Anybody who have been observing the jihad in Afghanistan, was sure to be shocked with the news about Mulla Dadullah’s martyrdom. Yes, the Karzai Administration issued a statement about its success in killing Dadullah in a raid on that Sunday of 26 Rabiul Awwal 1428 (13 May 2007). The news was also acknowledged by the Taliban. If the observer was pro Karzai Administration he would be surprised and rejoicing. However if that observer is pro Taliban, he would certainly be shocked and felt the loss.

The shock was not a unexpected knowing the role of Dadullah inside the Taliban which can be categorized as strategic enough. He was one of the important figures in the Taliban movement. A lot of the operations that he had led had been victorious and he really gave the enemy some hard blows.

Mulla Dadullah had been active as an activist in the Taliban movement since the early years of the Taliban movement, in the province of Kandahar, in the south west of Afghanistan in 1994. However his activity in the field of Jihad had already started in the early 80’s, when he was leading a Mujahideen battalion, in the war against the Soviet Union occupation. It was at that time that he lost one of his legs.

The loss of a leg would normally be enough reason for a justification not to participate in jihad. But not for Mulla Dadullah. His zeal for jihad never weakened, and it never crossed his mind to retire from jihad. There’s one admirable statement that came out of his mouth, "May the loss of this leg become a price for attaining a ticket leading to jannah (paradise)...”

In the 90’s he took part in the jihad against the Northern Alliance. He even held a significant position during the Taliban conquest of Mazar-e Syarif.

And during the American invasion of Afghanistan in November 2001 with the pretext of hunting for terrorists, Dadullah happened to be one of the commandants of a unit that was positioned in the Northern Provinces. It was there that a lot of Taliban members were trapped and then surrounded by the enemy in Qunduz (after the enemies cheated and broke the truce) . One of the few commandants that refused to surrender at that time was Dadullah. And despite this, he was not captured, he even managed to get away and returned to his native village, one of the villages in Helmand.

The escape of Dadullah gives him a opportunity to build up and strengthen Taliban military that had experienced a significant loss. And nowadays the Taliban has become a military force with a very outstanding strength. According to Mulla Dadullah in an interview with a journalist from Al-Jazeera, "the total number of Mujahideen that are ready to be deployed to the battlefield amounts to 6000 personnel's, in fact it’s possible for the figure to reach 10,000 personnel's”. He added “in fact if the Mujahideen were to confront the crusaders and the jews, then it is likely that the number would be doubled to become 20000 personnel's.”
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Generally the top-ranking commanders in the Taliban were fairly hidden from the mass media. Mulla Dadullah is the one and only commandant that showed himself in front of the media.
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Early this year, as-Shaheed Dadullah had vowed that he would increase the intensity of the offensive against the invaders. And that plan had been accomplished with full force, and a huge loss was incurred by the enemy.

Furthermore after the successful prisoners of war exchange between an Italian journalist and five Taliban commandants in last April, Dadullah had vowed to diversify attacks and hostage takings in an effort to release his associates in the prison of Bagram or Guantanamo.

However, before this plan could be realized, Allah had granted him Shaheed that Sunday (26 Rabiul Awwal 1428 H/13 May 2007). He was shaheed at the age of 40 years, after being through a long way in the struggle.

Moments after the martyrdom of Dadullah, the Taliban movement issued a statement that their military operations against the invaders and the puppet government of Afghanistan would never be affected by the martyrdom of Dadullah. Because the position of leadership left by Dadullah would immediately be taken over by his other comrades.

Indeed, the martyrdom of one leader in an ideological movement would not have much of an effect on the strength of it’s force. As evident by the martyrdom of the previous leader, ie. Mulla Muhammad Akhtar Utsmani, killed by the allied forces in an air raid in the Western part of Afghanistan after his location had been informed by the Pakistani intelligence, he was immediately replaced by Dadullah without any problem.

“Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord; They rejoice in the bounty provided by Allah. And with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the (Martyrs) glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve. They glory in the Grace and the bounty from Allah, and in the fact that Allah suffereth not the reward of the Faithful to be lost (in the least). Of those who answered the call of Allah and the Messenger, even after being wounded, those who do right and refrain from wrong have a great reward;- Men said to them: "A great army is gathering against you": And frightened them: But it (only) increased their Faith: They said: "For us Allah sufficeth, and He is the best disposer of affairs." And they returned with Grace and bounty from Allah. no harm ever touched them: For they followed the good pleasure of Allah. And Allah is the Lord of bounties unbounded. It is only the Evil One that suggests to you the fear of his votaries: Be ye not afraid of them, but fear Me, if ye have Faith.” (Quran 3:169-175)

Once again, an observer who are pro Islamic struggle would feel grief and sorrow at the martyrdom of Mulla Dadullah. But this feeling of loss can never be allowed to remain for long. May his blood that flowed nurture a new spirit of jihad to grow. And may Allah give us a better replacement, someone who dare to hit the invaders, the munafiqs and the murtadeen with an even powerful blow. Until the kalimah of Allah is raised, persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah..

Allahu Akbar!… Allahu Akbar! ... Allahu Akbar!

Source: Mujahideen