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Jihad, war part of Islamic law: Abu Jibril
In God we trust: Abu Jibril followers hold Friday prayer at the Al-Munawwarah mosque at the Witana Harja housing complex in Pamulang, Banten, 15 kilometers south of Jakarta, on Friday
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In God we trust: Abu Jibril followers hold Friday prayer at the Al-Munawwarah mosque at the Witana Harja housing complex in Pamulang, Banten, 15 kilometers south of Jakarta, on Friday. The US State Department in 2003 said Abu Jibril was “Jamaah Islamiyah’s primary recruiter and second-in-command after cleric Abubakar Ba’asyir”. JP/R. Berto Wedhatama
Firebrand cleric Muhammad Iqbal Abdurrahman, widely known as Abu Jibril, is once again under the spotlight following a police raid that killed Jamaah Islamiyah notorious leader Dulmatin in an Internet café located near Abu’s residence. Being associated since the late 1970s with the radical movement and terrorism, Abu talked to The Jakarta Post and several other media outlets late Thursday to convey his thoughts on jihad and terrorism. Here are the excerpts:
Question: Can you tell us about your congregation?
Answer: I came to Witana Harja (a housing complex in Pamulang) in November 2005. The (complex’s) Al-Munawarah mosque was idle at that time. Then I was appointed by the mosque’s management to become the imam to lead prayers and deliver Islamic teachings, including tauhid (teaching on God’s oneness), shariah (Islamic law) and attitude. I improved the teachings with knowledge about jihad and war, because both of them are part of Islamic sharia. My teachings are based on other clerics’ methods. The mosque has eventually attracted many people from various places. They can reach hundreds, even thousands. I deliver my congregation every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday morning. Every morning I also teach on the Koran. So I deliver a complete package of teachings, which are open, and delivered using speakers in order for others to hear and know and ensure that I don’t teach in secrecy. I disagree with people saying my congregation is exclusive. Everybody is welcome at their own will.
Do you promote terrorism in your teachings?
There are not even slight teachings on terrorism and radicalism, nor encouragement for people to become terrorists. I invite everybody to join my congregation to directly witness whether there is radical teachings. Please come, and don’t hear from others.
Recently, I feel extremely disturbed as I, my son (Muhammad Jibril, currently being indicted as an accomplice in a recent terrorist attack) and my followers receive intense mockery from people as terrorists. In front of my housing compound there is a large banner saying, “beware of terrorists around us.” When I travel, people always shout at me for being a terrorist. If I am a terrorist, I’ll the first to be taken to the police.
What is your thought about jihad?
Jihad is a defense system in Islam. There are conditions for that. According to Imam Abdul Qayyim, there are four categories of jihad; fighting against lust and desire, syaitan, the infidels, those practicing polytheism, and ruthlessness.
Jihad against the infidels and those committing polytheism, who are at the same time desecrate Islam, should be taken through four settlements; verbally, physically, wealth and weapons.
Jihad against ruthlessness has three settlements; verbally, by wealth and through your soul.
So regarding bombings and terrorism, you can drawn your own conclusion from that. Are they included in that?
For sure, I have never been involved in bombings. It is a mistake to associate jihad with violence.
I also don’t condone any kind of terrorism activities.
Do you know Dulmatin?
I do not know him and any other terrorist suspects. I was not aware if Dulmatin had come to my mosque.
But the raid was near here?
I believe this is fate because we did not know what had happened. If there is a plot, I also do not know about that. It has nothing to do with my personal life.
How’s your relation with Abubakar Ba’asyir?
Pak Abubakar is my friend. There’s no relation at all to terrorism. There has been no conclusive evidence they are supporting terrorism. My tie with Pak Abubakar remains strong. We are still good friends.
