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A lead article in the latest issue of "Voice of Khurasan," the English-language monthly magazine published by the Islamic State's (ISIS) Khurasan Province – dismisses moderate Islamic scholars as "scholars of evil" and criticizes them for befriending non-Muslims and for teaching co-existence between religions.
Al-Azaim Foundation, the official media outlet of ISIS's Khurasan Province, released Issue Four of the magazine to align with the month of Ramadan 1443 according to the Hijri calendar, or roughly April 2022. The issue includes articles such as: "Hijrah, The Help of Allah is Near," "Harvest of the Soldiers," "Our War with the Mushrikeen [Polytheists] will Remain," and "Virtues of Laylat Al-Qadr." Laylat Al-Qadr ("the Night of Power") refers to the night of the month of Ramadan during which, according to Islam, Allah sent down the first verses of the Quran.
A screenshot of the article
The lead article in the magazine, titled "Help of Allah is Near," reminds Muslims that "Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties" in exchange for the life they will have in the hereafter, so they should wage jihad until the religion of Islam is established on entire earth.
Following are excerpts from the article:
Allah Says: "Indeed, Allah Has Purchased From The Believers Their Lives And Their Properties (In Exchange For) That They Will Have Paradise"
"The Tawhid [i.e., oneness] of Allah can never be implemented on the face of the earth without jihad. And it is the path the contains all the glories of the hereafter as Allah has purchased the soul of the believer who fights in his cause for a return of the best prize, Al-Jannah [the Paradise].
"In Surah Tawbah, Allah the almighty says: 'Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties (in exchange for) that they will have paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah. So, they kill and are killed. (It is) a true promise (binding) upon him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Koran. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? So, rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment.'
"The Prophet stood up with the command of Allah to spread Islam in Mecca all by himself. He was supported by a few among the men and women most of whom were poor and slaves. His call of pure Tawhid [Islamic monotheism] shook the pillars of the Days of Ignorance [i.e., the era before Islam] and inflicted fear amongst the hearts of the mushrikeen [polytheists]. The concern of the mushrikeen of Mecca grew day by day and at last they opted to inflict every single kind of hardship upon the prophet and his companions.
"Being few and helpless. they were faced with torture and discrimination. The family of Yasir, may Allah be pleased with them, were slowly tortured until Sumayyah, may Allah be pleased with her, became the first martyr of Islam. Bilal, may Allah be pleased with him, was tortured severely at the hands of his masters, that heavy heated stones were placed on his chest in scorching heat of the desert until his skin would peel off and faint due to the extensive pain."
The New Muslim Converts In Early Islam "Left Their Lands And Migrated For The Sake Of Allah And Fought Fierce Battles With The Mushrikeen [Polytheists] Until The Religion Was To Allah Alone"
"The prophet himself was reviled and mocked at every opportunity. He was pelted with stones: juts of a camel were thrown over his head while he was praying at Kaaba. They even had the prophet and his believers sent to exile where they faced dire conditions. And this is what the path of Tawhid and path of jihad contain; and Allah the almighty has promised to put us to the test of our claims. Allah said in surah Al-Baqarah: 'And certainly we shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives, and fruits. But give glad tidings to the patient.'
"The extent of the persecution upon the messenger and his companions reached up to the tipping extent where the companions of the prophet rushed to him as Allah recounted in his verse in surah Al-Baqarah: 'Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such (trial) has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until (even their) messenger and those who believed with him said: When is the help of Allah? Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.'
"However, no amount of physical torture deterred them with the task of upholding the religion of Allah. They stood firm like the mountains of Uhud. They left their lands and migrated for the sake of Allah and fought fierce battles with the mushrikeen [polytheists] until the religion was to Allah alone.
"In summary they gave all their lives to Allah and for the sake of religion. And they were pleased with [Allah]; Allah was pleased with them. And for surely, they became successful in their trade with Allah."
"Today, If We Look Around The World, We See The World Sunk In The Shirk [Polytheism] Of Democracy, Supported By The Scholars Of Evil"
"Today, if we look around the world, we see the world sunk in the shirk [polytheism] of democracy, supported by the scholars of evil. They have tarnished and changed the religion of Allah for the sake of the world. They have entered into a transaction with the shaitan [i.e., Satan] and have sold the verses of Allah for a few dollars. They call the enemies of Allah as friends and call for coexistence with other religions and call for the tolerance of shirk.
"They have given space to innovations in the religion and changed the brotherhood of Islam to be only recognized by the sickness of nationalism. The people have long forgotten the obligations of Islam, the shari'a of Allah, the sunnah [traditions] of the prophet. Shirk and innovations have become normalized, and immorality has become the identity of the so-called Islamic nations.
"At time like this, Allah the almighty [is] tried and shaken with a mighty shaking. And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease (of doubts) said: 'Allah and his messenger promised us nothing but delusion!' Yet, the faith of the companions stood strong, and they held on to their religion facing the trials knowing that the final outcome belongs to them despite the vastness of the armies of kufr [unbelief]."
"Sometimes, The Trial Comes With Allah Granting A Temporary Power To The Enemies Over You"
"Sometimes, the trial comes with Allah granting a temporary power to the enemies over you. Similarly, Allah in surah Zukhruf said: 'Then we destroyed men stronger (in power) than these and the example of the ancients has passed away (before them).' The most important thing for us in all this is to keep our faith secure and holding on to it. To keep our duties to Allah and Allah will certainly take care of the rest. The promise of Allah to grant us Jannah [paradise] to keep at this path is our beacon of life.
"Allah almighty said in surah Tawbah: 'The ones who have believed, emigrated, and striven in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives are greater in rank in the sight of Allah. And it is those who are the attainers (of success). Their Lord gives them good tidings of mercy from him and approval and of gardens for them wherein is enduring pleasure. (They will be) abiding therein forever. Indeed, Allah has with him a great reward.' And who better than Allah our lord to fulfil his promise and Allah indeed never breaks his promise.
The magazine's coverpage urges Muslims to migrate to the land of jihad
"My dear brothers and sisters, enduring hardships in the battlefields, in your dwellings by the governments of the Tawagheet [tyrants], and in the dungeons of the kuffar [unbelievers], be patient and be steadfast. Allah only wishes to raise in you in ranks so that you may attain the highest. In Sahih Al-Bukhari [book of hadith of Muhammad], Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, 'If Allah wills good for someone, he afflicts him with trials.'
"Know that whatever we face is temporary and the price of the trial and tribulations is a mere cleansing of ourselves and ranks to keep us pure. And one day the hardship will end, and relief would come. Allah in surah Ashshrah said: 'Verily, along with every hardship is relief. Verily, along with every hardship is relief.' So just as there is hardship, its equal relief will soon arrive. This is why Allah said: 'Yes! Certainly, the help of Allah is near!'"
Source: Telegram, April 24, 2022. The original English of the quoted text has been lightly edited for clarity and standardization.
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