Abu Jandal al-Qasimi (Ibrahim Saleh Mujahid al-Khalifa), may Allah have mercy on him.

“Think not of those who are slain in Allah’s way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord; They rejoice in the bounty provided by Allah: and with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the Martyrs glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they cause to grieve. They glory in the Grace and the Bounty from Allah, and in the fact that Allah suffereth not the reward of the faithful to be lost (in the least)”. (Al-Imran 169-171)

May Allah have the most capacious mercy upon you, for you were the best of friends in both prosperity and adversity. No matter what I write about you, it will not do you justice.

When I received news of your murder, I immediately recalled the words of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi when word reached him of the murder of Sheikh Abu Anas al-Shami.

I understood the meaning of those words, as if he were speaking to describe the present:

“News of his murder arrived and at first I didn’t believe it. I was suspended between hope and fear until certain word came. My memories cast their shadow on me whenever I see before me any trace of Jihad or the Mujahideen. It was as if my body was torn in two. My eyes could shed tears from time to time. He was my boon companion in joy and sorrow.”

I don’t know where to start. Do I start with your devotion to your mother? Or do I start with the purity of your heart and soul? Or with your high-mindedness and generosity? Your virtuousness and courage?

We regard you as a man like no other, but we do not praise anyone before Allah. He was, may Allah have mercy on him, from a conservative and wealthy family in the city of al-Ras in al-Qasim. He was devoted to his mother, praying for her until he was killed, may Allah have mercy on him. He never, may Allah have mercy on him, placed anything above his mother, except the call to the field of Jihad. He said: “I weighed the command of my mother to refrain to the command of Allah to answer the call. I placed the command of Allah, Sublime and Exalted, over the command of my mother.”

He was, may Allah have mercy on him, like other young men thinking about his studies, then how to obtain a degree and a job, and about building a house and getting married. This is the same with many of youth of Islam these days, except those whom Allah has had mercy upon. He completed his studies and graduated from the Educators’ College. He was thus qualified as a teacher, and received an appointment as a teacher in al-Dawadimi.

However, the one thing that had motivated him since his childhood was tragedy of the Muslims, about which he had heard everywhere since the day he was born. He mentioned that in his last will. The videos of Jihad in Afghanistan from the days of the war against the Russians had a great effect on Abu Jandal. Some time later there occurred the Zionist-Crusader invasion on Afghanistan, followed by the invasion of Iraq. He realized how the Crusaders, Americans and others, were trampling on the dignity of Muslims there. So he went to the passport office and came out with a passport. He tried to go to Iraq, but Allah did not will it to be so. He continued to search for a way to leave for Iraq – and he spent almost a year searching. Then occurred the operations of the brothers in the Land of the Two Holy Mosques. He began searching for the truth. Why were Abu Hajer al-Muqrin and those with him, may Allah have mercy on them, fighting the Saudi government? Why were they sacrificing their blood for that?

Allah guided him to the writings of Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, and he read many of his books. He reviewed his evidence and the evidence of his opponents and he came to understand more. Among those books were Millat Ibrahim, The Thirtieth Message in Warning against Excesses in Takfir, Dialogue between the Soldiers of Tawhid and the Soldiers of Tandid (criticism) and other books. The truth became clear to him and he realized the truth about the despots and apostates. He lost the doubts which their malicious media had cast upon the people.

He began to collect donations for his Mujahideen brothers. When it became possible to send it to Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere he would send it after confirming the way was secure. Then Allah made possible for him to contact the brothers in Yemen. So he came to Yemen himself to deliver some money and to coordinate the way for him and his brothers to join (Jihad). He then returned to the Land of the Two Holy Mosques to await the Mujahideen’s answer, until the brothers gave him the green light to come. He sent a group of brothers who had been persecuted by the tyrants of the House of Saud to infiltrate across the border, and booked the first flight he could to join them. He went as he had desired and he joined his brothers in the land of dignity, faith and wisdom. This is the land about which the Messenger, Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “I find the breath of the All-Merciful coming from there”, he said this as his back was inclined towards Yemen. Yes, by Allah, this was a relief to the brothers after the tyrants had harassed them.

He was, may Allah have mercy on him, a passionate hunter, but this was not a stumbling block for him. On the contrary, he mixed his passion for hunting with the intention of training himself for Jihad. We judge him so, and Allah is his judge. He was also fond of horseback riding, so he bought a horse and began preparing himself for Jihad. His family proposed that he should marry before leaving. But he was trying to hurry the way until Allah made the path possible for him. So he hastened to the land of glory with his person and his money. He had some land. So he sold it, paid off his debts and equipped himself. As for the remainder, he gathered together what he had and brought it to the Mujahideen. He had always yearned to plunge into battle and combat in the path of Allah since he was in the Land of the Two Holy Mosques, until Allah made this possible for him. He found what he had been looking for and was keen to learn anything that would be of use to him on the path of Jihad. He adhered to the Words of Allah, Sublime and Exalted:

“Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into the enemies of Allah and your enemies.” (Al-Anfal: 60)

When he arrived to the land of Yemen, he learned much about weapons and took classes in guerrilla warfare, electronics, first aid, explosives and some Shari’a sciences. He was very enthusiastic. But what had really increased his zeal was a piece of advice given to him by one of the brothers when he joined them. He, may Allah have mercy on him, acted upon it and told it to whichever brothers he would meet: “If you meet a brother who is knowledgeable in any science, take from him what you can. Do not wait and say: ‘I’ll wait until there’s a class or I learn in a camp’. If you have chance to learn something, don’t miss the opportunity”.

Regarding the purity of his soul and the integrity of his heart, I cannot describe it with my pen. He almost never carried anything in his heart against his brothers. If he ever transgressed against any brother, he would rush to find him and try to please that brother, court him and give him a gift to cleanse their souls.

As for his generosity, may Allah have mercy on him, he was the most generous man I ever met. Ever since I first met him, you could not say that what he owned was his, but you would say it was his brothers. Anyone who associated with him or walked with him, knew the truth of that. As for his bravery, among the incidents that bear witness to that was one time he was in an area when aircraft came and began to pour fire on him and his brothers. One of the brothers said to him: “Abu Jandal, let us withdraw from this place”. But he refused saying, “I will stay in my position and fire upon their aircraft. They are flying so close our bullets can hit them.” But the brother grabbed him and pulled him out of that place. None of the brothers was hit during that raid, praise and thanks be to Allah. But look at his bravery in that critical situation, and look how Allah protects his servants the Mujahideen. What hit you never would have missed you and what missed you never would have hit you. But this does not prevent us from (acting) on the reasons and relying upon Allah.

Another incident which bore witness to his bravery was the incident in which he was killed. I will mention that at the end of these lines, Allah willing.

He was, may Allah have mercy on him, easy to work with, friendly-faced, and at the service of his brothers. All who associated with him knew that. He was loyal to his brothers and no sooner would he see any objectionable action by any of the brothers, but he would rush to advise and guide him. A true friend, loyal and compassionate, he, may Allah have mercy on him, loved goodness for his brothers as he loved it for himself. We deem him so and we do not recommend anyone before Allah.

He used to say to me, “I never went out on a raid but I wished you were there with us.” He always used to remind me, saying: “You prepare yourself and I will prepare myself in fields where we can serve Allah, until Allah makes it possible for us to enter the Land of the Two Holy Mosques. There would be no good in us if we feared to enter the Land of the Two Holy Mosques.”

He took part in some of battle in Yemen, including the battle of Ma'arib, and also participated in some raids. He was a member of the Abdullah Batees’ battalion which killed three officers and a number of soldiers who wronged and tortured our brothers in their prisons at Hadramawt.

He was a spark in battle, urging his brothers to fight the tyrants and apostates, until Allah blessed him and chose him in one raid to clash with the soldiers of apostasy and agents of America, form the front and not from the rear. He was the commander of that company and when they approached them, he said to his group: “Proceed to eliminate them”. He started to attack and eliminate them. One of the soldiers of apostasy was wounded but not dead. Abu Jandal, may Allah have mercy on him, advanced upon him and attacked him like a lion attacking his prey. That apostate soldier fired three shots at Abu Jandal and wounded him; then he finished off that lackey soldier. Abu Jandal then breathed his last breath. He was killed, may Allah have mercy on him, smiling and raising his index finger, indicating the Tawhid of Allah.

One of those who buried him said, “We dug half the grave then stopped to rest. Then a brother came to finish it and smelled the scent of musk wafting from the grave. He said to his brothers, ‘Do you smell that scent?’ All who were present smelled it.”

Bliss to you Abu Jandal for this testimony and this final act. It was mentioned in an authentic hadith that the Messenger, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, said:

“The person who participates (in Jihad) in Allah’s cause, and nothing compels him except belief in Allah and his Messengers, will be recompensed by Allah with a reward or booty or he will be admitted to Paradise”.

I swear by Allah if we are asked we will be truthful, and if we are called to witness we will give testimony that you were truly a Knight of Islam, and a Mujahid lion among the lions of Tawhid. Peace be upon your soul in immortality and may Allah grant you the most capacious Mercy. You went forth (on Jihad) with your person and your wealth and you returned with nothing. May Allah make you dwell in the most spacious of His Gardens, and elevate your status in the highest of Heavens. We ask Him to let us follow you unashamed and un-enamoured, with the true prophets and righteous martyrs. They are the best companions.

Written by: al-Zubair al-Qasimi

"Among the Believers are men who have been true to their Covenant with Allah: of them some have completed their vow and some wait: but they have never changed in the least" (Al-Ahzab: 23)

Are you not preparing to go to Paradise?

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