Bismallah Al-Rhaman Al-Rahim,
As-Salaam Alayikum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuhu ya Ikhwani wa Ikhawati,
My dear Brother and Sister Mujahideen,
I wrote this on another blog site, but I got precious few views, so I thought I would post it here as well. I seem to have better control over what I can post here, and technically I seem to know how to use this site better than the other one. So, here is an open letter I wrote not too long ago, to describe what I am. Please forgive me for my choice of language in the first paragraph. But that was reality for me and it is meant to show you what it was like...
My dear Brother and Sister Mujahideen,
I wish to share with you the atrocities I have witnessed. Before I realized I was a Muslim, I was assigned to a unit in Bilad Al-Rafidayn. I have seen things no man should see, but al-humdulillah I did see them, for had I not seen them I would not have believed. I have seen men taken from their homes and families, women and children left to fend for themselves. I have seen livestock and livelihoods left to wander the desert without a shepherd. I have seen men tied and penned up like cattle. I have seen homes and farms destroyed, families torn apart, and children left weeping with their hands outstretched up toward us in the swirling winds, crying "Abi! Abi!". I did not know what I was doing. All I knew was I had a skill. I was trained to use it. After only a short time, I realized something was wrong. I was acting in ways against Allah (swt). I was sinning against my fellow man, I was aiding and abetting a force I believed was much larger than any force on Earth. I soon realized I was being called by Allah (swt) to change my ways and act righteously. That there was a force far larger than one with tanks and fighter jets. A divine force. Al-humdulillah I started to use my skill for my own purpose, for the greater purpose, unknown to my leadership. I began to act. Step by step, bit by bit. Because I could speak the language, I was able to bring some calm to those I was told to call my enemy. I called them Brother, instead of "dog" as I had been ordered. I called them Sister, instead of "whore" as I had been ordered. Before too long I was able to provide some small amounts of assistance, that insha'Allah helped our fellow Mujahideen on the ground. I was the only one who could understand. Al-humdulillah, no one else could understand me. But they understood. Their eyes understood.
I will never forget the time we raided a farm west of 'Asimat al-Bilad. It was 2:00 a.m. We landed, three ships. They were sleeping on the roof and began to run down into the houses. We were looking for… a man. We knew he was supposed to be there. Somewhere. We overwhelmed them. My unit herded those captured outside, each one tied up and forced to kneel, head down, men, women, two teenagers. Al-humdulillah there were no children. They were all crying. My Raqib barked, "Where is Abu Ali!?!" Again and again. I translated. One man, in the middle of the group was not crying. He was calm. But breathing heavily. The women were all crying out, "La tekhftafuhu! La tekhtafuhu!" Don't take him don't take him. I asked each one, "Where is Abu Ali?" But as I got close to them, where only they could hear me, I whispered, "La tekhaf. La tekhaf. Adri inna huwa hon." Don't be afraid. I know he's here. Then I would yell, as did my Raqib, "Which one is Abu Ali?" They looked at me with puzzled eyes. I looked back at them, eye to eye. "Adri." I know. "I don't think he's here." After convincing my Raqib that I believed he was not there, even though I knew he was right in front of me, we left. Of course, we took two of the men with us. The two my Raqib thought were lying, but al-humdulillah not Abu Ali. We mounted our ships, as we lifted off the ground. I could see them. They all ran to Abu Ali. Then they all looked up at us. At me. Eye to eye. It was then I knew. It was then I could feel heat in my chest. Divine inspiration. My first step on a righteous path. And not my last.
Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day ask thee for no exemption from fighting with their goods and persons. And Allah knoweth well those who do their duty. 9:44
Insha'allah, Allah (swt) will forgive me, and see me as I strive to walk a righteous path, as I do my duty.
E6G
