Jihad

What is Jihad?

'Jihad' means all-out effort. In Shari'i terms, 'Jihad' is an all-out effort in the path of Allah to establish Islamic law in society. The ultimate form of which is to wage armed war against the forces of disbelief. The purpose of Jihad is to free people from the slavery of man and bring them back to the slavery of Allah and establish equality and justice among people.

(a) Armed warfare against infidels was not permitted in Makki life. It was said, كُفُّوا أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَةَ وَائُوا الزَّكَةَ ‘Keep your hands restrained and perform Salat and pay Zakat’... (Nisa 4/77). This policy always applies. When the power of disbelief will be strong and the power of Islam will be weak compared to it.

(b) Thereafter, in cases of extreme oppression, such as expulsion from the country or from home, armed combat is permitted in order to protect religion and life. It is said, أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا وَإِنَّ اللهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ- ‘War is permitted to those who are afflicted. Because they have been tortured. And surely Allah is able to help them (without war)' (Hajj 22/39).

Read more: Guidance/Hidayah

The reality of faith | Fiqhul Akbar | Jamat e Islami

(c) At this time war is ordered only against those who fight, وَقَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلاَ تَعْتَدُوا إِنَّ اللهَ لَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ ‘And fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you and do not exaggerate in it. Surely Allah does not love transgressors' (Baqarah 2/190). That is, Jihad will only be for the hereafter, not for any worldly interest, and those who fight will fight only against those who fight.

(d) Ordered in time of war, اغْزُوا بِاسْمِ اللهِ فِى سَبِيلِ اللهِ قَاتِلُوا مَنْ كَفَرَ بِاللهِ اغْزُوا وَلاَ تَغُلُّوا وَلاَ تَغْدِرُوا وَلاَ تُمَثِّلُوا وَلاَ تَقْتُلُوا الْوِلْدَانَ وَلاَ أَصْحَابَ الصَّوَامِعِ Fight in the name of Allah in the way of Allah against those who disbelieve in Allah. Fight, but do not betray the spoils. Don't break the contract. Don't harm the enemy. Do not kill children and worshippers'.[1]

(e) Then basic instructions were issued to protect the deen and life from the all-pervasive attack of the infidel forces, وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلَّهِ فَإِنِ انْتَهَوَوْا فَلَ عُدْوَانَ إِلَّ عَلَى عَفْرُ عَفْرُ عَفْرَّةِ عَلَّى عَلَى فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الِمِينَ And obedience is only to Allah. Then if they desist, there is no retribution for others except the wrongdoers' (Baqarah 2/193; Anfal 8/39).

(f) The eternal principle of Jihad is declared in all cases and under all circumstances that 'the flag of Tawheed shall be raised and the flag of Shirk shall be lowered'. As Allah says, وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفْلَى وَكَلِمَةُ اللهِ هِيَ الْعُليَا وَاللهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ 'And He lowered the flag of the disbelievers (shirk) and raised the flag of Allah (Tawheed). Verily, Allah is Mighty and Wise' (Tawba 9/40).

(g) The purpose of sending Prophets and Messengers throughout the ages was to make Islam victorious against the evil forces of infidels who want to establish the sovereignty of man against the sovereignty of God and extinguish the religion of God. So was the purpose of sending the last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). As Allah says, يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ- هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَThey want to put out the light of Allah with their mouths. But Allah will give perfection to His light (Islam). But the unbelievers do not like it. He sent His Messenger with guidance and true religion. So that he can make that religion victorious over all religions. Although the polytheists do not like it (Ch 61/8-9; Tawbah 9/32).

(h) If a Muslim act as an accomplice of an unbelieving power, he is ordered to be 'harsh' against him. Allah says, يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ جَاهِدِ الْكُفَّارَ وَالْمُنَافِقِينَ وَاغْلُذْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِيسَ الْمَصِيرُ O Prophet! Make jihad against the infidels and the hypocrites and be strict with them. Their address is hell. And what a bad address it is' (Tawbah 9/73; Tahreem 66/9). Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (RA) said Jihad against the infidels will be with weapons and Jihad against the hypocrites will be with the tongue and by using harshness in other ways. [2] The Prophet (PBUH) did not order the killing of the hypocrite leader Abdullah Ibn Ubayy, even though he knew the root of all evil. Because of his outward Islam.

(j) Muslims are forbidden to fight against each other. [3] If a war breaks out for any reason, it is the responsibility of others to stop both sides and make a settlement between them' (Hujurat 49/9). Otherwise abstain. In this regard, Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) said, يَمْنَعُنِى أَنَّ اللهَ حَرَّمَ دَمَ أَخِى 'The fact that Allah has forbidden me the blood of my brother has prevented me from fighting. The people said, Did not Allah say, وَقَاتِلُوْهُمْ حَتَّى لَ تَكُوْنَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُوْنَ الدِّيْنُ ِللهِ ‘Fight against them until there is no fitnah and the religion is wholly for Allah’ (Baqara 2/193). He said in responseقَاتَلْنَا حَتَّى لَمْ تَكُنْ فِتْنَةٌ، وَكَانَ الدِّينُ ِللهِ، وَأَنْتُمْ تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تُقَاتِلُوا حَتَّى تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ، وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِغَيْرِ اللهِ "We fought so that there would be no fitnah (polytheism and disbelief) and the religion would be wholly for Allah. And you fight so that fitna (disaster) may arise and the religion may become for (enemies) other than Allah' (Bukhari ha/4513). He explained, هَلْ تَدْرِى مَا الْفِتْنَةُ? كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُقَاتِلُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ, وَكَانَ الدُّخُولُ عَلَيْهِمْ فِتْنَةً, وَلَيْسَ كَقِتَالِكُمْ عَلَى الْمُلْكِ Do you know what fitna is? Muhammad (PBUH) used to fight against polytheists. And the war against them was fitnah. A ruling like you is not a war to gain power' (Bukhari ha/4651, 7095).

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, سَتَكُونُ فِتَنٌ, الْقَعِدُ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْقَائِمِ, وَالْقَائمُ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْمَاشِى ... وَمَنْ وَجَدَ مَلْجَاً اَو مَعَاذًا فَذرْرِعِ will be among you. Then the sitting person among you will be better than the standing person and the sitting person will be better than the walking person. And the walker will be better than the runner. If someone finds a shelter or a place to live, then he should go there and take refuge'. [4] Hazrat Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqash (RA) asked the Prophet (PBUH), O Messenger of Allah! What should I do when someone enters my house to kill me? In response, the Prophet (PBUH) said, كُنْ كَابْنِ آدَمَ 'Be like the son of Adam' (meaning accept death like Abel). Then the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) recited the 28th verse. Wherein Allah quotes the words of Habeel against the murderer Qabeel and says, لَئِنْ بَسَطْتَ إِلَيَّ يَدَكَ لِتَقْتُلَنِي مَا أَنَا بِبَاسِطٍ يَدِيَ إِلَيْكَ لِأَقْتُلَكَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللهَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ 'If you raise your hand to kill me, I will not raise my hand to kill you. I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds' (Maydah 5/28). [5] Narrated by Abu Musa Ash'ari (R.A.), when one of you enters your house, let him be like the better of the two sons of Adam (فَلْيَكُنْ كَخَيْرِ ابْنَىْ عدَمَ).

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