.
“Today we are truly trapped in the crisis of amal jama’i. How very difficult it is to find someone who obtains barakah by being composed in his obedience towards the Amir, serious and without much talk, remaining firm with the missions that had been programmed. Being cautious, rather quiet, while constantly training and is not influenced by the global situation until his goals are achieved. It is these kinds of characters that should be acquired by the Mujahideen and Ahluddeen today”. (Shaikh Abu Muhammad Al Maqdisy)

In a verse, Allah says:

"Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure." (Ash Shaff: 4)

In the verse above, Allah mentions about the importance of a jihad force that is organized and guided. In the various books of tafseer, it is mentioned that the meanings of the importance of a jihad force that is well coordinated can arise from two aspects;

First : The existence of the daleel (Islamic proof) from the Shar’i (legitimate in the eyes of the Shari`a) Nas (Text) itself.

Second : The demand resulting from the conditions of the Muslims that allows us to find reasons for the arrival Allah’s help i.e. strength, steadfastness and firmness.

The second aspects is present today because today the enemies of the Islamic ummah - whether it be a state or organization – are hell-bent and go all out in confronting the Muslims. They are truly equipping themselves with an organized and programmed forces, good and strong in terms of weaponry, media, personnels, etc.

On the contrary, not so few Muslims acted gracelessly when confronting the enemies. This can be easily seen when they are only using limited provisions, having weak preparations and full of haste, movements that are disunited and detached which ends up in the occurrence of fitnah and terrible destructions which includes the disappearance of truth from the communal life.

Why is that? Because the clumsiness in the various jihad acts precisely gave the thaghoot the opportunities to discredit the Shari’at of Islam and eliminate jihad from the brains of the Muslims, by way of arresting its (Islamic) activists, giving bad image to jihad and Mujahideen as well as by declaring that Islam is a despicable religion of terror.

Allah says:

“The Unbelievers are protectors, one of another: Unless ye do this, (protect each other), there would be tumult and oppression on earth, and great mischief.” (Al-Anfal: 73)

Jihad is an Amal Jama’i (Collective work)

Even though a lone jihad is also considered as an allowed jihad that could cause its executor to die Shaheed but it does not mean that we straight away neglect the management of a war that is controlled by one jama’ah [unified group].

As for the shar’i reason with regards to this issue, it is as what is enjoined in the verse above and that Allah has instructed the Muslims to prepare a force which is truly satisfactory, in order to create the feeling of fear upon the kafir and murtadeen.

Allah says:

“Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.” (Al Anfal: 60)

Based on the above verse, the entire Muslims have the DUTY to be responsible for acquiring the strength and to work hard towards achieving the material and spiritual victory, until the enemies, whether it be the kafir or munafiq, could be overawed.

As for the shar’i methods to achieve it, they are by; Al-Jama’ah, Good and Systematic Organizations, Well-arranged Plannings, Strong Leadership and Shar’i Loyalty. The five elements above are emergency in nature and are to be accomplished immediately in an i’dad (preparation for battle) that is in accordance with the Shar’ia.

Rasulullah SAW said in a hadith: “I declare obligatory upon you five things; Allah (SWT) has commanded me to do so. They are: jama'ah, listening, obeying, making Hijrah, and making Jihad for the cause of Allah.” (HR. Ahmad dan Tirmidzi)

Thus are the jama’iyah (collective) characters of the people from Tha’ifah Mansurah. They exist today, i.e. those who are conducting jihad in the era when there is no Khilafah until the Judgement Day approaches, i.e. when the entire souls of the Mu’meen are taken away by the fragrant wind from Yemen.

Those characters are like what had been mentioned in hadiths about their existence which are mutawatir (consecutive) in nature, meaning that it shows their existence and continuance until the end of times.

Rasulullah SAW said: "There will always be from my Ummah a party (Taifa) who will come forward defending the truth (Haq), will not be harmed by those who differ with them until the order of Allah comes and they are upon it." (HR. Muslim)

Dr. Abdullah Azzam said that Jihad is an Ibaadah Jama’iyyah which will not materialize except with existence of the jama’ah that confronts the jahiliyyah or kafir society. It is for that reason that jihad was not obligated in Makkah due to the weakness of the Muslims, the scant number of them and their inability to confront the jahiliyyah which relied upon the strength and number.

As long as the jihad is an ibaadah jama’iyyah, then one who handles this matter should be the Amirul Jama’ah, and he is the one who declares jihad. (I’lanul Jihad, Dr. Abdullah Azzam, page.8)

Therefore, is it logical if the Taifah Mansurah conducts the duty of jihad individually without the formation of jama’ah which is based on the principles of As Sam’u wat Tha’ah (listen and obey)? Let us check out the history of Rasulullah SAW and his sahabahs, when they still did not have the Daulah Islammiyah. Did they move in da’wah singly without the existence of a jama’ah and obedience to Rasulullah SAW, or did they move in a jama’ah that was organized and obedient to the Amir?

Rasulullah SAW said, “It should be that you adhere to Al Jama’ah and be warned against disunity because indeed Satan can chase an individual but he stands farther away from two people. Those who seek the joy of residing in Paradise must follow Al Jama’ah” (Hukmul Islam fi Ad Dimuqratiya waa Ta’adudiyyah Al Hizbiyyah: 174)

After explaining about one of the characters of Ath Thaifah Al Mansurah, Shaikh Abdul Mun’im Musthafa Halimah warned that even though jihad fie sabilillah is a fardhu ‘ain for every Muslim when there is no Khilafah, they should not conduct it individually.

Because jihad is an ibadah jama’i and it would cause danger if this amal jama’i is done individually. Due to this, the harakah jihadiyahs (jihad movements) must mutually conduct synergic coordination for the sake of implementing this obligation. (Shifatu Ath Tha’ifah Al Mansurah Allati Yujibu An tukatsira Sawadaha Shifat II: Al Jihad Fi Sabilillah)

Remain Patient in the Way of Allah

Indeed, jihad is the quickest way towards Jannah. Why not? The feeling of fear that trembles the breast of the Mujahideen in battles could shed off their sins and also the first drop of blood of a Mujahid who is sincere could truly erase all his sins without any exception.

However, in performing jihad fii sabilillah, we must also observe the real context on the ground and make sure that there is adequate level of capacity and that it is really rooted on the shar’i values and methods, as well as free from the urges of emotions only. Due to this, Ibnul Qayyim rohimahulloh wrote that there are at least 13 steps in 4 main parts in heading towards the true Jihad .

Therefore, we must be patient in treading along this path just as Allah says:

“How many of the prophets fought (in Allah's way), and with them (fought) Large bands of godly men? but they never lost heart if they met with disaster in Allah's way, nor did they weaken (in will) nor give in. And Allah Loves those who are firm and steadfast.” ( QS Ali Imron : 146 )

From this sublime verse, Allah Azza wa Jalla gives the criterion of sabr (patience) in three approaches i.e.:

1. Not mentally weak (in the sense of consistently enthusiastic).

2. Not lazy (meaning to continually perform good deeds. Because hardships and sacrifices have their values in Allah’s sight).

Allah says:

“And slacken not in following up the enemy: If ye are suffering hardships, they are suffering similar hardships; but ye have Hope from Allah, while they have none. And Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.” (An-Nisa: 104)

3. Not surrendering (which shows the firmness of the Mujahid’s attitude who only live up to the motto of “Live Honorably or Die Shaheed.”)

Allah says:

“Be not weary and faint-hearted, crying for peace, when ye should be uppermost: for Allah is with you, and will never put you in loss for your (good) deeds.” (Muhammad: 35)

Therefore we must be patient in the jama’ah in carrying out the da’wah, amar ma’ruf nahi mungkar and jihad universally for the sake of establishing the Shari’at of Islam on Allah’s earth.

It is obligatory for us to be patient when facing obstructive restrictions, when all mankind throw fitnah and discredit our activities of struggling for Islam in an amal jama’i for the sake of the establishment of Islamic Shari’ah with da’wah and jihad.

It is compulsory upon us to be patient when all mankind afflict sufferings. Because indeed, they are not able to afflict sufferings except by the permission of Allah and indeed the snare of iblis and his followers are very vain in front of a very devout Mujahid.

It is also necessary for us to be patient in battles especially when Allah has destined us to lunge into a war territory and be directly in confrontation with the enemies i.e. without retreating.

Allah says:

“O ye who believe! when ye meet the Unbelievers in hostile array, never turn your backs to them. If any do turn his back to them on such a day - unless it be in a stratagem of war, or to retreat to a troop (of his own)- he draws on himself the wrath of Allah, and his abode is Hell,- an evil refuge (indeed)!” (Al-Anfal: 15-16)

Be patient! Because indeed the character of the Tha’ifah Al Mansurah is to be patient in da’wah and jihad. Insha Allah, to be obedient in jama’ah is far more barakah (blessed) and would stand an easier chance for bringing forward the Nashrullahu Ta’ala (Allah's help).

Be patient! But at the same time do not be idle in struggling for Allah's religion for Allah does not like a Muslim who rests from struggling for His religion because the enemies of Allah i.e. syaitan and its followers never rest from struggling to destroy Islam.