Saudi Arabia funds Lashkar-e-Jhangvi

The Sunni radical Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), which is responsible for attacks against Shia Muslims, is funded by Saudi Arabia.  LeJ’s parent organization, Sipah-e-Sahaba (SSP), feeds at the same trough.

From Reuters last fall:

THE SAUDI CONNECTION

In the Punjab town of Jhang, LeJ’s birthplace, SSP leader Maulana Mohammad Ahmed Ludhianvi describes what he says are Tehran’s grand designs. Iranian consular offices and cultural centers, he alleges, are actually a front for its intelligence agencies.

“If Iranian interference continues it will destroy this country,” said Ludhianvi in an interview in his home. The state provides him with armed guards, fearful any harm done to him could trigger sectarian bloodletting.

The Iranian embassy in Islamabad, asked for a response to that allegation, issued a statement denouncing sectarian violence.

“What is happening today in the name of sectarianism has nothing to do with Muslims and their ideologies,” it said.

Ludhianvi insisted he was just a politician. “I would like to tell you that I am not a murderer, I am not a killer, I am not a terrorist. We are a political party.”

After a meal of chicken, curry and spinach, Ludhianvi and his aides stood up to warmly welcome a visitor: Saudi Arabia-based cleric Malik Abdul Haq al-Meqqi.

A Pakistani cleric knowledgeable about Sunni groups described Meqqi as a middleman between Saudi donors and intelligence agencies and the LeJ, the SSP and other groups.

“Of course, Saudi Arabia supports these groups. They want to keep Iranian influence in check in Pakistan, so they pay,” the Pakistani cleric said. His account squared with that of a Pakistani intelligence agent, who said jailed militants had confessed that LeJ received Saudi funding…

A Stanford University study also said that, “LeJ has received money from several Persian Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.  These countries funded LeJ and other Sunni militant groups primarily to counter the rising influence of Iran’s revolutionary Shiism,” (h/t Land Destroyer).

This is especially relevant now that LeJ’s attacks on Shias are becoming more frequent and lethal.  They just killed 81 people in Quetta and another 100 people last month.  LeJ and SSP are also gaining political representation in the Punjab and National Assembly (h/t Hayat Alvi).

Abu Bakr: a taxing companion

Muhammad had a knack for recruiting the wealthiest people to Islam before bothering with the poor.  Like the first person to convert to Islam (Khadija) the second person, Abu Bakr, was also very wealthy.  Abu Bakr was a rich cloth merchant (an early fashion designer, if you will) whose business trips took him as far as Syria and Yemen.

But once he fell under the spell of Khadija and Muhammad, Abu Bakr became transformed into a jihadist Daddy Warbucks—the businessman who helped ensure the Prophet had the money he needed to raise an army to fight the infidel.  Abu Bakr endeared himself to Muhammad by forfeiting all of his household wealth to fund the war effort.  At one point, Abu Bakr slapped a Jewish rabbi in the face who questioned the Koranic verse 57:11 that suggested Allah needed a loan.  Some have explained that the true reason behind the altercation was that Abu Bakr approached the rabbi to obtain a loan on Muhammad’s behalf, and the rabbi refused.

Despite Muhammad’s love for Abu Bakr, the #1 companion faced difficulties too.  The most notable opposition came from Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad, and her husband Ali.  When Muhammad died, Abu Bakr seemed eager to retain Muhammad’s estate to propagate Islam, and fought off the attempts of Fatima to claim personal inheritance from her father’s ownership of an orchard at Fedak.

In so doing, Abu Bakr basically imposed a 100 percent estate tax on the deceased Muhammad’s wealth and appropriated it for the needs of the burgeoning caliphate.  The money grab/inheritance dispute between Abu Bakr on one side and Fatima Ali on the other would result in the Sunni-Shia split that has roiled the Islamic world ever since.

Even after he was named the first caliph after Muhammad’s death, Abu Bakr continued earning income from selling clothes.  Noting the unseemliness of this behavior, Muhammad’s #2 companion, Umar, arranged a salary for Abu Bakr.  But Abu Bakr generally seemed more concerned about the treasury of Islam, the bayt al-mal, than with his own portfolio.  He made his mark on the early caliphate by pledging to fight those who refused to pay zakat, rejecting the leniency his advisers urged.

One author has written that under the circumstances of zakat non-payment, “It is not strange… that Abu Bakr and his government should have undertaken the killing of innocent Muslims and the destruction of their sanctity and the enslavement of their women and progeny.”  No, not strange at all!  Given Abu Bakr’s background of spending his whole adult life and net worth to help obtain early victories for Islam, it is little wonder he undertook a campaign to kill tax debtors who he felt were shortchanging the cause.

Kids collect cold hard cash during Ashura

This eye-catching photo taken earlier this month during an Ashura procession in India shows two boys collecting plates full of money from the crowds.  The poor white horse appears to have a few drops of blood on his head.

The full Getty caption reads:

NEW DELHI, INDIA – DECEMBER 06: Shi’ite Muslims walk a white horse through the streets as people donate money and food during the religious procession of Ashura on December 6, 2011 in New Delhi, India. Hundreds of Muslims in New Delhi and thousands around India took part in a procession to mark the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram when they remember the killing of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, who was martyred some at the Battle of Karbala, Iraq in 61AH. Shia men and women dressed in black crying and beating their chests participated in the capital’s processions to mark this important date in the Islamic calendar. On Muharram Muslims also undetake voluntary fasting, give to charity and pray in remembrance of Hussain.

Collecting money during Ashura seems to be a Shia tradition.  Morocco World News reported earlier this month that “On Ashura, children move from house to house, singing rhyming songs and collecting money and sweets.”

One mufti defended the practice this month in an online forum in response to a Muslim’s question:

Question:

I would like to know whether spending on one’s family on the 10th of Muharram is an authenticated practice. If this is so, is it recommended to spend specifically on food and drink or will general gifts suffice. Also could these gifts be bought in advance with the intention of spending on one’s family on the 10th of Muharram?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

There are two types of narrations related in this regard. The first concerning the virtue of giving general charity on the 10th of Muharram (Ashura), and the second concerning the virtue of spending specifically on one’s family on this day.

As far as general charity is concerned, it has been reported from the Companion Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said, “Whoever fasts on the 10th of Muharram (Ashura), it is as though he has fasted the entire year. And whoever gives charity on this day, it is like the charity of an entire year.” (Recorded by Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali in his Lata’if al-Ma’arif from Abu Musa al-Madini)

As for spending and being generous on one’s family, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) is reported to have said, “One who generously spends on his family on the 10th of Muharram (Ashura), Allah will be generous on him for the entire year.” (Recorded by Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali in his Lata’if al-Ma’arif from Tabarani in his al-Awsat and Al-Bayhaqi in his Shu’ab al-Iman)

These and other narrations indicate that one should be generous on one’s family and dependants and spend more on them by providing more food and other items on this day as compared to other days. One may give cash, food and drink, or any other item of gift.

Although some scholars consider these narrations to be weak (dha’if), others like Imam Bayhaqi and Ibn Hibban have accepted them as reliable. Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali relates from Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (Allah have mercy on him) that he did consider some basis for them. He also quotes Sufyan ibn Uyayna (Allah have mercy on him) as saying, “I have practiced this [spending on the family] for fifty or sixty years, and have found nothing but good in it.” (Lata’if al-Ma’arif P 64)

Thus, unlike other Islamic taxes that are primarily intended to strengthen or expand Islam (zakat, jizya, etc.), money collected during Ashura seems to be retained by the families of the children who collect it.  In this sense it seems like a Shia version of Halloween, where the goodies are kept by the kids themselves and are not distributed as charity.

If this is incorrect, Money Jihad welcomes any Shiites with personal experience in this area to set the record straight.

Shia revolutionaries in Bahrain funded by khums

The chief investigator of 21 agitators has testified before a Bahraini court that the defendants were working with Iran and funded by khums, Shia Islam’s 20 percent tax on gains. The investigator stated that the men received the khums in cash along with marching orders from Hezbollah.

This conforms to what we already knew about 1) the historical role of khums in funding “jihadi movements” including the Iranian Revolution itself, and 2) the role of khums in funding Hezbollah, and 3) the role khums was reported to play last year in a failed Shia Bahraini coup.

From the Muslim News on May 22:

…At the hearing of the prominent 21 activists, Lieutenant Isa Sultan was brought as a witness. Isa Sultan is the person in charge of the case and investigations. According to people present at the hearing, he was sweating and appeared very nervous. He said that the defendants were working in coordination with Iran as they all followed Velayat-Al-Faqih and wanted an Islamic Republic. He also said that they received payments of “Khums” which is Islamic taxation. The lawyer asked him how he knew this if there were checks or such, and he responded that they received it all in cash and then used it to buy gas and car tires for the youth to burn on the streets. He then said that the defendants were receiving directions from Hezbullah who told them they must achieve a constitutional monarchy…

Strive with your wealth against Christian-Shiite axis

Al Qaeda has a message for Sunnis in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen:  “Buy weapons, even if it costs a lot, to protect your religion, your lives and your honour.”  This is a persistent theme of Islam, to go forth light or heavy armed and to strive with your wealth against the infidel (Koran 9:41).  The concept of risking your money along with your life in order to wage successful jihad is the very essence of the money jihad.  This time Al Jihad bi-al-Mal takes place against the Christians-Shia “conspiracy.”

From Asia News on Jan. 29 (h/t Gov):

Baghdad (AsiaNews / Agencies) – An “alliance” between Christians and Shiites against Sunnis. This is the claim carried in an audiotape released yesterday evening by al Qaida, which claims that there is an anti-Sunni agreement between the U.S. and Iran. The affirmation of the terrorist movement sees “a confirmation” of the conspiracy in last month’s meeting in Yemen between U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and former foreign minister of Iran, Manouchehr Mottaki, in the “Manama Dialogue “on security on the Arabian Peninsula.

In reality, especially in Iraq, Shiite and Christian communities are the targets of terrorist attacks linked to al Qaida and its not uncommon to see images of Jesus and the father of Shiism, Imam Hussein side by side.  Such was the case during the Christmas period and again during a call from religious leaders inviting Christians not to leave the country.

The message of al-Qaida urges Sunnis to “pay attention to the massacres” that “happen in Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, while you are unarmed.” “Take up your weapons and prepare yourselves before it is too late.” “Buy weapons, even if it costs a lot, to protect your religion, your lives and your honour.”

Welcome to Lilburn, Georgia

Ashura "celebration" at Dar-E-Abbas in Lilburn, Ga.

Or maybe Lilburnistan.  Did you think that only Europe is being Islamized?

Lilburn is similar to many cities in America.  It has a cozy population of 11,000 in Gwinnett County about 15 miles outside Atlanta…  It also has at least four Islamic facilities each with colorful back stories.

The one pictured above, the A.G.A. Dar-E-Abbas Islamic Center, has a history of code violations.  Those violations are partly why a Dar-E-Abbas rezoning request was denied by Lilburn in a heated decision last fall.

Then there’s the “Nasfat of Atlanta,” also in Lilburn.  They seem to keep their noses cleaner than Dar-E-Abbas, although they promise on their website “to become renowned for quality da’wah,” which is Islamic proselytizing.  Nasfat also states that they will “not discriminate”…against Muslims.  There are no pledges on their website about discriminating against anybody else.

Next there’s a nonprofit corporation known as the Al-Rasoul Masjid & Center AMC Inc.  They’re currently in noncompliance with Georgia corporations laws for not filing necessary paperwork with the Secretary of State.  Lovely.

Finally, there’s the “Ali Center,” registered with the state as the Imam Ali (A.S.) Center.  The registered agent and CEO of the Ali Center is Kaiser Ali, but the actual owner of the property (according to property records for its address at 695 Beaver Ruin Road) is the Dawat-E-Hadiya of America.  That owner, although technically registered in California, is actually the corporate vessel of a foreign-based Shia Muslim sect.

If you ever feel like buying a nice piece of property with foreign funds, committing code violations on the premises, or failing to file required paperwork, just stop by Lilburn sometime.  A local imam will be happy to give you pointers.

A khums coincidence?

According to world-widetax.com, Azerbaijan’s corporate tax rate has been lowered to 20 percent effective Jan. 1, 2010.

Recall Koran 8:42, which says “when ye have taken any booty, a fifth part belongeth to God and to the Apostle,” and certain other groups named in the sura.

Remember also that the khums tax imposed in 8:42 is interpreted among Shia Muslims to apply to all profits, not just war booty.

It’s important to note that apart from Iran, Azerbaijan is one of the few majority-Shia countries in the world.

So is the reduction in Azerbaijani’s corporate tax rate just a pro-business measure to attract investment, or is it a change to align Azerbaijan with a Shia interpretation of Islamic tax law?

Fai favors Muhammad’s successors

Money Jihad has examined all the major Islamic revenue sources including zakat, sadaqa, ushr, jizya, khums, kharaj, customs duties, ransoms.  But one remains:  the fai.

Fai defined

In classical Islam, wealth taken peaceably from an enemy, either under the terms of a peace settlement or after fighting has ended. Fai was considered the right of the Prophet Muhammad originally. Later it was distributed by the community leaders according to what was considered to be in the best interests of Islam and Muslims. (Oxford Islamic Studies Online)

Or, for a much more vivid definition of fai, Islam Watch offers this:

Consider what it would be like to walk through a dark alley on a quiet night. You are looking back every few minutes, hoping no one is following you. You are close to the next illuminated street, but, almost magically, two tall musclemen block your way and ask for your wallet. You hand them your wallet and give up your wrist watch and the expensive jacket that you bought recently. Yes, you just made your contribution to Fai.  (“Muhammad’s Profession:  Booty Ahoy,” by Sher Khan)

Islam’s legal basis for the fai is similar to that of the kharaj:  “The spoil taken from the people of the towns and assigned by God to his apostle, belongeth to God, and to the apostle, and to his kindred, and to the orphan, and to the poor, and to the wayfarer” (Koran 59:7).

The Hadith are more explicit about the fai, its disbursement to Muhammad’s family, and any amount remaining to go toward holy war:

The properties of Bani An-Nadir which Allah had transferred to His Apostle as Fai Booty were not gained by the Muslims with their horses and camels. The properties therefore, belonged especially to Allah’s Apostle who used to give his family their yearly expenditure and spend what remained thereof on arms and horses to be used in Allah’s Cause.  (Sahih Bukhari, 4.52.153)

Who funds Iraqi Shia militias? And what about the Christian militias? Oh…right…

Precisely where did the sectarian militias that caused the worst violence in pre-surge Iraq get their money?  And where do those militias continue to receive their funding today?  Lt. Gen. Jacoby has an answer in a recent article from Agence France Presse with the headline, “US commander says Iran still arming Iraq militias”:

BAGHDAD — The number two US commander in Iraq, Lieutenant General Charles Jacoby, charged on Thursday that neighbouring Iran was still providing weapons and funds to militia groups undermining stability.

“Iran still smuggles equipment and aid to terrorists across the border,” the general said.

“I find Iranian influence in Iraq unhelpful across all domains — political, military, economic,” he added.

“The Iranians also continue to train special group leaders and provide them opportunities to come back to Iraq.”

Special groups is the term US commanders use to refer to Shiite militia factions that have refused to join the political mainstream and which they hold responsible for many of the reprisal killings carried out during the sectarian bloodshed of 2006 and 2007.

That “sectarian bloodshed” resulted in the deaths of Sunnis, American servicemen, other Shias, and Arab Christians.

Christians in the Middle East, it turns out, are a dying breed.  As we near Christmas, the London Telegraph provides a poignant account of Christian populations withering on the vine in that part of the world.  Suffering under the boot well-funded Muslim militants, Christians are also dwindling through emigration and low birth rates.

The Telegraph article provides a striking contrast to AFP’s account of Shia-funded militias, because, as Father Remon Moussalli, a Chaldean priest in Amman, notes, “The Christians are like the peaceful Muslims, but there are no Christian militias to protect them.”

The khums tax menace: keep an eye on the recipients, not just the rate

The khums tax is based on the Koran 8:42: 

And ye know, that when ye have taken any booty, a fifth part belongeth to God and to the apostle, and to the near of kin, and to orphans, and to the poor, and to the wayfarer, if ye believe in God, and in that which we have sent down to our servant on the day of the victory, the day of the meeting of the Hosts.

Shia Muslims interpret this passage to apply to all financial gains—or ghanima—not just war booty the way Sunnis interpret it.

But what is wrong with the khums?  I can summarize the problem in three words:  Khums. Funds. Hezbollah.  But you don’t have to take my word for it.  Just read what members of Hezbollah have said about their khums revenue.

Admin costs of 50%? Islamic NGOs say OK

This one slipped by us until now.  Last month, a workshop was held among the leaders of major Muslim charities (ie, zakat, sadaqa, and khums tax collectors) in—of course—London.

A Shia Muslim advocacy group called “The World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities” provided the only account of the workshop I could find .

One off-hand remark in the summary is particularly eye-opening.  Two small group discussions were held during the workshop.  “In one of the groups, a poll of the 6 large and small NGOs was held. The results showed that 5 of 6 charged administration costs between 7-15%, or project based costs which can sometimes be up to 50%.”

Overhead costs are something that all charities, including the best-run Western charities, face.  Seven to fifteen percent is not completely unreasonable…  Charity Navigator, a rater of American charities, finds that the median American fundraising charity spends “only 6% on administrative expenses.”

It’s hard to tell what the context of the discussion would be that allows “project based costs” that can consume 50 percent all donations in overhead expenses, but it seems awfully high.  Perhaps, as Money Jihad has speculated before, the zakat collectors feel justified in keeping a higher cut than most non-Islamic charities because the Koran specifically authorizes the zakat payments to be given to “those who collect them” (9:60).

What was also noteworthy, at least in the account provided by the World Federation, is the Shia machinations to spread khums taxation throughout the Islamic world.  We’ll publish a post going into greater detail about the khums within the next couple days, but basically it is a 20 percent tax traditionally imposed among Shia Muslims on gains or profits (ghanima)—or on net income in contemporary Shia societies.

The relatively high tax rate on ghanima, much of which goes directly into the pockets of imams, is a point of pride among Shias for supporting imams’ independence from state support.  But for the West, the khums should be a point of concern.