The Command To Fight:

“Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows, while you know not” (al-Baqarah 216)

“And fight in the cause of Allah and know that Allah is Hearing and Knowing” (al-Baqarah 244)

“And if it were not for Allah checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allah is full of bounty to the worlds” (al-Baqarah 251)

“Then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush” (al-Tawba 5)

“Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth [i.e., Islam] from those who were given the Scripture – [fight] until they give the jizyah* willingly while they are humbled” (al-Tawba 29)

*Jizyah: A tax imposed in the Christian and Jewish subjects of the Muslim Khilafah.

Imam Al Haleemi in Suab al Iman: Allah clarified that if it weren’t for Allah checking the nonbelievers through the believers and giving the believers authority to protect Islam and break the armies of disbelief, disbelief would have reigned on earth and the true religion would have been eliminated. This proves that the reason for the survival of religion (i.e., Islam) is Jihad and whatever is in this status deserves to be a pillar of Iman.

1. On the authority of Ibn Umar (radiallahu anhuma), the Messenger of Allah (salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer and give the zakah. Then, if they do that, their blood and wealth will be protected from me – except in accordance with the right of Islam. And their reckoning will be with Allah, the Exalted” (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Ahmad, al-Bayhaqi, Ibn Hibban, al-Darqutni, and Imam Malik)

It was narrated by Ibn Umar, Abu Huraira, Jabir Ibn Abdullah, Anas bin Malik, Jareer ibn Abdullah, Aus ibn Abu Aus, ibn Abbaas, Sahl ibn Saad, al-Numaan ibn Basheer, Tariq ibn Ashyam, Abu Bakrah, Muadh bin Jabal and Samura bin Jundub radiallahu anhum. Thus, the hadith is Mutawatir, the absolute strongest form of Hadith.

Among a few interpretations Ibn Hajjar mentions the strongest is that people are fought to establish the dominance of Allah’s law. This objective can be met through many means. It could be met by fighting them. It can also be met by them accepting the law of Allah and paying the Jizyah. It can also be met by some sort of peace accord between Muslims and others, in which the non-Muslims will not oppose the word of Allah in any way.

2. Abu Muthana Al Abdi said I heard Abu Al Khasasyah radiallahu anhuma say “I came to the Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam and said I would pledge allegiance to him. The Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam took the pledge from me ‘to testify that there is none worthy of worship other than Allah that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to pray the five prayers, to fast Ramadan, to pay Zakah, to make Hajj, and to fight in the sake of Allah.’ I said ‘O Messenger of Allah, Two of those I cannot do. The first is Zakah. I only have ten camels. They constitute my entire wealth. The second is Jihad; I heard that whoever runs away from the battlefield has incurred the wrath of Allah. I am afraid if fighting faces me I might fear death and my spirit would fail me.’ Rasulullah salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam grabbed his hand and waved it and said, ‘No sadaqah and no Jihad! How can you then enter into Jannah?’” Abu al Khasasyah then said: The Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam took my pledge on every term he mentioned.” (Narrated by al-Hakim and authenticated it)

3. Salamah bin Nufail radiallahu anh said: While I was sitting with Rasulullah salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam a man came to him and said, “O Messenger of Allah Horses are being discarded and weapons are been laid down and some are claiming that there is no more fighting” Rasulullah salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said, “They are lying! Fighting has just begun! And a party of my Ummah will fight for the sake of Allah, and those who oppose them will not harm them. Allah will deviate the hearts of some men to provide for that party from them by fighting them. And they will continue fighting until the final hour starts (the Day of Judgment) and good will remain on the foreheads of horses until the day of Judgment and war will not end until Yajuj and Majuj (gog and megog) come out.” (Narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Mujam al-Kabir)

4. A similar hadith was narrated by Imam al Nasa’i and is hasan (agreeable):

5. Salamah bin Nufail radiallahu anh said: While I was sitting with Rasulullah salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam a man came to him and said, “O Messenger of Allah Horses are being humiliated (ignored), and weapons are being laid down and people are claiming there is no more Jihad and war has ended” Rasulullah salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “They are lying! Fighting has just begun! Fighting has just begun! And a party of my Ummah will remain fighting on the true path and Allah will deviate the hearts of some men and Allah will provide the fighters from them until the final hour starts and the promise of Allah is fulfilled and good is on the foreheads of horses until the day of Judgment. It is being revealed to me that I will be departing you soon and you would follow me while you are fighting each other and the house of the believers is in al Shaam” (Al-Shaam refers to Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan. It could be used to refer to part or all of these countries. Narrated by Imam al-Nasa’i and is Hasan)

6. In the commentary on Al Nasa’i by al Sindi, he states that: ‘Humiliating horses’ means ignoring them and belittling their importance or not using them for combat.

‘Now fighting has started now fighting has started’ The repetition is to reveal the importance of the message and it means that fighting is only increasing and that Allah has just prescribed it so how can it end so soon? Or it means that the real fighting has just begun because so far they have been fighting only within their territory, the land of the Arabs, but now is time for them to carry the battle to further lands.

‘Allah will deviate the hearts of some’ It means Allah will always provide this party of believers with men to fight even if it means deviating their hearts from Iman to Kufur. That is to bless these believers by providing them with the honor of fighting in his sake and the ultimate pleasure of pleasing Allah.(Trans. Note: In other words Allah will never deprive the Ummah from the opportunity of Jihad. Even if one were to assume that the whole world would become Muslim, Allah would deviate some hearts from Islam to disbelieve so that the Mujahideen can fight them)

‘Good is on the foreheads of horses,’ Means reward and booty, or honor and pride. ‘The house of the believers is al Shaam’ that is referring to the end of time. It will be the stronghold of Islam and the land of Jihad. ” (Trans. Note: We have a right to ask: Where have these hadiths been? How come our scholars have left us in the dark regarding these hadiths? How come we’ve heard the hadiths on Taharah and etiquettes of toilet hundreds of times while one has to dig deep in our classical books to retrieve these treasures?)

5. Anas radiallahu anh narrates that the Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “Fight the nonbelievers with your wealth, arms, and tongues” (Saheeh, al-Nasa’i, Abu Dawud, Ahmad, and al-Hakim)

With your tongues means hurt the non-believers by letting them hear what displeases them.

6. The Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “I have five commands for you: To Listen, to obey, to fight jihad, to make hijrah, and to stay with the jama’ah” (Tirmidhi, Ahmad, Abdul-Razzaq (Hasan))

7. Ibn Abbaas radiallahu anhuma narrates that the Messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said, “There is no Hijrah after the opening of Makkah but there is Jihad and intentions and if you are called to fight then fight” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Allah, the Exalted, says:

“Go forth, whether light of heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. That is better for you, if you only knew”

Comments on the meaning of “light and heavy” in this verse:

Abi Saleh said: The young and old. Also Qatadah said: Active or inactive, energetic or not.

It is narrated that Abu Ayub al Ansari radiallahu anh took a rest from Jihad for a year. He then recited this ayah and said, “I do not find for myself an excuse in this ayah” so he resumed his Jihad.

Abu Shaybah narrated with an authentic narration to al Hakam: Busy or preoccupied.

It is also said the “heavy” is the one who has property which he fears would be lost if he joins Jihad. While the “light” is the one with no property to worry about.

Al Qurtubi says, “the ayah is general and applies to everyone whether joining is easy for them or not”

Al Zuhri states that Ibn Al Musayab joined the army when he had already lost one of his eyes due to old age. He was told you are ill, he said, “Astaqfirullah (May Allah forgive me) Allah says the light and the heavy. If I am incapable of fighting at least I will increase the number of the army and would guard your luggage” (Trans. Note: Subhanallah, some people would use every argument to run away from fighting – when they have no excuse – while some would have a valid excuse but would nevertheless use every argument to join the fighters)

8. Abu Ya’la and al Hakim narrate with an authentic chain: Anas bin Malik said that Abu Talhah radiallahu anhuma recited al Tawbah and passed by this verse “Go forth light or heavy” and said I see that Allah is calling upon me whether I am young or old. So he told his sons to prepare him for combat. They said you have already fought with Rasulullah until he died and then with Abu Bakr until he died and then with Umar. So now let us fight on your behalf. He said, “Prepare me for combat” and they did. He went on an expedition in the sea and died. They didn’t find an island to burry him until seven days latter and his body never changed.

9. Abdul-Razaq narrates that Makhool used to face Qiblah and then swear ten times in the name of Allah that going out in expeditions is mandatory on you. He would then face his students and say, “If you want be to swear beyond ten times I would do so”

[Mashari al-Ashwaq ila Masari al-Ushaaq]

» Posted by Seifeddine-M on 25th January 2011

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