Allah prohibited His believing servants from becoming supporters of the disbelievers, or to take them as comrades with whom they develop friendships, rather than the believers. Allah warned against such behaviour. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: لاَّ يَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْكَـفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي شَىْءٍ إِلاَ أَن تَتَّقُواْ مِنْهُمْ تُقَـةً وَيُحَذِّرْكُمُ اللَّهُ نَفْسَهُ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ الْمَصِيرُ Let not the believers take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers, and whoever does that, will never be helped by Allah in any way, unless you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself, and to Allah is the final return (Surah Al-Imran 3:28) ﴿وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي شَىْءٍ﴾ ‘And whoever does that, will never be helped by Allah in any way’ Whoever commits this act that Allah has prohibited, then Allah will discard him. Similarly, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: ﴿يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ عَدُوِّى وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ تُلْقُونَ إِلَيْهِمْ بِالْمَوَدَّةِ﴾ O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies as friends, showing affection towards them ﴿وَمَن يَفْعَلْهُ مِنكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَآءَ السَّبِيلِ﴾ And whosoever of you does that, then indeed he has gone astray from the straight path (Surah Al Mumtahanah 60:1) Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: ﴿يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ الْكَـفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجْعَلُواْ للَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَاناً مُّبِيناً﴾ O you who believe! Take not for friends disbelievers instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest proof against yourselves (Surah An Nisā’ 4:144) Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: ﴿يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَـرَى أَوْلِيَآءَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُمْ مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ﴾ O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as friends, they are but friends of each other. And whoever befriends them, then surely, he is one of them (Surah Al Ma’idah 5:51) Allah said, after mentioning the fact that the faithful believers gave their support to the faithful believers. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: ﴿وَالَّذينَ كَفَرُواْ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ إِلاَّ تَفْعَلُوهُ تَكُنْ فِتْنَةٌ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَفَسَادٌ كَبِيرٌ﴾ And those who disbelieve are allies of one another, (and) if you do not behave the same, there will be Fitnah and oppression on the earth, and a great mischief and corruption (Surah Al-Anfal 8:73) Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: ﴿إِلاَ أَن تَتَّقُواْ مِنْهُمْ تُقَـةً﴾ Unless you indeed fear a danger from them Except those believers who in some areas or times fear for their safety from the disbelievers. In this case, such believers are allowed to show friendship to the disbelievers outwardly, but never inwardly. For instance, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Darda (رضي الله عنه) said, “We smile in the face of some people although our hearts curse them.” Al-Bukhari said that Al-Hasan said, “The Tuqyah is allowed until the Day of Resurrection.” Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: ﴿وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللَّهُ نَفْسَهُ﴾ And Allah warns you against Himself He warns you against His anger and the severe torment He prepared for those who give their support to His enemies, and those who have enmity with His friends, ﴿وَإِلَى اللَّهِ الْمَصِيرُ﴾ And to Allah is the final return The return is to Him and He will reward or punish each person according to their deeds. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: الَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِنْ دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ أَيَبْتَغُونَ عِنْدَهُمُ الْعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ الْعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا Those who take disbelievers for Auliya (protectors or helpers or friends) instead of believers, do they seek honour, power and glory with them? Verily, then to Allah belongs all honour, power and glory (Surah An Nisa’ 4:139)

HIJRAH: FROM HYPOCRISY TO SINCERITY Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: {O YOU WHO HAVE BELIEVED! WHY DO YOU SAY WHAT YOU DO NOT DO? IT IS MOST HATEFUL IN THE SIGHT OF ALLAH THAT YOU SAY WHAT YOU DO NOT DO} [Surah As-Saff 61:2-3] Verses like these moved the Sahābah (Companions) so that they would not be counted by Allah amongst the hypocrites. The fear of hypocrisy creeping into their hearts did not leave them time to rest, contrary to the Muslims of this era who constantly feel safe and secure concerning their faith and deeds. The Sahābah knew that the essence of hypocrisy – both major and minor – is discrepancy between what the inner self encloses and what the outer self discloses, and that minor hypocrisy can beget major hypocrisy. Therefore, an unkept promise of hijrah to Allah could result in a devastating ending for the slave. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: {AND AMONG THEM [THE HYPOCRITES] ARE THOSE WHO MADE A COVENANT WITH ALLAH, [SAYING], “IF HE SHOULD GIVE US FROM HIS BOUNTY, WE WILL SURELY SPEND IN CHARITY, AND WE WILL SURELY BE AMONG THE RIGHTEOUS.” BUT WHEN HE GAVE THEM FROM HIS BOUNTY, THEY WERE STINGY WITH IT AND TURNED AWAY WHILE THEY REFUSED. SO HE PENALIZED THEM WITH HYPOCRISY IN THEIR HEARTS UNTIL THE DAY THEY WILL MEET HIM – BECAUSE THEY FAILED ALLAH IN WHAT THEY PROMISED HIM AND BECAUSE THEY USED TO LIE} [Surah At-tawbah 9:75-77] In these verses, Allah mentions that He punished the hypocrites with further hypocrisy as a result of them breaking a previous covenant to Him. This attitude towards obligatory deeds was also that of Bānī Isrā’īl. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: {HAVE YOU NOT CONSIDERED THE ASSEMBLY OF BĀNĪ ISRĀ’ĪL AFTER MŪSĀ WHEN THEY SAID TO A PROPHET OF THEIRS, “SEND TO US A KING, AND WE WILL FIGHT IN THE WAY OF ALLAH”? HE SAID, “WOULD YOU PERHAPS REFRAIN FROM FIGHTING IF FIGHTING WAS PRESCRIBED FOR YOU?” THEY SAID, “AND WHY SHOULD WE NOT FIGHT IN THE CAUSE OF ALLAH WHEN WE HAVE BEEN DRIVEN OUT FROM OUR HOMES AND AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN?” BUT WHEN FIGHTING WAS PRESCRIBED FOR THEM, THEY TURNED AWAY, EXCEPT FOR A FEW OF THEM. AND ALLAH IS KNOWING OF THE WRONGDOERS. AND THEIR PROPHET SAID TO THEM, “INDEED, ALLAH HAS SENT TO YOU TĀLŪT AS A KING.” THEY SAID, “HOW CAN HE HAVE KINGSHIP OVER US WHILE WE ARE MORE WORTHY OF KINGSHIP THAN HIM AND HE HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN ANY MEASURE OF WEALTH?” HE SAID, “INDEED, ALLAH HAS CHOSEN HIM OVER YOU AND HAS INCREASED HIM ABUNDANTLY IN KNOWLEDGE AND STATURE. AND ALLAH GIVES HIS SOVEREIGNTY TO WHOM HE WILLS. AND ALLAH IS ALL-ENCOMPASSING [IN FAVOR] AND KNOWING”} [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:246] This attitude of Bani Isrā’īl was also displayed when they asked complicating questions about the cow they claimed to be searching for, upon being ordered by Mūsā (عليه والسلام) to slaughter any cow. They asked these questions only to evade responsibility; and when they finally obeyed, they did so reluctantly. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: {SO THEY SLAUGHTERED IT [THE COW] AND YET THEY NEARLY DID NOT} [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:71] Therefore, every Muslim should now make his number one priority to repent and answer the call to hijrah. Otherwise, his claims will become a greater proof against him on Judgment Day. Muslim student should know that their hijrah from dārul-kufr to jihād are more obligatory and urgent then spending an unknown number of years studying while exposed to doubts and desires that will destroy their religion and thus end for themselves any possible future of jihād. Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) said that, The Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “WHOEVER DIES WITHOUT TAKING PART IN A BATTLE AND WITHOUT INTENDING TO TAKE PART IN A BATTLE, HAS DIED WITH A TRAIT OF HYPOCRISY” [Sahīh Muslim] Therefore, abandoning jihād is a trait of hypocrisy. So be wary of it or else it may seize you by your heart. Al-Hasan al-Basrī (رحيم الله) said, “NO ONE FEARS HYPOCRISY EXCEPT A BELIEVER, AND NO ONE FEELS SAFE FROM IT EXCEPT A HYPOCRITE” [Jāmi’ al-‘Ulūm wal-Hikam] Ibn Rajab (رحيم الله) said, “Sahl at-Tustarī said, ‘THE MURĪD (DEVOUT WORSHIPPER) FEARS BEING AFFLICTED WITH SINS, BUT THE ‘ĀRIF (KNOWLEDGEABLE SLAVE) FEARS BEING AFFLICTED WITH KUFR.’ FOR THIS REASON THE SAHĀBAH AND THE RIGHTEOUS SALAF AFTER THEM WERE AFRAID OF NIFĀQ (HYPOCRISY) FOR THEMSELVES, AND THEIR WORRY OF NIFĀQ WAS SEVERE. THEREFORE, THE BELIEVER IS AFRAID OF MINOR NIFĀQ FOR HIMSELF, AND HE IS AFRAID THAT SUCH COULD OVERCOME HIM PRIOR TO DEATH AND THUS DRIVE HIM INTO MAJOR NIFĀQ, AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE THAT DEEPLY HIDDEN EVILS BRING ABOUT SINFUL DEATH” [Jāmi’ al-‘Ulūm wal-Hikam] So abandoning hijrah the path to jihād is a dangerous matter. In effect, one is thereby deserting jihād and willingly accepting his tragic condition of being a hypocritical spectator. He lives in the West amongst the kuffār for years, spends hours on the Internet, reads news and posts on forums. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: {THEY THINK THE PARTIES HAVE NOT [YET] WITHDRAWN. AND IF THE PARTIES SHOULD COME [AGAIN]

Abdur Rahman Ibn Hasan (رحيم الله) narrating from the imam that, Muwalat towards the believers and enmity towards the disbelievers is a foundation amongst the foundations of the Islam: "Our shaykh, the leaders of the Islamic da’wah and caller to the pure religion: “The foundation and root of the din of Islam is in two matters: First: The command to worship Allah alone with no partner attributed to Him, to incite towards that, to ally based upon it, and to perform takfir of whoever leaves it. Second: Warning from shirk in the worship of Allah, being firm in that, having hostility based on it, and takfir of whoever performs it.” And those who oppose this are various types, which he, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned." (Majmu Ar Rasail Wal Masail An Najdiyyah, Vol 4. Page 289)

RELIGION OF ISLAM Indeed, all praise is due to Allah. We praise Him and seek His help. Whomsoever Allah guides there is none to misguide, and whomsoever Allah leaves to stray there is none to guide. I testify that there is no god except Allah alone, who has no partner, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم). As for what follows: The purpose of this series is to clarify the reality of Islam and the necessity of the Jama’ah. We ask Allah to grant both us and you understanding of Islam and to keep us firm in the Jama’ah of the Muslims. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) said, “This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved Islam as the religion for you” (Surah Al Maidah 5:3) Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) also said, “Indeed, the religion with Allah is Islam” (Surah Al ‘Imran 3:19) Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) also said, “And whoever desires other than Islam as a religion – never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers” (Surah Al ‘Imran 3:85) Thus, the religion which Allah is pleased with for the people and other than which He does not accept from them is Islam. Its reality, both linguistically and religiously is: salamah, meaning ikhlas, and istislam to Allah, meaning submission to Him. Taken from the book An-Nubuwwat by Ibn Taymiyyah as follows: Abul-‘Abbas Ibn Taymiyyah (رحيم الله) said, “Islam is to submit to Allah alone, and the term Islam encompasses istislam (submission) as well as having ikhlas (sincerity) in this istislam to Allah … So, whoever does not submit to Him is not a Muslim, and whoever submits to other than Him the same as he submits to Him is not a Muslim, and whoever submits to Him alone is a Muslim, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) said, ‘Yes [on the contrary], whoever submits his face in Islam to Allah while being a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve’ (Surah Al Baqarah 2:112) Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) also said, ‘And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Ibrahim, inclining toward truth? And Allah took Ibrahim as an intimate friend’ (Surah An Nisa 4:125)” (An-Nubuwwat) Abul-‘Abbas Ibn Taymiyyah (رحيم الله) also said, “The Islam which is the religion of Allah and for which He revealed His books and sent His messengers … is that the slave surrenders to Allah, the Lord of the creation, submitting (istislam) to Him alone without making any partners for Him, and becoming exclusively for Him (salamah) such that he takes Him as his deity without taking other than Him as a deity, as is clarified by the best of speech and the main pillar of Islam, the testimony of ‘la ilaha illallah.’ And it has two opposites: kibr [haughtiness] and shirk. Narrated by Abdallah Ibn Amr (رضي الله عنه) that, Nuh (عليه و سلم) ordered his sons with ‘la ilaha illallah’ and subhanallah,’ and forbade them from arrogance and shirk (Ahmad) This is because the one who is too haughty to worship Allah does not worship Him and therefore does not submit to Him, and the one who worships Him and also worships other than Him is making partners for Him and he is therefore not exclusively for Him. Rather, he has shirk towards Him. And the word ‘Islam’ comprises both istislam and salamah, meaning ikhlas” (Al-Fatawa) Abul-‘Abbas Ibn Taymiyyah (رحيم الله) also said, “and both the mustakbir [the haughty person who does not worship Allah] and the mushrik are not Muslims” (An-Nubuwwat) Thus, a person cannot be a Muslim except by adhering to Islam in both of these aspects, so whoever doesn’t submit to Allah – such as one who abandons all actions or forcefully resists some of the manifest, mutawatir ruling is nothing but a kafir, and whoever isn’t exclusively for Allah – such as one who worships the prophets and the righteous, whether blindly following others or having misunderstandings – is nothing but a mushrik, even if he prays, fasts, and claims that he is a Muslim. These realities are manifested by the testimony of “la ilaha illallah.” Abul-‘Abbas Ibn Taymiyyah (رحيم الله) said, “The ‘ilah’ is the one who is worshiped and obeyed” deserving so (Taysir Al Aziz Al Hamid Fi Sharh Kitab Al Tawhid) Thus, there is none deserving worship or obedience except Allah. This statement encompasses the meanings of both salamah and istislam, and it is the da’wah of all the prophets and messengers to their peoples and nations. Abul-‘Abbas Ibn Taymiyyah (رحيم الله) said, “The word ‘Islam’ has two meanings. The first is the common religion The Sahabah (رضي الله ﺗﻌﺎﻟﯽٰ عنهم) had consensus that there is no Islam without submission, so they made takfir of the one who abandons the prayer due to laziness, as he is one who has completely abandoned action.