The virtues of providing financial support to the Mujahideen abounds in the Holy Quraan and the Revered Sunnah. And the virtues of spending in the Jihaad and the Thawab of such spending and the admonition for those who do not participate in such a virtuous deed, also abound in the Holy Quraan and the Revered Sunnah.
The need for financial resources is as important in the Jihaad as for the need for manpower. Therefore the Jihaad organisations ought to establish a substantial and sound Financial Department, taking into full account the prevailing situation.
Not long ago when the Jihaad was on the lips of every Muslim and the Mujahideen were the most honoured and revered members of the Islamic society and to provide financial assistance for the Jihaad was considered as an act of devotion, but now the situation has changed considerably. Nowadays very few people understand the Jihaad and due to the ill-repute of politics, the Jihaad Movements have been erroneously not given the fullest support it deserves. Materialism has taken its evil roots into the fabric of the Muslim societies, which has resulted in hoarding and hiding of one’s wealth in the safe havens instead of spending it in the worthy and virtuous causes. The absence of any truly Islamic State and government or the Khilafah, has put all the heavy load of providing financial resources to few pious wealthy Muslims, whom Allah Ta`ala has not only bestowed the most important gift of Imaan, but also the special gift of generosity. These are the scarce resources for the financing of the Jihaad.
On the other hand, the back breaking expenses of the Jihaad are on the increase day by day, because due to the indifference of Muslims, the enemy have amassed a formidable military force. To confront these massive and powerful military forces is a monumental task and requires huge resources. Beyond any doubt, until now the frail and bare handed Mujahideen have confronted the many a time more powerful and innumerably superior enemies in every front and Alhamdulillah the Mujahideen are gaining the upper hand day by day. But still the acute need for resources could not be ignored.
Presently even the daily budget of the smallest army is greater than the yearly budgets of other religious works. Thus the need for a sound and solid financial base is essential for the successful outcome of the Jihaad Movements and if due to the lack of resources, the supplies and the armaments, do not reach the front line Mujahideen in time, then the Mujahideen will fall into the hands of the enemy and the whole Muslim Ummah will suffer the consequences for many centuries.
In order to establish a sound and powerful financial wing for the Jihaad, the following points ought to be observed.
The foundation of the finance department
This department should be cohesive and affective from the onset. It requires honest, perceptive, able and a highly skilled work force selected from the Mujahideen only.
The basic principles of the finance department are: 1. Dignity. 2. Protection. 3. Piety.
Dignity: The procurement of the financial resources ought to be obtained and collected by dignified means only.
Protection: For the protection of the acquired financial fund and resources a permanent system of accountability and checks ought to be in operation and a strategy for the increase of this fund ought to be carefully devised.
Piety: The expenditure of this fund ought to be based upon, the piety and the apprehension of Allah’s Displeasure.
These three principles individually and collectively are the most important.
The drive for funds ought not to be pursued with undignified and devious means. Such abominable practices will harm the reputation of the Jihaad and the Mujahideen enormously and such a practice would be counter productive.
The definition of dignity could not be rigidly defined. Thus it should be left to different areas, to use the dignified means according to their own environment and circumstances. Some devotees of Allah Ta`ala are so pious and generous that they consider such fund raising efforts in the Path of Allah Ta`ala, with great respect and gratitude. To knock on such people’s door could not be defined as “undignified”. Allah’s Last Rasool SallalLahu-`alayhi Wasallam himself has announced for the contribution to the Jihaad resources, in the Masjid ul Nabawi and Allah’s Last Rasool SallalLahu-`alayhi Wasallam has also spread the sheet on the ground.
But if the conduct of the contributor is demeaning, then it would be undignified to visit such people, as it will harm the good reputation of the Jihaad.
In the acquisition of the financial resources, we have limited military and non-military means, which include spoils of war and other methods.
The second principle is the protection and safeguarding of the financial resources. If the funds are assigned for expenditure before its actual accumulation, or they are utilised as soon as they are available, then it will cause difficulties in the time of urgent need for the financial assistance, which would result in abandoning or postponing some important plans. Therefore an attempt ought to be made to invest the available finances in some sound and profitable ventures and businesses with a minimum risk of losses. If a policy of putting aside a small part of the available funds, as future capital savings is pursued then Insha-Allah, the Movements would become self-sufficient in financing any future organisational and other expenditures and the steady flow of the income will become a spring board for expanding the activities of the Jihaad.
The last but the most important factor is piety and the apprehension of the Displeasure of Allah Ta`ala . Raising of funds, the protection, the expenditure, the investment, the book keeping and the accounting and every sphere of financial responsibilities depends on the piety and the apprehension of the Displeasure of Allah Ta`ala of the personnel of this department. Every penny should be accounted for. The records of income and expenditure are separately kept, and maintained up-to-date. Different categories of financial resources are strictly used according to the designated category. Specially great care need to be taken for the funds received as the Zakaat and the Sadaqaat. The funds ought to be used strictly according to the need and a stringent check ought to be made upon the wastage. Everyone in the organisation, from the top to the bottom ought to be made aware of keeping the accounts and no one ought to be granted any fund without the accounts.
Demand for the expenses account ought to be made politely, but no one should be exempted, even when a person’s honesty and piety is well known. Because if once the accounting scrutiny is lifted from such honest people, it would be difficult to demand the expenses sheet from others.
In the humble opinion of the author the waiving of the presentation of the expenses account from the pious people does not demonstrate any respect for them, but a mockery of their piety and honesty. Such a procedure might be an invitation to dishonesty and fraud. Probably they might not fall for it, but on the other hand they might.
The head of the Department of Finance with the help of the Department of Propagation & Information ought to issue two kinds of literature regularly. The first ought to be the compilation of the virtues of providing finances to the Jihaad, according to the Holy Quraan and the Revered Sunnah, as the majority of Muslims are unaware of these virtues, or they have been misrepresented to the Ummah, thus the Muslims are deprived of their participation in this obligatory cause. The contribution in the Jihaad, entails the greatest reward from Allah Ta`ala.
The other booklet ought to consist of the Kuffaar threatening plans and intentions, against the Muslims and the need for the Jihaad, so the Ummah realises the importance of their participation in the Jihaad Fund. In addition to this, these booklets should also contain the facts and figures of the Mujahideen’s expenses in detail.
The presentation in these booklets ought to be dignified and ought not to contain such tones and substances that are contrary to the spirit of the Jihaad. As every Mujahid knows, that all the treasures of the world and heavens belong to Allah Ta`ala only and Allah Ta`ala alone will provide each and every need of the Mujahideen. But according to the Revered Sharee`ah of Islam, the Mujahideen are obliged to propagate the virtues of spending in the Jihaad, as pronounced in the Holy Quraan and the Revered Sunnah. Once these pronouncement are delivered to the Muslims, then they have fulfilled their duty and after which the Muslims ought to be left to their own decisions. If some Muslims do not wish to participate in spending for the Jihaad, then to knock on their door would be an insult to the Mujahideen, as they are appealing for financial help only for the Victory of Islam.
The second type of literature ought to consist of the commandments relating to the Jihaad from the Holy Quraan and the Revered Sunnah. It should also emphasise those frightful consequences for those who abuse the Jihaad’s funds. In this booklet every rank and file member of the Jihaad Movement are to be urged strongly to adopt piety and fear of Allah Ta`ala above every thing else. They ought to be made aware of the importance of the extreme caution towards the use of the Jihaad Fund. These booklets should also lay down the Islamic rules and regulations concerning the Zakaat, the Sadaqaat, the spoils of war, the accumulation of the Faiy, the financial powers and responsibilities of the Ameer. The powers and responsibilities of the commanders. Quoting from the Holy Quraan and the Revered Sunnah. Thus avoiding any error that might be committed due to the ignorance of these commandments.
The Important Duty of the Department of Finance: An important task of the Central Finance Department is to compile a thorough and comprehensive inventory of all the properties and materials belonging to the organisations. This will include, even the fans and the mats, in the offices of the far flung cities, towns and villages. All the weapons and armaments of the military wing as well as all the equipment of the Propagation & Information Department should also be included.
Usually the Finance Department’s responsibility is limited to financial transaction and monetary activities, while all the various Departmental properties and materials comes under the jurisdiction of the various Departments. This arrangement does not seem logical and it might lead to some disorder. Therefore a complete list of all the resources and finances of the whole organisation ought to be made by the Finance Department, either by themselves or by the co-operation of the regional offices. Even the establishment of a new office in a foreign country will be accountable to and administered by the Finance Department for its resources, properties, materials and finances. In the event of the closure of a regional office, the Finance Department will also be responsible for collecting all the belongings of that office and entering into the records and checking against the acquisitions. Thus this system will safeguard all the resources, ensure the centralised control over the whole organisation and a proper check and balance would be in place, which will detect the losses or gains. It will also remove any future threat of corruptive and fraudulent practices.
The Finance Department ought to register (with the Shura approval) the properties of the organisation, either in the name of the respected `Ulama, whose pious character is well attested and beyond any doubt, or by the establishment of charitable organisations and registering under their names. Care should be taken never to register the organisation’s property in the name of its leaders or in the name of the Jihaad organisations, as the threat of a ban upon the Jihaad organisation at a moment’s notice could not be ignored, nor the assassination of the leaders by the enemy’s agents, or their arrest by the government of their country. In any of these scenarios the loss of the Jihaad properties and resources could not be ignored, thus it would be wise to protect them before any such danger arises.