim land and defensive Jihad is started against them. As far as defensive Jihad is concerned, when infidels attacks a land of Muslims then all books of Fiqh (Jurisprudence) say that Jihad becomes obligatory upon every man, woman, slave, freeman and upon all Muslims. All should wage Jihad without permission of anyone otherwise all are sinners and have shunned a mandatory obligation. Therefore, there is no need for permission from a state in cases of defensive Jihad.
But even if we suppose that the permission of Jihad has to be announced by a government who is in power, even then our Jihad would be legitimate because its verdict was passed during the reign of the Islamic Emirate led by Amir-ul-momineen Mullah Muhammad Omar Mujahid. For that reason, few days before American invasion on 21 September 2001, one thousand and five hundred scholars issued a Fatwa that if the Americans were to attack Afghanistan then Jihad against them would become obligatory. At the time of this verdict 95% land of Afghanistan was under the control of the Islamic Emirate and it was even recognized by multiple countries. So this issue is clear as broad day light that because of invasion, tactical retreats from the capital and other big cities of the country do not nullify the Shariah based status of an Islamic government. Therefore as the Islamic Emirate was an Islamic state and government at that time, it is still an Islamic government and state which controls more areas of Afghanistan as compare to the Americans and their stooge Administration.
Therefore all the arguments are irrational and baseless according to Shariah for above evidence. Furthermore, they only blame Mujahideen and do not utter a single word against corrupt and infidel invaders nor consider their open brutal aggression as illegitimate hence it clearly shows that they are in the service of invaders. Therefore, we want to tell the religious scholars that they should fear the torment of this world and the Hereafter about this sensitive issue of considering the rightful Jihad as illegitimate.
They should know that America is the biggest tyrant of this time which has usurped the rights of the Muslims in every corner of the world. They have occupied Baitul Muqqadas, the first Qibla of Muslims and are oppressing Muslims everywhere. You know that the Mujahideen of Afghanistan are not fighting against the enemy with stones and pellets like those of Palestine rather they are fighting against them with modern weapons seized from Americans and their allies as a spoils of war. They are giving crushing blows to the Americans with their own weapons and every day, you are witnessing victories of the Mujahideen. Even the Americans themselves admit that more than 2500 soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan and tens of thousands have been injured and are suffering from mental disorders. So on the basis of Shariah, it is impermissible for Muslims especially religious scholars to come to the aid and rescue of the brutal enemy and wounded dragon trapped in Afghanistan. Because helping the American tyrant is a great sin and deviation from Islam, May Allah, the Almighty protect our religious scholars from it.
To end, once again we respectfully urge the religious scholars of Afghanistan and the Muslim world to cooperate and help the Muslim nation and Mujahideen instead of assisting and participating in the conferences of the secret service of the enemy so that Allah the Almighty thwarts the plots of occupation and reinstates the dignity and independence of Muslim nation.
And this is an easy task for Allah, the Almighty.
Lebel says
First, it is strange that they even need to make this call since those Islamic scholars should know very well what is clearly stated in the Koran and thus cannot ever be confused about its real meaning.
Wait, its Taqqiya! the “Muslim scholars” are just doing a fake conference and the Taliban are issuing a fake message to fool the naïve infidels!
Thanks Jihadwatch, you helped clear the confusion.
john spielman says
yes! we cannot trust muslims when they talk to us about TAQIYYA ( lying to unbelievers) because they LIE to us about LYING to us! ie TAQIYYA about TAQIYYA!
BC says
Those who live in the past have no place in the future. I liken the religious as like people who lost a leg or both long centruries ago, then somebody spotted a crook in a tree branch and invented the crutch or crutches. The limbless got along with that for a few centuries until somebody worked out how to attach a wooden leg to the amputation, though crutches were still often needed. Then in the modern era, 20th century, artificial limbs of increasing efficiency were developed until now people can run marathons with artificial limbs
and it is often impossible to distinguish the limbless from normal people. The religious are still living in the crutch age.
J D S says
Another terrorist group that should be unmercilessly destroyed.
gravenimage says
I see that Lebel is again sneering at the idea that Islam can ever be Islam. Ignore your lyin’ eyes, filthy Infidels…
FYI says
To help clear up any confusion,let’s see what islam’s prophet would say?Is there a connection between islam and terror?
Yes, according to its prophet.
“I have been made victorious THROUGH TERROR”
bukhari 4:52:220
The taliban are simply following the commandment-of-God violating example of their mass-murdering{Abu dawud 4390} self-confessed false prophet muhammed{al tabari 6:111)
Being such devoted members of the religion of peace they earnestly “pray” 5 times a day to their god allah:a god who rather ingeniously manages to be both anti-Semitic AND antichristian {koran 9:30}
To the extent to which they obey the Commandment-of-God violating teachings of allah and follow the immoral,mass-murdering example of their “prophet” muhammed..they are in fact extremely dedicated devout muslims.Why,they even put on those long faces at ramadan.
They are simply following muhammed’s murderous path guided by the false light of allah’s “holy” koran
The concept of obeying ANY of God’s official commandments would ,of course ,be completely lost on them:after all,if allah has rewarded the mass-murdering,polygamous,slave-trading,serial adulterer and psychopath muhammed into paradise…. then surely..as allah{unlike God}promises to reward the islamic evil-doers with the narcissistic,carnal paradise ..the Taliban have lucked out!
Meanwhile,back at the islamic taliban ranch,these devout commandment-of-God violating muslims will continue to earn themselves rewards in hell where in fact they are actually going(but which of course they don’t see..)
Halal Bacon says
and everyone of them has a pin-up of a nine year old or a goat in their caves
gravenimage says
They world, but pictures are Haram. Not so goats and 9-year-old girls…
jewdog says
Taliban in Arabic means “the students”. These people are very well informed when it comes to Islamic law and principles, as their name implies. They have diligently studied that Islamic texts and obviously take them to heart. While one may not agree with some of their policies, like executing blasphemers, gays, adulterers,heretics, polytheists and uppity infidels in general, they nevertheless are intellectually honest and demonstrate the value of a good education.
Ray Jarman says
Jewdog, Since when is lying considered intellectual? It is like calling the brute who beats the crap out of a class mate in school intellectual. From the beginning of the slaughter of once peaceful lands of the Middle East and North Africa in the seventh century, they have used slaughter, brutality and perfidy to conquer and maintain control over the masses. Remove the incubus like yoke from the people’s necks, I bet that the cult would disappear in no time.
jewdog says
Taqiyya is a religiously sanctioned tactic, stemming from Shia Islam, as a way to avoid harm. In general,, I would say that jihadists are demonic, but true to their beliefs, and well-informed about them.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
I can challenge these idiot terrorist groups working for wicked mithraist christian west and fascist evil Zionist state of Israel to destabilise muslim nations to retard progress that they are not fighting valid jihad acceptable to Allah ,and if they kill or are killed they go to hell as Prophet Muhammad explained. First, they are not complying with Sharia rules. secondly, their motives are not within the stated objectives of jihad fighting, which are protection of Islamic faith so that Muslims can practice and preach Islam and protection of the oppressed as explicitly stated in the Quran.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Jay Boo, Sharia law is the best mechanism for social justice. Taliban and other terrorist groups are not complying with Sharia rules.They are ignorant idiots working for evil people
gravenimage says
Ibrahim itace muhammed wrote:
I can challenge these idiot terrorist groups working for wicked mithraist christian west and fascist evil Zionist state of Israel to destabilise muslim nations to retard progress that they are not fighting valid jihad acceptable to Allah ,and if they kill or are killed they go to hell as Prophet Muhammad explained.
…………………………………
Ibrahim itace muhammed has made this bizarre claim before–that Jihad groups he considers rivals to his own are actually the United States and Israel. This is ridiculous, of course–the West does not wage Jihad.
And of course, he has never been able to cite anything in their ideology that he actually disagrees with.
More:
First, they are not complying with Sharia rules. secondly, their motives are not within the stated objectives of jihad fighting, which are protection of Islamic faith so that Muslims can practice and preach Islam and protection of the oppressed as explicitly stated in the Quran.
…………………………………
He has never been able to say how these pious Jihadists are not adhering to the rules of Jihad. And groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, and ISIS are very much spreading Islam.
And they–just like Ibrahim itace muhammed–considers any Muslims who are not allowed to abuse women, children, and minorities are “oppressed”. *Ugh*.
More, in reply to Jay Boo:
Jay Boo, Sharia law is the best mechanism for social justice.
…………………………………
What is more indicative of “social justice” than mass executions in the soccer stadium and stoning rape victims to death by a howling mob?
More:
Taliban and other terrorist groups are not complying with Sharia rules.They are ignorant idiots working for evil people
…………………………………
Notice again that he never says in what way the Taliban is supposedly not complying with the horrors of Shari’ah. Don’t hold your breath that he ever will…
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Working for wicked treacherous evil United States to weaken muslim nations economically.The repercussion is now turning back to evil United States as its economy is now heading to demise. Fools!!
gravenimage says
Jay Boo is right–we’ve sent enormous amounts of money to Afghanistan, but it is still a basket case. No helping a country this Islamic.
Yet, Ibrahim itace muhammed keeps insisting that the Muslim world has better economies than does the US.
Even with all that aid, the per capita annual income in Afghanistan is $1,900. In the US, it is $58,030. (Reminder to Ibby–the second number is *larger* than the former).