The Awaited Heroes of the Armed Forces

The Ummah today is numbed by grief at the wounds inflicted upon its body. Muslims are clearly unshielded, despite collectively possessing the world's largest armed forces, whose combined troops numbers reach millions. Grieving Muslims cry until their eyes become red at the plight of the Muslims of Myanmar, where hundreds of Muslims were killed within weeks, including women, children, and infants, and dozens of women were dishonored by the hateful mushrik Myanmar troops. The Muslims' tears run dry when they then consider the brutal attacks by the Hindu State upon the Muslims of Occupied Kashmir, dozens of whom have been martyred since July and hundreds of whom have suffered eye injuries through metal pellets, with many blinded. And the Muslims are only left with blood to cry with, when they hear of the Muslims of Aleppo, Syria where the forces of the tyrant Bashar, assisted by the Americans and Russians, have used toxic chlorine gas that suffocates to death and white phosphorus that burns away flesh to the bones, seeping into the blood to poison the vital organs. It must be asked in such a dire situation, who else should the Ummah turn to for her rescue but her armed forces?

Indeed, it is high time that the cries of the Ummah are heeded by the heroes from within the armed forces. The awaited heroes are those who will come forward in the Ummah's hour of greatest need to uproot the current rulers, who have chained the armed forces to their barracks, releasing them only when the Western colonialists demand. These awaited heroes are those who will grant the Nussrah for the re-establishment of the Khilafah "Caliphate" (Caliphate) on the Method of the Prophethood, so that the armed forces will be mobilized for the rescue of the oppressed and liberation of the occupied lands, Allah (swt) says,

(وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنْ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاءِ وَالْوِلْدَانِ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ الظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَاجْعَل لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ وَلِيًّا وَاجْعَل لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ نَصِيرًا)

“And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah 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?” [Surah an-Nisaa 4:75].

These heroes are the ones who will have raised themselves above the corrupting environments molded by the treacherous rulers, who are deaf to the cries of the Ummah. These corrupting environments are based on the pursuit of worldly possessions, status and the low feelings of nationalism and patriotism. However, the awaited heroes are the ones who will turn away from the worldly splendor that is offered to them by the current corrupt rulers, a bribe for inaction and sharing in their sin and neglect, for the true heroes of the Ummah are mindful of the saying of Allah (swt),

(وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ)

“And strain not your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them, the splendor of the life of this world, that We may test them thereby. But the provision (good reward in the Hereafter) of your Lord is better and more lasting.” [Surah Ta Ha 20:131]

The awaited heroes are the ones who will have considered carefully the situation of the most beloved of all humankind to them, RasulAllah (saaw), about whom it is narrated in Bukhari about the incident when 'Umar bin Al-Khattab entered upon the Messenger of Allah while he was in a small room, lying down upon a straw mat,

فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْتُ فِيهِ شَيْئًا يَرُدُّ الْبَصَرَ غَيْرَ أَهَبَةٍ ثَلاَثَةٍ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ ادْعُ اللَّهَ فَلْيُوَسِّعْ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ، فَإِنَّ فَارِسَ وَالرُّومَ وُسِّعَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأُعْطُوا الدُّنْيَا، وَهُمْ لاَ يَعْبُدُونَ اللَّهَ، وَكَانَ مُتَّكِئًا‏.‏ فَقَالَ «أَوَفِي شَكٍّ أَنْتَ يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ أُولَئِكَ قَوْمٌ عُجِّلَتْ لَهُمْ طَيِّبَاتُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا»‏‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اسْتَغْفِرْ لِي‏

“When I saw him smiling, I sat down and cast a glance at the room, and by Allah, I couldn't see anything of importance but three hides. I said (to Allah's Messenger (saaw)) "Invoke Allah to make your followers prosperous for the Persians and the Byzantines have been made prosperous and given worldly luxuries, though they do not worship Allah?' The Prophet (saw) was leaning then (and on hearing my speech he sat straight) and said, “O Ibn Al-Khattab! Do you have any doubt (that the Hereafter is better than this world)? These people have been given rewards of their good deeds in this world only.” I asked the Prophet (saaw). 'Please ask Allah's forgiveness for me.”

Yes, it is true, the awaited heroes are mindful that they are deserving of material reward for performing the duty of Jihad, for RasulAllah (saaw) said,

«لِلْغَازِي أَجْرُهُ، وَلِلْجَاعِلِ أَجْرُهُ وَأَجْرُ الْغَازِي»

“Al Ghazi has his own wage and al Ja’il has his own wage and the wage of the Al Ghazi.” [Abu Dawood]

However, it is not the material compensation that makes the true heroes restless at the oppression of Muslims driving them to answer the call of the unprotected with fire and steel. What motivates them is the huge reward that Allah (swt) has promised those who fight in the way of Allah (swt). Indeed, the awaited heroes are those who seek to trade their lives and properties for Jannah, for Allah (swt) said,

(إِنَّ اللَّهَ اشْتَرَى مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَلَهُمْ بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الّجَنَّةَ يُقَـتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْءانِ وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَاسْتَبْشِرُواْ بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِى بَايَعْتُمْ بِهِ وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ)

“Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties for (the price) that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah's cause, so they kill and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Tawrah and the Injil and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success.” [Surah At-Tawba 9:111]

The awaited heroes are the ones who do not consider martyrdom as a loss, but as the greatest of prizes for RasulAllah (saaw) said,

«تَكَفَّلَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ جَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ، لاَ يُخْرِجُهُ إِلاَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِهِ وَتَصْدِيقُ كَلِمَاتِهِ، بِأَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ، أَوْ يَرْجِعَهُ إِلَى مَسْكَنِهِ الَّذِي خَرَجَ مِنْهُ ‏{‏مَعَ مَا نَالَ‏}‏ مِنْ أَجْرٍ أَوْ غَنِيمَةٍ»

“Allah guarantees him who strives in His Cause and whose motivation for going out is nothing but Jihad in His Cause and belief in His Word, that He will admit him into Paradise (if martyred) or bring him back to his dwelling place, whence he has come out, with what he gains of reward and booty.” [Bukhari]

The awaited heroes are the ones who know that Paradise is not sought in the comforts of life, but in the blood and sweat within warfare for RasulAllah (saaw)

«وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ تَحْتَ ظِلاَلِ السُّيُوفِ» “Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords.” [Bukhari]

Indeed, the awaited heroes are those whose hearts are filled with the yearning to worship Allah (swt) in the best manner possible. Their minds are filled with the realization that being in the armed forces is a golden opportunity for the one who seeks to please Allah (swt). They are aware that fighting in the way of Allah (swt) is worth more than an entire lifetime of worship for RasulAllah (saaw) said,

«مَقَامُ الرَّجُلِ فِي الصَّفِّ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ الرَّجُلِ سِتِّينَ سَنَةً»

“The place of a man in the lines (fighting) in the Cause of Allah is better to Allah than sixty years of his worship.” [Al-Hakim]

They are mindful that fighting in the way of Allah (swt), not knowing whether they will ever return to the comfort of their families, is worth even more than the thousand months of worship that is found in Laylutal Qadr, for RasulAllah (saaw) said,

«أَلاَ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِلَيْلَةٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ- حَارِسٌ حَرَسَ فِي أَرْضِ خَوْفٍ لَعَلَّهُ لاَ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ»

“Should I not tell you about a night better than the night of Qadar? (It is one during which ..) A guard (in Jihad) guarding in a land of war (fear) and not sure whether he will be back to his family.” [Al-Haakim].

Their hearts are yearning for the greatest levels of reward, their eyes filling with tears when they hear that RasulAllah (saaw) said,

«إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِائَةَ دَرَجَةٍ أَعَدَّهَا اللَّهُ لِلْمُجَاهِدِينَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ، كُلُّ دَرَجَتَيْنِ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ، فَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ فَسَلُوهُ الْفِرْدَوْسَ، فَإِنَّهُ أَوْسَطُ الْجَنَّةِ وَأَعْلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَفَوْقَهُ عَرْشُ الرَّحْمَنِ، وَمِنْهُ تَفَجَّرُ أَنْهَارُ الْجَنَّةِ»‏

"There are one-hundred degrees in Paradise which Allah has prepared for those who carry on Jihad in His Cause. The distance between every two degrees is like the distance between the sky and the Earth, so if you ask Allah for anything, ask Him for the Firdaus, for it is the last part of Paradise and the highest part of Paradise, and at its top there is the Throne of Beneficent, and from it gush forth the rivers of Paradise." [Bukhari]

And they are impatient for such reward, such that waiting for the smallest of meals is too long a wait, when they consider the stance of their predecessor in arms, the noble Umair ibn Al-Humam (ra). Muslim narrated from Anas (ra) who said,

وَجَاءَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «قُومُوا إِلَى جَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَوَاتُ وَالأَرْضُ» قَالَ: يَقُولُ عُمَيْرُ بْنُ الْحَمَامِ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، عَرْضُهَا السَّمَوَاتُ وَالأَرْضُ؟ قَالَ: «نَعَمْ»، قَالَ: بَخٍ بَخٍ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا يَحْمِلُكَ عَلَى قَوْلِكَ: بَخٍ بَخٍ؟» قَالَ: لا وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِلا رَجَاءَ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا، قَالَ: «فَإِنَّكَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا» فَأَخْرَجَ تَمَرَاتٍ مِنْ قَرْنِهِ فَجَعَلَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُنَّ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَئِنْ أَنَا حَيِيتُ حَتَّى آكُلَ تَمَرَاتِي هَذِهِ إِنَّهَا لَحَيَاةٌ طَوِيلَةٌ، قَالَ: فَرَمَى بِمَا كَانَ مَعَهُ مِنَ التَّمْرِ ثُمَّ قَاتَلَ حَتَّى قُتِلَ

“When the polytheists came near, the Messenger of Allah (saaw) said, “Now stand up and proceed towards Jannah which is as wide as are the heavens and the earth.” 'Umair bin Al-Humam (May Allah be pleased with him) asked: "Is Jannah as wide as are the heaven and the earth?" The Messenger of Allah replied in the affirmative. 'Umair remarked: "Great!" The Messenger of Allah asked him what had urged him to say so.

He replied: "Nothing, O Messenger of Allah! But hope that I might become one of the inhabitants of Jannah." The Messenger of Allah said, “You will definitely be among them.” 'Umair then took some dates out of his quiver and began to eat them, but after a short time he said: "If I survive till I eat my dates, it will mean a long life." So he threw away the dates which he had with him and then fought with the enemy till he was killed.”

So, O Officers of the Armed Forces of the Ummah, Hizb ut Tahrir calls you to grant the Nussrah for the re-establishment of the Khilafah "Caliphate" (Caliphate) on the method of the Prophethood, the shield of our Ummah, and it is now time to arise as the awaited heroes and respond.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Musab Umair – Pakistan