The twenty-ninth “distinguished martyr” is the Tunisian jihadist Abu Tariq al-Tunisi. As with many other entries in this series, Abu Tariq’s biography mostly praises his character, recounts his stubborn journey to jihad, and discusses his combat experience. There is not much key information about JTJ, although it is notable that he was Tunisian. One gets a sense as to why Tunisian jihadists would be so extreme–negative polarization from their highly-liberal environment, which Abu Ismail al-Muhajir viciously denounces here.
Abu Tariq al-Tunisi
He was the reciter who had memorized the Book of God, the upholder of the Sunnah, the cheerful and smiling one, the fearless knight, the emigrant to God and the Hereafter, the one who gave himself to God, the patient and steadfast for God and by God, the one who held firmly to his religion in times of trials–Ziyad al-Mahrazi from the verdant Tunisia.
The beloved martyr studied at the College of Commerce, a degenerate and corrupt institution. Rarely would you see a young man or woman without a lover, and they would boast about it as if it were something chivalrous–indeed, they believed it to be so. The enemies of God and his demons–from the evil scholars and university professors–had convinced them that a life without love was like a donkey eating hay. But this young man had the radiance of faith touch his heart, his soul found tranquility in it, and he recognized the truth and its path. He despised falsehood and its deceit, so he fled from corruption and called to faith, becoming a caller to God in this college. His companions knew no place for him except the mosque, to which he clung as if it were the fortress of salvation, the land of safety, and the comfort of the heart–by God, it was so.
In the mosque, he fortified himself with the Quran, immersing himself in the words of his Lord through recitation and memorization until God elevated him and blessed him with the memorization of His Book. As he used to say: "The house has become flourishing," for the heart that contains nothing of the Quran is a ruined heart.
Abu Tariq wept when he read the verses of jihad and tasted through them the meanings of honor. He looked to his right and left but saw nothing but humiliation and submission. News of the Land of the Two Rivers and its lions reached him, and he turned his face toward those lands. He continued preparing and arranging his papers and money until the time for travel came. At the border, a passport officer informed him: "You are a student, and the law prohibits this," then ordered him to return. But the man refused to go back and insisted, appealing to one official after another until God saw the sincerity of his intention and resolve, softening their hearts and allowing him to travel.
After this arduous journey, the righteous group arrived in Syria, and there came the surprise: the brothers in the Land of the Two Rivers were only accepting martyrdom-seekers and those with special skills at the time, not regular fighters. They were told that returning would be better for them, but Abu Tariq refused and remained in the country, saying: "I will not return until God permits me." He continued supplicating and beseeching God to open a door for jihad for him, pleading with his Lord in sincerity until God facilitated a way for him to enter as a fighter.
When he entered and spent a short time fighting and striving in the path of God, he understood why the brothers had requested martyrs. He saw with his own eyes the astonishing devastation of martyrdom operations and the short path they provided to the presence of the Beloved. So, he decided on the martyrdom operation, requested it, and insisted. He was not skilled at driving, so some brothers gave him basic training. Then God made it easy for him.
In the house of the martyrs, Ziyad began to develop other qualities–or rather, he adorned himself in preparation for meeting God. He strove hard in frequent prayer, night prayers, and fasting, fasting every other day. Upon waking, he would clean the place, organize the house, and make himself a servant to his brothers, living by the motto: "The master of a people is their servant."
Because the wait for the martyrdom operation had begun to lengthen for various reasons (which won’t be discussed here), he would cheer up his brothers with his high spirits and humor in a way that would make the heart die of laughter–so much so that he rose to the rank of "Deputy Emir of the Cheerful Ones"! There was an emir who was unrivaled–a young man from the youth of the Arabian Peninsula whom God had guided to faith, good religion, and character, even though he had been in ignorance, never sober from drugs, and had once claimed to be the Mahdi for a period.
Abu Tariq was the imam of the people in everything–in service, reciting the Quran, and good character–just as he was their imam in prayer. He eagerly awaited meeting his Lord, striving in supplication for it and increasing in it. He loved that God would grant him this on a Friday in the final hour. And amazingly, the Americans had occupied a house where about fifteen Humvees had gathered–on a Friday morning. The brothers prepared a car for him, and the choice fell upon Abu Tariq. He went to his target, and that was exactly one hour before sunset on Friday–just as he had asked his Lord, the Answerer of Supplications.
He hastened to God and stormed his enemies in a situation that made the Lord laugh. He settled among them, reaping them like a harvest, making those who remained flee, striking their heads against the walls (the remnants of the walls), regretting that black day when they had come to those "cursed lands" (as they called them). And so, our brother ascended to the company of his Lord and His noble companions.
Written by:
Abu Ismail al-Muhajir