Caliph
12

Rais & Abdul Aziz

2002

“Since September 11, Muslims have become more open to talking to outsiders,” said Abdul Aziz.

“Indeed, based on our discussion, it is essential. Muslims must be open-minded. We have to stop being exclusive. Muslims must blend in with the community.” Rais answered.

“Exactly, then we will know how people live, and we will be more tolerant. If a Muslim has a closed mind and does not grow a sense of tolerance in his heart, it will be easy for him to emerge the seeds of extremism.”

“It makes sense. Extremism arises because of ignorance, as well as secrecy.”

“Muslims, especially the second generation, are very vulnerable to being recruited by extremist Islamic organizations. The number of recruits may not be too much, only around hundreds. But its impact will be tremendous. Al Qaeda and other groups are recruiting Muslims who have clean records of criminals so they don’t get on the police radar and can go around the world.”

Rais, 2003

The following morning, Rais was ready to leave. After getting enough breakfast nutrition - the best breakfast in the last years -, he moved.

A guide gave him clothes and showed him the way to the waiting vehicle. It’s a jeep that seems to be still going well. But it was seen that the car has existed since the Soviet war.

Rais got on the Jeep and started following the vehicle along with several people. Sunlight began to emerge when they had just moved for half an hour. The people who accompanied him spoke in a language that was secretly understood by Rais.

After Rais saw them, he found out that not all of them look Arabic or Afgan. Some looked Asian.

The Jeep stopped.

“You have to continue on your own from here.” said the driver.

Rais disembarked, and the Jeep left him there alone.

He looked around and found a new sight for him. It’s a spacious land equipped with gardens.

It’s hard to guess that it was Afghanistan.

Rais tightened his jacket and tried to blend in with the surroundings. Rais walked, walked, and walked. In the end, he discovered that he was on a plateau. The sky looked foggy white, and it looked like water vapor had blown from its mouth. He learned the circumstances, and whether anything was interesting to him.

Before Raos left earlier, he was given a package. He opened the box.

It’s a book.

He didn’t know what the book is, but it looked like a notebook.

The sun became higher, but cold air still pierced his skin. The longer time passed, the temperature got out.

Rais saw a group of citizens. So Rais ran to them. Their steps were speedy.

Rais had to run to catch them. Finally, he got their attention after shouting.

These people turned their heads. Rais waved his hand. They stopped and waited for Rais to reach them. Then Rais told them about his destination.

These people left immediately. Rais shouted for them, but no one wanted to help him.

“It’s a restricted place.”

Rais was stunned. Finally, someone answered his curiosity, and that person spoke Indonesian.

“I have to go there,” said Rais in modest language.

The person shook his head. He whispered to Rais, “You’d better forget your intention.” as he left.

“Hey, wait!” called Rais.

The person stopped and turned around.

“Why do you speak Indonesian to me?”

“Because you look like an Indonesian.”

Rais expected more information. But he did not get it. Then the journey continued.

The time had passed. It was noon, but the sunlight was not hot at all.

The mountains had their characteristic features, cold and windy air. The mist began to fall slowly, and the wet air was approaching.

Rais forced himself to walk and climbed where he encountered.

The entire mountain was almost shrouded in mist. Rais clenched his teeth and rubbed his hands to get warmth. But there wasn’t much he can do. He still felt cold.

The wind blew harder, hit Rais’ face, and made him wet. Rais had to struggle to open his eyes, but he continued his steps.

He tried to clean his face with his hands. The road was not visible while the wind blew harder.

Rais did not give up. He was so tired, but he wanted to fight further.

I can’t stop here, he thought.

Finally, he found something. His eyes caught a moving thing in front of him. Rais rubbed his eyes to see more clearly, but it didn’t help.

Rais tried to get closer and made significant steps so quickly to reach his goal. He realized that he had to be careful because the ground beneath was slippery.

He tripped over rocks or was caught in plants several times. But Rais continued to advance. He realized that the moving thing was human.

He followed the movement of people in the form of a silhouette.

Rais tried to balance himself.

He was in the middle of an area that he didn’t know at all.

Finally, he could see the figure a little more clearly.

The figure brought him into a gate.

Rais followed him, trying to adjust his eyes. Fog and wind had passed.

He traced the hallway that he entered. This was a secret cave, he thought. He continued to follow it until a light appeared.

Then Rais found a brighter place.

This was a very different place from the world out there which is so cold and windy. Rais was more or less feeling relieved to be in an area that made him feel more “human”.

“Excuse me, are you the one I’m looking for?” Rais asked.

Before there was an answer, Rais immediately realized that there were not only the two of them in the room. There were dozens of other people if he counted. He also saw completed armor and weapons around them.

“Good!” he heard someone’s voice.

Everyone there turned to the owner of the voice.

Someone Rais knew as Harun Bashar came out. Rais looked at him in surprise. He then took out the notebook in his hand and showed it to Harun Bashar.

Harun Bashar, who was waiting for him, said: “What do you want?”

Rais paused before answering, “I want to destroy evil on this earth.”

Harun Bashar approached Rais and pointed at the notebook he had entrusted.

“Do you want to strive?” Asked Harun Bashar.

“Yes,” Rais answered.

“If you want to fight, you must sacrifice everything you have.”

“I am ready.”

“Jihad does not see what you say, but only what you do.”

Rais was prepared if only someone attacked him again.

“Jihad will end in death. At that time, you will know what we stand for.” continued Harun.

Harun suddenly launched an attack on Rais, Rais swiftly avoided him. The next attacks could be predicted by Rais.

Rais’ legs widened, and with a fulcrum in the middle, he dilated his body to divide the body weight to be more balanced. The self-defense techniques he learned were blending into his soul.

Harun attacked, and Rais retaliated.

He avoided Harun’s attacks. Some people there were mentally tempered, and the other ones attacked him, but none of them affected him.

“You do have a perfect experience,” said Harun.

“But the field of jihad is far more than this.” He continued.

Without warning, Harun launched his kick. Rais tried to avoid it, but it was too late. His neck was the target of Harun’s sword kick.

“You have to be stronger and add more to your experience.” Said Harun. “I found that there’s still lacking confidence in you. In due time, you will not be afraid of anything. That’s when you can be called a true Mujahideen.”

Then you use it to kill innocent people, Rais thought.

Rais & Abdul Aziz

2002

“When terrorists hijacked planes that destroyed the twin towers, they also hijacked Islam,” said Abdul Aziz.

“But I don’t feel the world thinks that way,” said Rais.

“That is our duty.”

“To change the way the world thinks?”

“We have to restore the name of Islam. Jihad is not about killing innocent people. Before we clear our terms, we must explain and clear every Muslim’s mind about this misconception. ”

“Surely we must convince and strengthen the belief among Muslims themselves.”

“Americans think that we are hostile to them. America thinks that we are a threat. This is our chance to prove that we are not part of the terrorists who destroyed America.” said Abdul Aziz. “But what must be changed first is a misconception among Muslims themselves. It is the misconception among our people.”

“I feel that I have a responsibility for Muslims. I have to save us all.”

Ibn Awwad’s Lecture on Al Qaeda

2003

Gentlemen, the new generation of mujahedeen is not disappointing me.

They might still be young this time. But over time, mujahedeen will replace their maturity.

All of life’s lessons have given them unparalleled goodness, especially for me.

They are the greatest generation I’ve ever met.

All they see, listen to, and feel can be a lesson that they use to become stronger in the future. They also are quick learners.

Also, an understanding of science and technology provides an advantage for their perfect qualities. They have an excellent and robust physique. This is an example of modern humans who should be human models today. Their bodies are well forged, making them able to undergo battles like anything.

I’m sure this army will be our asset.

Currently, their spirit of Jihad still needs to be sharpened.

But I can promise you all that they will be our successors in the future. Mujahideen are the blessings of Allah bestowed upon us.

They must immediately become aware to realize their duties as Muslims.

The work of killing Americans and their allies is a duty for every Muslim. Every Muslim must do it. We must carry out our commitment to free Jerusalem and Mecca’s holy cities from American accomplices and return them to Muslims. This is Allah’s command to fight the unbelievers as they fight us. Fight them to the last drop of blood, and only to Allah is justice.