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Jihad in Islam


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IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE COMPASSIONATE, THE MERCIFUL



All praise is due to Allah, the Lord and the Cherisher of the Universe. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our beloved prophet, Muhammad (PBUH), his household, companions and the followers of the right guidance till the Day of Judgment. Allah, the Exalted, says in the Qur'an:

"O you who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty? That you believe in Allah and His Apostle and that you strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah with your property and your persons: that will be best for you if you but knew! He will forgive you your sins and admit you to Gardens beneath which rivers flow and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the supreme Achievement". Q61:10-12.

And if Allah had not checked one set of people by means of another the earth would indeed be full of mischief but Allah is full of bounty to all the worlds. Q2:251

And why should you not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who being weak are ill-treated (and oppressed)? Men, women and children whose cry is: 'Our Lord! rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from Thee one who will protect; and raise for us from Thee one who will help! Q4:75

Fighting is prescribed for you and you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you love a thing which is bad for you.  But Allah knows and you know not. Q2:216.

O you who believe! If you will aid (the cause of) Allah He will aid you and plant your feet firmly. Q47:7

The Arabic word Jihad means striving in the cause of Allah. Many have misunderstood Jihad to mean the act of spreading or imposing Islam on people by force; this is unfortunate. Islam teaches that there is no compulsion in religion (Q2:256). The western orientalists and their stooge have misinterpreted Jihad to the extent that some Muslims hate to hear or be associated with the word. The fact is Jihad is a very important aspect of Islam that cannot the neglected otherwise Muslims will be humiliated as we are witnessing now. There are three types of Jihad namely:
  • Jihad of the heart (intentions or feelings). This is to condemn evil by hating it in our hearts and striving to suppress the evil suggestions of satan in our own hearts.
  • Jihad of the tongue. This is to condemn evil by preaching against it or using any available means of communication to denounce evil and promote righteousness and justice.
  • Jihad of the hand. This is using the hand or weapons to fight against evil, oppression and aggression. This is the highest Jihad and has to be organized and declared by Islamic or Muslim authority. However, if a man dies while protecting the honor of his wife or daughter from rapists or his property from armed robbers, he is a martyr. On this Allah, the Exalted says, 'Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors. And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression.. Q2:190-192.

    • Jihad is the roof that protects the pillars of Islam. If the roof of a house is removed the house will soon collapse or at least, the house will degrade and become worthless. It is very unfortunate that Muslims have neglected Jihad. Even the so-called Muslim countries that claimed to be practicing the Shariah are lacking in Jihad. The Muslim country that boasts of having the two Holy mosques could not even protect itself from external aggression without the assistance of non-Muslims. This is a big shame. Allah, the Exalted, says,

    "Do you make the giving of drink to pilgrims or the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque equal to (the pious service of) those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and strive with might and main in the cause of Allah?  They are not comparable in the sight of Allah: and Allah guides not those who do wrong. Those who believe and suffer exile and strive with might and main in Allah's cause with their goods and their persons have the highest rank in the sight of Allah: They are the people who will achieve (salvation)." Q9:19-20.

    Many Muslims are cowards; they do not want to be labeled as extremists, fanatics, terrorists, fundamentalists, etc. They fear these names so much that they cannot even defend their beliefs in the public, Subuhanallah! Allah says that Muslims are a single community and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) likened the Muslim community to the body of a man, if any part of the body is in pain, it will affect all other parts of the body. Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) emphasized the need for Muslims to help one another and strive in the cause of Allah. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, Whoever does not feel concerned about the affairs of the Muslims is not one of them. But nowadays, Muslims do not care for one another, every Muslim enjoys his/her wealth and does not care about the welfare of others.  Many Muslims are very reluctant to help other Muslims or strive in the cause of Allah. Allah says:

    "O you who believe! What is the matter with you that when you are asked to go forth in the cause of Allah you cling heavily to the earth? Do you prefer the life of this world to the hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life as compared with the hereafter. Unless you go forth He will punish you with a grievous penalty and put others in your place; but Him you would not harm in the least. For Allah has power over all things." Q9:38-9.

    Let us ponder over the following ahadith:

    Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: It is expected that the nations will call other nations to share them against you (Muslims) as the eaters call each other to eat from the food in front of them in a large wooden plate A person asked, Will that happen because of our small number on that day? The Prophet said, No. Your number will be great, but you will be rubbish like the rubbish of flood-water. And certainly Allah will remove from the hearts of enemies the fear from you and surely Allah will throw Wahn in your hearts. A person asked, What is Wahn, O Messenger of Allah? The Prophet said, Wahn is to love this world and to hate death. (Abu- Dawood Hadith 4284)

    The Prophet (PBUH) also said: If you (1) practiced selling of goods to a person for a certain price and then buy them back from him for a far less price, (2) and followed the tail of the cows (i.e. indulged in agriculture (or business) and become contended with it, (3) and deserted the Jihad in Allah's cause, Allah will COVER YOU WITH HUMILIATION AND IT WILL NOT BE REMOVED TILL YOU RETURN TO YOUR RELIGION. (Abu Dawood Hadith 3455)

    When Muslims have left Jihad and brotherhood that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) established, Muslims nations have always been on the receiving end of all sorts of injustice. If we study what is happening around us, one will wonder at the hypocrisy of the United Nations and the Police of the world, USA. Allah says;

    Thus have We made of you an Ummah (community) justly balanced that you might be witnesses over the nations and the Apostle a witness over yourselves Q2:143.

    And when Muslims can no longer live to expectation, other nations took over this responsibility. When the people of Eskimo and other communities were agitating for independence, UN assisted them. But when a Muslim community starts struggling for independence or when a Muslim country is been bombarded by military artillery for no just reason, no one will talk not even other Muslims countries because, according to the western propaganda, Muslims are fundamentalists, extremists, fanatics, terrorists, etc. that do not deserve respect.

    I was amazed when I read an article on the protest against a film that portrays Jesus (PBUH) as a gay in the UK. The Muslims group that joined the Roman Catholics in the protest was categorically called an extremist group. As for the Roman Catholics, they are not extremists but doing the right thing. What is all this? Where is the justice and fairness in the world? During the massacre in Kosovo I wrote, before it was in Bosnia, now it is Kosovo and only Allah knows the next victim. If Muslim countries do not wake-up and do all they can to stop the massacre of civilians in Chechnya now, they should wait for their own turn. Allah says,

    Say (Muhammad): If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred; the wealth that you have gained; the commerce in which you fear a decline; or the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allah or His apostle or the striving in his cause; then wait until Allah brings about His decision (punishment, humiliation): and Allah guides not the rebellious. Q9:24

    Jihad is part of Islam, Muslims should wake up and be prepared for Jihad according to the laid down rules in the Qur'an and the sunnah of prophet Muhammad (PBUH). If we do not do this, we should be ready to be killed like a chicken. Muslim brothers and sisters, we should remember Muslims in Chechnya in our prayers. We know we are weak, we cannot do anything but to pray:

    Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: if Thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy mercy we shall certainly be the losers. Q7:23

    "Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) now after Thou has guided us but grant us mercy from Your own Presence; for You are the Bestower of bounties without measure." Q3:8.

    Our Lord! Pour out constancy on us and make our steps firm; help us against those that reject faith (oppressors and aggressors). Q2:250

    May Allah help all the oppressed people in the world.

    Peace be on you.


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