The gift of the title ‘As-Shaheed’ to Imam Samudra, Amrozy, and Mukhlas following after their execution on Sunday, 9th November 2008 produced some pros and cons. Some Muslims could understand and agree with the noble title given to them.
However, some others do not agree, in fact they do not understand the meaning and why that title was given to them. In order to clarify this issue Arrahmah.com interviewed Ustdaz Abu Jibriel who was involved in witnessing the funeral of Imam Samudra in Serang, Banten. The following is the outcome of the interview:
Arrahmah.com: Assalamu’alaikum. Wr.Wb! Ustadz, how are you? Straight to the point Ustadz, what are the limitations for someone to wear the title As-Shaheed? And is giving that title allowed in Islam ?
Ust. Abu Jibriel: Wa’alaikumussalam Wr.Wb. Alhamdulillah good. True, some people are doubting the shaheed of the trio KAFILAH SHUHADA’ mujahid and they said that they were not mujahideen. In fact they even called them terrorists. Therefore, it must be clarified here that without a doubt, THEY ARE MUJAHIDEEN AND THEY DIED AS SHUHADA’, Insya Allah.
Why? Because giving the title “shuhada” to the mukmeen mujahid who were shaheed in the battle field is the sunnah of Rasulullah. Rasulullah SAW had given the title Sayyidus Shuhada (the leader of the Shuhada) to Hamzah bin Abdul Muthallib. As for the three of them, they are qualified to get that title for a number of reasons:
Firstly: The Manhaj of their lives clearly followed the Salafus Soleh. They had also done da’wah and conducted jihad in the way of Allah for the establishment of Allah’s Shari’ah, since they were still teenagers until they were Shaheed, there was no such things as tiredness or exhaustion, much less retiring from it, and that means they had fulfilled the words of Allah,
“And serve thy Lord until there come unto thee the Hour that is Certain (death).” (Qur’an 15:99)
Secondly: The principles of their lives were clear, only worshiping Allah and keeping away from taghout, just as the words of Allah which says:
“Serve Allah, and eschew taghout.” (Qur’an 16:36).
That was the principles of their lives until they were shaheed. Never compromising with the taghout government in da’wah and Jihad for the sake of establishing the Shari’ah of Allah.
Thirdly: Their way of life was: Iman-Hijrah-Jihad, this shows that they were practicing the words of Allah,
“Those who believed and those who suffered exile and fought (and strove and struggled) in the path of Allah,- they have the hope of the Mercy of Allah. And Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an 2:218)
They went through the journey of I’dad fulfilling the words of Allah,
“Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.” (Qur’an 8:60)
Fourthly: Their battles and target enemies were also clear, namely the kuffar harbi, be it the Jews, Christians, Mushrikeen, and anybody else who are not following the true religion (ie. Dienul Islam). It means they had practiced the words of Allah,
“Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” (Qur’an. 9:29)
Fifthly: Their highest ambition in life was to attain Shaheed, and this, insha Allah had been achieved, thus it means they have practiced the words of Allah,
“Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur’an: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah. then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme.” (Qur’an 9:111)
And when we were together in the Jihad arena, we constantly studied and understood deeper the promises and rewards of Jihad and dying Shaheed, just like in the following hadith:
Miqdam Ibnu Ma’dikariba said, indeed Rasulullah SAW said:
“For the Shaheed in the Divine presence there will be six qualities: [1] he will be forgiven from the first moment his blood is spilled; [2] he shall see his seat in Paradise and be protected against the punishment of the grave; [3] he shall be safe from the Greatest Terror [the rising of the dead]; [4] he shall be crowned with the diadem of dignity, one ruby of which is worth more than the entire world and its contents; [5] he shall be coupled with seventy-two spouses from the wide-eyed maidens of Paradise; and [6] he shall be granted to intercede for seventy of his relatives.” (Hadith. Ahmad: 16553)
Sixthly: After conducting the operation of Jihad in Bali which had caused them to be arrested, interrogated and then tried and given a death sentence, they faced it with sincerity, calmness, perseverance, heroism, without getting emotional, dispirited and surrendering to the taghout laknatullah, that means they have practiced and taking lessons from the words of Allah,
“How many of the prophets fought (in Allah’s way), and with them (fought) Large bands of godly men? but they never lost heart if they met with disaster in Allah’s way, nor did they weaken (in will) nor give in. And Allah Loves those who are firm and steadfast.” (Qur’an 3:146)
Seventhly: For those who died shaheed, they have signs which can be witnessed by those who are alive. The common signs that occurred in the Jihad arena of Afghanistan for example are:
a. There is sweet aroma from the janaza of the shuhada’.
b. The janaza is warm and not stiff, even for some hours after he died.
c. Blood sometime still dropping from the wound, and still fresh.
d. Sweet smiles and radiant face as if in a normal sleep.
e. Birds in dim/thick green color fly and encircle as if in a dance over the janaza.
All the above signs could be found post-Shaheed of the three of them, and besides those things their steadfastness, bravery, taqwa and tawakkul can also be witnessed, their longing for shaheed could be proven through their expressions and answers during the trials and at all times in the prison of the taghout.
Their lives we busy with da’wah even inside the prison. The prisoners and prison warders, both received the blessings of their da’wah. The strength of their iman and their fortitude were like the corals in the sea, unmoved even after the endless pounding by the waves and storms.
They had been oppressed inside the prison for 6 years, that long years were used by them for worships, zikr, tawbah to Allah swt, and not even a bit of their time was wasted for taqarrub (seeking nearness) to Allah especially the days approaching their executions. Thus, there is no doubt that they are the kafilah shuhada, insha Allah.
Arrahmah.com: So, there must firstly be a process or practice of jihad? What is the shar’i meaning of jihad Ustadz ? Hadn’t Imam Samudra, Amrozy and Mukhlas already conducted jihad ?
Ust. Abu Jibriel: Sure they had, because the highest form of shaheed is to die during jihad fie sabilillah in the battle arena. The ulamas have divided the shaheed death into three types:
First: Shaheed in this world and akhirah, ie. those who died in jihad for the purpose of raising high the kalimah of Allah sincerely and purely for seeking the pleasure of Allah and not mixing it with other intentions.
Second: Shaheed in this world only, ie. those who fought (and get killed) because of seeking ghanimah, or because of riya’, or due to nifaq, this type of shaheed does not obtain heavenly rewards, but the outward rules and regulations are still applied on them. Both of these types of shuhada’ will have the usual regulations for those who die shaheed applied on them.
According to the four Madzhabs, their janazas need not be washed or shrouded, as well as prayed except the opinion of Madzhab Hanafi which says that the funeral prayer is to be performed.
Third: Shaheed in the akhira only, ie. those who die due to the caving in of a building for example, or because of drowning, or anything similar to it. Just as what Rasulullah SAW had told us, in this type Shaheed the janaza should be washed, shrouded and the funeral prayer performed [See: Kitabul Fiqih ‘Ala Al-Madzhaabih Al-Arba’ah, by Al-Jaza’iri juz: 1]
Arrahmah.com: So, the giving of the title As-Shaheed to them (Imam Samudra, Amrozy, and Mukhlas) is allowed by the shar’i? Even though we have not been able or are not able to ascertain it?
Ust. Abu Jibriel: The reality of shaheed is only known to Allah. We only know the outward signs. Therefore the most exact expression is “Insha Allah Shaheed”
Arrahmah.com: If according to Ustadz, the three of them are qualified to be given the title Ash-Shaheed, was there any specific identification that accompanied their shaheed?
Ust. Abu Jibriel: They, insha Allah are qualified to be given the title shaheed, for the specific identifications we have mentioned above.
Arrahmah.com: According to Ustadz is there any party out there who unsurprisingly feel uneasy and continually instilled confusions in the Islamic Ummah regarding the nobility of jihad and dying shaheed? Who are they? Why are they doing things like that?
Ust. Abu Jibriel: Obviously yes, they are the taghouts and their accomplices, the su’ ulama, and the intellectual Muslims who had been infected by the disease of SIPILIS (or syphilis in English used to mean SECULARISM, PLURALISM and LIBERALISM in religion – ed).
Arrahmah.com: Lastly Ustadz, what should be done by the Muslim Ummah in this country in general? and the Islamic media specifically?
Ust. Abu Jibriel: The Muslims should be united in confronting the real terrorists, led by George Bush laknatullah, and then the ulama’ must be honest in explaining the true meaning of Jihad and its applications, so that the Ummah will not be affected by the shubha fitnah or the poisoning of the understanding and comprehension of Jihad.
And the Islamic media must not be opposed to each other and they must not try to impede the broadcasting of true Islamic data, and it is best if they shoulder to shoulder do da’wah for Islam for the sake of Islam’s and the Ummah’s success.
Arrahmah.com: Jazakallah khairul Jaza’ Ustadz for the time and ‘ilm (knowledge). Wassalamu’alaikum. wr. wb!
