Statement From Ash-Shabab-Leader

STATEMENT FROM HSM LEADERSHIP

CONGRATULATIONS AND CONDOLENCES TO THE MUSLIM UMMAH REGARDING

THE MARTYRDOM OF THE LEADER OF HARAKAT AL-SHABAAB AL MUJAHIDEEN,

SHAYKH MUKHTAR ABU ZUBEYR, MAY ALLAH HAVE MERCY ON HIM

HARAKAT AL-SHABAAB AL MUJAHIDEEN

All praise is due to Allaah alone who said in the Holy Qur’an:
“Think not of those who are killed in the Way of Allah as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision. They rejoice in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His Bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those who have not yet joined them, but are left behind (not yet martyred) that on them no fear shall come, nor shall they grieve. They rejoice in a Grace and Bounty from Allaah, and that Allah will not waste the reward of the believers.” [Aal-‘Imraan, 169-171]

And may peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Last Messenger who said:
“The souls of the martyrs live in the bodies of green birds who have their nests in chandeliers
hung from the throne of the Almighty. They eat the fruits of paradise from wherever they like and
then nestle in these chandeliers. Once their Lord cast a glance at them and said: Do you want
anything? They said: What more shall we desire? We eat the fruits of Paradise from wherever we
like. Their Lord asked them the same question thrice. When they saw that they will continue to
be asked and not left (without answering the question) they said: O’ Lord, we wish that you return
our souls to our bodies so that we may be slain in your path once again. When Allah saw that they
had no need, they were left (to rejoice in heaven).” [Narrated by Muslim]

As for what follows:

With hearts full of content with the decree of Allaah and certain of His promise, we send our
heartfelt condolences to our beloved Muslim Ummah in general, and its Mujahideen vanguards
in particular, chief among them the Commander of the Faithful, Mullah Muhammad ‘Umar and
our Shaykh and leader, Shaykh Ayman Adh-Dhawahiri, regarding the martyrdom of their son, the
noble knight, the scholar, the military general, the leader and founder of Harakat Al-Shabaab Al
Mujahideen, Shaykh Mukhtar Abu Zubayr, may Allaah have mercy on him.

The Shaykh and two of his comrades were killed in an American Crusaders’ aerial bombardment
on the 7th of Dhul-Qa’dah 1435 Hijri, resulting in their martyrdom and heralding in yet another
historic moment of glory for the Ummah of Islam, this time with the blood of Shaykh Abu Zubayr.
And while we offer our condolences to the Muslim Ummah and console ourselves on this great
affliction, we do not utter except that which is pleasing to our Lord, the Exalted: indeed to Allaah
we belong and to Him we shall return; and we thank Allaah, the Exalted, who has already comforted us in our affliction long before its occurrence when He said:
“So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers.” [Aal-‘Imraan, 139]

After a long journey decorated with selfless sacrifice, generosity and Jihad, the Shaykh has finally
ascended to the ranks of Martyrs, as we deem him. His journey of Jihad first began in the lands
of Afghanistan where he received his military training. As for Somalia, the Shaykh oversaw the
establishment of the Islamic Wilaayaat and also founded the council for local tribal leaders. In
addition to that, the Shaykh also played a major role in the propagation of Da’wah and Tawheed
and the creed of al-Walaa wal Baraa (alliance and enmity) among the Mujahideen and the local

tribes. May Allaah shower upon him His immense mercy and admit him into His spacious Jannah.

These words are hardly sufficient to eulogize the likes of Shaykh Abu Zubayr, for he migrated and
waged Jihad in order to raise high the kalima of Allaah and make Islamic Shari’ah dominant in
Muslim lands so that justice prevails across the worlds.
Humble in nature and generous character, his was a life adorned with the cloak of bravery. Truthful in speech; faithful in principle, the Shaykh was a symbol of asceticism and modesty, as well as a living example of patience and piety. Decisive in action, uncompromising in belief, Allaah
had bestowed upon him great wisdom in administering and governing the affairs of the Muslims
according to the Book of Allaah.

The victor has embarked on a righteous journey

And from the fruits of martyrdom, he today reaps

A mighty stem in the battlefields of Jihad he was

On whom sentiments of glory and courage hung

What a reward awaits you with Allaah, O’ gallant knight!

He charged against his enemies and struck like a thunderbolt.

A scholar firm upon the methodology of Muhammad 

With forbearance and high morals amongst us he was known

Firm in his decisions and meticulous in his Jihad

Proficient; never was he, in times of war, subdued

He forsook this life with all its luxuries and comfort

And instead chose to be adorned with asceticism

You would find him blessed in times of peace

Gentler than the most gentle of beings

And in times of war against his enemies

A fearless lion he was, merciless towards his opponents

The martyrdom of the Shaykh comes only after he established for the Muslims of East Africa a
fortified bastion of faith founded upon the guidance of the Qur’an and defended with the edge of
a sword. In times of great tribulation, the Shaykh, who was at the helm of the ship of Jihad, bravely
steered it through the violent storms, landing it safely on the shore of Eemaan and helping it
overcome the plots of the enemies. Despite the many daunting challenges, the Shaykh remained
firm to his principles without retracting or compromising on his faith at a time when many were
willing to make concessions.

Carrying the heavy burden of leading the Jihad in Somalia did not cause the Shaykh to forget the
obligation of aiding his weak and oppressed brothers in Palestine, Burma [Myanmar], East Africa
and the Central African Republic, but instead used to frequently follow up on their situation and
strove to bring an end to the persecution and humiliation that they faced at the hands of the
Kuffar – Jews, Crusaders and polytheists.

With patience and steadfastness, he guarded the lands of Islam and continued to wage Jihad
against the enemies of Islam from the crusaders and their apostate allies until he finally received

that which he had yearned for. What a profitable gain, O’ Abu Zubayr!

“Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah, of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e. have been martyred), and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed in the least.” [Al-Ahzaab, 23]

We hereby take the opportunity to advise our Mujahideen brothers and the courageous tribes of
Somalia to fulfil their obligation to the utmost of their means so as to repulse the malicious onslaught of the Crusaders against the Islamic Wilaayaat and the oppressive American and Western aggression on our lands. We advise them to take a unified stand against the Crusaders just as they are fighting us regardless of their religious, ideological and political differences; for defending the religion of Islam is a trust binding upon your necks.

So sacrifice your lives for that which your leaders have sacrificed their lives for and avenge their
deaths. Defend your religion and your honour, for waging Jihad against the Americans, their crusader
allies and the treacherous apostate agents is the most binding of individual obligations.
Beware of allowing the disbelievers any sense of enjoyment and safety as long as your hearts
beat and your eyes blink.
As for you, our beloved brothers in East Africa, Mombasa, Harar and elsewhere; and to our brothers in the ailing city of Bangui: be patient and firm for, by Allaah, we have not forgotten you; how could one possibly forget his family and brothers. Know that, with the help and might of Allaah, we will never abandon you and we will assist you with every means possible. Rest assured that we will not delay in punishing those who have perpetrated such heinous massacres against you
and your loved ones. So bear the glad tidings of imminent support and relief.

Similarly, we send our glad tidings to our Mujahideen brothers across the globe and reassure
them that the Jihad in Somalia will not be impeded by the martyrdom of the Shaykh, but will, by
the permission of Allaah, only grow in strength and ferocity. Because our religion is a long-lasting
religion and our Shari’ah is not an innovated idea that dies with the death of its founder or
vanishes with his absence, rather it is a firm creed, a deep-rooted ideology and profound Eemaan
(faith) that is cultivated with blood, constructed upon bones and strengthened by the fall of
Martyrs.

Our Jihad will not be affected in the least by the martyrdom of our Shaykhs and if Jihad were to
end with the death of an individual, it would have ended the day the Messenger, peace be upon
him, and his companions passed away; or it would have derailed following the martyrdom of
Shaykh Usama ibn Laden, Shaykh Abu Musab Az-Zarqawi, Shaykh Abu Umar Al-Baghdadi, Shaykh Mulla Dadullaah, Shaykh Baytul Allaah Mas’uud, Shaykh Doko Umarav and Shaykh Abu Sufyan ash-Shihri.

These leaders were full of certainty that this was the era of Jihad and thus leapt forth, carrying
the shrouds on their shoulders and cloaked in the garbs of glory. They refused to be governed
by democracy and other systems of disbelief in all their forms. They rejected to substitute the
religion of Allaah with anything else and desired none other than the Shari’ah of Allah. They
witnessed with their own eyes the conglomeration of the enemies upon the Muslim Ummah
and their convergence upon Islam from every direction but did not take that as an excuse to sit
back, resort to irjaa, or betray the Muslim Ummah. Rather this stimulated them to hasten to the
support of the Muslim Ummah without delay or laxity and work towards reinvigorating the spirit

of Jihad among the Muslims without boredom or fatigue.

Allaah, the All-Mighty, says: “Muhammad is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allaah, and Allaah will give reward to those who are grateful. ” [Aal ‘Imraan 144]

Shaykh Abdurahman As-Sa’di comments on this verse, saying; “this noble verse is a directive from Allaah to His slaves instructing them not to waver in their faith or any part of its obligations due to the loss of a leader, regardless of his greatness. This matter is not accomplished except by preparing, in every affair of religion, a group of qualified substitutes so that in the event of one leader’s demise, another stands in his place. The intent of Muslims should solely be centered on establishing Allaah’s religion and waging jihad as much as they are able to, without preoccupying themselves with one leader or another.”

We also reassure you that the Shaykh has left behind a group of men that reject oppression and
refuse for their religion to be humiliated. They are men who will neither rest nor settle down
until they govern all the corners of the earth with the Shari’ah of Allaah, deliver justice, spread
fair council, unify Muslims upon the kalima of Tawheed and purify the lands of Islam from the filth
of the crusaders and their apostate allies.

With that having been said, the leadership of Harakat Al-Shabab Al Mujahideen hereby announces the appointment of Shaykh Ahmad Umar–Abu Ubaidah–may Allaah protect him and keep him steadfast upon the truth, as the new leader and successor to the leader and general Shaykh Mukhtar Abu Zubayr. The leadership also renews its pledge of allegiance to Qaa’idat al-Jihaad and its leader, Shaykh Ayman Adh-Dhawaahiri, may Allaah protect him.

Indeed, a vibrant and glorious dawn is today imminently approaching on the horizon of the
Muslim Ummah after the growth, refinement and maturity of the Jihad across the entire Islamic
world. The ruthless and oppressive onslaughts by the Crusaders, Zionists and Raafidha in our
lands and the lands of Palestine, Iraq, Shaam [the Levant], Afghanistan, the Arabian Peninsula,
the Islamic Maghreb, Chechnya and elsewhere has only further inflamed the passion for Jihad in
the hearts of the Muslim youth across the globe. Similarly, the many sacrifices, unyielding fortitude, robust eemaan, and the daring manner in which the Mujahideen confronted the vicious
campaign of the enemies have increased the intensity, purity and clarity of Jihad.

Finally, we say to the enemies of Allaah; expect only that which will cause you great distress and
be prepared to reap the fruits of your recklessness and folly. Avenging the death of our scholars
and leaders is a binding obligation on our shoulders that we will never relinquish nor forget no
matter how long it takes. By the permission of Allaah, you will surely taste the bitter consequences
of your actions “and soon will the unjust assailants know to what final place of turning they shall

turn back.” [Ash-Shu’ara, 227]

ALLAH IS THE GREATEST

AND GLORY BELONGS TO ALLAH, HIS MESSENGER AND THE BELIEVERS BUT THE HYPOCRITES KNOW NOT WITH GREETINGS

DO NOT FORGET US IN YOUR PRAYERS

DHUL-QA’DAH 1435H