Jihad Interview - Wednesday, 26th March 2008 Jihad Magz team managed to
interview Ustadz Imam Samudra in Lapas Batu Nusa Kambangan. In the visit which
is filled with a friendly atmosphere, Ustadz Imam Samudra, who is as lively as
ever, answered all the questions posed by Jihad Magz enthusiastically. The
following is an excerpt from the interview. Ponder upon this very beautiful
interview.Jihad Magz (JM): Assalamu’alaikum. Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh! How are you Ustadz? How do you feel and how is your condition these days Ustadz?
Ustdz Imam Samudra (IS): Wa’alaikumussalam.Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh!
Alhamdulillah,
regardless of how abnormal the condition of the prison is in general, but with
the mercy of Allah SWT, we are
given the strength. We are like what you (need to) know that amongst the signs
of the ‘end times’ are; the dreams of the believers are seldom wrong. So there
are a lot of "baseerah" (insightful knowledge) that we received. Maybe akhi Abu
Zaid, akhi Amrozi have already narrated those dreams. Secondly, we are confident in the beautiful promises of Allah SWT, some of them I have written in the book (I Am Fighting The Terrorists). And Alhamdulillah, things have not changed here, Allah SWT is still helping us. Sometimes things that seemed illogic are happening. For example, and this is what’s happening often; we are suddenly dreaming about apes, dogs or rabbits. Apes, dogs or snakes are interpreted as Allah’s enemies ie. the police and the warders. It actually happens. The police came. Not once or twice, and I was not the only one who had the dream.
As for the rabbit … I am never against any animal, but you see, I was suddenly dreaming about a rabbit, I opened the “takwil” (deeper interpretation) and found that the meaning of the rabbit is someone who is only interested in material gain and he is a coward.
Then there actually came a man who pretended to be with us. Later on, I saw a snake in my dream, it died, and then bingo! It truly happened, soon after that the court judge (Karna Parna, 60) who lead Amrozi’s case proceedings died. Seeing a snake, and the snake died. I read its interpretation, whoever saw a snake died, it means that his enemy is going to die. It’s precisely what happened, the judge was surely dead. The same things also happened in Bali.
You See, about four or five days ago, I was dreaming of seeing a snake again and it died. Just now I heard the news about the death of certain gangsters in Solo.. It is true right? The night I dreamt about it, it was either one or two..? [One died on location, the other died in the hospital]. Subhanallah, that night I dreamt of seeing a snake. The snake wanted to attack me, so I read the "ayatul kursi" (the verse of the throne) and the snake died. Not long afterwards, I heard the news..it was true.. It was all "baseerah".
Then, yesterday after zuhr prayer, I dreamt of seeing a cobra snake being carried inside a basket by a worker here who wanted to attack me. I read the "ayatul kursi", and the snake died thereafter. I am currently waiting for the news, what would happen soon… may it be, who knows, Urip Tri Gunawan, (former head of the team of 35 prosecutors, arrested red-handed after receiving a bribe of US$600000 from US in a house in South Jakarta...) or whoever it may be, hopefully...
So, we are in good conditions Alhamdulillah. By the will of Allah SWT, we are given the Furqan (evidence): ”waman yattaqillah yaj’al lahu makhraja, waman yattaqillah fahuwa hasbuh” (whoever fears Allah (taqwa), sufficient is Him as his protector).
We were given the furqan by Allah SWT, even though we are shut in terms of communication with the outside world, generally we are fine here.
Nevertheless my battle with the "taghout" never stops, it goes on forever. So may all of you guys here are accepted by Allah SWT amongst his fighters.
JM: In the book “I Am Fighting The Terrorists”, you explained about the big influence of a book by Sheikh Abdullah Azzam on you, to the extent that it had made you travelled to the land of Afghanistan. Could you please relate to us the influence or precisely which part of the book that really gave you the inspiration and please tell us about your journey to Afghanistan ?
IM:
My friends and I read that book repeatedly since we were in the upper secondary
school. A friend had become shaheed now in Afghanistan (Insha Allah). What
encouraged me was Allah’s assistance to the Mujahideen, for example there were
two mountains, two hills, one was a Russian’s stronghold and the other belonged
to the Mujahideen. When an supplier aircraft flew overhead to drop rationed meat
to the Russians, by Allah’s wills the meat fell exactly on the Mujahideen’s side
who were in great hunger at that time.Secondly, I still remember how, when the Mujahideen were attacked by a bomber aircraft, suddenly birds, like those of the "ababil" appeared below the aircraft .
Thirdly, there was this man who was crushed by an armored tank, but by Allah’s will he did not die. It was all Karomah from Allah SWT. That was what prompted me and I believed in those promises of Allah. From that time onwards I always prayed to Allah, “O Allah make me come to the place which this book mentioned”... A few years later I arrived in Afghanistan.
JM: One of the opinions which opposed the acts of the Bali Bombing 1 is based on the reason that the "Iqomatul Hujjah" (da’wah of verbal clarification by the ulema) about their conditions have not reached the government yet. How do you respond to that Ustadz?
IS: The opinions of the Ulemas about the “iqomatul hujjah” varies. Some say it is a must, some say it’s not. When is the time for “iqomatul hujjah”? To the rival native population and we have a long time to do such thing, the “iqomatul hujjah”. Nowadays the conditions have changed, we already have the internet, the TV and all, what else haven’t we got? Except for the Saharan desert where there haven’t been people, such a “hujjah”is not required... Secondly, to isolate our targets was not easy.
JM: About the finances Ustadz, amongst the ikhwans out there, many of them think that it was "fai’" or "ghanimah" (war spoils) acquired from a goldsmith in Banten. What is the clarification on this Ustadz?
IS: No. It’s absolutely not true.
JM: Next Ustadz, other ikhwans now admitted that the Bali bombing is wrong and right away write a book, how’s that according to you Ustadz? Example Ali Imran, and a few others.
IS: Ali Imran is now under the care of the Mabes (Governmental headquarters), so without me answering, people already knew who Ali Imran is, who Nasir Abbas is. So I don't need to comment on this issue, because you yourselves knew the answer.
JM: Still about Bali Bombings, is it true that what you had planned and accomplished was only the bombing of the Sari Club, whereas the one at Paddys Café was not your handiwork. So who carried out that act?
IS:
It's like this, actually it is something that I don't need to answer. Because
whatever had gone around amongst the masses, let those be what happened. Let the
masses judge for themselves. That way. Because, if I talk at this time, it will
be spinned by the media.JM: About the front opposing Ustadz (the book “I Am Fighting The Terrorists”), namely Ba’abduh and friends. How is your view on them? Has there been a book prepared to counteract them?
IS: Yes, I have given to you right? (A copy had been given by Ustadz Imam Samudra to Jihad Magz). It's actually like this, it was written by me during the time at Krobokan in 2004-2005 after reading the As-Syariah magazine which was written by Abu Abduh. It was actually the same person as Lukman Ba’abduh, the language was precisely the same, so I tried to disapprove it as much as I could, firstly because I had limited references available. Secondly, as you are well aware, we do not use computers in here. It's all hand written… I have not used pens for ten years, it was all typing on the computers before. Now I am writing again, back to the old stone age.
JM: About the Jihad media, you are very concerned about it. Why and what are the necessary steps to be taken by the jihad medias?
IS: The essence is one, whoever is involved in the Jihad media, he must correct his intention first of all, ie. for the sake of Allah SWT alone. Secondly, he must be fully committed with what he strives for, such as this Ar Rahmah, State of Islamic Media. Do it faithfully, the kafirs are working 24 hours non-stop to promote disbeliefs.
“Yuriiduna li-yuthfi-u nuurallah bi-afwaahihim, wallahu mutimmu nuurihi walaw karihal kaafiruun.” The kafirs are disparaging the muslims with their mouths, therefore we must by reversal straighten out Allah's shariah with our da'wah. Why the mouths? Because there were no speakers then, no internet, no radio, only with the mouth… from mouth to mouth. In today’s context it is from internet to internet, from radio to radio, from chat room to chat room and from mail list to mail list.
Thus, stay istiqomah with the truth, you must be confident, be confident that what you are doing is the truth, istiqomah. Automatically the truth would of course face oppositions from other parties.
JM: If in the foreign countries Ustadz, websites are created by the Muslims for the Muslim activists who are imprisoned in order to assist them, to collect funds, including means to pressure the government into finding ways to release them. According to you Ustadz, is it necessary for us out here to do likewise?
IS: It depends on your intrigues. Because, “Fukku al-‘aany wa-ath’imul jaa-i'…” (hadits). Free the captives and feed the hungry and visit the sick. It is fardu ‘ain. Fardhu ‘ain upon you if you are able. I don't need to answer that further, because the Islamic rule on this subject is very clear, it is not “ijtihadiyah”, it is a hadith, a “qathi’e” (definite) hadith. Visit the sick, free the captives and feed the hungry. Simple.
JM: If you often received "karomah" in the Grobokan Bali Prison, how about in the Nusa Kambangan Prison here, have you also experienced the same thing?
IS: Let's be frank. Sometimes I myself did not write down the dreams because I am worried, firstly, of becoming impressed with myself (ujub). Sometimes I myself did not believe that the dreams would come true, but obviously they did turn out to be true. I once dreamt of a journalist coming from Malaysia, but I kept quiet and did not tell anybody. Evidently it's true, the journalist did come... Subhanallah.
It’s one of those cases.. hopefully it was a “karomah” from Allah SWT and many other similar cases, many wishes which were just a mere thought, were instantly granted by Allah SWT out of His mercy. Nevertheless there were times when it was quite slow, but at other times it was spontaneous.
JM: Like the wish to eat bread during your time in the Krobokan Bali State Prison?
IS: Yes, actually such thing was not only experienced by me alone, many other ikhwans also experienced the same thing, it's just that they did not write them down. I also did not write them down at first but I was advised by some people that it was a sign our struggles are truly the right struggles, therefore I started to write them down.
JM: How about the impending execution Ustadz (wallahu a’lam bis sowab), some concerns were raised and one of them is that; the government are worried that if it is carried out, the repercussion would drag the country into more chaos or that it is destined to be 'cursed'...!
IS: Certainly, it will surely happen...that's Allah's promise. Haven't Allah sworn? By My Sublimity, Allah said, Whoever shows hostility to My wali, I proclaim war against him
We are Allah's wali, we are confident with that. Never mind the execution, even just oppressing us would already invite Allah's wrath. There have been so many evidences. In Aceh, there was a Tsunami, everywhere is destructions… earthquake, volcanoes, haze from the forest fire, demonstrations, the oil price hike madness, those were all calamities from Allah SWT. The Lapindo (mudflow) is still opening, it will only stop/close if this country is implementing the Law of Allah SWT.
JM: Another thing that we have heard lately is that they were being threatened that Al-Qaeda members would come over here. That's what we heard…
IS: It's very likely. Insha Allah, may that happen. The forces of Allah are in heaven and on earth. If that happens, you are all obliged to act.
JM: What should we prepare ourselves with to face all the possibilities, dear Ustadz?
IS: Prior to performing good deeds, one has to be prepared with everything. “Al-‘Ilmu qablal qawli wal ‘amal”, 'ilm (knowledge) is before words and deeds. Therefore we have to have the knowledge first before doing any good work..
JM: Lastly, what is Ustadz's hope for us out here?
IS: First, istiqomah (steadfast) with Allah SWT, second, purify your hearts from worldly motives and popularity. If there is even just a bit of intention for popularity, you would fall down or an intention for personal worldly motives, all will be chaotic. Even if it is just a speck of worldly intention, seek Allah's forgiveness (istighfar) immediately. It is the worldly intentions which harm mankind, it's all “Nafs” which resides in the world of the senses and is dominated by earthly desires and passions (Shahwat), desires for popularity, for material gain, for women. A bit of that would spoil everything.
Especially that you guys are in the media world, you are susceptible to viruses. Sometimes we do not intend, like when receiving spam e-mails which contained things we should not view, we must be careful with that. Always ask Allah SWT so that we remain sincere in our intentions, ie. to make efforts only for the sake of Allah SWT.
Amien Ya Robbal Alamien. The interview was concluded with a do’a led by Ustadz Imam Samudra himself.
Wallahu’alam bis sowab!
Jihad Interview
Ar rahmah Media Network
The State of Islamic Media
Excerpted from: JihadMagz Edition II / Exclusive Interview
http://www.arrahmah.com
Submitted by a Mujahid