AL-JIHAD: THE FORGOTTEN OBLIGATION!!

AL-JIHAD: THE FORGOTTEN OBLIGATION


CONTENTS:
1. NO DEED EQUALS JIHAD
2. Al-MUJAHID -THE MOST SUPERIOR
3. Al-JiHAD - THE APEX OF THE DEEN
4. Ar-RIBAT - AN UNENDING REWARD
5. THE LOVE OF THE SAHABA FOR RIBAT
6. THE GRADE OF THE MUJAHIDEEN
7. THE PALACE FOR THE SHUHADAA'
8. IN THE HEARTS OF GREEN BIRDS
9. THE BEST JIHAD
10. SPECIAL FAVOURS FOR THE SHUHADAA'
11. ONE MORNING AND EVENING IN JIHAD
12. THE BLESSED DUST OF JIHAD
13. PARADISE UNDER THE SHADE OF SWORDS
14. KEEPING A HORSE FOR JIHAD
15. GLAD TIDINGS FOR THE MUJAHID
16. Al-JIHAD - BETTER THAN MAINTAINING THE HARAMAYN
17. Al-JIHAD - BETTER THAN JUMU'AH WITH THE PROPHET
18. THE PROPHET'S WISH TO BE SHAHEED
19. THE UNDERSTANDING OF AS-SALAF AS-SAALiH
20. PERFECTING EEMAAN: A PRE-REQUISITE FOR JIHAD?
21. THE ORDER TO PREPARE FOR JIHAD
22. THE EXISTENCE OF A KHILAFAH IS NOT A PREREQUISITE
23. THE ONE WHO DOES NOT GO OUT OR PREPARE FOR JIHAD
24. THE ABANDONMENT OF JIHAD

1. NO DEED EQUALS JIHAD

Narrated Abu Huraira (R), a man came to Allah's Messenger (saw) and said
"Instruct me as to such a deed as equals jihad (in reward). He replied, "I
do not find such a deed." Then he added, "Can you, while the Muslim fighter
is in the battlefield, enter your Mosque to perform prayers without cease
and fast and never break your fast?" The man said, "but who can do that?"
Abu Huraira (ra) added, "The Mujahid is rewarded even for the footsteps of
his horse while it wanders about (for grazing) tied on a long rope." (Sahih
Bukhari, p.391, vol.1)

Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated: One companion asked, "O Messenger of Allah (saw)
tell me of an action by doing which I can attain the reward of the fighters
in the path of Allah." The Prophet (saw) said to him, "Do you have the
strength to continuously offer Salah and get tired and observe fast and not
break it?” The person replied, "O Messenger of Allah (saw)! I am weak, I
do not have the strength." Then the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "If you
were to be given the strength (to continuously offer Salah and observe fast)
yet you would not have achieved the status of the fighter in the path of
Allah.

Do you not know that the horse of a Mujahid, tied to a rope, when it
treads forth in length for grazing, even for this the Mujahid gains reward."
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir, wa Tafsir Suratul Kahf)

Al-Fadl ibn Ziyad said, "I heard Abu Abdullaah Ahmad ibn Hanbal while he was
talking about the enemy and he began crying, saying there is no deed of
righteousness better than fighting them." And that he (rahimahullaah) said,
"nothing matches encountering the enemy, and face to face combat is the most
excellent of deeds. Those who fight the enemy are the ones who protect
Islam and its holy places, and what deed could be superior to that? People
are safe while they are in fear, and they have contributed to their very
lifeblood."

Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) said "As for the occupying enemy who is
spoiling the religion and the world, there is nothing more compulsory after
Eemaan than repelling him."

2. Al-MUJAHID -THE MOST SUPERIOR

Narrated Abu Said Khudri (ra), somebody asked, "O Allah's Messenger! (saw)
Who is the best among the people?". Allah's Messenger (saw) replied, "A
believer who performs jihad with his life and wealth." They asked, "Who is
next?" He replied, "A believer who stays in one of the mountain paths
worshipping Allah
and leaving the people safe from his mischief." (Sahih Bukhari p.391, vol.1)

3. Al-JIHAD - THE APEX OF THE DEEN
"The head of the matter is Islam, and its pillar is salaah and the apex is
jihad." (Bukhari and Muslim)

4. Ar-RIBAT - AN UNENDING REWARD

Narrated Sahl bin Sad, as Saidi (ra), Allah's Messenger (saw) said: "To
guard Muslims from infidels in Allah's cause for one day is better than the
World and whatever is on it's surface, and a place in Paradise as small as
that occupied by the whip of one of you is better than the world and
whatever is on it's surface; and a morning's or an evening's journey which a
slave (person) travels in Allah's cause is better than the World and
whatever is on it's surface".

(Sahih Bukhari, p.404, vol.1)
Ibn 'Abbas (ra) has said: I have heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say,
"Two eyes will not be touched by the Hell fire, one is that eye which has
shed tears in the fear of Allah and second that eye which stayed awake guarding in the path of Allah.
(Tirmidhi)

It is reported in Ibn Majah that Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated that the Prophet
(saw) said, "Whoever dies while guarding the territory, in the cause of
Allah, his good deeds will continue and his sustenance will continue and he
will be saved from the questioning by the Munkar, Nakir and Allah will raise
him in the day of Qiyamah,
protected from the immense adversity of that day".

5. THE LOVE OF THE SAHABA FOR RIBAT

Abu Huraira (ra) said, "Safe guarding the Muslim borders in the path of
Allah is more beloved to me, than my worshipping Allah in the night of Qadr
in front of Hajr al Aswad (the black stone of the Kabah)

Khalid ibn Waleed (ra) said, on his deathbed, "I reached every possible
place for Shahadah, but it was written in my ate that I should die of my
bed. In my opinion there is no deed more dearer than my waiting with my
horse and shield in the darkness of night, the sky to be glittering due to
the rain, waiting for the onset of dawn, so that I can attack the enemy."
(al Jihad, Ibn al Mubarak, p.88)

Umar (ra) asked the people in his gathering, "Which person would attain the
most virtue and reward?" The people suggested zakah and salaah and agreed
the highest rank is for the Ameer ul Mumineen (Umar himself) and started
naming other individuals. Umar (ra) then advised, "Shall I tell you the
best person is terms of virtue who is even higher than the Ameer ul Mumineen
(the leader of the Muslims)?.

The people replied, "Please do tell us". He
said, "that small person who is holding the reins of his horse in Syria
safeguarding the Muslim army, he is unaware if a wild animal will rip him
apart or an insect will bite him or the enemy will attack. This person is
higher in rank than those people whom you have mentioned and he is higher
than the Ameer ul Mumineen in virtue. (Kanzul Ummal, p.289, vol.2)

6. THE GRADE OF THE MUJAHIDEEN

"Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their
wealth and lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has
promised good (paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and
fight above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward." (4:95)

Narrated Abu Huraira (r), the Prophet (saw) said, "Whoever believes in Allah
and His Messenger, performs salaah and observes sawm of the month of
Ramadhan, then it will be a promise binding upon Allah to admit him to
Paradise, no matter whether he fights in Allah's cause or remains in the
land where he was born." The people said, "O Allah's Messenger (saw) shall
we aquaint the people with the good news?".

He said, "Paradise has one
hundred grades which Allah has reserved for the Mujahideen who fight in his
cause, and the distance between each of two grades is like the distance
between the Heaven and the Earth.

So when you ask Allah (for something), ask for al-Firdaus which is the middle (best) and the highest part of Paradise. And above it is the throne of the Beneficient (Allah), and from it
gushes forth the rivers of Paradise. (Sahih Bukhari, p.391, vol.1)
at-Tirmidhi narrated that the distance between the two grades of jannah is
quoted as 100 years and in a further hadith in Tabarani this distance is
quoted as 500 years.

7. THE PALACE FOR THE SHUHADAA'

Narrated Samura, the Prophet (saw) said, "Last night two men came to me (in
a dream) and made me ascend a tree and then admitted me into a better and
superior house better of which I have never seen. One of them said, this
house is the house of the Shuhadah." (Sahih Bukhari, p.185, vol.1)
Ahmad, at-Tabarani and al-Haakim report from Ibn 'Abbas that the Messenger
of Allaah (saw) said, "The shuhadaa' are in a green dome besides the river
of Baariq, near the gate of Paradise, from which provision comes to them,
morning and evening" (Saheeh al-Jaami' as-Sagheer, 3/235 no. 3636)

8. IN THE HEARTS OF GREEN BIRDS

Ibn Mas'ood narrated that the Prophet (saw) said "Indeed the souls of the
shuhadaa' are in the hearts of green birds, and they have lanterns hanging
underneath the 'arsh (throne of Allaah) of ar-Rahmaan. They roam around in
Paradise wherever they wish, then they return to their lanterns." (Muslim,
at-Tirmidhi)

9. THE BEST JIHAD

Jabir (ra) narrated that a person asked, "O Prophet of Allah, which is the
best Jihad?". The Prophet (saw) said,
"The Jihad is that the legs of your horse be cut off and your blood spilt
(shahadah)".
(Ibn Hibban, Ibn Majah, at-Targheeb wa at-Tarheeb, p.438. vol.2)
Whilst the narration "We have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater
jihad", that is, that of striving against the self, is often quoted and thus
well known amongst the Muslims, this cannot be attributed to the Messenger
of Allaah (saw) as it is da'eef (as-Suyuti, al-'Iraaqi, al-Bayhaqi) or
according to some (Ibn Taymiyyah), mawdoo' (fabricated).

10. SPECIAL FAVOURS FOR THE SHUHADAA'

Ubada bin Samit (ra) narrates, that the Prophet (saw) said, "The shaheed is
granted seven gifts from Allah swt -
1. He is forgiven at the first drop of his blood.
2. He sees his status in jannah.
3. He is dressed in the clothes of iman.
4. He is safe from the punishment of the grave.
5. He will be safe from the great fear of the Day of Judgement.
6. A crown of honour will be placed on his head.
7. He will intercede on behalf of 70 members of his family.
(Musnad Ahmad, at-Tabarani, at-Targheeb wa at-Tarheeb, p.443, vol.2)
Abud-Darda (r) narrates that I heard the Prophet saw saying that the Shaheed
will intercede on behalf of 70 Members of his family.(Abu Dawud, at-Targheeb
wa at-Tarheeb)

Naeem ibn Hamar (ra) narrates that a person asked the Prophet (saw), "Which
Shaheed is superior?".

The Prophet (saw) answered, "Those who are in the rows of battle and do not
turn their face till they are killed.

They will roam around in the highest rooms in Jannah and their Lord will
laugh at them. This is an indication that, when Allah laughs at somebody, there is no accounting of his deeds on the day of Judgement."

(Musnad Ahmed, at-Targheeb wa at-Tarheeb, p.442, vol.2)
Narrated Anas bin Malik (r), the Prophet (saw) said, "Nobody who enters
Paradise likes to go to the world even if he got everything in the earth
except a Mujahid who wishes to return to the world so that he may be shaheed
ten times, because of the dignity he receives (from Allah)". (Sahih Bukhari,
p.395, vol.1)

Jabir ibn Abdullah (r) says that when Abdullah bin Amr ibn Haram was Shaheed
the Prophet saw said, "O Jabir! Shall I inform you of how Allah honoured your father?" He
answered, "Please do." The Prophet saw said,
"Allah does not talk to anybody but behind the veil but he talked to your
father directly (without the veil)".
(Tirmidhi, at-Targheeb wa at-Tarheeb, p437, vol. 2)


11. ONE MORNING AND EVENING IN JIHAD

Narrated Abu Huraira (ra), The Prophet (saw) said, "A single endeavour (of
fighting) in Allah's cause in the afternoon
or forenoon is better than all that, on which the sun rises and sets."
(Sahih Bukhari, p.392, vol.1)

Ibn Daqeeq ul-Eed (ra) says that the meaning of, "a single expedition in the
afternoon or forenoon of the Mujahid being better than all that is on the
earth and which is in it, " is: that of a person was to be given the whole
world and own all the wealth and needs of the world and then he spends all
this in a good cause, the reward of this cannot be compared to one noon or
forenoon spent by the Mujahid in the battlefield, in fact, spending one
morning or afternoon in the battlefield is more virtuous than spending all
the world in Allah's cause.

"He who fights in the way of Allaah for the time between the milking of the
camel jannah becomes waajib upon him" (Ahmad, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi).

12. THE BLESSED DUST OF JIHAD

The Prophet (saw) said "Never will there combine upon a servant the dust of
battle in the way of Allaah
and the smoke of the Hellfire." (Ahmad)
The Prophet (saw) said, "Whosever’s feet were covered with the dust in the
way of Allaah,
He forbids the Hellfire upon him." (al-Bukhari)

13. PARADISE UNDER THE SHADE OF SWORDS

The Prophet (saw) said, "Know surely that Jannah is under the shade of
swords" (Sahih Bukhari, p.395, vol.1)

Ibn al-Jawzi states the understanding of this hadith is that Jannah is
attained by performing Jihad. One companion asked the Prophet (saw) "O
Messenger of Allah! What is the reason that every Muslim has to face the
trial of the grave, except the Shaheed?".

The Prophet (saw) answered, "The sword over his head was enough as a trial" (meaning he would not be now put in any trial or torment). (Kanzul Ummal, p.596, vol.4)

14. KEEPING A HORSE FOR JIHAD

Narrated Abu Huraira (ra), the Prophet (saw) said, "If somebody keeps a
horse (for Jihad) in Allah's cause, motivated by his faith in Allah and his
belief in His promise, then he will be rewarded on the day of resurrection
for what the horse has eaten or drunk and for it's dung and urine". (Sahih
Bukhari, p.406, vol.1)

15. GLAD TIDINGS FOR THE MUJAHID

Narrated Abu Huraira (ra), the Prophet (saw) said, "Let the slave of dinar
and dirhams, of khatifah and khamisa, (ie money and luxurious clothes),
perish for he is pleased if these things are given to him and if not he is
displeased. Let such a person perish and relapse, and if he is pierced with
a thorn, let him not find anybody to take it out for him.

Paradise is for him who holds the reins of his horse to strive in Allah's cause, with hair
unkempt and feet covered with dust, if he is appointed in the vanguard, he
is perfectly satisfied with his post of guarding, and if he is appointed in
the rear guard, he accepts his post with satisfaction, (he is so simple and
unambitious that if he asks for permission he is not permitted and if he
intercedes his intercession is not accepted)". (Sahih Bukhari, p.404, vol.1)

16. Al-JIHAD - BETTER THAN MAINTAINING THE HARAMAYN

"Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the
maintenance of al-Masjid al-Haram as equal to the worth of those who believe
in Allaah and the Last Day and fight in the way of Allaah.
They are not equal before Allaah." (9:19)

17. Al-JIHAD - BETTER THAN JUMU'AH WITH THE PROPHET

The Prophet (saw) sent an army in which Abdullah bin Rawaha participated.
When the army set out, Abdullah bin Rawaha stayed behind so that he could
perform Jumma Salah behind the Prophet (saw) and then intended to join the
army straight after. The Prophet (saw) said to him, "I swear by the One in
whose power lies my life, if you were to spend everything on earth you could
not attain the virtue of their one morning." (Fath ul Bari, p.91, vol.6)

18. THE PROPHET'S WISH TO BE SHAHEED

Narrated Abu Huraira (r), the Prophet (saw) said, "By him in whose hands my
life is! Were it not for some men amongst the Believers who dislike to be
left behind me, and whom I cannot provide with means of conveyance, I would
certainly never remain behind any sariyah (army unit) setting out in Allah's
cause. By Him in whose hands my life is! I would love to be Shaheed in
Allah's cause and then get resurrected, and then get Shaheed and then get
resurrected again, and then get Shaheed. " (Sahih Bukhari, p.42-3, vol.4)

19. THE UNDERSTANDING OF AS-SALAF AS-SAALiH

At-Tabari reported that al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad was seen at money-changers
in Emesa. He was leaning on the table due to his corpulence, and it was said
to him, "Allaah has excused you (from jihad)!" Whereupon he said, "The surah
of dispatchment (i.e. at-Tawbah) has come to us, "March forth, light and
heavy."

Abu Talha (ra) said "Young, and old, Allaah has not accepted the excuse of
anyone.O my son! Prepare me (for jihad), prepare me!". His son said, "May
Allaah have mercy on you! You did battle along with the Prophet (saw) until
he died, and together with Abu Bakr until he died, and the same alongside
'Umar until he died so now we will do battle on your behalf." But Abu Talha
said, "No! Prepare me!" So he went out and died at sea.

His body could not be buried for seven days, at which time it had still not decomposed.
Az-Zuhri said, "Sa'eed ibn al-Mussayib went out for Jihad, blind in one eye
and somebody told him, "You are an invalid" but he said, "Allaah has called
forth the light and the heavy.
If I cannot fight I will increase our numbers and guard possessions."

20. PERFECTING EEMAAN: A PRE-REQUISITE FOR JIHAD?

Narrated al-Bara (r), a man whose face was covered with an iron armour (i.e.
clad in armour) came to the Prophet saw and said, "O Allah's messenger!
Shall I fight or embrace Islam first?" The Prophet (Saw) replied, "Embrace
Islam first and then fight". So he embraced Islam and was Shaheed. Allah's
Messenger (saw) said, "A little work, but a great reward." (He did very
little after embracing Islam but he was rewarded in abundance). (Sahih
Bukhari, p.394, vol.1)

Ibn Ishaq has recorded in maghazi (an authentic tradition of Abu Huraira (r)
that the Prophet (saw) said, "Tell me about a person who never prayed one
salaah but entered jannah." Then he answered himself that this lucky person
was Amar bin Thabit (r)" (Fath ul Bari, p.105, vol.6) Taking this narration
into consideration, the scholars of hadith have agreed that the person
mention in Bukhari is Amar bin Thabit (r).

21. THE ORDER TO PREPARE FOR JIHAD

"And make ready against them (the Kuffar)all you can of power
including steeds of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery, etc) to
terrorise
the enemy of Allaah and your enemy" (8:60)
Sheikh al-Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah: "It is an obligation to make preparations
for jihad at times when it is not possible to wage it due to weakness. For
anything without which an obligation cannot be fulfilled is an obligation
itself."

22. THE EXISTENCE OF A KHILAFAH IS NOT A PREREQUISITE

Ibn Qudama: "The absence of the Muslim ruler should not (be used as an
excuse) to put off Jihad, otherwise its exigency and advantages will be lost
by so doing; and if the Muslims happen to take some booty (from the war)
they should distribute it in accordance with the laws of the Shariah."

Ash-Shawkaani, "The Muslims have differed regarding attacking the Kuffaar in
their lands, whether the presence of the main Imam is a pre-requisite or
not. And the truth most worthy of acceptance is that it is waajib upon every
individual from the Muslims and the Quranic verses and Ahadeeth are
general and not restricted."
(ar-Rasaa'il as-Salafiyyah, p.43)

23. THE ONE WHO DOES NOT GO OUT OR PREPARE FOR JIHAD

These are like the Munafiqoon, and they said to the believers
"Our possessions and our families occupied us, so ask forgiveness for us."
(48:11)

The Prophet (saw) "Whoever dies and he does not fight nor does he ever
intend to fight (prepares for it)
then he dies on a branch of hypocrisy" (Muslim)
"And if you march not forth He will punish you with a painful torment and
will replace you with another people
and you cannot harm Him in the least." (9:39)

And let the one who claims love for jihad and desire for its implementation
but who does nothing to prepare for it remember the words of Allaah:
"And if they had intended to march forth they would certainly have made
ready some preparation for it, but Allaah was averse to their being sent forth, so He made them lag behind,
and it was said to them,
"Sit you with those who sit (at home)". (9:46)

24. THE ABANDONMENT OF JIHAD

Our beloved Prophet (saw) said: "When people become stingy towards the dinar
and dirham, and deal in fine things, and engage themselves in agricultural
activities, forsaking Jihad in the Way of Allaah, Allaah will send down on
them a calamity that will not be dispelled away from them until they return
to their deen" (Ahmad, Abu Dawud)

And ibn al-Arabi said regarding the verse, "If you march not forth He will
punish you." (9:39),
"The severe punishment in this world is through the occupation of the enemy
and in the Hereafter by fire."