KavkazCenter :: Caucasus

I seek Allah's protection from Satan the Accursed.

In the name of Allah, the Most Kind, the Most Merciful.

All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family, and his Companions, and upon those of mankind who follow him rightfully until the Day of Judgment.

To proceed:

Sheikh Sayeed Abu Saad (AKA Sayeed al Buryati / Sayeed Buryatsky) has fallen as a martyr, the latest in the long line of heroic leaders of the Jihad in the Caucasus to achieve martyrdom. The Sheikh was martyred some time on March 2nd or March 3rd 2010, facing the enemies of Allah (s.w.t.), still trying to kill or inflict damage upon them right up until the moment he drew his last breath.

As always, the infidels are boasting about their 'victory', claiming that the death of the Sheikh death will deal an irreparable blow to Jihad in the Caucasus.

But we know this is not true: the most senior foreign Mujahideen have been martyred in the past, and the Jihad has continued.

Emir Khattab was martyred in March 2002, Abu al-Walid was martyred in April 2004 and Abu Hafs al-Urdani was martyred in November 2006.

Each time the death was celebrated by the Russians as being a fatal blow for the Mujahideen, and each time the Mujahideen regrouped and continued fighting for the sake of Allah.

In fact, the brother who took over after Abu Hafs al-Urdani was martyred was Emir Muhannad (Abu Anas), and he played a very important role in the life of our brother Sheikh Sayeed Abu Saad.

For it was Emir Muhannad who decided to issue the invitation that led to Sheikh Sayeed risking his reputation, his freedom and his life, to travel from the comfort and safety of his previous home to the perils and uncertainty that awaited him in the Caucasus.

The short and simple message from Emir Muhannad provided the final encouragement for Sheikh Sayeed to finally make Hijra for the sake of Allah: "We are ready to receive you, and we will be glad to see you among us" it said.

What was is about this man that so inspired the Believers?

Of course there was the fact that he wasn't raised as a Muslim, and that he instead chose to accept Islam as a young man. Those who enter the faith voluntarily are often dearest to us, and in many cases throw themselves fully into the religion in a way that many people who are raised as Muslims find difficult to match, or in some cases, even to understand.

While many of us recite the Noble verses from the Qur'an, or take pleasure when we hear them recited, the Sheikh really heard the rebuke from Allah (s.w.t.) contained in Surah 9. "The Repentance" verse 38:

"O ye who believe! what is the matter with you, that, when ye are asked to go forth in the cause of God, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do ye prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life, as compared with the Hereafter".

Then there was the fact that he didn't grow up in an area where Jihad was being fought, but instead he chose to make Hijra to the lands of Jihad. Of course, he could have stayed in Russia, and lived a life of relative luxury, enjoying a modest amount of fame and fortune, had Allah willed.

While we try to reassure ourselves about our compliance with the religion of Allah (s.w.t.), and feel confident of the outcome that awaits us in the Hereafter, due to the fact that we pray five times a day, we fast during Ramadan, we pay our zakaat (alms to charity), the Sheikh really listened to the stern warning from Allah (s.w.t.) which says:

"Unless ye go forth, He will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place; but Him ye would not harm in the least. For Allah hath power over all things".
(The Holy Quran, Surah 9. "The Repentance", verse 39)

Unlike so many, he really took notice of the words which he recited, and thought about their implications.

Had the Sheikh never went out in the path of Allah, the Jihad would nevertheless have continued, but Allah (s.w.t.) blessed the Sheikh with wisdom and guidance, and so he heeded the call, and rushed to join his brothers in the Caucasus.

To those who criticize the Sheikh:

There will be some who say that what happened to the Sheikh was a great 'pity', that he was such a young man, so intelligent and articulate. They will talk about the long and distinguished career he could have had in politics, or in the media. They will lament the fact that the Sheikh could have had everything this world had to offer, if only he hadn't gotten mixed up with those 'extremists'. They will claim he could have died in his sleep, a rich old man, had he just stayed back from Jihad.

Allah (s.w.t.) says to them in Surah 3. "The Family of Imran", verse 156:

"O ye who believe! Be not as those who disbelieved and said of their brethren who went abroad in the land or were fighting in the field: If they had been (here) with us they would not have died or been killed: that Allah may make it anguish in their hearts. Allah giveth life and causeth death; and Allah is Seer of what ye do".

Others will say that the Sheikh was too important, that he shouldn't have fought on the front lines, that he should have confined himself to a secret hiding place, and stuck to just issuing videos, calling others to Jihad. Have they forgotten that Allah (s.w.t.) says in Surah 9. "The Repentance" verse 44:

"Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day ask thee for no exemption from fighting with their goods and persons. And Allah knoweth well those who do their duty".

How should we respond to the Sheikh's martyrdom?

So what is the correct way to respond to the Sheikh's martyrdom? I must confess that upon hearing the news I was temporarily overwhelmed with grief. Indeed I had not felt such pain, nor such worry for the Jihad in the Caucasus, since Emir Isa and Emir Musa were martyred within three days of one another in September 2006.

But this despair quickly passed, for I soon remembered the words of Allah, in Surah 3. "The Family of Imran", verses 139-140:

"So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith. If a wound has afflicted you, know that a wound like it has also afflicted the (unbelieving) people; and We bring these days to men by turns, and that Allah may know those who believe, and take martyrs from among you; and Allah does not love the unjust".

We should not mourn the passing of the Sheikh, for Allah (s.w.t.) tells us that as a martyr he is not dead, but alive with his Lord! And when our noble brother was setting out in the path of Allah he surely knew what may lay ahead, having heard Allah's warning in Surah 2. "The Cow", verses 154-156):

"And say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah 'They are dead'. Nay, they are living, though ye perceive (it) not. Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, Who say, when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return".

The Sheikh is one of the ones to whom Allah (s.w.t.) gives glad tidings:

"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".
(The Holy Quran, Surah 2. "The Cow", verse 218)

Like every true Mujahid, the Sheikh sought one of the two best things (Victory or Martyrdom) promised to those who fight for the sake of Allah:

"Say: 'Can you expect for us (any fate) other than one of two glorious things?'"

(The Holy Quran, Surah 9. "The Repentance", verse 52)

Final word:

To those who have lagged behind, and I include myself among them: now that the Sheikh has been martyred, the Ummah waits to see who rushes to take his place.

Who will give up their worldly life in search of Allah's pleasure? It may seem as though the shoes are too big for you to fill alone: they most probably are!

It may take the combined effort of five men, or even ten, to give back to the Ummah what the Sheikh's martyrdom has taken away. The Sheikh was a front-line fighter, and fearless brothers are needed to replace him in the trenches at the front-lines. The Sheikh was a scholar, and the Mujahideen are always in need of guidance and support from the Ulema (Islamic religious leaders). The Sheikh was a wonderful speaker, so new brothers are needed with expertise in the field of media and broadcasting.

How often we talk of going out in the path of Allah, yet another year passes and we are still stuck living among the infidels? How long will be continue to be like those of whom Allah (s.w.t.) spoke of in Surah 9. "The Repentance" verse 42:

"If there had been immediate gain (in sight), and the journey easy, they would (all) without doubt have followed thee, but the distance was long, (and weighed) on them. They would indeed swear by Allah, "If we only could, we should certainly have come out with you".

Ya Allah! Send out brothers to take the Sheikh's place at the front-lines!

Ya Allah! Give some of our Ulema the courage to leave the lands of the infidels once and for all, and join the Mujahideen in the trenches!

Ya Allah! Help the brothers in the media field to spread the messages of our brothers in the Caucasus, and around the world!

Ya Allah! Grant victory or martyrdom to those fighting for Your sake in the Caucasus, in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, Kashmir, the Islamic Maghreb, the Arabian Peninsula and all around the world!

Ya Allah! Allow the video messages and written words the Sheikh left behind to continue to inspire Muslims all over the world to go out in the path of Allah!

Ya Allah! Allow the video messages and written words the Sheikh left behind to continue to bring new brothers and sisters into Islam!

Ya Allah! Allow the video messages and written words the Sheikh left behind to continue to add to his good deeds!

Ya Allah! Grant the Sheikh the highest levels of Jannah (Paradise), and all the rewards reserved for the martyrs!

Ya Allah! Let the Sheikh's martyrdom be like the invitation of Emir Muhannad: allow it to provide the last piece of encouragement to make us stop just talking about making Hijra, and finally actually do it!

And our final prayer is that all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

Abd al-Khaliq al-Muhajir,

[1] photo from article