A Speech by the Sheikh Abu Muhammad al-Joulani, entitled

 

“Victory from Allah, and a near conquest”

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful

Al-Manaara al-Beydah presents a speech by the Sheikh, al-Fatih, Abu Muhammad al-Joulani, may Allah protect him, entitled “Victory from Allah, and a near conquest”

“Oh you who believe! Shall I guide you to a commerce that will save you from a painful torment? That you believe in Allah and his Messenger and that you strive hard and fight in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That will be better for you, if you but know! He will forgive you your sins, and admit you into gardens under which rivers flow, and pleasant dwellings in the Gardens of ‘Adn, that is indeed the great success. And (he will give you) another (blessing) which you love – victory from Allah and a near conquest, and give glad tidings to the believers. (surat as-Saff 61:10-13)

All praise is to Allah, the one who gave victory to his servant, and honored his soldiers, and defeated the confederates single handedly, and may peace and blessings be upon the one after whom there is no Prophet, and upon his family and his companions. To proceed…

The Truth (Allah), in his superior majesty said; “Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that he will certainly grant them succession in the earth, as he granted it to those before them, and that he will grant them the authority to practice their religion. And he will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they worship me and do not associate anything (in worship) with me. (surat an-Nur 24:55)

We congratulate the Islamic Nation for the great victory achieved at the hands of her sons, the mujahideen, in the honorable city of Idlib. Likewise, we congratulate the mujahideen for their great unification, discipline and organization of this blessed battle. We value and appreciate all who participated. Militarily, from among the commanders and soldiers, administrators, reporters, medical centers and factory workers. We ask Allah to have mercy upon those martyred in this battle, and we mention specifically the Sheikh Abu JameelQutb, Abu Abdullah an-Najdi, Abu al-Bara and Abu Hafs the two Egyptians and Abu al-Wafa al-Ansari. As well as the rest of those who defended this (Islamic) Nation with their blood and we ask Allah, the Mighty and Majestic to accept from them, and we give them good tidings that their blood was not spilled in vain, and will not be, by the permission of Allah.

“Our love of death brings our appointed time closer to us, and they (the disbelievers) hate their appointed time (of death) so there lives become long“ (poetry)

As we salute the actions of our family in the city of Idlib and their standing by their sons the mujahideen and their profuse reception of the mujahideen. And we promise them that they will not see from their sons except the best manners and good social relations, and they will be delighted by Allahs permission with the justice of Allah’s Sharia’. That which protects their religion, their blood, their sanctities, and their wealth. That which protects their honor and dignity, and restricts the oppressor and those who transgress against them. That which watches over their security and establishes consultation (ash-Shurah) and strives for the rights of the poor, and establishes justice between them.

Oh you muslims! Verily, the wind of victory that has blown on the Levant proves for all that striving behind the west and the surrounding nations to give them victory is striving behind a mirage. For verily, victory and the honor of Islam will not return by the hands of criminal murderers as it will not return by the hands of the clients of the west. Those who have not failed to stab us in the back in order to gain the pleasure of the Americans. Rather, victory only descends by following the command of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, and the gathering of the Muslims around the truthful mujahideen. The truthful mujahideen, they are the strong foundation of the (Islamic) Nation, that which does not weaken or surrender, by the permission of Allah.

Verily, victory descends with the unification of the people of Sunnah, for verily, if they unite they will become strong, like a fortified building, and will forget what was previously between them of malice, and the hearts will unite upon “There is no object worthy of worship except Allah”

The victory that Allah bestowed upon us in the city of Idlib must be preserved. The mission of preserving what has been gained through victory is much harder than achieving victory.

For verily our enemies and those who lie in wait for us are gambling over our disagreements, problems that occur in organization, and waiting for us to fail after being victorious.

As such, this matter must be carefully considered, and any causes of separation, disagreement and error must be repelled after victory to ensure the happiness of the muslims.

As such, we as Jabhat an-Nusra confirm it is not our goal to rule or monopolize the city with the exclusion of others. Rather, our concern is for the city to be in trustworthy hands who establish therein justice, crush oppression, rule with the rule of Allah and establish consultation (ash-Shurah)

For truly consultation (ash-Shurah) is the best system. A ruling Allah has ordained for us. Consultation (ash-Shurah) is the surest opinion, protecting the people until Allah guides them to the best and most correct opinion.

As we point to the importance of preserving the positions and public services and their maintenance for the benefit of the muslims. Additionally, those employed in the public service sector such as health services, electricity, water, bakeries, communications and cleaning services should be called to return to their positions and continue their work.

Advantage should be taken of the executives and work force inside the city, and people should be treated according to their positions with the consideration that the people of Idlib are our family who have the right of brotherhood and support.

A supervisory committee should be formed by the different groups to assess the condition of those workers and carry out their requirements in what will help them in conducting their duties to the best of their ability, and take them into account if they fall short in that.

We stress the importance of establishing a Sharia’ court as quick as possible to judge between the people to solve any disagreements between them.

It is upon all civilians to raise their complaints and mistreatment to this court even if these are rights from decades before, because rights do not fade with the passing of time.

We call the groups of “Jaish al-Fath” not to disband after being united and to remain harsh against their enemies and merciful amongst themselves, gathering their strength to support Islam and the muslims and keep moving forward with the blessings of Allah.

Remain constant oh soldiers of Islam, in vanquishing your enemies! For verily, your families are besieged in Damascus, her countryside and in Homs and Aleppo. They are waiting for your help so do not forsake them.

And we say to our families from amongst those besieged and those displaced, have patience oh beloved ones! For verily, those better than us were also besieged and hungered, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his companions.

They were besieged in the valley of BaniHashim for 3 years until one of them could barely find food to eat, and they are the best of creation. And the muslims emigrated to al-Habasha (Ethiopia), fleeing from the punishment that the people of Quraish inflicted upon them.

The people of Islam suffered through bitterness in their battle with the disbelievers of Quraish. Then Islam spread throughout the world and the most powerful nations submitted to Islam. Allah wanted to raise this people so he tested them and their patience. Therefore, if you are patient in this war I swear by Allah that Allah will grant you victory and you will restore the honor and glory of Islam.

Verily, the Muslim people are watching for your patience and steadfastness because your victory is a historical change for the benefit of Islam and the Muslims. However, if you lose strength and despair at the years of war, then I swear by my life you will taste unbearable humiliation and you will be faced with hardship harsher than what you are facing now. However, there is no humiliation for a people who wage Jihad, and are patient in performing their Jihad, and strive to gain victory over the oppressor and free themselves from his subjection.

For Verily, the victory comes with patience. For among the people are those who Satan mislead and who were mislead by the whisperings of conciliations (with the Regime). For what we have known from between truth and falsehood is naught but falsehood. The truth does not compromise in the slightest except that it ceases to be truth. These ordeals reveal the nature of people, what they possess of good and evil. We must remain steadfast on this path and have patience through the hardships of jihad, for it is only an hour of patience before you will see the siege being lifted, the emigrants returning from their places of emigration, the happiness of children, the smiles on the faces of the orphans, widows and those bereaved, the breaking of the chains of the prisoners, and the Levant will be freed from the noose of the tyrants to the honor of this life and the hereafter, with Allah’s will.

Oh soldiers of Islam! I am to you an advisor so listen! Verily, Allah has sent us to perform jihad in his path and his book has remained with us, that which Allah guided his Prophet through, so if you hold firmly to it you will be guided as the Prophet was.

Thus, we defend the religion of the muslims, and their blood, their sanctities and their wealth. We exact justice between them and spread between them every virtue, and defend them from every vice. We command the good and forbid the evil. We cannot be negligent in any of these necessities because these are the aims of our jihad.

For the people who carry this heavy trust, they must embody the most noble character, that which the Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sent to complete, from truthfulness to keeping promises and covenants. A people dressed in magnanimity, who honor their parents and do not disrespect them, and choose the best for their wives and children, because verily, the best of you is he who is best to his family.

Know that war has an appropriate character, he who grasps firmly to it will be victorious, and that good character is constant in Islam in time of peace and time of war, and he has failed who wins the war but loses his good character. War does not allow anything of bad character such as lying, treachery and betrayal, even if the enemy sees this as permissible.

Verily, filth is not strength and virtue is not weakness. We are only callers to guidance and we are not oppressors or tax collectors. Verily, the greatest victory is that which comes at the least expense, for our goal is not to send the Muslims to their destruction, and it is not the goal of the mujahideen to be harsh or arrogant toward the Muslims in the land. If they were to achieve victory with such harshness and arrogance then the Muslims would not accept their call to guidance or enter under their authority except unwillingly and with spiteful hearts and then they (the mujahideen) would never be successful.

Verily, we have only come out to call to Islam and to wage jihad, to remove the servants from the constraint of this life to the vastness of this life and the hereafter. Verily, Allah is looking at our hearts and so he will not give us victory except if our intentions are sincere. And so, reverence of the mujahideen and the leaders (of jihad) cannot be achieved due to peoples fear of them, but rather by providing them with security and protecting them from oppression. By restoring the rights of the weak, so the strong will be afraid (to commit oppression) and the weak will be secure. Subsequently, the people will gather around the mujahideen rather than against them, and they will protect the strength of the mujahideen in order to enjoy their protection. Without this, both the mujahideen and civilians will be lost.

Verily, the deceived one is whose deeds have deceived him so he sees them as a favor to his people, so his reward was lost.

“Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury, and Allah is free of need and Forbearing (Surat al-Baqarah 2:263)

Good speech and the raising of banners without action is not pleasing to Allah or to the muslims. Thus, the caller is known by his deeds, and no caller will be left to call that he is upon good except that Allah will test him, so his actions will either prove or disprove the truthfulness of his call. We do not open the hearts of the people to see what they contain and we do not commend ourselves above others. Mankind is from Adam and Adam is from dust. We do not judge the people without clear evidence. Allah did not decree infallibility for anyone after the Prophets and so there are those who make mistakes although their intentions are pure, and there are those who speak the truth but desire falsehood, and we would not be deviating from the truth if we accuse the one who speaks such.

We are more deserving of the truth and wisdom is the aim of the believer wherever he finds it he is more deserving of it. The people have wronged the mujahideen if they thought them infallible, and if some from among the mujahideen made mistakes, the slanderers gather around this to slander the religion and the jihad itself.

Oh you mujahideen! Verily, Allah supports you with strength and might that you may frighten the strong oppressor, so you should have soft hearts in which the weak find shelter and the poor can lean upon. Verily, the weapons which you have carried, only Allah has granted you them to support the oppressed and to stand in the face of the oppressor, so who uses them for other gains has failed and lost both this life and the hereafter. So be weary oh muslim soldiers, of disagreement that will not allow you to enjoy your victories, and not allow you to be pleased during defeats, because these disagreements are without doubt futile and a distraction from the truth so remain above them. And oh you Leaders of the mujahideen! Do not restrict your work to the front lines and organizing the battalions and fighting, then if the fighting ends your work ends. Verily, the people have a right upon you. The right of the emigrants, the homeless, the wounded, the widows, orphans, bereaved and the hungry. Strive to help the people with their needs to the best of your ability. Spend time with those afflicted with troubles that you may feel their misery, for how awful is the one entrusted with the affairs of the Muslims who does not think forward beyond his time of service and doesn’t care about the future. So we today are paving the way for the honor of Islam and its glory, and erecting its tower to remain through our era and the era of those after us, firm and strong toward what Allah wills. And let not a leader be concerned during the time of war about who will rule after the victory, because sovereignty belongs to Allah and he bestows it upon whom he wills.

“Say oh Allah, Owner of Sovereignty, you give sovereignty to whom you will and you take sovereignty away from whom you will. You honor whom you will and you humble whom you will. In your hand is all good. Indeed, you have power over all things. (surataal Imran 3:26)

Therefore, remember your weakness oh soldiers of Islam!

“And remember when you were few and oppressed in the land, fearing that people might abduct you, but he sheltered you, supported you with his victory and provided you with good things that you might be grateful” (al-Anfal 8:26)

Contemplate oh soldiers of Islam! Before a few short years when none of you could protect himself from harm nor possessed the means to defend himself, and here you are today after a few short years! You have become a force that cannot be underestimated, and Allah has blessed you with conquest and victory. The towers, mansions and barracks of your opponents have fallen before you! That is the grace of Allah alone, so remain constant in the remembrance of Allah. Remember his blessings and grace upon you, nourish yourselves on humbleness before Allah, and ask Allah for sincerity and acceptance.

“And Allah has already made you victorious at the Battle of Badr while you were few in number, so Fear Allah that perhaps you may be grateful”

And our last prayer is all praise to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and may the peace, blessings and mercy of Allah be upon you