The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) Special Dispatch, September
21, 2005.
An August 29, 2005 program on Saudi Iqra TV was devoted to supporting
Jihad in Palestine. The program host began by telling all Saudis that they must
donate and explained how to do so. A caption then appeared on the screen:
“Saudi Committee for Support of the Al-Quds Intifada, Account No. 98, a joint
account at all Saudi banks.”
A moderator stated that “Jihad is the pinnacle of Islam” and explained
that the funds would go directly to those waging Jihad, where it would “help
them carry out this mission.”
The program included the secretary-general of the Saudi government’s Muslim
World League Koran Memorization Commission, Sheikh Abdallah Basfar, who
explained why it was an “obligation” for all Muslims to support Jihad. He also
promised that “all of the funds sent via the known charities and organizations”
would reach “your Muslim brothers.” Caption: Jerusalem in their hearts.
Host: “Palestine calls out to you – its women, children, elderly, and youth. They
appeal to the generosity of the Khalifa Al-Mu’tasem within you. Wage Jihad for
the sake of Allah – in what you do best, in order to defend the first Qibla
and the third holiest shrine. Donate, even the smallest
thing, for your brothers in Palestine, and you will be blessed.”
Caption: The Saudi committee for support of the Al-Quds Intifada. Account No.
98, a joint account at all Saudi banks.
Organizer: “As the Prophet Muhammad said, Jihad is the pinnacle of Islam. A
person who cannot wage Jihad with his soul is required to wage Jihad with his
money, with his tongue, with his thought, and with any means at his disposal.
There is no doubt that our brothers in Palestine desperately need financial
support, which goes directly to this cause, and helps them to carry out this
mission.”
Sheikh Abdallah Basfar: “All the funds sent via known charities and
organizations reach your Muslim brothers, Allah be praised. Undoubtedly, this
aid is obligatory and not just recommended. This is the duty of every Muslim,
based on the scholars’ religious ruling that supporting our brothers in Palestine
is obligatory. Therefore, material support is a duty.
The Prophet said: ‘He who equips a fighter – it is as if he himself fought.’ You
lie in your bed, safe in your own home, and donate money – and Allah credits
you with the rewards of a fighter. What is this? A privilege. So why this
reluctance, despite all this encouragement? The Prophet said: ‘He who equips a
fighter – it is as if he himself fought’ – and what a great difference there is
between the two!
What comparison is there between someone who pays money while living in
comfort, and someone who sacrifices his soul for the sake of Allah, wages
Jihad, and exerts efforts? There is a great difference. Yet Allah – because
money is so important and since Jihad cannot be waged without it…
Who will care for the families of these martyrs who sacrificed their
souls? These people sacrificed their souls – can we be stingy with our money?
We are not saying we should give away all our money – although it wouldn’t be
strange for a Muslim to do so for this cause – but a Muslim should at least
donate some of his money – and money is abundant, Allah be praised.
The Prophet threatened people who refrain from giving their money for the sake
of Allah. He threatened them with disaster that Allah would inflict upon them
before Judgment Day. The Prophet says: ‘Someone who did not fight or equip
a fighter – Allah will inflict disaster upon him before Judgment Day.’
In other words, you, as a Muslim, have no alternative whatsoever. You
have no alternative if you want to be spared Allah’s torments. Allah tempts
you. If you give money, you’ll be rewarded. But he threatens you that if you
don’t give money, and you are stingy in spending your money for the sake of
Allah, you should expect punishment from Allah, because Jihad is the
protection of land and honor.
It’s a most important thing. When you repel evil from your brothers in Palestine,
you repel it from yourself and from your country, your family, your daughters,
and your sons. Don’t think you are only protecting them – you are also
protecting yourself. Furthermore, Allah is trying you with this money. Allah is
testing you to see whether you spend this money for His sake. Hence, he who
refrains from fighting and from donating money for the sake of Allah, Allah
inflicts disaster or catastrophe upon him before Judgment Day.”