Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem

All Thanks and all Praise belong to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala).

While to many it seems that the infidel forces have achieved a triumph in their battles against the true believers in Afghanistan, this is not so. For the victory of the infidels and their apostate allies is only a temporary, geographical, worldly one: that of a few battles in a very long world-wide war. The real truth is that there has been a victory for the true believers, many of whom, Insha'Allah, have through martyrdom obtained the ultimate victory which is entering Paradise.

So, while the infidels and their apostate allies may cheer their temporary success - which Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) has allowed them, perhaps as test for this Ummah - the true believers are the real victors in this war, which in truth has only just begun.

For this war is not only or even mainly about temporary, worldly gains, achieved through military force. It is about the meaning, the purpose of Islam itself: about the Right Path, about distinguishing between Imaan and Kufr, and about that ultimate victory, which is us, as individuals, attaining Paradise.

What for a Muslim is victory, or defeat? Victory is being guided to and along the Right Path, and following this Path to the final victory which is Paradise. Defeat is being led astray, by others or by one's own animal nature, and following the wrong path which leads only to eternal damnation.

Thus, the infidels and their apostate allies see and understand only a temporary, worldly, victory, as they strive only on the basis of worldly things. They measure their final success by the deaths, injury and destruction they cause; by the Muslims they capture, torture and imprison; by the land they capture and maintain through military force or blackmail or bribery or oppression.

But the Muslims - the true believers - see the greater picture, the wider perspecctive beyond this temporal world.

Sheikh Osama bin Laden (hafidhahullah) has achieved a victory because Muslims - the whole Ummah - have been forced to choose between Imaan and Kufr; between supporting and aiding the true believers, and supporting and aiding the infidels. Between striving for Jihaad, and striving after the concerns, the pleasures, of this world. The choice in reality is between walking along the right path, which assuredly leads to Paradise, and going astray.

There is a clear distinction between Haqq and Batil, and the worldly conflict in Afghanistan has made this clear to all Muslims. The Message has been conveyed; the right path has been made clear; the duty - the obligation - of Muslims toward doing what is right, what is Muslim, has been made clear.

We all have to make a choice, and we will all be held accountable to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) for this choice, for on The Last Day Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will judge us.

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) knows best.

Abdul Aziz
1422 AH