Every human being has some duties in this world. In this world, where nothing remains undecided, where wealth is scattered and exhausted, where beautiful cities turn into ruins, where civilisations are destroyed, and where only what people send here will benefit them in the Hereafter, everyone should definitely do something according to their own situation and send something by making good use of their life before going to the next world. It should be known for certain that everyone's book of deeds will be closed at death and everyone will remain with what he has done, but the books of those who devote themselves to the path of Allah (swt) and serve the great cause of Islam with everything they have will never be closed, so that their religion, nation, rape, honour and other values that need to be protected will not be harmed. A hadith explains this beautifully: "When a person dies, all his deeds are cut off, except the deeds of those who strive in the way of Allah: His deeds will be honoured until the Day of Resurrection and he will be safe from the fitnah of the grave."[1]

Because he has pioneered a new path with his deeds and therefore, he will have the same amount of good deeds of those who follow that path after him. He will also be safe from the fitnah and terror of the grave, because he has not really died so that he will be subjected to the torment of the grave. He has only changed places in terms of his body; he still lives in the hearts of people with what he left behind.

Whoever calls the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Rashid Caliphs and the Companions 'dead' is dead himself. Because they have paved such a path that we see some of their artefacts at the beginning of every road we pass by, and every time we see them, we put our faces to the ground and say, "May you live on, you have paved this road and prepared us the opportunity to walk in comfort and safety". For this reason, their virtues, merits and good deeds pile up and rise up to the Throne. They are also safe from the torment of the grave. Because the torment of the grave is for dead souls, corpse people and those who do not make religion their life; that is, those who do not set their hearts on the truth of Ahmadiyya and do not take the Qur'an as a guide. In this respect, it is unthinkable that a person who has equipped and fulfilled his life with these things should suffer the torment of the grave.

There are some believers who fulfil the duties of jihad directly and actually, and as a result they attain the virtues we have mentioned above. There are others who do not actually participate in jihad. But they, too, are rewarded for what they have done as a favour from Allah Almighty to the extent of others. In other words, even the efforts of a person who carries a mudbrick on his back in the service of faith and the Qur'an will not be wasted. Everyone, from those who take ownership of the matter in the plan of consultation, to the execution, to those who act as foot soldiers in this service, will surely receive their reward according to their intentions and efforts. From the writer who participates in the jihad with his pen to those who print and distribute what he writes, everyone gets their full share. Therefore, everyone should participate in this common table with the means bestowed upon him by his Lord and try to be a part of the overall result.

In a hadith, Abu Hurayrah (r.a.) narrates the following: 'When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) ascended the Mi'raj (ascending the ladder to the heavens in worship of Allah), he saw various sights and witnessed various events. In the meantime, they also saw the following: A people is brought who sow seeds in one day and get a crop on the same day. But as soon as the crop is taken, the seeds produce again. Faced with this interesting sight, the Messenger of Allah asked Gabriel (a.s.): "O Jibril! Who are these?" . Gabriel (a.s.):

"These are the mujahideen who have devoted themselves to the way of Allah. Allah multiplies the good deeds for them seven hundred times. And whatever they spend will not diminish; Allah will bestow another in its place. He is the best of providers."[2] He replied.

For this reason, when a believer sacrifices all his wealth, life, pleasure, enjoyment, comfort and youth in the way of Allah, he should have the conviction and thought that these things are not wasted, and when he goes to the next world, he should go with the consciousness that he is moving to a world where nothing is wasted. Yes, Allah, who protects and preserves everything, will also protect what he sacrifices. He will protect them so much that if there is prostration in Paradise, the believer will prostrate before the favours and blessings of Allah (swt) there and will not want to lift his head. I believe that if there is such a thing, the pleasure derived from this prostration will not be inferior to the pleasure derived from the other blessings of Paradise.

We also see a hadith of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) related to this subject as follows:

"The one who equips a veteran is as if he had gone to war. The one who looks after the people of the veteran is as if he has gone to the battle."[3] A person cannot personally and actually participate in the jihad, but he gives a shoulder to those who are in the struggle. If he embraces the mujahideen and protects them with the institutions he has established, it is as if he is actually engaged in jihad. Because in this case, he is also fighting with his wealth. Those who took up the sword in Badr and those who supported them, those who fought in Uhud and those who equipped them, those who went to Tabuk and those who could not go but set out on that path with their wealth will walk together to the presence of Allaah and they will be gathered together. Because they responded to the order of Rasûl-i Ekrem  "Mobilise!" and although they could not actually participate in the war due to some valid excuses, they did not fail to mobilise for the war with their financial and moral support.

Yes, the mujahideen who actually went to Tabuk will see some women, old people and children with them in the Hereafter. Children brought their knives or daggers to be used in warfare and threw them in front of the Messenger of Allah, brides took the earring out of their ears and gave it to the Messenger of Allah, another stripped her bracelet from her arm and participated in the generosity competition, the old people came crawling with their crutches, poured what they had in their hands and palms and said, "Let me also have a contribution."[4] Yes, all these will be treated as if they had participated in the expedition themselves. In another hadith, Rasûl-i Ekrem expresses this as follows:

"There are such people who remain in Madinah that they are with you in every valley you pass through and every distance you walk. The disease has imprisoned them in Madinah." In another narration, "They are your partners in reward."[5]

That is to say, if excuses such as incapacity, poverty, old age, being a child or a woman have tied their feet and prevented them from actually going on a campaign, they will not be deprived of the reward of jihad, nor will they be deprived of its reward, and Allah Almighty will accept them just like those who go on a journey because of their intentions. This is what we understand from this glad tidings-laden statement of the Messenger of Allah.

We accept this belief as a prayer and supplication for us. Especially nowadays, when jihad is being abandoned altogether, we are convinced that those who participate in it, in whole or in part, will certainly receive their share of the reward of jihad.

Working for the realisation of the Islamic Unity, for the liberation of the Muslims of the world from oppression and injustice, and for their freedom is, of course, the worship of jihad as described above. The works and services carried out for this cause are within the scope of the worship of jihad, regardless of their type and form.

Muslims who say, "We perform our worships comfortably, we perform our prayers in awe, we go to our pilgrimage, we fast" should take their heads out of the mosque and look at the Islamic world! What will they see? Will he not see the bloodshed in the world, hungry and thirsty people, ruined houses and the poor people in them? What about the thousands of innocent children dying of hunger? Do we hear the cries of women and children who are raped? The period we are living in is not the period of being heedless, remaining silent, being indifferent, thinking only of oneself and one's family, falling behind the interests in the worldly life, and killing time with selfish discussions and bickering. It would be irresponsible not to make an effort when millions of Muslims are suffering such great oppression and the solution is Islamic Unity. Every Muslim should endeavour for the spread of Islam all over the world and for the unity and solidarity of Muslims, in accordance with Allah's command. The person who refrains from taking this responsibility in this world may be crushed under this irresponsibility in the Hereafter. Every Muslim is responsible for every drop of blood that flows all over the world, for every Muslim who is persecuted, injured or killed. The one who does not make any effort for the Islamic Union, which is the great power that will put an end to oppression, must be ready for the heavy penalty.

Most of the people are not aware of what is happening in Pakistan, Iraq, Crimea, Kashmir, Patani, Burma and East Turkistan. There are people who have never even heard of these regions, let alone know where they are. However, the people who have been subjected to violence, persecution, oppression, hunger and poverty in these regions for years are our brothers and sisters in religion. 

On the other hand, there is a majority of people who are aware of the oppression and injustice but do not think that they can help. These people do not even think that they can make an effort to prevent the oppression. Moreover, he is so convinced that he cannot do anything that he continues his routine life comfortably without any stirring in his conscience. On the other hand, the sincere believer's conscience is always alive in the face of the news he reads about oppression and the images he sees. Because he is aware that he is responsible for everything he hears and sees.

Our Prophet (s.a.w.) says:  "He who is not troubled by the troubles of his fellow believer is not one of us."[6] Allâh Almighty says: "What is wrong with you that you do not fight in the way of Allah and on behalf of those who are left weak, men, women and children, who say: 'Our Lord, take us out of this land whose inhabitants are oppressors, and send us a guardian from Your Presence, and send us a helper from Your Presence'?" [7]

How can a careless, indifferent, self-saving approach befit a Muslim? How can a Muslim not feel responsible for the harm done to a Muslim in any corner of the world? Surely there is something that everyone can do for innocent people who are suffering, for women and children who are being raped. The basis of oppression on earth is irreligion and every believer can fight against irreligion. Explaining the existence and power of Allah, introducing Allah, teaching the fear and love of Allah, reminding us about the hereafter, heaven, hell and our responsibilities in this world is the first step to be taken to end these atrocities. Every sincere Muslim can and should take this step. If the beauties of the Qur'an, such as justice, mercy, love, self-sacrifice, forgiveness and other superior moral qualities dominate the earth, a happy world full of justice, peace, tranquillity and security will emerge. Eliminating the corrosive and destructive effects of irreligion on humanity and establishing the beauties of religious morality is an aid to all people. This endeavour, based on peace, tolerance, love and compassion, which is the meaning of Islam, can mobilise the conscience of those who oppress and persecute. And thus, oppression can be prevented on earth.

Islamic Unity is an inevitable need today. A strong unity and solidarity is imperative. It should be one of our most important responsibilities to strive for the reconstruction of Islamic civilisation, which will be the common voice of the Islamic world, which will teach tolerance to the world, which will bring prosperity and peace to all people, Muslim and non-Muslim, and to cling to the rope of Allah (swt) together. A Muslim who says, 'There is nothing I can do, I cannot do anything,' can pray sincerely and intensely to Allah (swt) for the establishment of Islamic Unity. The person who says, 'No, I cannot do that either,' should be reminded that the one who consents to oppression, condones it, and does not oppose it is a partner in oppression. Almighty Allah (swt) does not go back on His promise. He will make Islamic ethics dominant on earth and complete His light. However, this process is a test for us. "Whoever strives, strives only for his own soul. Verily, Allah is Exempted from the worlds."[8]

[1]Tirmidhi, Fedâil al-Jihad, 2; Abu Dawud, Jihad, 16; Musnad, 6/20.

[2]  Ibn Kathir, Tafsir, 5/31.

[3]  Bukhari, Jihad, 38; Tirmidhi, Fedail al-Jihad, 6; Nasai, Jihad, 44.

[4]  Hayât al-Sahâba, Yusuf Kandahlawî, 1/421-422.

[5]  Bukhari, Shop, 81; Muslim, Imâret, 159.

[6]  Hakim, IV, 352, Haysemi, I, 87.

[7]  Surah al-Nisa, 4/75.

[8]  Surah Ankebut, 29/6.