From the Biographies of the Distinguished Martyrs: (23) The Righteous Brothers: Abu Dujana and Abu Nassir
The twenty-third “distinguished martyr” is a joint biography of two friends, Abu Dujana and Abu Nassir. They had known each other since childhood and they both became jihadists together. Abu Ismail al-Muhajir portrays them as highly devoted, indeed fanatical, ascetics, frequently fasting and praying. We do not learn anything substantial about JTJ in this period, nor even much of Abu Dujana’s and Abu Nassir’s personal lives. Abu Ismail does not tell us from where they came. Both died as suicide bombers.
The Righteous Brotherhood
Abu Dujana and Abu Nassir
They lived together since childhood, with good neighborly relations between their families. They were inseparable. Their feet stumbled in misguidance for a time, but then they both returned to God together and were sincere in their repentance (we consider them as such, but we do not absolve anyone before God). They memorized the Quran together, then the thought of jihad began to call them. God made the path easy for them, and they migrated together for His sake.
In the land of jihad, the call of martyrdom still beckoned them, and they yearned for it, striving earnestly to attain it. They chose a martyrdom operation without hesitation. None of us were surprised that they sought it, given their intense worship–fasting every other day, standing in night prayer, and reciting the Quran ceaselessly, day and night. When you sat with them and looked around, you would find them either bowing or prostrating.
One of the most remarkable things about them was that they would ask God for their needs before turning to people, no matter how small the matter. Once, while we were sitting, the leader entered and gave them some money. They exclaimed "Allahu Akbar" and rejoiced greatly. One said to the other, "Didn’t I tell you?" We asked them about it, and one of them said, "We needed money to buy copies of the Quran to distribute to people. Abu Nassir said, ‘Let us ask God alone for it.’ They had barely finished their supplication when the leader walked in with the money for them." What amazed me even more was their eagerness to distribute Qurans rather than fulfill their personal needs. They influenced the people so much that before sunset, you would hardly see any of the brothers without the book "Fortress of the Muslim" in their hands, remembering God–ansar and muhajirin alike.
One day, a brother sat with them and said, "The need for martyrs is urgent, and the elections are approaching. I have resolved to carry out an operation–what do you say?" Abu Dujana immediately stood up, extended his hand, and said, "I am with you. I pledge to you unto death." Abu Nassir did not rise at that moment, but in the evening, he too pledged to carry out the martyrdom operation.
They stayed in the house of the martyrs, completing the Quran every three days. They were chosen for the mission along with two others. They left after Fajr prayer, arranging to meet at 9 AM–in Paradise. And indeed, before 9 AM came, they were granted martyrdom (we consider them as such, but we do not absolve anyone before God)–except for Abu Dujana, who did not reach his target. He wept bitterly for missing his chance until Dhuhr prayer, saying to those with him, "If you love me, find me a target–I will not return today." When news reached him of his brothers' success, his grief and weeping intensified. He remained until Maghrib prayer, then returned home crying. His brothers tried to console him, but he kept weeping.
Our brother Abu Mu’adh said to him, "I fear your weeping is for the separation from your brother Abu Nassir, not out of longing to meet God–so check your intention." Abu Dujana looked at him and said, "I will only say one thing: ‘O God, You have fulfilled the needs of those in need, but my need remains unfulfilled.’"
For three days, he went out at dawn and returned at night, unable to reach his target, until his complexion changed and his face turned pale. He would not sit with anyone, isolating himself to recite the Quran, remember God, and weep. The next morning, as he prepared to leave, I looked at him and said to Abu Mu’adh, "His face is not like the faces of the people of this world." I touched his face with my hand, contemplating it. The Adhan for Fajr was called in a voice so sweet to the ears, then he left. After Maghrib prayer, his appointment with martyrdom arrived–he met his Lord after much longing, having killed over eighty apostates and wounded more than a hundred.
As for Abu Nassir, he used to say to his brothers:
"Is God unable to place me in the highest Paradise? That is not difficult for God. My hope is in God’s grace, not my deeds–for God is the Most Generous, and it takes nothing from His dominion. When I go for the mission, I will keep saying, ‘O Most Generous, O Most Noble,’ until I meet God."
In his strike, he killed over fifty apostates, not counting the wounded. May God have mercy on them both and grant them the Highest Paradise.
Written by:
Abu Ismail al-Muhajir