How can I Train Myself for Jihad
29-03-2008
What is Jihad
Military Training is an Islamic Obligation not an Option
Sincerity of Intention
Physical Training
Martial Arts
Survival and Outdoors Training
Firearms Training
Important Note on Live-Ammunition Jihad Firearms Training Camps
Military Training
“And prepare against them all you can of power, including steeds of war to
terrorize the enemies of Allah and others besides whom you may not know, but
Allah does know. And whatever you shall spend in the Cause of Allah shall be
repaid unto you, and you shall not be treated unjustly.” [Quran 8:60]
In commenting on this verse, the Messenger (salla Allahu alayhi wa salam) said:
“Indeed, power is shooting, power is shooting, power is shooting.” [Sahih
Muslim]
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radheya Allahu a’anhu) that the Messenger (salla Allahu
alayhi wa salam) said:
“If anyone keeps a horse for Jihad in the Way of Allah, motivated by his faith
in Allah and his belief in His Promise, then he will be rewarded on the Day of
Resurrection for what the horse has eaten or drunk and for its dung and urine.”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari]
What is Jihad?
Jihad literally means ‘to struggle’. In the military sense it is meant in the
context, ‘to struggle against oppression’. Jihad is therefore an act to liberate
people from the oppression of tyrants. Jihad is not illegal acts against
innocent people. When tabloid journalism mistakenly informs the masses that
Jihad is ‘to commit illegal acts of terror’, they are revealing the lack of
their research and the extent of their unprofessional approach to the subject.
Military Training is an Islamic Obligation not an Option
According to the verse above (”And prepare against them all you can of power…”),
military training is an obligation in Islam upon every sane, male, mature
Muslim, whether rich or poor, whether studying or working and whether living in
a Muslim or non-Muslim country. The Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa salam)
explained the meaning of the term ‘power’ in the above verse during a Friday
Sermon by mentioning that power was specifically shooting.
The verse mentions ‘what you can…’, meaning that the Muslims must prepare to the
utmost of their ability and circumstances.
‘Steeds of war’ refer to the horses that were prepared for battle. In this day
and age, the scholars of Islam have explained this term to mean all forms of
modern weaponry such as infantry weapons, tanks, artillery, aircraft, etc.
The above verse is a clear evidence that military training of all sorts is an
Islamic obligation, not something optional. Furthermore, the obligation is
according to one’s ability, in that the Muslims must use every means at their
disposal to undertake military and physical training for Jihad.
In Surah Taubah of the Quran, Allah answers those hypocrites who made feeble
excuses to the Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa salam) so that they
would not have to participate in the Battle of Tabuk. The hypocrites came to the
Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa salam) and gave their excuses with the
impression that they really wanted to take part in the battle, but difficult
circumstances outside their control were preventing them from doing so. Allah’s
response was:
“And if they had really intended to march forth, certainly they would have made
some preparation for it; but Allah hated them being sent forth, so He made them
lag behind, and it was said to them, ‘Sit you among those who sit at home
(women, children, elderly, etc.)’” [Quran 9:46]
These hypocrites had not intended to participate in Jihad from the outset and
their lack of preparations was the evidence for this. Had they really wanted to
take part in the Jihad, they would have prepared themselves and tried their
utmost to join the battle, like the three companions who approached the
Messenger (salla Allahu alayhi wa salam) before the Battle of Tabuk, requesting
horses or mules so they could join the Battle. When the Prophet (salla Allahu
alayhi wa salam) informed them that he could not provide them with mounts, they
turned back with their eyes full of tears that they could not join the battle:
“Nor is there blame on those who came to you to be provided with mounts, when
you said, ‘I can find no mounts for you,’ they turned back, while their eyes
were overflowing with tears of grief that they could not find anything to spend
for Jihad.” [Quran 9:92]
Therefore, those Muslims unable to participate in Jihad at this present time
whatever the reason have no excuse before Allah for not training for Jihad.
The Messenger of Allah (salla Allahu alayhi wa salam) said: “Whoever dies
without having fought in battle, nor having the sincere wish in his heart to
fight in battle, dies on a branch of hypocrisy.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari]
The one sincere to fight in battle is the one who makes suitable preparations
for battle. A Muslim that spends a life empty of any physical or military
training for Jihad, let alone Jihad itself, should fear dying on a branch of
hypocrisy according to the above hadith. True Iman (faith) is manifested in
actions and if someone truly wishes to fight Jihad, he will prepare himself in
all possible ways.
Sincerity of Intention
Training is an Islamic obligation so a Muslim must undertake it for the correct
reason otherwise he will neither be blessed nor rewarded by Allah for all his
efforts. The correct reason to train is to train for Jihad which is undertaken
to please Allah alone. Therefore the Muslim must not publicly display to the
people what he is doing, nor must he show off during his training, nor seek fame
or reputation in the eyes of human beings during his training. If he wishes to
be rewarded by Allah and blessed and helped in his training, all his training
must be done to obtain the Pleasure of Allah alone.
In practical terms, this would mean avoiding training in the company of people
(e.g. women) who might be impressed by the one training, flouting muscles etc.
This also means to avoid publicly announcing to everyone that one is going for
training or dropping subtle hints such as leaving clothes and equipment in view
of the people. The beloved Companions of the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa
salam) used to hide their good deeds more than they used to hide their sins, for
fear of their intention being corrupted. Train only to please Allah and He will
help you, reward you and bless you, for there is no benefit in gaining the
pleasure of human beings.
Physical Training
The basis of all Jihad training is something that can be done in every country
of the World: physical training. This requires little or no equipment and is
something that one can fit round one’s daily routine. This comprises four main
areas: stamina, strength, speed and agility. In order to benefit from your
physical training, it is important that it is done regularly, ideally at the
same time of the day if possible, three times a week, which leaves a rest day
between exercise sessions to allow the body to recuperate. Some general
suggestions are given below though there are many variations to this type of
training. Consult an expert or read books or Internet articles on the topic.
There are books available to the general public of physical training within the
Military (Army Field Manuals and books written by ex-soldiers).
Stamina involves being able to sustain the body at a high rate of activity for
prolonged periods of time. Stamina is built up by aerobic exercise in sessions
of at least 20 minutes duration. Aerobic exercise is any activity that keeps the
heart rate at a level higher than normal for a sustained amount of time. It
differs from anaerobic exercise in which the heart rate increases to a very high
level but only for short bursts of time. Running, swimming, rowing are some
exercises which build up stamina. For the exercise to be of benefit, it must be
sustained for at least 20 minutes.
Running by far is the best and most practical form of stamina training for
Jihad. Start your session by running for about five minutes in order to warm up.
Then proceed to stretch the major muscles in your body by holding them in a
stretched position for at least 30 seconds. Avoid ‘bouncing’ stretching as this
can lead to serious injury. After this, run at a steady pace for a fixed period
of time. Start easy, e.g. 10 minutes, then gradually build up every session
until you can continue running at that pace for 20 minutes, 30 minutes or more.
Inhale deep breaths through your nose and exhale through your mouth whilst
running. Avoid running along sidewalks and busy roadways where the air is
polluted with auto emissions. It is better to run in boots as running in boots
reflects the reality of running in Jihad. It is also advisable to add shock
absorbing insoles into your boots before running, as these cushion the stress on
the leg bones and joints. These insoles, e.g. Sorbothane, are available in
camping and sports stores. Once you can sustain running at a constant pace for
30 minutes or more, you can add variety into the sessions by running up and down
hill, running with ankle weights or running carrying loads, e.g. a bag full of
books.
Strength training can be undertaken in the form of press-ups, squats, abdominal
crunches, etc. or by following a regular routing in weight training using
gymnasium equipment. Public gymnasiums are generally un-Islamic places with loud
music and improperly dressed men and women. Such an atmosphere is not befitting
for the training of a Mujahid. In all cases, learn how to use the equipment
properly, start easy and build up gradually and make sure you stretch and warm
up enough before each session.
Speed and agility can be built up by sprinting, running around obstacles,
climbing over walls and similar activities.
Martial Arts
It is vital to join a martial arts club as part of the training for Jihad. In
addition to teaching you how to defend yourself and strengthen your body,
martial arts develop self-discipline and controlled aggression. In some
countries, there are martial arts run by Muslim instructors, but one can join
other clubs if there are no Muslim clubs in his area. It is preferable to join
clubs that emphasize on street-fighting and self-defense such as kung-fu styles
rather than tournament fighting. You would never use high or flying kicks in a
real fight as you might in tournaments. As with any activity, regular attendance
for a number of months is necessary in order to benefit from martial arts. Many
people join martial arts clubs but are unable to stick with them. Joining clubs
that teach weapons such as sword or knife-fighting are also good at advanced
stages. Practicing martial arts is a good way to develop speed and agility but
again exercise caution regarding mixed company. In addition, it may include some
religious rituals that are derived from false religions, such as the exchange of
greetings between the combatants, which take the form of bows that are similar
to rukoo’ (the Muslim does not bow to anyone except Allaah), and the exercises
such as keeping silent and focusing or meditating, which are derived from the
religious rituals of Buddhism, etc. All of these are totally rejected by Islam,
so make sure that the instructor will exempt you from these forms of shirk
before joining.
Survival and Outdoors Training
The majority of the time spent in Jihad is learning to cope with harsh,
physically and mentally demanding living conditions. It is not about fighting
glamorous battles for your pictures to appear on the Internet. Jihad is tough
and difficult, which is why the rewards for it are so great.
Although survival training is taught at centers in some countries, it is
expensive and, in many cases, nothing special that you cannot learn and practice
yourself by reading books on the subject. The best way to learn these skills is
to go camping into the outdoors with a small group of brothers. Avoid going to a
camping site, since these are holiday areas where many facilities are available
such as hot showers, gas, etc. The best training is to take some tents, food and
water and warm clothes in a rucksack and go on treks lasting 2-3 days at a time.
If you do not have an experienced person with you, then start easy and build up
gradually. Learn how to purify water, make wudu in cold water, attend to the
call of nature in the outdoors, cook or heat food out in the open, making
different types of knots with ropes, setting up tents and other similar
activities. Learning how to start and maintain a fire in all conditions, wet or
dry, with and without lighting instruments is one of the most important survival
skills.
Learning how to walk long distances carrying loads up to one-third of your
bodyweight, walking over difficult terrain at night without the use of torches
and navigational skills using a compass, a map or the stars are also useful
skills. Many of these skills can be learnt from books and then practiced out in
the outdoors.
Firearms Training
Firearms training differs from country to country. In some countries, possession
of firearms by the public is illegal, in other countries it is legal. In some
countries of the World, especially the USA, firearms training is available to
the general public. One should try to join a shooting club if possible and make
regular visits to the firing range. There are many firearms courses available to
the public in USA, ranging from one day to two weeks or more. These courses are
good but expensive. Some of them are only meant for security personnel but
generally they will teach anyone. It is also better to attend these courses in
pairs or by yourself, no more. Do not make public announcements when going on
such a course. Find one, book your place, go there, learn, come back home and
keep it yourself. Whilst on the course, keep your opinions to yourself, do not
argue or debate with anyone, do not preach about Islam and make Salah in secret.
You are going there to train for Jihad, not call people to Islam.
Useful courses to learn are sniping, general shooting and other rifle courses.
Handgun courses are useful but only after you have mastered rifles.
In other countries, e.g. some states of USA, South Africa, it is perfectly legal
for members of the public to own certain types of firearms. If you live in such
a country, obtain an assault rifle legally, preferably AK-47 or variations,
learn how to use it properly and go and practice in the areas allowed for such
training. If you cannot get someone to teach you, you can purchase books about
shooting technique and practice shooting stationary targets at different
distances, with a partner. You can also practice running a distance, e.g. 1km,
then shooting targets from a distance. Again, there are many variations and
unless you have an experienced, trained person to learn from, you will be able
to do little more than perfect your shooting technique at different ranges.
Under NO circumstances should you play or experiment with firearms. NEVER EVER
point a firearm at anyone for a joke, whether loaded or unloaded. Keep firearms
unloaded and out of reach of children. If you feel that you will be unable to
control a firearm or your temper, do not purchase one.
Respect the laws of the country you are in and avoid dealing in illegal
firearms. One can learn to operate many arms legally, so there is no need to
spend years in prison for dealing in small, illegal firearms. Learn the most you
can according to your circumstances and leave the rest to when you actually go
for Jihad.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON LIVE-AMMUNITION JIHAD FIREARMS TRAINING WITHIN THE US AND
UK
There have been reports circulating in the media about certain Muslim
personalities claiming the presence of Jihad training camps in the US and UK in
which firearms training is given with live ammunition before sending the
trainees for Jihad. We would like to inform both Muslim and non-Muslim readers
of this article that there are NO such training camps. Rather, statements such
as these are made by Muslim personalities and individuals propped up by Western
Intelligence agencies in order to frighten the local population from Muslims. We
would also like to inform Muslims that if anyone, Muslim or non-Muslims,
approaches you offering training of this type, it is a trap, you should stay
away from that person and warn other people against that person because he might
be an undercover agent. MI5 and the FBI do employ ‘practicing’ Muslims to live
amongst Muslims as agent provocateurs and entice them into traps such as these.
Generally, these agents are amongst the most popular and influential members of
the community. The Muslims are fooled by them because they fail to check up
their background (where they came from, their history etc.) One can obtain
almost any type of military training in some countries of the World, legally, so
there is no need to risk going to prison for years just for learning how to use
a single firearm illegally.
Military Training
Although sometimes it is difficult to obtain comprehensive military training in
one’s home country, it is very easy to do plenty of background reading using
freely-available books and CDs, before one actually goes abroad.
The US Army has produced a number of military field manuals on CD on all topics
from light weapons, tanks and artillery to mines, military field craft and
combat medicine. The full set is available on CD for less than US$100 and many
field manuals are also available on the Internet. One source of availability is
searching for the term ‘US Military Field Manuals CD’ or just ‘US Military Field
Manuals Online’. Even though the US Army Field Manuals contain information
specific to US Weapons, they still contain a large amount of useful information
applicable in all circumstances. It is useful to get a full set of CDs for your
mosque or Islamic society that everyone can use.
Some topics to read up about include:
Physical fitness training
Ammunition
Sniper training
Mine/ Counter-Mine Operations and Recognition of Different Mines
Mortar
AK-47 and other Soviet weapon Operating Manuals
Terrain Analysis
Map Reading and Land Navigation
Camouflage and concealment
Survival
Combat skills of the soldier
First Aid for Soldiers
Cold Weather Training
Submitted by a Mujahid