The Brave Women of Afghanistan

A Chapter from Brave Women in Jihad

These days Afghanistan is enlightened with the light of Islam. Shariah has been imposed. 1.6 million Martyrs gave their blood to pave the way to this imposition. The role of brave women along with the martyrs is also worth mentioning. They did not only bear the pain of Hijrah but also motivated their brothers and sons to stand up for Jihad and there were certain women who also engaged in direct resistance with communists.

In 1979 when the Soviet Union attacked Afghanistan the Mujahideen of Islam stood in the fortification of this land. Women also set wonderful examples of resistance. As far as the military role of women in Afghan Jihad is concerned, it is quite obvious that the number of such women is not very high because in a traditional Afghan society it was not possible and due to the critical circumstances a huge number of civilians migrated but on times many women carried out certain military operations. Among them an anonymous Mujahidah will be remembered with golden words in history. This great Mujahidah prevented a whole convoy of soldiers from proceeding for several hours. Her bravery was even endorsed by the Russian soldiers and the thing worth mentioning about her is that she was only nine [9] years old! And she was martyred during this operation [She will be mentioned later in detail]. Such were the women of Afghanistan who sent their beloved ones to the front and took from them the oath of bravery.

Following are some of the greatest stories of brave Afghan women. The first story “A Great Lady in the Battle of Jalalabad” is about an Arab lady but because she took part in the Jihad of Afghanistan she is being mentioned in this chapter.

“A Great Lady in the Battle of Jalalabad”

This story is about a great Arab lady narrated in Arabic by her son. Here is the translation of the story in the words of his son:

“I belong to Makkah and my house is very close to the Baitullah. It is so close that we can hear the Athan clearly. I was inspired by the west and fell a victim to their propagandas. Like other Arabs I kept deaf ears to the cries of oppressed humanity. I admired the infidel ways of the west. After completing my education I got a job in an airline and I decided to settle in London. I returned after sometime to get married. I was busy in preparing for the wedding when my friend told me that “the battle between Kufr and Islam has just begun in Afghanistan and the Soviets have come with all their power to extinguish the light of Allah. The Soviets are killing and plundering. The time has come for Muslims to unite and fight this Infidel Powers and be ready for Jihad fi sabilillah.”

I was surprised to hear his words. I was blinded by luxuries and battling against infidels was totally opposite to my thoughts. The nation which had shown us the path of progress why should we fight her? I told my Mujahid friend “probably you have become mad”. I went back to home and told this news to my mother.
As I was telling her I looked to her face. I was shocked to see her crying. I asked her why she was crying. She told me sorrowfully:

“For Allah’s sake take me to Afghanistan I want to be martyred in the way of Allah.”

The words of my mother fell like a thunderbolt on me. I felt a strong disgust for myself. The faces of so many of those mothers who had become the victims of the oppression of infidels because of my negligence started revolving around my eyes. I could see their frail hands near my throat. “Take me to Afghanistan” the voice of my mother shook me once again.

I said to my beloved mother: “Dear mother you don’t need to go there I am ready to sacrifice on your behalf.”
She replied firmly “I want to participate myself.”

I found myself helpless in front of her firmness. We then decided that I will go there first and manage some place to stay and other things and then take my mother later. My mother hardly agreed to it but she departed me happily. After reaching Pakistan I managed a place to stay and returned to take my mother with me back to Peshawar. I found her to be in hospital and according to doctors in the last stages of her life. I told her that I have come to take you for Afghanistan. On hearing this, an electric current ran down her frail body and all the sickness disappeared.

The next day I was surprised to see that my great mother sold all her property and jewelry to donate it to the Mujahideen. I left my siblings crying and headed with my mom to Peshawar. On reaching Peshawar she grew even more restless to reach the front. When I asked my Ameer to allow my mother to participate he decided to talk to my mother himself. On seeing the Ameer my mother became extremely happy and handed all the money to him. The Ameer told her that it was enough from her and going to the front was not appropriate for her. She did not dare to refuse in front of the Ameer but she became extremely sad. So she left and I stayed with the intention of staying on the front for the rest of my life.

Only a little time had passed when I was informed that my mother was extremely sick and crying every time for the love of martyrdom and that she was reaching Islamabad on so and so date. I went to Islamabad. The emotional state of my mother had dragged me into a great unrest. She told me that this time she had come to sacrifice for the dominance of Islam and with no intention of going back. I took my old mother to the Jalalabad front. My mother was so happy so much that her tears won’t stop. That day the Kufr must be shaking. The weak hands of this old lady looked so strong .

We reached the Jalalabad front. All the young Mujahideen started chanting enthusiastic slogans on seeing an old lady fighting for the dominance of Islam. Some moments can never be forgotten. They became a part of history…

My mother had just reached the front when the enemies of Islam starting firing mortars to extinguish the radiance of Islam. Those taking part in Jihad know how pleasant such a moment is for a Mujahid. Thus, the Mujahideen brought forward my old mother against the so called Super Power.

She chanted Bismillah and Allahu Akbar to put the mortar in the cannon and like that with a Takbeer she would fire them on the enemies. These five hours were like a disaster for the infidels. As usual, the Russian planes responded by bombing the area with their planes. All the Mujahideen therefore left for their bunkers but this Mujahidah lady stood in the middle of battlefield. She raised her hands in prayer to Almighty Allah: “O’ Allah bless me with martyrdom”for a long time she stood there praying in pursuit of martyrdom. Then she prayed like this: “O’ Allah! If you haven’t written martyrdom in my fate then give me a wound in your way. I don’t want to meet you without any signs of Jihad on the Day of Judgment”. Her prayer was granted and this great lady got the gift of being wounded in the way of Allah so happily she returned to her home.
[Mujahid ki Azaan Part II]

The Young Mujahidah

The fierce Russian tanks were crushing stones and bushes while proceeding. The mountains were shaking under the sounds of tanks and the slogans of the Russian soldiers. There were red flags on the tanks and vehicles. The Russian soldiers were proceeding without any fear because their intelligence sources had informed them that all the towns ahead had been vacated and people had already fled. The condition of the towns, deserted homes, and empty roads were all acknowledging these reports. Therefore this army was proceeding fearlessly. Each and every soldier of this convoy had dangerous ideas in his mind. The love of Kufr and hatred of Islam was in each and every heart. Like the Tatars, they intended on building towers of skulls. They were proceeding on their way when…

Suddenly, someone started firing somewhere from a small mountain which was in front of them. The cowards started shaking in fear. The firing was very intense moreover it was totally unexpected. The enemy suffered some casualties. This unexpected attack struck terror in their hearts. The procession had stopped. The tanks, cannons, machine guns of the communists started firing in direction of the mountains. The soldiers took their positions in different bushes to stop this sudden attack. The whole area was shaking on this intense backfire from the Russians.

The sky was filled with black clouds of smoke. The shelling of the enemy had almost perished the mountain in front of them. They were now convinced that the attacker had perished. They were going to proceed when suddenly someone started firing again from an adjacent mountain on the right. This sudden attack killed many of the communist soldiers and their lines were left in complete chaos. Once again they responded with heavy shelling - much intense then before. Due to such chaos and ill-organization many of the Russian soldiers started killing their own companion soldiers. A large number of the Russian soldiers were getting wounded from their own mortaring. The whole scene was left in complete chaos. The mortaring continued for a long period until the firing from the unknown attacker ceased.

The commander gave orders to proceed with extreme fear in his mind and the hearts of his soldiers. They were sure that the attacker was finished but even then they were afraid. They had already suffered much. The army had just started moving when firing erupted once again from the right side of the mountain.

Many of the enemy soldiers lay wounded - immersed in their own blood. This attack disorganized there rows and columns into a disastrous chaos. The tanks started responding. The Russian soldiers started running in every direction. Many of them were shivering with fear behind their trucks. This time too the Russians got a severe blow. Due to misjudgment their own vehicles and tanks were being destroyed. The callers to the red revolution were dieing in their red blood. No one knew where their target was. The stock of ammunition was about to exhaust. Hardly the army organized itself again. Their plan of proceeding forwards was changed and instead now they wanted to run away. No one was ready to move forward. The piles of dead bodies prevented them from proceeding.

Their commander devised a new plan and ordered his guerrillas to climb the mountain from where the firing originated. The enemy soldiers started crawling up the mountain with their hand grenades and Kalashnikovs. Tanks were alert in their positions ready to combat a sudden assault. The guerillas had searched all the mountains but there were no signs of any dead or alive attacker. Everyone was wondering where the attacker could possibly have disappeared so soon. Surviving such an intense shelling was almost impossible and even if the attacker survived where could he possibly have gone? The soldiers were searching with their dogs.

At last they found small footprints. The Russian soldiers shivered with fear as they followed the footprints. The footprints were becoming more prominent and were leading them to their wanted person but they did not appear to be footprints of any soldier or Mujahid. The footprints led to a pool of blood. No one was ready to believe his eyes. In front of them lay dead a nine year old Afghan Muslim girl with a Kalashnikov in her hand.

The cover was blown. The enemy was mourning over its cowardliness. The Mujahidah girl lay dead in a pool of blood. There she was in front of them… the one who prevented them from proceeding for several hours. Childhood and innocence was shining like radiance from her modest face. This girl refused to migrate from her home and instead decided to avenge the blood of her parents. Her little hands alone had taken the heavy task of defending Islam. This little girl caused such a heavy damage to a whole convoy and killed so many of its soldiers.

Then following the way of her predecessors she sacrificed her life to attain martyrdom. This little girl challenged the young men of this Ummah. She presented her life to Allah in thanks to the blessing of Iman and made it known to the Kufr that to combat your armies the daughters of Islam alone are enough. Your dreams of invading this blessed land are a deception. You will be humiliated and expelled from this land.

This little girl embraced martyrdom to teach the enemies of Islam that though our nation has forgotten then history of their predecessors but the sister of Maudh and Muadh r.a [the children who killed Abu Jahl] are still alive. O’ enemy of Islam until these daughters are alive your dirty aims will never be fulfilled!

Saeedah Bibi

In a village called Astor [or Istor] of the province of Lughman [Afghanistan] lived a sixteen year old girl called Saeedah Bibi. His brother Shayr Afzal was a staunch communist. The Russians were killing innocent Muslims ever since the red revolution flooded in. One day the demonic Russians and other soldiers of red army made a big attack in which these merciless brutes killed more than hundred innocent men, women, and children.

The streets were filled with dead bodies men and beasts. Streams and canals were flooded with blood. The smoke rising from the deserted homes carried a silent plea of innocent children and mothers. When Shayr Afzal reached his home with some barbaric communist soldiers her sister Saeedah Bibi welcomes him warmly. She said well done my brother. You did a great thing. You destroyed the enemies of the revolution now I am extremely happy. I myself want to go and help you against your enemies but I wish that tonight you stay at my home as a guest and leave the next morning. His brother and hundred [100] Russian communists accepted her invitation and stayed at her place for the night.

This brave girl prepared their dinner and presented it to them. After the dinner the Russian soldiers were left unconscious in the toxication of wine. When Saeedah saw that there were in a deep sleep she took a sword and killed each and every of the Russian. Then she woke her brother and said: beloved brother get up and see your companions.

When the brother saw their dead bodies he yelled at her but the honorable girl said to him “why are you so shocked, I will do the same with you. You have seen with your eyes the doom of your companions and I believe that one day all the Russians and their supporters will be humiliated like that. I also believe that the sacrifices of Muslims will not go futile. One day Afghanistan will be freed.”

The brother on seeing the faith of her sister asked her forgiveness but the girl refused to accept his apologies and said that even if I forgive you; Allah, our religion, our country, our innocent children, elderly and women will never forgive you. Having said this she beheaded her brother. Saeedah Bibi was martyred during a bombardment by a gunship helicopter but is still remembered as one of the bravest women in Afghan history.

Sacrifice without limits

Um Nidal Farhat: Sacrifice without limits

The Family of Farahat is known with its history of struggle against occupation; their son-in-law was martyr Emad Aqel, the famous Qassam leader who died in a battle with an Israeli battalion that encircled his hideout in Gaza city in 1993. The family offered two martyrs, Mohammed, the youngest, and Nidal, the eldest, while their son Wesam is still in the jail since 1992. And their fourth son, Momen was wounded while fighting an Israeli invasion to the Shajaeyyah area two years ago.

Mohammed was successfully able to infiltrate the fortified Israeli Atzmona settlement, which contained 131 settlement units in addition to 470 dunum (1 dunum = 1,000 sq. meter) of farm lands, in the year 2002targeting the military academy in it.

He stormed the academy and engaged soldiers in a one-hour-long fierce battle using his Kalashnikov rifle. He was able to use nine magazines of bullets and six hand grenades inside the academy killing 7 soldiers and wounding 22 others before he fell as a martyr and his blood mixed with the sand of his beloved land.

The Palestinian Information Center interviewed Um Nidal after she visited the site of the operation. She said, "The moment my feet stepped into the former settlement of Atzmona and saw the place where my son had fallen martyr, a strange feeling prevailed over me. I wept profusely, even more than the time when he died. This is a memorable day in my life. It is equivalent to half my life."

Tense hours:

The 55-year-old mother described the moments she lived after her son stormed the fortified settlement as difficult. "He who hears about storming a settlement is not like the one who sees it," she said.
"We used to hear about martyrdom operations inside settlements; but only the one who carries out the operation can exactly appreciate and understand what infiltrating a fortified settlement means. When I saw the hole my son made in the fence to infiltrate the settlement, I realized what attacking a settlement exactly means. It is something next to impossible," she said.

She noted that she will always feel that the former settlement means a great deal for her. She feels that it became part of her soul due to the presence of her son's blood in it.
"This is a great dream; I never expected the day will come when I enter Atzmona and see with my own eyes the sand that mixed with my son's blood. I felt sad while tracing my son's footsteps on his way to confront the occupation army. I really cried more than I cried on the day he fell as a martyr," she underlined.
She stressed that she still remembers the last words of her son said on the telephone. He said, "Farewell mom." She said, "It was 3:00 p.m. and Mohammed was preparing himself to storm the Israeli military academy in the settlement."

"I feel proud and exalted that I have a share in defeating the occupation in Gaza Strip, and forcing them out," she emphasized.

She affirmed her faith in that Almighty Allah will reward and help those who sacrifice their most precious possessions to defend their land, the women, the children and the weak amongst them; expressing her happiness that blood of the martyrs was not in vain.

"We, Palestinian women, do have emotional feelings like all mothers in the world if not more; but we employ our feelings and emotions in service of our faith. We are ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of Allah, including our lives and children," she asserted.

We want to live in peace & Freedom

She addressed mothers all over the world saying, "We neither have wished to die nor wished our children to die; but we are under the worst form of occupation the modern history has ever witnessed. And we had no choice but to sacrifice ourselves and children if it was the only way to get rid of occupation. We want to live in peace on our lands like other nations."

Two Witnesses to Sayyid Qutb’s Hanging

December 2nd, 2006

Scholars, propagators and reformists who give their lives for the path of Allah, because of their sincerity to Him, are ranking high in the hearts of people.

Of these propagators and thinkers is Sayyid Qutb, whose hanging left a profound effect in those who knew him and realized his firm belief. Of those affected were two Policemen who witnessed his execution (in 1966).

One of the two is the narrator of the following story:

There were matters which we had not thought of and which made a total change in our lives. Every night, we were receiving in the military prison persons or groups of old and young people and women. We were told that these were traitors cooperating with Jews and that it was a must to extract their secrets. The only way to do this was through severe persecution!

This was enough to alter the complexion of their bodies by various types of sticks and whips. We were doing this in the firm belief that we were doing a sacred duty. However, we soon found ourselves facing unexplainable things. We found that those “traitors” were strictly performing their prayers at night with their tongues continually repeating the name of Allah even under persecution.

Some of them even died under whipping or while wild dogs attacked them, but they were smiling and continually mentioning Allah’s name.

Accordingly, we became doubtful of what we were told, because it was unbelievable that such devout believers were traitors collaborating with Allah’s foes!

We secretly agreed, myself and my brother, to avoid harming them as much as possible, and to give them all assistance we could afford. With the grace of Allah, our stay in that prison did not last long. Our last assignment was to guard a cell where one of them was confined. He was described to us as the most dangerous of all, their mastermind and plotting leader. He was called Sayyid Qutb.

The man was so pained by persecution to the extent that he was no longer able to stand on his feet. They used to carry him to the Military Court looking into his case. One night, orders came to hang him. They brought him a sheikh to remind him of Allah (before being executed).

Early in the morning of the following day, we, my brother and I, held his arms and took him to the closed car to which some other detainees were taken. Moments later, the car headed for the place of execution. Behind us, there were some military vehicles carrying armed soldiers to guard the detainees.

In no time, each soldier took his assigned place armed with his firearm. Officials there had prepared everything including installing a hanging post for each prisoner. There, a rope was put around his neck and a hangman stood waiting for orders to remove the stand underneath the accused. Under a black flag, there stood the soldier assigned the job of hoisting it at the time of execution.

The most awesome were the words uttered by each one of those about to die, to his brothers giving them good tidings about meeting them in Paradise, together with Prophet Muhammad and His Companions. These words were terminated by the touching cry: “Allah is greater, praise be to Him.”

In these dreadful moments, we heard a car approaching. The guarded gate was opened and there emerged a high-ranking officer who in a high pitch voice gave an order to the hangmen to stop.

He proceeded towards Sayyid, ordered that the robe be removed from his neck and the patch from his eyes.

Then he addressed himself in a trembling voice: “My brother, Sayyid, I am bringing you the gift of life from the patient and merciful President (the then Egyptian President). One phrase which you will sign would pardon you and your brothers.”

He did not wait for the reply, opened a notebook he was holding and said: “write, my brother, only this phrase (I was wrong and I apologize)”.

Sayyid looked up with his clear eyes. A smile which one cannot describe appeared on his face. He told the officer in a surprisingly calm tone: “Never! I would not exchange this temporary life with a life which will never disappear!”

The officer said, with his tone of sorrow: “But this would mean death, Sayyid!”

Sayyid replied: “Welcome to death in the path of Allah .. Allah is Great!”

This shows steadfastness of faith. It was impossible to continue that dialogue. The officer signaled to hangman to carry out execution.

Soon the body of Sayyid and his brothers, oscillated. The tongue of each one of them had just uttered the phrase which we could not forget and whose impact we had never felt as we did in that situation, “There is no deity, but Allah, Muhammad is His Prophet.”

This way, we became pious and God-fearing. We invoke Allah to remain as we are, faithful to Him.

From: “Repenters to Allah”

By: Muhammad Abdul Aziz Al-Musnad

Translated by Dr. Muhammad Amin Tawfiq

Source: http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/archive/article.php?lang=E&id=35551

Syekh Abdullah Azzam ”Mentor” Jihad

Oleh H. USEP ROMLi H.M.

Para pelaku teror bom di Indonesia, selalu dikait-kaitkan dengan Afganistan. Hampir semua tokoh yang terlibat teror itu, termasuk Dr. Azahari dan Noordin M. Top, diduga pernah menjadi pejuang di medan perang Afganistan (1979-1989).

Perang di Afganistan selama sepuluh tahun itu, memang dikategorikan jihad fi sabilillah dalam arti sebenarnya. Yaitu perang antara umat Islam melawan rezim komunis Afganistan dukungan Uni Soviet. Jihad mutlak menurut istilah Ibnul Qayyim al Jauziyah (ulama abad 14). Melawan musuh di medan pertempuran, setelah Afganistan diserang agresi Uni Soviet (27 Desember 1979).

Bersemangatkan jihad fi sabilillah, para tokoh-tokoh Mujahidin Afganistan, seperti Gulbudin Hekmatyar, Burhanuddin Rabbani, Abdul Rasul Sayyaf, Yunus Khalis, dan lain-lain, mengorganisasi kelompok-kelompok perlawanan bersenjata. Kecil dan sederhana, namun effektif. Pasukan rezim komunis Afganistan, yang dibantu pasukan elite Uni Soviet bersenjata modern, kewalahan. Hingga akhirnya menyerah. Tanggal 15 Maret 1989, pasukan Uni Soviet mundur dari Afganistan. Beberapa bulan kemudian, negara Uni Soviet sendiri runtuh. Negara-negara otonom yang menjadi "jajahan"nya sejak tahun 1920-an, satu persatu memisahkan diri. Wilayah Uni Soviet yang dulu terbentang sejak Laut Baltik hingga Asia Tengah, kini tinggal tersisa Republik Federasi Rusia saja. Ideologi komunisme pun ikut lenyap ke dasar bumi.

Keberhasilan para pejuang Afganistan melawan rezim komunis Afganistan dan Uni Soviet, tidak semata-mata tertumpu kepada kepandaian dan keberanian tempur. Apalagi ditinjau dari aspek persenjataan, tak sebanding. Tak sedikit pejuang Mujahidin Afganistan masih menggunakan bedil-bedil tua sisa Perang Dunia II, seperti Lee Enfield. Hanya satu dua yang punya senjata otomatik mutakhir M-16 atau AK-47. Salah satu penunjang sukses itu, berada di garis belakang, yaitu pendidikan dan latihan.

Salah seorang "mentor" yang terkenal di kalangan Mujahidin, adalah Syekh Abdullah Azzam. Pria kelahiran Palestina, tahun 1941, meraih gelar doktor ushul fiqh dengan predikat "Asyaraful Ula" (cumlaude) dari Universitas Al-Azhar, Kairo, Mesir. Tahun 1980 diusir oleh pemerintah Yordania, karena dituduh menggalang aktivitas keislaman bercorak ekstrem, dan sering menggunakan perbatasan Tepi Barat untuk menyerang Israel. Pindah ke Saudi Arabia, dan sempat mengajar di Universitas King Abdul Aziz (1982), kemudian pindah ke Pakistan untuk mengabdikan diri kepada perjuangan umat Islam Afganistan.

Sesekali Abdullah Azzam ikut maju ke garis depan. Tetapi lebih sering berada di garis belakang. Menggembleng para calon Mujahidin dengan ilmu-ilmu keislaman. Ia mendirikan "Maktab Khidmatul Mujahidin" di Kota Peshawar. Di sinilah, para calon Mujahidin mendapat bekal pendidikan sebelum terjun bertempur melawan musuh. Pengalamannya berjihad dan berceramah di hadapan para Mujahidin, telah dibukukan hingga mencapai 50 judul. Yang paling terkenal, dan sudah diterjemahkan ke berbagai bahasa, adalah "Ayatur Rahman fi Jihadil Afghan" (Ayat-Ayat Allah pada Jihad Afganistan) berupa anekdote tentang keajaiban-keajaiban yang dialami para Mujahidin ketika menghadapi pasukan komunis.

Seperti tank TU-34 milik Uni Soviet yang canggih dan supermodern, hancur oleh satu kali tembakan peluru AK-47 seorang Mujahidin. Atau pesawat pembom Mig-33, jatuh berkeping-keping karena dihadang sekawanan burung yang tiba-tiba beterbangan dari dalam goa tempat Mujahidin bermarkas.

Buku lainnya, "Fit Tarbiyatul Jihadiyah wal Bina", yang kemungkinan menjadi text book para Mujahidin Afganistan. Termasuk para pejuang asal Asia Tenggara yang ikut membantu perjuangan saudara-saudara mereka seiman dalam melawan kezaliman komunis internasional.

Syekh Abdullah Azzam, wafat 24 November 1989, ketika mobil yang akan ditumpanginya menuju Masjid Jami Peshawar untuk Salat Jumat, meledak. Bersama dua anaknya, pejuang tak kenal lelah itu gugur sebagai syuhada. Sehingga ia digelari "Asy Syahid".

Pendapat-pendapat Syekh Abdullah Azzam tentang jihad, memang sangat keras. Didoktrinkan kepada para calon pejuang yang sudah berhadapan dengan musuh, tentu saja akan menimbulkan fanatisme luar biasa. Dalam "Fit Tarbiyatul Jihadiyah wal Bina", ia menyatakan, "Rasulullah menerangkan, bahwa pedang dapat menghapus dosa. Surga berada di bawah bayangan pedang. Tauhid berdiri di atas pedang. Beliau diutus dengan membawa pedang untuk menegakkan tauhid di muka bumi. Karena itu, tauhid tak mungkin tegak, kecuali dengan pedang, dengan kekuatan" (hlm. 123).

"Kepala-kepala yang penuh rencana memerangi Islam, harus dilenyapkan, agar manusia tidak terhalang dari suara panggilan kepada Rabbul Alamin. Setelah kepala-kepala penuh makar itu disingkirkan, setelah topi-topi baja orang-orang kafir dihancurkan, tibalah saatnya kepada mereka diserukan la ikraha fiddien. Qad tabayyanar rusydu minal ghayyi. Tak ada paksaan dalam Dienul Islam, sebab sesungguhnya telah jelas jalan yang benar dan yang salah...." (hlm.124). Ketinggian nilai jihad mengatasi kewajiban menjalankan ibadah ritual. Syekh Abdullah Azzam mengutip fatwa Ibnu Taimiyah, yang tercantum dalam kitab "Majmuul Fatawaul Kubra", juz 4 hlm.184, yang menyatakan, tak ada sesuatu yang lebih wajib hukumnya setelah beriman kepada Allah, selain menolak musuh yang menyerang kehormatan dan agama.

"Artinya, jihad itu didahulukan atas salat, puasa, zakat, haji, dan kewajiban lain. Jika berbenturan antara kewajiban jihad dengan haji, kewajiban haji ditangguhkan, dan kewajiban jihad didahulukan. Begitu pula kewajiban salat, ditangguhkan, atau di-qashar atau berubah bentuk dan keadaannya untuk menyesuaikan dengan waktu jihad. Karena menghentikan jihad sejenak saja, sama dengan menghentikan gerak laju agama Allah....Sejarah kaum Muslimin tidak lain adalah gerak perjuangan para tokoh bersama agama ini melalui pedang dan pemahaman Alquran. Pedang di satu tangan, dan Alquran di tangan lain" (hlm. 24)

Menurut Abdullah Azzam (hlm. 152), jihad adalah kehidupan umat. Tidak ada kehidupan bagi umat Islam tanpa jihad. Para ahli tafsir sepakat mengartikan kata idza da'akum lima yuhyikum dalam firman Allah, Q.S.Al Anfal : 24, sebagai seruan Rasulullah untuk berjihad, karena jihadlah yang dimaksudkan dengan kehidupan. Abdullah Azzam juga mengutip hadis-hadis Nabi tentang keutamaan jihad. Seperti "perjalanan umatku adalah jihad" (riwayat Abu Daud dan Hakim), "Rahbaniyah umatku adalah jihad" (riwayat Ahmad dan Abu Ya'la).

Doktrin jihad versi Abdullah Azzam, memang cocok untuk waktu dan tempat yang tepat, seperti medan perang Afganistan, atau Palestina, dan Chechnya. Tetapi akan terasa sangat keras dan ekstrem jika diterapkan di negara-negara yang sedang tidak berperang seperti Indonesia. Sehingga jika benar di Indonesia banyak mantan pejuang Mujahidin Afganistan, dalam menyinambungkan jihad, perlu mengubah persepsi dan aplikasi jihad itu sendiri.

Musuh-musuh yang ada di Indonesia, bukan kaum kafir yang memerangi Islam. Tetapi para koruptor (yang sebagian beragama Islam). Maka jihad mutlaq versi Abdullah Azzam, yang bersendikan pedang (senjata), malah akan menimbulkan kontroversi. Akan mengundang fitnah yang lebih besar daripada jerih payah yang dilakukan (semisal meledakkan bom), dan target yang dicapai (sasaran asal-asalan). Gara-gara ledakan bom di Bali, JW Mariott, dan tempat lainnya, para penggiat pengajian, pengurus masjid, alumni pondok pesantren, ikut menjadi bulan-bulanan. Ditangkapi oleh aparat, hanya karena dugaan-dugaan sumir membantu teror dan teroris. Lembaga pesantren yang tak tahu-menahu soal teror, dimata-matai. Sehingga membuat kegiatan belajar mengajar di situ, terganggu.

Untuk kondisi Indonesia, mungkin lebih cocok jenis jihad hujjah. Jenis jihad ini, dijelaskan oleh Ibnul Qayyim al Jauziyah berupa jihadul bil ilmi wal bayan. Jihad dengan ilmu dan penjelasan. Berdiskusi, bermusyawarah, bersilaturahmi secara bijak dan arief. Menggugah hati orang-orang yang berada di jalan sesat (korupsi), agar kembali ke jalan benar. Mengembalikan hasil korupsi kepada rakyat, siap menjalani hukuman, sekaligus mau bertaubat kepada Allah Swt. setelah meminta maaf kepada rakyat. Jihad seperti ini pasti akan mendapat dukungan semua pihak (kecuali para koruptor dan antek-anteknya).

Asy Syahid Syekh Abdullah Azzam telah berjasa meninggalkan jejak jihad di Afganistan. Jasa dan jejak jihadnya tak akan hilang karena para murid dan pengikutnya yang masih ada -- termasuk di Indonesia -- memodifikasi pelaksanaan jihad dengan bentuk-bentuk lain yang memungkinkan. Bahkan mungkin akan lebih lestari dan lebih membuahkan hasil gemilang. Jika di Afganistan, metode jihad Syekh Abdullah Azzam ditujukan untuk memerangi kaum komunis dan agresor asing, maka di Indonesia dapat dikondisikan untuk memberantas korupsi dan koruptor, tanpa harus meledakkan bom dan menumpahkan darah sembarang orang (seperti di Bali dan Poso). Cara sembarangan seperti itu, malah merenggut korban orang-orang tak berdosa. Sementara para koruptor (yang berdasarkan kriteria fikih dikategorikan "syarikatuth thariq" -- pembegal yang menghambat kepentingan khalayak -- harus dibunuh), tenang-tenang saja di ruangan berpendingin sejuk, sambil senyum-senyum di kursi empuk.***

Penulis, wartawan senior.

Dr. Abdullah Yusuf Azzam

Peringatan 18 Tahun Syahidnya Abdullah Azzam

24 November, 18 tahun Islam. Seorang tokoh pejuang Islam menghadap Allah swt
dengan begitu indahnya. Syaikh Abdullah Azzam, siapa yang tidak pernah
mendengar nama itu? Hampir setiap Muslim yang memperhatikan kondisi dunia Islam
di tahun 80-an pasti mengenal nama dan sosok Abdullah Azzam dengan baik.
Dia adalah simbol jihad Afganistan saat mengusir pasukan beruang merah Rusia.
Dan kini, hampir 18 tahun berlalu, namanya masih lekat dikenang dalam hati para
pejuang Islam di dunia. Meski, label gembong teroris juga dikaitkan dengan
namanya, namun siapapun yang mengetahui kondisi perjuangan jihad Afganistan
ketika itu, tak pernah terbetik sedikitpun bahwa Abdullah Azzam adalah seorang
teroris. Bahkan sebaliknya, ia adalah pejuang sejati yang begitu tinggi kasih
sayangnya kepada kaum Muslimin.

Beberapa waktu lalu, sejumlah tokoh mengingatkan tentang peringatan syahidnya
tokoh jihad Afganistan itu. Salah seorang muridnya yang kini tinggal di Mesir,
bercerita tentang Abdullah Azzam, saat beliau sedang melakukan perkemahan. Pada
suatu acara semua yang mengikuti mukhayyam itu di perintahkan oleh komandan
lapangan. "Kalian berlarilah mengelilingi lapangan ini sebanyak yang kalian
bisa," ujar komandan lapangan.

Semua peserta perkemahan berlari. Namun setelah beberapa putaran, sudah ada
yang menyerah, dan mereka yang menyerah beralasan bahwa "Allah tidak akan
membebani seseorang melainkan sesuai dengan kesanggupannya (2: 286), inilah
yang saya mampu",

Begitu pula orang-orang yang menyerah selanjutnya, mereka selalu beralasan
dengan ayat ke 286 di surat Al-Baqarah tersebut, dan yang sisa pun semakin
banyak yang menyerah, sampai tinggal Abdullah Azzam sendiri, beliau terus
berlari mengelilingi lapangan tersebut, sampai akhirnya beliau pingsan.

Dan setelah sadar beliau ditanya oleh komandan lapangan " Mengapa anda berlari
sampai pingsan begini, kan sudah saya bilang bahwa anda berlari semampu anda",
lalu Abdullah Azzam menjawab "inilah yang saya mampu, sesuai yang anda
perintahkan"

Yang dimaksud oleh Abdullah Azzam adalah makna sebenarnya dari "Allah tidak
akan membebani seseorang melainkan sesuai dengan kesanggupannya", bahwa
perintah harus dijalankan sesuai isinya. Di sisi lain, upaya apapun harus
dilakukan dengan upaya yang optimal di batas kemampuan seseorang. Itulah salah
satu pelajaran yang diberikan Abdullah Azzam.

Komitmen Kuat Berjihad

Abdullah Azzam dilahirkan di sebuah kampung di Utara Palestina yang dikenal
sebagai Selat al-Harithia di daerah Genine pada tahun 1941. Ayahnya bernama
Mustaffa yang meninggal dunia setahun selepas pembunuhan anaknya. Ibunya
bernama Zakia Saleh yang meninggal dunia setahun sebelum Sheikh Abdullah Azzam
dibunuh.

Abdullah Azzam berasal dari keluarga yang baik latar-belakang keagamaannya.
Keluarganya gembira mempunyai anak lelaki, Abdullah Yusuf Azzam, yang sudah
terlihat istimewa di kalangan kanak-kanak lain dan telah aktif berdakwah pada
usia yang muda. Rekan-rekannya mengenali Azzam sebagai seorang yang wara dan
sangat hati hati dengan dosa. Ia menunjukkan tanda-tanda kecemerlangan pada
usia muda. Guru-gurunya melihat keistimewaan ini sejak Azzam masih duduk di
bangku sekolah. Abdullah Azzam masuk dalam organisasi al-Ikhwan-ul-Muslimin
sebelum mencapai usia baligh.

Sheikh Abdullah Azzam telah dikenal karena ketabahan dan sifatnya yang sungguh
sungguh sejak kecil. Ia menerima pendidikan awal peringkat sekolah dasar dan
menengah di kampung sebelum meneruskan pendidikan di College Pertanian Khadorri
sampai tingkat Diploma. Walau merupakan pelajar termuda di kalangan
teman-temannya, Abdullah Azzam adalah murid yang paling cerdas. Setelah
menamatkan pendidikan di College Khadorri ia bekerja sebagai seorang guru di
sebuah kampung bernama Adder di Selatan Jordan. Kemudian beliau meneruskan
pendidikan di college Shariah di universitas Damaskus sehingga memperoleh
Ijazah B.A. dalam Shariah pada 1966. Setelah pihak Yahudi mendudduki Tepi Barat
pada tahun 1967, Abdullah Azzam muda hijrah ke Jordan, karena ia tidak mau
tinggal di bawah penjajahan Yahudi di Palestina. Pengalaman melihat tank-tank
Israel bergerak masuk ke Tepi Barat tanpa ada hambatan meningkatkan tekadnya
untuk hijrah dan belajar mendapatkan kemampuan untuk perang.

Tahun 1960-an ia ikut dalam Jihad menentang penjajahan Israel di Palestina dari
Jordan. Ketika itu juga ia menerima Ijazah Master di dalam bidang Shariah dari
Unversitas al-Azhar. Pada tahun 1970 sesudah Jihad terhenti karena kekuatan PLO
dipaksa keluar dari Jordan, Abdullah Azzam menjadi seorang pensyarah di
universitas Jordanian di Amman. Pada tahun 1971 ia dianugerahkan biasiswa ke
Universitas al-Azhar di Kairo sampai ia memperoleh Ijazah doktor di dalam
bidang Ushul al-Fiqh pada 1973. Ketika di Mesir itulah, ia telah berkenalan
dengan keluarga Sayid Quthb, keluarga tokoh perjuangan Islam di Mesir.

Pada tahun 1979 ia meniggalkan universitas berpindah ke Pakistan untuk ikut
serta dalam Jihad Afghanistan. Di sana ia berkenalan dengan pemimpin-pemimpin
Jihad. Awal kedatangannya di Pakistan, ia dilantik sebagai pensyarah di
universitas Islam internasional di Islamabad. Setelah beberapa waktu lamanya,
kemudian beliau mengambil keputusan untuk berhenti dari tugas universitas untuk
memfokuskan seluruh waktu dan tenaganya kepada Jihad di Afghanistan.

Abdullah Azzam sangat banyak dipengaruhi oleh Jihad di Afghanistan dan Jihad di
Afghanistan juga sangat banyak dipengaruhi Abdullah Azzam sejak beliau
memfokuskan seluruh waktunya untuk Jihad. Ia menjadi seorang yang disegani di
arena Jihad Afghanistan. Ia menumpahkan seluruh daya usaha untuk menyebarkan
dan mengenalkan Jihad di Afghanistan ke seluruh dunia. Ia mengubah pandangan
umat Islam tentang Jihad di Afghanistan dan menyadarkan bahwa Jihad adalah
tuntutan Islam yang menjadi tanggung jawab semua umat Islam di seluruh dunia.
Berkat hasil usahanya, Jihad Afghan menjadi Jihad universal yang diikuti oleh
umat Islam dari berbagai pelosok dunia.

Abdullah Azzam bahkan menjadi idola generasi muda yang menyahut seruan Jihad.
Pernah ia berkata, "Aku rasa seperti baru berusia 9 tahun, 7 setengah tahun di
Jihad Afghan, satu setengah tahun di Jihad Palestina dan tahun-tahun yang
selebihnya tidak bernilai apa-apa."

Ia juga melatih keluarganya dengan pemahaman dan semangat yang sama. Isterinya
terlibat dengan kegiatan penjagaan anak-anak yatim di Afganistán. Ia sendiri
menolak tawaran pekerjaan sebagai pensyarah dari beberapa buah universitas
sambil berikrar bahwa ia tidak akan meninggalkan Jihad sehingga gugur syahid.
Ia juga selalu mengatakan bahwa tujuan utama dan cita-citanya adalah untuk
membebaskan Palestina.

Terbunuh Saat Hendak Sholat Jumat

Tentu saja komitmen yang begitu tinggi pada Islam menimbulkan keresahan di
kalangan musuh-musuh Islam. Mereka bersekongkol untuk membunuh beliau. Pada
tahun 1989, sebuah bom diletakkan di bawah mimbar yang ia gunakan untuk
menyampaikan khutbah Jumat. Bahan letupan itu sangat berbahaya dan ledakannya
akan memusnahkan masjid tersebut bersama dengan semua benda dan jamaah di
dalamnya. Tetapi dengan perlindungan Allah, bom tersebut tidak meledak dan
ratusan orang Islam selamat.

Musuh-musuh Islam terus berupaya membunuh Abdullah Azzam. Pada hari Jum'at, 24
November 1989 di Peshawar, Pakistan, mereka telah menanam tiga buah bom di
jalan yang sempit. Abdullah Azzam memarkirkan mobilnya di posisi bom pertama
dan kemudian berjalan ke masjid untuk shalat Jum'at. Bom pun meledak dan
Abdullah Azzam gugur bersama dengan dua orang anak lelakinya, Muhammad dan
Ibrahim, beserta dengan anak lelaki al-marhum Sheikh Tamim Adnani (pejuang di
Afghan).

Ledakan bom seberat 20kg TNT dilakukan dengan alat kontrol jarak jauh. Setelah
ledakan kuat itu itu orang-orang keluar dari masjid dan melihat keadaan yang
mengerikan. Hanya bahagian kecil dari mobil tersebut yang kelihatan. Anak
Abdullah Azzam, Ibrahim, terpental 100 meter; begitu juga dengan dua orang
anak-anak lagi. Serpihan mayat mereka bertaburan di atas kabel-kabel listrik.

Tubuh Abdullah Azzam ditemukan bersandar pada sebuah tembok, dalam keadaan
sempurna dan tiada luka atau cedera kecuali sedikit darah yang mengalir dari
bibirnya. Seperti itulah akhir kehidupan seorang Mujahid di dunia ini dan
insya-Allah kehidupannya akan terus berlanjut di sisi Allah swt.Abdullah Azzam
dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Shuhada Pabi di mana beliau menyertai ribuan
para syuhada. 

Tujuan yang satu

51:56 Dan Aku tidak menciptakan jin dan manusia melainkan supaya mereka menyembah-Ku.

6:162 "Katakanlah: ""Sesungguhnya solat, ibadah, hidup dan matiku hanyalah untuk Allah, Tuhan semesta alam,"

bismillah

assalamualaikum w.b.t