Source: http://arabnews.com/

JEDDAH, 29 November 2007 — Saudi authorities yesterday announced the arrest of 208 terror suspects, including 32 terror financiers and a 16-member media cell, adding that some of the suspects had planned to attack oil installations in the Eastern Province.Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said the arrests took place following pre-emptive operations carried out by security forces over the last few months. He said the suspects had been influenced by a deviant ideology.

“Security forces foiled an impending attack on a support oil facility in the Eastern Province,” the spokesman said, adding that an eight-member cell led by an expatriate man was behind the plan.

The expatriate explained to police how he mobilized other militants to carry out the attack after encouraging them to take part in suicide operations inside and outside the Kingdom.

The arrested militants also included an 18-member cell, which had smuggled eight missiles into the Kingdom in order to launch terrorist operations, the Saudi Press Agency quoted the spokesman as saying. An infiltrator, who is an expert in missile launching, headed the team, he added.

“There was a 22-member cell which formed a special team to assassinate Islamic scholars and security officers,” Al-Turki said. The assassination move came after imams and khateebs across the country joined the fight against terrorism and extremism. “As many as 112 suspects were arrested for coordinating with foreign parties to facilitate the travel of militants to disturbed regions,” he said in reference to those that convince Saudis to travel to Iraq in order to fight alongside insurgents.

Al-Turki said the arrested terror financiers included Saudis as well as expatriates, adding that they had provided financial support to Al-Qaeda militants in the Kingdom and abroad.

Speaking about the media cell that was operating in Madinah to promote deviant ideologies and thoughts, he said the cell had provided militants every encouragement to commit various crimes. The media cell published a news bulletin named Sada Al-Rafidain (Echo of Iraq) and facilitated the travel of militants to the war-torn country.

During the security operations police confiscated a number of means of communication and documents, the spokesman said. Details of the confiscated items will not be disclosed at present in order to protect public interest. “Investigations made with the help of arrested militants have also led to information about persons who have links with the militants,” the spokesman said.

The Interior Ministry called upon Saudis who have been approached by deviant ideologists to contact the nearest security agency if they are in the Kingdom or the nearest Saudi mission abroad to clarify their stand. “This will be taken into consideration when dealing with their cases,” the spokesman said.

Ash-Sharq al-Awsat published an interview between Turki as-Suhail and the Saudi Scholar, ‘Abdul-Muhsin al-’Ubaykan on 12th September 2005. We reproduce below some extracts from it that highlight important Islamic issues, regarding which the extremists and terrorists had been misled by their ideological figureheads. A very large number of these people, who were youth poisoned by evil people like Abu Qatada al-Filisteeni and Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi (’Isam Barqawi) repented and recanted from their falsehood, on account of these dialogues.

Turki as-Suhail: What about removing the non-believers from the Arab peninsula?

‘Abdul-Muhsin al-’Ubaykan: This is another issue prominent amongst the wanted men. We tell them that removing non-believers from the Arab peninsula in context of the hadith (of the Prophet) is not how they interpret it.

This is because the area the Prophet (peace be upon him) was concerned about removing the non-believers from was that surrounding the two Sacred Mosques and not other areas such as the Eastern Province or other regions in Arabia.

Another point is that there were non-believers who lived in Arabia during the Caliphs’ times. Muslim men married non-Muslim women and lived together in the region.

I even found fatwas for Shaikh Mohammad Ibn Uthaimeen who supported this notion.

A third point is that this issue is the business of the country’s guardians rather than the people. The Caliph Abu Bakr did not have the Jews removed from Medina during his time, nor did he ask ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab to do so either.

A fourth point is that even if non-believers are to leave the region, it does not mean violating their properties or permitting their bloodshed. Furthermore, having them leave the region is related to what is in the best (interest) and it is not an indefinite general predicament.

This is an extract, with some abridgement, from the book, “With Which Religion and Intellect are Suicide Bombings and Destruction Considered Jihad?” by the senior contemporary Islamic Scholar from Saudi Arabia, Shaikh ‘Abdul-Muhsin al-’Abbad.

WHAT HAS COME CONCERNING KILLING THE ONE UNDER PROTECTION OF A TREATY, INTENTIONALLY OR BY MISTAKE

The killing of a dhimmee (free non-Muslim), mu’aahad (one under a treaty or truce) and musta‘man (one under the guarantee of protection) is unlawful. Indeed, a severe threat has been mentioned concerning that.

Indeed, al-Bukhaaree relates in his Saheeh (no. 3166), from ’Amr Ibn ’Abdullaah (radiyallaahu ’anhumaa), from the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) who said, “Whosoever kills a person who was a mu’aahad, he will not be able to smell the fragrance of Paradise, even though its fragrance can be smelled for the walking distance of forty years.”

This is mentioned by al-Bukhaaree in the book of al-jizyah (taxes for disbelievers) under the chapter, “Chapter: The sin of the one who kills a mu’aahad who has not committed any crime.”

And he mentions it in the book of compensations, under the chapter, “Chapter: The sin of the one who kills a dhimmee who has not committed any crime.” And it also occurs under the wording, “Whosoever kills a person who was mu’aahad will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, even though its smell can be found for the walking distance of forty years.”

Stated al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr in al-Fath (12/259), (commenting upon the action of al-Bukhaaree in the manner compiling these statements under these chapter headings), “Likewise, he brought the chapter heading of the dhimmee, yet he mentioned the mu’aahad. And in the chapter heading of al-jizyah (taxes for non-Muslims), he brought the wording, “Whosoever kills a mu’aahad…” as is apparent in the narration. So the intended meaning of this is that whosoever has a treaty with the Muslims, whether it be by agreement of a jizyah, or a truce with a Muslim ruler, or protection from a Muslim.”

And this hadeeth is related by an-Nisaa‘ee with the wording “Whosoever kills a person from amongst the people of dhimmah (protection), then he will not find the fragrance of Paradise, even though the fragrance of Paradise can be found for the walking distance of forty years.”

And he also relates it (no. 4749) with a saheeh isnaad, from a man from amongst the Companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whosoever kills a man from amongst the people of dhimmah, then he will not be able to find the fragrance of Paradise, even though its fragrance can be found for the walking distance of forty years.”

As for killing the one under protection unintentionally, then Allaah has obligated a compensation and retribution for it. Allaah the Mighty and Majestic said,

“And if he belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance, compensation must be paid to his family, and a believing slave must be freed. And whosoever finds this beyond his means, then he must fast for two consecutive months, in order to seek repentance from Allaah. And Allaah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (an-Nisaa‘ 4:92)

And I say in conclusion: Fear Allaah – O youth – with regards to yourselves. Do not become prey for Satan. He gathers up for you the dishonour of this worldly life and the punishment of the Hereafter. And fear Allaah with regards to the Muslims, from amongst the elderly, the middle-aged and the youth. And fear Allaah with regards to the Muslim women, from amongst the mothers, daughters, sisters, maternal aunts and paternal aunts. And fear Allaah with regards to the elderly who ware bowing and the babies who are breastfeeding. And fear Allaah with regards to the spilling the blood of the innocent and the wealth of the unlawful.

“So fear the Fire whose fuel is men and stones. (al-Baqarah 2:24)

“And fear a day when you shall be brought back to Allaah. Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.” (Sooratul-Baqarah 2:281)

“On the day when every person will be confronted with all the good he has done, and all the evil he has done, he will wish that there were a great distance between him and his evil.” (Soorah Aali-’Imraan 3:30)

“The day when a man shall flee from his brother, and his mother and his father, and from his wife and his children. Every man, that day, will have enough to make him careless of others.” (Soorah ’Abasa 80:37)

Awaken from your slumber and become attentive from your heedlessness. Do not be the riding animal for Satan to cause corruption in the earth.

And I ask Allaah the Mighty and Majestic to grant the Muslims understanding of their Religion, and to safeguard them from the misguidance of tribulations (fitan), whatever is apparent from them and whatever is hidden. And may the salutations, peace and blessings of Allaah be upon His servant and Messenger, Muhammad, upon his family and all of his Companions.

O Muslims Overseas! Beware of Conspirators

Shaikh ‘Abdul-Muhsin ‘Ubaykaan
6 July 2006-07-08
Taken from the paper ‘Ash-Sharaq Al-Awsat’

Read Original in Arabic

At this time last year a great evil took place. It visibly affected peoples’ wealth and lives, and injured the image of Islam and the Muslims throughout the whole world.

This time last year attacks were made against the London underground system and (London) buses and explosions went off. Tens of people died and were injured, as a result of these (actions).

Some Muslim youth, who reside in those lands, carried out these disgraceful acts.

What is the correct stance that the Muslim should adopt towards this type of activity?
What advice is it incumbent upon us to offer to the Muslims abroad?

I say that there is not a shadow of doubt that a small group of people, whom ascribe themselves to Islam, have arisen, in the last few years, traversing upon the methodology of the kharijites (a deviant sect) of the past.

This (deviant sect) have left the religion like an arrow leaves its prey. Actually, this present group of people could possibly be viewed as being more astray and misguided than the original kharijites, because they have not only declared Muslims to be infidels and killed them but, instead, they have added to this by violating their covenants and transgressing against the people of the book and other than them, who have agreements with the Muslims; even the kharijtes of the past never done this. So pay attention oh my Muslim brother.

Islam has not sanctioned this type of activity. Opposite to that, Islamic law warns against these acts in the clearest fashion and discourages going down these paths.
On top of that, even Arab and Islamic customs reject these appalling acts that deeply damage the image of Islam. This has caused many non-Muslims to flee from Islam and shun its people.

For this reason, the attacks against London last year that were carried out by some misguided, astray Muslim youth are forbidden. Especially, (bearing in mind) that they killed tens of innocent people with their bombs. These (youth) have committed a grave sin. In the light of Islamic law, this is viewed as a violation of a covenant and treachery. An affair that has resulted in many negatives which have (damaged) the co-existence of these people, and I am referring to how the British people (interact) with the Muslims who reside in those lands.

These bombings have placed the rest of the Muslims of Britain in a difficult situation and, perhaps, caused some aggravation. The least of them being that this has portrayed the Muslims as a possible security threat.

It is not acceptable to reserve the slightest doubt about the fact that those responsible for the bombings in London and any other similar acts have carried out something forbidden in the light of Islamic law. No matter what excuses they offer. I say (for arguments sake) even if the non-Muslims, whom we were residing in their lands, were at war with us and we entered their lands and remained there with an agreement of their protection, it is impermissible to deceive and betray them. The people of knowledge, like Ibn Qudaamah in Al-Mughni (a famous piece of classical Islamic jurisprudence), have mentioned this in the books of Islamic jurisprudence

Therefore, there is no ambiguity that these bombings of the subway in London were a blatant form of deception.

My advice to my Muslim brothers who are residing in Britain, in the west generally or in any non-Muslim land is to be cautious of those conspirators amongst you, who falsely claim that they are implementing the correct Islam. In reality, these people strive to destroy the relationship that (the rest of the Muslims) have with their countries that have hosted them for their whole life.

Also, their activities deprive them (i.e. the rest of the Muslims) of the benefits of life, ruin their relationship with their hosting nations and citizens, spoil their reputation before the people and damage the rights they have acquired.

It is upon the Muslims in those lands to work together to uproot this deviant group, if advice brings no fruits, they should abandon and shun them, and inform upon every trouble maker from amongst them. To allow the rest of the Muslims in that land can live in peace and spread the true Islam. They should be torches of light and guidance, guiding the people to the magnificence and excellence of this great religion that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed as a mercy for the whole of mankind.

His real name is ‘Umar bin Mahmood Abu ‘Umar al-Urdanee (residing in Jordan), and is known as Abu Qataada al-Filisteeni (from the point of view of his origin from Palestine).

This individual has a hand in much of the blood that has been shed in the Islamic world - and the Islamic world alone. This individual beautifies his actions in the name of the religion, however he does not do that openly. It is done by indirect means.

He went to the Afghani Jihad but only caught its back end. With the ideology of takfir on his table cloth, he sought refuge in London. There he found shade, a refuge and place to speak. He obtained political asylum, and thus having found his lost haven, began in earnest with his tragedies.

Britain accommodated him and his likes, preparing for them a repose from which to spread their poison of takfir into the Muslim lands. Indeed, it was from Britain that he mobilised his pashas in the Muslim lands to perform takfir and bombings.

These people are not interested except in killing Muslims whom they deem apostates - that is their primary goal, a matter not well documented in Western academic circles. For the base ideology of these people is that of the Kharijites, those who excommunicate whole Muslim societies on account of the absence of total Shari’ah rule in their lands, and due to their being ruled by rulers they see as corrupt and tyrannical. This ideology is the starting point of terrorism carried out by Muslims in the name of Islam. This terrorism is directed first and foremost towards Muslim societies and is not something that emerged primarily in response to non-Muslims.

Abu Qataada has wreaked more havoc and caused more bloodshed in the Muslim lands, such as Algeria and Saudi Arabia and elsewhere than in the West in its entirety. For he has been taken as a spiritual guide and a political leader to the ignorant fools in the Muslim lands, who are like-minded in their thirst for blood. Unfortunately, the likes of Abu Qataada use highly emotive political issues such as Palestine in order to whip up support and bolster loyalty to themselves - using that to insidiously promote their own barbaric ideologies and tendencies.

Abu Qataada said in his interview with the Hayat newspaper (19th May, 1999):

We do not desire to fight America unless it attack us, and begins the fight first. This is different to the fight against the apostate regimes in our lands, those against whom Jihad is an individual obligation upon every single Muslim.

This is the ideology of takfir, the excommunication of governments, and then by extension whole societies that was given a fresh revival in the works of Sayyid Qutb, the root of all contemporary takfiri and jihadi groups.

The Shaikh, ‘Abdul-Malik ar-Ramadani, who had previously exposed the hand of other neo-Kharijites, such as Safar al-Hawali and Salman al-Awdah, in kindling the tribulations in Algeria in the nineties has written a book in refutation of Abu Qataada entitled, “Clearing the Servants From The Barbarity of Abu Qataada Who Calls For the Killing of Women and Children”.

In the book he documents from Abu Qataada with direct quotations the following:

• His takfir (excommunication) of all of the Muslim rulers (p. 55)
• His excommunication of every individual soldier in the Algerian military (p. 62)
• His revilement of the major scholars of Saudi Arabia (p. 147)
• His fatwa permitting the killing of the preachers and scholars (p. 151)
• His fatwa permitting the killing of women and children in Algeria (p. 205)
• His revilement of some of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), using that in order to commend the Algerian revolution (p. 299).

The condemnation of the Kharijites is well documented in the statements of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), as is related in the collection of al-Bukhari, “There will appear at the end of time a people who are young in age, of foolish minds and who will speak (with what appears to be) the best speech of creation. Their faith will not go beyond their throats. They will leave the religion as an arrow passes through the game animal. So kill them wherever you come across them, for verily in their killing is a reward on the Day of Judgement for whoever killed them.” (al-Bukhari, no. 6930). And the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam), also stated about them that “They are the worst of creation”, and “If I was to reach them, I would slaughter them like the slaughtering of Aad”, and he said of the Kharijites, “They are the dogs of Hellfire.”

Indeed, the likes of Abu Qataada consider the Muslims they excommunicate to be more severe disbelievers and enemies of Allah, than non-Muslims themselves. Abu Qataada stated, whilst boasting and praising his own jamaa’a (group of followers) that:

“… they do not see any difference between the police force of (Yasser) Arafat , under the leadership of Arafat and between the Jewish army and police force, except one: that Araft and his government and more severe in their disbelief than them…” (refer to the book of Shaikh ‘Abdul-Malik ar-Ramadani).

This trait is not unique to Abu Qataada, rather it is a trait of all contemporary neo-Kharijites - may Allah disfigure them. This ideology is echoed by Aiman az-Zawahiri. Muntasir az-Zayyat describes in his book “The Path to al-Qa’ida” some elements of this ideology of az-Zawahiri, stating:

For a long time az-Zawahiri repeated that the only form acceptable for Jihad is armed combat, and that it is upon the truthful Muslim to address the internal disbelief - the near enemy - and to address the external disbelief - the distant enemy - thereafter. And az-Zawahiri emphasized his ideology concerning jihad against the near (internal) enemy before the external enemy in a piece that he wrote in the April 1995 issue of “al-Mujahidun” magazine, entitled, “The Path to al-Quds Passes Through Cairo”. He said therein, “Al-Quds will not be conquered or settled, except when the battle in Egypt and Algeria is settled, and until Cairo is conquered”. The fundamental ideology that beseeched az-Zawahiri was his consideration that the fundamental, foremost enemy was the political structure (in the Muslim lands) because it did not judge by what Allah had revealed.

Abu Qataada played a significant role in the 90s in the killing of countless Algerian, men, women and children, by way of his “spiritual guidance” to those who shared his evil ideology, and his subterfuge continued well into the next decade.

The late and renowned Hadith scholar, Shaikh al-Albani (rahimahullah) said on this subject:

“…Now we come to suicide missions, we have come to know of this from the Japanese and their likes when a man amongst them would attack an American war ship with his fighter jet. He would blow up along with his jet, however he would inflict damage upon the soldiers in that American war ship. We say: Suicide missions in the present time, all of them, are not legislated (by Islam) and all of them are unlawful. They could be of the types (of suicide) which cause a person to remain in the Hellfire eternally. As for suicide missions being (a means of) nearness, by which one seeks closeness to Allah, then today (we find) that a man fights for the sake of his land or his homeland. These suicide missions are not Islamic, absolutely…

From the cassette recording, “The Verdicts of the Scholars concerning Assassinations and Bombings”, quoted in the book, “The Verdicts of the Scholars in Englightening the (Muslim) Nation”, of Jamal bin Farihan al-Harithi (p.76).

In a question and answer session almost 20 years ago, the late Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaikh ‘Abdul-’Aziz Bin Baz (rahimahullah) was asked concerning the “Jama’at ul-Jihad” and co-operation with them. His response was:

They are not to be co-operated with, nor are they to be given salutations (the regular greeting amongst Muslims). Rather, they are to be cut off from, and the people are to be warned against their evil. Since they are a tribulation and are harmful to the Muslims, and they are the brethren of the Devil.

The Jama’at ul-Jihad was an organisation from Egypt whose ideological roots lied in the teachings of Sayyid Qutb and Abu A’la Maududi.

Shaikh Muqbil bin Hadi al-Wadi’i of Yemen (rahimahullah) stated, as was published in the Kuwaiti magazine “ar-Ra’i”, dated 19/12/1998:

“I absolve and exonerate myself (in front of Allah) from Bin Ladin, for he is a misfortune and a calamity upon the ummah (Muslim nation), and his actions are evil.”

Shaikh Salih Aal ash-Shaikh, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Saudi Arabia, stated in a lecture on the subject of deviations in the understanding of Islam,

“… until in these times, perhaps you have heard some teachers praising Usama bin Ladin, and this is a deficiency in understanding Islam.”

Originally published in the newspaper, ar-Riyadh 8/11/2001. Refer to the book, “The Ideology of Terrorism and Violence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Its Origin, Causes, Spreading and Cure” of ‘Abd us-Salam bin Salim bin Rajaa as-Sihimi.

Shaikh Muhammad bin Salih al-’Uthaimin (may Allah have mercy upon him) was one of the prominent Muslim scholars from Saudi Arabia, and was often asked about the instruments of terrorism. Here is one verdict (fatwa) from the Shaikh:

Question: What is the ruling regarding acts of jihad by means of suicide, such as attaching explosives to a car and storming the enemy, whereby he knows without a doubt that he shall die as a result of this action?

Indeed, my opinion is that he is regarded as one who has killed himself (committed suicide), and as a result he shall be punished in Hell, for that which is authenticated on the authority of the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam):

“Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills himself, then certainly he will be punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein he shall dwell forever”. (Bukhari (5778) and Muslim (109 and 110)).

However, one who is ignorant and does not know, and assumes his action was good and pleasing to Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala), then we hope Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) forgives him for that which he did out of (ignorant) ijtihad (his personal judgement), even though I do not find any excuse for him in the present day.

This is because this type of suicide is well known and widespread amongst the people, so it is upon the person to ask the people of knowledge (scholars) regarding it, until the right guidance for him is differentiated from the error.

And from that which is surprising, is that these people kill themselves despite Allah having fordbidden this, as He (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) says: And do not kill yourselves. Surely, Allaah is Most Merciful to you (Nisaa, 4:29). And many amongst them do not desire anything except revenge of the enemy, by whatever means, be it halaal (lawful) or haraam (unlawful). So they only want to satisfy their thirst for revenge.

We ask Allah to bless us with foresight in His deen (revealed law) and action(s) which please Him, indeed He is all Powerful over all things.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, Kayfa Nu’aalij Waaqi’unaa al-Aleem - page 119