Abu Mansoor al-Amriki (The American Mujahid in Somalia) - A Message to the Mujahideen in Particular & the Muslims in general
08-02-2008
In the
Name of Allaah the Most Beneficent the Most Merciful
From Abu Mansoor al-Amriki: To the beloved Mujahideen (in specific) and the
Muslims (in general)
All praise is due to Allaah who separated truth from falsehood and that which is
despicable from that which is pure. All praise is due to Allaah who caused the
filth to become removed and caused that which benefits mankind to remain in the
earth. All praise is due to Allah, alone, without partners, the One who sent the
messengers with the Shari’ah and the methodology; the One who made the path
leading to Him as a shining lamp; and the One who sent Muhammad to be a crown
for the messengers and creation; to clarify to them in order for them to know
the destroyed from the saved. May Allaah send His salaah upon him and his family
and his companions.
As for what follows:
I saw it very important in these recent days to clarify some facts that might be
unknown to many. In specific I am referring to that which relates to the
Islaamic Courts and the Shabaab.
It is well-know amongst the practicing Muslims of Somalia that these two groups
have a long history and they are not from the new groups that have come on the
scene. Rather, the founding officers of the Shabaab go back to the fall of Siad
Barre and the first battles with the Americans. However, more important than
establishing their presence from a long time is establishing the large and
essential difference between the two groups from the very beginning.
While the Courts used to judge over each individual tribe, the Shabaab were made
up of many different tribes and they used to cooperate with the Muhaajireen from
the outside. Also, while the Courts had a goal limited to the boundaries placed
by the Taaghoot, the Shabaab had a global goal including the establishment of
the Islaamic Khilaafah in all parts of the world. This difference did not go
away in the days of victory nor has it gone away even up until today. But rather
it has grown larger and clearer to everyone; including the stupid Kuffaar.
As for the days of victory, then it is known that the picture presented to the
world was the “moderate” picture of the Courts (as they describe them) and they
strived in that period to control the financial sources, the direction of the
Jihaad, and the foreign affairs. Despite these facts even the Kuffaar could see
something else behind the scenes. They publicized that there is an “extremist”
group (according to their description) lurking within the government of the
Courts. They were right on about most of this except for mistakenly believing
that the leader of this extremist group was Hasan Thaahir Uways.
Therefore, more deservingly, the Shabaab also knew about this reality and they
used to encounter many difficulties because of the policies of the Courts.
Similar to them were the Muhaahijreen who were welcomed at the airport by the
Islaamic Courts with terrible statements like: “We don’t need the Muhaajireen,”
and they tried to send them back; if it were not for a few of the Shabaab (like
Shaykh Fu’aad and Abu Talhah as-Sudaani) who saved many of these Muhaajireen at
the airport and tended to their affairs.
The situation remained like this until the defeat befell and some of the best of
the Shabaab became shuhadaa’. So due to that, many of these realities became
hidden to the new fighters who had witnessed the unity in the early days (which
was for the purpose of combining the strength of each group, to avoid fitnah in
accordance with ((Cooperate upon righteousness and piety and do not cooperate
upon sin and transgression)), and in order to judge by what Allaah revealed, as
all groups claimed to want) but they did not witness the hidden reality that was
lived by those who preceded them on this path.
Therefore, this matter was in need of clarification, without a doubt, but we did
not realize the seriousness of this need until after the conferences in Asmara.
These conferences invoked doubt
within us for several reasons:
The first: is that Eritrea has not ceased opposing the Mujahideen in
their land. So how could they want to help the Mujahideen in the neighbouring
lands? There is no doubt that they are not looking out for what is in our best
interest or what is in the best interests of the Jihad.
The second: is that Eritrea rooted out the Mujaahideen in their land due
to a very despicable trick on behalf of the Sudanese government. Namely, they
opened the door of politics in order for them to forget armed resistance which
is the true solution to the problems of the Ummah today. So here we have the
members of the Courts in the lands of the Kuffaar, underneath their control,
sitting in the road of politics which leads to the loss and defeat they were
running from.
The third: is that they chose a nationalistic look for these conferences.
The very name of their party indicates that this issue is strictly Somali,
leaving no room for interference from foreigners (as they call the Muhaajireen)
unless the interference comes from John, or Tom, or George! In that case such
interference is allowed! So, while they deny the presence of Muhaajireen in
Somalia (despite the fact that I was seen on al-Jazeerah in a Somali training
camp under the name of the Courts before realizing that the Manhaj had become
extremely distorted) and while they say that they are not in any need of
foreigners, their actions indicate that they ARE in need of the apostates from
‘Abdullaah Yusuf’s parliament and the original Kuffaar of Eritrea. Subhaan
Allaah! How have the scales of allegiance and enmity been flipped!
The fourth: is that they tried to steal the efforts of the Shabaab by
claiming that they are in control of the direction of the Jihad and the events
taking place on the ground from their hotels.
All of these affairs would have lead- if not for the proclamation of innocence
from these conferences on behalf of the Shabaab- to many problems:
The first is a lack of clarity of the issue for the Muslims on the outside (even
for those on the inside as we have seen from some of the fighters) who might aid
us with self, wealth, or supplication.
The second is a lack of a clear example to guide the Mujaahideen in the future.
We see that despite the fact that the Ikhwaan had a good example in Sayyid Qutub
and al-Mawdoodi –who both refused to accept entering into the kafir governments
as a solution- it seems that there is no other solution for the problems of the
Ummah, according to those who ascribe themselves to the Ikhwaan today, except
for the ballot box! So how would it have been if their beginning was
characterized by their exemplary figure compromising his principles and having
an unclear manhaj?
The third is that this matter will be unclear to the populace after coming to
power. If the Shabaab differ with the Courts after obtaining victory, the people
will see the Shabaab like the Khawaarij, or Jamaa’ah at-Takfeer, or benefit
seekers (similar to how they said that the Courts are just one tribe and they
didn’t really want to establish Shari’ah in the days of victory). This will lead
to many tribulations and a loss of previous gains.
The fourth is a lack of ability to control the direction of the Jihad because
the wealth and media is in their hands.
Therefore, due to this huge danger the Shabaab- may Allaah reward them-
announced that they are free of these conferences. At the same time the
Muhaajireen (who came to Somalia after the capture of Mogadishu in stages) also
felt the need to do this. In due course the Muhaajireen wrote a word of advice
to some of those in charge of the Courts regarding these matters. Then, after
learning that they will continue upon this dangerous path, the Muhaajireen
declared their innocence from the Courts alongside their brothers from the
Shabaab. Here now is their announcement that they are free of the deviant
leadership of the Courts before all of the Muslims. And to Allaah belongs the
praise.
This is in regards to what we have seen of the Courts. As for the Manhaj of the
Shabaab then we see that they are focused upon the pure manhaj which is adopted
by the Mujahideen in the rest of the blessed lands of Jihad. It is the same
manhaj repeatedly heard from the mouth of the Mujahid shaykh Usaamah bin Laden
(may Allaah preserve him). It is the same manhaj heard in the addresses of the
lion, the genius, the doctor Ayman ath-Thawaahiri (may Allaah preserve him) and
the one heard in the advices of the shaheed (in shaa’ Allaah), the hero, Abu
Mus’ab az-Zarqaawi (may Allaah have mercy on him). The list of the heroes of
this time goes on.
We stress here that we are striving to establish the Islaamic Khilaafah from
East to West after removing the occupier and killing the apostates. We will do
this while holding on to the Book and the Sunnah, upon the manhaj of the salaf,
with the mus-haf in one hand and the sword in the other, beneath the black
banners, by the will of Allaah. We do not care about the blame of the blamers or
the threats of scarce provision and we do not need doubtful finances. Rather,
Allaah is our Provider and our Protector. How great a Protector and how great a
Disposer of Affairs and He is the best of Providers!
Here is an
important point that must be made. Indeed this point is that it is befitting to
cooperate with any group from the Muslims (as long as they are truly Muslims)
whether the group is the Courts or otherwise. This must, of course, be in
accordance with the guidelines of the correct manhaj.
Finally, before closing this address of mine I would like to mention that there
has not ceased to be sincere people amongst the Islaamic Courts. I see them to
be sincere, but Allaah is the One who will truly bring them to account.
Therefore, these words do not mean that all of them want to destroy the religion
and betray the Somali Jihad. However, sometimes unmindful people require a harsh
reminder to wake them from their deep sleep.
I ask Allaah for sincerity in these words. Whatever they contain of truth then
it is from Allaah and whatever they contain of mistake is from me and the
Shaytaan.
May Allaah send peace and salaah upon the most noble of the prophets and the
messengers. The last of our calls is all praise is due to Allaah the Lord of the
Worlds.
Abu Mansoor al-Amriki
Somalia
The month of Muharram, day 1, year 1429 after the Prophetic Hijrah
Coinciding with (1/8/2008)
Submitted by a Mujahid