Saturday, 5th December 2009. A Tabligh Akbar with the theme: "Zikr, Jihad Vs Terrorism" was held at Masjid Al Munawwarah. This event which was filled to the brim with Muslims from various places, presented Ustadz Abu M. Jibriel Abdul Rahman and Ustadz Muhammad Arifin Ilham. This nation owes a lot to the word "jihad" and the cry of "Allahu Akbar", as expressed by Ustadz Arifin Ilham in the core of his lecture. Meanwhile, Ustadz Abu Jibriel in his presentation explained that the terror and terrorism in the version of the international ruling (UN which represents America and other superpower states) is a war on Islam and the Islamic ummah!

Relationship between Zikr and Jihad

Is there any connection between zikr and jihad? Ustadz Abu M Jibriel who had the chance to appear first in the event of Tabligh Akbar organized by Majelis Ilmu (Knowledge Council) of Ar Royyyan, explained that zikr which does not bear the fruit of jihad will be hopeless and empty. Whereas, a jihad which is not accompanied by zikr will be far from victory and success. He quoted Allah SWT’s verse:

"O ye who believe! When ye meet a force, be firm, and call Allah in remembrance much (and often); that ye may prosper:." (Qur'an, Al Anfal: 45)

Jihad fie sabilillah is the highest peak of Islamic deeds. But that highness can never be separated from dzikrullah, because dzikrullah itself becomes the essence and ruhul 'amali (the spirit of the deeds) in Islam including jihad fie sabilillah.

In the opportunity, Ustadz M Jibriel also explained that the highness of the of degree of an amal (deed) is related to the type of amal itself, and the extra value gained from it is also related to where that amal is performed. Just like what had been explained in a hadith that solat in the Masjidil Haram has 100 thousand degree higher than solat in other places and if the solat is performed in the jihad arena, then it would reach 2 million degree higher than solat in other places. The same goes with the practice of dzikrullah, if a Mujahid do zikr in the jihad arena, its rewards is multiplied 70 thousand times.

Rasulullah SAW said:

"Blessed are the people who abundantly mention (the name of) Allah in Jihad, because verily with one word (that they utter) they obtain seventy thousand Hasanat (good deeds), and from that every Hasanat, they would obtain ten times of similar things from Allah as an addition." (HR. Thabrani and Hamim)

Ustadz Abu M Jibriel also related an interesting story from a hadith of Rasulullah SAW regarding the importance of jihad. Abu Hurairah RA said:

"A companion passed by a valley wherein was a well with refreshing water which surprised him. After he said: ‘Supposing I removed myself from the company of people and I lived in this place (for the purpose of ‘ibaadah) but I couldn’t do that until I received permission from Rasulullaah (s.a.w). Would that be the most eminent thing to do towards Rasulullaah (s.a.w)?’

The Prophet (s.a.w) said: 'Don’t do that, because the existence of one from amongst you Fie Sabilillaah is more eminent than Solat made at home for 70 years. Don’t you want to receive forgiveness from Allah and for Him to allow you into Jannah? Ughzuu Fii Sabiilillaah (wage war in the way of Allah), whoever fights in the way of Allah for as long as it takes a camel to recover from one milking to the next, surely Jannah is obligatory for him.'" [Narrated by Tirmidhi and he said: Hadith hasan, Baihaqi and Al-Hakim said: Sahih according to Muslim’s methods]. "

Ustadz Abu Jibriel also cited another hadith i.e.:

"Any soul which lefts this world and enters Paradise would not want to go back to the world even if it got everything on the earth, except a Shaheed who wishes to return to the world so that he may be martyred up to ten times because of the dignity he receives (from Allah)." (H Bukhari 2606, Muslim 3489, At Tirmidzi 1585, Ahmad 12309, 13417)

Meanwhile, Ustadz Arifin Ilham who appeared next, opened his lecture with a tune of zikr like he normally does. According to him, zikr and jihad are the essences, in fact they are even the highest peaks in the teaching of Dienul Islam. The enemies of Islam are purposely creating provocations by showing the teaching of jihad as a symbol of violence and make it an issue of terrorism so that the Muslims will hate and avoid it.

Jihad and zikr are two things that can be differentiated but cannot be separated, he continued. Surely, when the Mujahideen uttered the zikr with the sound of "Allahu Akbar", it knocks out the mental of the enemies and creates an extreme fear in the hearts of the enemies of Allah. He quoted Allah’s verse:

"O ye who believe! When ye meet a force, be firm, and call Allah in remembrance much (and often); that ye may prosper:." (Qur'an, Al Anfal: 45)

Ustadz Arifin Ilham also asserted that this nation is indeed indebted to the word “jihad” and the cries of “Allahu Akbar”. Surabaya became a sea of fire by Bung Tomo’s cries of takbeer - ‘Allahu Akbar’, when he hysterically inflamed the spirit of jihad fie sabilillah on the sacrificing fighters for the independence of the people. They also had the motto of “Live Honorably or Die Shaheed” because they were also made up religious students, just mention the name of the famous General Soedirman.

Who are the real Terrorists?

In his lecture, Ustadz Abu Jibriel also asserted that the term or phrase “terrorism” had been used by America as an instrument of standard policy for beating and oppressing its oppositions from amongst the Muslims. The war against terrorism had become a new terror for the society, especially the Muslims who are carrying out da’wah and seeking to establish and implement the shari’ah in a comprehensive (kaafah) way.

As for Ustadz Arifin Ilham, he clarified that there is no connection between jihad and terrorism. According to him, it needs to be known that the crime of terrorism could also be done by a formal institution or state, or what is termed state terrorism.

The above point was supported by Ustadz Abu Jibriel that terror by a state had been carried out all this time by America. According to Ustadz Abu Jibriel, the American records of events are too many and long which could prove that America is The Real Terrorist. America with the support of its allies the NATO, managed to press the UN to embargo Iraq post the second Gulf War (1991). The Muslims became the victims, not less than 1.5 million people died. Not to mention those who are crippled by the bombardments of the multinational forces in the second Gulf War.

The same instances occurred in other countries of the Muslims such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. In fact, the case of the Muslim state of Palestine which was occupied since 1948 by Israel under the blessing of America and its allies, shows that America is really the genuine terrrorist. A series of terrors perpetrated by Israel on the Muslims of Palestine was never given a sanction. Obviously because Israel was nurtured and raised by America. America gives economic aids to Israel every year for not less than $ 3 Million US. This has not taken into account the military aids used for generating its politic of terror upon the Palestinian Muslim nation which is unarmed.

Lastly, in closing his lecture, Ustadz Abu Jibriel concluded that the terror and terrorism in the version of the international ruling (UN which represents America and other superpower states) is a war on Islam, and the Islamic ummah, especially the Muslims who wish to live in this world with full independence, with tawheed and to defend those people with tawheed, as well as to implement Islam in a comprehensive (kaafah) way.

Ustad Arifin Ilham in his conclusion also reaffirmed that the enemies of Islam are deliberately creating provocations by trying to show jihad as terrorism, so that the Muslims will hate and avoid it. He advised the Muslims to not fear of being jeered at or criticized just because of their endeavours to establish Islam, present the truth and to be confident of the promise of Allah in His verse:

"O ye who believe! if any from among you turn back from his Faith, soon will Allah produce a people whom He will love as they will love Him,- lowly with the believers, mighty against the rejecters, fighting in the way of Allah, and never afraid of the reproaches of such as find fault. That is the grace of Allah, which He will bestow on whom He pleaseth. And Allah encompasseth all, and He knoweth all things." (Qur'an, Al Maidah: 54)

Wallahu'alam bis Sowab!