Jihad is no fairytale

Us Muslims we get very excited and happy at stories…stores of shuhadah, stories of Bilaad Al-Shaam, stories of jihad and the front lines, stories of hijrah. But when it comes to taking the initiative and actually doing something real to help the Ummah only a few people pitch up. The likes, shares and responses for posts about those in need are MUCH less than fantasy-like Jihadi posts.

I know me personally I did not make a page like this just to inspire Muslims and for them sit and do nothing, I made a page like this to inspire a CHANGE in Muslims, for Muslims to ACT.

Jihad etc isn’t just a fairytale movie like story you see on YouTube or Facebook, for some it’s real life and it affects real people.

We need to ponder over our sincerity and wonder if we only show superficial care for the Ummah. We need to fear that Allah may count us among the Hypocrites.

Please please strive to contribute to helping the Ummah and not just “like” and “share” people’s realities.

Surreal

When I watch videos of my husband everything seems surreal, as if it’s all a dream, as if he was a dream. Those moments felt so real but now they’re reduced to memories which at times my mind doesn’t register as real or true. Things come and go, time passes and feelings fade.

“…This worldly life is no more than a temporary illusion.” – 57:20

Father of orphans

It’s ironic that the man who loved kids more than any other man I know, the man who loved, cared for and was a father-figure to orphans, the man who children loved to be around…that man did not get to meet his son nor to be a father to his son and left him as an orohan in the Dunya. The only way I can get ease from this is by reminding myself that they will spend all the time they need in Jannah in shaa Allah. This life is temporary.

PTSD

I often wonder if I have a form of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). If I do then it makes me wonder about the children and adults who spent years and years around such a traumatic environment. See, when we made hijrah the trauma or fear was not in our heads, we figured with Tawakkul we will survive no matter what, what we had in mind was doing something for the sake of Allah.

I remember once my husband and I went to Turkey for personal reasons, when we were there sounds of load noises, trucks, fast cars, motor bikes and normal planes would make us want to duck, think there’s an attack or that a bomb fell. But that’s all the post trauma I think we have, even though he was in battles.

I’d like to think though that situations like this affect the Mu’minoon better than they affect Kuffar who are/were in war zones. We have lovely and effective ways in our Deen to handle mental stresses and anxiety, along with clinical treatment I’m sure the outcome is much better for Muslims.

Allah wouldn’t put Muslims in hardships which make them turn to Him, without providing some sort of relief along with it. Alhamdulillah

Hadith

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said,

“Allah, the Exalted, says:

‘I have no reward other than Jannah for a believing slave of Mine who remains patient for My sake when I take away his beloved one from among the inhabitants of the world.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Path of jihad is lonely

The path of jihad is a lonely one. From the solitude involved with hijrah, living in a foreign environment, the only loved you have with you dying in the Cause or being jihadi around “moderates” at home, this is truly a path of hardship and sacrifice.

May Allah make us all sincere, give us Sabr and accept our deeds

Allah never disappoints

The day my husband left for his last mission he appointed a Guardian over me and his unborn son, as if he knew he’d get martyred. This guardian treated us with the best care Alhamdulillah but recently he hasn’t been able to keep his duties towards us.

I was a bit nervous but just weeks later Allah unexpectedly sent a brother to us (who didn’t know of our situation with our guardian), who basically appointed himself as our guardian. He has a pregnant wife and 2 kids but he swears to take care of us continuously, even if it were to decrease from what he spends on his own family.

SubhanAllah look at how Allah never disappoints! Would Allah leave the widow and orphan of a Shaheed stranded? Never. We should not despair of the Mercy of Allah and we should also remember that Allah can replace us with people who are better than us at any moment.

Lattakia <3

اللهم انصر المجاهدين في اللاذقية و في كل مكان

Ya Allah please help the Mujahideen in Lattakia and everywhere else. This place is so dear to my heart much more than my birth town or any other town in Shaam. The Villages in Lattakia are unlike any other place in Shaam. It’s a place people love to visit for for its greenery, lovey scenery and mostly for its warm people who adore muhajiroon.

My husband was martyred in its mountains and his body is buried there. I was beyond heartbroken when it seemed as though the Russians and Bashar were going to conquer it all.

Alhamdulillah the tables are turning and the mujahideen are coming out victorious. May Allah give them tawfeeq to over power His enemies!

Slaves of Allah struggle

A few months before my husband was martyred I suffered from a deep depression because I was anticipating his martyrdom. It’s all I thought about, it consumed me. I mourned for him before he even left and couldn’t imagine a life without him in it.

Some people perceive that just because Allah gave us the courage to make hijrah and marry men who fight for His sake, that we are naturally strong in our Iman and Deen or better than others but that’s not the case. I can assure you most of us made the choices we made not because we are good believers but because we know that doing these deeds will mould us into good believers bi’iznillah.

Having a mujahid or a shaheed husband isn’t like a movie or a fairytale of, “let’s walk to Jannah together hand-in-hand”. When you experience it yourself it is a reality. You feel real human emotions and have real struggles while hoping for the best.

Hardships bring about goodness in Muslims.
May Allah make us of those whose deeds are accepted.

Road to hijrah

During the short year and a half I had with my husband on our path of hijrah we lived in about 10 houses which all differed in condition, some were bad and some were great.

We had cried our tears for leaving our families behind and now it was time to take the big step. It was an internal struggle but we were always ready to pick up our bags and leave when the need came Alhamdulillah.

If we strive to live as travellers as the Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم told us we should then we need to detach ourselves from this Dunya, it’s people and it’s comforts. When the call is made to march on for Allah’s sake we need to be prepared to do this.

What will we do when the Great Wars (Al-Malaahim) come which will begin in Al-Shaam and when the Khalifah of the Muslims Al-Mahdi comes to fight the Kuffar? Will we still be at home being oblivious to reality and enjoying comfort? Then know that you’ll be an easy target of Al-Dajjal and you will be among the losers.

The Deen is about sacrifice, may Allah help our hearts be firm and guide us to what’s best.

No place to make hijrah?

oooPeople are always asking, “where should we make hijrah to? There’s no place to make hijrah to”. Although to some it’s pretty obvious some people seem to be in denial and ignore or avoid the big elephant in the room, we know where we could go to freely practise all aspects of the Deen including Jihad (which the Kuffar countries don’t allow). A man especially can’t be wondering where he should make hijrah to when he should be in the land of Ribaat anyways participating in Jihad which is Fardh Al-Ayn. Take heed!

Sister, let him go

As sisters we are more likely to be attached to our husbands; we want affection, attention and to spend time with our spouses in order to build a stronger bond and this is part of how Allah created us. But sisters at times we have no choice but to put Allah first. When it calls for it, we have to let our men go to work for Allah. We should not come between their seeking of knowledge, their continuous charitable deeds and their fighting for Allah’s sake in battle.

These are times where we have to think clearly and objectively and learn to detach from the pleasure of the Dunya and attach our hearts to the everlasting pleasure of the Aakhira in Jannah in shaa Allah.

I’m speaking from experience and from making many mistakes in this regard, so I know it’s not easy but it certainly is possible bi’iznillah.

Strive with whatever you have

A lot of the time Western mujahideen have financial stability, my husband was among those who didn’t and we were both pleased with this Alhamdulillah. I remember he mentioned that some brothers have big trucks, he had a bike Alhamdulillah.

Usually brothers use bikes to run small errands but with his bike he would go to Ribaat on cold winter days through snow just for Allah’s sake. Before he left he would cover his face with a mask to prevent the cold from hitting and cutting his face.

One day we took a drive in a brother’s car to his area of Ribaat and I was shocked that he rides through long narrow cold curvy roads for Ribaat and it made me a bit emotional.

What a passionate man he was and he never complained. May Allah reward him goodness for his deeds abundantly.

Wells – village life <3

A well a few steps from our 1st house. In our old town water filled the tanks on our roofs every 3-4 days, sometimes it’s later than that orwell
we use up our water too soon, so this well water
would be useful. During hot Ramadhan days we would drink it as it is freshly cold and also use it as a fridge for our iftaar drinks.

This well was a lifesaver, the memories we had there are engraved in my mind. Alhamdulillah what a ni’mah (blessing).

 

You can’t avoid Jihad!

There are men who say anything in order to avoid participating in jihad. They will mention every single fault of the mujahideen so that they can make an excuse for their cowardice and Wahn (love of dunya and disliking death).

Sh Abdul Aziz Al-Tarefe HafizahuAllah said, ” leaving jihad due to the mistakes of the mujahideen is like leaving prayer due to the mistakes of people praying”. You can’t cop out or run from of an ibadah that is classified as Fardh Al-Ayn, no matter what invalid excuse you have.

Vulnerable women and children need immediate protecting, move yourself and go help, instead of giving unconstructive criticism from the sidelines with no intention of lifting a finger to try fix the situation, much like the madkhalis.

true men are on the frontlines

When most of our men live behind screens and keyboards; browsing through pictures of pouting lips, face painted one dimensional lookalike females while playing video games or a song or two then writing about their passion for Jihad. When this is the calibre of our men – for what reason do we expect victory?

True men are on the frontlines.

sitting ducks

Many times my husband and I sat huddled by a corner with him covering me at the sound of a jet or helicopter dropping a bomb, anticipating martyrdom. Many times we would sit together reciting the kalimah thinking it was the end. The feeling is hard to describe.

There’s not much fear, I’d say it’s more of nervousness over what may happen, a feeling of helplessness while you wait like sitting duck as a target but at the same time having firm Tawakkul. At that moment you submit yourself fully to whatever Allah Decrees because it’s clear you have no power whatsoever over the situation.

It’s a humbling experience, an iman-booster, a reminder that we are here temporarily and a reminder of great sacrifice for Allah’s sake. Being reminded of death constantly is one of the best and unique things about living in a war-zone. These are memories engraved in my mind, that remind me of the powerful times we shared Alhamdulillah.

May Allah accept my husband as a Shaheed, take me as a Shaheeed and grant our son the same too

Remarriage?

I had become more open to remarrying for some months, thinking I’m still young, I need companionship, affection. But lately I’ve been thinking perhaps the idea of waiting to be with my martyred husband is greater than the loneliness of being unmarried in this Dunya. Perhaps the waiting will be worthwhile , having something solid to hope for and look forward to.

I have a choice and I don’t have to lose the great husband I once had. I can’t imagine that the only time I’ll have with him is a year and half in this imperfect Dunya when I could have forever with him in everlasting fulfilling Jannah (In shaa Allah ). I can’t imagine not being the family we had always wanted to be with our son but lost out on in this temporary life. With enough Sabr, I don’t have to lose him in shaa Allah

Blessings for-granted

Let me tell you what blessings we’re taking for granted while living in a comfortable Westernised land. I’ll mention one, just one, for us to ponder over.

The privilege of hot water running through your taps with no effort from you whatsoever. Some people have to boil their own water, many cant afford gas so they have to start a fire from wood just for hot water. Imagine wudhu on a cold Fajr morning or freezing Eesha night….

There are people who actually dream of having a hot effortless shower from a real shower-head over bathing with a bucket and a jug especially on a cold winter’s morning.

Think of this, think of Syrians and lands like Syria, think of the comfort you live in…also, think of those who choose to sacrifice that just for the sake of Allah and nothing else.

Nothing is granted

I asked my husband If he would like to see a 4D ultrasound scan of our baby son’s face when I came back to Syria. He said, “No, I want the first time I see him to be the moment he is born and I look at him while he’s in my arms.”

Little did he know that he would not get to see his birth, he would never get to hold his son in this Dunya.

We should never think that anything is granted, Allah’s Decree doesn’t often match our expectations. What we assume or feel is a perfect way for our lives to turn out may not be so. We do not Decree, Allah Decrees and there’s Wisdom behind this no matter how bitter the pain of it feels.

Women and JIHAD

Just a few days before my husband was martyred he suggested that we do an ‘amaliyyah istishhadiyyah together. I’m not sure how serious he was about this (lol) but he looked quite convinced. He always knew how jealous I was when he would leave for missions and he wanted me to contribute somehow to jihad first-hand like I always wished. He’d make me put his bullets in magazines and to prep his J’uba (body pouch) with his Qur’an, Zikr book and ammunition. He made sure without fail to keep contact with me while at battle and let me know his activities

We know Jihad for women is an accepted Hajj, trust me we know! but that doesn’t mean women don’t have a role in Jihad of fighting.

It’s important that men do not forget that the Ummah includes women too and women have certain goals in the Deen just as men do. Not all women wish to be in the kitchen doing chores, we have souls too, we have passion and ambition too, we have pride over Islam too and we also want to support raising the flag of Allah’s Deen.

We know there are certain limitations in Jihad when it comes to women but it’s important to Include women in whatever way that’s possible in shaa Allah.

At least he came home

I used to complain as a new muhajirah in a foreign land that I’d barely get to spend time with my husband because he was a busy mujahid. I later changed my perspective and realised I should be grateful, what matteted was that he came home. Now that he’s martyred I’m realising this even more. Brothers and sisters cherish whatever time you have with your spouse no matter how little it is, trust me it counts in the long-run.

May Allah grant peace to the grieving hearts.

True Mujahideen

True mujahideen sincerely care about the peoMjsple they are seeking to liberate from the tyranny of oppressive rulers. They make the civilians feel safe, heard and valued. They seek to win their hearts and minds and call
them towards Allah with hikmah and patience.

May Allah continue to guide our brothers and accept their efforts.

 

Hijrah

A benefit of migrating from the Lands of Kufr to the Lands of Ribaat is not only to engage in Jihad, live amongst Muslims and to be able to practise Islam freely but to also migrate from your sins.

There are everday sins that have become the norm for Muslims to engage in or fitan that lead to sins in the Lands of Kufr that could easily be stopped just by migrating.

You will automatically have better companions by migrating, there’s no fitna of music/television, no fitna of looking at uncovered men/women, no freemixing, no temptations of having money and riches; the list goes on.

I pray Allah guides the sincere Muslims of the Ummah to making hijrah from their sins and lands.

Raising my orphan

Lately I’ve been wondering how I’m going to raise my son without him knowing his father. This thought left me slightly panicked and worried as I hadn’t really thought of it before. There are muhajiraat widowed sisters I know who have young orphans and I’d often look to them to see what kind of behaviour they instill in their kids.

I noticed that they make sure the kids are proud of their martyred father and that they look up to his life as a mujahid and his end as a martyr as an example. Though their mothers remarry the children often speak of their martyred father, his lifestyle, his character, their memories together.

But something important I’ve noted is how strong their mothers are, how firm they are in instilling Tawheed within them them, how firm they are in teaching them Taqwa of Allah, manners and Tawakkul upon Allah while living under bombs and missles.

My son will know of his father in shaa Allah but I realised that I have to take control and be the core and foundation of his upbringing, I have to plant the seeds of Islam in him alone (with Allah’s help) and carry the weight of both a mother and a father. Even if I were to remarry, this responsibility would never leave until I die.

This is the path we chose and I have to toughen up and wake up to this reality.

May Allah strengthen all single parents.

Homes in Syria

People often wonder how houses are in Shaam and the lifestyle. This was our 3rd house, based in Lattakia. We have basic needs and necessities, life like this very comfortable and stress-free. Knowing that we don’t have the worries of competing with people over luxurious houses/furniture or materialistic things puts our hearts at ease. Simple living makes our focus be less Dunya related and more Aakhira related Alhamdulillahhome

 

Jihad is not only by words!

It’s important that we do not settle, be complaisant and content with only posting and writing about Jihad. If all men were to be happy with contributing to jihad with the pen alone then our women and children would have nobody physically protecting them. No land would ever belong to the Muslims. If now isn’t the time to sacrifice and leave the pleasures of this dunya then I don’t know when will be.

father for my son

Lately I’ve been wondering how I’m going to raise my son without him knowing his father. This thought left me slightly panicked and worried as I hadn’t really thought of it before. There are muhajiraat widowed sisters I know who have young orphans and I’d often look to them to see what kind of behaviour they instill in their kids.

I noticed that they make sure the kids are proud of their martyred father and that they look up to his life as a mujahid and his end as a martyr as an example. Though their mothers remarry the children often speak of their martyred father, his lifestyle, his character, their memories together. 

But something important I’ve noted is how strong their mothers are, how firm they are in instilling Tawheed within them them, how firm they are in teaching them Taqwa of Allah, manners and Tawakkul upon Allah while living under bombs and missles.  

My son will know of his father in shaa Allah but I realised that I have to take control and be the core and foundation of his upbringing, I have to plant the seeds of Islam in him alone (with Allah’s help) and carry the weight of both a mother and a father. Even if I were to remarry, this responsibility would never leave until I die. 

This is the path we chose and I have to toughen up and wake up to this reality. 

May Allah strengthen all single parents.