A Call to the Armies: Respond to that which Gives you Life!

O soldiers, commanders, and generals. My brothers in Islam:

I write this letter appealing to your chivalry, dignity, and honour. I write this appealing to your bravery, courage, and strength. I write this appealing to your Iman in Allah (swt), Muhammad (saw), the Quran, the Sunnah and the Akhirah.

O soldiers, commanders and generals, haven’t you heard the words of Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi when he witnessed the occupation of Al Aqsa by the occupying Crusaders?

“How can I smile and how can food and water taste good to me when Masjid Al Aqsa is in the hands of the Crusaders?!”

Those were the words he uttered. Why? Because he witnessed the desecration of our Third Holy Mosque and the blessed land, the spilling of sacred Muslim blood and the tyranny of crusader occupation. This sensation, charged with an unwavering Iman, drove him to one of the greatest victories documented in human history.

My brothers, do you not sense what we are sensing?

• Did you not watch over 6000 bombs dropped within a day killing over 2500 men, women, and children?

• Did you not watch as the bombs caused over 10,000 casualties?

• Did you not watch a million Gazans being targeted as they fled from the shelling zones?

• Did you not watch mothers carry their own children from the rubble?

• Did you not watch fathers bury their own children?

• Did you not watch children console each other over their deceased parents’ bodies?

• Did you not watch infants crying and screaming from the white phosphorous burning them alive?

• Did you not see as the Zionists desecrated the bodies of your Ummah?

• Did you not see as the Zionists declared the annihilation of Gaza?

• Did you not see as the Western World and its armies prepared to support the Zionists?

• Did you not see as the Gazans called upon you for help?

• Did you not see as the Gazans called upon you for liberation?

• Did you not see as the people of Palestine called upon you for liberation?

• Did you not see as the Gazans called upon you to end their tyranny and oppression?

We know you’ve been watching. But.

We flocked to the streets to demonstrate, but you did not run to the battlefield to liberate.
We screamed and shouted for someone to help Gaza, but you remained in your barracks.

We raised our hands in Dua, and so did you. Insha’Allah ours is accepted, but knowing that you have the capability to liberate the Blessed Land of Palestine, do you think your Dua is accepted?

By Allah, why aren’t you doing anything?!

Tell me...

Do you not believe that Palestine concerns you?

Allah (swt) has made Palestine part of your Iman:

[سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَـٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ]

“Glory be to the One Who took His servant ˹Muḥammad˺ by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Aqsa Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [TMQ Al Isra, 17:1].

Do you believe that it’s only a Palestinian issue?

By virtue of being Muslim, the occupation is your issue:

[وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍۢ]

“The believing men and believing women are allies of one another.” [TMQ At Tawbah, 9:71]. The Prophet (saw) said,

«إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ كَالْبُنْيَانِ، يَشُدُّ بَعْضُهُ بَعْضًا»‏‏.‏ وَشَبَّكَ أَصَابِعَه

“A faithful believer to a faithful believer is like the bricks of a wall, enforcing each other.” While (saying that) the Prophet (saw) clasped his hands, by interlacing his fingers. [Sahih al-Bukhari 481, Book 8, Hadith 128]
Do you fear the enemy?

Allah (swt) tells you that the enemy is weak:

[لَا يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ جَمِيعًا إِلَّا فِى قُرًۭى مُّحَصَّنَةٍ أَوْ مِن وَرَآءِ جُدُرٍۭ بَأْسُهُم بَيْنَهُمْ شَدِيدٌۭ تَحْسَبُهُمْ جَمِيعًۭا وَقُلُوبُهُمْ شَتَّى ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌۭ لَّا يَعْقِلُونَ]

“They will not fight you all except within fortified cities or from behind walls. Their violence [i.e., enmity] among themselves is severe. You think they are together, but their hearts are diverse. That is because they are a people who do not reason.” [TMQ Al-Hashr, 59:14].

[لَن يَضُرُّوكُمْ إِلَّآ أَذًۭى وَإِن يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمْ يُوَلُّوكُمُ ٱلْأَدْبَارَ ثُمَّ لَا يُنصَرُونَ]

“They shall never (be able to) cause you any harm except a little hurt. And if they fight you, they will turn their backs on you, then they shall not be helped.” [TMQ Aal-i Imran, 3:111].

[ضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلذِّلَّةُ أَيْنَ مَا ثُقِفُوٓا]“They have been put under humiliation [by Allāh] wherever they are overtaken” [TMQ Aal-i Imran, 3:112]

Do you fear death?

If so, your Ajal (life span) is fixed, but how you die is a matter of honour or humiliation. For men in uniform, who believe in Allah, defeating the enemy or dying on the battlefield is victory. Haven’t you read in the Quran where Allah says:

[اِنَّ اللّٰهَ اشۡتَرٰى مِنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ اَنۡفُسَهُمۡ وَاَمۡوَالَهُمۡ بِاَنَّ لَهُمُ الۡجَـنَّةَ ؕ يُقَاتِلُوۡنَ فِىۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ فَيَقۡتُلُوۡنَ وَيُقۡتَلُوۡنَ]

“Indeed, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their wealth and in return has promised that they shall have Paradise. They fight in the Way of Allah, slaying and being slain.” [TMQ Surah At-Tawbah, 9:111].

Haven’t you read the Hadith where Muhammad (saw):

«مَنْ مَاتَ وَلَمْ يَغْزُ وَلَمْ يُحَدِّثْ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ مَاتَ عَلَى شُعْبَةٍ مِنْ نِفَاقٍ»

“The one who died but did not fight in the way of Allah nor did he express any desire (or determination) for Jihad died the death of a hypocrite.” [Sahih Muslim 1910, Book 33, Hadith 226]. And when he (saw) said:

«ما أحد يدخل الجنة يحب أن يرجع إلى الدنيا وله ما على الأرض من شيء إلا الشهيد، يتمنى أن يرجع إلى الدنيا فيقتل عشر مرات لما يرى من الكرامة»

“No one who has entered Jannah will desire to return to this world even if he should be given all that the world contains, except a martyr. For he will yearn that he should return to the world and be killed ten times on account of the dignity that he will experience by virtue of his martyrdom.” [Riyad As-Salihin 1311, Bukhari and Muslim].

O soldiers, commanders, and generals. My brothers in Islam.

When Allah (swt) and His Messenger (saw) command you to perform an action, nobody nor anything has the right to come between you and Allah and His Messenger (saw). Allah (swt) says:

[وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍۢ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلًۭا مُّبِينًۭا]

“It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allāh and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allāh and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.” [TMQ Al Ahzab, 33:36].

Therefore, it is Haram to follow orders to stay put, and should you continue to obey these orders, know that you are committing a major sin against Allah!

Muhammad (saw) said:

«لَا طَاعَةَ لِمَخْلُوقٍ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ الْخَالِقِ» “A creature is not to be obeyed when it involves disobedience to the "Creator.” [Ahmad, Tabarani, Mishkat al-Masabih 3696, Book 18, Hadith 36]

Do you think that the rulers, and top generals, who are in bed with the Zionists and the West will defend you in front of Allah on Qiyamah for your inaction? Have you not read where Allah (swt) says:

[يَوْمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ يَقُولُونَ يَا لَيْتَنَا أَطَعْنَا اللهَ وَأَطَعْنَا الرَّسُولَا * وَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّا أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَاءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا السَّبِيلَا]

“On That Day their faces will be turned about in the Fire, they will say, "How we wish we had obeyed Allāh and obeyed the Messenger. And they will say, "Our Lord, indeed we obeyed our masters and our dignitaries, and they led us astray from the [right] way” [TMQ Al Ahzab,33:68].

They are slaves to the West and Zionism. In fact, they are no different to them! Allah (swt) says:

[وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمۡ فَإِنَّهُ مِنۡہُمۡ] “Anyone who takes them as an ally becomes one of them.” [TMQ Al Ma’idah,5:51].

So. Break away from them. Distance yourself from them! They are traitors to Allah and His Messenger (saw). They read the Ayaat prohibiting taking the enemies of Allah as allies yet chose to ignore them and ally with them! Allah says about them:

[صُمٌّۢ بُكْمٌ عُمْىٌۭ فَهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ] “They are deaf, dumb and blind. They will never return to the Right Path” [TMQ Al Baqarah, 2:18].

It is only a sincere Khalifah, a sincere leader, who obeys Allah and His Messenger (saw), who has the political will and how is equipped with Iman, that will send you to liberate Palestine! Muhammad (saw) said:

«إِنَّمَا الْإِمَامُ جُنَّةٌ يُقَاتَلُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ وَيُتَّقَى بِهِ فَإِنْ أَمَرَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَعَدَلَ كَانَ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ أَجْرٌ وَإِنْ يَأْمُرْ بِغَيْرِهِ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْهُ»

“Verily, the leader is only a shield behind whom they fight, and he protects them. If he commands the fear of Allah Almighty and justice, he will have a reward. If he commands something else, it will be held against him.” [Sahih Muslim 1841]

O soldiers, commanders, and generals. My brothers in Islam:

Jihad is your obligation. You are the capable and competent amongst the Ummah. You are the warriors equipped for this task. It is your duty to remove the Munkar that is the Zionist occupation, with your hands. By Allah, hating what’s happening in Palestine within your heart does not apply to you. It is the Ayaat and Ahadith of performing Jihad that apply to you! Allah (swt) says:

[يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يَلُونَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْكُفَّارِ وَلْيَجِدُوا۟ فِيكُمْ غِلْظَةًۭ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ]

“O you who believe, fight those disbelievers who are near you, and let them find severity in you. And be sure that Allah is with the God-fearing.” [TMQ At Tawbah, 9:123].

Allah commands you to move! He (swt) says:

[وَإِنِ اسْتَنْصَرُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ فَعَلَيْكُمُ النَّصْرُ] “And if they seek help of you for the religion, then you must help” [TMQ Al Anfal, 8:72].

Allah commands you to save the oppressed Muslims of Gaza!

He (swt) says:

[وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاءِ وَالْوِلْدَانِ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ الظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَاجْعَلْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ وَلِيّاً وَاجْعَلْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ نَصِيراً]

“And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allāh and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, "Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper" [TMQ An-Nisa,4:75].

Allah warns you of a severe punishment for not fulfilling your duty! He (swt) says:

[إِلَّا تَنفِرُوا۟ يُعَذِّبْكُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًۭا وَيَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّوهُ شَيْـًۭٔا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ]

“If you do not go forth, He will punish you with a painful punishment and will replace you with another people, and you will not harm Him at all. And Allāh is over all things competent” [TMQ At Tawbah, 9:39].

My brothers!

You know full well that numbers don’t matter. Iman does!

You know full well that firepower doesn’t matter. Iman does!

You know full well that this Dunya doesn’t matter. The Akhirah does!

You know full well that if you win, 2 billion Muslims win!

You know full that if you If you die, you go to Jannah!

You know full well that if you support the cause of Allah, nothing can stand in your way!

Hayya ‘Alal Jihad! Hayya ‘Alal Jihad!

Allah is on your side! What more do you want?! No one can defeat you! Allah (swt) says:

[يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن تَنصُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ يَنصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ] “O believers! If you stand up for Allah, He will help you and make your steps firm” [TMQ Muhammad, 47:6]. And He (swt) says:

[إِن يَنصُرْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَنصُرُكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ ۗ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ] “If Allāh should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allāh let the believers rely.” [TMQ Aal-i Imran,3:160].

Look at the reward that awaits you! Muhammad (saw) said:

«لاَ يَجْتَمِعُ غُبَارٌ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَدُخَانُ جَهَنَّمَ فِي جَوْفِ عَبْدٍ مُسْلِمٍ» “The dust (of Jihad) in the cause of Allah and the smoke of Hell will never be combined in the interior of a Muslim.” [Ibn Majah 2774, Book 24, Hadith 22]

My brothers, Victory comes through your hands! Allah (swt) says: [وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ] “And verily it will be Our army (of chosen servants) that prevails” [As Saaffaat, 37:173].

O soldiers, commanders, and generals. My brothers in Islam:

When Allah (swt) and His Messenger (saw) promise us something, it is bound to happen.

[وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱللَّهُ وَعْدَهُۥ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ] “This is Allah's promise and He does not go back on His promise. But most people do not know” [TMQ Ar Rum, 30:6].

Don’t you know Allah promised us victory?!

[نَصْرٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَفَتْحٌۭ قَرِيبٌۭ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ]

“Support from Allah and a victory that will come soon. Give glad tidings of this to the believers” TMQ As Saff, 61:13].

Don’t you know that the stones of Gaza will fight on your side?! Muhammad (saw) said:

«لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى تُقَاتِلُوا الْيَهُودَ حَتَّى يَقُولَ الْحَجَرُ وَرَاءَهُ الْيَهُودِيُّ يَا مُسْلِمُ، هَذَا يَهُودِيٌّ وَرَائِي فَاقْتُلْهُ»

“The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him.” [Bukhari 2926,Book 56, Hadith 139].

Don’t you know that Palestine will be liberated and become the capital of the Khilafah?

«هَذَا الأَمْرُ كَائِنٌ بَعْدِي بِالْمَدِينَةِ، ثُمَّ بِالشَّامِ، ثُمَّ بِالْجَزِيرَةِ، ثُمَّ بِالْعِرَاقِ، ثُمَّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ، ثُمَّ بِبَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ، فَإِذَا كَانَ بِبَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ فَثَمَّ عُقْرُ دَارِهَا، وَلَنْ يُخْرِجَهَا قَوْمٌ فَتَعُودَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَبَدًا»

“This matter (Khilafah) will continue after me in Al- Madina, then (move to) Al-Shaam, then to the peninsula, then to Iraq, then to the city (Constantinople), then to Bait-ul-Maqdis. So if it reaches Bait-ul-Maqdis, then it would have reached its (natural resting place); and no people who remove it (i.e. the capital of the Khilafah) from their land will ever get it back again (for them to be the capital again).” [Ibn Asakir, 368]

It's promised. It will happen. You just need to make it happen!

My brothers,

Take heed, do not become deaf to the commands of Allah and His Messenger (saw):

[يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَوَلَّوْا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَنتُمْ تَسْمَعُونَ... وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ]

“O you who believe, obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not turn away from Him while you are listening. And do not be like those who say, "We have heard," while they do not hear” [TMQ Al Anfal, 8:20-21].

Should you choose to ignore the call, then know you are the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah!

[إِنَّ شَرَّ ٱلدَّوَآبِّ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلصُّمُّ ٱلْبُكْمُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ]

“Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allāh are the deaf and dumb who do not use reason” [TMQ Al Anfal, 8:22].

Should you continue to turn a blind eye, we will never forget your treachery. History will bear witness to your cowardice and Allah is my witness:

[وَإِنْ تَتَوَلَّوْا يَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْماً غَيْرَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونُوا ‌أَمْثَالَكُمْ]

“And if you turn away [i.e., refuse], He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you” [TMQ Muhammad 47:38].

O soldiers, commanders, and generals. My brothers in Islam:

We are with you.

The Ummah is with you.

Allah’s is with you.

Hayya ‘Alal Jihad.

Answer the call of Allah and you will win in the Dunya and the Akhirah.

[يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ ٱلْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِۦ وَأَنَّهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ]

“O you who have believed, respond to Allāh and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allāh intervenes between a man and his heart and that to Him you will be gathered” [TMQ Al Anfal, 8:24]

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Saifudeen Taha