Dammaj, the aftermath .... our last moments (1)

"Verily, with the hardship, there is relief ..."

It was Saturday, 10th Rabi-ul-awwal (11th Jan. 2014), our Yemeni neighbours pounded on our door screaming for my husband.... I could sense the urgency in their voices! In no time the news reached my ear... "We have to leave Dammaj in 4 (F-O-U-R days)!"  We were stunned and dismayed by the news...! Not only did we endure a ruthless, coldblooded war and siege by the Rawâfidh for 93 days (3months) but now we have to leave Dammaj (lock, stock and barrel) at such short notice! It was like our nest which we had so carefully and tirelessly built was disintegrating! I can't put into words what we felt and went through when this news was officially confirmed. The duaa of Umm Salamahرضي الله عنها  was the first thing that came to my mind:

  إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ  

‘To Allaah we belong and unto Him is our return.'

(Al-Baqarah 2:156) 

"O Allaah, reward me for my affliction & replace it for me with something  better."

After three months of bloody war, the Rawâfidh (Houthies) and those cooperating with them, had changed their strategy with regards to Dammaj. They could not enter through the front door, so they entered through the rear. By Allaah we are being oppressed unjustly!! He سُبحانه وتعالى is a witness to their evil plot. 

Allaahعزّ و جلّ  says in His Noble Book:

 وَقَدْ مَكَرَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَلِلّهِ الْمَكْرُ جَمِيعًا يَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ وَسَيَعْلَمُ الْكُفَّارُ لِمَنْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ

"And verily, those before them did devise plots, but All planning is Allâh's. He knows what every person earns, and the disbelievers will know who gets the good end (final destination)."

( Ar-Ra'd 13:42)

We, in Dammaj also lived among the enemies of Islaam, the Rawâfidh who want to destroy Ahlul-Sunnaah and those who strive to practice it. Many a time they have targeted to assassinate Sheikh Yahya حفظه الله. Time after time they targeted his home and family by firing with heavy weapons. Allaah is Sufficient a Protector!

He عزّ و جلّ  reassures the believers in Surah al-Ibrahim:

 وَسَكَنتُمْ فِي مَسَـاكِنِ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمْ كَيْفَ فَعَلْنَا بِهِمْ وَضَرَبْنَا لَكُمُ الأَمْثَالَ

 وَقَدْ مَكَرُواْ مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِندَ اللّهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِن كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ الْجِبَالُ

"And you dwelt in the dwellings of men who wronged themselves, and it was clear to you how we had dealt with them. and we put forth (many) parables for you. Indeed, they planned their plot, and their plot was with Allâh, though their plot was a great (one, still) it would never be able to remove the mountains (real mountains or the Islâmic Law) from their places (as it is of no importance)."

(Ibrahim 14:45-46)

[Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Vol. 2, Page 597]. [It is said by some interpreters regarding this verse that the Quraish pagans plotted against Muhammadصلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم  to kill him but they failed and were unable to carry out their plot which they plotted].

Sheikh Yahyaحفظه الله  announced after Salaatul Asr that the president of Yemen had given him two choices:

1. To hand over the Ghurabaa (non-Yemenis) to the authorities and keep the Markaz;

2. To leave Dammaj with all the students to an alternate destination.

He chose the latter which is to leave Dammaj with all his students. Alhamdulillaah, even in this matter no matter how trying it was for all of us, our Noble Sheikhحفظه الله  did the right thing by obeying the ruler of the country who is the 'Wali-ul-Amr' (Guardian of the State). This is the aqeedah of Ahlus-Sunnah i.e., is to obey the ruler without revolting against him. Alhamdulillaah! This is the difference between us and the Khawaariji who overthrow the leader of the country.

The reality is that we have to leave Dammaj which has been our home, our centre of learning, our fitna free community which comprised of locals and brothers and sisters from various parts of the world (such as Asia, America, Africa, Europe...etc.) all living harmoniously united under the banner ‘لا إله إلا الله -  (the meaning of which is: there is none worthy of worship in truth except Allaah)! Nearly 2000 families and single students of about 10,000 is not a small number to move in 72 hours!

Where do we all go?? The alternate destination offered to us was (the outskirts) of Hodaida, the 4th largest city in Yemen. We were informed that tents were put up for us and that the whole convoy had to leave together after Fajr and that it would take us a good 10 - 12 hours to reach our new destination, about which no one knew any details.  

Though it was difficult for us to digest this news, we knew we had no choice in this matter, but trust in Allaah, pack and leave! Even when it looked like things were falling apart for us, we held onto good thoughts of our Most Merciful Lord. How will Heسُبحانه وتعالى let us down? We in Dammaj had left our countries, the comfort of our homes, our loved one, wealth all for the sake of Allaahسُبحانه وتعالى  -- for the very purpose of seeking ilm and residing in this beautiful, valley of Sunnah nestled in the mountains of Yemen, the only place (I know of) where we were able to protect ourselves and our families (to the best of our abilities) from a fire whose fuel is men and stones bi'ithnillaahi (with the permission of Allaah). Alhamdulillaah a place we were able practice our Deen to the fullest without any fear or inhibitions. We were allowed to dress and conduct ourselves (in ALL aspects of our Deen and life) according to the Qur'aan and Sunnah according to the understanding of the Salaf-us-Saalih. 

To be continued insha-Allaah... 

Click to read part 2 here