The reason why jihaad is prescribed
- Categories: Da'wah to Non-Muslims -
Why do Muslims wage
jihad?
Praise be to Allaah.
Allaah has enjoined jihad for His sake upon the Muslims, for the
great benefits that result from that and because of the harm caused
by abandoning jihad, some of which are mentioned in Question no.
34830.
Some of the reasons why jihad for the
sake of Allaah is prescribed in Islam are as follows:
1 - The main goal of jihad is to make the people worship Allaah
alone and to bring them forth from servitude to people to servitude
to the Lord of people. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and
worshipping of others along with Allaah) and (all and every kind
of) worship is for Allaah (Alone). But if they cease, let there be
no transgression except against Az-Zaalimoon (the polytheists, and
wrong-doers)" [al-Baqarah 2:193].
{وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ
فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلّهِ فَإِنِ انتَهَواْ فَلاَ عُدْوَانَ
إِلاَّ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ}
Transliteration: Wa Qātilūhum Ĥattá Lā Takūna Fitnatun Wa Yakūna
Ad-Dīnu Lillāhi Fa'ini Antahaw Falā `Udwāna 'Illā `Alá
Až-Žālimīna
"And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and
polytheism, i.e. worshipping others besides Allaah), and the
religion (worship) will all be for Allaah Alone [in the whole of
the world]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allaah),
then certainly, Allaah is All-Seer of what they do" [al-Anfaal
8:39].
{وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ
فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ لِلّه فَإِنِ انتَهَوْاْ فَإِنَّ
اللّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ}
Transliteration: Wa Qātilūhum Ĥattá Lā Takūna Fitnatun Wa Yakūna
Ad-Dīnu Kulluhu Lillāhi Fa'ini Antahaw Fa'inna Allāha Bimā
Ya`malūna Başīrun
Ibn Jareer said: "So fight them
until there is no more shirk, and none is worshipped except Allaah
alone with no partner or associate, and trials and calamities,
which are disbelief and polytheism, are lifted from the slaves of
Allaah on earth, and religion is all for Allaah alone, and so that
obedience and worship will be devoted to Him alone and none
else".
Ibn Katheer said: "Allaah
commands us to fight the kuffaar so that there will be no fitnah,
i.e., shirk, and the religion will all be for Allaah alone, i.e.,
the religion of Allaah will prevail over all other
religions".
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: «I have been commanded (by Allaah) to fight
the people until they testify that there is no god but Allaah and
that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, and they establish
regular prayer and pay zakaah, then if they do that, then they save
their lives and property from me except for Islamic laws and then
their reckoning will be with Allaah». [Narrated by
al-Bukhaari (24), Muslim (33)].
And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: «I have been sent just before the Hour with
the sword, so that Allaah will be worshipped alone with no partner
or associate»
Narrated by Ahmad, 4869; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh
al-Jaami', 2831.
This purpose of jihad was present in the minds of the Sahaabah (may
Allaah be pleased with them) during their battles with the enemies
of Allaah. Al-Bukhaari (2925) narrated that Jubayr ibn Hayyah said:
'Umar sent people to all the regions to fight the mushrikeen… so
'Umar recruited us and appointed al-Nu'maan ibn Muqarrin to lead
us. When we were in the land of the enemy, the representative of
Chosroes came out to us with fourty thousand troops. An interpreter
stood up and said: "Let one of you speak to me." Al-Mugheerah said:
"Ask whatever you want." He asked, "Who are you?" He (al-Mugheerah)
said: "We are some people from among the Arabs. We used to lead a
harsh and miserable life, sucking on animal skins and date stones
because of hunger, wearing clothes made of camel and goat hair,
worshipping trees and rocks. While we were in this state, the Lord
of the heavens and the earth, exalted be His name and glorified be
His greatness, sent to us a Prophet from amongst ourselves, whose
father and mother we know. Our Prophet, the Messenger of our Lord,
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), commanded us to fight
you until you worship Allaah alone or pay the jizyah. Our Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us the message
from our Lord, that whoever among us is killed will go to Paradise
to enjoy delights such as no one has ever seen, and whoever among
us is left will become your master."
This is the truth that the Sahaabah and leaders of the Muslims
proclaimed in their military campaigns.
Rab'i ibn 'Aamir said, when Rustam the commander of the Persian
armies asked him, "Why have you come?": "Allaah has sent us to bring
forth whomsoever He wills from the worship of man to the worship of
Allaah.
When 'Uqbah ibn Naafi' reached Tangiers, he rode his horse into the
water until the water was up to its chest, then he said: "O Allaah,
bear witness that I have done my utmost, and were it not for this
sea I would have travelled throughout the land fighting those who
disbelieve in You, until none is worshipped except You."
2 - Repelling the aggression of those who attack the Muslims.
The scholars are unanimously agreed that repelling the aggression
of those who attack the Muslims is fard 'ayn (an individual
obligation) upon those who are able to do that.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "And fight in the way
of Allaah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits.
Truly, Allaah likes not the transgressors" [al-Baqarah
2:190].
{وَقَاتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ
الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلاَ تَعْتَدُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ
يُحِبِّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ}
Transliteration: Wa Qātilū Fī Sabīli Allāhi Al-Ladhīna
Yuqātilūnakum Wa Lā Ta`tadū 'Inna Allāha Lā Yuĥibbu
Al-Mu`tadīna
"Will you not fight a people who have violated their oaths (pagans
of Makkah) and intended to expel the Messenger while they did
attack you first? Do you fear them? Allaah has more right that you
should fear Him if you are believers" [al-Tawbah 9:13].
{أَلاَ تُقَاتِلُونَ قَوْماً نَّكَثُواْ
أَيْمَانَهُمْ وَهَمُّواْ بِإِخْرَاجِ الرَّسُولِ وَهُم بَدَؤُوكُمْ
أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ فَاللّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَوْهُ
إِن كُنتُم مُّؤُمِنِينَ}
Transliteration: 'Alā Tuqātilūna Qawmāan Nakathū 'Aymānahum Wa
Hammū Bi'ikhrāji Ar-Rasūli Wa Hum Bada'ūkum 'Awwala Marratin
'Atakhshawnahum Fa-Allāhu 'Aĥaqqu 'An Takhshawhu 'In Kuntum
Mu'uminīna
3 - Removing fitnah (tribulation):
Fitnah is of different types:
(i) That which is caused by the kuffaar who persecute the Muslims
or apply pressure to them to make them give up their religion.
Allaah has commanded the Muslims to fight in jihad in order to save
those who are weak and oppressed. Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
"And what is wrong with you that you fight not in the Cause of
Allaah, and for those weak, ill-treated and oppressed among men,
women, and children, whose cry is: "Our Lord! Rescue us from this
town whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from You one who
will protect, and raise for us from You one who will help"
[al-Nisa' 4:75].
{وَمَا لَكُمْ لاَ تُقَاتِلُونَ فِي
سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاء
وَالْوِلْدَانِ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ
هَـذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ الظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَاجْعَل لَّنَا مِن
لَّدُنكَ وَلِيّاً وَاجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ
نَصِيراً}
Transliteration: Wa Mā Lakum Lā Tuqātilūna Fī Sabīli Allāhi Wa
Al-Mustađ`afīna Mina Ar-Rijāli Wa An-Nisā' Wa Al-Wildāni Al-Ladhīna
Yaqūlūna Rabbanā 'Akhrijnā Min Hadhihi Al-Qaryati Až-Žālimi 'Ahluhā
Wa Aj`al Lanā Min Ladunka Walīyāan Wa Aj`al Lanā Min Ladunka
Naşīrāan
(ii) The fitnah of the kuffaar themselves and their preventing
others from hearing and accepting the truth. That is because the
kaafir systems corrupt the innate nature and reason of people, and
make them get used to worshipping and submitting to things other
than Allaah, getting addicted to alcohol, wallowing in the mire of
sexual licence, and losing all characteristics of virtue. Whoever
is like that can rarely tell truth from falsehood, good from evil,
right from wrong. So jihad is prescribed in order to remove those
obstacles that prevent people from hearing and accepting the truth
and getting to know it.
4 - Protecting the Islamic state from the evil of the
kuffaar.
Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
ordered that the leaders of the kuffaar be killed, those who
incited the enemies against the Muslims, such as the Jews Ka'b ibn
al-Ashraf and Ibn Abi'l-Haqeeq.
Another aspect of jihad is to protect the borders against the
kuffaar. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
encouraged that as he said: «Guarding
the border for one day for the sake of Allaah is better than this
world and everything in it» [Al-Bukhaari, 2678].
5 - Frightening the kuffaar, humiliating them and putting them to
shame.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "Fight against them so
that Allaah will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and
give you victory over them and heal the breasts of a believing
people,
And remove the anger of their (believers') hearts. Allaah accepts
the repentance of whom He wills. Allaah is All-Knowing, All-Wise"
[al-Tawbah 9:14-15].
{وَيَشْفِ صُدُورَ قَوْمٍ مُّؤْمِنِينَ
(14) وَيُذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَيَتُوبُ اللّهُ عَلَى مَن
يَشَاءُ وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ}
Transliteration: Wa Yashfi Şudūra Qawmin Mu'uminīna, Wa Yudh/hib
Ghayža Qulūbihim Wa Yatūbu Allāhu `Alá Man Yashā'u Wa Allāhu
`Alīmun Ĥakīmun
"And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds
of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery) to threaten the enemy
of Allaah and your enemy" [al-Anfaal 8:60].
{وَأَعِدُّواْ لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم
مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدْوَّ
اللّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ}
Transliteration: Wa 'A`iddū Lahum Mā Astaţa`tum Min Qūwatin Wa Min
Ribāţi Al-Khayli Turhibūna Bihi `Adūwa Allāhi Wa `Adūwakum
Hence it is prescribed to fight in a manner that will strike terror
into the heart of the enemy.
Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah - may Allaah have mercy on him] was
asked whether it is permissible for a soldier to wear silk or gold
or silver when fighting or when the envoys of the enemy come to the
Muslims.
He replied: Praise be to
Allaah. With regard to wearing silk in order to frighten the enemy,
there are two scholarly views, the more correct of which is that it
is allowed. The soldiers of Syria wrote to 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab
saying: "When we met the enemy we saw that they had covered their
weapons with silk and we found that this struck terror in our
hearts." 'Umar wrote back to them saying: "You should cover your
weapons as they do." And wearing silk is a kind of showing off, and
Allaah likes showing off at the time of fighting, as it is narrated
in al-Sunan that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: «There is a kind of showing
off that Allaah likes, and a kind of showing off that Allaah hates.
The showing off that Allaah likes is when a man shows off at the
time of war. The kind of showing off that Allaah hates is showing
off for the purpose of pride and boasting». On the day of
Uhud, Abu Dujaanah al-Ansaari showed off among the ranks, and the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: «This is a kind of walking that Allaah hates
except in this situation» (Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 28/17).
6 - Exposing the hypocrites
Allaah says (Interpretation of the meaning):
"But when a decisive Soorah (explaining and ordering things) is
sent down, and fighting (Jihaad - holy fighting in Allaah's Cause)
is mentioned (i.e. ordained) therein, you will see those in whose
hearts is a disease (of hypocrisy) looking at you with a look of
one fainting to death" [Muhammad 47:20].
{فَإِذَا أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ مُّحْكَمَةٌ
وَذُكِرَ فِيهَا الْقِتَالُ رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم
مَّرَضٌ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ نَظَرَ الْمَغْشِيِّ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ
الْمَوْتِ}
Transliteration: Fa'idhā 'Unzilat Sūratun Muĥkamatun Wa Dhukira
Fīhā Al-Qitālu Ra'ayta Al-Ladhīna Fī Qulūbihim Marađun Yanžurūna
'Ilayka Nažara Al-Maghshīyi `Alayhi Mina Al-Mawti
At times of ease and plenty, the Muslims may be joined by those who
seek to make worldly gains, and they do not want to make the word
of Allaah prevail over the word of kufr. These people may conceal
their real nature from many of the Muslims, and the most effective
means of exposing them is jihad, because jihad means sacrificing
oneself but these hypocrites are only indulging in hypocrisy in
order to save themselves.
Exposing the hypocrites was one of the major purposes that Allaah
wanted the believers to achieve on the day of Uhud.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "Allaah will not leave
the believers in the state in which you are now, until He
distinguishes the wicked from the good" [Aal 'Imraan 3:179].
{مَّا كَانَ اللّهُ لِيَذَرَ
الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى مَا أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّىَ يَمِيزَ
الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ}
Transliteration: Mā Kāna Allāhu Liyadhara Al-Mu'uminīna `Alá Mā
'Antum `Alayhi Ĥattá Yamīza Al-Khabītha Mina Aţ-Ţayyibi
Ibn al-Qayyim said: "This
means: Allaah will not leave you in the state in which you are,
where the believers are indistinguishable from the hypocrites,
until the believers are made distinct from the hypocrites, as they
were distinguished by the test on the day of Uhud, and Allaah will
not disclose to you the unseen matters by which the one group is
distinguished from the other, for they are distinguished from one
another in the knowledge of the unseen that He has, but He wants to
distinguish them from one another in a clear and visible manner, so
that His unseen knowledge will become known and visible".
7 - Purifying the believers of their sins and ridding them
thereof
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "And so are the days
(good and not so good), that We give to men by turns, that Allaah
may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs from among
you. And Allaah likes not the Zaalimoon (polytheists and
wrongdoers).
And that Allaah may test (or purify) the believers (from sins) and
destroy the disbelievers.
Do you think that you will enter Paradise before Allaah tests those
of you who fought (in His Cause) and (also) tests those who are
As-Saabiroon (the patient)?" [Aal 'Imraan 3:140-142].
{وَتِلْكَ الأيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا
بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَيَتَّخِذَ
مِنكُمْ شُهَدَاء وَاللّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ (140)
وَلِيُمَحِّصَ اللّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَيَمْحَقَ الْكَافِرِينَ
(141) أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ
اللّهُ الَّذِينَ جَاهَدُواْ مِنكُمْ وَيَعْلَمَ
الصَّابِرِينَ}
Transliteration: Wa Tilka Al-'Ayyāmu Nudāwiluhā Bayna An-Nāsi Wa
Liya`lama Allāhu Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū Wa Yattakhidha Minkum Shuhadā'a
Wa Allāhu Lā Yuĥibbu Až-Žālimīna, Wa Liyumaĥĥişa Allāhu Al-Ladhīna
'Āmanū Wa Yamĥaqa Al-Kāfirīna, 'Am Ĥasibtum 'An Tadkhulū Al-Jannata
Wa Lammā Ya`lami Allāhu Al-Ladhīna Jāhadū Minkum Wa Ya`lama
Aş-Şābirīna
8 - Acquiring booty
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: «I have been sent ahead of the Hour with the
sword so that Allaah will be worshipped alone, and my provision has
been placed in the shade of my spear, and humiliation has been
decreed for those who go against my command, and whoever imitates a
people is one of them» [Narrated by Ahmad, 4869; Saheeh
al-Jaami', 2831].
Al-Haafiz said: "This hadeeth
indicates that war booty is permissible for this ummah, and that
the provision of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) has been placed in war booty and not in other kinds of
earnings. Hence some of the scholars said that it is the best kind
of earnings".
Al-Qurtubi said: "Allaah sent
provision to His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) by means of his striving and He made it by means of the best
kind of striving which is earning it by means of force and
strength".
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went out
for the battle of Badr to meet the caravan of Abu Sufyaan.
Al-Qurtubi said: "The fact that
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went out to
meet the caravan indicates that it is permissible to take booty
because it is a halaal source of income. This refutes Maalik's view
that this is makrooh, when he said that this was fighting for
worldly gains".
Al-Shawkaani said: "Ibn Abi
Jamrah said: The scholars of hadeeth are of the view that if the
primary motive is to make the word of Allaah supreme, it does not
matter what else is also achieved".
9 - Taking martyrs.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "If a wound (and
killing) has touched you, be sure a similar wound (and killing) has
touched the others. And so are the days (good and not so good),
that We give to men by turns, that Allaah may test those who
believe, and that He may take martyrs from among you. And Allaah
likes not the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers).
And that Allaah may test (or purify) the believers (from sins) and
destroy the disbelievers" [Aal 'Imraan 3:140-141].
{إِن يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌ فَقَدْ مَسَّ
الْقَوْمَ قَرْحٌ مِّثْلُهُ وَتِلْكَ الأيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ
النَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَيَتَّخِذَ مِنكُمْ
شُهَدَاء وَاللّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ (140) وَلِيُمَحِّصَ
اللّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَيَمْحَقَ الْكَافِرِينَ}
Transliteration: 'In Yamsaskum Qarĥun Faqad Massa Al-Qawma Qarĥun
Mithluhu Wa Tilka Al-'Ayyāmu Nudāwiluhā Bayna An-Nāsi Wa Liya`lama
Allāhu Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū Wa Yattakhidha Minkum Shuhadā'a Wa Allāhu
Lā Yuĥibbu Až-Žālimīna, Wa Liyumaĥĥişa Allāhu Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū Wa
Yamĥaqa Al-Kāfirīna
Martyrdom is one of the highest statuses before Allaah, and the
martyrs are the closest of His slaves to Him. There is no status
higher than that of siddeeq apart from martyrdom. Allaah loves to
take martyrs from among His slaves, who shed their blood for His
love and to earn His pleasure, preferring His pleasure and His love
above themselves. There is no way to attain this status except by
circumstances that may lead to it such as enemies coming against
the Muslims.
(This was said by Ibn al-Qayyim in
Zaad al-Ma'aad).
This is the great wisdom and those who try to put the Muslims off
jihad and make them fear it, and say that jihad is no more than
death, and making women widows and children orphans, pale into
insignificance.
10 - Ridding the world of corruption.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "For had it not been
that Allaah checks one set of people by means of another,
monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, wherein the Name of
Allaah is mentioned much would surely, have been pulled down.
Verily, Allaah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allaah
is All-Strong, All-Mighty" [al-Hajj 22:40].
{وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ
بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ لَّهُدِّمَتْ صَوَامِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَاتٌ
وَمَسَاجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا اسْمُ اللَّهِ كَثِيراً وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ
اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ}
Transliteration: Wa Lawlā Daf`u Allāhi An-Nāsa Ba`đahum Biba`đin
Lahuddimat Şawāmi`u Wa Biya`un Wa Şalawātun Wa Masājidu Yudhkaru
Fīhā Asmu Allāhi Kathīrāan Wa Layanşuranna Allāhu Man Yanşuruhu
'Inna Allāha Laqawīyun `Azīzun
"And if Allaah did not check one set of people by means of another,
the earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Allaah is full of
bounty to the 'Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)"
[al-Baqarah 2:251].
{وَلَوْلاَ دَفْعُ اللّهِ النَّاسَ
بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ الأَرْضُ وَلَـكِنَّ اللّهَ ذُو
فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ}
Transliteration: Wa Lawlā Daf`u Allāhi An-Nāsa Ba`đahum Biba`đin
Lafasadati Al-'Arđu Wa Lakinna Allāha Dhū Fađlin `Alá
Al-`Ālamīna
Muqaatil said:
"Were it not that Allaah checked the mushriks by means of the
Muslims, the mushriks would have overrun the earth and killed the
Muslims and destroyed the mosques".
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah
said in (al-Jawaab al-Saheeh,
2/216):
So the kuffar are repelled by means of the Muslims and the worse of
the two parties is repelled by the better, just as the Magians
(Persians) were repelled by the Christian Byzantines, then the
Christians were repelled by the believers of the ummah of
Muhammad.
Al-Sa'di said: "The world would
be corrupted if the kuffaar and evildoers were to prevail".
These are some of the reasons why jihad is prescribed.
We ask Allaah to bring the Muslims back to their religion. May
Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad.
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