| Complete Text Of Sheikh Osama Bin Laden’s Latest Message To Ummah May 12, 2004 Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the universe, and peace and mercy be upon our prophet Mohammed, his family and all his companions. This is a message to the Ummah in general and to our Muslim brothers in Iraq in particular. May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you. I salute our steadfast brothers in Iraq, the land of the heroes, and I salute the Mujahideen for the sake of Allah and I say to them: "You are the eminent men among the Arabs and the defenders of Islam, and the Muslims cannot thank you and praise enough. A whole year has elapsed since the invasion took place and the invaders have not been able to implement their plans as they had designed them. This is with the grace of Allah and thanks to your Jihad and the Jihad of those who supported you. May Allah reward you in the best manner. The enemies have been stunned by the ferocity of the resistance and they did not enjoy a easy sailing. The results achieved from this blessed Jihad, domestically and abroad, with the grace of Allah, were tremendous and positive on several levels, including the human losses among the enemies ranks and the depletion in their financial budgets and they are still incurring losses after losses. Praise and gratitude be to Allah. I wish to address several points: First, a horrific and very serious event which revealed the facts as they are to everyone occurred when the occupier Bremer declared that he would not accept Islam to be the source of all legislation; in other words he does not accept for Islam to be the religion of Iraq and consequently the announced constitution was issued according to his wishes. This indicates clearly that the Iraqi Governing Council is a mere dummy in the enemies’ hands and a tool to implement their schemes on the masses. On the other side of the coin, it reveals what they harbor in term of hatred for this religion, and that this struggle is a religious and a doctrinal one and that the clash is in fact a clash of civilizations. This is because they are eager to dissolve the Islamic identity throughout the whole of the Islamic world. This is their true stance towards us. As for their stance vis-à-vis the other nations, they could coexist with all the other systems of the world in the East or in the West, because these systems can be changed and deceived in a manner that would enable them to suck up the riches of the nations, enslave them and Americanize them according to their desires. However, the real challenge for them is in the Islamic world, where the main confrontation is in the first instance a religious and doctrinal one, not an economic or military one. Their intention is to eradicate Islam before anything else, because they are totally convinced that their plans in our countries, with their various policies, especially the economic, intellectual, military and security policies, could not be implemented if Islam is existent and ruling over the region. This is because the true Muslims posses the doctrine, the willpower and the faculty to resist their plans and ward off their oppression and to bring retaliation on them tit for tat. Once it has become absolutely clear to everyone that the American campaign had no relation whatsoever to removing the weapons of mass destruction or to alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi people, but it was rather a flagrant occupation in the proper sense of the word. Hence, Jihad has become obligatory upon all the Muslims in Iraq, in the North, the Centre and the South. Those who had been using as a pretext their religious chieftainships and who are participating in the Interim Governing Council have run out of excuses now that the Council has endorsed the constitution of Bremer the infidel. It is well known that the including of any other source of legislation with Islam is deemed as a major act of polytheism that takes one out of the fold of Islam. In other words, by approving the constitution, the members of the Iraqi Governing Council have magnified their infidelity even further. Otherwise, what is the difference between the political chieftainships such as Fahad, Hosni, Jaber, Saddam and the rest of the rulers, and the religious chieftainships in the interim council of polytheism? Our major reason for declaring the rulers as infidels is because they do not judge by the Shari'ah of Allah, the Almighty, in all our affairs and because they are allies of America and they use the pressures it places on them as their excuse. This is the same flaw in which the interim council of polytheism has fallen and consequently, the same rule applies to them. What we said in the 17th communiqué, pertaining to the evidences on the rulers’ apostasy and their non adherence to the exigencies of "There is no god but Allah", does also apply to the religious chieftainship of the interim ruling Council and to any other chieftainship in the Islamic world that perpetrates what they have perpetrated. One of the main denotations of the phrase "There is no god but Allah" is that there is no ruler and no legislator but Allah. Legislation is one of the main characteristics of godliness. Hence, he who wittingly endorses this Council and this Constitution will then reject Allah the Almighty. The believer is commanded to obey Allah and to obey his Messenger (peace and mercy be upon him). Allah the Almighty says "Say if you love Allah then follow me and Allah will love you."[3-31]. The Almighty also says "We sent not an apostle, but to be obeyed, in accordance with the will of Allah." [4-64]. Therefore, he who obeys the Messenger is the believer; and he who obeys the ruler or the scholar, irrespective of his type, making lawful what Allah has forbidden or forbidding what Allah has made lawful becomes a polytheist. Allah the Almighty says"What! Have they partners (in godhead), who have established for them some religion without the permission of Allah"(42-21). Therefore, it is imperative upon the sincere ones to bypass these apostatizing chieftainships and it is imperative to have a rightly guided leadership and a straightforward system to undertake reform and liberation, as the (Islamic) system is infallible with the grace of Allah. Considering the leaderships are as we mentioned earlier, the onus therefore falls on those who come after them from among the masses, starting with the most suited and so on. Therefore if some of the prominent individuals apostatized or slackened, let the ones who come after them assume the responsibility even if they were young; because the truth is bigger than everyone. In this case, it is imperative upon the truthful ones within the Ummah in general and within Iraq in particular to disavow all the apostatizing leaderships, political and religious alike and to forsake and dismiss the leaderships that neglect Jihad or the leaderships that leans towards the transgressors, and seize the initiative from them, expound openly the truth and hoist the banner of Jihad against the crusaders and the apostates. In the light of the aforementioned, everyone who assists the infidels against the Muslims, such as assisting the occupying forces or their surrogates in the interim or permanent government, he will have committed an act that nullifies his Islam, and that makes his blood and property volatile and his spouse would be divorced from him. Also, for the people of Iraq, Jihad is not only obligatory against the crusaders, but also against the apostate government and those who support it. It is also obligatory upon the Muslims throughout the Islamic world and outside it, who can support and back this Jihad with their souls and their wealth to do so until sufficiency is established, according to the guidance of the trustworthy scholars, who are well versed with the conditions of the land and the people. Secondly, the so-called transfer of power to the Iraqis is a flagrant deception aimed at sedating the masses and aborting the armed resistance. The sincere and Mujahideen people of Iraq were not deceived by this ruse, for there will be no sovereignty for Iraq as long as a crusader soldier remains over its lands and as long as Iraq does not refer in all its affairs to Islam. Thirdly, the Musaylama (false prophet) of the present time, George Bush, says that Iraq is the foreground for war against terrorism, which means in a clear expression that the foreground for the war against Islam today is in Iraq. This makes it incumbent upon all the Muslims to intensify their efforts in order to resist this onslaught. I urge the youth and the sincere traders, to seize this opportunity and undertake this sublime task of defending this religion and salvage this Ummah, by supporting this Jihad with their properties and by exhorting and fighting against our enemies, especially in Palestine and Iraq. If your winds were to blow, exploit them …. For every palpitation will eventually subside. (Poetry) It is also said : "If you are opinionated then be decisive … For the opinion is corrupted when you hesitate." This is a rare opportunity in every sense of the word and a priceless one in its essence, to sharpen the faculties of the Ummah and to break its shackles, in order to storm forward towards the battlefields of Jihad in Iraq, to bury the head of international infidelity. However, let the youths beware of the Bedouins who seek excuses, those who delude themselves and their brethren into thinking that they are standing before a major fortified borderline, while in fact they slackened in making the borderline impregnable and they allowed the country to become an easy prey for the crusaders and the apostates, and the Muslims were defeated from their side. Therefore, it is high time the sincere Muslims from among their brothers broke free in order to redress their current state of affairs. It is also imperative to break free and beware of the sorcery of the media and not to become spectators of the calamities and the events; our mission is rather to fight the enemy and make the events. This is a decisive war with major implications, for either we attain exaltation and might or reap decline and humiliation. We are at a crossroads and this is a mighty task for the whole Ummah. It is clear that the great deception that America is propagating today, under the theme of imposing reform on the greater Islamic world, is but a carbon copy of the project of Bremer in Iraq, in terms of estranging the religion, plundering the riches, killing the men, terrorizing and transgressing against the sanctities, and even against the women in their beds in the middle of the night. There is no power and no might but through Allah. Do you not see? Do you have no sense of honor for your religion and your brothers? There is not much left between yourselves and a repeat of what has befallen your brothers in Iraq. So contemplate and do not be like those who at every point fail to comprehend. Let it be known that the first lines of defense for the other parts of the Muslims lands and especially the Two Holy Shrines, starts in the land of the two rivers (Iraq). So wake up to the Messenger of Allah (saw) and perceive the magnitude of the threat and the swiftness of the events, and set forth towards the battlefields of Jihad. The Sheikh of Islam (may Allah have mercy on his soul) has reported the general consensus stipulating that the highest duty after belief is to repel the assailing enemy. Let it be known that Allah knows if I were a pupil amongst you, I would leave my studies and head for the battle as Allah has ordered. "Go ye forth, (whether equipped) lightly or heavily, and strive and struggle, with your goods and your persons, in the cause of Allah. That is best for you, if ye (but) knew." [9-41] And if I were a trader, I would leave my business and join the battalions of the Mujahideen, in response to the saying of Allah "O ye who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty? That ye believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: That will be best for you, if ye but knew!" [61-10,11]. And were it easy for me to address you, I would talk to you a great deal about the top issue, namely "There is no God but Allah"; about its denotations and the acting upon its exigencies, and about Jihad, the pinnacle of Islam’s hump. So fight for the sake of Allah, because the current crisis is not one of knowledge or books; knowledge is widespread with the grace of Allah. The crisis lies in our slackness in working according to what we know, due to the weakness of our trust, sincerity and certitude. Our religion cannot be revived with the mere crumbs of our properties and our time, but rather by standing under the shades of the swords. So blessed are those who have perceived the issue and emulated the Prophet of mercy and the Prophet of war (mercy and peace be upon him), so they fought and were killed for the sake of Allah, and we pray to Allah to admit them with the martyrs. The people of Iraq have quenched the burning desire in the hearts of the Muslims during the month of Badr (Ramadhan) and beyond in Al-Nasiryyah, by killing and injuring tens of soldiers from among the occupation forces, and in Baghdad, Al-Fallujah, Al-Ramadi, Mosul and Tikrit, and by inflicting material and moral losses upon the enemy, by downing their warplanes, making them taste what the Muslims are tasting in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan. To the people of Samarra, Ba’aqubah and other cities, who have hoisted the banner of Jihad, we salute them and hold them in high esteem, and we say to them "persevere and be steadfast. An hour of perseverance more than that of Bush and his mercenaries will bring you what is loved most with the leave of Allah, for victory is but the perseverance of one hour. My soul and my possessions I sacrifice … for the knights in whom I had faith Knights who do not tire of death … even when the fierce war erupts Their bravery never wanes though … they get burnt with war, time after time And when the battle intensifies they care little … And remedy madness with madness. (Poetry) Before I conclude, I remind you of an event reported by narrators, when the Muslims were about to conquer North Africa, the commander of the polytheists offered an reward for he who kills the commander of the Muslims, so Abdullah Ibnul Zubayr suggested to the commander of the Muslims to offer the same reward to he who kills the commander of the polytheists. So a man from among the Muslims killed him and he was given the reward in full. You are aware of the fact that America has offered major rewards to those who kill the Mujahideen for the sake of Allah. And we in the Al-Qaida organization pledge with the leave of Allah to offer a reward equaling 10,000 grams of gold to he who kills the occupier Bremer or his deputy or the commander of the American forces in Iraq or his deputy. As for the United Nations, it is but a crusader-Zionist tool, even if it were to hide behind some relief work. Who is it that handed Palestine to the Jews but the United Nations? Who was it that separated East Timor but the United Nations? And who was it that justified the embargo on Iraq and caused the death of more than one million children but the United Nations? The United Nations today is pursuing its evil role against the Ummah. Therefore, he who kills Kofi Annan or the head of his mission to Iraq or his representatives such as Lakhdar Ibrahmi, he will receive the same 10,000 grams of gold as reward. Also, a reward of 10,000 grams of gold will be paid for killing a military or a civilian from among the masters of the veto, such as the Americans and the British, and 500 grams of gold will go to those who kill a military or a civilian from the slaves of the General Assembly in Iraq , such as Japan and Italy. Due to the security situation, the payments of the rewards will be at the earliest opportunity with the leave of Allah. As for he who dies after killing one of the occupation soldiers, the greatest reward for us and for him would be when Allah bestows martyrdom for his sake; as for his lesser reward, it would go to his inheritors with the leave of Allah. Finally, I appeal to the youths of Islam and say to them: come forth to fight the crusaders and the Jews and celebrate the praises of Allah a great deal, for by Allah, it is either victory or martyrdom and only those whose life span has come to an end will be killed, so his family will miss him, only for his soul to be, as our Messenger (peace and mercy be upon him) said, to be in the bellies of green birds that roam freely in heaven as they please, then head towards lanterns suspended with the throne of the Most Compassionate. There is no comparison between the two vicinities, the vicinity of his family and the vicinity of his lord. So dear youth of Islam everywhere, especially those of the neighborhood, where the duty upon you is conclusive, dear Muslim youths in the Arabic peninsula, and in Egypt and greater Syria, dear youths of Rabia’a and Mudhr, dear grandsons of Salahuddine, dear knights of Mohammed the Conqueror, dear Fedayeen of Umm Al-Fida and Aleppo, and the lions of Muan and Al-Zarqa, and the brave of Azad, the heroes of Assir, Hashed, Madhaj and Bakil, let your supplies be continuous so that you may rescue the land of the two rivers, because the war there has erupted and its fire is ablaze; the knights of the cross have attacked and killed thousands and imprisoned thousands, and now want to annihilate and destroy the land. They are with the grace of Allah fighting steadfastly the treacherous Romans, sacrificing everything they hold dear in order to defend their religion, so may Allah bless them and bless those who support them. They passionately defended their cause … sacrificing their lives and their properties; Their determination is fearless before death … and they forsake their paternal and maternal uncle They left behind their beloved … and followed in the footsteps of Khaled and Bilal. (Poetry) O Allah our Lord, accept from us our martyrs and heal our injured and liberate our prisoners. Establish firmly our heroes and help them with a victory of yours, for there is no helper for them and for us except you. O Allah, the inspirer of the book and the conductor of the clouds, and the conqueror of the confederates, vanquish them and grant us victory against them. "Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and defend us from the torment of the Fire." O Allah, subscribe to this Ummah a righteous matter, whereby the people who obey you will be mighty and the people who disobey you will be humiliated, and whereby goodness will be commanded and evil will be forbidden. O Allah grant the Mujahideen victory over the infidels in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Kashmir, Chechnya, Pakistan and everywhere; you are the Listener and the Responder. And the last of our prayers is Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Universe. Sheikh Osama bin Laden Thursday May 6, 2004 16 Rabi Al-Awal 1425 |