Jihad, “stiving in the way of Allah” is very important for Muslims. Some Sunnis regard it as a sixth pillar and Twelver Shi’a Muslims regard it as one of their 10 Practices of Religion.
Many Muslims like to emphasise the meaning of jihad as “struggle”. It is then common to discriminate between the so-called “greater jihad“, the struggle with one’s own soul, and the so-called “lesser jihad“, using external, physical force to promote Islam. However, Muslim scholars regard as of doubtful authenticity the hadith in which Muhammad is supposed to have spoken of returning from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad.
Further, a survey of the hadith makes it evident that in these collections the overwhelming, if not exclusive meaning of jihad is that of warring for the sake of Islam. Indeed, typically, hadiths do not treat jihad as defensive or reactive but as aggressive and pro-active.
Take the following examples:
Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 24:
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar:
Allah’s Apostle said: “I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform that, then they save their lives and property from me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah.”
Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 621:
Narrated Al-Mughira:
Our Prophet has informed us our Lord’s Message that whoever of us is martyred, will go to Paradise.
Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 387:
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah’s Apostle said, “I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.’ And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them except legally and their reckoning will be with Allah.” Narrated Maimun ibn Siyah that he asked Anas bin Malik, “O Abu Hamza! What makes the life and property of a person sacred?” He replied, “Whoever says, ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’, faces our Qibla during the prayers, prays like us and eats our slaughtered animal, then he is a Muslim, and has got the same rights and obligations as other Muslims have.”
Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 35:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, “The person who participates in (Holy battles) in Allah’s cause and nothing compels him to do so except belief in Allah and His Apostles, will be recompensed by Allah either with a reward, or booty (if he survives) or will be admitted to Paradise (if he is killed in the battle as a martyr). Had I not found it difficult for my followers, then I would not remain behind any sariya going for Jihad and I would have loved to be martyred in Allah’s cause and then made alive, and then martyred and then made alive, and then again martyred in His cause.”
Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 3, Number 125:
Narrated Abu Musa:
A man came to the Prophet and asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! What kind of fighting is in Allah’s cause? (I ask this), for some of us fight because of being enraged and angry and some for the sake of his pride and haughtiness.” The Prophet raised his head (as the questioner was standing) and said, “He who fights so that Allah’s Word (Islam) should be superior, then he fights in Allah’s cause.”
By contrast we might recall Jesus’ response when one of his companions indicated his willingness to take up his sword to promote Jesus’ cause:
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:52-53).
Posted August 7, 2008
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